World
New wave of funding powers U.S. battery tech and projects
XL Batteries has secured backing to commercialize flow battery systems which use an organic electrolyte, rather than vanadium, and two utility-scale developers have landed extensive credit lines. The announcement of $7.5 million of funding for a Massachusetts company to scale its organic flow battery technology capped a 24-hour period this week which saw almost $900 […]
Tiny pinholes can lead to device failure in perovskite solar cells
Researchers in the United States have found microscopic pinholes in perovskites are responsible for the breakdown of such solar cells when under reverse bias conditions. They say the findings should push scientists and engineers to prioritize the production of pinhole-free films to make perovskites more robust and stable. From pv magazine Global A microscopic weak […]
Startup launches AI-based home solar and electrification customer acquisition platform
AI startup 257’s targeted market intelligence cuts costs for the residential solar and electrification industry, a market that it said spends an estimated $20-billion-plus annual marketing. Data and AI business 257 announced the launch of Pink, a market intelligence platform aimed at lowering customer acquisition costs for residential solar and electrification. The company said it […]
Scientists boost organic solar cell efficiency using polymer zwitterions
A research team based in China and the United States has developed electroactive polymer zwitterions to modify zinc oxide interlayers in organic solar cells. Their work was found to passivate defects in organic solar cells, helping to improve device performance and stability. From pv magazine Global A group of scientists based in China and the […]
Record nuclear power output in 2024 irrelevant to global energy landscape
Nuclear plants generated a record amount of power in 2024, surpassing record set in 2006, but industry optimism is not backed by economic data or investment, says the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2025. The World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) 2025, overseen by French nuclear energy consultant Mycle Schneider, has revealed that global nuclear power […]
German engineering with U.S. production: SMA America returns through partnership with Create Energy
Nearly ten years after SMA America announced it was moving its Denver facility overseas, SMA is partnering with Create Energy to fuse German engineering with U.S. manufacturing. SMA America is bringing back its inverter production to the U.S. through a partnership with Create Energy in Tennessee. SMA used to produce its inverters in Denver up […]
Xpanner launches robotic automation kit to retrofit solar pile drivers
The U.S. startup offers a new kit to integrate robotic automation with existing equipment. U.S. startup Xpanner has launched a robotic automation kit to retrofit solar pile drivers made by heavy machinery manufacturers. The Xpanner X1 Kit is designed to be compatible with multiple equipment manufacturers. It was recently provided to modify pile drivers made by U.S.-based heavy […]
In case you missed it: Six big solar stories in the news this week
pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more. One big bad bill for solar projects The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is loaded with negative measures for the U.S. solar industry. What does the bill mean for solar project development over the coming years? […]
LS Energy Solutions activates 200 MW / 400 MWh energy storage in California
The Big Rock battery energy storage site is comprised of 137 containerized batteries and will help the California grid meet resource adequacy requirements. LS Energy Solutions announced it has commenced commercial operations at the Big Rock energy storage project in Imperial County, California. The 200 MW / 400 MWh project was developed and operated in […]
Solar industry icon: ‘This group of people is not going to be thwarted’
Dick Swanson has left his fingerprints all over the modern solar industry. He is widely known for spreading the word on solar’s impressive learning curve with what has become known as Swanson’s Law, for developing the interdigitated back contact (IBC) cell, and for founding SunPower. In June, Swanson was named 2025 IEEE Photonics Society Aron […]