Author: solarenergy

UNSW researchers found that some POE encapsulants can cause severe corrosion in TOPCon solar panels, causing up to 55% power loss under humid heat. Their research highlights that the reliability of the modules depends on the exact formulation of the encapsulant, and not just the polymer type. January 16, 2026 Lior Kahana A group of researchers from Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) have investigated the impact of different encapsulants on the corrosion-induced degradation of n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules and have found that some POE encapsulants are more susceptible to causing corrosion than other types. “In…

Researchers from Australia’s National Science Agency are working with Malaysian authorities to assess how different battery chemistries perform under tropical conditions, including high temperatures, humidity and corrosion, and how these factors affect durability, safety and cost-effectiveness. January 16, 2026 David Caroll By pv magazine Australia With battery energy storage systems considered a key enabler in the clean energy transition, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO has partnered with Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) to investigate how different battery chemistries perform and manage under tropical conditions. Mahathir Almashor, senior engineer of the CSIRO Energy Systems Program, said much of the global…

Oxford PV CEO David Ward spoke to pv magazine about the prospects of his company and Perovksite-silicon tandem PV technology at the WFES event in Abu Dhabi. He said Oxford PV is expanding production outside Germany while focusing on global licensing partnerships. January 16, 2026 Emiliano Bellini and Eckhart Gouras Germany-based perovskite solar specialist Oxford PV plans to bring its perovskite-silicon tandem solar products to mass production in 2028, driven primarily by improvements in tandem reliability and continued gains in energy conversion efficiency. “We are targeting a 1% annual increase in module efficiency through 2032,” said David Ward, CEO of…

The IslandDER meter collar device from CONNECTOR is approved for use by Arizona’s three largest utilities: Arizona Public Service (APS), Tucson Electrical Power (TEP), and Salt River Project (SRP). This announcement builds on existing Arizona support for ConnectDER’s devices wherever the company operates Connection adapter for solar meter has already been adopted by all three utilities and Sulfur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC), with high usage by installers across the state. The company EV meter connection adapter is currently approved for use within the APS and TEP service area. IslandDER now offers additional benefits to installers as the state transitions…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineOPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a brief overview of the major price trends in the global PV industry. January 16, 2026 OPIS The Global Polysilicon Marker (GPM) – the OPIS benchmark for polysilicon produced outside China – was estimated at $18,728/kg, or $0.039/W, up 2.23% week-on-week, according to the OPIS Global Solar Markets Report published on January 13. The current global polysilicon trading landscape is still characterized by a mix of long-term contracts at relatively stable prices and spot transactions that exhibit a wide price dispersion. This week’s increase in assessed prices…

The Norwegian company started production in the Ain Sokhna industrial zone, while the Brazilian Federal Court provisionally ordered the suspension of construction activities of Solatio’s project in the state of Piauí. January 16, 2026 Sergio Matalucci EgyptPrime Minister Moustafa Madbouli said the 100 megawatt green hydrogen production project has started partial production, adding that the project will ramp up operations. The project, implemented by Norway’s Scatec in collaboration with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, Orascom Construction and Fertiglobe, will mainly focus on European markets. “He asserted that the European Union and European financial institutions have shown a sincere willingness to…

JA Solar, TCL Zhonghuan, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar and Daqo each announced significant losses for the full fiscal year 2025 due to continued price declines and overcapacity. January 16, 2026 Vincent Shaw Shanghai Stock Exchange Image: 钉钉, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 YES solar energy for 2025, a full-year net loss attributable to shareholders of CNY4.5 to 4.8 billion ($619 to 660 million), with earnings per share (EPS) of -CNY1.37 to -CNY1.46. The company attributed the loss mainly to the supply-demand imbalance caused by concentrated capacity additions across the PV value chain, exacerbated by rising trade protectionism that pushed down average…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that Central Europe, led by Germany, saw strong solar generation in December due to clear skies from a blocking weather pattern, while Iberia, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe saw reduced insolation due to storms and cloud cover. Arctic cold and snowfall in the late months further suppressed PV production in Eastern Europe due to snow pollution, exacerbating already weak solar conditions. January 16, 2026 Solcast Central parts of Europe provided relatively strong solar power generation conditions through December 2025, as high pressure held back Atlantic moisture and kept skies…

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s administration announced the first round of grants under the Dept. or State Energy Resources. Solar Program for Low Income Services (LISSP). Grants totaling $1.2 million will help three nonprofits install rooftop solar systems that will reduce each organization’s electricity costs by 70 to 100%, resulting in more resources for the nonprofits’ critical work. ISSP helps nonprofits reduce operating costs and strengthen community resilience by providing financing for solar and energy storage systems. Grants are available to nonprofits that provide critical community services and support environmental justice (EJ) communities throughout Massachusetts. “Solar energy is low-cost energy that…

Researchers led by Guido Pagano of Rice University used a specialized quantum device to simulate a vibrating molecule and track how energy moves within it. The work, published December 5 in Nature Communications, could improve understanding of the basic mechanisms behind phenomena such as photosynthesis and solar energy conversion. The researchers modeled a simple molecule with two locations, where one part provides energy and the other part receives, both shaped by vibrations and their environment. By tuning the system, they could directly observe energy moving from donor to acceptor and study how vibrations and energy loss affect that transfer, providing…