Making the business case for solar-plus-storage with heat-pumps in Japan
A Japanese research team has evaluated the affordability of photovoltaic-battery systems featuring heat-pump water heaters and air conditioning units across nine regions of Japan. They analyzed three price policies and two loan types, identifiying a tradeoff between net demand and cost according to the capacity of the solar-plus-storage system.
PV-powered thermal distillation device with self-cleaning, cooling
Scientists in Hungary have built a prototype of a thermal distillation device, supported by PV power. The PV panels use an IoT component that self-cleans when dust is detected and cools itself when the temperatures are too high. The system achieved a daily freshwater yield of 6.1 L/m2⋅day.
SolarEdge unveils all-in-one residential inverter and clickable modular battery system
The stackable battery ranges 4.9 kWh to 19.6 kWh per unit while the inverter is available in ranges from 3.8 kW to 13 kW. The company also introduced a meter socket adapter to avoid triggering costly main panel upgrades.
Hands-on with the Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station
A hands-on with the Apex 300 reveals it has unique strengths for those looking for portable power in a design that is made to expand through accessories.
California now hosting canal top solar-plus-storage plant
California has completed the 1.6 MW Nexus canal-top solar pilot, adding a 75 kW iron-flow battery system as part of a $20 million state-funded project to test water and energy benefits.
Midea launches air-to-air heat pump for high latitudes
Conceived for Nordic conditions, the Raynor heat pump features a seasonal coefficient of performance of 5.1 and a cooling seasonal energy efficiency rating of 9.2.
Colombia to replace subsidies with solar for 1 million low-income households
Colombia will equip more than 1 million low-income households with solar systems to replace subsidies, cut bills and add capacity to the grid.
Dow releases new silicone gel for high voltage PV
The company said that its Dowsil EG-4175 Silicone Gel resists temperatures of up to 180 C in next-generation IGBT modules used in inverters.
Hydrogen can mitigate curtailment in floating PV-pumped hydro energy storage systems
Scientists at Italy’s University of Cagliari explored the integration of a water electrolyzer with a floating PV-pumped hydro energy storage system. They found that under high curtailment conditions, hydrogen production helped to stabilize system efficiency and lower the levelized cost of electricity when compared to a system without the electrolyzer.
France’s Sunology introduces modular residential battery
The system plugs into either a standard power outlet or the main electrical panel and automatically captures surplus solar energy – whether generated by rooftop panels or a portable plug‑and‑play kit. Up to four modules, each with a capacity of 2,200 Wh and 500 W of output, can be combined, and the system comes with a 7,500-cycle warranty for long-term reliability.
