SoftBank Group is piloting AI-controlled cellular base stations powered by solar panels and a 3 kW wind turbine in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. The system reduces energy use while maintaining service quality by storing excess power in batteries and switching to the grid when needed. AI manages the station's "sleep" mode to lower power consumption during low communication traffic, making it suitable for deployment in remote areas. The compact design and AI analysis allow for a broader selection of cells without compromising communication quality. SoftBank plans to expand testing of the wind- and solar-powered base stations in the future.
Author: Pv Magazine
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Sodium-ion batteries gain momentum: Unigrid launches commercial deliveries as Altris, Draslovka forge Europe’s first supply chain
Unigrid, the first company outside of China to export sodium-ion batteries at scale, has launched commercial deliveries with a cost-efficient manufacturing model that enables rapid scaling without the need for building its own factory. With a tenfold expansion of global manufacturing capacity, Unigrid aims to reach 1 GWh in 2026, relying on Asian production facilities due to underutilization of local factories.
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GES rolls out manganese-hydrogen battery with significant cost edge over lithium-ion
Italian company Green Energy Storage (GES) has developed a manganese-hydrogen flow battery for long-duration energy storage, targeting industrial-scale applications and large renewable energy plants. The battery boasts an efficiency exceeding 75%, a service life of over 10,000 cycles, and a low levelized cost of storage (LCOS). The cost is competitive at €0.02 per kWh per cycle compared to lithium batteries. The battery is expected to be commercially available in 2027 and is based on a flow architecture that decouples energy and power for independent sizing. Manganese was chosen for its abundance, established production chain, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact.
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Researchers achieve record perovskite solar module stability under light, heat, and UV stress
An international research team has developed a groundbreaking compound for perovskite solar cells, utilizing a new two-dimensional perovskite interlayer through co-crystal engineering. This technology has shown over 95% efficiency retention after 5,000 hours of exposure to light, heat, and UV stress, with improved stability due to the use of neutral triazine-based molecules. The industry-compatible co-crystal engineering method can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing workflows, addressing a major barrier to commercialization. The research, led by a team from Iritaly Trading Company and EPFL, has been detailed in a publication in Nature Energy, showcasing the potential for industrial adoption and scale-up of this innovative approach.
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Chinese scientists push selenium solar cells beyond 10% efficiency
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved a world record for selenium solar cells, reaching 10.3% efficiency, surpassing the 10% threshold for the first time. This milestone was made possible through optimized charge-selective contacts, light-driven crystallization, and post-deposition annealing, resulting in stable devices with a 1.03 V open-circuit voltage. The breakthrough in selenium solar cells, known for their wider bandgap and high efficiency potential, demonstrates the success of careful optimization and strategic combinations by the research team. The device also exhibited minimal efficiency loss after 1,000 hours of testing, highlighting its promising future in the development of efficient solar energy solutions.
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India deploys 37.9 GW of solar in 2025
In 2025, India achieved its highest annual renewable energy additions with a record 37.9 GW of solar and 6.3 GW of wind capacity. Solar installations saw a significant increase of 54.7%, mainly driven by utility-scale projects. The growth was fueled by the commissioning of delayed projects, accelerated construction efforts, and a rise in domestic manufacturing capacity. Additionally, government initiatives played a key role in driving rooftop solar installations. These developments highlight India's progress towards achieving its renewable energy goals and reducing carbon emissions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/14/india-deploys-37-9-gw-of-solar-in-2025/
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Scatec secures PPA for Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage project
Norwegian renewables developer Scatec ASA has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for a 1.95 GW solar and 3.9 GWh battery energy storage project in Egypt. This project, Scatec's largest investment to date, will provide sustainable, around-the-clock power and grid stabilizing services, supporting Egypt's energy transition and economic development. The integrated solar-plus-storage system is expected to deliver 6 TWh of energy annually, making it the largest solar and battery energy storage installation in Africa. Scatec plans to act as the lead developer and is seeking additional equity partners for the project, which is anticipated to reach financial close in the second half of the year.
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World-first 560C Carnot battery unveiled as SPIC launches ultra-high-temperature heat storage
Chinese state-owned power group SPIC has introduced the world's first ultra-high-temperature heat-pump energy storage system, known as "Chuno" or the "Carnot battery." This innovative technology offers a long-duration energy storage solution that converts electricity into stored heat and cold, providing an alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries and compressed air energy storage. Developed by SPIC's Central Research Institute, the pilot system has been successfully tested with seven full charge-discharge cycles at a rating of 1 MW/4 MWh. Climate solutions experts can look to this breakthrough as a promising advancement in sustainable energy storage solutions.
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Danish researchers develop color-tunable BIPV foil
Danish researchers have developed Colorfoil technology for building integrated PV modules, allowing for a wide range of colors with low iridescence and minimal efficiency loss. The Colorfoil is a polymer foil inserted between the encapsulation layer and c-Si solar cells in PV panels, created using nanoimprinting lithography and magnetron sputtering in a roll-to-roll process. Additionally, researchers have developed Solar RRL, a low iridescence optimization methodology for PV modules, aiming to create simple multilayer configurations that reflect specific colors with minimal angular variation. These advancements show promising results in maintaining PV performance and potential for large-scale manufacturing, with future research focusing on implementing the methodology on a larger scale and ensuring the durability of colored PV modules for aesthetically pleasing energy-producing facades.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/12/danish-researchers-develop-color-tunable-bipv-foil/
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India’s smart metering boom reshapes grid through decentralized IoT
India's power system in India is rapidly decentralizing through the expansion of rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and distributed generation, driven by the smart metering rollout under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The focus is on achieving financial sustainability for distribution companies, reliability for consumers, and supporting renewable energy ambitions. Decentralized RF mesh networks are crucial in connecting millions of devices reliably and affordably, while the ecosystem model promotes collaboration among multiple vendors, making the system more resilient and responsive. India's approach to smart metering, focusing on interoperability and transparent performance validation, sets global benchmarks and shows that decentralization is a practical path towards a resilient grid in the transition to a high-renewables grid.