WeHeat said its monoblock air-to-water heat pump features a seasonal coefficient of performance of 4.7 and propane as the refrigerant. The system is available in four versions with output ranging from 8 kW to 11 kW.| pv magazine International
Carrier, a US-based heating solutions provider, has introduced a new heat pump system featuring a cooling seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER2) of up to 29.7 and a heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF2) of up to 12.2.| pv magazine International
Researchers in Japan have made another attempt to make agrivoltaics on rice fields technically and economically feasible, despite well-known productivity issues when rice is grown below solar modules. They used double-axis tracking, finding potential with careful management of shading and tilt angles.| pv magazine International
Multiple factors affect the productive lifespan of a residential solar system. In Part 2 of our series, we look at solar inverters.| pv magazine International
The federal government’s Australian Research Council has launched a new training centre in South Australia that will seek to provide industry-led solutions for the recovery, reuse and recycling of battery waste in Australia.| pv magazine Australia
Several factors affect the productive lifespan of a residential solar panel. In the first part of a series, we look at the solar panels themselves.| pv magazine International
Scientists simulated several liquid air energy storage systems, comparing round-trip efficiency across configurations that include liquefied natural gas (LNG), solar, and Stirling engines, and further optimized performance using particle swarm methods.| pv magazine International
Daikin said its new EWWH-VZ water-cooled inverter chiller and heat pump has cooling and heating capacity ranging from 400 kW to 1,900 kW. The system uses R1234ze as the refrigerant.| pv magazine International
WHES has released a new commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage system using a 509 kWh battery with power output options from 62.5 kW to 250 kW, and a maximum efficiency of 98.5%.| pv magazine International
New all-in-one LFP battery system is scalable up to 5.2 MWh for on-grid applications.| pv magazine International
Austrian startup Podero has launched software to enable utilities to roll out new residential services via its home energy device steering and trading solutions.| pv magazine International
UK workplace pension provider Smart Pension has announced an initial GBP 330 million ($440 million) strategic investment in Octopus Energy Generation. The renewables arm of Octopus Energy invests in solar, wind and energy storage projects, as well as clean energy technologies such as heat pumps.| pv magazine International
Scientists in India have simulated and tested a prototype wireless charging system for electric vehicles, with a three-port DC–DC converter at its core and have found it achieved an improved efficiency of 88%.| pv magazine Australia
The European Patent Office says China has overtaken other countries in photovoltaic patent filings over the past 15 years, while European startups and universities retain a lead in agrivoltaics and niche solar applications.| pv magazine India
A United States-based collaboration between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and CubicPV has yielded a perovskite minimodule with certified efficiency of 24.0%. The two noted that it is the first time a U.S. effort has set a record in the perovskite mini module category.| pv magazine Australia
Quantum dot technology promises to boost bifacial solar module output. The company entered into a supply agreement with specialist UbiQD.| pv magazine USA
Non-lithium chemistries stand out as attractive options for fire-resilient batteries.| pv magazine USA
The Australian government has announced $60 million in new funding for research and development projects that promise to accelerate cost reductions for PV technology and help meet the stretch target for “ultra low-cost” solar production.| pv magazine Australia
In grids increasingly dominated by renewables, grid-forming technology is emerging as critical tool for maintaining stability and ensuring reliable power system operation. In this interview with ESS News, Rui Sun, Sungrow’s Deputy General Manager-Grid Technology Center, explains how grid-forming works, why it matters, and where the technology is already proving its value. He elaborates on technical challenges, regulatory gaps, and why grid-forming could soon become the new industry standard.| pv magazine Australia
Australian company Solspan has unveiled a vertical solar wall system that it says will enable the dual purposing of agricultural land, helping to address land use concerns associated with the rollout of renewable energy projects.| pv magazine Australia
K2 Systems has introduced two new pitched roof mounting components for residential solar: the SingleHook 3S Light, made of aluminum and stainless steel; and the InsertionRail 2.0, an aluminum mounting rail.| pv magazine Australia
Deye has developed a new power conversion system optimised for solar integration, with modules ranging from 100 kW to 125 kW. The Chinese manufacturer says the PCS supports flexible system design and targets commercial and industrial applications.| pv magazine Australia
United States-headquartered manufacturer GameChange Solar says its Genius Tracker TF supports slopes of up to 1.7 degrees between posts, thereby reducing land grading costs.| pv magazine Australia
The MIT/Stanford spinoff announced a collaboration with American Tower Corporation to evaluate high energy density solar panels for telecom towers.| pv magazine USA
Polar Night Energy will build a second pilot plant in southern Finland to test its power-to-heat-to-power sand battery technology. The project aims to demonstrate the system’s ability to reconvert stored heat into electricity.| pv magazine International
MGA Thermal has its sights fixed on the commercialisation of its long-duration electro-thermal energy storage solution after the successful commissioning of a 5 MWh pilot plant on the New South Wales Central Coast.| pv magazine Australia
Longi said it has achieved a 27.81% efficiency rating for a hybrid interdigitated back contact, as confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH).| pv magazine India
The Australian arm of United Kingdom-based renewables giant Octopus Group has started building the Fulham solar farm and battery energy storage system in Victoria after reaching financial close on the estimated $300 million project.| pv magazine Australia
Charge Robotics partnered with Solv Energy to pilot a portable factory system intended to make solar installations safer and more efficient for increasingly challenging terrain.| pv magazine USA
France’s Cour des Comptes has issued a warning about rising nuclear energy costs. It is urging state-owned utility EDF to reduce its financial risks in international projects.| pv magazine International
A European research team has installed solar panels on a light commercial electric vehicle and has tested their performance for four months. The vehicle was able to extend the range by 530 km, although not all panels contributed equally. System efficiency was measured at up to 66%.| pv magazine International
AREP, a subsidiary of French railway operator SNCF, has deployed a prototype of a mini-reversible solar power plant on non-running rails to test it for six months. The solution is shipped in standardized ISO containers including inverters and storage batteries.| pv magazine International
The Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) has introduced a fire safety test that simulates a fire starting on the roof membrane beneath a PV system. The researchers noted the importance of realistic construction methods, including factors such as anchors, adhesives, membrane welding, and ballast use.| pv magazine International
Scientists in China placed a 0.5 mm thick aluminum foil between the solar cell and the EVA, and between the EVA and the glass layer. The two experimental modules were compared to a reference module and were found to dissipate heat and increase the in-plane temperature uniformity.| pv magazine International
An international study led by Flinders University in Adelaide has advanced nano-scale chemistry to further develop sustainable and efficient generation of hydrogen from water using solar power.| pv magazine Australia
Independent testing of JinkoSolar's N-type TOPCon-based perovskite tandem solar cell has achieved a conversion efficiency of 33.84%, surpassing the company's previous record of 33.24%,| pv magazine Australia
In five key trends, pv magazine looks back over a year that saw PV module prices fall lower than many thought possible, while demand was restrained by grid congestion, among other challenges. Energy storage has had a strong year and geopolitics is seeing solar and battery manufacturing enter new regions as competition drives technical innovation.| pv magazine Australia
South Australian-based space technology company Fleet Space has developed an intelligent platform in communication with a low orbit satellite, that can identify critical minerals and accelerate their extraction for use in clean energy technology.| pv magazine Australia