News
EU auditors warn energy community targets outpace reality
1+ day, 6+ hour ago (481+ words) The European Court of Auditors says in a new report that EU policies supporting energy communities are progressing slowly and that the bloc's goal of establishing one renewable energy community in every municipality with more than 10,000 residents by 2025 is unlikely…...
Lightweight PV modules could unlock more than 85 GW of untapped rooftop potential in Europe
1+ day, 12+ hour ago (437+ words) This is Europe's rooftop solar paradox: a continent pushing hard toward 100 GW of annual PV additions, yet sitting on a vast rooftop area it cannot practically use. Our analysis at Becquerel Institute puts the scale of this constrained potential at…...
Transparent superhydrophobic self-cleaning coating increases solar cell efficiency by 4.75%
1+ day, 15+ hour ago (939+ words) Researchers have developed a PFAS-free dual-layer sol-gel and hydrophobic silica coating that repels water, dust, and dirt while maintaining high light transmission for solar panels. The transparent, self-cleaning coating improved photovoltaic efficiency from 13.90% to 14.56%, demonstrating strong durability and potential for…...
NanoMalaysia unveils sodium-ion prototype surpassing 300 Wh/kg
1+ day, 16+ hour ago (392+ words) The new prototype ranks among the most advanced sodium'ion battery systems reported worldwide. The new prototype ranks among the most advanced sodium'ion battery systems reported worldwide.From ESS News NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB), an agency under Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology…...
Wales first part of UK to mandate solar panels on new buildings
2+ day, 5+ hour ago (288+ words) Updated building regulations will effectively mandate solar for domestic and commercial buildings in Wales from early 2027. The new rules come ahead of England's Future Homes Standard, which is also expected to effectively mandate rooftop solar for new builds. Mandatory solar…...
VDE Americas upgrades hail risk model for utility-scale solar
2+ day, 6+ hour ago (593+ words) VDE Americas has enhanced its Hail Risk Model with updated wind data to improve early warning and tracker stow strategies for utility-scale solar. CEO Brian Grenko explains how the models influence tracker design and storm response. VDE Americas, a California-based…...
Longi launches fire-resistant solar module for rooftop PV
2+ day, 11+ hour ago (323+ words) The Chinese manufacturer has launched a fire-resistant version of its Hi-MO X10 module for distributed PV applications, featuring back-contact technology and up to 24.8% efficiency. The company says the module adds enhanced fire-safety design to address rooftop PV risks such as hot…...
TOPCon solar modules show self-healing under UV stress
2+ day, 13+ hour ago (338+ words) Researchers from Nanchang University and Trina Solar found that TOPCon solar modules exhibit metastable "degradation'recovery" under UV exposure, with light soaking fully restoring performance and no impact on real-world energy yield. Their findings highlight the need to refine UV testing…...
Water-spray cooling can improve PV module efficiency by 28% in arid environments
2+ day, 15+ hour ago (326+ words) An Algerian research team has developed a smart water-spray cooling system for PV panels that activates only when temperatures exceed a set threshold, boosting efficiency while minimizing water use in desert conditions. The system raised power output and reduced module…...
First attempt to build solar modules using polycarbonate encapsulant
2+ day, 14+ hour ago (202+ words) Canadian researchers proposed a laminate-free solar module using polycarbonate instead of EVA and glass. The new encapsulation technique reportedly enables easy disassembly, reuse of solar cells, and open-source local manufacturing. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario in Canada have…...