Author: solarenergy
A team from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) has identified a structural mechanism by which adding small amounts of scandium to layered sodium manganese oxide cathodes slows degradation, which typically limits the life of sodium-ion batteries. January 2, 2026 Brian Public A new materials study from Japan shows that targeted scandium substitution in layered sodium manganese oxide can reduce the lattice voltage responsible for rapid capacity decay in sodium ion battery cathodes. The research focuses on layered sodium manganese oxide (Na₂⁄₃MnO₂), a high-capacity cathode material that is widely studied as a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion chemistry due to its abundance…
Wood Mackenzie’s solar module ranking for the first half of 2025 places JA Solar and Trina Solar joint number 1 and introduces a new “Grade A” benchmark focused on purchasing and project financing decisions. January 2, 2026 Vincent Shaw Wood Mackenzie has published its Global Solar Module Manufacturer Ranking for the first half of 2025, putting JA Solar and Trina Solar nearly tied for the top spot according to their weighted scoring model. JA Solar scored 91.7 points, narrowly ahead of Trina Solar with 91.6, in an assessment of 38 crystalline silicon module manufacturers on 10 core performance dimensions. The…
Octopus Energy Group has secured an investment that values its newly spun-off technology company Kraken at $8.65 billion (£6.43 billion).Marking the first round of financing since the split in Septemberinvestors led by D1 Capital Partners, with new investments from Fidelity International, Sustainable Capital Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, will acquire approximately US$1 billion (£743 million) of Kraken shares to fund both Octopus and Kraken. Investors led by Octopus Capital are also injecting an additional $320 million into Octopus for innovation and growth.Octopus retains a 13.7% stake in Kraken, which was founded in 2016 as part of the Octopus…
By pv magazine USA The energy storage industry took a bumpy road in 2025, but eyes are on the tech stack of 2026. While lithium-ion remains dominant, pressure is mounting for longer-duration storage, safer chemistry, and more resilient supply chains in the face of AI-driven tax growth, data center demand, wildfire risk, and tightening domestic content regulations. pv magazine USA spoke with leaders from across the energy storage industry to learn about what’s next for batteries in 2025. Long-term storage will shift from a niche solution to a strategic necessity. “As we look to 2026, the industry is moving towards…
According to the latest analysis from GlobalData, the US will add between 41 and 52 GW of solar energy annually through 2035. December 31, 2025 Patrick Jowett The USA is on track to deploy 737.8 GW of solar energy by the end of 2035, according to an analysis by the London-based consultancy Global data. GlobalData says the US will add 47.9 GW of solar power in 2025, slightly less than current record of 49 GW deployed in 2024. Annual deployment is then expected to decline, with GlobalData projecting an increase of 42.2 GW of solar in 2026, 44.8 GW in…
The intermittent production of solar energy poses challenges for grid operators who have to balance supply and demand. Traditional numerical weather prediction models often handle cloud initialization poorly, causing ultra-short-term solar irradiance predictions to deteriorate over time. Researchers Min Chen and Liangchen Guo from the Institute of Urban Meteorology of the China Meteorological Administration have built a 0-6 hour ultra-short-term global horizontal radiation forecast system for China by combining data from the Fengyun-4B satellite with the regional numerical forecast model RMAPS-ST. Their work appears in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters in an article titled “Ultra-short-term global horizontal irradiance forecasts in…
A regional government agency in eastern China is considering whether to wind down its multi-billion-yuan joint venture with Eging PV after construction delays and financing disruptions, underscoring mounting pressure in the country’s solar supply chain. December 31, 2025 Vincent Shaw A regional government agency in Chuzhou, China’s Anhui province, has notified Chinese module maker Eging PV of a hearing that could lead to the termination of its flagship expansion project, following lengthy closures and stalled construction plans. In a filing dated Dec. 28, 2025, Eging PV said it had received a hearing from the Quanjiao Economic Development Zone Administrative Committee…
A team of materials scientists has developed a bio-based carbon airgel, derived from chitin, that improves thermal energy storage in shape-stabilized phase-change materials while addressing leakage during melting. Phase change materials store and release heat as they melt and solidify, so they are used in building temperature control, solar thermal storage and electronic thermal management. Many organic phase change materials leak when they melt, which shortens their service life and limits their practical application. In the study published in Sustainable Carbon Materials, researchers converted chitin, a natural polymer found in crustaceans and fungi, into an ultra-light airgel and then carbonized…
The total number of UK PV installations supported by Contracts for Difference (CfD) could more than double by 2026 if developers meet deadlines. The contracting company’s latest investment report shows that solar energy has the largest number of contracts of any generation technology. December 31, 2025 Matthew Lynas The UK’s largest PV installation to date, Cleve Hill, was commissioned in 2025 and has a CfD contract. Image: Quinbrook A record number of UK solar power plants, backed by CfDs, are due to come online in 2026 as contract deadlines kick in following a tender process that saw PV win more…
Outdoor retailer REI Cooperative has announced that it has taken further steps to reduce its impact on the planet. In 2025, REI partnered with several companies to accelerate the development of renewable energy. The company is supporting a 2.5 MW community solar project in Woodbury, Minnesota, developed by American solar energy. The project will reserve 500 spots for low- to moderate-income households to subscribe to renewable energy and add clean power to the grid near REI’s Bloomington store. REI too connected a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Carhartt and other outdoor partners to develop an 18.5 MW solar portfolio…