Mexico sanctions former Baja California governor over failed solar contract
A Mexican state court has barred former Baja California Governor Jaime Bonilla from public office as investigations continue into a canceled utility-scale solar project.
South Korea sets 3.5 million heat pump target in national decarbonization push
The South Korean government says it will deploy incentives, legal changes and industry backing to scale heat pump adoption nationwide, aiming to cut emissions from fossil fuel–dependent heating by the mid-2030s.
South Africa adds 890 MW of solar to seventh renewables bid window
The South African government has turned unallocated wind project capacity from the country’s seventh renewables procurement exercise into approved solar projects for the second time. The move takes the total amount of solar approved under the bid window to over 3.9 GW.
Bhutan tenders 120 MW solar project
Bhutan’s authorities are seeking a developer to design, supply, install, test and commission a 120 MW solar farm. The deadline for applications is Jan. 26, 2026.
Tunisia switches on largest solar project to date
UAE-based Amea Power has completed a 120 MW solar project in Tunisia, the country’s first above 100 MW.
Chinese scientists unveil thermoacoustic ultra-high temperature heat pump prototype
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a thermoacoustic Stirling heat pump prototype that offers high thermal performance, a peak coefficient of performance of 1.68, and potential applications in high-temperature industrial processes, enabling zero-carbon heating for sectors like petrochemicals and metallurgy.
Romania commissions 400 MWh battery storage project, its largest to date
Nova Power & Gas’s 400 MWh project in Cluj County is the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) to date to have been connected to Romania’s grid.
Renewables still Australia’s lowest-cost option, says CSIRO
Firmed solar and wind deliver the cheapest pathway for new electricity supply across all scenarios in Australia, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) says in its latest cost report.
The impact of transparent conductive electrodes on perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell performance
An Oxford researcher has found that transparent conducting electrodes can reduce perovskite–silicon tandem solar cell efficiency by over 2%, with losses linked to electrical resistance, optical effects, and geometric trade-offs. Using a unified optical–electrical model, the scientist showed how careful optimization of TCE stacks, coatings, and cell design is critical to closing the gap toward the 37%–38% efficiency frontier.
US residential solar faces structural shifts heading into 2026
Industry executives and analysts say changes to tax policy, financing models and supply rules are set to reshape the US residential solar market in 2026.
