Heat pumps in Germany nearly twice as expensive as in UK
RWTH Aachen University conducted the price comparison in cooperation with Octopus Energy. The reasons are significantly different technical and regulatory requirements, but also the funding system.
India’s MNRE says imported silicon wafers do not meet domestic PV criteria
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has ruled that solar cells made with imported diffused silicon wafers, known as “blue wafers,” do not qualify for government programs requiring domestically manufactured PV cells.
Combining liquid-based direct air capture with compressed air energy storage
Scientists in China have simulated a system that combines liquid-based direct air capture with diabatic compressed air energy storage, for the benefit of both processes. Exploring its economic feasibility, they found the system could achieve a levelized cost of energy of $0.53/kWh and a levelized cost of CO2 captured from air of $259/tCO2.
Energy management systems key to helping residential customers navigate increasingly complex energy markets
Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) are emerging as essential tools, enabling consumers to navigate grid complexities, optimize energy usage, and contribute to a more resilient and low-carbon grid.
Italy strikes down Sardinian moratorium on renewables
The decision is significant, as “it sets out principles whose scope exceeds the issue of the moratorium, affirming the unconstitutionality of regional regulations that conflict with the decarbonization objectives established at the European and national level,” says attorney Claudio Vivani.
US startup offers portable factory for ground-mounted PV plants
Charge Robotic’s portable factory system assembles solar equipment including tracks, mounting brackets and panels on-site and then puts it into place via an automated robotic vehicle. The company’s first commercial deployments are scheduled for this year.
China unveils nuclear-powered battery with millennium-long lifespan
Beita Pharmatech and Northwest Normal University have develop a carbon-14 nuclear battery encased in silicon carbide, offering unprecedented longevity and application potential.
RWE, TotalEnergies close 15-year hydrogen PPA in Germany
RWE and TotalEnergies have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) under which RWE will supply over 30,000 tons of green hydrogen per year to TotalEnergies’ Leuna refinery in Germany from 2030 to 2044.
New research shows degradation mechanisms in rear side of TOPCon solar cells
Researchers from UNSW and Longi have found that the silicon nitride layers used in TOPCon cell rear-side are particularly prone to chemical degradation from sodium contaminants. This can lead to significant open-circuit voltage losses and reduce cell efficiency.
BloombergNEF expects up to 700 GW of new solar in 2025
BloombergNEF says global solar installations could reach 700 GW in 2025, with additions rising to 753 GW in 2026 and 780 GW in 2027.
