Daikin has launched the Altherma 3 H HT, a pre-engineered air-to-water heat pump using R-32 refrigerant, operating down to −28 C and delivering up to 70 C leaving water temperature for direct boiler replacement in existing radiator systems. The system reportedly achieves a coefficient of performance of 4.86.

The EU is moving forward with a plan to restrict funding for PV projects using inverters from high-risk suppliers, citing cybersecurity concerns and issuing new guidance to phase them out. A transition period applies for certain projects linked to the EU grid, while others must exclude such suppliers by 2027.

Dutch startup BlueHeart Energy is testing its thermoacoustic heat pump engine in residential settings, with a limited European launch expected in spring 2027, followed by gradual scaling. The system uses sound waves instead of refrigerants, aiming for quiet, flexible, low-maintenance heating suited especially for retrofits and renewable integration.

U.S. scientists have developed a method to forecast solar irradiance at any location using a single high-resolution hemispherical image captured on-site. By extracting sky, sun, and surrounding scene information from visual cues, the approach enables accurate long-term energy prediction without relying on detailed 3D city models.

A new report from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) estimates that building façades could offer up to 36 GW of technical solar PV potential, representing a significant but largely untapped resource. However, high costs, regulatory complexity, and lower performance compared to rooftop systems limit widespread adoption, currently making façade PV a niche solution for specific building types.

The European Commission has launched the AccelerateEU strategy to address high energy prices driven by the Middle East conflict and its impact on fossil fuel markets. While specific measures for solar, renewables and storage are not yet clearly defined, the package includes the introduction of an Electrification Action Plan by summer.

Globeleq has started construction on 250 MW solar farm connected to 150 MW/600 MWh of battery storage in Zambia’s Lusaka Province.

Spain’s PV curtailment currently averages 3.83% but varies widely by region, driven by grid constraints, system security needs, and market oversupply.

Researchers in China have developed an evaluation framework to better assess fine-line silver pastes for TOPCon and LECO solar cells. The approach links laboratory characterization directly with production-line performance, addressing the limitations of conventional evaluation methods.

Researchers in the United Kingdom developed a scheduling model for residential heat pumps that reduces electricity costs while maintaining thermal comfort under dynamic tariffs and uncertain rooftop PV generation. It optimizes when to use grid power, PV energy, and building thermal storage.