JinkoSolar has partnered with XtalPi to utilize AI and quantum physics-based models in advancing research on perovskite-crystalline-silicon tandem solar cells, with the goal of accelerating the discovery and optimization of tandem device stacks for increased efficiency and stability. Recently achieving a 34.76% power conversion efficiency for a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell, JinkoSolar attributes the breakthrough to innovations in perovskite and tandem technologies. This collaboration with XtalPi is viewed as an extension of JinkoSolar's "next-gen" cell roadmap, showcasing a promising step towards more efficient and stable solar energy solutions.
Category: Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System
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Tata Power unit plans 10GW ingot and wafer facility in southern India
Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL) is investing $742.17m to establish a 10GW greenfield manufacturing facility for ingots and wafers in Andhra Pradesh, aiming to enhance India's domestic manufacturing of solar and semiconductor components. The project will generate around 1,000 direct jobs and will be powered by a 200MW captive green power plant. TPREL's subsidiary, TP Solar, has already made substantial progress in producing solar cells and modules, supporting their larger renewable energy expansion efforts in the area.
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XCharge North America and Energy Plus Partner to Build One of the Largest Battery-Backed EV Charging Depots in the U.S.
XCharge NA and Energy Plus have partnered to create a large battery-backed EV charging depot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, set to go live in Q2 2026. The site will feature 44 XCharge NA GridLink units providing 9.46 MWh of energy storage for 88 parking spaces, aiming to strengthen local resiliency and mitigate electricity costs. This partnership demonstrates a model for public and private companies to accelerate the clean energy transition in urban areas, with plans to expand the Eplug model to other major U.S. cities. XCharge NA specializes in high-power EV charging and battery-integrated solutions tailored to the North American electrical grid, working towards establishing a global green future through improved grid resilience and new revenue streams.
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Türkiye installs 4.7 GW of solar in 2025
Türkiye's cumulative solar capacity is nearing 25 GW, with 4,694 MW of new solar deployed in 2025, primarily for self-consumption in the commercial and industrial sector. Unlicensed and licensed power plants both contributed to this growth, with a focus on easing bureaucratic barriers for residential solar systems to unlock rooftop solar potential. The solar market in Türkiye is expected to continue expanding, particularly in licensed power plant installations and the rising popularity of floating solar, showcasing the country's commitment to renewable energy solutions and addressing climate change.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/07/turkiye-installs-4-7-gw-of-solar-in-2025/
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MOCHI Blocks 90% Of Heat Transfer In Windows
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new material called MOCHI, which is a thin coating that can be applied to windows to allow light in while reducing heat transfer by 90%. Made of a silicone gel with tiny air bubbles, MOCHI is long-lasting, transparent, and could revolutionize energy efficiency in buildings. This clear-but-insulating material could trap heat from sunlight for sustainable energy production and has a thermal transmittance that beats conventional windows by a large margin. While the potential impact on global energy demand is revolutionary, the mass production feasibility of MOCHI is still uncertain due to the time-consuming manufacturing process.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/07/mochi-blocks-90-of-heat-transfer-in-windows/
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The next-gen retail energy mix: Aligning supply portfolios with customer expectations
The U.S. power sector is undergoing a transformation with a shift towards cleaner, more distributed generation and rising demand driven by electrification and digital infrastructure. Retail energy providers (REPs) are facing a dual challenge of managing a next-generation supply portfolio while ensuring it resonates with customers. Wind and solar have overtaken coal in the national generation mix, signaling a systemic shift towards renewables. The growing demand for electricity driven by data centers, electrification, and digital consumption is reshaping the way REPs think about procurement and risk. The future of the retail electricity market will be shaped by decentralization, digitization, and decarbonization, requiring REPs to evolve into services and market orchestration providers. Retail energy providers must adopt a diversified approach to their supply portfolios to integrate renewable energy sources, dispatchable resources, storage, and demand response capacity. This is necessary to hedge against volatility and meet consumer demand for clean energy and sustainability. Customer-centricity, transparency, and personalization are becoming increasingly important in the retail energy market, with different generational segments having varying priorities. The next-generation retail energy mix requires alignment and diversification on both the supply and customer sides to ensure reliability, cost stability, and customer satisfaction. The article discusses the importance of retail energy providers (REPs) adapting to the changing energy landscape by integrating grid-edge resources, prioritizing flexibility in supply portfolios, segmenting offerings based on customer values, and investing in digital infrastructure. It emphasizes the need for REPs to treat supply and customer engagement as an integrated strategy, prioritize transparency, and engage in regulatory and market design conversations. The energy transition towards renewable penetration, demand growth, DER integration, and evolving customer expectations is redefining deregulated retail energy markets. REPs that successfully orchestrate portfolios reflecting modern supply realities and customer values will position themselves as trusted partners in the energy systems of tomorrow.
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Energy Vault breaks ground on 150MW SOSA Energy Center in Texas
Energy Vault has acquired the SOSA Energy Center in Texas and has begun construction on a 150MW/300MWh battery energy storage project, expected to be operational by Q2 2027. The project will provide grid support and renewable integration services in the Texas ERCOT market, with a total portfolio of over 340MW using their B-VAULT technology. Meanwhile, Hover Energy has been recognized for their excellence in innovation and leadership in intelligent microgrids and distributed renewables, receiving three 2025 Power Technology Excellence Awards. Their AI-enabled Microgrid Management SystemTM and networked microgrids are helping to rebuild the energy grid for a more flexible and resilient future.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/energy-vault-sosa-energy-center/
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Programmatic alignment is key to scaling residential battery demand response
Residential battery storage paired with demand response programs is becoming a key strategy for utilities to manage peak demand and maintain reliability during extreme weather events. U.S. residential battery installations saw a significant increase in 2025, with major utilities expanding programs to defer grid upgrades and strengthen resilience. Coordinated marketing and simple enrollment pathways are key to scaling residential Distributed Energy Resources (DER) participation, as shown by research from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and ACEEE. Risk-sharing models, where utilities guarantee minimum payments to OEMs and technology providers, can help shift the financial risk of enrollment. To scale battery programs, it is important to treat battery demand response as a market development opportunity rather than just a technology deployment problem. Unified action, streamlined interconnection, interoperable standards, and risk-sharing business models are needed to align utilities, OEMs, and customers around shared value for successful scaling.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/residential-battery-demand-response/805594/
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Thicker alumunium oxide layers can reduce ultraviolet-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells
Researchers from UNSW have developed a model linking UV-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells to hydrogen transport, charge trapping, and structural changes in the passivation stack. Thicker aluminum oxide layers improve UV resilience by limiting hydrogen migration. The study conducted on TOPCon cells showed a complex interaction between chemical degradation and temporary enhancement in field-effect passivation. High-energy UV photons break Si-H bonds in the SiNx capping layer, releasing mobile hydrogen that degrades chemical passivation. Thicker 7 nm AlOx layers act as a more effective barrier to hydrogen transport, improving UVID resilience. Researchers have identified new failure modes and degradation mechanisms in TOPCon solar modules, including the impact of soldering flux, contact corrosion, and sodium-induced degradation. The research also highlights the vulnerability of TOPCon solar cells to various forms of degradation under different conditions. The study provides design guidance for more UV-robust passivation stacks and improved testing protocols, as presented in a paper published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
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Sunrun & HASI Form New $500 Million Joint Venture to Accelerate Distributed Power Development
HASI and Sunrun have announced a joint venture to finance distributed energy assets, with HASI investing up to $500 million over 18 months to support over 40,000 home power plants in the US. This partnership aims to provide a more efficient cost of capital and accelerate the development of essential infrastructure through home-based energy systems. Sunrun's Chief Financial Officer highlighted the innovative financing structure with HASI as a first-of-its-kind for residential storage and solar financing, offering an efficient capital structure for growth. While forward-looking statements have been made, both companies acknowledge the risks and uncertainties involved, with factors outlined in their Annual Reports filed with the SEC.