Western Europe

An international research team has used Lewis molecules to improve efficiency and stability of a perovskite solar cell built with a fully encapsulated trapping tactic aimed to reduce perovskite surface defects. The cell achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 25.18% and a champion efficiency of 25.37%.

Finnish startup Polar Night Energy has commissioned the world’s largest sand battery in Pornainen, southern Finland. The industrial-scale system delivers 1 MW of thermal power with 100 MWh storage capacity, covering up to a month’s summer heat demand and nearly a week’s winter demand for the local district heating network.

Avalon ST, a Swiss LED-based solar simulation and metrology company, has acquired xenon-based solar simulator firm PASAN for an undisclosed sum. The companies will integrate operations and staff in Switzerland China, aiming to expand global reach and product innovation.

Evert has unveiled technical and availability details of its new power management unit, a wallbox that integrates a 22 kW bidirectional DC electric vehicle charger, a 20 kW PV inverter, and a home energy management system. The Norwegian startup targets residential users seeking integrated EV and solar energy solutions.

Switzerland-based utility CKW has installed PV systems on disused satellite dishes at telecom company Leuk TDC’s headquarters, using SolarEdge’s DC-optimized inverters and power optimizers to maximize system output.

Grid-scale solar accounted for 6.5% of electricity generated in May, with Ireland’s transmission system operator (TSO) EirGrid recording 173,163 MWh of solar output. Meanwhile, regulators are working to streamline the grid connection application process, a move welcomed by the solar industry.

Researchers in Australia have developed a simplified residual network-based architecture method to filter out noise from electroluminescence images of PV modules. The proposed technique reportedly enhance the accuracy and efficiency of automated inspection systems for utility-scale PV plants.

An international research team has developed an index-based remote sensing method to see trends in the global development of water-based PV. It has found that China currently accounts for 80% of the global total deployed capacity.

Grid companies LEW Verteilnetz and Bayernwerk have launched a pilot project to feed renewable energy into the electricity network in a more grid-friendly manner. One of the energy storage sites to be used in the project will come from Green Flexibility.

Aerocompact has launched COMPACTGROUND GS 10 PLUS, a ground-mounted PV solution designed for small projects and diverse terrain like farmland and asphalt.