SolarVision

20/08/2025

United Kingdom’s First All-Electric Football Stadium

The article from Dezeen details the plans for the United Kingdom’s first all-electric football stadium, designed for Oxford United Football Club by architecture studio AFL Architects and consultancy Ridge and Partners. The 16,000-seat stadium, which has received planning approval from Cherwell District Council, is set to be the most sustainable mid-sized sports venue in the UK, replacing the club’s current Kassam Stadium located in the south of Oxford.Key Features of the Stadium:Renewable Energy Integration: The stadium will operate entirely on renewable energy, powered by 3,500 square meters of roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to minimize reliance on the national grid during matchdays. An air-source heat pump and energy-efficient building materials will eliminate the need for carbon-based fuels, achieving an estimated 80% reduction in CO2 emissions annually compared to traditional gas boilers.

20/08/2025

DNV Energy Transition Outlook China 2024

China, the world’s largest coal consumer, is also leading in renewable energy adoption. By 2050, CO₂ emissions are expected to fall 70% through a shift to renewables and electrification, cutting its share of global emissions from one-third in the 1990s to one-fifth. National policies target energy independence, domestic technology supply chains, and industrial decarbonization, with CCS and DAC key for hard-to-abate sectors. The report underscores China’s central role in achieving global climate goals.

https://zurl.co/14gvC

20/08/2025

🔋🇦🇺 The World's Most Powerful Battery Begins Operating in Australia

The Waratah Super Battery energy storage system project, which has begun operating in Australia, has an installed capacity of 850 MW.

Unlike other large batteries tasked with shifting electricity generated from the sun from midday to evening, this system is tasked with supporting electricity transmission services.

By allowing existing transmission lines to operate at higher capacities, it will reduce wind and solar energy constraints and increase grid capacity.

To date, no battery of this scale has been used in this manner anywhere in the world.

What's truly interesting is that implementing this setup is much faster than building new transmission lines, so as battery prices continue to fall while the costs of building new transmission lines remain high, will we see more of this?

The battery, located on the site of an old coal-fired power plant, consists of over 3,500 containers and involved approximately 1,000 people in its design and construction.

About half of the system (350 MW / 700 MWh) is currently active. By the end of the year, the battery's full capacity (850 MW / 1,680 MWh) will be operational.

Source: Gavin Mooney

19/08/2025

Australia’s Breakthrough in Solar Panel Silver Recycling

Australia is on the verge of a significant advancement in solar panel recycling, thanks to a new technology that recovers silver efficiently without damaging other components. Researchers from Macquarie University, led by Dr. Binesh Puthen Veettil and Dr. David Payne, have developed a precision extraction process that could tap into the vast amounts of silver encapsulated in the country’s discarded solar panels. As the volume of solar waste continues to increase, this innovative method promises not only environmental benefits but also substantial economic opportunities by transforming waste into valuable resources.

19/08/2025

In the last 24 hours, significant policy developments in the U.S. have boosted the solar energy sector.

The U.S. Treasury Department released updated guidance on federal tax subsidies for solar and wind projects, clarifying rules that ease concerns for residential and small-scale solar installations.

This led to a surge in solar stocks, with companies like Sunrun rising up to 9%, SolarEdge by 22%, and First Solar by 18% on Monday, reflecting investor relief amid ongoing policy shifts. Additionally, new beginning-of-construction guidelines for wind and solar projects were highlighted, providing clearer pathways for developers to qualify for tax credits.

19/08/2025

is hitting the road in Poland this August and September with the Solplanet Roadshow! 🇵🇱☀️

Together with trusted partners, Solplanet will host 15 stops across 13 cities, offering:

🔹 Hands-on technical trainings
🔹 Live product demonstrations
🔹 Direct exchange with solar energy experts

This is a unique chance to explore Solplanet’s world up close !

19/08/2025

97% battery recycling yield: US facility turns old lithium devices into new energy systems
The facility is a major step in strengthening the domestic critical materials supply chain.

https://zurl.co/HuBZP

19/08/2025

The MIT study reveals that the cost of solar panels has decreased by over 99% since the 1970s due to a myriad of innovations spanning various industries. This comprehensive analysis highlights the significant role of advancements not just in solar technology but also in sectors such as semiconductor fabrication, metallurgy, and construction processes. The findings aim to aid renewable energy companies in their R&D efforts and guide policymakers toward effective strategies for promoting growth within this sector.

18/08/2025

✈️🌞 SolarStratos Sets Unofficial Solar Flight Altitude Record

Swiss solar aircraft SolarStratos has achieved a significant milestone by reaching an altitude of 9,521 metres during a flight above Valais, Switzerland, setting an unofficial world record for solar-powered flight. Piloted by Raphaël Domjan, this flight lasted 5 hours and 9 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 9,235 metres established by Bertrand Piccard’s Solar Impulse. The achievement is pending official validation from the Fédération Internationale d’Aviation (FAI) and reflects SolarStratos’ dedication to pushing the boundaries of renewable energy technology while promoting environmental awareness.

18/08/2025

The Energy Transition in Africa
The 2024 IRENA report highlights Africa’s immense renewable energy potential—capable of exceeding projected electricity demand by 1000 times by 2040—yet the continent has received less than 2% of global renewable investments in the past two decades. The Nairobi Declaration aims to expand renewable capacity from 56 GW in 2022 to 300 GW by 2030, with strong opportunities for G7 collaboration through the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA).

Key challenges include limited energy access for 570 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, inadequate transmission infrastructure, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels (nearly 200 GW of the 256 GW total in 2023). The report calls for increased public-private financing,
infrastructure development via the Continental Power Systems Masterplan, and sustainable mining of critical minerals for renewable technologies.

By aligning with African-led initiatives and supporting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), G7 countries can close financing gaps, reduce investment risks, promote local value chains, and drive sustainable development and job creation across the continent.

https://zurl.co/yWMRQ

18/08/2025

Group has introduced the Schletter Creator, a next-generation digital planning tool that makes rooftop solar project design faster, smarter, and more precise.

With 3D and 360° visuals, exact building height inputs, data from the world’s most comprehensive load determination database, and the latest aerodynamic calculations, it delivers fully automatic, customizable system configurations, blueprints, and bills of materials. Ideal for installers, project managers, or solar enthusiasts, the Schletter Creator offers professional-grade PV planning anytime, anywhere.

18/08/2025

We’re about to see a $1 trillion ‘supercycle’ of investment in batteries to power the grid for AI

https://zurl.co/euPuB

Large-scale battery storage is critical to meeting surging power demands.