How to avoid ‘long tail’ effects in large-scale PV plants
New UNSW research found that about 20% of solar modules in large PV plants degrade much faster than expected. They recommend holistic strategies such as robust materials, advanced designs, and proactive monitoring to decouple degradation pathways and prevent cascading failures.
Australia makes gains in electric vehicle uptake
Australia recorded a sharp rise in electric vehicle sales in 2025, with new-car sales data showing nearly 157,000 EVs were purchased nationwide, up 38% from the previous year.
Australia’s biggest battery starts commercial operations
The first stage of the biggest approved battery project in Australia is now fully operational with Origin Energy announcing the initial stage of the 700 MW / 3,160 MWh battery energy storage system being built next to its Eraring coal-fired generator in New South Wales has commenced commercial operations.
Pacific Energy advances renewable power project for town in Australia
Pacific Energy has installed 16,700 solar panels at a 9.6 MW solar farm forming part of a hybrid power system in Exmouth, Western Australia.
Localized polysilicon thinning improves TOPCon solar cell performance
UNSW researchers boosted TOPCon solar cell efficiency by locally thinning the rear poly-Si layer, reducing parasitic absorption while preserving wafer integrity. The champion cell built with this approach achieved 25.10% efficiency with improved bifaciality and maintained strong passivation.
Australia adds 1.2 GWh of behind-the-meter battery storage in December
More than 1.2 GWh of new behind-the-meter energy storage capacity was installed across Australia in December 2025 as households and businesses sought to take advantage of the federal government’s revised AUD 7.2 billion ($4.9 billion) Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Thicker alumunium oxide layers can reduce ultraviolet-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells
UNSW researchers developed an experimentally validated model linking UV-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells to hydrogen transport, charge trapping, and permanent structural changes in the passivation stack. They show that thicker aluminum oxide layers significantly improve UV resilience by limiting hydrogen migration, offering clear guidance for more robust TOPCon designs.
Fox ESS rolls out stackable battery system
Chinese manufacturer Fox ESS has launched a 5.99 kWh capacity modular battery energy storage system that can be scaled up to 83.86 kWh per stack.
New process achieves 97% silver recovery from end-of-life solar panels
Australian researchers have developed a new separation technique that employs the same crushing and flotation principles used in mineral processing to recover more than 97% of silver from end-of-life solar panels.
Australia rooftop solar installs rise as households shift to larger systems
Australia’s rooftop solar market climbed by 22% in the past month with the latest data revealing that 334 MW of small-scale PV capacity was installed on household and business roofs across the country in December 2025.
