Author: solarenergy

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) kicked off a frenzy for solar and storage developers to take advantage of expiring federal tax credits. Some states are taking action to deliver as many renewable kilowatts to the grid as possible before the big deadline for construction to start on July 4, 2026. Credit: Lichtsource bp In Oregon and Colorado, governors themselves have tried to streamline permitting and cut other red tape to get projects online faster. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued an executive order in October 2025 titled “Accelerating Wind and Solar Energy Development to Avoid the Elimination of Federal…

The share of renewables in German energy production almost stagnated in 2025, data showed on Monday, as concerns grow about a shift away from green policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This figure had risen sharply in recent years as Europe’s largest economy strives to achieve the target of green energy making up 80 percent of the energy mix by 2030. But last year, energy from sources such as wind, solar and hydropower accounted for 58.8 percent of the mix, up slightly from 58.5 percent in 2024, the energy regulator said. In 2021 this was only 43 percent. The share…

France-based DOTSun has developed an on-site repair solution for solar panels with affected backplates, compatible with PA, PVDF and PET types. The system uses a compact laminator to apply a protective film to the back of the module, reportedly restoring insulation and extending the life of up to 2,000 panels per location. January 7, 2026 Emiliano Bellini French startup DOTSun has unveiled an on-site repair solution for solar panels suffering from backsheet degradation. The new system, called DOTSun Extended Life, is compatible with all major types of backsheets, including polyamide (PA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). “The on-site…

Anesco acquires a 35 MW Beachampton solar project Anesco, developer and owner of renewable energy sources, has acquired Beachampton Solar Project Ltd. acquired the company developing a 35 MW solar project at Manor Farm near Beachampton in Buckinghamshire. The site was previously owned by developer One Planet, who developed the site in partnership with infrastructure and countryside management company Kingwell. The site will be built on a 106 hectare site. Buckinghamshire council documents show numerous objections to the development of the site when it was first proposed, including from Conservative MP Greg Smith, citing the impact on the BMV (Best…

China’s Astronergy says its ASTRO N7 Pro module targets utility-scale PV installations and commercial rooftops, offering quarter-cell architecture, bifacial benefits and a 30-year performance warranty. January 7, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt Astronergy, the solar module unit of China’s Chint Group, has introduced a new tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar panel with a power output of up to 670W, with a maximum conversion efficiency of 24.8%. The product, marketed as the ASTRO N7 Pro, is designed for utility-scale photovoltaic installations, as well as commercial and industrial rooftop installations. Astronergy said the module is based on the TOPCon 5.0+ cell technology, without…

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a revised “smart solar” law (S4100/A5264) in December. The Senate and the State Assembly previously unanimously passed the amended legislation. The legislation will have to be implemented by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) under the new administration of newly elected Governor Mikie Sherrill. The bill will speed up the approval process for residential solar and battery systems, creating more solar installations and energy bill savings for families across the state. This legislation would require the DCA to make available an online, automated permitting platform for rooftop solar and battery installations statewide within 18…

More than 1.2 GWh of new behind-the-meter energy storage capacity was installed across Australia in December 2025, as households and businesses sought to take advantage of the federal government’s revised AUD7.2 billion ($4.9 billion) Cheaper Home Batteries Program. January 7, 2026 David Caroll By pv magazine Australia This is evident from the latest figures from energy sector data analyst SunWiz Australia registered 1,203 MWh of behind-the-meter battery energy storage capacity through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) in December 2025, exceeding 1 GWh for the second consecutive month. The national market grew by 19% in December 2025, slowing from 42%…

Sweden-based renewable energy company Orrön Energy has secured grid connections for three solar PV projects with a generation capacity of approximately 1.8 GW. In addition to the three solar projects, the company has also secured grid connections for three data center projects with a cumulative capacity of 1.1 GW. Orrön Energy did not confirm the location or individual size of any of the projects, but did say they are greenfield sites.The company said it expects more binding details on the network connections in the third quarter of 2026. After approval of the network and secured land, the locations are now…

UNSW researchers developed an experimentally validated model that links UV-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells to hydrogen transport, charge capture and permanent structural changes in the passivation stack. They show that thicker alumina layers significantly improve UV resistance by limiting hydrogen migration, providing clear guidance for more robust TOPCon designs. January 7, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have investigated this ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) in TOPCon solar cells and have discovered that a thicker layer of aluminum oxide (AlOx) prevents this kind of “Our new work provides a comprehensive, experimentally validated model for UV…

The GWh-scale long-term energy storage project is expected to reduce curtailment in Xinjiang, a region in China with high solar and wind power generation and transmission bottlenecks. The flow battery installation is located at the same location as a PV installation. January 7, 2026 Matthew Lynas Image: WeChat, Xinjiang local government By ESS news The world’s first gigawatt-hour scale vanadium flow battery energy storage project has gone into operation in China, with a total installed capacity of 200 MW/1,000 MWh. Located in Jimusar Province, Xinjiang, the solar and storage project represents a total investment of CNY3.8 billion ($520 million) and…