Author: solarenergy
A new generation of sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery cells has been launched as an alternative to the virtual monopoly of lithium-ion (Li-ion). While the technology is unlikely to displace significant Li-ion market share, recent improvements make Na-ion a viable solution for certain niche applications, with potential for wider use if costs become competitive. January 15, 2026 Henrique Ribeiro By ESS news The basic structure of Na-ion batteries is very similar to that of Li-ion batteries, consisting of positive and negative electrodes, an electrolyte and a separator. The return efficiency is comparable to Li-ion at more than 90 percent, but sodium’s larger…
The latest report from energy think tank Dii Desert Energy states that with the project pipeline of renewables in the Middle East and North Africa now at 202 GW, solar is likely to take the region past its joint national renewable energy ambitions of 235 GW by 2030. January 15, 2026 Patrick Jowett The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will have 12.2 GW of solar installed by 2025, according to a new report from the energy transition think tank Dii Desert energy. The Developments in renewable energy, hydrogen and energy storage in the MENA region According to the…
A new solar cell designed to work in locations such as windows and flexible surfaces where traditional panels cannot has been developed by nanotechnology researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The device targets installations on building facades, architectural glass and curved structures where rigid modules are difficult to implement. The research, led by Prof. Shlomo Magdassi and Prof. Lioz Etgar of the Hebrew University Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, points to new ways to embed solar technology in windows, building facades and curved surfaces without compromising appearance or performance. The approach focuses on semi-transparent,…
Google has awarded grants to Appalachian voicesa regional nonprofit, will build solar microgrids that can act as community resiliency hubs in Duffield and Dungannon, Virginia. The Sharing the Power Foundation grant will partially fund a 30.5 kW solar project paired with 115 kWh of energy storage at Dungannon City Hall and Historic Depot, as well as a 75.6 W solar project paired with 246 kWh of energy storage at Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Appalachian Harvest building in Duffield. The projects will be built by Charlottesville-based Tiger Solar. Appalachian harvest in Duffield, Virginia. Appalachian voices “We are thrilled to have this opportunity…
Hong Kong has a limited land area, and researchers have checked how much of the city could be powered if most of its water reservoirs were fully or partially covered with floating PV systems. In the best case, full coverage could cover more than 15% of the city’s total demand and more than 60% of housing demand. January 14, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom have evaluated the deployment of floating PV (FPV) on Hong Kong’s water reservoirs. The team simulated two different cases. Firstly, FPV meets household demand and produces and stores…
An independent study conducted by Synapse Energy Economics for the Community Solar Access Coalition (CCSA) finds that expanding distributed solar and energy storage in New York could save $1 billion in annual energy costs by 2035, lowering household electric bills across the state while boosting reliability during peak winter demand and reducing dependence on gas markets. The study, titled “Sunlight in Savings: Evaluating Energy Cost Savings from Distributed Solar and Storage Additions in New York”finds that increasing distributed solar + storage capacity to 20 GW by 2035 would reduce the average residential electricity bill by $87 per year for out-of-state…
As global energy transitions accelerate, distributed photovoltaics have become a cornerstone of China’s rural energy transformation, shifting many rural households from passive energy consumers to active prosumers. A research team from the School of Economics of Shandong Technology and Business University has developed a multi-agent dynamic game model to analyze how key stakeholders in nationally distributed PV systems interact and make strategic decisions. The model focuses on four core stakeholders in the rural PV ecosystem: village organizations, PV companies, grid companies and rural households, capturing their different incentives and constraints within a unified analytical framework. “The nationwide distributed PV ecosystem…
The duties range from 53.3% to 57% for U.S. producers and from 2.4% to 48.7% for South Korean companies and will remain in place for another five years. January 14, 2026 Emiliano Bellini China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has extended anti-dumping duties it imposed in 2014 on solar silicon imports from the United States and South Korea. The duties range from 53.3% to 57% for U.S. producers and from 2.4% to 48.7% for South Korean companies and will remain in place for another five years. Affected US manufacturers include REC Solar Grade Silicon LLC, REC Advanced Silicon Materials LLC, Hemlock…
British investment manager Downing and Japanese financial services firm Tokyo Century Corporation will acquire and build a portfolio of approximately 500 MW of solar PV projects in the UK. The joint venture (JV) will commit more than £300 million to acquire the portfolio, the companies said, which will come from Downing’s own property development pipeline and external developers. The JV will look for turnkey utility-scale solar PV projects for which Contracts For Difference (CfD) deals have already been secured. Dates for grid connections in 2027 and 2028 are being sought. Toshihiro Nakanishi, managing director of Tokyo Century, said he was…
The SLDBatt project brings together TRL 7 battery technologies – including molten sodium salt, saltwater-acid-base flow and hydrogen-iron flow batteries – to deliver an innovative and cost-effective long-term energy storage solution. January 14, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news A Dutch consortium, ranging from innovative start-ups to internationally operating energy companies, is developing a new type of long-term energy storage solution (LDES) that can store sustainable energy for 8 to 100 hours. Supported by more than €30 million in financing from the National Growth Fund and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RvO), the SLDBatt project is the largest R&D initiative in…