Author: solarenergy
Scientists in Spain have developed a cheap, easy-to-deploy hydrogen system powered by discarded solar panels. The residential solution reportedly achieves a levelized hydrogen price of approximately $5.8/kg. April 14, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina A Chilean research team has developed a residential-scale system to produce green hydrogen using discarded photovoltaic modules. The proposed solution combines end-of-life solar panels, which still retain 80% to 90% of their original capacity, with a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. Unlike conventional systems, which rely on power electronics such as inverters or maximum power point trackers, this approach uses internal reconfiguration of the PV module to…
Reliance Industries Ltd has become the first company to secure the inclusion of heterojunction solar cells in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) published by India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. April 14, 2026 Uma Gupta Reliance Industries Ltd’s solar cell line in the Jamnagar complex Image: Reliance Industries By pv magazine India Reliance Industries Ltd has become the first company to secure the inclusion of heterojunction (HJT) solar cells in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) issued by India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), marking a milestone for the country’s solar manufacturing…
The Italian manufacturer has launched a compact range of propane air-to-water heat pumps for heating, cooling and domestic hot water in residential and light commercial applications, with heating power up to 15.5 kW, a seasonal coefficient of performance up to 5.18 and water temperatures up to 80 C. April 14, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Italian heat pump manufacturer Rhoss has expanded its residential heat pump portfolio with the launch of the Electa-PI series, a compact line of reversible air-to-water heat pumps that use propane (R290) as a refrigerant. The new range is designed for heating, cooling and hot water (DHW) production…
Researchers in China found that PV installations in arid regions create a measurable cool island effect that varies widely depending on season, location and plant design, affecting surrounding vegetation in complex and spatially uneven ways. They showed that cooling intensity and distance between locations differ greatly and are mainly determined by plant morphology. April 14, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have investigated the photovoltaic plant-induced cool island effect (CIE) in arid areas and found that it significantly affects surrounding vegetation, with the direction and magnitude of impact determined by geographical context and seasonal factors.…
The 20 MW Loukkaanaro solar farm received €2.35 million ($2.7 million) from the EU’s first cross-border renewable energy tender. It is billed as the largest operational solar project in Northern Finland. April 13, 2026 Patrick Jowett A 20 MW solar project in Finland, supported by the EU’s cross-border renewable energy programme, is now operational. According to the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment (CINEA), the Loukkaanaro solar park is the first commissioning of a project supported by the EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM). This mechanism allows sustainable energy projects to be developed through cooperation between contributing…
The St. Kitts Electricity Company is launching a tender for a 50 MW solar plus 30.5 MWh battery storage project on the island. Interested developers are asked to register on the utility’s bidding portal to receive the request for proposals document. April 13, 2026 Patrick Jowett Aerial view of St. Kitts and Nevis Image: Holger Woizick/Unsplash The St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) has issued a tender for the island’s first large-scale solar-plus-storage project. An update on the utility’s website says the Basseterre Valley project will include 50MW of solar, coupled with 30.5MW/30.5MWh of battery energy storage. The valley is located…
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) cyber attacks are a special type of cyber threat that targets a wide range of digital and cyber-physical systems where two parties communicate over a network, especially if the communication is not highly authenticated or encrypted. In these attacks, an attacker intercepts communications between a sender and a receiver by splitting the original channel into two: one between the sender and the attacker, and another between the attacker and the receiver. As a result, the recipient does not have direct access to messages from the sender. MITM attacks can also target PV systems and solar power plants connected…
An international research group has developed a new passive cooling system for solar panels that integrates three-dimensional oscillating heat pipe (3D-OHP) with various combinations of nanofluids based on hybrid graphene oxide (GO) and a two-dimensional titanium carbide, known as MXeen (Ti3C2Tx). MXeen compounds take their name from their graphene-like morphology and are made via selective etching of certain atomic layers from a bulk crystal known as MAX. Recently, these materials have also shown promise for use in PV technology due to their unique optoelectronic properties, such as their high charge carrier mobility, excellent metal conductivity, high optical transmission, and tunable…
Utility and energy company SSE has fully commissioned its Littleton Solar Farm in Worcestershire, the company’s first solar PV project. Construction of the 31MW project in England started in December 2023covered by Solar energy portal at the time (although reported as starting in August). Grupotec was the main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project. The Littleton Solar Farm included a wide range of measures across its 77 hectare site to protect and enhance local biodiversity, SSE said. This includes maintaining existing hedges, planting new trees and hedges with locally produced species, and creating wildflower margins to support…
Researchers in Austria discovered a wasp nest in the junction box of a 1998 rooftop PV module, illustrating how insects can exploit even sealed electrical components. The affected module showed significant degradation and partial failure, although the overall results confirmed the surprising durability of older PV module designs. April 13, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Wasps are known to build nests in a wide variety of sheltered, dry and protected environments. Common nesting sites include outdoor locations such as under eaves and overhangs, in attics or loft spaces, wall cavities accessed through small openings or vents, as well as in sheds, garages…