Author: solarenergy

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has inaugurated a major battery energy storage systems (BESS) project as part of a 500 MWh rollout to strengthen grid stability and support renewable energy integration. March 31, 2026 Blathnaid O’Dea By ESS news President Ilham Aliyev has launched one of Azerbaijan’s largest battery storage projects as part of a larger utility-scale BESS development program led by AzerEnergy. The state-owned energy producer was tasked to set up large energy storage centers with a total capacity of 250 MW/500 MWh, spread over two main substations: the 500 KV Absheron and 220 kV Agdash substations. The Absheron BESS…

By Martin McConnell March 31, 2026 Georgia power has begun construction on a new 260 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Jefferson County, eastern Georgia. Located near the town of Wadley, the project will be adjacent to the town’s existing third-party Wadley solar facility, as well as near existing energy transmission infrastructure. The system is owned by the company and Georgia Power plans to use it to boost its network in the Peach State, officials say. “At Georgia Power, our partnership with Georgia (Public Service Commission) and other stakeholders is critical to making the necessary investments for a…

Are your solar panels underperforming without a clear reason? Hidden faults could be quietly draining your energy output—and your revenue. Thermal imaging inspections provide a data-driven way to detect inefficiencies that traditional methods miss. By identifying heat irregularities across your solar array, this technology uncovers performance issues at the cell level—before they escalate into costly failures. Unlike standard inspections, thermal diagnostics deliver a complete system health check—fast, precise, and non-invasive. Why Visual Inspections Alone Fall Short Traditional solar inspections focus on visible damage, shading, or loose connections. While necessary, they fail to detect internal electrical issues that directly impact performance.…

JinkoSolar has formally terminated its 4 GW Hai Ha solar cell project in Vietnam, citing US anti-dumping duties that were undermining the export economy. The company will continue other Vietnamese operations and shift focus to local supply chains and markets in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. March 31, 2026 Vincent Shaw JinkoSolar’s Hai Ha solar cell project in Vietnam was formally terminated on March 11, after the investor requested that development be halted and the Quang Ninh Provincial Economic Zone Management Board approved the request under Vietnam’s Investment Law. The authority also revoked the project’s investment certificate No. 3282186668.…

As Europe prepares to deploy 200 GWh of battery storage over the next five years, the discussion at the Battery Business & Development Forum 2026 will focus on how financing models are rapidly changing. Bankers, developers and stakeholders shared key pain points with the audience, as well as practical advice. March 31, 2026 Tristan Rayner By ESS news Finance took center stage at BBDF during a lively session discussing the range of financing options available for BESS projects. Mark van Zon, senior director at ABN AMRO, opened the session by introducing a wide range of financial concepts, such as floor…

A study of twenty solar farms in southern France found that soil biodiversity and respiration significantly decrease under panels, especially in mowed areas, while plant traits such as height and leaf area can increase under grazing. The researchers emphasized that climate, type of management and sun protection all determine the responses of the soil and plants. March 31, 2026 Lior Kahana A French research team has analyzed the impact of solar farms on the mesofauna, respiration and plant properties of the soil by collecting samples from twenty different parks in southern France. “This study has several new aspects,” said corresponding…

By Martin McConnell March 31, 2026 The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved the Kaawanui Solar and Energy Storage Project on Kaua’i, furthering the island’s efforts toward 100% renewable generation. Led by AES Hawaiithe Kaawanui solar energy The project includes a 43 MW solar array and four-hour battery storage capacity. In total, the battery can store up to 172 MWh of electricity for use during periods without solar power. David Bissell, president and CEO of the Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC)says once powered, the project would power the equivalent of 16,000 homes per year. That would account for 17.5%…

A solar power plant with a generation capacity of 99.9 MW has been submitted to the Melton Borough Council by Canadian independent power producer (IPP) Boralex.The 99.9MW solar power plant would be built on approximately 118 hectares of land near Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire. This is the first planning application for a power station of more than 50 MW to be submitted to a local planning authority (LPA).At the end of 2024, the The government has published a revised national planning policy framework (NPPF). In addition to changing the wording in the document to give additional weight to proposals for…

Researchers in Brazil tested second-life polycrystalline PV modules for two years and found that they retained 87-88% of their original power, with minimal degradation and stable performance. Despite strong sustainability and circular economy benefits, economic incentives remain limited due to the falling costs and short warranties of new, state-of-the-art silicon PV modules. March 31, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in Brazil have conducted two years of testing on polycrystalline solar panels deployed on their campus and found that they can still guarantee ‘stable’ behavior, with performance consistent with annual degradation rates of up…

Investors at the Battery Business & Development Forum (BBDF) 2026 pointed to continued confidence in the energy storage market, while warning that regulatory uncertainty, particularly around electricity rates in Germany, could impact project economics and investment decisions. March 31, 2026 Brian Publicover By ESS news European battery storage has matured, but remains dynamic and experiencing strong growth in all markets. That was one of the main conclusions of the opening session of the Battery Business Development Forum (BBDF) 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Now in its second year, the two-day event welcomes more than 100 expert speakers and 28…