UK rooftop solar has strongest Q1 since 2012, new record for generation in April
Building regulations in England support growth in demand for rooftop solar as new-build properties make up significant share of small-scale PV installations. Strong installations in first quarter of 2025 were followed by a new single-day record for UK solar generation in April.
Biwatt releases 4.5 kWh sodium-ion battery
The Chinese manufacturer said its new IP65-rated product has a lifetime of 5,000 cycles. Up to four batteries can be stacked together, with total storage capacity reaching 18 kWh.
How to integrate solar-plus-storage with heat pumps
Scientists in Spain have simulated a system that uses both power-to-heat-to-power thermal batteries and lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. The hybrid system reportedly achieved a 7% lower LCOE compared to a PV system relying solely on lithium batteries, while simultaneously increasing PV self-consumption by up to 20%.
Spain blackout not caused by renewables, says prime minister
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says Spain’s recent blackout was not triggered by excess renewables or a lack of nuclear power. He claims the government will reform the grid, seek an independent report from Brussels, and launch a national inquiry.
FlexHome Energy offers home battery in utility-sharing deal
A new product from German supplier FlexHome Energy could offer residents without a solar array, such as apartment dwellers, the chance to make electricity savings and strengthen the grid.
History repeats as Iberian blackout demonstrates urgent need for battery storage
The vast blackout that gripped the Iberian Peninsula on April 28 has echoes of a similar event in an Australian state in 2016. The solution in both cases appears to be the same.
Spain’s nationwide blackout leaves millions in the dark, cause still unclear
Spanish energy expert Antonio Delgado Rigal tells pv magazine that while the exact cause of yesterday’s nationwide blackout in Spain remains unclear, preliminary signs point to grid instability triggered by system failure.
Fraunhofer ISE streamlines use of epitaxial wafers in TOPCon solar cell manufacturing
Researchers at the German research institute have demonstrated that the so-called EpiWafers could be used directly for solar cell fabrication without needing a pre-gettering step. Their experiments provide a proof of principle* for epitaxially grown silicon wafers from German wafer manufacturer NexWafe GmbH.
Axpo, EDF Renewables Hellas sign 102 MW solar PPA in Greece
Axpo has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDF Renewables Hellas for two solar plants totaling 102 MW in Greece’s Viotia region.
IBC Solar launches mounting systems for rooftop, facade PV systems
Germany’s IBC Solar has developed two new mounting systems for rooftop and facade PV installations: the WallFix system, made of aluminum and stainless steel, and the AeroFix G3.1, designed for modules up to 3 square meters.
