Sparc Hydrogen, a joint venture involving Sparc Technologies, Fortescue, and the University of Adelaide, has successfully achieved sustained hydrogen generation at its pilot plant in South Australia using a photocatalytic water-splitting process powered by concentrated solar energy. This breakthrough technology eliminates the need for electrolyzers or electricity, positioning Sparc Hydrogen as a leader in direct solar-to-hydrogen production. The company aims to further optimize its technology for scalability and commercialization, with the potential to unlock low-cost green hydrogen production. With the global green hydrogen market projected to reach $1.4 trillion per year by 2050, this innovation could play a significant role in advancing climate solutions.
Author: Pv Magazine
-
Hithium pushes into long-duration storage and AI data centres with 1,300Ah cell, 6.9 MW/55.2 MWh system, and lithium-sodium hybrid
Hithium Energy Storage has unveiled new 1300Ah cell and long-duration storage system, as well as a lithium-sodium hybrid solution for AI data centers, to tackle the issues of renewable energy intermittency and growing electricity demand in digital infrastructure. By positioning long-duration storage as a grid asset and foundation for energy-intensive AI infrastructure, the company is making a strategic shift towards more sustainable and efficient energy solutions in response to climate change.
-
Germany brings world’s first supercapacitor STATCOM online
Siemens Energy and TenneT have successfully installed the world's first supercapacitor-based grid-stabilization system in Mehrum, Germany. The SVC Plus FS system utilizes supercapacitors to provide instantaneous reserve and reactive power, eliminating the need for large fossil-fuel power plant generators. After over a decade of development and three years of construction, the system now operates fully automatically and remotely controlled. This groundbreaking project sets a new standard for the global energy transition, showcasing the potential of supercapacitors to revolutionize traditional grid-stabilizing functions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/15/germany-brings-worlds-first-supercapacitor-statcom-online/
-
Indian researchers develop stable liquid hydrogen transport system
Researchers at MIT World Peace University in India have developed a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) system that allows for the safe and stable transportation of hydrogen in liquid form. This innovation addresses the challenges of integrating hydrogen into energy systems due to its explosive nature and complex transportation requirements. The LOHC system involves a two-stage chemical process where hydrogen is bonded into a liquid for storage and transport, and then released at the point of use. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce costs and transport risks associated with hydrogen supply chains, positioning India at the forefront of LOHC development and potentially accelerating the national hydrogen mission for clean-energy logistics in transportation and heavy industry.
-
China National Petroleum Corporation achieves 25.05% efficiency for inverted perovskite solar cell
China National Petroleum Corporation has developed a high-efficiency inverted perovskite solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 25.05%, validated by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology. This cell utilizes an inverted architecture and interface molecules to enhance stability and boost open-circuit voltage. CNPC plans to integrate this technology with traditional silicon cells to lower the cost of energy production. They are set to establish a pilot line in 2026 and a mass production facility in 2028, aiming to achieve renewable energy capacity on par with their oil and gas output by 2035.
-
Batteries now cheap enough to make dispatchable solar economically feasible
Utility-scale battery costs have fallen to $65/MWh outside China and the United States, making solar power more reliable. Ember reports a significant drop in battery costs in 2024 and further declines in 2025, making storage more accessible for dispatchable solar projects. The cost of a full utility-scale battery system is $125/kWh for long-duration projects of four hours or more. The levelized cost of storage (LCOS) is calculated at $65/MWh, factoring in various costs and improvements in efficiency and financing. Solar power is now considered anytime dispatchable electricity, changing the game for countries with high solar resources and growing energy demand.
-
Cambridge startup targets 15% module efficiency gain
Cambridge Photon Technology, a UK-based startup, has secured funding to commercialize a photon multiplication technology that can boost solar panel output by up to 15% without changing existing manufacturing processes. The technology splits high energy photons into two half-energy infra-red photons, increasing the number of usable photons for silicon PV cells. In addition to efficiency gains, the technology also reduces heat and acts as an ultraviolet photoprotective agent, contributing to the preservation of a PV module's intrinsic efficiency over time. The startup plans to demonstrate the technology's effectiveness to the industry over the next two years and investigate its impact on module temperature and UV degradation, with the potential to significantly improve the performance of photovoltaic modules.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/11/cambridge-startup-targets-15-module-efficiency-gain/
-
Small islands, big impact: the role of solar PV for the tropics
Many island nations are vulnerable to climate change and reliant on costly fossil fuels, creating economic pressures. Renewable energy pathways are feasible and economically viable on islands, but research gaps remain. Studies highlight pathways for islands to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through high electrification and rapid renewable energy adoption. Solar PV dominates electricity generation in tropical islands, with offshore technologies providing a scalable pathway to a sustainable energy future. Wave power enhances energy system diversity and complements solar PV and wind power generation. The concept of a Solar-to-X Economy in tropical islands, where low-cost solar PV electricity is used to produce e-fuels, e-chemicals, and e-materials, enables deep defossilization of hard-to-abate sectors. Importing e-fuels can play a key role in cost-effective renewable energy systems on islands like the Caribbean and the Maldives. Integrating solar PV-driven solutions within a Solar-to-X Economy provides environmental and economic benefits, with key elements for defossilization including low-cost renewable electricity, energy storage, electrification, e-fuel imports, sector coupling, and grid interconnections. Power-to-X technologies are crucial for achieving carbon neutrality, energy security, and economic growth in island nations, with solar energy being a key focus in research at LUT University.
-
DMEGC launches framed solar module weighing 7.5 kg/m2
At the EnerGaïa trade show in France, Chinese manufacturer DMEGC unveiled the DMxxxM10RT-54HBW-LV lightweight rooftop solar module designed for roofs with low load-bearing capacity, weighing less than 7.5 kg/m2. With a power output of 460 W, the module meets the requirements of fragile roof structures and is certified to IEC standards. By utilizing thinner glass, the module aims to make thousands of square meters of rooftops usable for solar energy, offering a promising solution for expanding solar energy capacity in areas with limited roof strength.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/10/dmegc-launches-framed-solar-module-weighing-7-5-kg-m2/
-
Snapsun introduces rooftop mounting system made of recycled plastic
French mounting system provider Snapsun, a unit of recycled plastic provider Cifra, has introduced a new lightweight rooftop PV mounting system made from recycled plastic. The system, weighing only 8 kg, simplifies installation and reduces physical strain with integrated cable guides and clip-on connectors. Compatible with most conventional photovoltaic panels, the system's adjustable mounting bracket housings can accommodate panels up to 1,180 mm wide. Installation is quick and straightforward, requiring minimal training, making it a promising solution for sustainable and efficient solar energy deployment.