Technology and R&D

Solar module prices increased by €0.01 ($ 0.012)/W to €0.015/W in February, lifting levels 15% to 18% above the December 2024 low despite falling wafer costs, as manufacturers seek to restore margins after prolonged losses.

The inverters offer up to 99.2% efficiency, 200% PV oversizing, dual battery inputs, IP65 protection, and support for installations up to 144 kWh of storage capacity.

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) researchers have used operando X-ray imaging to reveal why sodium-zinc molten-salt batteries, operating at around 600 C and promising for stationary energy storage due to low-cost, abundant materials, experience persistent capacity loss.

New research from France shows that PV panel height critically influences airflow and evapotranspiration in agrivoltaic systems, with panel heights of less than 3 m affecting crops through altered airflow. The scientists highlighted the need for site-specific measurements and computational fluid dynamics to accurately estimate water and energy exchanges beneath PV panels.

Analysis from BloombergNEF finds the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a typical fixed-axis solar farm increased by 6% year-on-year in 2025 to stand at $39/MWh, but innovation and competition are expected to see costs fall by 30% through to 2035.

The ClearAir air-to-water heat pump is designed for hydronic heating in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Capable of generating hot water up to 80 C with integrated controls, it supports hybrid configurations across diverse applications.

India can leverage its expanding renewable energy base to power AI-driven data center growth, but grid readiness, transmission upgrades and coordinated policy reform will be critical, according to a Deloitte Asia Pacific report.

TU Delft researchers developed a novel hexagonal microtextured glass that enhances light scattering up to 50%, improving optical performance in thin-film silicon solar cells. The technology shows promise for multijunction, flexible, and low-power solar applications.

Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has completed the installation of a 1 MW solid oxide electrolyzer for on-site hydrogen production, while GlobalData says global low-carbon hydrogen capacity could reach up to 65.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030, driven largely by green hydrogen expansion in the Americas.

Panasonic has launched a new home fuel cell system for detached houses, designed to boost solar self-consumption through HEMS‑based smart scheduling. The unit generates electricity and heat from gas, supports demand response, and can supply emergency power during outages.