California lawmakers urge CPUC to enforce utility interconnection timelines
A coalition of 18 California legislators has formally urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to enforce regulations under “Rule 21” regarding the interconnection of customer-sited solar and energy storage systems.
The Hydrogen Stream: EWE begins work on 320 MW hydrogen plant in Germany
EWE says construction has started on its 320 MW hydrogen plant in Germany as it seeks regulatory reforms, while Japan Suiso Energy and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have broken ground on a commercial-scale liquefied hydrogen terminal set to begin operations in 2030.
Denmark’s TITAN Containers adds solar to ArcticStore cold units
TITAN Containers says its new ArcticStore Horizon cold storage units integrate solar generation, advanced insulation and lower-GWP refrigerants to cut electricity use by 55% compared with conventional refrigerated containers.
Plenitude tests perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules in utility-scale installation pilot
The Italian renewable energy company said it will validate Swift Solar’s 28% efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem technology in a utility-scale project.
Designing and building solar on challenging terrain
This pv magazine webinar explores opportunities for developing solar projects on difficult, uneven terrain. Featuring firsthand insights from Nevados’ technical team alongside Terra Works, a civil contractor and project partner, we will discuss how grading analysis, tracker design, and installation strategies come together to push the boundaries of what’s possible for utility-scale solar on sloped and uneven land.
Photonic curing could accelerate transition to copper-metallized solar cells
Researchers in the United States have developed a photonic curing technique using laser sintering to rapidly heat and cure copper pastes on temperature-sensitive solar cell substrates without causing thermal stress. The process purportedly produces dense, low-porosity copper layers with strong adhesion to indium tin oxide, achieving low bulk and contact resistivity.
California sees sustained decline in natural gas use as solar output rises
California’s electricity mix is shifting as utility-scale solar generation nearly doubles its 2020 output and battery storage increasingly displaces natural gas during evening peaks, according to new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Community-based energy trading system for home solar-plus-storage
A research team led by Washington State University has developed a cloud-based system for trading and sharing energy from solar panels and batteries within a neighbourhood. The concept displayed potential energy cost savings of around 12% over a five-day test period.
US energy offices folded into new structure at Department of Energy
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has removed renewable energy, grid modernization, and carbon-management units from its organizational chart and consolidated them into the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, a shift confirmed in newly published federal documents.
Solar sidewalks cut urban emissions 98%, claim scientists
A Concordia University modeling study in Canada finds that photovoltaic sidewalks could power local electric mobility, reduce urban emissions by 98%, and shift rooftop use toward agriculture under a 15-minute-city framework.
