China adds 315 GW of solar in 2025
China installed a record 315 GW of new solar capacity in 2025, lifting cumulative installed PV capacity to 1.2 TW and pushing non-fossil power sources past thermal generation for the first time.
Sodium-ion batteries now competitive in niche markets
Sodium‑ion batteries are emerging as a safer, lower-cost alternative to lithium‑ion, with a recent international study highlighting their competitiveness in stationary energy storage. The research shows that ongoing investment and supply-chain development could enable broader adoption within the next decade.
RheEnergise commissions first ‘high density hydro’ long-duration storage in UK
Pilot long-duration energy storage (LDES) project uses low viscosity, denser-than-water fluid. RheEnergise is panning for future projects in 10 MW to 100 MW range, with six to 20 hours of storage capacity.
Scientists unveil hybrid-energy heat pump combining absorption and compression cycles
Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a hybrid-energy heat pump that seamlessly combines absorption and compression cycles using crystallization-free ionic liquids, improving efficiency and reliability across varying solar conditions. Simulations in multiple Chinese cities show the system can significantly cut electricity use and cooling costs, making it promising for sustainable building cooling and future commercial scaling.
Sigenergy secures top position for multiple storage markets as installer adoption accelerates
SunWiz market data ranks the manufacturer as the top energy storage supplier in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa.
Fraunhofer ISE developing world’s first medium-voltage solar plants
Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) is developing the world’s first medium-voltage PV plants in Germany to cut material use, reduce costs, and simplify grid integration. They will test 1,500 V and 3 kV string configurations to create cost-effective, voltage-resistant components for large-scale solar.
France installs 5.9 GW of PV in 2025
The country’s cumulative installed PV capacity reached 31.1 GW at the end of December.
China PV module prices expected to hit $0.12/W in H2
China’s PV module prices are expected to hover around $0.12/W in the second half of 2026 as the removal of export VAT rebates, front-loaded demand, and persistent oversupply keep market sentiment volatile.
Musk at WEF: Solar space-based AI data centers possible in two to three years
Space-based solar could power AI more efficiently than on Earth, with full-scale deployment possible in two to three years, Elon Musk said last week in Davos, Switzerland. SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicle and its reusable rockets aim to sharply reduce space access costs, enabling solar-powered AI satellites and potentially large-scale extraterrestrial energy infrastructure.
Test tracking algorithms for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics
Researchers in Spain developed a new model incorporating dynamic shading conditions in Madrid to evaluate the yield and test control algorithms for vehicle-integrated PV (VIPV) systems.
