Author: solarenergy

Researchers led by Fraunhofer ISE have demonstrated zinc-doped tin oxide (ZTO) as an indium-free alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for recombination layers in fully textured perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. ZTO delivers comparable device efficiencies of 27-28% under current conditions, providing a scalable, indium-free path to high-performance tandem solar photovoltaics without efficiency losses. April 17, 2026 Emiliano Bellini An international research team led by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) has fabricated a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell based on a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) made of zinc-doped tin oxide (ZTO) in an attempt to rival counterparts made…

A new benchmark for assessing total system costs estimates a cheapest mix of offshore wind and solar power at around €46 ($54.20)/MWh in a future climate-neutral energy system for Denmark. Researchers tell pv magazine that figure is less than half the equivalent cost of nuclear power under the same conditions. April 17, 2026 Brian Public A peer-reviewed study using Denmark as a case study found that renewable energy portfolios outperform nuclear energy in terms of total system costs in the modeled future integrated Danish energy system, once the costs of grid balancing, storage and sector coupling are included in the…

Supply chain cyber attacks are a major category of threats that affect digital and cyber-physical systems that rely on a network of third-party suppliers, manufacturers and service platforms. In PV environments, where systems rely on inverters, monitoring software, firmware updates and cloud services from third-party providers, these attacks can undermine trust in the entire ecosystem. These attacks involve inserting malicious code, backdoors or vulnerabilities into products or services before they reach the end user. Rather than attacking a PV system directly, adversaries compromise a vendor, such as a software vendor, equipment manufacturer, or service partner, and use that trusted relationship…

Norwegian developer Scatec ASA has commissioned the first phase of the 1.1 GW Obelisk solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Egypt, backed by $479.1 million in development finance institution (DFI) debt and a fully contracted storage revenue model. April 17, 2026 Brian Public Scatec ASA has commissioned its largest project to date in Egypt with a capital structure that combines multilateral development bank debt with tiered equity from a Norwegian climate fund and a French energy company, and a power purchase agreement (PPA) that fully contracts the BESS dispatch without exposure to vendors. The $590 million Obelisk…

For two years, the European PV manufacturing story was straightforward, and grim. Chinese oversupply pushed module prices below €0.10 ($0.11)/W, European production lines halted one after another, and announced gigawatt-scale projects stalled at the financing stage. That story is shifting. Firstly, the energy prices are rising again. The Iran conflict is one driver, but the underlying pattern is structural uncertainty in our globalized economy, the kind that makes governments and utilities rethink where their supply chains actually sit. Shipping costs remain volatile, adding another layer of unpredictability to the landed cost of imported modules. Secondly, and for the first time,…

Renewables accounted for 48.8% of the Irish grid’s electricity demand in March 2026, while grid-scale solar contributed almost 1 GW by the end of the month.This is evident from the latest figures from the Irish grid operator EirGrid, which were published this week. The figure of 48.4% is a record for the network, and an increase from the 48.1% reported the previous month. Perhaps most strikingly, the contribution of solar energy has increased significantly, from 1.2% in February to 3.3% in March; Although this is still less than a tenth of the contribution of wind energy, the growth is remarkable.Changes…

A study by Federico II of the University of Naples shows that hydrogen production in Mediterranean ports could cost €5.7 to 8.6 per kg if only renewable energy sources are used, and €2.5 to 13 per kg in hybrid systems, with solar energy becoming the most reliable resource and wind energy performing better in certain locations. In addition to these findings, key developments in the sector include new hydrogen and e-fuel projects, advanced electrolyser technologies and EU-backed infrastructure expansion to support large-scale decarbonisation. April 17, 2026 Sergio Matalucci PV capacity factor for the analyzed ports in the Mediterranean Image: Energy…

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated all claims of two TOPCon solar cell patents previously filed by Trina Solar against Canadian Solar subsidiaries. April 17, 2026 Emiliano Bellini The headquarters of the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia, United States Image: Coolcaesar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chinese-Canadian PV manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued final written decisions invalidating all claims of two TOPCon solar cell patents previously filed by the China-based competitor. Trina Solar. “This ruling reinforces Canadian Solar’s long-standing, successful track record in…

Hoshine Silicon reported 2025 revenues of CNY20.499 billion ($2.82 billion) and a net loss of CNY2.991 billion due to solar disruptions and impairments. Meanwhile, polysilicon and wafer prices continued to decline in mid-April due to high inventories and weak demand. April 17, 2026 Vincent Shaw Hoshine Silicon reported 2025 revenues of CNY20.499 billion ($2.82 billion) and a net loss attributable to shareholders of CNY2.991 billion ($411 million). The company attributed the loss mainly to a severe disruption of its PV business, which resulted in significant shutdown and operating losses, as well as CNY1.699 billion in impairment charges on PV-related and…

Researchers in the UK have found that, when used correctly, thermostatic radiator valves can reduce energy consumption for space heating with air source heat pumps by 6 to 8% without affecting system efficiency. TRVs should be used carefully in well-designed, balanced systems with at least one open flow path because they serve primarily as a secondary aid to room-level comfort control and not as a substitute for good heat pump design and operation at low supply temperatures. April 17, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the University of Salford in the UK have investigated how thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) could improve…