Italian startup building power beaming tech for drones
SunCubes, a startup from Italy, is developing laser-based wireless power transfer technology to provide in-flight energy to drones for uninterrupted recharging. It has raised seed funding to finance a minimal viable product.
Improving vertical PV performance with adjustable reflectors
Researchers in Taiwan have developed an adjustable aluminum reflector system that boosts the performance of vertically mounted bifacial solar modules. The prototype delivered a 71.32% total power gain over a baseline system without reflectors.
The Hydrogen Stream: Lhyfe raises €2.5 million in first crowdfunding round
Lhyfe has raised €2.5 million ($2.9 million) from 1,200 investors for four hydrogen sites in France and Germany, while the UK government has opened a consultation on injecting up to 2% hydrogen into the gas grid.
U.S. startup installs building-integrated, organic photovoltaic facade
Next Energy Technologies has completed the first installation of its transparent organic photovoltaic glass facade. The 9.3 m2 installation is located at its headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.
Sungrow launches next-gen hybrid residential energy storage system
Sungrow Power has revealed its newest hybrid residential energy storage system. Upgrades to its MG Series inverters and a battery will be launched in Q4.
Tigo introduces solar inverter output control for system repowering
Limiting inverter output, called derating, enables installers to maintain system power rating when adding a new inverter to an existing solar installation, or to help homeowners qualify for incentives with precise power targets.
Parameter analysis of 842 bifacial solar modules from 236 manufacturers
An international research team has conducted an extensive overview of bifacial solar modules from 39 countries. Their analysis took into account the best of the median values indicated in the product specifications and found that heterojunction and back-contact panels provide the best parameters.
Japanese projects to pilot solar on low load-bearing roofs, BIPV windows
A partnership between PXP Inc and Tokyo Gas Co is working on developing film-type chalcopyrite solar cells for industrial roofs with low load-bearing capacity. Elsewhere, a coalition of partners is installing inner windows featuring perovskite solar cells at Tokyo’s Telecom Center Building.
Global average solar LCOE stood at $0.043/kWh in 2024, says IRENA
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s latest report finds little change in the global average levelized cost of electricity for utility-scale solar plants year-on-year, while the global average total installed cost of utility-scale solar projects fell by 11%.
Bradford White releases residential hybrid electric heat pump water heaters
The US-based company says its new AeroTherm G2 uses both electric and heat-pump-based heating. It ranges from 189 L to 303 L in capacity.
