Author: solarenergy
Today, a new coalition was launched to address growing electricity demand and rising energy bills in the United States. Usage brings together businesses, utilities and policy organizations to promote smarter, faster and more affordable use of existing grid infrastructure – allowing states to meet the growing demands of data centers, manufacturing and electrification without unnecessary costs or delays. The coalition’s founding members include Carrier, Google, Renew Home, Sparkfund, Span, Verrus and Tesla, representing a broad cross-section of distributed energy providers, major electricity customers and technology companies that enable the electric grid. “For decades, we have built the grid to meet…
Africa has no shortage of sunlight. There is no shortage of arable land. There is no shortage of enterprising farmers or a new generation of clean energy innovators. What has been lacking thus far is a coordinated effort to bring these strengths together under a shared, investable vision. Agrivoltaic energy – the integration of photovoltaic solar energy systems with agricultural production on the same land – offers exactly that vision. It’s not a panacea. It is not a short-term solution. But it is one of the most promising long-term strategies for aligning Africa’s agendas on food security, climate resilience and…
According to the latest report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the total cost to Britain of transitioning to Net Zero by 2050 would be less than a single fossil fuel price shock such as the 2022 energy crisis. 7e Carbon budget from 2025found that pursuing Net Zero in Britain would deliver “net benefit to society” and that every £1 spent would deliver between £2 and £4 in benefits. These include public health benefits, energy savings and other related improvements. It said the net additional cost of achieving the UK’s Net Zero ambitions to 2050 would be less than the…
Researchers have developed a PFAS-free double-layer sol-gel and hydrophobic silica coating that repels water, dust and dirt while maintaining high light transmission for solar panels. The transparent, self-cleaning coating improved photovoltaic efficiency from 13.90% to 14.56%, demonstrating strong durability and potential for future commercial applications. March 11, 2026 Emiliano Bellini An international research team has double-layer sol-gel and hydrophobic silica coating which can significantly improve the performance of solar cells by protecting the surface against dust accumulation, light reflection, bird droppings and water films. “The double-layer coating repels water, dust and dirt without reducing the amount of light reaching the…
By Brad Kramer March 11, 2026 SiteCapture has been unveiled SiteCaptureAI for solar energya new AI-powered product designed to automate construction site documentation, quality control and reporting workflows for solar operations. SiteCaptureAI helps solar companies more efficiently manage site surveys, installations, financing benchmarks, and operations and maintenance (O&M) workflows by automatically viewing construction site photos, videos, and field reports in real-time. The core capabilities include: Photo and video intelligence Analyzes visual documentation captured in the field to detect system components, identify equipment condition, extract key text from labels and placards, generate summaries, and transcribe technician video stories. Verification of field…
German manufacturer Ehret has launched SolarSlide, a sliding shutter with integrated PV modules developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE). It provides sun protection and at the same time generates electricity for residential and commercial facades. March 11, 2026 Marie Beijer By pv magazine France German manufacturer of facade systems Ehret has introduced SolarSlide, a sliding shutter with integrated PV modules designed for building facades. The system was developed with Fraunhofer ISE and has been available in France since January. The device combines sun protection with on-site power generation. Each glass-on-glass module measures 1,000…
The new prototype is among the most advanced sodium-ion battery systems in the world. March 11, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB), an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), has unveiled a prototype sodium ion battery with an energy density of more than 300 Wh/kg, making it one of the most advanced sodium ion battery systems in the world. The prototype was developed through the NanoMalaysia Energy Storage Technology Initiative (NESTI) in collaboration with International Battery Center Sdn Bhd. NMB said achieving this milestone is an important step towards further development, scale-up and…
The Chinese manufacturer said its new back-contact module delivers up to 545W and more than 25% efficiency in a compact roof size for residential, C&I and off-grid applications. March 11, 2026 Vincent Shaw Chinese PV manufacturer Aiko has launched its third-generation all-back-contact (ABC) 60-cell solar panel in Australia, targeting residential, commercial and industrial (C&I) and off-grid applications in a compact roof format. According to one company, the new series delivers up to 545W and features module efficiency of more than 25% in a footprint of 1,954mm x 1,134mm x 30mm. The company says the ABC design removes the front rails…
NextEnergy Solar Fund has completed a “strategic reset” of its investment strategy, which will see it focus on energy storage assets and increase project sales. As part of the reset, NextEnergy said it will increase its energy storage exposure to 30% of its gross asset value, a significant increase from the current rate of 10%. The company said the shift would “enhance the company’s existing stable revenues generated by its operating solar assets and support future revenues.” It identified energy storage projects with a duration of two hours, which it said would deliver an internal rate of return of between…
China has deployed its first 1.25 MW urban vanadium flow battery (VFB), supporting peak AC loads and providing a safer alternative amid tightening regulations for lithium-ion storage in dense urban environments. March 11, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news China has deployed its first urban underground VFB system, a 1.25 MW installation in the basement of a commercial building by Sichuan Tianfu Energy Storage Technology and Sichuan Chemical Group. The project addresses space and safety constraints that limit lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries in dense urban areas. It aims to meet the growing demand for energy storage in dense urban environments,…