Taiwan’s United Renewable Energy to lay off more than 100 employees
Taiwan’s United Renewable Energy (URE) says it plans to lay off more than 100 employees as it retires passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cell production lines in Taiwan to focus on its tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) module series.
EV charging shapes PV investment, grid load in community study
Researchers in Spain have simulated an energy community with varying electric-vehicle penetration levels (0%, 50%, and 100%) to analyze system optimization under different regulatory frameworks and EV brands. Charging strategies significantly affected overall performance and outcomes.
Ascent Solar unveils production scale 15.7% CIGS modules for space
US-based Ascent Solar Technologies says its latest 30cm2 Titan solar module has a power density of 1,960 W/kg and is designed for space applications.
Utrecht energizes vehicle-to-grid car sharing service
The Dutch municipality of Utrecht has become the first city in Europe to introduce a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) car-sharing service. It features Renault 5 E-Tech electric cars that run on clean energy and feed power back to grid the during peak-demand times.
Green hydrogen remains ‘prohibitively’ expensive in Africa
A European research team has assessed the levelized cost of hydrogen across 31 African countries and has concluded that importing green hydrogen from Africa to European is economically unfeasible by 2030, with prices ranging from $10.2/kg to $3.8/kg.
Optimizing endless PV-driven heat pump scenarios for costs, self-sufficiency
Researchers have used mixed-integer linear programming-based multi-objective optimization to optimize 30,912 unique scenarios showing heat pumps operating in combination with PV power. The optimization modeling was conducted under day-ahead spot market prices terms.
Longi unveils 700 W back-contact PV panel with world record silicon solar cell
Chinese solar manufacturer Longi unveiled a new PV module with 25.9% efficiency at the 2025 SNEC trade show this week in Shanghai, produced using both low- and high-temperature passivation techniques.
Perovskite solar cell based on chalcogen-molecules achieves 25.37% efficiency
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%.
World’s largest 1 MW/100 MWh sand battery commissioned in Finland
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 acquires PASAN to expand solar testing operations
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.
