Author: solarenergy
Researchers in Spain have identified a new source of underperformance in utility-scale PV installations, caused by “suboptimal backtracking” on slightly uneven terrain. The study shows that real tracker control systems deviate from ideal flat terrain assumptions, reducing radiation capture and causing measurable energy losses compared to simulations. April 16, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Madrid claim to have identified a new source of underperformance in ground-mounted PV installations using solar trackers. “We started this work after receiving several questions at IES-UPM wondering why the radiation gain of trackers in utility-scale PV installations was lower than estimated…
A Spanish-Chilean research team has found that microbial biofilms in the Atacama Desert can significantly contribute to the contamination of photovoltaic modules, reducing short-circuit current by up to about 30% under accelerated laboratory conditions. The study highlights microorganisms as active agents in PV pollution and suggests that they may influence optical losses, cleaning efficiency and future mitigation strategies in arid, highly exposed solar regions. April 16, 2026 Jose Pedrosa A Spanish-Chilean research team has investigated the role of microorganisms in the contamination of photovoltaic surfaces in the Atacama Desert and found that microbial biofilms can significantly affect the performance of…
The US solar sector reached a historic milestone in late 2025, officially surpassing 10 GWdirect current of cumulative national installations, according to a new report issued by Wooden Mackenzie in collaboration with the Coalition for Community Access to Solar Energy (CCSA). While the market experienced a 25% contraction in 2025 due to a slowdown in mature markets such as New York and Maine, national installed capacity is expected to recover with 12% growth in 2026. The market installed 1,435 MW in 2025. “Overall, we expect national installed community solar capacity to shrink by an average of 5% annually through 2030…
The German manufacturer has launched an integrated energy system that combines inverter, storage and energy management in a modular, scalable solution for new and existing PV installations. The system supports AC/DC coupling, backup power and smart energy optimization. April 15, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt Germany-based Varta has released its first all-in-one battery energy storage system (BESS). The Varta.hybrid.wall solution integrates an inverter, battery storage and energy management into one system configuration. This approach allows installers to configure flexible, scalable packages for a range of system sizes and performance classes. All components are “Made in Europe” and are technically compatible, the company…
The government of Togo is conducting a tender for the construction of solar mini-grids in 27 rural areas. The deadline for registration is May 26. April 15, 2026 Patrick Jowett Image: Aboodi Vesakaran/Unsplash The Togolese government has opened a tender for the construction of solar mini-grids in 27 rural areas of Togo. The invite you to register divides the work into two lots. The first will cover mini-grids in eleven locations in the Plateaux region, south of the central region of the country. The mini-grids will have a cumulative solar capacity of 1,295 kW, in addition to 2,2520 kWh of…
Free afternoon electricity programs are intended to shift household demand to periods of high solar PV generation, reducing midday surplus and evening fossil fuel increases. Research into Australia’s Solar Sharer program suggests such incentives can significantly improve renewable energy use, but results depend on consumer behavior, tax shifting and rebound effects. April 15, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Free midday electricity is an important tool to encourage consumers to use appliances and consume more energy during hours of strong photovoltaic production, when electricity supply often exceeds demand, creating inefficiencies in the system. By reducing prices to zero or near zero, consumers are…
Credential cyber attacks are a major category of cyber threats that target digital and cyber-physical systems that rely on secure access to maintain control and visibility. In PV systems, where operators rely on remote monitoring platforms, SCADA interfaces and cloud-connected devices, compromised credentials can provide attackers with direct and permanent access to critical infrastructure. These attacks include obtaining legitimate usernames and passwords through techniques such as phishing, brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, or exploiting weak authentication practices. Unlike denial-of-service attacks that overwhelm systems, credential attacks allow adversaries to impersonate authorized users, bypassing traditional security barriers. As a result, operators may be…
The German manufacturer said its new air-to-water heat pump system uses propane as a coolant and is available in three variants with outputs of 5 kW, 7 kW and 11 kW. The new product can reportedly achieve a coefficient of performance of up to 4.93. April 15, 2026 Emiliano Bellini German heating specialist Vaillant has launched a compact air-water heat pump, designed for flexible use in both new construction and renovation applications. “The new Arotherm Pro heat pump has been precision engineered to meet the demands of the current specification market, delivering a coefficient of performance (COP) of up to…
RWE has scrapped its 99.9MW Butterfly solar-plus-storage project in Wales after finding that the availability of grid connections made it unviable, in a move that comes against the backdrop of soaring demand for connections and mounting pressure on Britain’s queuing reform process. April 15, 2026 Brian Publicover Image: Sebastian Hermann, Unsplash RWE Renewables has withdrawn its proposed 99.9MW Butterfly (Glöyn Byw) solar-plus-storage project in Wrexham, Wales, after concluding that the availability of grid connections made the scheme unviable at this stage. “After careful consideration and a detailed assessment of the availability of grid connections and the overall viability of the…
IPP Elgin has secured up to £500 million in funding from a banking syndicate, which it says it will use to cover the construction of up to 1GW of solar and energy storage.The fully integrated utility-scale independent power producer (IPP) said the projects earmarked for the financing will be powered over the coming years, ahead of the UK government’s 2030 clean energy target. The banking group includes BNP Paribas, Siemens Bank, Société Générale, Standard Chartered and NatWest. NatWest also acted as the sole structuring and coordinating bank. While the full pipeline of projects to be funded by the funding was…