UAE integrates solar into district cooling plants
An inauguration ceremony has taken place for the installation of solar panels at two district cooling plants in Abu Dhabi belonging to the UAE’s Ministry of Defence.
The Hydrogen Stream: UK researching hydrogen storage nodes
Ofgem has awarded GBP 500,000 ($677,000) to a consortium led by National Gas and Gravitricity to develop a lined shaft system for storing up to 100 tons of green hydrogen underground. The six-month project aims to assess feasibility ahead of a potential demonstration in 2026.
Italian startup releases 9.8 kWh sodium battery for residential applications
Italy-based Heiwit has developed a 200 Ah sodium-ion battery with a lifespan of 6,000 cycles. The device reportedly offers thermal stability and rapid charging speed.
India launches 2 GW solar, 4 GWh storage tender
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has launched a tender for 2 GW of solar generation capacity paired with 4 GWh of energy storage, requiring bidders to install a minimum of 500 kW/2 MWh storage per megawatt of solar awarded.
Ecological impact of ground-mounted PV depends on previous land use
Researchers in the Netherlands have identified all major solar power plants in the Dutch Province of Gelderland and have analyzed all of their spatial measures in an effort to assess their impact on landscape. They have specifically focused on land use competition, biodiversity, and landscape experience.
Hithium completes world’s first open-door fire test for grid-scale BESS
Chinese energy storage speciliast Hithium has completed a landmark UL-supervised fire safety trial, signaling a step-change in system-level fire protection for grid-scale battery storage.
California fast-tracks 4.6 GW battery project with 1.1 GW of solar
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved the Darden Clean Energy Project, the first development to receive fast-track approval under its Opt-In Certification program. The project includes 1.1 GW of solar capacity and a battery energy storage system (BESS), designed to power 850,000 homes for four hours.
Panama to include storage in energy auctions
In an exclusive interview with pv magazine, Panamanian Energy Secretary Juan Manuel Urriola said the government will open the electricity market to private investment and revise regulations to enable energy storage. Urriola also emphasized the importance of long-term planning and transparent bidding to attract developers.
Canada’s largest off-grid solar project breaks ground
The Anahim Lake Solar Farm in British Columbia, Canada, will provide the Ulkatcho First Nation with renewable energy, reducing the remote community’s use of diesel for electricity generation by almost two-thirds.
Solar hydrogen could be produced at 4.23$/kg in Saudi Arabia
New research from Saudi Arabia shows that PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), or hybrid PV-CSP systems could significantly reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen. CSP offers higher capacity factors, but PV-driven electrolysis provides the lowest projected cost for hydrogen production.
