An international research team has developed a novel triple-junction all-perovskite solar cell technology using a graphene oxide-SAM bilayer contact strategy to enhance performance and stability. By integrating graphene oxide, they improved interfacial passivation and buried interface morphology, leading to an increase in cell efficiency from 23.6% to 25.1%, with further optimization reaching a champion efficiency of 27.3%. This technology has the potential to achieve efficiencies beyond 30% by reducing charge-transport resistance and improving perovskite quality and energy-level alignment, making it a promising solution for higher industrial readiness levels. The study, published in Joule, was conducted by a group of academics from Germany and Switzerland.
Author: Pv Magazine
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Passive mooring system enables floating PV to track water-level changes
Researchers from Morocco have developed a novel mooring system for floating PV systems that automatically adjusts to water-level changes, reducing platform motion without the need for active control or external energy. The system, based on a counterweight-and-pulley mechanism, showed significant reduction in horizontal displacement and achieved a high tracking efficiency of 75%. This passive mooring system offers a mechanically simple design for stable FPV installations in remote, low-maintenance environments. Future research will focus on scaling up, testing with real hydrodynamic loading, and field pilot deployment after the system's proof of concept was presented in a study published in Scientific Reports.
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‘Australian first’ compressed CO2 battery project takes shape
Victoria's State Electricity Commission (SEC) is partnering with Energy Dome to deploy a 10-hour duration compressed CO2 battery energy storage system near Morwell in the Latrobe Valley, marking Victoria's first long-duration energy storage facility and Australia's first commercial compressed CO2 battery. This technology aims to ensure around-the-clock reliability of supply for renewable energy generation from wind and solar, supporting Victoria's transition to clean energy and helping meet its 2030 clean energy targets. Additionally, stakeholder and community consultation has begun for the new SEC Energy Works energy innovation precinct in the Latrobe Valley, which will focus on developing new energy infrastructure and storage technologies to further support the state's future energy system. Projects at SEC Energy Works will contribute to the government-owned renewable energy company's portfolio, including the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub and the SEC Renewable Energy Park, emphasizing the importance of energy innovation, early investment, and confidence building for new energy technologies.
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Study finds heatwaves cause hourly losses of up to 90% in PV plants in Iberian peninsula
Scientists analyzed the performance of three photovoltaic plants in Spain and Portugal during extreme heat events in 2024 and 2025, finding that heatwaves can cause significant yield losses in PV energy production. High temperatures affect module efficiency and trigger thermal derating in inverters, with yield losses concentrated during the hottest hours of the day. The study compared production data with meteorological information, confirming the dataset's suitability and highlighting the need to consider actual weather inputs during extreme heat events for accurate PV generation predictions. The European solar sector is now focused on improving the resilience of PV installations against production losses during periods of extreme heat, moving away from solely maximizing annual generation.
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China could produce more batteries than global demand by 2030, says US think tank
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.
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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.