Technology and R&D

RatedPower has introduced a 3D simulation feature to improve accuracy in utility-scale solar design, enabling more precise yield modeling that reflects terrain variations and shading, validated against real production data.

A UAE research team developed a hybrid 1D-CNN and random forest model to detect multiple faults in bifacial PV systems, including dust, shading, aging, and cracks. Using simulated I-V curves and a 180-day synthetic dataset, the model achieved up to 100% accuracy in general state detection and 97.6% in specific fault classification.

In its latest monthly for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) explains how pumped-hydro energy storage combined with PV power generation could provide 24/7 power to data centres

The Massachusetts-based startup says its new battery is non-flammable, non-toxic, and uses non-FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) materials, aiming for a lower levelized cost of storage (LCOS). The technical specs provide some highlights as well.

pv magazine spoke with energy and environmental law expert Anatole Boute about the past and future role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in regulating trade disputes related to clean energy technologies amid current geopolitical tensions. He noted that despite recent protectionist efforts to revive the solar manufacturing industry, the European Union still strives to remain compliant with WTO rules.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its first car prototype with a silicon-free, 20%-efficient nanoparticle solar coating that powers the vehicle even when off and uses modules thinner than a human hair.

An international research team has developed a tracker-based rooftop PV system that can be installed on both new and existing stadiums. The proposed design reportedly allows for easier deployment and delivers higher power output compared to conventional stadium PV covers.

An international research team has found Cameroon exhibited a slow but obvious move towards equitable electrification between 2015 and 2024, with an increased focus on distributed renewable energy sources.

Researchers in Japan have adopted a new calcium-doping strategy to improve the stability and electrochemical properties of NFM, a cathode material used in sodium-ion batteries. The new technique enhances crystallinity and increases the interlayer spacing in NFM, resulting in higher performance compared to NFM treated with conventional processes.

Chinese researchers developed an electric heating model to support uniform material temperature in a novel four-ring, 80-rod industrial Siemens reactor.