News

Sekisui Chemical is investing $68 million to mass produce perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with 10-year durability and 15% efficiency. Japanese gov't is supporting this cutting edge tech to install in public facilities.

Power Roll has secured an investment of £1 million to expand their patentedMicrogrooves technology andcommercialize their affordable and efficient flexible solar film worldwide. Their solar film can produce cost-effective electricity for a variety of applications.

Clenera LLC, a subsidiary of Israeli renewables developer Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd, announced their 105-MW DC Apex Solar project in Montana is now online. Producing enough energy to cover 13,500 households, it is the first joint project between Clenera and Enlight, financed by Bank of America, NORD/LB, and Huntington National Bank. Clenera is developing more projects in Montana.

Harvard researchers have developed a novel liquid-based encapsulation platform offering water protection without sacrificing the properties of contained materials. Features include flexibility, optical transparency, and self-healing - perfect for devices like solar cells and bioelectronics.

KAUST and LONGi sign MoU to foster innovation in solar energy, leveraging expertise and resources to advance technologies, develop materials, optimize performance, and promote talent development. Helping to address climate change and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

US Commerce Department's 17-month probe is set to rule on trade practices related to Chinese-made solar equipment. Sanctions could include antidumping and countervailing duties up to 254% next June, impacting US clean energy growth and job opportunities. Ruling may also affect domestic manufacturers and treatment of silicon wafers used for solar cells and modules.

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC secures USD 75 million to expand investments in solar, solar-plus-storage and stand-alone energy storage projects. Expansion to USD 250 million possible. Latest project is a 30-MW/120-MWh battery energy storage system in California.

Alinta Energy to construct 100-MW battery energy storage facility in WA to stabilise power grid. Works to commence immediately, 800-MWh second stage to be completed by late 2024. Synergy is also constructing WA's first utility-scale energy storage facility.

Leeward Renewable Energy LLC has launched its 100-MW Oak Trail solar project in North Carolina. Discover the PV park near Mayock in Currituck County, financed with a USD 420 million green loan plus a USD-195-million tax equity commitment from Wells Fargo. Plus, the native vegetation and wildflowers pollinator habitat.

Enel SpA's plan to sell a 50% stake in its Australian renewable energy business to Inpex Corp has been approved by the European Commission. The deal is worth EUR 400 million, with EUR 140 million in debt. Enel Green Power Australia currently operates three solar farms and is building 170 MW of wind and solar parks. This sale is part of Enel's strategy to reduce net debt in 2023-2025.

Trina Solar and Voltalia have partnered to build Karavasta Solar, a 140MW solar project in Albania. Funded by EBRD, the project is expected to generate electricity and employment to the local community, with 1% of the total investment going towards social initiatives.

NorSun has raised 8.6 million dollars to fuel its growth projects in Europe and the US. Statkraft Ventures, Ardal Energi, Nysno Klimainvesteringer, and more, have subscribed to the capital. NorSun plans to build a 5GW production facility in the US and 3GW expansion in Årdal, Norway, funded in part by the EU Innovation Fund.

CIMIC Group's unit Pacific Partnerships acquires rights to develop 300-MW DC solar project in Queensland, capable of providing power for around 100,000 average-sized homes. Juan Santamaria notes Queensland is strategic focus for their diversified energy and utilities portfolio. Engineering, procurement and construction to be managed with an aim to commission in 2026.

Penn State scientists have found a cost-effective way to harness nature's wisdom to make more efficient, stable solar cells using perovskite material and synthesized biomolecules. Create larger devices without sacrificing efficiency or sunlight-to-electricity conversion.

Researchers at Chonnam University in South Korea have developed a new type of solar cell with 21.59% power conversion efficiency. Anti-solvent free hot-air method was used to fabricate the prototype, leading to 18.43% efficiency when scaled up. This could pave the way for widespread use of perovskite solar cell modules.