Solar Now

Zambia And SunShare Energy Sign US$246 Million Deal To Expand Nambala Solar PV Plant  SolarQuarter
source

No results found.

No results found.

The shared alert has expired and is no longer active.
Start:
End:
Tag
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – On Friday, several organizations as well as U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, gathered as the state’s first floating solar project went online. The project aims to deliver affordable, renewable energy while also conserving water. 1,700 solar panels have been mounted on water-safe floating platforms on Medford Irrigation…
KOBI-TV NBC5 is Your Place for news in Southern Oregon & Northern California.
KOBI was the first VHF television station in Oregon. It was also the first TV station in Medford to offer local color programming, the first station to operate in stereo, the first Medford station to employ electronic news gathering technology, and was the first Medford station with statewide microwave news coverage.
(541) 779-5555
© 2026 KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. All rights reserved.
We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, analyze traffic, and serve personalized content. You can choose which categories to allow.

source

Suite 1100 – 66 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H1
Click Here to Email Us
Tel.: 613-798-1488
Toll Free: 1-800-263-4889 Ext 7
Registry Tel.: 613-798-1006
Registry Toll Free.: 1-855-798-1006
Click Here to Email Registry
X (formerly Twitter)
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube

source

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High near 65F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..
Showers in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low around 45F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: May 8, 2026 @ 11:34 pm
This vacant building at 6115 Lendell Drive in Wheatfield is being eyed for a cannabis-growing operation.

This vacant building at 6115 Lendell Drive in Wheatfield is being eyed for a cannabis-growing operation.
WHEATFIELD — The Wheatfield Planning Board took a look at proposals for a new solar farm and cannabis-growing facility this week.
Rochester-based Entose LLC is proposing a solar facility for 49.3 acres of vacant farmland on the north side of Lockport Road, currently owned by Calvin Pfhol. This could be the third such Wheatfield solar facility set up on that road, with the 6.3 MW LR Wheatfield Solar 1 starting operations in November 2020 at 2469 Lockport Road and the 4 MW CVE US Ei3 facility starting in December 2023 at 3635 Lockport Road.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.
Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox.
First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

source

Global energy giant backs massive solar project in Goodyear  The Business Journals
source

Energy development firm Avangrid has welcomed thousands of sheep back to graze the fields at four solar projects across Washington and Oregon.
The company has released about 5,000 sheep into Daybreak Solar, Bakeoven Solar and Pachwáywit Fields Solar in Oregon, and Lund Hill Solar in Washington, officials say. Not only does the practice of “solar grazing” keep the animals fed, but it allows for the sites to passively manage vegetation levels, and lower the risk of fires in the summer.
“This is a partnership and a management strategy indicative of Avangrid’s long-term commitment to these communities,” says Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “Not only are we effectively managing our facilities in ways that incorporate the region’s historical ties to ranching, but cultivating strong local partnerships to collaboratively maintain our solar projects.”
The company has partnered with Cameron Krebs, owner of Krebs Solar Grazing, for the Pacific Northwestern projects since 2024. A fifth-generation rancher from Oregon, Krebs comes from a family with a history of lamb and wool production throughout the region.
“When new industries move into our communities, it’s nice to see a partner like Avangrid engaging those of us who are born and raised here and looking at sustainable ways to take care of this landscape together,” Krebs says. “Our primary objective is to reduce the vegetation in the facility, maintain its high functionality, and create resilience through summer.”

Grazing the country

Avangrid began its solar grazing efforts in 2023, according to Lora Chante, the company’s VP of operations and maintenance. What started as a pilot project then, she said, has become a “full-fledged vegetation management operation,” just three years later.
As part of the partnership deal between Avangrid and Krebs, the two work together to build a grazing plan over each winter. The plan goes into action for each spring growing season, where sheep can effectively maneuver throughout each solar site, even moving underneath solar panels to consume grass and weeds around the project.
Thanks to the success of the solar grazing pilot program in Oregon and Washington, the Avangrid is now considering allowing solar grazing at other sites around the region. Additionally, the company has considered bringing the practice to other spots around the country, according to representatives.
“We build our projects with the intent to operate them for 30 years or more, meaning it is important that we remain a great neighbor and exceptional community partner,” Chante says. “Utilizing sheep grazing at our solar projects is helping us accomplish these goals by keeping our facilities clean and safe.”

Tags: agrivoltaics, AVANGRID Inc., O&M, project, solar grazing


Δ
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Other Benjamin Media, Inc Brands:
Compact Equipment | Trenchless Technology | Tunnel Business Magazine | Utility Contractor | Water Finance & Management
©2026 Copyright Solar Builder Magazine   |   Privacy Policy  |   Terms of Serivce

source

The Michigan Court of Appeals has largely upheld the state utility-regulating board’s handling of a law that lays out a path for the state to approve large wind, solar and energy storage projects even over the objections of local officials.
A group of 75 townships filed the lawsuit in 2024. They argue the Michigan Public Service Commission was violating the terms of a law that already took away their ability to say yes or no to projects with a huge impact on the quality of life in their communities.
Backers of the law say it’s necessary to meet the rising demand for clean energy and to respect the rights of landowners who want to lease or sell property to energy companies.
The unanimous decision wasn’t , but it clears the way for the MPSC to approve wind, solar and energy storage projects.
“So, while the commission continues to review the impact of specific findings, the decision largely affirms the commission’s approach and allows for continued and timely implementation of the law,” said Public Service Commission spokesperson Matt Helms.
The court rejected arguments by the townships that the MPSC violated the state’s Administrative Procedures Act for promulgating rules. The court said the agency misinterpreted rules regarding timelines and local units of government affected by the law, but otherwise followed the law approved by the Legislature.
Michael Homier, an attorney representing the local governments, said the townships are considering their next steps.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed,” he told Michigan Public Radio, “and, while I respect the court’s opinion, that doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with it and so we’re still digesting everything in it and we’ll have a discussion with our clients moving forward.”
One possibility would be taking the case to the Michigan Supreme Court.

source

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center

image: 

view more 
Schematic illustration of 2D perovskite structure with different n values
Credit: Xinyu Zhao, Jiajun Li, Jinzhan Cheng, Xuezheng Liu & Xiaoming Zhao.
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have rapidly emerged as one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies due to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE), which has surpassed 26% in single-junction devices. However, long-term stability remains a major hurdle for their commercialization. Three-dimensional (3D) perovskites, while efficient, are highly sensitive to moisture, oxygen, and thermal stress. To address these challenges, researchers have turned to two-dimensional (2D) perovskites, which offer superior environmental stability due to their layered structure and hydrophobic organic spacers. Despite their advantages, 2D perovskites have generally shown lower efficiency and charge transport limitations compared to their 3D counterparts.
 
A recent review published in ENGINEERING Energy (formerly Frontiers in Energy) by researchers at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in 2D perovskite chemistry. The paper explores the structural, optoelectronic, and stability-related properties of 2D perovskites, focusing on how they can be engineered to complement or enhance 3D perovskites in solar cell applications. The review also outlines key strategies for overcoming the limitations of 2D perovskites, including phase purity control, crystal orientation tuning, and chemical engineering of organic spacers.
The study highlights that 2D perovskites exhibit significantly improved stability due to their high formation energy and resistance to ion migration. Their layered structure, composed of alternating organic and inorganic sheets, acts as a barrier against moisture and suppresses degradation pathways commonly seen in 3D perovskites. The review identifies three main structural phases—Ruddlesden-Popper (RP), Dion-Jacobson (DJ), and Alternating Cation in the Interlayer (ACI)—each offering unique advantages in terms of stability and optoelectronic performance.
 
To enhance charge transport and device efficiency, researchers are developing methods to achieve vertical crystal orientation and phase-pure 2D films. Techniques such as solvent vapor annealing, surface crystallization modulation, and solvent engineering have shown promise in aligning 2D layers for better charge mobility. Additionally, the incorporation of conjugated organic ligands and halide engineering enables tunable bandgaps and improved charge separation, making 2D perovskites more suitable for photovoltaic applications.
 
The review also emphasizes the role of 2D/3D hybrid structures, where a thin 2D layer is used to passivate the surface of a 3D perovskite. This approach combines the high efficiency of 3D perovskites with the enhanced stability of 2D materials, resulting in solar cells with improved long-term performance.
 
This comprehensive review underscores the transformative potential of 2D perovskites in next-generation solar technologies. By addressing fundamental issues related to phase purity, crystal orientation, and interfacial engineering, 2D perovskites can play a critical role in developing stable, efficient, and scalable photovoltaic devices. The insights presented offer a roadmap for researchers and industry stakeholders to advance perovskite solar cell technology toward commercial viability, particularly for applications requiring long-term durability and environmental resilience.
 
 
Journal: ENGINEERING Energy (formerly Frontiers in Energy)
Read the full article for free: https://rdcu.be/ePsCs
Cite this article: Zhao, X., Li, J., Cheng, J. et al. Exploring 2D perovskite chemistry for advancing efficient and stable solar cells. Front. Energy 19, 839–861 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-025-0997-1
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
Media Contact
Bowen Li
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center
qkzx@sjtu.edu.cn
Office: 021-62800059

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center


Copyright © 2026 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Copyright © 2026 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

source

WATERBURY, Conn. (WFSB) – Firefighters rescued an elderly person from their home after solar panels on the roof caught fire.
Firefighters with the Waterbury Fire Department responded to the home on Clough Road at around 12:17 p.m. after receiving reports of a fire on the roof.
Firefighters were quickly able to get the fire under control before checking the home and assisting the person outside. No one was injured.
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.

source

Our #1 AI Stock Pick — 33% OFF: $9.99 (was $14.99)  Monthly picks · Ad-free browsing · 30-day money back guarantee
Our #1 AI Stock Pick — 33% OFF: $9.99 (was $14.99)  Monthly picks · Ad-free browsing
In this article, we will list the 5 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now. Please visit 8 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35
SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) is one of the best solar energy stocks to buy right now. On May 6, SolarEdge reported Q1 2026 revenues of $310.5 million, representing 46% year-over-year growth despite a 7.4% sequential decline from the previous quarter. The company posted a GAAP net loss of $57.4 million, or $0.95 per share, which showed improvement compared to the $132.1 million loss in Q4 2025. During the period, SolarEdge recognized revenue from approximately 50.5 thousand inverters, 2.4 million optimizers, and 331 MWh of battery storage.The company achieved its sixth consecutive quarter of margin expansion, with non-GAAP gross margins reaching 23.5%. While operating expenses rose slightly to $123.3 million on a GAAP basis, management noted that excluding a one-time $14 million expense, the underlying operating loss remained flat sequentially. SolarEdge continues to maintain a positive cash position, generating $20.7 million in free cash flow and ending the quarter with a net cash and investment portfolio of $246.2 million.
Looking ahead to Q2 2026, SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) expects revenues to rise to between $325 million and $355 million. Management signaled that a return to operating profitability is in sight, driven by the rollout of the Nexis platform and a new focus on AI data-center power solutions.
SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) develops energy technologies and delivers inverter solutions. The company operates in two segments: solar and all other.
Returns since its inception in May 2014 (through February 18th, 2026)
30 day money back guarantee. Cancel anytime.
Warren Buffett
Berkshire Hathaway
$293,447,417,000
David Einhorn
Greenlight Capital
$1,491,303,000
George Soros
Soros Fund Management
$5,416,602,000
Jim Simons
Renaissance Technologies
$77,426,184,000
Leon Cooperman
Omega Advisors
$1,886,381,000
Carl Icahn
Icahn Capital LP
$22,521,664,000
Steve Cohen
Point72 Asset Management
$22,767,998,000
John Paulson
Paulson & Co
$3,510,256,000
David Tepper
Appaloosa Management LP
$4,198,712,000
Paul Tudor Jones
Tudor Investment Corp
$6,160,740,000
When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard.
Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences.
At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000.
Do the math. According to Musk, this technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040.
Put another way, that’s roughly equal to:
And here’s the wild part — this $250 trillion wave isn’t tied to one company, but to an entire ecosystem of AI innovators set to reshape the global economy.
It’s a leap so massive, it could reshape how businesses, governments, and consumers operate worldwide.
Even if that $250 trillion figure sounds ambitious, major firms like PwC and McKinsey still see AI unlocking multi-trillion-dollar potential.
How could anything be worth that much?
The answer lies in a breakthrough so powerful it’s redefining how humanity works, learns, and creates.
And this breakthrough has already set off a frenzy among hedge funds and Wall Street’s top investors.
What most investors don’t realize is that one under-owned company holds the key to this $250 trillion revolution.
In fact, Verge argues this company’s supercheap AI technology should concern rivals.
Before I reveal the details, let’s talk about how some of the richest people on the planet are positioning themselves.
When billionaires from Silicon Valley to Wall Street line up behind the same idea — you know it’s worth paying attention to.
Even as we admire what Tesla, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Microsoft have built, we believe an even greater opportunity lies elsewhere…
But the real story isn’t Nvidia — it’s a much smaller company quietly improving the critical technology that makes this entire revolution possible.
And judging by what I’m hearing from both Silicon Valley insiders and Wall Street veterans…
This prediction might not be bold at all:
A few years from now, you’ll wish you’d owned this stock.
The best part? You can discover everything about this company and its groundbreaking technology right now.
I’ve compiled everything you need to know about this groundbreaking company in a detailed, members-only report.
Trust me — you’ll want to read this report before putting another dollar into any tech stock.
For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 a month, you can unlock a year’s worth of in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!
Here’s why this is a deal you can’t afford to pass up:
• Access to our Detailed Report on this Game-Changing AI Stock: Our in-depth report dives deep into our #1 AI stock’s groundbreaking technology and massive growth potential.
• 11 New Issues of Our Premium Readership Newsletter: You will also receive 11 new issues and at least one new stock pick per month from our monthly newsletter’s portfolio over the next 12 months. These stocks are handpicked by our research director, Dr. Inan Dogan.
• One free upcoming issue of our 70+ page Quarterly Newsletter: A value of $149
• Bonus Reports: Premium access to members-only fund manager video interviews
• Ad-Free Browsing: Enjoy a year of investment research free from distracting banner and pop-up ads, allowing you to focus on uncovering the next big opportunity.
• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee:  If you’re not absolutely satisfied with our service, we’ll provide a full refund within 30 days, no questions asked.
If you’re thinking about getting in, don’t wait – because once Wall Street catches wind of this story, the easy money will be gone.
Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.
Here’s what to do next:
1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99 a month.
2. Enjoy a year of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the revolutionary AI company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter over the next 12 months.
3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!
No worries about auto-renewals! Our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies whether you’re joining us for the first time or renewing your subscription a month later!
 
Get our editor’s daily picks straight in your inbox!

source

Daily e-Edition
Evening e-Edition
Sign up for email newsletters

Sign up for email newsletters
Daily e-Edition
Evening e-Edition
Solar panels on the roof of a home in Waterbury caught on fire on Friday afternoon.
Fire crews responded to a single-family home on Clough Road just before 12:20 p.m. on the report that the roof was on fire and an elderly person was inside, according to Capt. Edward Partridge of the Waterbury Fire Department.
The first firefighters on scene found that solar panels on the roof were burning, Partridge said. They stretched a hose line to help get the fire under control.
Crews checked the inside of the residence and assisted an elderly person out, Partridge said. They also ensured that the fire did not extend into the interior of the home.
According to Partridge, the fire was under control within about six minutes.
No injuries were reported.
Crews from utility companies responded to the scene to ensure the home was safe, according to Partridge.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Waterbury Fire Marshal’s Office.
Copyright 2026 Hartford Courant. All rights reserved. The use of any content on this website for the purpose of training artificial intelligence systems, algorithms, machine learning models, text and data mining, or similar use is strictly prohibited without explicit written consent.

source

Bondada Engineering has secured a major order worth ₹816.01 crore from NTPC Green Energy Limited for Balance of System component works on a 600 MW solar project in Rajasthan. The contract includes a 3-year operations and maintenance component, significantly enhancing the company's order backlog and standing in the renewable energy market.
Used by 10,000+ active investors
Select the stocks you want to track in real time.
Receive instant updates directly to WhatsApp.
Bondada Engineering Limited announced it has received a Notification of Award (NOA) from NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) for Balance of System component works on a 600 MW Solar PV Project. The project is located in Fatehgarh, Rajasthan.
The contract is valued at approximately ₹816.01 crore and includes a three-year Operations & Maintenance (O&M) component. Project execution is scheduled to take 16 months from the NOA date of May 8, 2026.
This significant order win bolsters Bondada Engineering's position in the competitive solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) market. It demonstrates the company's capability to secure contracts from major public sector clients like NTPC.
The award substantially enhances the company's medium-term revenue visibility and adds considerable capacity to its total solar EPC order book, pushing it to around 5.3 GWp. It also deepens the company's relationship with NTPC, a key client in the renewable energy sector.
Bondada Engineering Ltd is an India-based company specializing in solar photovoltaic (PV) engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. The company offers comprehensive EPC services for solar power projects, covering site selection, design, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning. Bondada Engineering also provides essential Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services for solar power plants.
Investors will monitor the project execution timeline, aiming for completion within the 16-month period for the 600 MW project. Managing the three-year O&M component effectively and profitably will also be crucial. Potential delays or cost overruns, which can occur in large EPC projects, are factors to watch.
Major players in the Indian solar EPC sector include Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy, Tata Power Solar, and L&T's renewable energy division. These competitors also have substantial order books and extensive experience in executing large-scale solar projects.
Quarterly results, bulk deals, concall updates and major announcements delivered in real time.
Used by 10,000+ active investors
Select the stocks you want to track in real time.
Receive instant updates directly to WhatsApp.

source

Clear to partly cloudy. Areas of patchy fog. Low 44F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear to partly cloudy. Areas of patchy fog. Low 44F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: May 8, 2026 @ 11:18 pm
This vacant building at 6115 Lendell Drive in Wheatfield is being eyed for a cannabis-growing operation.

This vacant building at 6115 Lendell Drive in Wheatfield is being eyed for a cannabis-growing operation.
WHEATFIELD — The Wheatfield Planning Board took a look at proposals for a new solar farm and cannabis-growing facility this week.
Rochester-based Entose LLC is proposing a solar facility for 49.3 acres of vacant farmland on the north side of Lockport Road, currently owned by Calvin Pfhol. This could be the third such Wheatfield solar facility set up on that road, with the 6.3 MW LR Wheatfield Solar 1 starting operations in November 2020 at 2469 Lockport Road and the 4 MW CVE US Ei3 facility starting in December 2023 at 3635 Lockport Road.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.
First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

source

Amazon’s $123 Foldable Solar Panel Is Nearly 50% Off and ‘Works Perfectly’  Yahoo Tech
source

Next Upcoming

By Canary Media

By Canary Media
Canary Media
8 May 2026
Lawmakers backing an Illinois bill that would clear the way for balcony solar have ended their push to pass the measure this year. With three weeks still to go in the legislative session, they hit a stalemate as opponents, including the state’s powerful electrical workers union, raised concerns about safety.
Advocates and lawmakers who had championed the bill were unhappy with an amendment filed on April 24 that would have prohibited the small plug-in solar panels until national standards are updated to include them.
Supporters say that other states have passed balcony solar laws without that provision. They contend that plugging in a small solar panel is no more dangerous than plugging in a washing machine or hair dryer.
“The whole point of the bill is to make these things safe,” said Kady McFadden, an Illinois lobbyist who focuses on clean energy and was leading legislative strategy for Senate Bill 3104. ​“It’s finding the right pieces to make sure consumers are safe, and also balancing that with being able to deploy these things.”
Given the amendment and concerns from stakeholders including the union, the lawmakers sponsoring the bill decided against further action, according to McFadden.
Environmental and clean energy groups have worked closely with lawmakers in Illinois and around the country to promote plug-in solar as a way to help people lower their energy bills and access small-scale renewable energy technology. Utah passed the country’s first balcony solar bill in 2025, and Maine and Colorado followed suit this spring. More than half the states nationwide are considering balcony solar bills, and legislators have sent them to governors’ desks in Maryland and Virginia.
The Illinois bill specified that interconnection agreements from utilities would not be necessary for plug-in solar arrays of up to 1,200 watts, and that landlords and homeowners’ associations could not enact barriers to arrays of 391 watts or smaller. Balcony solar systems worldwide typically range from 200 watts to 1,600 watts.
An amendment filed in February would have prohibited any plug-in solar systems greater than 391 watts until the National Electrical Code, a widely used set of safety standards, is updated to include these arrays — a move that is not scheduled until late 2028. The April amendment would have barred any plug-in solar at all until those standards are amended.
“The wait until that code update could be years in the future,” said Kavi Chintam, Illinois campaign manager for the advocacy group Vote Solar. Chintam noted that the bill would have required plug-in solar arrays to be certified by UL Solutions (formerly Underwriters Laboratories), which sets safety standards for appliances and other household goods, or an equivalent organization.
In the state Senate, 139 residents or stakeholder groups filed ​“witness slips” in support of the balcony solar bill, while three filed in opposition, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers state conference. The representative who filed the IBEW’s slip did not respond to requests for comment for this story, nor did two IBEW local chapters.
“We were disappointed to see the opposition” from electricians, said McFadden, noting that a balcony solar bill recently unanimously passed the state Senate in New York, ​“which also is a labor-heavy state.”
Bill supporters believed they wouldn’t be able to reach consensus on a measure that would allow Illinoisans to quickly adopt balcony solar, so they decided to wait for a future legislative session, McFadden said.
IBEW representatives also raised concerns about the safety of plug-in solar in Oregon, where a bill this spring failed to pass before the session ended.
McFadden said that during the legislative debate, the union representatives didn’t bring up fears about how the arrays might impact workers’ jobs, but proponents think IBEW may be concerned that plug-in solar does not require an electrician for installation. Chintam said advocates hope to reassure union members that balcony solar would not cut into demand for rooftop solar, which creates jobs for installers and electricians.
“This is a completely different market than what rooftop solar does,” Chintam said. ​“It would be small potatoes in terms of the kilowatts that rooftop solar brings. Obviously, we care about the workforce part of solar, but this is a totally different category meant to be purely for appliance-level savings.”
McFadden noted that in the past, it’s taken more than one legislative session to enact clean energy bills, most recently the 2025 Clean and Reliable Grid Act as well as sweeping bills that passed in 2021 and 2016.
“Illinois is unique — we like to do things our own way in the legislative process,” said McFadden. ​“It takes more than a year to pass a bill.”

Kari Lydersen is a contributing reporter at Canary Media who covers Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Wind
Solar
Wind
Solar
© 2026 Canary Media

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
Despite major market disruptions in late 2025, quoted prices remained relatively consistent until the close of the year.
Photo Credit: iStock
With major federal incentives for clean energy upgrades ending, the solar panel industry has seen a dramatic shift over the past six months. 
However, a report from the solar experts at EnergySage has revealed that, despite major market disruptions in late 2025, quoted prices remained relatively consistent until the close of the year. 
EnergySage is a marketplace built to empower homeowners to switch to affordable, reliable, and clean energy solutions by offering free tools and connecting people with trusted resources and vetted installers. 
Twice a year, EnergySage analyzes millions of transaction-level data points from homeowners shopping on its website. Using this data, EnergySage identifies trends in the wider solar industry and breaks down how and why homeowners are adopting domestic solar energy. 
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
In a report from late February, EnergySage’s data suggested that its marketplace model, which allows homeowners to compare installers and receive competitive prices for home solar systems, maintained competitive pricing despite market disruptions. 
About 55% of quotes fell between $2.00 and $2.75 per watt, while 80% landed within the broader $1.75 to $3.00 range. Although there was a rush from homeowners to install before the tax credits ended in December 2025, the report noted “the overall price distribution held steady.” 
While the federal tax credit is gone, for now, home solar can still be a worthwhile investment with the potential to earn you over six figures in bill savings over the lifetime of the system. If you’re interested in making the switch to clean solar energy, check out EnergySage’s free tools for competitive quotes and quick solar estimates. 
The report summarized that, despite overwhelming demand, the EnergySage marketplace helped solar prices remain relatively stable. 
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
“Solar prices increased just 0.4% to $2.49/W in H2 2025,” Emily Walker, EnergySage director of insights, explained. “These competitive prices demonstrate how marketplace transparency prevented price gouging even amid the year-end rush and soaring electricity rates.”
Walker explained that without federal tax credits, installers who offer competitive pricing and adapt to the emerging trends are best positioned to grow in the new solar landscape. While federal incentives are gone, Walker explained that solar still has room to grow in the U.S.
“Rising electricity rates across much of the country continue to strengthen the case for energy independence even without federal incentives,” Walker said. 
To see how much solar panels can curb your rising energy costs and transform your home’s energy, connect with EnergySage experts to save up to $10,000 on installation costs. 
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Although federal incentives are no longer available, you could be surprised by how many local solar discounts and rebates are offered by local governments and utilities. 
EnergySage has a helpful mapping tool that shows details on all of the local incentives available, as well as the average cost of solar in your area. It can ensure you get the best price possible based on your home and budget. 
Plus, if you want to protect your home from outages, save even more on energy bills, or even cut ties with the grid entirely, consider pairing solar with a home battery backup. Check out EnergySage’s free battery resources to see what system could work for your home.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Solex Energy, a solar module manufacturer and EPC services provider, has reported a 248% year-on-year increase in revenue from operations to INR 885.53 crore for the fourth quarter of FY2026. Revenue for the twelve months ended March 31, 2026, rose 144.3% to INR 1,618 crore.
Solex Energy’s solar module line
Solex Energy
Solex Energy, a solar module manufacturer and EPC services provider, has reported a 248% year-on-year increase in revenue from operations to INR 885.53 crore for the fourth quarter of FY2026. Revenue for the twelve months ended March 31, 2026, rose 144.3% to INR 1,618 crore.
Dr. Chetan Shah, chairman and managing director of Solex Energy, said, “This growth reflects improved capacity utilization and disciplined execution of key projects, meeting rising demand for high-efficiency n-type modules.”
During FY2026, Solex executed more than 200 EPC projects across solar parks, industrial ecosystems, textile facilities, and infrastructure sectors. The company said its order book remains strong at more than INR 4,000 crore, including EPC orders, providing revenue visibility for the next 15 to 18 months.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
More articles from Uma Gupta
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
By subscribing to our newsletter you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on magazine subscriptions!
Δ
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. To find out more, please see our Data Protection Policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

source

The Michigan Court of Appeals has largely upheld the state utility-regulating board’s handling of a law that lays out a path for the state to approve large wind, solar and energy storage projects even over the objections of local officials.
A group of 75 townships filed the lawsuit in 2024. They argue the Michigan Public Service Commission was violating the terms of a law that already took away their ability to say yes or no to projects with a huge impact on the quality of life in their communities.
Backers of the law say it’s necessary to meet the rising demand for clean energy and to respect the rights of landowners who want to lease or sell property to energy companies.
The unanimous decision wasn’t , but it clears the way for the MPSC to approve wind, solar and energy storage projects.
“So, while the commission continues to review the impact of specific findings, the decision largely affirms the commission’s approach and allows for continued and timely implementation of the law,” said Public Service Commission spokesperson Matt Helms.
The court rejected arguments by the townships that the MPSC violated the state’s Administrative Procedures Act for promulgating rules. The court said the agency misinterpreted rules regarding timelines and local units of government affected by the law, but otherwise followed the law approved by the Legislature.
Michael Homier, an attorney representing the local governments, said the townships are considering their next steps.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed,” he told Michigan Public Radio, “and, while I respect the court’s opinion, that doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with it and so we’re still digesting everything in it and we’ll have a discussion with our clients moving forward.”
One possibility would be taking the case to the Michigan Supreme Court.

source

Perovskite Solar Cells Skip Yellow Phase, Degrade Slower Thanks to Key Additives  Ink World magazine –
source

source

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Swipe for next article
The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. If you submit a form or click links to other sites on this page, we will earn commission. 
Plug-in solar panels could offer a cheaper way to generate electricity at home, but the savings depend on how much of that power you actually use
Removed from bookmarks
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Plug-in solar panels could soon offer a cheaper way to generate electricity at home. Instead of paying thousands of pounds for a rooftop solar system, UK households will be able to follow in the footsteps of their European neighbours and buy a small solar kit off the shelf, mount it on a balcony, wall, shed or garden frame, and plug it into their home electricity supply.
The appeal is obvious. Solar panels can reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the grid, and plug-in systems are expected to cost hundreds of pounds rather than several thousand. For renters, flat owners and people without a suitable roof, solar power could feel more accessible than ever before.
But do plug-in solar panels save you money in the long term? This is the question on everyone’s lips, and the answer is more complicated than the headline price suggests. Plug-in solar panels are smaller than conventional rooftop systems, and they are only likely to save you money on the electricity you use while the panels are generating. If your home is empty during the day, your balcony is shaded, or much of the electricity goes unused, the payback period could quickly stretch out.
The UK government has said it wants plug-in solar panels to be available to buy “within months”, with new safety standards intended to make off-the-shelf systems suitable for British homes. This article looks specifically at the savings and how plug-in solar panels help reduce electricity bills, what a realistic payback might look like, and when a cheap plug-in solar kit could still prove poor value.
Read more: Best solar panels 2026 for UK homes, reviewed by experts
Use our comparison tool to get free quotes from leading solar panel installers.
Plug-in solar panels save money in the same basic way as rooftop solar panels: they generate electricity that can be used in your home.
A small solar panel system captures daylight and converts it into electricity. A microinverter then changes that electricity into a form your home can use. When connected safely and correctly, the power generated by the panels can help run appliances and devices in your property, reducing the amount of electricity you need to buy from your supplier.
The important point is that plug-in solar panels save money through avoided electricity costs. They are not likely to be a major income generator.
If your panel produces electricity while your fridge, router, laptop, television, washing machine or dishwasher is using power, some of that demand can be met by solar instead of grid electricity. Every unit you use in the home is one less unit you need to buy from your energy company.
That makes plug-in solar different from many other small energy-saving products. It’s not cutting demand in the way loft insulation, draught-proofing or a more efficient appliance might. Instead, it’s supplying some of your electricity demand from a small, local source.
The financial case, therefore, depends on three main things: how much electricity the system generates, how much of that electricity you use at home, and what you would otherwise have paid for electricity from the grid.
A simple way to estimate the savings is to multiply the amount of solar electricity you use at home by your electricity unit rate.
For example, if a plug-in solar system generated 300kWh of electricity over a year and you used all of that electricity in your home, a unit rate of 25p per kWh would produce a saving of about £75 a year.
If you used half of that electricity, the saving would fall to around £37.50. The panel may still have generated the same amount of power, but the financial benefit would be lower because less of it displaced electricity you would otherwise have bought from the grid.
This is why any advertised savings should be treated carefully. A plug-in solar kit might have a stated annual output under ideal conditions. But your actual savings will depend on your property, the position of the panel and the way you use electricity.
The basic calculation is:
Annual savings = annual solar generation × percentage used at home × electricity unit rate
So, if a plug-in system generated 400kWh in a year, and you used 70 per cent of that electricity in the home at 25p per kWh, the estimated saving would be:
400kWh × 70% × 25p = £70 a year
That doesn’t mean every household with the same system would save £70. A household that uses most of its electricity in the evening might use a smaller share of the solar power, for example. Likewise, a household where someone works from home during the day might use more.
With plug-in solar panels, the biggest financial question isn’t simply how much electricity the panels produce, but how much of that electricity you can use.
This is known as self-consumption. If a solar panel generates power at midday and your home is using electricity at the same time, the solar power can offset electricity from the grid. If the panel generates power when there is very little demand in the home, the financial benefit may be much smaller.
A household where someone works from home is likely to have a stronger case. Daytime electricity use from a laptop, monitor, router, fridge, kettle, washing machine or dishwasher can help absorb some of the solar generation. Appliances can also be timed to run during brighter periods, which may increase the share of power used on-site.
A household that is empty for most of the day may see weaker savings. The fridge and standby appliances will still use some power, but much of the household’s energy demand may happen after sunset, when the panels are no longer generating.
This doesn’t mean plug-in solar only works for people who are at home all day. East-facing panels may be more useful in the morning, while west-facing panels may generate more later in the day. But the closer your electricity use matches the panel’s generation pattern, the better the financial case becomes.
In simple terms, a plug-in solar panel saves the most money when your home is already using electricity during daylight hours.
The payback period is the point at which your cumulative savings equal the upfront cost of the kit.
If a plug-in solar system costs £500 and saves £100 a year, it would pay for itself in about five years. If the same system saves £50 a year, the payback period doubles to 10 years. If it saves only £25 a year, it would take 20 years to break even.
That range is important because plug-in solar is likely to be sold partly on affordability. A lower upfront price helps, but it doesn’t guarantee a short payback period.
Kit cost
Annual saving
Approximate payback
£400
£100
4 years
£500
£75
67 years
£600
£50
12 years
£700
£25
20 years
These figures are illustrative rather than a promise of what any particular household will save. The same panel could perform very differently on a sunny, south-facing balcony than it would on a shaded wall or a north-facing outdoor space.
The product lifespan and warranty also factor into the equation. A seven-year payback looks more attractive if the product is expected to last well beyond that point. A 12- or 20-year payback is much less compelling if the kit has a shorter warranty, needs replacement parts, or is moved between properties.
Several factors can reduce the amount you save from plug-in solar panels, even if the kit itself is relatively cheap.
Solar panels need daylight, and shading can significantly reduce output. A balcony rail, neighbouring building, tree, chimney, wall or overhang can all limit generation. Even partial shading at key times of day can reduce the amount of electricity available to use at home.
In the UK, south-facing panels usually generate the most electricity overall. East- and west-facing panels can still be useful, especially if they match morning or afternoon usage, but north-facing panels are likely to produce less. The angle of the panel also matters, particularly if it is mounted vertically on a balcony rather than tilted towards the sun.
Plug-in solar is more financially useful when your home has a steady daytime electricity demand. If most of your usage occurs in the evening, you may only use a limited share of the power generated during the day.
With conventional rooftop solar, households may be able to receive payments for unused electricity exported to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee. The position for plug-in solar systems may not be as straightforward, particularly while the UK market is still developing.
For that reason, it is safer to judge plug-in solar mainly on the electricity it helps you use at home, rather than assuming you will earn meaningful export payments.
The panel may not be the only cost. Mounting equipment, smart plugs, monitoring devices, extension hardware or other accessories could add to the upfront price. If a battery is added, the total cost could rise significantly, which may lengthen the payback period rather than shorten it.
For most households, plug-in solar panels are better thought of as a way to reduce bills, not as a way to make money.
A small system may produce some surplus electricity at certain times of day, particularly in summer. But unless that electricity can be exported and paid for, the value of the surplus may be limited. Even where export is possible, the payment for exported electricity is usually lower than the cost of buying electricity from the grid.
That means the strongest financial return usually comes from using the power yourself. A unit of electricity used at home can offset your full import rate. A unit exported may be worth less, and for plug-in systems, it may not always be clear whether export payments will apply.
The safest assumption is that plug-in solar panels save money by reducing imports from the grid, rather than generating a meaningful income.
Plug-in solar panels are expected to be much cheaper up front than rooftop solar panels. A small plug-in kit may cost hundreds of pounds, while a full rooftop solar PV system typically costs several thousand.
But cheaper does not necessarily mean better value for every household. Plug-in systems are smaller, produce less electricity and are unlikely to cover a large share of a home’s annual power demand. Rooftop solar remains the stronger option for homeowners who have a suitable roof, can afford the higher upfront cost and want a larger reduction in their electricity bills.
Plug-in solar is different. It is a smaller intervention designed to trim daytime electricity use. Its appeal is accessibility rather than scale.
For someone who owns a suitable house and wants the largest long-term savings, rooftop solar is likely to remain the most powerful option. For a renter, flat owner or household without a suitable roof, plug-in solar could offer a lower-cost way to generate a modest amount of electricity.
Before buying a plug-in solar system, it is worth doing a rough payback calculation.
Start with the upfront cost of the kit. Then estimate how much electricity it is likely to generate each year, what proportion you are likely to use at home, and how much you currently pay per unit of electricity.
As above, the formula is:
Estimated annual saving = annual generation × percentage used at home × electricity unit rate
For example:
400kWh × 70% × 25p = £70 a year
Then you need to work out the payback period:
Payback period = kit cost ÷ annual saving
So, if the kit costs £500 and saves £70 a year, the payback period would be just over seven years.
You should also consider whether the product is approved for UK use, how long the warranty lasts, whether your landlord or freeholder needs to give permission, and whether your home insurance would be affected. These checks do not change the savings calculation directly, but they do affect whether the system is a sensible purchase.
Plug-in solar panels can save you money, but the savings are likely to be modest. They make the strongest financial case when the kit is cheap, the panels are unshaded, the household uses electricity during the day and most of the generated power is consumed at home.
They make a weaker case where the panels are shaded, daytime electricity use is low, or the household expects them to perform like a full rooftop solar system. A cheap plug-in solar kit can still be poor value if it saves only a few pounds a month.
For the right household, plug-in solar could pay for itself over several years and then continue to trim electricity bills. For the wrong one, the savings may be so small that the low upfront cost becomes less meaningful.
The best way to think about plug-in solar is as a bill-trimming product, not a whole-home energy solution. It could make solar power more accessible for renters, flat owners and homes without suitable roofs, but whether it saves you money will depend on how much of its electricity you actually use.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

source

The Czech government is reviewing proposals to streamline procedures for new solar power plants, including increasing the threshold for paying electricity tax to 100 kW and preventing double taxation on projects installing both solar and storage.
Image: Jiamin Huang/Unsplash
Czechia’s Economic Committee of the Chamber of Deputies has backed proposals aiming to accelerate the construction of solar power plants.
In a discussion of amendments to the country’s Building Act, the committee, which is key permanent body within Czechia’s lower house of parliament, supported plans to increase the threshold for the payment of electricity tax from a current 50 kW to 100 kW. It also backed a proposal to prevent double taxation when installing battery energy storage systems at the same site as solar plants.
Jan Krčmář, executive director of Czech solar association Solární Asociace, explained to pv magazine that the association has been discussing with the current government how to streamline the permitting process for solar power plants since the government’s formation late last year. 
The association has been advocating for raising the limit above which PV owners have to pay electricity tax to 100 kWp and, in collaboration with Czech battery association AKU-BAT CZ, avoiding double-charging for batteries.
“The Ministry of Industry as well as the Finance Ministry both agreed, and we worked out a wording that was now passed in the economic committee of parliament,” Krčmář told pv magazine. “Once the committee recommends certain amendments and laws, it is very likely that these will be passed and enforced.”
The proposals still have to go through several stages before becoming law, including a second, third and final reading in parliament before being passed to the senate. Krčmář predicted the law could be passed sometime later this year, before becoming valid as of next year.
Czechia deployed 696 MW of solar in 2025, taking cumulative capacity to around 5.5 GW. Last year saw the country expand its rules for agrivoltaics and increase the limit for mandatory electricity generation licenses applied to solar installations that produce electricity for direct consumption.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
More articles from Patrick Jowett
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Data Privacy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

New research from China reveals that ultraviolet degradation in TOPCon solar cells is governed by interface-level physical mechanisms involving hydrogen dynamics, defect formation, and charge evolution. These processes are strongly influenced by the design of the silicon nitride/aluminum oxide passivation stack, which determines long-term device stability.
Image: pv magazine/AI generated
Researchers from Yangzhou University, Changzhou University, and Chinese module manufacturer JinkoSolar have investigated ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) pathways in both passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells and have concluded that this phenomenon is primarily governed by the design of the front-side passivation stack.
UVID is particularly important for TOPCon technology because its high-efficiency passivation structures rely on ultra-thin dielectric and interfacial layers that are more sensitive to UV-driven defect creation and charge accumulation, which can directly impact long-term performance and field reliability.
“UV irradiation induces silicon–hydrogen (Si–H) bond breaking and interface defect generation, whereas the optimized silicon nitride (SiNx)/aluminum oxide (AlOx) passivation structure in TOPCon solar cells maintains stable field-effect passivation and effectively suppresses recombination losses, ” corresponding author Jianning Ding told pv magazine. “Our work further demonstrated that rational passivation-layer engineering, including optimized AlOx thickness and SiNx optical matching design, is critical for improving the long-term UV stability of TOPCon solar cells.”
The research team explained that the role of interface chemistry and hydrogen dynamics in TOPCon devices is still unexplored. In particular, the response of silicon-combined AlOx and SiNx passivation layers to UV irradiation, and their impact on hydrogen passivation and interface defect formation, is not yet fully understood
The analysis focused on interface defect density (Dit) and fixed negative charge density (Qf). Dit refers to the density of electrically active defect states at the silicon–passivation layer interface, while Qf describes the concentration of immobile negative charges embedded within the passivation layers.
The scientists used a Sinton WCT-120 metrology system for sample testing and characterization. Defect and material analyses were performed using photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), UV–visible spectroscopy, and capacitance–voltage measurements for interface defect density (Dit) and fixed charge density (Qf).
Microstructure was examined using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). UV degradation testing followed IEC 61215 standards, with accelerated exposure of 60 and 120 kWh/m² at 60 C.
The group analyzed AlOx films with thicknesses of 3 nm, 5 nm, and 6 nm under UV exposure and found that thicker AlOx layers provide better stability and reduced performance degradation due to stronger field-effect passivation. It noted that, as AlOx thickness increases, the Qf becomes more negative while Dit shows a thickness-dependent response, indicating a balance between chemical and field-effect passivation.
In addition, the academics found that UV irradiation induces Si–H bond breaking and hydrogen migration, which modifies interface defects and charge states, while thicker AlOx layers stabilize oxygen-related negative charge centers more effectively.
As for SiNx, two refractive indices were studied, showing that low-index SiNx has better UV resistance due to lower UV absorption and reduced bond breaking at the interface. UV exposure transforms the SiNx network toward a more nitrogen- and oxygen-rich composition, increasing interface defect density and altering hydrogen-related bonds, the scientists said.
“Due to its passivated-contact design and the more robust field-effect passivation enabled by the SiNx/AlOx stack, TOPCon solar cells demonstrate significantly higher resistance to UV degradation than PERC cells,” Ding said. “After optimization, TOPCon devices show only a 0.74% efficiency loss following 120 kWh/m² UV exposure, whereas PERC cells experience a much larger degradation of 3.34%.”
“These findings indicate that resistance to UV degradation is primarily determined by the quality of interface passivation, underscoring the critical role of interface-engineering approaches in the development of next-generation silicon solar cells with enhanced UV stability,” he concluded.
The research findings are available in the study “Exploring the UV degradation pathways in N-TOPCon solar cells: Interface passivation and hydrogen dynamics,” published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
More articles from Emiliano Bellini
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Data Privacy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

The state Legislature’s effort to preserve Hawaiʻi’s historic income tax break could have dire consequences for its solar energy efforts, according to industry leaders.
State lawmakers this session wrestled over the idea of pausing the historic tax break to cover the budget shortfall this year, and eventually agreed on a measure to keep it intact.
But to find the money to do so during a tight budget year, lawmakers made last-minute amendments to the measure, including capping the state’s Renewable Energy Tax Credit.
Legislators cut the tax credit, which is used primarily for the installation of rooftop solar panels, by capping the state’s ability to spend on it to $40 million for four years.
Solar industry leaders held a rally at the state Capitol to ask lawmakers to vote against the bill.
“ We’re asking legislators to vote no on the bill. We’re asking the governor to veto the bill if it goes to his desk,” said Rocky Mould, the executive director for the Hawaii Solar Energy Association. “We understand that’s really challenging because of all that’s wrapped into this bill and all the contingencies with the budget. We get that that’s really difficult. We just think this is an existential threat for Hawaiʻi’s ability to control skyrocketing electricity costs going forward.”
He and representatives from several local solar companies gathered at the state Capitol for a last-ditch effort to keep the bill from moving forward.
There are several reasons they want to preserve the tax credit, including the concern that it could hurt customers’ abilities to control Hawaiʻi’s rising electricity costs — and that could make the cost of living in the state even worse.
At the rally, Inter-Island Solar Supply CEO and President Brian Gold said the bill “is masked under the headline of creating more affordability for low- and moderate-income households. But what it actually does in the details is it takes money out of those same consumers’ left pocket just to put it back in their right.”
The measure could also compound recent struggles in the industry, and could lead to layoffs and even the closure of solar companies.
A federal level tax credit for solar panels was cut last year, leading to a 30% drop in solar installations during the first couple months of this year. Industry leaders said that that number could jump to over 50% if the measure becomes law.

source

Our #1 AI Stock Pick — 33% OFF: $9.99 (was $14.99)  Monthly picks · Ad-free browsing · 30-day money back guarantee
Our #1 AI Stock Pick — 33% OFF: $9.99 (was $14.99)  Monthly picks · Ad-free browsing
In this article, we will discuss the 8 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now.
On May 1, Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, joined ‘Squawk on the Street’ on CNBC to discuss the demand for solar energy. Widmar’s company reaffirmed its full-year guidance after delivering solid Q1 2026 earnings, while he also acknowledged ongoing challenges, specifically trade policy uncertainty and tariffs impacting the global supply chain. Widmar highlighted the significant load growth and the increasing need for electrons to support industrial expansion, particularly the massive energy requirements of AI. He explained that the industry must be nimble and agile to manage the friction caused by shifting policies, though he expects these pressures to lessen as the focus remains on reshaping the industry to create a more stable domestic presence. He emphasized that the path forward involves providing tech that adds significant value to customers who prioritize reliable and affordable energy.
Widmar advocates for an all-of-the-above strategy to ensure energy diversification and reliability. He compared the energy landscape to the military, noting that just as different branches must cooperate for success, different forms of generation must be optimized together to provide power at the most affordable cost points. He observed that because of current constraints with grid connection, there is a significant shift toward behind-the-meter or off-grid generation. This approach allows large-scale users to co-locate generation on-site, often using batteries to create a hybrid structure that combines grid-connected and independent capacity. Discussing the economic foundation of the sector, Widmar insisted that while subsidies have been helpful, the industry must eventually be viable and economical on its own merits. He argued that certain renewable technologies represent the lowest cost of energy and electricity available today.We used the Finviz Stock Screener to identify solar energy stocks, and limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q4 2025.
Note: All data was sourced on May 8. 
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ) is one of the best solar energy stocks to buy right now. On April 29, Daqo New Energy reported a sharp revenue decline to $26.7 million for Q1 2026, down from $221.7 million in the previous quarter. This resulted in a gross loss of $139.4 million and a net loss of $88.4 million, or $1.31 per ADS. The downturn was primarily driven by a decision to reduce sales volume to avoid selling below production costs, coupled with significant inventory impairment provisions.
Operationally, Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ) produced 43,402 MT of polysilicon, exceeding its guidance despite an industry-wide slowdown. However, sales volume dropped to 4,482 MT as management maintained a disciplined approach toward low market prices. Total production costs rose slightly to $5.95/kg, yet the company ended the quarter with a robust balance sheet featuring $2.00 billion in cash and liquid assets and zero debt.
For the remainder of 2026, the company expects a full-year production range of 140,000 MT to 170,000 MT, with Q2 targets set between 35,000 MT and 40,000 MT. Management anticipates that government anti-involution policies will eventually stabilize the current overcapacity. Looking ahead, Daqo remains focused on cost optimization through digital transformation and high-efficiency N-type technology to navigate the market recovery.
Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ) is a provider of polysilicon to photovoltaic product manufacturers. The company’s products are utilized in ingots, wafers, and modules for solar power solutions.
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
SunPower Inc. (NASDAQ:SPWR) is one of the best solar energy stocks to buy right now. On April 28, SunPower closed a $41 million private placement of senior convertible debenture notes featuring a 10% coupon. The proceeds are designated to enhance liquidity and facilitate debt reduction, specifically by paying off $28.75 million in existing obligations. Additionally, investors holding prior 7.0% convertible notes agreed to exchange $21.25 million of principal for equity, contributing to a total debt reduction of $40 million for the company.
As part of the transaction, Sunder, a recently acquired solar sales firm, swapped $10 million in acquisition debt for notes in this new offering. CEO T.J. Rodgers indicated that the resulting cash plan is designed to sustain operations through 2026, targeting a move into positive cash flow by 2027. This financial restructuring arrives amid broader market volatility, including the recent bankruptcy of a major competitor.
Despite industry headwinds, SunPower Inc. (NASDAQ:SPWR) climbed to the number five spot in US residential solar and is targeting the number three position. Growth is being further supported by the recruitment of ~600 sales representatives from recently distressed firms. Detailed insights into the cash plan and future outlook are scheduled to be discussed in the upcoming investor report on May 12.
SunPower Inc. (NASDAQ:SPWR) is a US-based residential solar installation, storage, and technology provider. The company focuses on high-efficiency solar panels, battery systems, and financing solutions.
NYSE:DQHeadlineNASDAQ:RUNNASDAQ:FSLRNASDAQ:SPWRNASDAQ:SHLSNASDAQ:ARRYNASDAQ:ENPHNASDAQ:SEDGDaily NewsletterSunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)SunPower Inc. (NASDAQ:SPWR)First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)Daqo New Energy Corp (NYSE:DQ)Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH)Array Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY)8 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Right NowShoals Technologies Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLS)​SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG)Show more…Show less
Returns since its inception in May 2014 (through February 18th, 2026)
30 day money back guarantee. Cancel anytime.
Warren Buffett
Berkshire Hathaway
$293,447,417,000
David Einhorn
Greenlight Capital
$1,491,303,000
George Soros
Soros Fund Management
$5,416,602,000
Jim Simons
Renaissance Technologies
$77,426,184,000
Leon Cooperman
Omega Advisors
$1,886,381,000
Carl Icahn
Icahn Capital LP
$22,521,664,000
Steve Cohen
Point72 Asset Management
$22,767,998,000
John Paulson
Paulson & Co
$3,510,256,000
David Tepper
Appaloosa Management LP
$4,198,712,000
Paul Tudor Jones
Tudor Investment Corp
$6,160,740,000
When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard.
Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences.
At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000.
Do the math. According to Musk, this technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040.
Put another way, that’s roughly equal to:
And here’s the wild part — this $250 trillion wave isn’t tied to one company, but to an entire ecosystem of AI innovators set to reshape the global economy.
It’s a leap so massive, it could reshape how businesses, governments, and consumers operate worldwide.
Even if that $250 trillion figure sounds ambitious, major firms like PwC and McKinsey still see AI unlocking multi-trillion-dollar potential.
How could anything be worth that much?
The answer lies in a breakthrough so powerful it’s redefining how humanity works, learns, and creates.
And this breakthrough has already set off a frenzy among hedge funds and Wall Street’s top investors.
What most investors don’t realize is that one under-owned company holds the key to this $250 trillion revolution.
In fact, Verge argues this company’s supercheap AI technology should concern rivals.
Before I reveal the details, let’s talk about how some of the richest people on the planet are positioning themselves.
When billionaires from Silicon Valley to Wall Street line up behind the same idea — you know it’s worth paying attention to.
Even as we admire what Tesla, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Microsoft have built, we believe an even greater opportunity lies elsewhere…
But the real story isn’t Nvidia — it’s a much smaller company quietly improving the critical technology that makes this entire revolution possible.
And judging by what I’m hearing from both Silicon Valley insiders and Wall Street veterans…
This prediction might not be bold at all:
A few years from now, you’ll wish you’d owned this stock.
The best part? You can discover everything about this company and its groundbreaking technology right now.
I’ve compiled everything you need to know about this groundbreaking company in a detailed, members-only report.
Trust me — you’ll want to read this report before putting another dollar into any tech stock.
For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 a month, you can unlock a year’s worth of in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!
Here’s why this is a deal you can’t afford to pass up:
• Access to our Detailed Report on this Game-Changing AI Stock: Our in-depth report dives deep into our #1 AI stock’s groundbreaking technology and massive growth potential.
• 11 New Issues of Our Premium Readership Newsletter: You will also receive 11 new issues and at least one new stock pick per month from our monthly newsletter’s portfolio over the next 12 months. These stocks are handpicked by our research director, Dr. Inan Dogan.
• One free upcoming issue of our 70+ page Quarterly Newsletter: A value of $149
• Bonus Reports: Premium access to members-only fund manager video interviews
• Ad-Free Browsing: Enjoy a year of investment research free from distracting banner and pop-up ads, allowing you to focus on uncovering the next big opportunity.
• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee:  If you’re not absolutely satisfied with our service, we’ll provide a full refund within 30 days, no questions asked.
If you’re thinking about getting in, don’t wait – because once Wall Street catches wind of this story, the easy money will be gone.
Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.
Here’s what to do next:
1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99 a month.
2. Enjoy a year of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the revolutionary AI company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter over the next 12 months.
3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!
No worries about auto-renewals! Our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies whether you’re joining us for the first time or renewing your subscription a month later!
 
Get our editor’s daily picks straight in your inbox!

source

A proposed solar farm that would’ve been Wyoming’s first community-scale project was killed by Lincoln County officials this week. Lincoln County residents objected to plans for the solar farm being built there to benefit Teton County residents.
May 08, 20265 min read
A tiny 1 megawatt community solar project that was progressing toward a buildout on leased private land in Lincoln County has pressed pause after local residents made it clear they don’t want it.
Lincoln County commissioners this week denied a conditional use permit request for the solar project at the request of Lower Valley Energy (LVE), an electric cooperative that serves Lincoln and Teton counties, including Jackson.
The solar farm was proposed as a renewable energy project designed to give homeowners and renters a way to save money on electric bills. 
Subscriptions would have been geared toward renters and homeowners who could not install their own solar panels, said LVE spokesperson Brian Tanabe. 
Co-op members would be invited to buy shares of the solar farm and then receive credit on their bills for the amount of electricity that their panel produced. The project would have powered 200-500 homes.
While Tanabe said any LVE customer could have benefitted from the project and bought shares, some locals residents had a problem with the solar farm being in Lincoln County, yet benefiting people in Jackson.
“From what I understand, this is a project geared to help Jackson,” said Pamela Wolfley, who lives in Etna.
“If it is geared to Jackson, then it should be in Jackson instead of here,” Wolfley told Cowboy State Daily. “We get a lot of Jackson’s things they don’t want. 
“We’re a bedroom community for Jackson because their workers can’t afford to live there.”
Lincoln County Commission Chairman Kent Connelly told Cowboy State Daily the project’s conditional use permit was nixed this week because it appeared the co-op wasn’t ready to take the proposal to its next step.
Lower Valley Energy announced in March 2025 its plan to launch the community solar project in Lincoln County’s Star Valley. 
The co-op partnered with Teton County Energy Conservation Works, a joint powers board with representation from the town of Jackson, Teton County, Lower Valley Energy and residents to search for sites that would be suitable to the project, Tanabe said.
“We looked really hard in Teton County,” Tanabe said. “We looked in Soda Springs, Idaho. And we just couldn’t find a lease that would make the project financially viable.”
When Teton County Energy Conservation Works backed out of the project, LVE turned its focus to Lincoln County.
“We put out a request to see if any private residences were interested in leasing us some land,” Tanabe said.
That request led to securing a 7-acre lease in rural Bedford, between Thayne and Afton.
LVE hosted a public open house in March 2025 to hear public comment on the proposed project.
“We booked essentially the biggest public meeting place near where the site was selected,” Tanabe said — the Thayne Community Center.
That’s when the group learned that Lincoln County residents didn’t like the solar farm plan. 
“A lot of people just didn’t want it at the Bedford site,” Tanabe said. “It’s a small community. It was not something they believed in.”
One of the main sticking points was that residents had had enough of the natural landscape being converted into use for industrial needs.
“I’m simply opposed to it,” Wolfley told Cowboy State Daily. “A big, ugly solar farm right in the middle of our valley where we have lovely views, that is a big impact to our community.”
In September, LVE met with Lincoln County commissioners in Kemmerer, where the project was met with more pushback from the public. 
Commissioners requested that LVE host one more public comment period before moving forward.
A second open house at the Thayne Community Center in October was more of the same.
“At that meeting, we addressed the previous concerns and some new concerns arose,” Tanabe said.
While Tanabe said he felt LVE was well prepared to address residents’ previous concerns, they weren’t prepared for new complaints that included questions around possible groundwater poisoning from heavy metal within the solar panels’ infrastructure and pollution of a nearby aquifer.
“The new concerns caught us off guard,” Tanabe said.
At the end of that meeting, LVE decided it would look at moving the project onto state-owned land.
That would require filing a conditional use permit request with the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments.
At the same time, LVE welcomed a new CEO, Bear Prairie. That transition along with the public unrest caused the company to withdraw its conditional use permit request.
“We just wanted to take a step back,” Tanabe said.
At LVE’s request, the Lincoln County Commissioners this week officially put the project on hold. 
Tanabe said the future of the community solar farm is uncertain. 
LVE remains interested in exploring potential sites for it, he said, adding, “We were excited to see the possibilities.”
“I think there are people waiting on both sides,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “People know projects like these are slow-moving. While there was opposition in Star Valley, others were in favor.”
Wolfley said she was thrilled to see that the co-op had withdrawn its conditional use permit, but said she is doubtful that the issue is dead.
A statement on the LVE website reads, “We continue to explore potential sites but have also not removed anything formally from consideration. 
“We continue to engage and listen to our communities and members we serve to hopefully locate the best site that meets everyone’s needs and expectations.”
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
Clair McFarland8 min read
Mark Heinz7 min read
Kate Meadows is a writer for Cowboy State Daily.
Renée JeanMay 07, 2026
Renée JeanMay 06, 2026
Kate MeadowsMay 05, 2026
Renée JeanMay 05, 2026
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2026
Mark HeinzMay 08, 2026
Mark HeinzMay 08, 2026
Renée JeanMay 08, 2026
Jeff WelschMay 08, 2026
Mark HeinzMay 08, 2026
As your #1 Wyoming News Source our mission is to provide you high quality statewide and local news for Wyoming. Wyoming News brought to you by locals for locals.
2026 © Cowboy State Daily

source

Floating solar panel proposal raises interest and concern in Westchester County, N.Y.  CBS News
source

Updates to our Terms of Use
We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The EPA argues the Court of Federal Claims should be considering the issue rather than federal district court.
SEATTLE (CN) — A coalition of states urged a federal judge in Washington state on Friday to find the Environmental Protection Agency illegally ended a $7 billion program that would have brought solar energy to more than 900,000 low-income families across the country.
“Congress very intentionally left in place a $7 billion appropriation here. They left in place all this money for the Solar for All program and that has to mean that Congress intended for this program to continue through the life of those grants,” Andrew Hughes, with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, told U.S. District Judge Tiffany Cartwright.
In October, 23 states sued the EPA, accusing its administrator Lee Zeldin of illegally withdrawing 90% of funds already allocated to recipients across the country, after misinterpreting President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The states say the cancellation of the solar energy program violates the Administrative Procedures Act and the Separation of Powers Doctrine.
Congress established the Solar for All program in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, directing the EPA to make competitive grants to states and other entities to deploy solar projects in low-income and disadvantaged areas. By August 2024, the EPA had awarded all of the program funds to the plaintiff states and other grant recipients, spurring the plaintiffs to begin developing their projects.
In August 2025, the EPA abruptly terminated the program and took back the vast majority of the money already awarded. The EPA had obligated $3 billion to the plaintiff states.
The states argue the One Big Beautiful Bill Act didn’t rescind already obligated funds, only unobligated funds appropriated for the solar program. Further, the states accused the EPA of “trying to have their cake and eat it too” by trying to move the case to the Court of Federal Claims.
“I’m very curious to hear how … these sort of ‘Schroedinger’s grant agreements’ can be contracts here and kick us out of this court but not contracts in the Court of Federal Claims and kick us out of that court,” said Hughes.
Grant recipients also sued in October in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to recover damages for unlawful breaches of the contracts that governed the grant agreements.
Cartwright, a Joe Biden appointee, questioned how the court should proceed hearing a challenge also being heard in the Court of Federal Claims.
“I don’t think there’s any basis for treating the possibility of damages in the Court of Federal Claims as an obstacle to jurisdiction here in this case,” Hughes said. “We’re raising core Separation of Powers issues that are just not going to be touched by the Court of Federal Claims’ decision.”
The EPA argued it was within its right to cancel the program and that any challenge to the cancellation should be heard in the Court of Federal Claims rather than in federal district court.
“What this case boils down to is a loss of grant funding, and plaintiffs never had any right to the grant funding except through their grants,” said I-Heng Hsu with the Justice Department.
The EPA also argues it had to consider what Congress meant when it passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“The right to grant funding came solely from grant agreements,” Hsu said.
But Cartwright pushed back.
“If Congress wanted to undo all of the grants that had already been obligated, why didn’t they just do that?” Cartwright asked.
The EPA’s stance is that Congress just as easily could have preserved the program. The agency also says the Court of Federal Claims can provide complete relief for the plaintiffs’ claims.
“The United States is not disputing the existence of these grant agreements or that they’re contracts, but plaintiffs are going so far as to say ‘these were not contracts’ in order to escape the jurisdictional bar,” Hsu said.
The agency claims the use of the phrase “claw back” is inaccurate, because the EPA isn’t demanding grant funds already received be returned.
“The obligation is really about EPA stopping immediate access,” Hsu said.
Turning back to the states, Cartwright noted she had trouble finding a precedent to reinstate a terminated grant.
“That’s not what we’re asking for,” Hughes said. “EPA can make a new, lawful decision.”
Cartwright did not indicate when she would rule.
Our weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.

source

Solar PV Backsheet Market Is Going to Boom |Dupont de Nemours, Inc., Toray Industries, Inc.  openPR.com
source

We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy or manage cookies.
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Germany saw a 6% year-on-year decline in solar PV installations during the first quarter of 2026, driven by weakening demand in the residential sector, according to the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar).
Data from the Federal Network Agency shows that total solar installations reached 3.51GW in Q1 2026. Residential installations fell 21% year-on-year to 850MW, marking the second consecutive year of slowdown in that segment during the opening quarter.
BSW-Solar has cautioned against further subsidy cuts for PV systems, warning that such measures could push installations even lower. The draft of the Renewable Energy Sources Act proposes eliminating compensation for newly built PV systems up to 25kW—both residential and commercial—that feed power to the grid, starting in 2027. The trade body stated that if the legislation passes as drafted, it would slow solar PV expansion and endanger tens of thousands of jobs.
Commercial rooftop solar also declined, with installations totaling 600MW in Q1 2026, a 33% drop compared to the prior year. Balcony solar, for which Germany is a leading global market, decreased by 6% from the same period last year.
The only segment that grew was ground-mounted solar, which accounted for more than half of all solar PV installed in Q1 2026, at nearly 2GW. That represented a 20% year-on-year increase but was insufficient to offset the declines in residential and commercial segments.
Despite the overall slowdown, the trade body expects a slight increase in the coming weeks, citing the conflict in the Middle East and pull-forward effects ahead of potential subsidy cuts. BSW-Solar’s managing director, Carsten Kornig, said that a temporary solar boom is no substitute for reliable investment conditions.
The solar slowdown contrasted with strong growth in energy storage, which set a record first quarter with 2GWh of new capacity commissioned—a 67% year-over-year increase. That growth came primarily from large-scale storage systems of 1MWh or more, which saw nearly a fourfold increase from the previous year, with over 1GWh installed in Q1 2026.
BSW-Solar called for simplified regulatory frameworks for co-located storage to unlock the technology’s full potential, and added that batteries should be used to store electricity during negative power prices and grid congestion instead of curtailing PV systems.
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
The Largest Destinations for Exports
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc

source

Mt. Vernon downsizes solar farm project  morningsentinel.com
source

Floating solar panels promise to lower energy bills, but Peekskill residents worry about the water supply  CBS News
source

source

A China-based research team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 147 studies on how solar PV systems alter land surface processes, covering 609 installations worldwide and 11 key climate variables. The results show mixed but mostly significant environmental effects, including reduced wind speed, albedo, and land surface or soil temperatures, alongside increased soil moisture, while air temperature changes remained largely non-significant.
Image: pv magazine/AI generated

A research team from China has conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of land surface process changes associated with solar PV systems.
“The key questions addressed in this systematic review are: (1) Which climate variables are affected by land surface process alterations caused by PV systems, and are these changes significant? (2) At what scales do these alterations occur, and what mechanisms underlie them? (3) What future research directions emerge from existing studies?” the authors stated.
The review began with 4,909 publications related to PV systems and land surface processes. After removing reviews, reports, non-English papers, and studies lacking direct comparisons between PV and non-PV climate conditions, the researchers screened 90 full-text articles. An additional 30 studies were identified from reference lists, alongside 27 newly published and widely cited studies. The final dataset comprised 147 studies.
These studies covered 609 operational PV systems worldwide and used three main methodologies: field observations, remote sensing, and numerical simulations.
For the meta-analysis, the team evaluated 11 climate variables: daily, daytime, and nighttime air temperature; wind speed; relative humidity; albedo; daily, daytime, and nighttime land surface temperature; soil temperature; and soil water content.
“A clear geographic bias was observed, with 93.6% of PV systems located in the Northern Hemisphere,” the researchers noted. “China (316 systems), the United States (104), and India (44) account for the largest shares.”
In terms of land cover, most studied PV systems were located on grassland (208 systems), followed by bare land (173) and cropland (159). Arid regions dominated the sample, with 27.3% and 31.7% of systems located in BS (semi-arid steppe) and BW (arid desert) climate zones, respectively.
For temperature-related variables, the authors used mean difference (MD) to quantify absolute changes between PV and non-PV sites. For wind speed, relative humidity, albedo, and soil water content, they applied the ratio of means (ROM) to assess percentage changes.
Overall, PV systems were associated with small, non-significant increases in daily air temperature (+0.03 C), daytime air temperature (+0.34 C), nighttime air temperature (+0.18 C), and relative humidity (+1.77%).
In contrast, several significant effects were observed, including a reduction in wind speed (−29.96%) and albedo (−17.49%), as well as decreases in daily land surface temperature (−0.44°C), daytime land surface temperature (−0.90 C), and soil temperature (−2.42 C), alongside a substantial increase in soil water content (+38.60%). Nighttime land surface temperature showed a slight, non-significant decline (−0.08 C).
Based on the findings, the team proposed an integrated framework to assess PV-induced land surface process changes. “Its core structure consists of five modules: underlying surface, research method, climate variable, land surface process, and research scale,” they explained.
They added that the framework is intended to support stakeholders including researchers, PV technology developers, environmental impact assessors, site planners, energy agencies, manufacturers, and other industry participants.
Their results have been presented in “Land surface process alterations caused by solar photovoltaic systems: A systematic review and future framework from global evidence,” published in Geography and Sustainability. Researchers from China’s Beijing Normal University and Tianjin University have participated in the research.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
More articles from Lior Kahana
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
By subscribing to our newsletter you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on magazine subscriptions!
Δ
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. To find out more, please see our Data Protection Policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

A program designed to finance solar projects for local authorities in Palestine has opened with an initial $25 million investment from the Palestine Monetary Authority in collaboration with Austria, Finland and Norway.
Image: Palestine Money Authority

The Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) has announced a program that will finance solar energy projects for local authorities in Palestine. 
The Shamsi Palestine program will finance solar projects through an integrated financing model combining loans and grants. PMA, an independent public institution with headquarters in Palestine, has contributed $20 million to its launch, while donor countries Austria, Finland and Norway contribute a further $5 million combined.
The solar projects are to be implemented through local banks, under financing terms including a repayment period of up to seven years, which a statement from PMA says will enable local authorities to install solar that enhances their financial sustainability and reduces the burden of energy bills.
The United Nations Development Programme is set to act as Shamsi Palestine’s technical and development partner.
The program’s launch was attended by Palestine’s Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, who said the program will contribute to reforming public finances, increasing investment in the renewable energy sector and building a more independent national economic capacity.
President Mustafa also called on international parties to act urgently and accelerate recovery and reconstruction efforts of the Gaza Strip. “Gaza is suffering, lacking services and infrastructure. The suffering of our people in the Strip has been prolonged, and recovery and reconstruction efforts have been delayed,” the President said. “This is a difficult reality that cannot be ignored.”
Head of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority, Engineer Ayman Ismail, added that Shamsi Palestine represents a significant step towards enhancing energy security in Palestine by expanding reliance on solar energy, reducing dependence on imported energy, lowering electricity costs and improving supply reliability.
Palestine’s cumulative solar capacity stood at 308 MW at the end of 2025, according to figures published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a 5 MW increase on the 303 MW recorded at the end of 2024.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
More articles from Patrick Jowett
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Data Privacy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

Solar panels over canals could transform California’s water and energy systems  TechRadar
source

Georgia’s solar story is one of two very different realities. From the air, thousands of acres of panels sprawl across Georgia’s farmland, quietly pushing electricity north. On the ground, most homeowners remain connected to the same grid they have always known, watching their power bills climb while the panels stay just out of reach. 
Just over a decade ago, Georgia had virtually no solar infrastructure. Tom Krause, public information officer for the Georgia Public Service Commission, traces the turning point to a 2013 trip that then-commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald Jr. took to Germany. McDonald returned convinced that Georgia needed to catch up and, crucially, said he had secured three votes on the five-member commission before approaching Georgia Power. “He had some leverage,” Krause said. The partnership that followed launched Georgia on a path of aggressive utility-scale solar expansion, revisiting and expanding the grid’s integrated resource plan every three years. 
The results have been striking. According to Environment America, Georgia generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than in all years before 2019 combined. A 3,616% increase since 2014. By the end of 2024, the state had shattered its own records, adding more than 1.5 gigawatts of new capacity in a single year, more than double what was installed in 2023. That growth helped push Georgia to the seventh spot nationally for total installed solar capacity. Krause noted that roughly 42 percent of the approximately 10,000 megawatts of energy Georgia Power plans to add over the next several years will be solar paired with battery backup.  
The state has also become a manufacturing hub. Georgia is home to Qcells, Suniva, Adion Solar and the soon-to-open SOLARCYCLE, with Qcells operating two factories in Cartersville and Dalton. The state ranked second nationally for solar module production through the first three quarters of 2024. Clean energy employment in Georgia grew more than five times faster than the broader state economy in 2024, raising the total clean energy workforce to over 85,500 people, according to a report from the nonpartisan business group E2 and the Georgia Solar Energy Association.  
“Georgia is, you know, cutting edge on the solar side, including solar battery. It has not been done with state subsidies. We’re a test case to prove that it works.” -Tom Krause, Georgia Public Service Commission 
Behind those headline numbers is a starkly different story for homeowners. While Georgia ranks seventh overall in solar capacity, it sits 47th nationally for behind-the-meter solar, a category that measures consumer-owned systems installed on homes and small businesses. Jonell Carroll Minefee, managing partner of Solar Tyme USA and board chair of the Georgia Solar Energy Association, said the disparity comes down to a cluster of interlocking barriers. 
Homeowners’ association restrictions top the list. Many HOAs either ban rooftop panels outright or confine them to rear-facing rooflines regardless of where a house actually faces the sun. “You can’t turn your house around,” Minefee noted. Interconnection fees from municipal utilities compound the problem. Unlike Georgia Power and several electric membership corporations, several of Georgia’s city-owned utilities charge what are known as demand charges calculated from the nameplate size of an inverter rather than actual energy use, making the math on a residential solar investment difficult to justify. 
The PSC has argued against subsidizing rooftop solar, a position that Krause framed as a fairness concern. When Georgia Power buys excess power from a homeowner’s panels at wholesale rather than retail rates, he said, the difference is effectively recovered from all other ratepayers, including those who cannot afford to install solar. “Is it really worth it to pay this person a premium retail rate when Georgia Power doesn’t even really need it, and there’s a single mom on a fixed income whose Georgia Power rates are going to help pay that?” Krause asked. 
Minefee and her coalition have been pushing a different frame. She pointed to SB 406, a bill that would require HOA bylaws to be registered with the Georgia Secretary of State and establish a review process for residents challenging anti-solar rules adopted without a full membership vote. Her organization has also backed legislation to establish a renewable portfolio of standard and state-level renewable energy credits like those used in Northeastern states, proposals that have so far failed to advance. 
The most direct attempt yet to close Georgia’s residential solar gap came from Georgia BRIGHT, a statewide initiative awarded $156 million through the EPA’s Solar for All program in April 2024. The program offered no-cost solar installations to homeowners earning 80% or less of their county’s median income, with projected savings of 50 to 70% on monthly energy bills. Pilot participant Christine Difeliciantonio of Columbus saw her bill drop from $224 to $50 after her panels were installed. 
An anonymous source from within Georgia BRIGHT described the program’s goals as transformative precisely because they went beyond incremental savings. Standard solar financing might cut a bill by 20 percent, the source noted, but that margin alone is unlikely to meaningfully change a household’s financial situation. Only no-cost solar eliminates the payment equation entirely. That ambition, however, now faces a direct threat. The Trump administration sought to claw back the entire $7 billion Solar for All fund, and the EPA sent termination notices in August 2025. Georgia BRIGHT said it was prepared to fight the move in court. Though the program’s committed funds remained intact as of the most recent reporting, the federal tax credits that made its financing model work were also being rolled back under the reconciliation bill signed into law in 2025. 
The structural tension at the center of Georgia’s solar story is not going away. Data centers flooding into the state are pushing electricity demand to levels that make natural gas peaker plants more attractive to utilities in the short run, even as solar investment reaches record levels. Georgia Power’s most recent integrated resource plan, approved in 2025, calls for two additional rounds of distributed generation solar procurement in 2026 and 2027. But advocates say utility-scale progress and rooftop access are not substitutes for each other, and that Georgia cannot credibly claim a solar leadership position while ranking in the bottom five states for the kind of solar that lands on the roofs where people live. 
Minefee puts it plainly: as electricity costs keep rising, the question of whether someone owns their energy or rents it will only become more consequential. “Owning your own electricity,” she said, “compared to renting your electricity, is the best way to go.” 
Your donation will support the student journalists of University of North Georgia. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
The University of North Georgia's Student Newspaper
Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *

source

source

More than 1,700 solar panels sit at a Medford Irrigation District reservoir that will power homes and support local agriculture. (Credit: Danny Stipnovich)

More than 1,700 solar panels sit at a Medford Irrigation District reservoir that will power homes and support local agriculture. (Credit: Danny Stipnovich)
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – More than 1,700 solar panels are now floating on a Medford Irrigation District reservoir, marking Oregon’s first floating solar project. The panels generate clean energy for local residents.
Households that can’t install rooftop panels can subscribe to the program and see lower power bills.
“This project here will deliver clean, renewable energy, affordable, renewable energy to local residents,” said Kyle Petrocine, renewable energy program manager for Energy Trust of Oregon.
“It is a program that’s designed to offer, make the benefits of clean solar power available to everyone.”
The project helps farmers who rely on the district’s water supply. MID supplies water to roughly 12,000 acres of farmland.
“They rely on us to provide them with water out of the reservoirs. And so this directly benefits them in the monetary value with the lower, reduced cost of their bill, but also the water quality and quantity,” said Jack Friend, manager of Medford Irrigation District.
“We’re looking at reduced evaporation and reduced aquatic issues within the reservoir.”
The energy created here generates revenue. That money can go back into modernizing irrigation systems that are nearly a century old.
“We will be generating energy that will provide revenue to the irrigation district to support their irrigation modernization efforts,” said Julie O’Shea, executive director of Farmers Conservation Alliance.
“As we face drought and our communities are built in different ways, we have to modernize those systems.”
O’Shea said the project helps the district modernize its irrigation infrastructure during this year’s drought. Drought concerns are growing across the region.
“If we have another dry winter, we’re gonna be in a world of hurt just because we weren’t able to recover this,” Friend said.
The project combines water, energy and agriculture to address some of the region’s biggest challenges and could become a model for other communities.
Danny Stipanovich is a multimedia journalist at NewsWatch 12. You can reach Danny by emailing dstipanovich@kdrv.com.

{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

source

Email or Username
Password

Please contact our Customer Service Team if you are unable to log in at clientservices@accessintel.com or 1-888-707-5814.
Amaury Perez Sanchez
The Cuban National Electric Union (UNE) is implementing a program to install 5,000 2-kW photovoltaic (PV) systems, donated by China, with the goal of diversifying the energy mix and ensuring essential services amidst the current energy crisis.
Elena Maidelín Ortiz Fernández, head of the project to install these systems, explained to a Cuban newspaper that the distribution was carried out collaboratively with all the relevant agencies at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. “The decision was made to allocate 2,671 systems for installation in vital centers in every municipality,” she stated. The remainder will be installed in isolated homes, including some that have never had access to electricity.
Among the institutions benefiting from the systems are maternity homes, nursing homes, senior centers, polyclinics (emergency rooms), funeral homes, bank branches (including exchange bureaus), municipal radio stations, radio transmitters, communications facilities of ETECSA, and commercial offices of the UNE. Ortiz Fernández emphasized that the goal is not total self-sufficiency for these centers, but rather ensuring their energy survival during critical times. “Installing a 2-kW system in a vital municipal center is the perfect tool to protect what is essential, what is truly needed to achieve autonomy for that municipality,” she stated.
The project manager explained that these systems are isolated and not connected to the electrical grid, allowing the centers to continue operating even during power outages. This will enable activities such as vaccinations, care for seniors in nursing homes, and the operation of banks, which are currently affected by power outages.
Ortiz Fernández said that her team has worked intensively with provincial electric companies and local governments to overcome fuel and transportation limitations. “We coordinated beforehand with all the carriers who could help us move these resources, and therefore, meticulous planning was done to achieve what we have today: having the resources in all the provinces in order to install these systems,” she said.
The remaining 2,329 systems will be installed in isolated homes that have generators with a four-hour supply but that cannot operate due to a lack of fuel. “It’s very difficult to obtain this resource, both to deliver and to transport it to these communities,” she noted.

Ortiz Fernández added that these PV systems allow users greater autonomy because they can connect more appliances for longer periods in hard-to-reach places where fuel is not regularly delivered. Homes that have never had electricity, the so-called “zero-volt” homes, will also benefit, she noted.
She also highlighted the social impact of this measure. “If you install a 2-kW system for these people there—allowing them to have a refrigerator, a fan, a television—their lives change completely, and we help prevent them from migrating from their communities.”
In addition to this Chinese donation, UNE is developing other renewable energy projects. Ortiz Fernández mentioned the charging station program for children dependent on electricity, which has 126 units, a program she described as “a guarantee of life for them.” To date, 114 of these systems have been installed, which include solar panels for charging batteries.
Likewise, in the province of Holguín, a project donated by Canada is underway to install 502 2-kW PV systems for isolated homes in that region. “This project includes other areas, but our role, as the Electric Union, is the installation of these systems, and we have already installed 60%,” she reported.
Ortiz Fernández emphasized that these programs not only represent savings but also an option for energy resilience, ensuring that during the most critical blackouts in Cuba, these essential services for the community will continue to operate.
—Amaury Pérez Sánchez (amauryps@nauta.cu) is a chemical engineer at the University of Camagüey in Cuba.
Modern process industries are experiencing fluctuating market conditions and tight operational margins, leading chemical engineers to rely on real-time data to boost efficiency and reduce costs. Yet, many organizations are at different stages in their digital transformation journey. Some are just starting, while others are looking to optimize existing solutions. This webinar explores practical ways […]
Sponsored by dataPARC
Sponsored by RENTECH
Sponsored by technosylva
The inaugural Data Center POWER eXchange brought the data center power ecosystem together in Denver for a focused, one-day summit on the infrastructure shaping the future of digital growth. From site selection and development to operations and forward planning, DPX connected leaders across data center ownership, utilities, engineering, power generation, and technology. Watch to see […]
archives + podcasts + webinars + e-letters + video + exclusive content + events + much more!
For over 142 years, POWER has been the unwavering pillar of the power and energy industry, offering unparalleled insights on the latest trends, best practices, and news through our robust channels: print, digital media, and in-person events.
POWER is at the forefront of the global power market, providing in-depth news and insight on the end-to-end electricity system and the ongoing energy transition. We strive to be the “go-to” resource for power professionals, offering a wealth of information on innovative business practices, sound safety measures, useful productivity enhancements, and much more.
Sept. 28—30, 2026
Omni Shoreham
Washington, D.C.
Learn More
Trends, best practices, and news through: print, digital media, and in-person events. Subscribe
Exclusive E-letters to POWER up your knowledge. Sign up
© 2026 Access Intelligence, LLC – All Rights Reserved

source

How Energy Prices Are Driving Demand for Solar Panels and Heat Pumps  The New York Times
source

The $200 million investment will bring the company’s total domestic production capacity to 6 GW by late 2026.
Image: SEG Solar
From pv magazine USA
SEG Solar, a Houston-based manufacturer, has announced plans to establish a new 4 GW solar module production facility in its home city of Houston, Texas.
The expansion builds on the company’s existing 2 GW footprint and is expected to bring its total domestic production capacity to approximately 6 GW. Commercial operations at the site are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
The 46,4511 m2 facility represents an investment of more than $200 million and is projected to create 800 jobs. This move reflects the company’s strategy to increase domestic content and provide greater traceability for its partners.
Timothy Johnson, vice president of operations at SEG Solar, said the facility marks a milestone for the company and is designed with the flexibility to integrate next-generation technologies like heterojunction as the industry evolves.
The project contributes to a broader surge in regional manufacturing, as Texas solar module production is expected to surpass 15 GW in 2026. This growth is driven by a favorable regulatory environment and the state’s proximity to major logistics hubs.
SEG Solar said it has also been validated as a non-prohibited foreign entity for foreign entity of concern compliance (FEOC) purposes, which is a critical factor for developers seeking to qualify for federal tax credits.
In addition to its Texas expansion, the company is developing a 5 GW ingot and wafer facility in Indonesia. Construction on that site is slated for the second quarter of 2026. Once the project is finished, the company will have a vertically integrated supply chain encompassing ingots, wafers, and cells.
Founded in 2021, SEG Solar reported shipping over 7.5 GW of modules worldwide by the end of 2025.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
More articles from Ryan Kennedy
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Data Privacy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

Top Stories Of The Day: Tanya Singhal to Lead GEAPP India; Adani Green Adds Two Renewable Arms; SECI Invites Banks for Treasury Services and More…  SolarQuarter
source

Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2026-05-08 20:05:15
SYDNEY, May 8 (Xinhua) — China’s photovoltaic (PV) industry has achieved many innovative breakthroughs, and its development experience is worth studying by other countries, said a leading Australian expert on PV.
Ned Ekins-Daukes, head of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday at the 64th Smart Energy Council Conference and Exhibition (Smart Energy 2026) in Sydney.
Even for someone who has visited China many times to tour PV facilities, Ekins-Daukes said he is still astonished by the speed of innovation, adding that he is impressed by China’s strides in the production of silicon photovoltaics feedstock, the automation of manufacturing, and the consolidation of the supply chain.
“The first thing Western countries can learn from China’s approach to scaling clean energy technologies is stability of policy,” he said. “The second thing is the clustering of capability. When they decide to build a factory, it’s not just one building, it’s a whole ecosystem, a whole supply chain built at scale.”
“From outside of China, we should pay more attention to how innovation and technical development take place. We should learn from what is happening inside China rather than just standing outside saying ‘somehow it’s really hard to make solar panels.’ We need to understand why,” he said.
The professor also noted that Chinese PV companies are heading in a new direction under the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which emphasizes high-quality development. “For photovoltaics, that means thinking about how we can get more value from the solar panel,” he said.
The energy market volatility triggered by the current Middle East conflict will further promote Australia-China cooperation in the photovoltaic sector, he added.
During the event, Ekins-Daukes also joined industry leaders from Australia and China at the Australia-China Smart Energy Partnership Forum, where discussions focused on the future of bilateral cooperation in photovoltaics.■

source

We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy or manage cookies.
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Sonnenkraft, an Austrian solar module manufacturer, has introduced a new back-contact TOPCon panel for rooftop applications, according to a report from pv magazine Germany.
The product, designated 480GG2RNE, is a glass-glass module built with 108 TOPCon half-cells. It delivers a power output of 480 watts and achieves a conversion efficiency of 23.52 percent.
The module measures 1,800 millimeters by 1,134 millimeters by 35 millimeters and weighs 24.5 kilograms. It is designed to handle a maximum system voltage of 1,500 volts and can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius. The temperature coefficient for the module is minus 0.26 percent per degree Celsius.
Sonnenkraft includes a 15-year product warranty for the module. The company guarantees that the module will retain 99 percent of its original power output in the first year, with an annual linear degradation rate of 0.4 percent over 30 years.
The back-contact design relocates all electrical contacts to the rear side of the cells, a configuration the company says improves efficiency, shade tolerance, and aesthetics. This creates a busbar-free front surface that increases the active cell area exposed to sunlight and gives the module a uniform black appearance.
According to the company, the module is suited for residential rooftop installations, building-integrated photovoltaics, and other design-oriented applications. It is certified under several IEC standards, has passed the HW3 extended hail test, and is resistant to salt mist and ammonia exposure. The module also includes an integrated shading management system intended to reduce power losses under partial shading conditions.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry in Austria, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the solar cells and light-emitting diodes landscape in Austria.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for Austria. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Austria. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links solar cells and light-emitting diodes demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in Austria.
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of solar cells and light-emitting diodes dynamics in Austria.
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Austria.
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
How the Report Was Built
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc

source

May 08, 2026 08:30 ET  | Source: Skycorp Solar Group Limited Skycorp Solar Group Limited
NINGBO, China, May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (the “Company” or “Skycorp”) (Nasdaq: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar cables and solar connectors, today announced that it will hold an extraordinary general meeting (the “EGM”) of shareholders at its executive office at Room 303, Block B, No.188 Jinghua Road, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, China 315048, at 10:00a.m. on June 10, 2026 (local time).
Holders of record of the Company’s ordinary shares of at the close of business on May 6, 2026, Eastern Time, or their proxy holders, are entitled to vote at the EGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Copies of the notice of the Meeting and the form of proxy are available on the Company’s corporate investor relations website at https://ir.pnrenewables.com/.
About Skycorp Solar Group Limited
Skycorp Solar Group Limited is a solar photovoltaic (PV) product provider focused on manufacturing and selling solar cables and connectors. Our operations are managed through our subsidiaries, including Ningbo Skycorp Solar Co., Ltd., in China.
The Company’s mission is to become a green energy solutions provider by utilizing solar power and delivering eco-friendly solar PV products. By leveraging the Company’s expertise in solar technologies and relationships with worldwide clients, it aims to expand offerings of solar PV products and energy solutions for enterprise customers. For more information, please visit: https://ir.pnrenewables.com/.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
For more information, please contact:
Skycorp Solar Group Limited
Cathy Li
Investor Relations
Email: pr@pnrenewables.com
Tel: +86 185 0252 9641 (CN)
WFS Investor Relations Inc.
Connie Kang
Partner
Email: ckang@wealthfsllc.com
Tel: +86 138 1185 7742 (CN)
NINGBO, China, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (“Skycorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar cables…
NINGBO, China, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (“Skycorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar cables…

source

The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, along with the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, have issued a complete denial of statements made by Nationalist Party spokesperson Mark Anthony Sammut concerning photovoltaic panels on public schools.
Sammut on Thursday accused the government of serious failings in the management of renewable energy projects in Gozo schools, claiming that the photovoltaic systems installed over the past decade only generated a total of 27% of the electricity they were expected to produce. 
In its reply, the government described the Nationalist Party’s report on solar panels at Gozo schools and the allegations regarding the Siggiewi Primary School as misleading and an inaccurate representation of the current situation. Officials clarified that the roofs of all schools in Gozo, as well as the Siggiewi Primary School, are covered with photovoltaic panels that are fully connected to the national energy grid. These installations contribute to the generation of over 31,940.6 kWp of solar energy annually.
The government noted that the opposition spokesperson failed to mention that several schools in Gozo, including those in Nadur, Kercem, Gharb, Zebbug, and Victoria, have undergone or are currently undergoing renovation. During these works, some panels were temporarily relocated to accommodate the construction process.
Regarding the Siggiewi Primary School, the government clarified that contrary to the claims made by Sammut, the panels are functioning as intended and are providing sustainable energy to the school. To ensure optimal performance, a significant intervention was carried out last June, which included the installation of new inverters to strengthen the efficiency of the existing system.
The ministries further explained that a continuous programme of preventive maintenance is implemented across these facilities to prevent damage or performance degradation. This maintenance is performed regularly by experienced public service officers with technical expertise, with additional interventions carried out whenever necessary.
In a counter reply, the Nationalist Party said ministers are getting confused and exposing just how little they know about what they are talking about.
They claim that “more than 31,940.6 kWp of solar-generated energy is produced every year”. This makes no sense. You cannot measure generated energy in kWp – that is the maximum capacity of what the panels can generate.
A capacity of 31,940.6 kWp is the capacity of all the panels across the whole of Gozo. It certainly would not fit on the roofs of those schools, the PN said.
Perhaps they made a mistake and meant, instead, 31,940.6 kWh of solar-generated energy every year. If that is the case, then the problem is even greater than the PN said, because it would mean that over 10 years they generated seven times less than what emerges from the reply to the Parliamentary Question answered by Minister Clint Camilleri himself. The figures were published by Minister Camilleri in his own reply, and it cannot be the case that the panels are working while, over 10 years, they generated only the amounts given by Minister Camilleri.
Labour’s incompetence and deceit in the energy sector are becoming increasingly clear. Instead of issuing misleading reactions and denying the known truth and the information they themselves published, it would have been far better had the Minister for Education and the Minister for Gozo taken action when these issues were reported, and ensured that these systems were repaired so that they would not continue losing further energy generation, the PN said.
 
 
 
Air taxi service will be introduced…
Borg says he will not disclose energy…
Residents associations, NGOs condemn PL…
Government launches National Sexual…
BGaming announces return of annual…
Commissioner for Children publishes…
Finally, agreement: Neither Abela nor…
Abela refuses to say if any PN proposal…
Independent Online. ©2026. Standard Publications Ltd. Registered Office: Standard House, Birkirkara Hill, St. Julian’s, STJ 1149, Malta.

source

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that April 2026 marked a reversal from March’s widespread high irradiance across North America, as weakening Atlantic and Pacific high-pressure systems brought more cloud cover to the western U.S. and neutralized Mexico’s earlier sunshine gains, while the eastern U.S. remained sunnier and warmer than average. Meanwhile, Canada stayed under persistent cold, cloudy conditions linked to polar vortex disruptions, and coastal Texas saw significantly reduced irradiance due to tropical moisture and heavy rainfall.
Image: Solcast
April 2026 brought a sharp shift in weather patterns across North America, ending the widespread irradiance highs seen in March. According to analysis using the Solcast API, a breakdown of the paired high-pressure systems that had dominated both Atlantic and Pacific coasts led to a more mixed irradiance outcome. Western U.S. conditions eased back toward long term averages as cloud cover increased, while the eastern states retained above average sunshine despite a weakening Atlantic high. Further north, Canada remained locked in cold, cloudy conditions linked to polar vortex disruptions, while Mexico saw its earlier heat driven sunshine boost fade to more neutral conditions.

In March, high pressure systems over both the Pacific and Atlantic had supported widespread clear skies and elevated irradiance across the United States. This pattern extended into the first half of April. However, during the second half of the month, the Pacific high pressure ridge flipped to a low pressure configuration. This shift opened the door to more cloud formation and cooler conditions across the western states. As a result, the majority of the US, and particularly California and the solar-rich regions in the west and south, which saw irradiance anomalies of 10–20% above average in March moved back toward neutral conditions for April overall. The change highlights how sensitive western U.S. irradiance is to Pacific pressure patterns, particularly during seasonal transitions.

Across the eastern U.S., the Atlantic high pressure system that had driven record warmth in March weakened but did not fully dissipate. The remaining positive pressure anomaly continued to suppress cloud formation and rainfall across much of the interior east, supporting warm, dry, and sunny conditions. States such as Tennessee and Georgia recorded irradiance levels up to 15% above typical April values. Temperature anomalies were also notable, with the Ohio Valley experiencing a standout positive deviation of 5.8 F, and numerous cities recording their warmest April on record.
Coastal Texas was a clear exception to this broader eastern pattern. The warm and moisture laden air from the tropics promoted cloud development and intense rainfall episodes, reducing April irradiance along parts of the coast to as much as 20% below average. San Antonio Texas, and the surrounding region, saw 22.1% less irradiance than typical for April. The below data, showing cumulative total GHI for San Antonio, shows that the conditions were around average from until the 9th of April, with the gap widening through mid to late April as persistent cloud cover limited daily gain.

Further north, the cold and cloudy regime that affected Canada in March persisted through April. Disruptions to the polar vortex helped establish a long-lived trough of low pressure over the country, increasing cloud cover and sustaining frequent rain and snowfall. Much of Canada experienced irradiance levels up to 10% below average, with several locations approaching record snow seasons. To the south, as pressure systems destabilised, Mexico’s earlier heat dome weakened. The result was a quiet fade from March’s enhanced sunshine to neutral or slightly negative irradiance conditions during April.
Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols at 1-2km resolution globally, using satellite data and proprietary AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, enabling Solcast to calculate irradiance at high resolution, with typical bias of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking forecasts. This data is used by more than 350 companies managing over 300 GW of solar assets globally.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Please be mindful of our community standards.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


Δ
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Data Privacy © pv magazine 2026
Δ
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. ×
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close

source

German engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor Goldbeck Solar has secured the turnkey delivery of the 268MWp Schafhofen solar park in Bavaria.  
Dubbed as the company’s “largest solar project in Germany to date,” the ground-mounted PV project is in the municipality of Motzing in Bavaria’s Schafhofen district. It is scheduled to break ground on 21 May 2026, with commercial operations expected to begin in September 2027. 
Get Premium Subscription
Goldbeck will serve as the EPC contractor and oversee the project’s turnkey implementation. The project is expected generate capacity of around 296,000MWh annually once operational. 
The project will use Trina Solar TSM-NEG21.C.20 photovoltaic modules alongside MVPS 4.400 inverters supplied by SMA Solar Technology. Financing is being provided with participation from Commerzbank. 
Renewable energy investment firm Blue Elephant Energy is serving as investor for the Schafhofen solar project.
Goldbeck said the scale of the project presents significant logistical and coordination challenges, with the company drawing on its large-scale EPC experience to deliver the project on schedule. Goldbeck has developed, built or holds more than 4.6GWp of solar capacity in its portfolio as of early 2026.  

source