Author: solarenergy
According to data collected by solar buyer Black Bear Energy, the U.S. real estate sector has surpassed 1 GW of installed on-site solar capacity. The 2025 Solar Rankings for Real Estate shows 1,086 GW installed in 2,157 projects owned by more than 65 owners and managers. The Solar Leaderboard collects data on U.S.-based projects facilitated by Black Bear Energy, along with information voluntarily submitted by property owners and managers and supplemented by third-party sources. The dataset reflects the most comprehensive information available to Black Bear Energy at the time of publication, covering a wide range of project-level data and sources.…
A Vietnamese research team has developed a low-cost passive cooling system for PV modules based on hydrogel-coated paper that combines water flow and interfacial evaporation to reduce operating temperatures. Outdoor tests showed temperature reductions of up to 14 C and efficiency gains of up to 16.8%, achieving stable operation using both freshwater and natural seawater. April 28, 2026 Lior Kahana A research group in Vietnam has proposed a new passive cooling technique for PV modules that relies on hydrogel-coated paper as a cooling medium. The approach enables convective heat transfer through flowing water, while removing latent heat via interfacial evaporation.…
French utility EDF is working with energy storage developer BW ESS on the first phase of the Hams Hall battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Warwickshire.Through its PowerShift platform, EDF will optimize the 350 MW/1,243 MWh BESS plant, under a ten-year floor agreement. This allows the battery to provide flexibility to the electricity grid by balancing supply and demand, supporting grid stability and promoting the integration of new renewable energy generation.The project is currently under construction and is expected to be commercially operational in the fourth quarter of 2026, with a second phase expected to add 50MW/210MWh of capacity…
New federal data shows that solar and batteries will make up nearly 80% of all new utility-scale energy additions planned for the U.S. electric grid this year. April 28, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA The US power grid is on track for a record year, with developers planning to add 86 GW of new utility-scale capacity in 2026, according to the latest data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Clean energy technologies are expected to dominate the expansion, with solar and battery storage accounting for the vast majority of planned additions. According to the April 2026 Electric…
Beijing has introduced a stricter national carbon assessment system that formally holds provincial governments accountable for emissions reduction and energy transition targets. April 28, 2026 Vincent Shaw China has released a new national framework for assessing progress toward its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, formalizing what was previously policy direction into a structured accountability system for provincial governments. The “Comprehensive Evaluation and Assessment Measures for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality” was approved at a meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee on February 26, 2026, jointly issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of…
The iSkim Ultra uses a 24W monocrystalline solar panel and a 10,000mAh battery for 24/7 surface cleaning via an autonomous dual-path navigation system. April 28, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA Beatbot has introduced the iSkim Ultra to the residential pool market, a device that aims to reduce filtration loads by capturing surface debris before it sinks. The device is powered by a top-mounted 24W solar panel that supports continuous use, supplemented by a 10,000mAh battery for overnight cleaning cycles. For environments with limited sunlight, the system includes a 24W magnetic wireless charging pad. The hardware is built around…
China’s first large-scale salt cavern hydrogen storage demonstration project has been put into operation in Henan Province. The 1.5 million m³ facility validates geological hydrogen storage technology and supports the integration of renewable energy. April 28, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Image: Chinese Academy of Sciences The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has put into operation China’s first large-scale hydrogen storage demonstration project in Pingdingshan City, Henan Province. The project was jointly developed by the Wuhan Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Pingmei Shenma Group, with the participation of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and…
Longi claims to have achieved the world’s highest efficiency for a silicon solar cell. The result was confirmed by the German Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). April 28, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A few hours after Trina Solar revealed that it achieved the world’s highest efficiency for silicon solar cells with a 28.0% efficient device TOPCon-compatible hybrid back-contact solar cell (THBC), Chinese module manufacturer Longi announced that it achieved a higher efficiency of 28.13% with a hybrid interdigitated-back-contact (HIBC) solar cell. The result was independently confirmed by Germany Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). Longi also said that…
Solar energy design platform Solesca has launched Engineering Mode, a new workflow that allows commercial and large-scale solar teams to take a project from preliminary design to stamp-ready interconnection plan in minutes. Any roof, canopy or ground mounting project can now be estimated and designed in one session, without leaving the platform. Work that previously required AutoCAD experience, cost thousands of euros and took up to three weeks to complete, is now performed within Solesca, delivered with a full bill of materials, PE stampable single-line diagram, site map and DXF exports. “The transfer from sales to engineering has been the…
The US Department of Commerce has issued interim anti-dumping regulations for three major solar exporting countries, imposing tariffs of up to 123% on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules. April 27, 2026 Ryan Kennedy The US Department of Commerce has announced preliminary positive findings in its anti-dumping duty investigations into solar energy imports from India, Indonesia and Laos. According to a fact sheet released by Commerce, the agency has established preliminary dumping margins of 123.04% for India, 35.17% for Indonesia and 22.46% for Laos. These investigations were initiated last August in response to a petition from the Alliance for American…