Green hydrogen remains ‘prohibitively’ expensive in Africa
A European research team has assessed the levelized cost of hydrogen across 31 African countries and has concluded that importing green hydrogen from Africa to European is economically unfeasible by 2030, with prices ranging from $10.2/kg to $3.8/kg.
China’s SNEC 2025 show highlights PV industry resilience, storage growth
Chinese solar manufacturers showed resilience at the 2025 SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai despite a deepening supply glut, as strong demand for energy storage and emerging technologies offset a steep drop in new PV module launches. Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) stayed dominant, while back-contact, perovskite, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) storage solutions gained traction.
Optimizing endless PV-driven heat pump scenarios for costs, self-sufficiency
Researchers have used mixed-integer linear programming-based multi-objective optimization to optimize 30,912 unique scenarios showing heat pumps operating in combination with PV power. The optimization modeling was conducted under day-ahead spot market prices terms.
How organic flow batteries could erase the need for critical-mineral dependency
Vanadium flow and lithium-ion batteries both require materials described as critical by the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Longi unveils 700 W back-contact PV panel with world record silicon solar cell
Chinese solar manufacturer Longi unveiled a new PV module with 25.9% efficiency at the 2025 SNEC trade show this week in Shanghai, produced using both low- and high-temperature passivation techniques.
Novel MPPT technique uses fuzzy logic control with new inputs
Academics have developed a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for PV systems that combines incremental conductance with fuzzy logic control. The inputs used are the sum of conductance and incremental conductance and its rate of change. It had an average efficiency of 97.7%.
Perovskite solar cell based on chalcogen-molecules achieves 25.37% efficiency
An international research team has used Lewis molecules to improve efficiency and stability of a perovskite solar cell built with a fully encapsulated trapping tactic aimed to reduce perovskite surface defects. The cell achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 25.18% and a champion efficiency of 25.37%.
Top solar modules in reliability, quality and performance testing
The Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC) has released its 2025 PV Module Index, assessing solar module reliability, quality, and performance across industry benchmarks. The report highlights manufacturers that meet high standards in long-term durability and energy yield.
China’s new pricing policy
China announced new regulations this year that should result in a more market-oriented approach to renewables deployment. S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts Holly Hu and Anqi Shi say the new regulation No. 136 will play a crucial role in shaping China’s renewable energy sector, while introducing revenue uncertainties that will have a ripple effect on the global cleantech supply chain.
US battery supplier Powin files for bankruptcy
Oregon-based battery system integrator Powin faces rising tariffs as it imports lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery components from China.
