Author: solarenergy

Naos-1 is described as South Africa’s largest private solar and battery storage project, designed to bring power to industrial customers. February 13, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news South African independent power producer SOLA Group has reached financial close on its Naos-1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project, touted as the country’s first solar PV and battery energy storage project purpose-built to transmit power to residential end-users across the entire grid. The project includes a 300 MW (435 MWp) solar PV plant with 660 MWh of battery storage and is supported by 25-year power purchase agreements with Sasol and Air Liquide,…

The Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back landmark environmental laws designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize sources of pollution, calling the Obama- and Biden-era motions “illegal.” The agency has withdrawn “Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases.” founded in 2009 that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health Clean Air Acta law that deals with hazardous emissions from all sources – both vehicles and buildings. “This decision will drive up costs for businesses and consumers and weaken our economy,” said Sandra Purohit, federal advocacy director for E2. “It upends nearly two decades of common-sense policy.…

Energy aggregators in California are signing up for a portion of 50 MW of long-term compressed air energy storage / Source link

The Chinese manufacturer said its 15 kW three-phase hybrid low-voltage inverter is paired with the 5 kWh BP5000 stackable battery that supports up to 120 kWh. It features three MPPTs, 150% oversized PV input and smart load management for optimized self-consumption. February 13, 2026 Lior Kahana China-based inverter and energy storage system supplier Hinen has introduced a new three-phase hybrid low-voltage interter for residential applications. The 15 kW H15000T inverter is paired with the company’s 5 kWh BP5000 low-voltage battery module, which has a stackable design and supports up to 120 kWh of storage. “With three independent MPPTs and up…

The battery world needs alternative chemistry to overcome the weaknesses with lithium-ion. Sodium ion is a big hope, and in the field of portable energy, Bluetti’s new product shows promise and limitations. February 13, 2026 Tristan Rayner By ESS news Portable power station manufacturers have been making mature products for several years. Innovations around lithium products have reached maturity and new ideas using other chemicals are emerging. Popular Chinese battery maker Bluetti has switched to sodium-ion power for its Pioneer Na portable power station, and ESS News had time with the device in cold weather to test it out. The…

High-strength silicon wafers offer superior efficiency potential, but are highly susceptible to edge recombination and mechanical damage, limiting their commercial use compared to more robust standard wafers. Researchers from Longi and Sun Yat-sen University have shown that integrating in-situ edge passivation unlocks this potential, significantly increasing the fill factor and efficiency of back-contact solar cells. February 13, 2026 Emiliano Bellini The PV industry has so far largely failed to use high-resistance, light-doped wafers in commercial solar cell production, even though they have fewer recombination sites, improving electrical performance. These wafers are actually more brittle and prone to cracking during handling,…

Pioneering research led by Northumbria University shows how the global solar industry can expand production of photovoltaic technology while further reducing its carbon footprint. As solar deployment accelerates to meet climate targets and rising electricity demand, the work addresses the challenge of ensuring this growth is both scalable and sustainable, rather than simply shifting environmental burdens elsewhere in the energy system. The research, published in Nature Communications, examines the full life cycle of photovoltaic silicon technology, from raw material extraction to the production of state-of-the-art solar panels that are expected to dominate the market until 2035. Researchers from Northumbria University…

The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) says prices for wafers, cells and modules remain stable, while industry operating rates are lower among leading and integrated manufacturers. February 13, 2026 Vincent Shaw The CNMIA mentioned wafer prices remained stable, with n-type G10L at CNY 1.20 ($0.17), G12R at CNY 1.26 and G12 at CNY 1.45 per piece. Cell and module prices also remained stable at CNY 0.41/W to CNY 0.45/W and CNY 0.71/W to CNY 0.75/W, respectively. Industry business figures fell slightly, with leading manufacturers at 45% to 46%, integrated manufacturers at 50% to 60% and others at 50% to…

Risen Energy says its new 131kW/261kWh commercial storage unit uses silicon carbide and full liquid cooling to improve efficiency, maintain production in hot conditions and speed installation. February 13, 2026 Vincent Shaw By ESS news Risen Energy has launched a 131 kW/261 kWh commercial and industrial (C&I) battery energy storage “all-in-one” unit with a full liquid cooling architecture and a silicon carbide (SiC) power conversion stage, positioning the product as a more efficient upgrade for behind-the-meter applications. According to information released by the company, the new unit increases the rated power of PCS from 125 kW to 131 kW to…

Scotland-based energy storage company Gravitricity quietly went bankrupt in October last year.Gravitricity’s file history shows that through a Microsoft Teams (online) meeting on October 1, it was decided that the company would go into voluntary liquidation, after which Callum Carmichael and Graham Smith of FRP Advisory Trading were appointed liquidators. It had £7,913.82 worth of assets available to creditors.Following the liquidation, the company’s intellectual properties, including the Gravitricity brand and its patents, will be offered for sale through financial services provider Hilco, with a deadline for the offer is February 25, 2026.One of the creditors mentioned in Gravitricity’s statement of…