Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union accelerated its plans to increase renewable energy capacity, resulting in wind and solar power making up 30% of electricity supply by 2025. This shift displaced coal and gas power, with gas generation falling by 15% and coal by 38%. The rapid deployment of wind and solar power saved the EU €72bn in fossil fuel imports between 2022 and 2025, with the largest savings coming from Germany, Spain, and Italy. This shift highlights the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on foreign nations and mitigate climate change.
Tag: Germany
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Germany’s degraded peatlands offer up to 268 GW of solar potential
The reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act in 2023 in Germany has made photovoltaic installations on re-wetted peatlands eligible for support, with a technical potential of 134 GW to 268 GW across the country. Re-wetting peatlands can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from drained agricultural soils, and Germany aims to re-wet 50,000 hectares of degraded peatland annually to meet its climate targets. This initiative not only helps the environment but also provides an additional income source for farmers and landowners. The potential for peatland PV remains substantial, especially in areas like Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Alpine foothills.
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Triple-junction all-perovskite solar cell based on graphene oxide bilayer achieves 27.3% efficiency
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.
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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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The ‘Guerrilla Solar’ Era Has Arrived, and Here’s What to Know
Germany leads in plug-in solar systems, with over 1 million installed, costing $500 to $1,000 and offering small financial benefits. Craig Morris advocates for EU adoption to make renewable energy more accessible. Payoff periods vary by region, with Kansas City at 4.99 years due to high electricity consumption. Plug-in solar offers energy cost control, clean energy participation, and land-use benefits, but faces utility opposition and concerns about savings overestimation. In the US, plug-in solar is gaining popularity, with some states passing laws to allow them, making clean energy more accessible. Tesla, Sunrun, and Renew Home are creating a 16-gigawatt virtual power plant, while developers in Philadelphia face a deadline for federal tax credits. The Trump Administration's $17.5 billion plan for 10 nuclear reactors aims to meet data center demand, despite cost concerns, with small modular reactors seen as the future. Inside Climate News provides free climate news to the public.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25062026/inside-clean-energy-plug-in-solar-era-has-arrived/
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Siemens Energy wins massive deal as offshore converter rig production returns to Germany
Siemens Energy has secured a significant order to construct a 2GW offshore wind converter platform in Germany for 50Hertz, aiding in the expansion of renewable energy sources and the reduction of carbon emissions. This project will be crucial in integrating clean energy into the grid and supporting Germany's shift towards a more sustainable energy system. The offshore wind converter platform represents a key step in advancing climate solutions and promoting the transition to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy sector.
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BMW Reaches 2 Million Electric Vehicles, Focusing More & More On Smart Home Technology
BMW Group has reached a milestone by producing its 2 millionth fully electric vehicle, a BMW i5 M60 xDrive sedan, at the Dingolfing factory in Germany. The factory now builds three electric BMW models and is expanding a partnership with SOLARWATT to integrate bidirectional charging, solar, and home energy storage for their vehicles. The market launch for this integration is planned for late 2026 in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, showcasing BMW's commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
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World Record Set For Silicon Solar Module With Perovskite
Persistent innovation in the global solar industry has led to new efficiency records being set for solar modules made with triple III-V germanium cells and tandem perovskite-silicon cells. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany reported a record 34.2% conversion efficiency for a module made of triple III-V germanium cells, achieved through a new technique connecting cells directly to each other. Chinese firm Trinasolar also set a world record with a 29.2% conversion efficiency for its tandem perovskite-silicon solar module. California-based Tandem PV is making strides in the field as well, with their perovskite-silicon solar panels reaching 29.7% efficiency. The market is demanding higher performance and domestic capability in solar energy solutions, with companies like Tandem launching demonstration factories to produce high-power density, durable, and cost-effective solar panels.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/14/world-record-solar-efficiency-perovsite-silicon-trinasolar/
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Fraunhofer ISE achieves 34.4 efficiency for III-V germanium solar module
Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has set a new record for power conversion efficiency of its III-V germanium solar module, increasing it from 34.2% to 34.4% using "shingle-matrix" technology and space-grade solar cells. This achievement was made possible by adapting triple-junction solar cell technology to the terrestrial solar spectrum and utilizing anti-reflective front glass structures supplied by Temicon. The key factor in this breakthrough was the use of shingle-matrix technology for interconnecting the solar cells, eliminating solder-coated copper ribbons, reducing shading, and increasing active area utilization. In addition, in July 2025, Fraunhofer ISE achieved 40% efficiency for an indoor III-V solar cell based on an indium gallium phosphide absorber, showcasing their commitment to advancing solar energy technology for a more sustainable future.
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Solar Energy Saves Europeans $135 Million A Day
Europe has seen significant savings in electricity costs due to the installation of solar power, avoiding billions in fossil fuel import costs. By deploying more solar, scaling storage, and accelerating electrification, Europe can reduce the role of gas in setting electricity prices and build a more secure and affordable energy system. Spain has doubled its wind and solar capacity, reducing the influence of expensive fossil generators on electricity prices. The focus on green technology in Europe has shown the benefits of renewable energy in reducing costs and increasing energy independence. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are setting new records for energy production in countries like Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and the UK, proving to be cheaper and faster to install compared to fossil fuels. Global energy investment is shifting towards clean energy, with more money going into renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, efficiency, and electrification, further accelerated by political decisions and global events, making them the dominant energy sources of the future.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/08/solar-energy-saves-europeans-135-million-a-day/