Technology and R&D

PXP Corp. and Suntory Holdings, both based in Japan, have begun to test the practicality and performance of a vending machine equipped with PXP’s lightweight, glass-free solar panels in Sagamihara, Japan.

Scientists in Japan have developed a model that predicts surplus PV generation and creates a route for optimized charging of electric delivery vehicles. They defined their work as a “practical blueprint for logistics operators.”

Scientists used geographic information systems and analytical hierarchy process methods to identify Iran’s most suitable areas for PV water pumping systems. They found 43.2% of land unsuitable, with Ardabil province the most favorable.

Dutch specialty module manufacturer Mito Solar now offers PV modules in a wide range of colors for yachting and mobility applications. The colors are enabled by a front-side encapsulant made of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO).

Researchers in the Netherlands have simulated a residential energy system combining PV, solar thermal, and PV-thermal panels with aquifer thermal energy storage and a heat pump, achieving a seasonal coefficient of performance of seven across five buildings.

Indian researchers have developed a Sudoku-based technique to reduce power losses in PV systems operating under partial shading. They claim the method increases energy efficiency and revenue generation more than conventional reconfiguration techniques.

Maximizing value from battery energy storage systems (BESS) isn’t just about having the right hardware – it’s about executing the right strategy. Lennard Wilkening, CEO and co-founder of Germany’s suena energy, explores what makes standalone BESS profitable in increasingly competitive and volatile market, and what real-world benchmarks, such as suena energy’s monthly revenue update, reveal about the role of dynamic multi-market optimization.

Perovskite’s growing visibility at industry events in 2025 is a sign that perovskites have progressed beyond the small lab-made devices seen earlier this decade. The focus is now on developing materials, processes, and a supply chain ready for large-scale manufacturing and deployment.

A group led by Cambridge University has developed an adhesive-free method of bonding ultra-thin gallium arsenide solar cells to borosilicate glass. The proposed technique is reportedly compatible with standard planar device processing.

Lithuania’s Solitek has launched full-black 425 W bifacial solar modules with matte, satin-textured glass for glare-sensitive sites such as airports, road barriers, and buildings.