When it comes to module durability, we need to think differently, according to research from Austria’s Polymer Competence Center Leoben. Researcher Chiara Barretta reveals study results that saw modules in a tropical environment suffer significant degradation. Even stabiliser materials in the encapsulants had a limited effect.

New data shows Sweden, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark are the leading countries for per capita solar and wind generation capacity. Furthermore, it reveals global solar capacity has been doubling every three years, and wind every six years, whereas fossil and nuclear capacity and generation have been almost static in recent years.

The global energy transition began at different times for different nation states. Iceland and Costa Rica had natural advantages but Germany took the lead in establishing the formula for every country to embark on an energy transition. What began a quarter of a century ago is now entering the next phase: a select group of nations undergoing an energy transformation.

There is no consensus on the future of PV technology but there is general agreement that existing silicon solar cells do not represent the pinnacle of solar energy generation. This has resulted in the exploration of alternative materials and device architectures, with tandem solar cells emerging as the front runner for the next generation of solar cells to be deployed at scale.

There was excellent news at the weekend on Australia’s accelerating progress in slashing consumers’ skyrocketing energy bills and transitioning the community to cheap, clean, reliable firmed renewables. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement of a $2.3 billion program to subsidise the purchase of household batteries will deliver a 30% rebate on the price of battery systems from 1 July 2025, with small business and community facilities also eligible.

Smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies has received over $1 million in research and development tax credits from the Australian Taxation Office, to progress a suite of projects, including its Generation 2 insulated solar glass.

Researchers at two South Korean universities have collaborated to achieve a breakthrough in lithium-ion battery technology by developing a novel hybrid anode material.

Eku Energy, the battery storage offshoot of Australian financial services group Macquarie, has acquired a 1 GW / 2 GWh portfolio of energy storage projects in the United Kingdom.

Uptake of an ENGIE and SA Power Networks trial offer to help manage periodic oversupply of household rooftop solar energy – by rewarding customers – has seen its cap of 50 households double to 100.

Construction has begun on a 190 MW solar farm at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as the iron ore and green energy giant forges ahead with its decarbonisation plans.

An 800 MW solar farm and 300 MW battery storage system are included in one of four renewable energy projects totalling 3.65 GW of generation capacity granted the right to connect to new transmission lines in the South West Renewable Energy Zone of New South Wales.

The design of a grid-scale solar farm and battery energy storage project planned for the New England region of New South Wales has undergone “considerable amendments” – including reducing the number of solar panels to be installed by more than 75,000 – as the developers seek to address community concerns.

An AI-driven solar module-mounting robot has wrapped up its first commercial installation project in the Australian market, deploying almost 10,000 modules in less than 10 weeks.

The Indian manufacturer said its new TOPCon solar panel is based on rectangular bifacial solar cells and is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Canberra-based renewable energy company EPC Solar has made its first foray overseas, launching into Fiji where it says it has a pipeline of more than 40 potential solar and energy storage projects.

New research from UNSW shows EVA-encapsulated TOPCon solar modules under damp-heat testing can suffer significant power losses and fill factor drops. The study describes metallisation degradation mechanisms driven by EVA-generated contaminants and demonstrates the effectiveness of metallisation adjustments in reducing EVA-induced degradation rates

The result was confirmed by the United States Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The Austrian manufacturer said its new hybrid inverters can increase the usable output of the PV system to up to 150%. They are available in six version with rated AC power ranging from 15 kW to 33.3 kW.

University of Queensland researchers have pushed efficiency boundaries for tin halide perovskite cells, achieving a certified record of 16.65%, one percentage point higher than the previous best.

The Chinese manufacturer said its new product uses inverter units with an output of 800 kW, of which 12 can be connected in parallel. It can work in weather of up to 52 C.

The new edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic, published this week, reports that average PV module prices last year dropped by 33% compared to the end of 2023.

Longi said it has achieved a 27.81% efficiency rating for a hybrid interdigitated back contact, a result confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin.

GoodWe says its new EHB single-phase hybrid inverters suit larger residential energy storage applications with the series supporting 200% PV oversizing, allowing for systems up to 20 kW in size.

Scientists at Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales have broken through significant barriers to perovskite solar cell industrial adoption with the discovery of ground breaking green manufacturing processes and materials.

Pilot shipments of AIKO’s ultra-light 8.6 kilogram solar panel have arrived in Australia offering a solution to structural load limits common in old warehouses, cold stores and lightweight rooftops.

Australian energy infrastructure investor Quinbrook’s $1.4 billion Supernode battery project in Queensland will expand by 250 MW through an offtake agreement with state-owned Stanwell Corporation bringing the energy collosus to a total 750 MW / 2,540 MWh capacity.

The path for Fotowatio Renewable Ventures to build two hybrid solar and energy storage projects in central Victoria has been smoothed with electricity distribution company AusNet revealing it is “unconditionally” progressing the connection works for the hybrid installations.

With a fully integrated power conversion system, battery management system, and energy management system, PowerStack 255CS aims to streamline energy storage operations while reducing installation complexity.

Australian EPC contractor ACLE Services has been awarded the construction contract for the first stage of a 148 MW battery energy storage system to be deployed at Spanish renewables developer X-Elio’s 200 MW Blue Grass Solar Farm in Queensland.

Wollongong-based software company Gridsight has raised $7.5 million to support the growth of its AI-powered platform that is designed to help electricity network operators integrate and maximise the use of new distributed renewable energy resources such as solar and batteries.