Technology

Germany-based solar tracker developer Sunoyster Systems has developed a 440 W lightweight solar panel with a tempered glass cover for low-load commercial and industrial roofs.

Under the terms of the deal, Germany’s NexWafe will supply its ultrathin solar wafers to Talon PV’s planned 4.8 GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing plant in Texas. Initial qualification work will take place at a pilot production line at Fraunhofer ISE’s Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center.

The US-based heating solutions provider said its Hylex inverter-driven heat pump offers 2–5 ton capacity, high efficiency, Wi-Fi control, and reliable cold-climate performance down to –25 C.

An Australian research team has developed a five-step, rule-based method that detects and classifies underperformance in PV systems using only AC-side inverter data. Validated across more than 1,000 systems, the approach offers a low-cost, low-intervention solution for improving reliability, fault response, and PV system performance.

UNSW researchers have developed an intrinsic-adjusted single-diode model that explicitly accounts for radiative and Auger recombination, improving I–V curve accuracy and reducing root mean square error by up to a factor of three. The model is claimed to better predict performance near open-circuit voltage and maximum power point.

Turboden, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has energized what it calls the world’s largest steam-producing heat pump, delivering 12 MWth of superheated steam using low-grade waste heat and CO₂-free electricity with a coefficient of performance 10% above its guaranteed value of 2.

Warehouses De Pauw (WDP) has installed an 8.5 MW solar system at a warehouse near Brussels-Charleroi Airport, equipping roughly 40% of modules with Phytonics anti-glare film to prevent air traffic disruption while maintaining near-full energy output.

Investment and support could make small-scale space-based solar power (SBSP) viable, with potential for electricity generated in orbit to participate in UK contracts for difference (CfD) scheme according to new report. Launch costs have biggest impact on levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), according to analysis.

Scientists in Hungary found that ground-mounted PV modules at an intermediate elevation of 1.1 m achieve the highest efficiency and power output due to improved airflow and reduced cell temperature. Their study also estimated a levelized cost of electricity of $0.0843/kWh and 577.78 kg CO₂ mitigation over 25 years, while noting results are specific to concrete surfaces.

Korea University researchers have developed a machine-learning framework that predicts solar cell efficiency from wafer quality, enabling early wafer screening and optimized production paths. Using over 100,000 industrial data points, the approach combines predictive modeling, process optimization, and explainable AI to support photovoltaic manufacturing.