A new report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace projects that China's battery manufacturing capacity could exceed global demand by 2030, with estimates between 5,862 GWh and 6,720 GWh compared to expected global demand of 4,000 GWh to 5,100 GWh. The report highlights China's cost advantage in battery production, with Chinese-made batteries priced lower than locally produced alternatives in Europe. It also identifies LFP batteries as a key vulnerability for Western economies due to most global production capacity being in China. The report recommends selective cooperation between OECD economies and Chinese companies, as well as increased support for sodium-ion manufacturers outside of China to address these challenges.
Author: Pv Magazine
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Agrivoltaic facility supplies traction power directly to Austrian rail network
A 6.6 MW agrivoltaic system in Donnerskirchen, Austria is the first tracking system designed for railway power supply, benefiting Austrian Federal Railways and Esterhazy Betriebe AG. Expected to generate 8.3 GWh of electricity annually, it covers the equivalent of 32,500 train journeys between Vienna and Eisenstadt. This project showcases the dual-use potential of agrivoltaics, preserving agricultural land, harnessing solar energy, and promoting biodiversity through ecological measures.
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Argentina awards 700.5 MW of battery storage across critical grid nodes
Argentina's Energy Secretariat has awarded the AlmaSADI battery energy storage tender, selecting 20 projects totaling 700.5 MW across critical nodes of the Argentine Interconnection System. The projects, representing an estimated investment of $700 million, aim to improve grid reliability, respond rapidly to changes in electricity demand, and reduce the likelihood of outages in regions facing transmission constraints. With strong private-sector interest and 235 technical bids totaling 8,338 MW, the program is part of Argentina's efforts to address operational bottlenecks and relieve constraints in the electricity system.
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Free online calculator shows Irish homeowners how to save with solar
Irish homeowners are increasingly adopting solar panels with the help of government subsidies, driving Ireland's total installed PV capacity to 2.7 GW. To help homeowners understand the financial benefits of different system configurations, AirPV has created a solar and battery calculator tool. The tool aims to empower homeowners to make informed decisions about their home energy systems, with founder Scott McKechnie starting a microgeneration campaign to encourage more communities to switch to solar and batteries through group installation deals. The updated solar calculator tool includes battery arbitrage and the 5 kW inverter size limit for Irish home solar systems, allowing users to determine the optimal number of solar panels and battery storage for cost savings and payback time. McKechnie's emphasis on using tools like AirPV to avoid misinformation and ensure sensible decision-making when installing solar systems is further supported by the tool's ability to provide tailored quotes from installers based on user input, allowing homeowners to compare options and submit their contact details for installation. Additionally, McKechnie has developed a building energy rating (BER) calculator to show how solar and battery systems can impact a home's energy efficiency.
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Octopus Energy launches plug-in home battery
Octopus Energy has introduced the Nook range of residential battery storage systems, such as the Nook Cube and Nook Colossus, designed for apartment dwellers and renters. These systems are expandable in capacity and compatible with rooftop solar installations, with plans to launch in the UK in 2027 and expand to other European countries. In addition, Octopus has partnered with CATL to develop a battery-swapping network for electric trucks, with hubs set to open in the UK in 2027 and expand across Europe by 2035. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to sustainable energy solutions and the advancement of renewable technologies in the transportation sector.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/07/octopus-energy-launches-plug-in-home-battery/
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Software can unlock 300 GW of capacity on U.S. grid without building a single power plant
The traditional conservative planning model for the electric grid in the United States has hindered the deployment of clean energy by underutilizing infrastructure. Shifting to software-driven monitoring can unlock significant capacity on existing infrastructure without the need for new transmission lines or power plants. Startups like GridCARE are using software to identify and utilize idle capacity, leading to efficiency gains in a matter of weeks. This shift in planning approach is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources and improving grid stability, while also maximizing the value of the existing grid infrastructure to lower costs for consumers and activate latent capacity. Advanced software can help identify immediate opportunities to interconnect new generation and alleviate multi-year queue backlogs, providing a bridge to uncover hidden capacity in the existing system.
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Medium-voltage series regulator enables 260% more PV capacity in German distribution grids
A pilot project in Thuringia has successfully installed a compact medium-voltage series regulator to increase the capacity of existing power lines and accommodate more electricity from photovoltaic systems, allowing for around 260% more PV capacity without immediate grid expansion. Thüga plans to offer this technology to distribution system operators across Germany and Europe, with Hitachi Energy manufacturing the devices in Poland. This regulator is viewed as a cost-effective complement to existing grid technologies, potentially saving operators hundreds of millions of euros in expansion costs by 2035. Thüga highlights the importance of system interaction for efficiently integrating renewable energy sources.
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Photovoltaics for metro stations
Bangladeshi researchers have modeled the technical and economic potential of integrating rooftop solar PV across Dhaka Metro Rail's MRT Line 6, finding that a 20.38 MW system distributed across 21 sites could significantly offset auxiliary electricity demand while delivering strong financial returns. The system generates more than 25.5 GWh annually, avoids approximately 235,297 tonnes of CO2 emissions over 20 years, and has a six-year payback period, 234.1% return on investment, and a net present value of $20.05 million. The study, the first to pair detailed station-level PV design with zone-based hybrid optimization for a South Asian metro system, divided the city into three zones for localized system design, with Zone B being the most cost-effective and Zone C achieving a 70% renewable fraction without battery storage. Multiple universities in Bangladesh contributed to the research published in Energy Reports, highlighting the importance of grid sellback tariffs and solar irradiance in determining the optimal system architecture.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/06/photovoltaics-for-metro-stations/
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FuturaSun launches PV modules with integrated anti-soiling glass technology
Italian solar module manufacturer FuturaSun has introduced Silk Nova Pure, a new photovoltaic module series with integrated anti-soiling glass technology called True Rays, developed in partnership with Irish company Kastus. This technology aims to increase energy yield and reduce cleaning requirements for commercial and utility-scale solar projects by improving dust and dirt removal. By addressing soiling as a major issue affecting photovoltaic systems, FuturaSun emphasizes the importance of reducing contaminant build-up to maintain light transmission, stabilize energy yields, and reduce cleaning frequency. The True Rays glass combines hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties to ensure long-lasting effectiveness without degradation, ultimately improving performance, reliability, and energy production throughout the module's lifetime. Commercialization of the Silk Nova Pure modules is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 after certification and production planning.
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Chinese scientists build 27.3%-efficient inverted perovskite solar cell based on dual-molecule interface
Researchers from China's Soochow University and other scientists have developed innovative approaches to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. One team created a dual-molecule interface layer that enhances charge extraction and stability, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 27.3%. Another group modified perovskite solar cells with CzOTf, resulting in cells with an efficiency of 26.20% and excellent stability. The scaled-up cells maintained a power conversion efficiency of 21.54% and operated outdoors for 35 days without degradation. These advancements in solar cell technology offer promising solutions for increasing renewable energy production.