Author: solarenergy
While the UK government’s cap-and-floor scheme for long-term energy storage (LDES) is a good approach, there is lively debate about how much to purchase in the first window.The subject was central to the ‘Advancing LDES: the perfect time to invest?’ discussion at the Energy Storage Summit 2026 in London in February, organized by our publisher Solar Media, part of Informa Markets. The government released her list of projects eligible for the scheme in September last yearwith a target capacity of 2.7-7.7 GW with a capacity of more than 8 hours in the initial period. Of these projects, 70% are lithium-ion…
Business utility SmartestEnergy has signed power purchase agreements (PPA) for four UK solar and storage projects with developer AGR Renewables, all backed by Contracts for Difference (CfD).The four CfD-backed PPAs cover the solar portions of AGR’s Eaton Socon, Little Hale, Priory Generation and Wymondley projects, located in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire, totaling 192 MW of solar PV capacity. The projects also include an undisclosed amount of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity, although this is not covered by the PPAs. These are the four projects awarded under the UK Government’s CfD Allocation Round 7 (AR7). AGR said at the time…
Distributed energy infrastructurean EPC solar and battery storage company, has achieved mechanical completion of two community solar projects near Lysander, New York: the 2.9 MW West Genesee Solar Project and the 5 MW Cold Springs Solar Project. The two locations, developed for Generate Capital, are DEI’s first installations in Central New York and are expected to connect to the NYISO network in the second quarter of 2026. Credit: Distributed energy infrastructure Construction on both projects lasted until the winter of 2026, during which the Baldwinsville area received more than a foot of snow. Despite challenging weather and ground conditions, DEI…
The Indian manufacturer said its new all-black panel series has an energy conversion efficiency of up to 23.32% and a bifaciality factor of up to 85%. April 27, 2026 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Premier Energies Ltd has launched the NeoBlack Series, an all-black G12R bifacial glass-glass solar module designed for residential and high-end commercial roof applications. The module integrates tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell technology with a uniform black aesthetic aimed at improving visual appeal and reducing glare in rooftop installations. The DCR-compatible module is offered in power classes ranging from 600 W to 630 W, with…
L&G NTR Clean Power (Europe) Fund has announced the acquisition of Fair Oaks Renewable Energy Park, a turnkey solar and BES project in Nottinghamshire, England. The Fair Oaks project consists of a 75.4 MWp solar array and a 49.9 MW/99.8 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), and was developed by Ridge Clean Energy Ltd. Through the transaction, the Fund will work with Ridge to realize the project. The news comes as NESO announces more Gate 2 connection offersafter delays in the body’s original timeline. The fund was launched in 2025 as an Article 9 fund under the European Union’s Sustainable…
Huaneng has commissioned the 5.43 GW Xiaowan Hydropower-Solar Hybrid Project in Yunnan, combining 4.2 GW of hydropower and 1.23 GW of solar energy under a coordinated “hydro-solar intelligent control” system that integrates 16 PV installations. April 27, 2026 Emiliano Bellini China’s state-owned energy company Huaneng Group today awarded the contract for the Huaneng Xiaowan Hydropower-Solar Hybrid Project in Yunnan Province, southwest China. The facility is operated by the company’s subsidiary Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Co., Ltd. at the Xiaowan Hydropower Station. It has a total installed capacity of 5.43 GW, including 4.2 GW hydropower and 1.23 GW solar energy. Huaneng…
The Chinese manufacturer said its TOPCon-compatible hybrid back-contact solar cell achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 28.0%. The result was confirmed by the German Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). April 27, 2026 Vincent Shaw Chinese solar panel manufacturer Trina Solar announced yesterday that it has achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 28.00% for its new TOPCon-compatible hybrid back-contact solar cell (THBC), with the result certified by the German Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). The company said this achievement marks the first time a large-area 210R crystalline silicon cell has exceeded the 28% threshold, setting a new…
Chinese customs data shows an increase in March as buyers rushed their shipments ahead of April’s tax rebate change. April 27, 2026 Vincent Shaw China’s exports of solar panels rose sharply in March, with customs data showing one of the strongest monthly shipment increases in recent years. According to data cited by Reuters According to China Customs, solar panel exports reached a record high in March 2026, rising 125% month-on-month and 67% year-on-year in value to $3.61 billion. Reuters attributed the spike to a combination of factors, including the upcoming end of China’s PV export tax credits on April 1,…
The Australian Energy Market Commission says introducing a new distribution planning framework and implementing improved data reporting will help reduce the curtailment of rooftop solar. April 27, 2026 Patrick Jowett The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is proposing to modernize its distribution network planning, which it says will help reduce the curtailment of rooftop solar. A design rule released earlier this week proposes to replace the existing distribution annual planning report with a distribution network plan. The plan would be published every five years and cover a 20-year time frame, with distribution network service providers also required to provide annual…
In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, provides outlooks for June-August 2026, which indicate mostly neutral to positive solar radiation globally, with stronger gains in regions such as Australasia, South Asia, West Africa and Central America – patterns consistent with a developing El Niño. Negative deviations are limited and mainly early in the season, while Europe and the US show modest or mixed signals, with improvements or neutrality dominating as the season progresses. April 24, 2026 Solcast The seasonal outlook for June, July and August 2026 indicates largely neutral to positive solar radiation conditions in many…