Author: solarenergy

Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems have merged to form Alquion, while Ming Yang Smart Energy Group plans to invest more than $10 billion in hydrogen and renewable energy projects in Ethiopia. April 7, 2026 Sergio Matalucci Battolyser systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems have completed their merger to form Alquion, a new company focused on the development of flexible alkaline electrolysers for industrial applications. The company said its system can operate intermittently without additional degradation. It targets a final investment decision of 0.5 MW for a demonstration project in the second quarter, followed by a unique system from 5 MW…

IT security firm Jakkaru has identified a vulnerability in AP Systems microinverters that could enable a ‘kill switch’ scenario, potentially shutting down tens of thousands of inverters simultaneously and disrupting grid operations. April 7, 2026 Marian Willuhn Cybersecurity company Jakkaru has disclosed a critical security flaw in microinverters manufactured by Chinese manufacturer AP Systems. According to Jakkaru, the flaw allowed the devices to be completely compromised over the Internet, including the ability to shut down systems selectively and simultaneously. AP Systems patched the vulnerability after being alerted by Jakkaru. The hack targeted the EZ1-M microinverter, which is also sold as…

GCL Technology says its subsidiary GCL Optoelectronic is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong in 2026, alongside a potential 500 MW factory in the United States and a roadmap for space-based solar power. April 7, 2026 Vincent Shaw GCL Technology has outlined plans to bring its perovskite subsidiary, GCL Optoelectronic, to Hong Kong in 2026, while also detailing expansion into the United States and development of space-based solar energy applications. Chairman Zhu Gongshan said the company is accelerating the shift away from reliance on a single business line, with a future portfolio focused on granular silicon, perovskites…

Plug-in solar systems plug into an electrical outlet instead of plugging into a home’s electrical panel. Although available for residential use in mainland Europe, plug-and-play solar panels are not offered in Britain due to regulations that make it illegal to plug a solar panel into a standard UK socket. These regulations (wiring regulations BS 7671) have now been amended.Plug-and-play solar systems are small, mains-connected DIY systems that come as a complete package (panels and microinverter) that plug directly into the standard 3-pin socket in Britain and can be used to power household appliances. Ecoflow, Lidl, Iceland and Amazon already plan…

kWh analysis has launched a pilot data-sharing program to reward renewable energy sources for efforts to limit extreme weather events. kWh Analytics expands its risk modeling capabilities by using data from solar projects that employ advanced resiliency measures that go beyond the information typically captured in standard insurance submissions. Credit: Nextpower The initial focus of the pilot is to improve the way project-level resilience data is captured and communicated to insurance companies. Advances in tracker technology, including 70° stowage capabilities, automated stowage procedures and the increasing availability of historical stowage performance data, are creating new opportunities to give insurers a…

Aroma Solar has opened a 1.2 GW tunnel oxide passivated contact module (TOPCon) module facility in the northern Indian state of Haryana, using automated manufacturing and AI-based quality control. April 7, 2026 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Aroma Solar, the renewable energy arm of agricultural exporter Aroma Agrotech, has commenced operations at a 1.2 GW solar panel manufacturing facility in Karnal, Haryana. The company said the factory is North India’s first fully automated, AI-powered production line based on TOPCon technology. The facility produces TOPCon modules with power ratings from 620 W to 635 W, with an efficiency of 23.51%.…

Asset manager Capital Dynamics and renewable energy developer Solo Renewables have formed a joint venture (JV) to build a long-term energy storage project (LDES) in Northern Ireland.Located in Islandmagee, the 150MW battery will provide up to eight hours of storage capacity (1,200MWh) and was approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council earlier this year.According to Capital Dynamics, the £100 million LDES project will be one of the first large-scale LDES power stations to be developed in Ireland’s internal electricity market.Solar energy portal contacted Capital Dynamics about the project’s technology, but the company did not clarify which technology it will…

Greece installed around 1.9 GW of new solar capacity in 2025, bringing the total installed solar capacity to around 11.5 GW, according to industry estimates. April 7, 2026 Ilias Tsagas Greece will have installed around 1,893.5 MW of new PV capacity in 2025, according to estimates from pv magazine by the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (Helapco). Of this total, according to Helapco, 1,191 MW was connected to the Greek electricity transmission grid, while 702.5 MW was connected to the distribution grid. The release of official data later this year is not expected to significantly change the figures. Greece therefore…

A new sodium-ion cell for ESS can further improve competitiveness in large-scale systems compared to the weight of the lithium-ion battery sector. April 7, 2026 Tristan Rayner By ESS news Chinese battery manufacturer Cornex New Energy has announced a range of sodium-ion battery cells, including new prismatic cells for stationary energy storage. For the energy storage sector, Cornex has announced that its product range now includes 165 Ah and 58 Ah models. The 165 Ah sodium ion cell was highlighted because it contains a sodium iron pyrophosphate material in the cathode, using NFPP polyanion-type hard carbon as the anode. Named…

Scientists in Australia claim that TOPCon cells are rapidly closing the open-circuit voltage gap with heterojunction counterparts, now below 10 mV, while offering greater wafer tolerance and high industrial scalability. Despite the slightly lower efficiency, TOPCon-based perovskite/silicon tandems can achieve a levelized energy cost comparable to heterojunction-based tandems, thanks to lower manufacturing costs, the researchers said. April 7, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Heterojunction (HJT) solar cells generally achieve slightly higher open-circuit voltage than TOPCon devices, reflecting differences in surface passivation and recombination losses. The advantage of HJT comes from the use of intrinsic amorphous silicon layers, which provide excellent surface passivation…