Author: solarenergy

China-based metallization paste supplier DK Electronic Materials says a major unnamed customer has used its high-copper content metallization paste to produce gigawatt-scale solar cells, combining copper paste with a seeded silver paste compatible with n-type and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) 3.0 processes. January 20, 2026 Vincent Shaw Silver paste from DKEM Image: Solamet In a recent note to investors, DK Electronic Materials (DKEM) said its high-copper metallization paste had achieved a gigawatt-scale production target at an undisclosed ‘strategic customer’, with the customer now moving to deploy the material across increased production capacity. DKEM’s unveiling comes as PV manufacturers and…

As demand for data centers increases and home batteries evolve from backup power to grid assets, Marco Krapels, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Enphase Energy, says the industry must shift from “saving with solar” to “get Enphase, get paid.” January 20, 2026 Tristan Rayner By ESS news At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Marco Krapels, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Enphase Energy, stood alongside ESS news for Enphase’s new bi-directional EV charger to discuss the topic of distributed energy generation and data centers, the “sleeping giant” of EVs, and why finance can support confidence in the flexibility of…

By Brad Kramer January 19, 2026 This edition of Projects Weekly highlights a slew of financial deals in the solar industry, including Aspen Power’s $200 million strategic capital commitment from Deutsche Bank, Summit Ridge Energy securing $290 million with MUFG, and Renewable Properties adding $40 million from AB CarVal. In addition, Origis Energy and Meta have partnered on a landmark project in Texas, Swift Current Energy executed the sale of Prospect Power to Elevate, and PowerBank is building a 5 MW solar DG and BESS project in New York. To wrap things up, we present Altus Power’s acquisition of 105…

The copper operation at Utah’s Kennecott mine is now supported by a new 25 MW solar project. Rio Tinto also installed a 5 MW solar project at the site in 2023. A copper telluride filter cake – the final product – at the Kennecott Tellurium Plant. Credit: Rio Tinto Construction of the 25 MW plant began in October 2024 in collaboration with Bechtel, and the project was energized in December 2025. The new solar array includes more than 71,000 panels containing tellurium, a crucial mineral for solar technology, produced in Kennecott. Kennecott began producing tellurium as a byproduct of copper…

United Solar Holding has secured more than $900 million to complete the financing needed for its 100,000-ton polysilicon production facility in Oman. Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of this year. January 20, 2026 Patrick Jowett Omani solar manufacturing company United Solar Holding says it has secured more than $900 million in debt financing to complete the financing needed for its $1.6 billion polysilicon production facility in Oman. The factory, which will be located in Oman’s Sohar Freezone, will be the Middle East’s largest polysilicon factory, capable of supporting the production of up to 40 GW of…

Iola Hughes, head of research at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, says ESS news that 2026 will be another strong year for BESS, with forecast additions of more than 450 GWh and no material supply constraints in sight. Meanwhile, the first impact of rising lithium prices is already visible at the cell level, but the full effect has yet to pass through to system prices. January 20, 2026 Marija Maisch Image: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence By ESS news According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, approximately 315 GWh were installed in both grid-scale and behind-the-meter battery energy storage system (BESS) markets, representing nearly 50% year-on-year…

For the second month in a row, battery discharge reached a record 396 MW in the Irish transmission system in December 2025.According to the latest data from the state transmission system operator (TSO) EirGrid, this record was set on Monday, December 15. surpassing last month’s record of 362 MWset on November 25.This latest album comes as Ireland opened its wholesale market to battery storageunder a new scheduling and shipping program last November.Overall, renewable energy sources were responsible for 43.8% of electricity generation on the Irish grid in December. Most of the renewable energy generation came from wind energy, at 38.5%,…

Gresham House has completed the acquisition of Swiss-based energy transition investment manager SUSI Partners AG.As a result, the company’s assets under management have reached £10.7 billion. Integrating SUSI Partners will also create a £2.7bn energy transition platform, something that was noted when Gresham announced it would acquire the business in September last year.The newly created entity is now one of the ten largest investors in Europe’s energy transition. Tony Dalwood, CEO of Gresham House, commented: “This transaction is a significant milestone for Gresham House, strengthening our leadership in the energy transition and significantly expanding our global capabilities.When the merger was…

WFES 2025 in Abu Dhabi underlined the growing momentum for renewable energy from solar, storage and C&I in MENA, with batteries emerging as a key enabler for grid stability, agriculture and data centers. Industry leaders pointed to Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Saudi Arabia as key growth markets, highlighting growing interest in AI-powered data centers, solar plus storage solutions and an expanding regional supply chain. January 20, 2026 Emiliano Bellini The latest World Future Energy Summit (WFES), held last week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, highlighted the central role of solar energy, renewables and energy storage in the Middle East and North…

Pakistan has imported over 50 GW of solar panels from China, including 18 GW during the country’s last fiscal year. In the absence of official installation figures, Islamabad-based think tank Renewables First says up to 33 GW of solar capacity could have been deployed in Pakistan so far. January 20, 2026 Patrick Jowett Pakistan imported a total of 51.5 GW of solar panels from China in November 2025, according to figures from energy think tank Renewables First. Data available through Renewables First’s solar analysis portal highlights that imports of Chinese solar panels have increased in Pakistan over the past two…