The uptake of solar around 2018 helped Pakistan avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year Solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply The government has introduced austerity measures to deal with energy supply shortages, including cutting the public sector work week to four days The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity
The uptake of solar around 2018 helped Pakistan avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year Solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply The government has introduced austerity measures to deal with energy supply shortages, including cutting the public sector work week to four days The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity Pakistan’s solar power push has cushioned the full impact of the war in the Middle East, analysts said, despite lingering concerns over fuel supplies and rising prices. A study published last month assessed that the uptake of solar around 2018 helped the country avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Currently in Alexander City Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Sorry, an error occurred.
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Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded Tuesday morning to a house fire in the Olney Square neighborhood involving solar panels on the roof of a two-story single-family home in the 4400 block of Thornhurst Drive.
According to MCFRS, the fire was contained to the solar panels with no extension into the home. Crews extinguished the fire quickly, and no injuries were reported. Officials said the family is able to re-occupy the home. MCFRS also highlighted the successful use of a newly acquired tool known as “PVStop,” a handheld unit that applies a deactivating liquid to photovoltaic (PV) systems. The agent was used in place of traditional tarps to safely shut down the energized solar panels during the incident. Update – Thornhurst Dr, Olney Square neighborhood, 2-sty sign-family house, fire involved solar panel on roof, no extension, fire out, no injuries, family can re-occupy, @mcfrs effectively deployed ‘PVStop’ agent (in lieu of tarps) in order to deactivate solar panels https://t.co/ZwprUqNFDLpic.twitter.com/HlnlqtMdSS — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 8, 2026
SAVE $898.01: The Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with a 200W solar panel is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, down from the normal price of $1,548 at Anker. That’s a 58% discount. It’s time to make camping plans for the summer. If you’ve heard about portable power stations but haven’t bought one for yourself, make this the year. Snagging one means you’ll have plenty of campsite power to keep phones charged up and brew some morning coffee. If this sounds ideal, check out this nice bundle deal at Amazon. As of April 8, the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with a 200W solar panel is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, down from the normal price of $1,548 at Anker. That’s a 58% discount that saves you a massive $898.01. It’s no secret Anker Solix makes an incredible lineup of portable power stations. The Solix C1000 is a great all-around model that combines a 1,056Wh battery, plenty of ports, and a lightbar. You get six AC ports, two USB-C, and two USB-A ports on the C1000 and it has quick recharging. Get back to 80% power with just 43 minutes of standard wall charging. However, today’s deal includes a 200W solar panel, so you’ll be able to recharge via the sun at the campground this summer. When testing the Anker Solix C1000, I became a huge fan of the Solix app. It’s simple and clean design make it a breeze to use, and it’s great for monitoring battery power without standing next to the unit. Another major benefit of the original C1000 is the built-in lightbar. Brands have been getting away from this design, but I love to have a light source on the power station for illuminating the stairs when carrying it around during a power outage. It’s also excellent for creating ambient light while camping. While it’s on a major 58% discount, upgrade your summer camping experience by snagging the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with a 200W solar panel. As long as the sun comes out, you’ll be in line for unlimited power. TopicsOutdoors Lauren Allain is a freelance journalist covering deals at Mashable. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in journalism and holds an M.B.A from Webster Leiden. You can find more of her work online from publications including Reader’s Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Refined, and more. When she’s not writing, Lauren prefers to be outside hiking, bouldering, swimming, or searching for the perfect location for all three.
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French bank Societe Generale and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed a €153 million (US$178.9 million) financing agreement for the construction of a 137MW solar PV project in Italy. The Sand Solar project will be built on the island of Sicily in southern Italy by Peridot Solar, an independent power producer (IPP) with headquarters in Italy and the UK. Peridot expects to begin construction at the project this month, which will benefit from a new 30kW connection line to a 30/220kV substation, which is currently under development. The IPP expects to begin commercial operation at the project in the middle of 2027. Get Premium Subscription “This transaction underscores Societe Generale’s ability to execute its mandates swiftly while maintaining the highest banking and sustainability standards,” said Enrico Chiapparoli, Societe Generale country head of Italy. “It is an excellent example of how strong sponsors and aligned financial partners can work together to make tangible progress in the energy transition.” EIB’s contribution to the deal takes the form of a €70 million loan, and follows its financing of a solar-plus-storage portfolio, also in Italy, earlier this year. Italy expects solar PV to be a key component of its energy transition, aiming for 44.1GW of operational capacity in 2025 and 79.3GW in 2030, in the 2024 National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). This latter figure would account for more than half of the renewable energy capacity in operation in the country. However, at the end of 2025 Italy was a shade below its target, with figures from transmission system operator Terna showing that 43.5GW was in operation at the end of the year, and fewer installations in 2025 than in the previous year. The government has sought to accelerate capacity additions through its Fonti di Energia Rinnovabile (FER X) auction, which saw 474 solar PV projects, with a combined capacity of 7.69GW, awarded capacity. Speaking exclusively to PV Tech Premium earlier this year, trade body SolarPower Europe highlighted the FER X auction as a key driver behind an uptick in solar capacity awarded through government auctions in Europe in 2025. Leaders in the European solar sector are turning their attention to this year’s SolarPlus Europe event, to be held in Italy on 15-16 April by PV Tech publisher Solar Media. Information about the event, including the full agenda and options to purchase tickets are available on the official website.
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Thank you to our Local Business Sponsor: OLNEY, MD — A solar panel fire at a home in Olney on Tuesday prompted a response from Montgomery County fire and rescue crews. According to MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer, the fire was reported around 11:30 a.m. at a two-story home at 4400 Thornhurst Dr. near Winding Oak Terrace. When fire crews arrived, they found a fire on the home’s roof, where the solar panels had ignited. Piringer said crews were able to extinguish the fire, which did not spread to other parts of the home. Crews then deactivated the solar panels using a tool known as PVStop, a handheld unit that applies a deactivating liquid to the devices. No injuries were reported. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Germany’s revised VDE standard enables simplified registration of larger plug-in photovoltaic systems and storage, removing previous capacity limits for self-installation. Image: ready2plugin From pv magazine Deutschland A new German grid standard is opening the door to significantly larger plug-in PV systems that can be installed and registered without an electrician, according to industry participants. The update to VDE-AR-N 4105:2026-03 introduces a simplified connection process for small generation systems with inverter output of up to 800 VA. Under the new rules, this process applies to PV systems above 2,000 Wp, systems with storage, or those seeking remuneration, allowing system operators to complete registration themselves using a dedicated form. The revised framework removes formal limits on module capacity within this simplified process. However, the inverter output remains capped at 800 VA for plug-in systems, effectively defining their grid feed-in capacity. In practice, developers can combine higher PV capacities with storage to optimize self-consumption. Industry estimates cited in the interview suggest systems of up to 10 kW could be configured under the new framework, although technical and regulatory thresholds apply. These include a requirement for smart meters for systems above 7 kW and compliance with product and installation standards such as DIN VDE V 0126-95 and DIN VDE V 0100-551-1. The rules also clarify that plug-in systems without storage, below 2,000 Wp, and without remuneration requests can be registered solely in Germany’s market master data register, without notification to the grid operator. Larger systems or those with storage must still be registered with the grid operator using the simplified process. The framework allows storage systems to draw electricity from both the co-located PV system and the grid, but requires compliance with safety provisions, including overload protection and real-time monitoring of household electrical limits. Industry representatives said technologies enabling dynamic load management and thermal protection could allow higher effective system utilization within the 800 VA constraint, particularly when paired with battery storage. The changes follow growing deployment of plug-in solar devices in Germany, where installation rates have accelerated in recent years. According to figures cited in the interview, uptake of plug-in systems is expanding significantly faster than conventional residential rooftop PV. 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 Sandra Enkhardt Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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(TibetanReview.net, Apr07’26) – China’s mega projects in ecologically fragile, seismically active Tibet, especially those meant for generating electric power and providing mass transport services, have always been controversial, all the more because they also involve what is seen as colonial exploitation in an occupied territory. Beijing has reacted to expressions of these concerns with vengeance, and on Apr 6 began building there reportedly the highest “trough-style” solar thermal plant in the world. A massive clean energy project broke ground on Apr 6 in Damzhung (written in Chinese media reports as Dangxiong or Damxung) country of Tibet’s capital Lhasa, marking a major step forward in reliable renewable power, reported China’s official cgtn.com and other online media outlets Apr 6. None of the reports mention anything about the project’s effects on the local population as if these are of no concern. Located at an elevation of 4,550 metres, the project is being undertaken by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), based in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong province. Noting that the project employs a record-breaking solar plant technology, the cgtn.com report explained that while most people are familiar with standard solar panels that turn light directly into electricity, this one, also known as the Wumatang Project, uses a different method called concentrated solar power (CSP). And, instead of flat panels, it uses a vast field of curved, U-shaped mirrors to focus sunlight onto long tubes filled with a special oil. This heated oil is then used to warm up giant tanks of molten salt. This setup essentially functions like a massive thermal battery. Explaining its advantage, the report said that while typical solar panels stop producing power the moment the sun goes down or a cloud passes by, this plant can store the sun’s heat to keep generating electricity for up to six hours after dark, helping to address the intermittency that can challenge power grids. The report said building a high-tech facility at nearly 5,000 meters above sea level presents brutal challenges. The air is thin and the temperature swings between day and night are extreme. However, nothing is mentioned in any of the official media reports about addressing local people’s needs and concerns as if these are no challenge at all. On the environmental and local impact, the report only says the project is designed to coexist with the local environment using a “solar-plus-grazing” model. The solar equipment is raised to allow local livestock to graze freely underneath, preserving the traditional lifestyle of the region’s herders. A Xinhua, Chinadaily.com.cn report said the project had already created over 2,000 local jobs and generated more than 5.2 million yuan (approximately $753,600) in local economic income through labour and equipment use. However, it is not possible to verify who the real beneficiaries are as Tibet is flush with a huge floating population of Chinese immigrants. The reports said that once the complex is fully operational in 2027, it is expected to generate roughly 719 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually. This will replace the burning of approximately 216,900 tonnes of coal each year – cutting carbon dioxide emissions by more than 652,300 tonnes and helping to keep the region’s air clean. The Xinhua report noted that despite its high altitude and harsh environment, Tibet was in a strong position to develop the clean energy sector, thanks to its abundant solar, wind and water resources. It cited the local Chinese government work report as saying the region aimed to increase its installed power generation capacity from 13 million kW in 2025 to 20 million kW in 2026, with integrated power bases combining wind, solar and hydropower to be built at different locations.
Having previously demonstrated a flight endurance of more than 75h, the uncrewed K1000ULE is meant as an airborne communications retransmission node or a platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The US Air Force’s Middle East headquarters plans to field a new solar-powered uncrewed aircraft that will offer an ultra-long endurance flight capability. US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) awarded Kraus Hamdani Aerospace a $270 million contract on 7 April to provide an indefinite quantity of K1000ULE aircraft to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The fully electric K1000 can operate for days at a timeusing onboard solar panels to power continuous flight. In 2023, Kraus Hamdani logged a test flight lasting more than 75h. In addition to providing loitering ISR support, the K1000ULE can use its marathon endurance to act as an airborne communications node, extending the range of traditional battlefield radio networks. “When beyond-line-of-sight operations are critical, the K1000ULE’s secure SATCOM capability enables both ISR and resilient connectivity for US forces and partner nations across the Middle East,” says Stefan Kraus, co-founder and chief technology officer of Kraus Hamdani. The US Army has already fielded the K1000ULE to support its Next Generation Command and Control environment as a communication network node. The solar-powered UAV has been paired with Anduril Industries’ Lattice software to enable autonomous flight. The Group 2-sized UAS is available in with both vertical take-off and landing and fixed-wing options. Kraus Hamdani tells FlightGlobal the USAF will take delivery of VTOL-enabled K1000s. Each aircraft can be disassembled for efficient transport between operational theatres.
Knox County Commissioners have voted to increase the required distance between solar farms and neighboring homes from 200 to 300 feet, but some local farmers say it’s still not enough to protect their land. More than 800 people have signed a petition asking for even larger setbacks as the community discusses future changes to solar rules. Currently in Terre Haute Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
As energy prices continue to soar, more than 4.3 million Aussies have added solar panels to their homes to bring down their power bills. But at $5,000 to $10,000 for a basic system, the investment isn't small, and so households rightfully expect quality solar panels to last at least 20 years. But for millions of Australians, that period will be much shorter, particularly if they’ve purchased newer models. Some could see their panels expire in just 10 years, particularly in regions further north. The problem is being caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, something Aussies are familiar with, as it causes 95 per cent of skin cancers. New research by the University of NSW has found this light isn't just harming our bodies, it's degrading the solar panels on our homes as well. The author of the new study, Dr Shukla Poddar, told Yahoo News that some are burning out seven to 10 years faster than expected. “Maybe we are getting five per cent more energy, but it’s also reducing the longevity of the module, because UV is harmful,” she said. Dr Poddar's research is increasingly finding that Australia's harsh environment is having a bigger impact on panels than manufacturers predict during lab testing. Her 2024 research revealed that solar panels decayed faster around Sydney, Brisbane and Perth than in more temperate Melbourne, Hobart, and Adelaide. In those cases, the problems included moisture, heat, and sunlight. The problem with UV has emerged over the last seven years, with the rollout of fancy new Heterojunction (HJT) and TOPCon modules, also known as N-Type panels. Dr Poddar predicts that newer models, which are predicted to be 35 per cent more efficient, will also have the same problem. The issue is particularly bad in arid outback areas like Alice Springs, but the issue extends beyond Australia, with Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of China, India, the southern United States, and the Atacama Desert in northern Chile also badly affected. As climate change worsens in these regions, the problem will continue to escalate. To extend the life of solar systems, the modules will need to be redesigned. And this means testing them in arid and semi-arid environments, not just the standard 25 degrees over 60 days. In the short term, some solar farms in harsh environments have been trialling UV blockers to reduce exposure, but more research is needed to determine whether they are blocking other types of light. Dr Poddar believes another way to prolong the life of panels that are susceptible to UV is better tracking systems, which steer them away from the sun, rather than towards it, during the hottest days. Sad problem as Aussie streets slowly change 70 years after 1950s boom Aussie mum's plea after extreme weather triggers horror event across parks New drone videos solve incredible mystery in Aussie waters The research found single-axis tracking systems, which are designed to follow the sun, had higher exposure than those that are fixed in one position. “There’s a lot of scope for improvement, and we just want to make sure in the next five to 10 years, we’re in a better place,” she said. The new research was published in theIEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The Texans also picked up All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson's fifth-year option. With a two-week ceasefire underway in Iran, oil prices are dropping. If the situation holds, expectations for higher inflation could also drop. Here is a list of the NBA teams that have clinched an over or under on their season win total. The Longhorns made a second straight trip to the Final Four in 2026. Oil prices collapsed on Tuesday after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the US-Iran war and suggested an off-ramp for the conflict. Meta's Meta Superintelligence Lab released its first AI model, called Muse Spark, on Wednesday. A two-week ceasefire in Iran began Wednesday in stops and starts, with the Trump administration and Iran at odds about the contours of the deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Yes, the easy answer is Victor Wembanyama, but a closer look shows the Spurs are doing so many things right. Fantasy football analyst Joel Smyth shares an in-depth look at adjusted breakout age for wide receivers, and how it can aid in your fantasy football evaluations for 2026. "Trader Fred" Zinkie offers up some tips on what to look for when trying to make a deal in fantasy baseball leagues.
For many years, the US state of California has been at the forefront of the clean energy revolution and setting the tone for many other states. However, in recent years, the implementation of several policies has created setbacks for the solar PV industry in that state, particularly for the rooftop solar and community solar segments. At first glance, it might not seem as if the rooftop solar industry has been affected by a setback. Looking at the bigger picture, 2025 figures from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) show that California still ranks among the leading states in terms of residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) solar installations. Get Premium Subscription Except there is a big caveat: the installations in these two segments are still under the legacy Net Energy Metering 2 (NEM2.0) and not the newer version in force since 2023, NEM3.0, also known as the Net Billing Tariff (NBT). “What you see in the monthly and annual installation numbers on the distributed generation side in 2024 and 2025 is actually NEM2.0 contracts still being built out,” explains Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California at Environmental Working Group. Del Chiaro adds that installation figures for the past couple of years for distributed generation in California look better than they actually are, and that the impact will be more noticeable in 2026. Naman Trivedi, group CEO at solar marketplace EnergySage, adds that 2026 will likely be a tough year for installers. “There’s kind of an inflated number [for 2024 and 2025], and 2026 as a result, is probably going to be a really bad year, because you’ve got the tax credit going away and they’ve pretty much now built out the backlog of NEM2.0 contracts,” says Del Chiaro. Sachu Constantine, executive director at leading advocacy body Vote Solar, adds that California’s residential market has significantly slowed down compared to other markets. “We are seeing big upticks in markets that have enabling policy, that have looked at rooftop solar as a path forward. You’ve seen other states with relatively strong growth in their markets, but California remains a huge market, if not the biggest market. It’s just unfortunate to see it reduced by so much right now,” explains Constantine. And if that slower pace of rooftop installation in the solar industry in California in itself was not enough bad news, it recently received another setback with the Court of Appeals’ decision last month. The California Court of Appeals upheld, for a second time, the current tariff programme under NBT, despite the Supreme Court agreeing with the environmental groups opposed to it. Trivedi explains that this setback means that the current compensation structure – which was contested by three environmental groups – stays in place and “signals to California homeowners who were holding out for a potential change that change may not be coming”. The lawsuit was brought forward back in 2023 by the Environmental Working Group, The Center for Biological Diversity and The Protect our Communities Foundation and argued that NBT was inconsistent with section 2827.1, which identifies several key objectives that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) must ensure in developing the new tariff programme. “They agreed with us that the lower court got it wrong. But as is usually the case with the Supreme Court of California, they don’t get into the weeds on the policy debate. They’re interested in the precedent. They ruled with us on the standard of review for how the courts oversee the PUC. “The problem is that it sent us back to the exact same court that disagreed with us the first time, in fact, the same three judges on the panel,” explains Del Chiaro, adding that they are still considering appealing the decision to California’s Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court decides to take on the appeal for a second time, that would mean that it will have to take on the substance of the issue once and for all, says Del Chiaro. Even though the lawsuit is centred on problems related to California’s net metering scheme, Del Chiaro says it goes beyond that and is at the heart of who oversees energy regulation in California. “It’s of huge significance, above and beyond net metering. I’m not trying to diminish net metering, and I care about that a lot. But if you’re the Supreme Court, this will affect all PUC decisions. It’s one of the most powerful state agencies, and right now, they largely operate with impunity,” explains Del Chiaro, adding: “It is so important what we’re fighting for here. It’s just the very heartbeat of energy regulation in California, which is a huge, important issue.” As mentioned earlier, California has long been a positive trendsetter in the US for clean energy, and what happens in that state often leads others to follow suit. However, depending on the final outcome of this lawsuit and whether the Supreme Court takes the appeal, it could set a precedent, either positive or negative, for other states. “Almost every other state has the exact same setup and the same dynamics, the same power struggle, and where California goes, typically, not always, but so go other states. “It’s not quite precedent, because other states will have their own precedent, their own courts, but it will set an example. It’ll embolden PUCs and other states to just keep running roughshod over the law, or it will yank their chain. If we win, other PUCs will suddenly be more cautious,” says Del Chiaro. But no matter the outcome of that lawsuit, the fact that EWG and other organisations went up against the PUC could still open the door for other states or other companies to do the same in the future. “Prior to us taking this net metering decision to court, nobody sued the PUC like rarely, rarely, rarely, rarely. And there was this logic in California, and I’m sure in every other state, that because the PUC is a constitutionally created state agency, they weren’t just created by the legislature, but they were created in the Constitution, enshrined in the state constitution, that gives them special status. And they therefore are above the legislature, and that’s just not true,” explains Del Chiaro. She adds that an “inordinate number of cases” against the PUC have been brought to the Court of Appeals since August and that will embolden the public to change their viewpoints on whether they can or cannot go against the PUC on its decisions. Not only in California but in other states, too. Bringing it back to the impact on rooftop solar, the negative impacts resulting from California decisions have already been seen in the past. For example, as Constantine points out, when the state moved “to curtail the growth of rooftop solar and commercial solar, other states moved that way too by shrinking their net metering tariffs or installing caps. And quite frankly, that is moving us in the wrong direction as a country.” However, Constantine adds that conceptually, NBT is not the problem and keeping the ruling in place prevents many possibilities in the future. “It’s just that it was so drastic, and that makes it more difficult to go solar; it sort of suppresses that deployment.” Constantine mentions that one of the ways to help boost the growth of rooftop solar could be through virtual power plant (VPP) programmes, such as the Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) programme that is run by the California Energy Commission. In essence, the DSGS programme helps support VPPs through guidelines that set which resources qualify for it. However, in a similar negative fate as with the net metering programme, funding for DSGS is scarce at the moment and its fate is pending. “There’s a bill right now to try to push all existing and new funding into a PUC-run programme that the investor-owned utilities implement. But that programme has produced scant megawatts for enormous cost. It is nowhere near as cost-effective as the DSGS programme, and it’s a question as to whether it can be effective,” explains Constantine. The PUC programme Constantine refers to is the Emergency Load Reduction Program. Despite that, Constantine explains the importance of VPPs in a grid where the load will grow in the coming years, driven by the increased demand from data centres, AI and the electrification of vehicles and homes too. “The question that we have to ask ourselves is, how can we do it in the most cost-effective, least cost [way] and those two things are not necessarily synonymous. You can have a very cost-effective, but very expensive programme, and we’d like to find the optimal path forward, and we know that eventually we’re going to have to build more bulk power. We’re going to have to improve our transmission lines, and we’re going to need these large sources of clean energy ready out there. But we also know it’s going to take ten years,” says Constantine. In the short term, Constantine says the solution comes through using VPPs instead of restarting coal plants or building gas peaker plants to supply data centres. Constantine mentions the possibility of subsidising low-income communities and other residential and small businesses to install solar and storage, which could both help reduce their personal bills and provide resources to the grid. “That’s the vision we have for the next five years or so: build more of that VPP capacity as much as possible,” says Constantine. And when one mentions VPP, energy storage also enters into the discussion, and for EnergySage’s Naman Trivedi, batteries are one of the biggest stories in home energy at the moment. “The value of a home battery has changed—it’s not just backup power anymore. Virtual power plant programmes are paying homeowners to let utilities draw on their stored energy during peak demand, turning a battery into an income-generating asset,” Trivedi says. “Our marketplace data shows that homeowners want storage for three distinct reasons: bill savings, self-supply, and backup power, in almost equal measure. That’s a meaningful signal.” Another development that could help kickstart interest in rooftop solar, particularly on the residential side, is plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar. A new legislation (SB 868) is currently in the works in California and would make balcony solar a reality in one of the leading solar PV states in the US. “Balcony solar is opening people’s minds again, and it’s breaking this negative perspective attached to net metering that is inaccurate, but it has stuck. And net metering has become kind of a dirty word. What I’m enjoying about balcony solar is that it feels like, once again, it’s unleashing the excitement. And people are excited about solar again,” explains Del Chiaro. She adds that plug-in solar is in itself not different from rooftop solar from a public policy point of view or from a management perspective of people’s energy supply. And even though balcony solar is unlikely going to replace the importance of the rooftop solar market, Del Chiaro says that this could help attract people’s interest in solar PV and interact with the technology and become a starting point for people to then consider adding rooftop solar. “The silver lining in all of this, at the end of the day, is that Californians are still very pro solar. They’re very pro-tech solutions that work for them. They’re very open to new technologies. That is still the core of this state,” concludes Del Chiaro.
US-based climate insurer kWh Analytics subsidiary, Solar Energy Insurance Services, has launched a data-sharing initiative that rewards renewable energy assets for efforts in extreme weather mitigation. According to the firm, the programme initially targets better capture and transmission of project-level resilience data to insurers. Advances in tracker tech like 70-degree+ stowing, automated stow procedures, and expanded historical stow data offer insurers clearer insight into asset design and operation ahead of severe weather. Get Premium Subscription kWh Analytics will leverage solar project data to enhance its risk models, boosting resilience beyond what standard insurance submissions capture. Solar PV solutions provider Nextpower will be the first to join kWh Analytics’ data-sharing programme through its NX Horizon system. Enrolled developers will provide insurers with real-time and historical hail stow data, enabling a more dynamic, evidence-driven view of project risk. “Extreme weather continues to be a significant driver of loss for utility-scale solar, and the industry is rapidly advancing how those risks are managed,” said Jason Kaminsky, CEO of kWh Analytics. “By incorporating real-world data, including stow performance from Nextpower tracking systems, we can tie insurance structures more closely to demonstrated resiliency, encouraging investments that protect assets and strengthen the long-term bankability of solar projects.” The programme highlights the significance of tracker systems and site design in protecting projects from wind, hail, and flooding. As extreme weather rises in the US, the initiative seeks to tie insurance pricing to engineering and operational measures that reduce losses and enhance asset durability. In the kWh Analytics Solar Risk Assessment 2024, a Longroad Energy and Nextpower published a case study showing proactive 75-degree stowing could have cut damage probability in a 2022 event by 87% versus 60-degree stows. kWh Analytics was recently acquired by specialty insurer Beazley and integrated into its Marine, Accident & Political Risks team. The deal aimed at strengthening Beazley’s modelling, underwriting, and risk management for renewable energy portfolios.
Australia’s utility-scale solar PV and wind assets generated a combined 4.7TWh in March 2026, representing a 2% increase from the 4.6TWh recorded in the same month last year, according to data from Rystad Energy senior analyst David Dixon. The modest growth follows February’s more robust 11% year-on-year increase, which saw combined generation reach 5TWh, suggesting a seasonal moderation as Australia transitions from summer into autumn. Get Premium Subscription The March figures reveal a geographic divergence in performance, with Queensland and Western Australia dominating the top-performer rankings, while the southern states experienced notably subdued conditions. For utility-scale solar PV, the best-performing assets, in terms of AC capacity factor, were concentrated entirely in Queensland and Western Australia. Hana Financial Investment’s Columboola solar PV power plant led the rankings with an AC capacity factor of 32.4%, followed by Neoen’s Western Downs at 32.2% and ENEOS Group and Sojitz Corporation’s Edenvale at 31.8%. These capacity factors represent a significant decline from February’s leaders, when Sun Energy’s Merredin Solar Farm achieved an AC capacity factor of 41.2%, showcasing the seasonal reduction in solar irradiance as summer wanes. The geographic concentration of top performers stands in stark contrast to the distributed performance seen across multiple states in February, when utility-scale solar assets demonstrated strong results across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Queensland emerged as the standout state for combined utility solar and wind generation, delivering 1,300GWh comprising 676GWh from utility PV and 624GWh from wind. You can find out more about solar PV generation across the NEM in our latest NEM Data Spotlight for March 2026 (Premium access). The top-performing wind assets were also concentrated in Queensland and Western Australia, with Potentia Energy and Synergy’s Warradarge Wind Farm leading at 56.7% capacity factor. Potentia Energy’s Flat Rocks Wind Farm followed with 48.8%, while Rest’s Collgar Wind Farm rounded out the top three at 48.3%. These figures contrast sharply with February’s performance, when Warradarge achieved a 60.5% capacity factor, reflecting seasonal variations in the wind resource. Queensland achieved a historic milestone in March, recording its highest wind generation and becoming the second-highest wind-generating state on a monthly basis for the first time. Southern states experienced particularly challenging wind conditions during March, with capacity factors below 24% in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. Victoria recorded an especially poor result, with a capacity factor of just 18.6%, marking the third-lowest month since 2011. Beyond generation performance, March witnessed several significant developments signalling the ongoing transformation of Australia’s electricity sector. NEM gas generation continued its year-on-year decline, reaching approximately 540GWh compared to 631GWh in March 2025, as utility batteries and renewables continue entering the market. Utility battery storage capacity now stands at 8.9GW at various stages of commissioning or operation, with battery systems now consistently dispatching more energy than the open-cycle gas turbine fleet, Dixon noted. The displacement of gas generation by battery storage and renewables is expected to intensify during winter months, when batteries can charge during the day from coal and renewable energy to displace gas during evening peaks. Operational demand remained relatively subdued in March at approximately 20.7GW, with only March 2020 and 2021 recording lower figures since 2011. The March performance data arrives as Australia’s renewable energy sector continues navigating the transition from standalone solar installations to hybrid configurations incorporating battery storage, a shift driven by both grid integration requirements and the economic imperative to maximise asset utilisation amid growing curtailment challenges.
By the People, for the People News New panels will generate over 1,700 megawatt-hours of clean energy annually, powering half the courthouse’s needs. Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:55pm Got story updates? Submit your updates here. › Cook County has completed a major solar power installation at the Skokie Courthouse, creating the largest solar array in the county. The new panels will generate over 1,700 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, meeting half the courthouse’s annual power needs and the equivalent of powering 150 homes. This project is a significant step forward in Cook County’s ambitious clean energy goals, which aim to power all county facilities with 100% renewable electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. The Skokie solar array is part of a broader county-wide initiative to install solar panels at 17 additional locations. The solar panels have been installed on the Skokie Courthouse building and its parking garage. County officials estimate the new system will generate enough electricity to account for half of the courthouse’s annual power usage. Cook County Board President, who announced the completion of the Skokie solar project. The local government entity that owns and operates the Skokie Courthouse and is leading the county-wide solar energy initiative. “We set ambitious goals to combat climate change, and we are achieving them. These solar installations allow us to generate clean energy on-site, reduce pollution, lower operating costs, and move closer to our goal of powering County facilities with 100% renewable electricity.” — Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President Cook County plans to install solar panels at 17 additional locations as part of its broader clean energy initiative, with the goal of reaching 100% renewable electricity for all county-owned and operated facilities by 2030. This solar project at the Skokie Courthouse demonstrates Cook County’s commitment to transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources and reducing its environmental impact. The scale of this installation highlights the county’s leadership in sustainable infrastructure and its progress towards ambitious climate goals. We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities, deals, local events, brand promotions, and other exciting ways to celebrate.
Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) is India's leading investment magazine, dedicated to offering deep insights and expert analyses on the stock market. RDB Infrastructure wins 36-acre land allotment in Nava Raipur for solar cell manufacturing project on a 90-year lease basis On Wednesday, Indian markets opened on a strong note, with the Nifty 50 rising 3.73 per cent to 23,986.05. Amid this, RDB Infrastructure and Power share price was trading at Rs 34.48, up 4.99 per cent from the previous close of Rs 32.84, following the company’s latest project development. RDB Infra Secures Land for Solar Cell Manufacturing Project RDB Infrastructure and Power Limited has received a Notice of Award from Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran for the allotment of an industrial plot to develop a solar cell manufacturing and processing project in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The company, in consortium with M/s Samvik Power Private Limited, has been allotted Industrial Plot LII/IND/PCD/1 at Nava Raipur, covering an area of approximately 36.45 acres (around 1,47,531 square metres). The land has been allotted at a premium rate of Rs 2,501 per square metre, taking the total land premium to approximately Rs 36.89 crore. The plot will be held on a 90-year leasehold basis, with the lease agreement to be executed within 90 days from the date of the award. Lease rentals will be subject to revision every 30 years. The company clarified that the awarding entity is a domestic body and that there is no promoter or group company interest involved in the transaction. About RDB Infrastructure and Power RDB Infrastructure and Power Limited, formerly known as RDB Realty & Infrastructure Limited, is an India-based company engaged in infrastructure development, Real Estate, and power-related projects. The company focuses on executing residential, commercial, and industrial projects, while also exploring opportunities in the renewable energy sector. With its latest solar manufacturing initiative, the company aims to expand its presence in the clean energy space and align with India’s growing focus on renewable energy and domestic manufacturing capabilities. The stock's 52-week range is Rs 31.58 and Rs 86.77. One-year stock return was down 43.26 per cent, while two- and three-year returns were 159.40 per cent and 714.48 per cent respectively. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. This Jewellery Company Reduces Debt by Rs 123 Crore in Q4 FY26; Share Price Jumps 3.49% Jet Airways Aircraft Auction Records Strong Bids; Two Boeing 777s Sold Above Reserve Price Winding and Conductivity Manufacturer Company Reports Q4 Sales Growth; FII Increases Stake Overnight Digest: Stocks to Watch on April 09, 2026 Prestige Estates Share Price Jumps Nearly 8%; Here’s Why Bosch Share Price Gains Over 7%; Here’s Why If you want to stay updated with the Share Market News Today, keep a close watch on the Indian Stock Market Today with real time movements like Sensex Today Live and overall Stock Market Today trends. Investors tracking IPO Allotment Status, IPO News Today, or the Latest IPO India can also follow daily updates along with BSE Share Price Live data. 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Whether you are learning How To Invest in Stock Market in India, preparing for a Market Crash Today, or searching for the Best Stocks to Buy in India, insights on Top Gainers Today India, Top Losers Today India, Trending Stocks India and Long Term Stocks India help in making informed investment decisions. Stay informed, stay disciplined, and make smarter investment choices with timely and reliable market insights. Phone Number: +91 9240904920 Email Address: enquiry@dsij.in service@dsij.in To request a call back: Give a Missed Call +91 9228821930 SEBI Registered Research Analyst Details: Registered Name: DSIJ Wealth Advisory Pvt. Ltd. (Formerly Known as DSIJ Pvt. Ltd.) Type of Registration: Non Individual Registration No.: INH000006396 Validity: Oct 05, 2018 – Perpetual BSE Enlistment No.: 5307 SEBI Registered Investment Adviser Details: Registered Name: DSIJ Wealth Advisory Pvt. Ltd. (Formerly Known as DSIJ Pvt. Ltd.) 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By the People, for the People News Baldwin County Commission approves referendum on zoning after community opposition to proposed 2,000-acre solar project Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:06pm Got story updates? Submit your updates here. › Residents of the unincorporated community of Stockton, Alabama have gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on zoning, driven by opposition to a proposed $350 million, 2,000-acre solar farm project by Nashville-based Silicon Ranch. The Baldwin County Commission has approved the zoning referendum, which will likely take place on June 30, as the Alabama Legislature also considers a moratorium on new solar developments in the region. The Stockton zoning vote represents a rare instance of an unincorporated Alabama community seeking to exert more local control over land use decisions, in response to concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale solar projects. The outcome could set a precedent for how counties in Alabama balance property rights with community interests when it comes to renewable energy development. After learning of Silicon Ranch’s plans for a massive solar farm near Stockton, residents quickly gathered over 170 signatures – far exceeding the 124 required – to petition for a zoning referendum. The Baldwin County Commission has now certified the referendum, which will likely take place on June 30. Meanwhile, the Alabama Legislature is considering a bill that could impose a one-year moratorium on new solar farm developments, primarily targeting Baldwin and Mobile counties. The county has also rescinded a previous contract with an engineering firm over concerns about ties to the solar industry. The owner of the Stagecoach Café in Stockton, who has overheard community discussions about the proposed solar farm. A Baldwin County Commissioner who represents the rural northern areas of the county, including Stockton. A representative of the citizens group opposed to the solar farm project, citing concerns about runoff and damage to nearby wildlife habitats. The Baldwin County Engineer, who says the county will rely on standard protocols and oversight from state and federal environmental agencies for any solar farm applications. A Nashville-based company proposing to build a $350 million, 2,000-acre solar farm near Stockton. “It will be mixed. There are those who say, ‘no zoning. Someone will be telling us what to do with our land.’” — Joyce Overstreet, Owner, Stagecoach Café “It’s a citizen driven process. The citizens of that community came together and did what they had to do to get the zoning in the referendum.” — Jeb Ball, Baldwin County Commissioner “That is a huge relief.” — Meagan Fowler, Citizens group representative “There were rumors that there may be ties to solar industry. However, with a firm that large, they do have knowledge of large-scale solar projects which is why we wanted to bring someone on with that experience. But we don’t need them right now. We have not received an application.” — Frank Lundy, Baldwin County Engineer “I want the people who are listening to be careful what you ask for. Once it gets zoned, it’s a double edge sword.” — Matt McKenzie, Baldwin County Commissioner The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that could impose a one-year moratorium on new solar farm developments, primarily targeting Baldwin and Mobile counties. The bill now moves to the Alabama House for further consideration before the end of the legislative session. The Stockton zoning referendum highlights the growing tension between renewable energy development and local community concerns in Alabama, where property rights are strongly protected. The outcome could set an important precedent for how counties balance these competing interests going forward. We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities, deals, local events, brand promotions, and other exciting ways to celebrate.
Australia’s rooftop solar market has surged 19% in the past month with the latest data revealing a record 341 MW of small-scale rooftop PV capacity was registered across the country in March as consumers also raced to install battery energy storage systems. Image: SunWiz The latest monthly update from solar and energy storage market analyst SunWiz shows the national small-scale PV market (0-100 kW) rocketed to a record monthly high with 341 MW of new capacity installed across Australia in March 2026, an almost 20% increase on the previous month. SunWiz Managing Director Warwick Johnston said the result puts the market 16% ahead of the same point in 2025 and suggests that 2026 could be a standout year for Australia’s Small-scale Technology Certificates (STC) sector. “Up until now, we have never had to report on PV volumes as high as 341 MW,” he said, adding that “as of now, 2026 is ahead of previous years and is looking even stronger than 2021, which also performed well up to the third month of that year.” Johnston pointed to the success of the federal government’s $7.2 billion (USD 5.1 billion) Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP) as a key driver for the record rooftop solar monthly volume. In the nine months since the launch of the program, which provides rebates for energy storage systems (ESS) installed alongside new or existing rooftop solar systems, it has helped deliver 300,000 batteries. “By turbocharging battery uptake, it’s pulling larger solar systems along with it, since bigger batteries demand bigger panels, sending average system sizes and total registered capacity to all-time highs,” Johnston said. Image: SunWiz The surge in small-scale solar was spread across the country with volumes growing substantially in all states. Northern Territory led the charge with a month-on-month growth rate of 43% while New South Wales (NSW) delivered a 32% increase. Almost all market segments increased over the past month with those up to 50 kW posting growth of more than 20%. Segments in the 50–75 kW range increased by 8% while the 75–100 kW bracket was the sole outlier, contracting by about 6%. While small-scale solar registrations surged, so too did Australia’s small-scale battery market as consumers raced to take full advantage of the CHBP ahead of confirmed changes to the program. Image: SunWiz SunWiz data shows almost 1.6 GWh of small-scale energy storage capacity was installed across the country in March 2026, a 35% increase on the previous month and a record high for monthly capacity registered. “There were months when we thought we might have reached the limit on battery volume registration, but it seems this is not the case,” Johnston said. “The race to beat the 1 May CBHP subsidy cut sent the market into a frenzy. Installers and homeowners alike scrambled to lock in maximum value.” Changes to the CHBP are set to take effect from 1 May 2026 with the rebate to switch from a flat ‘per kWh’ discount to a tiered rate system according to battery size. The federal government says this will maintain a discount of about 30% across small, medium and large batteries. Johnston said the urgency to make the most of the rebate program was obvious with average battery size hitting a record 40 kWh, as “buyers went big while the going was good.” Image: SunWiz “There has been a continuous increase in battery size approaching the 50 kWh upper limit registered under the STC battery scheme,” Johnston said, pointing out that the skew towards bigger systems intensified further in March.” “Most batteries are still being registered at the top end of the range, between 40 and 50 kWh, making for a top-heavy field,” he said. “From the 40–50 kWh segment downward, it’s a staircase descent in both share and growth.” Every state posted capacity gains, with NSW the standout with more than 600 MWh of battery volume registered in March, a 44% surge of the previous month and a new state-level record. 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 David Carroll Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE claim to have reduced the silver content of TOPCon solar cells tenfold. In a statement today, the institute said its researchers had reduced the silver consumption of a TOPCon cell from its typical 10-12 milligrams per watt peak to 1.1 milligrams per watt peak. Get Premium Subscription Compared to PERC solar cells, TOPCon solar cells consume more silver, and with global silver prices having increased dramatically in recent months, PV manufacturers are under pressure to reduce silver consumption. Silver was recently identified as the biggest single cost component in PV modules. Copper is widely regarded as a cheaper alternative, but its use in TOPCon metallisation is only at the testing phase. Screen-printing with pure copper or hybrid silver-copper pastes is one method to reduce silver consumption in cell metallisation, but this is difficult to achieve with TOPCon, so research is instead focused on electroplating as an alternative low-silver metallisation process for TOPCon. In the trial, the researchers tested an electroplating-based inline metallisation process on pilot systems developed by wet-processing specialist RENA Technologies. The research team produces M10-sized TOPCon solar cells with an efficiency of 24% by combining ultrashort UV laser structuring with the electrochemical deposition of nickel, copper and silver. Fraunhofer said electroplated copper contacts could eventually almost completely replace the silver content of TOPCon solar cells. Nickel serves as a diffusion barrier against copper migration into the cell, copper handles the electrical conduction and a minimal amount of silver remains as oxidation protection. The researchers said the trial demonstrated that electroplating metallisation is technically feasible at an industrial scale. They metallised several batches of M10 TOPCon solar cells on the electroplating system, and the efficiencies achieved matched those of the reference solar cells, whose silver contacts were applied using the conventional screen-printing process. To verify compliance with low contact resistance and high fill factors, they demonstrated a fill factor of 82.1 ± 0.3% for a batch of 186 TOPCon solar cells. The solar modules manufactured with the trial solar cells also demonstrated good stability in degradation tests according to IEC61215, Fraunhofer said. “So-called nickel/copper electroplating could be firmly established in the photovoltaic market within two to three years,” said Sven Kluska, group leader for electrochemical processes at Fraunhofer ISE. “It would offer many advantages for solar cell manufacturers, even if they have to integrate electroplating equipment into their production process as an initial investment.” Florian Clement, head of the Metallisation and Structuring Technologies Department at Fraunhofer ISE, added that electroplating could also mean less dependence on China than is currently the case with the silver pastes and screen-printing metallisation processes commonly used today. “Equipment and chemicals for copper electroplating come from European and American manufacturers; there is a global market for raw copper, without a concentration on Chinese suppliers. At the same time, we at Fraunhofer ISE are working intensively to establish European, resilient supply chains for copper-based screen-printing metallisation.”
SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, partnered with the Swiss rowing solar power team 44west ahead of the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic to independently test and verify the reliability of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system powering the vessel during its 4,800 km unsupported ocean crossing. With no backup energy source onboard, the team’s ability to navigate, communicate and run essential equipment depended entirely on consistent solar output. Across 31 days between La Gomera and Antigua, the team faced conditions that can severely impact solar performance. Salt spray, high humidity, UV exposure, constant mechanical stress and sharp temperature swings all posed risks to panel durability and electrical safety. Even minor degradation could have disrupted critical systems, prompting 44west to engage SGS to confirm whether the PV system could operate reliably throughout the crossing. SGS performed a comprehensive testing program aligned with IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 standards. Visual inspections identified defects that could allow corrosion or moisture ingress, while insulation resistance testing ensured electrical isolation to reduce seawater‑related hazards. Wet leakage current testing confirmed safe operation under saturated conditions. Performance testing under standard test conditions verified maximum power output and efficiency. Environmental simulations reproduced the expected marine stresses, including salt-mist corrosion, sand abrasion, outdoor exposure and humidity-freeze cycling. These tests validated the system’s ability to maintain energy production despite continuous environmental pressures. Results confirmed that the PV panels remained structurally sound, electrically safe and stable in output. During the crossing, they consistently delivered 1.2-1.5 kilowatt‑hours per day, enough to power navigation, desalination and satellite communications. In one instance, the system enabled a satellite phone call home after days of rough weather, demonstrating how dependable renewable energy directly supported the crew’s well‑being. By validating system performance before departure, SGS helped the 44west crew manage energy confidently throughout the race. Instead of operating on uncertain assumptions, the team could make informed decisions about equipment use, allowing them to focus fully on performance and safety. As solar technology is deployed in increasingly challenging environments, from offshore locations to remote and high-altitude installations, independent testing is essential to confirm durability and performance. The collaboration with 44west shows how trusted verification can turn solar PV systems into dependable power sources capable of supporting critical operations in real-world extreme conditions. Through its global laboratory network and renewable energy expertise, SGS provides environmental durability testing, performance benchmarking, corrosion assessment and lifecycle assurance services. These solutions help ensure solar technologies perform reliably wherever they are used, from demanding expeditions to large‑scale energy infrastructure.
STOCKTON, Ala. (WALA) – North Baldwin residents fighting a large-scale solar farm got a new tool Tuesday when the Baldwin County Commission passed a resolution requiring a special referendum to establish zoning in Planning District 3. The move comes as opposition grows to Silicon Ranch’s planned Stockton solar site near Stockton. Meagan Fowler with Stop Solar in Baldwin and Friends of the Tensaw River said the momentum has been significant. “Everything has moved along as fast as you possibly can,” Fowler said. “I mean, we were given a hundred and eighty days to get our signatures for the petition and we had that in twenty-four hours.” Fowler said thousands of people have joined the Stop Solar in Baldwin Facebook group. “This is a very meaningful step for our community and moves us in the right direction,” she said. “We have very little tools at hand to be able to fight something like this with such powerful companies, but this is something that we can do and I’m so grateful our commissioners have listened. They understand the seriousness of this, and timing is of utmost importance.” How the referendum process works The Probate Court has 90 days to schedule an election. If voters say no, things stay as they are. A yes vote triggers a 180-day moratorium on any development within Planning District 3 while residents form a committee and work out zoning guidelines. But even that may not prevent Silicon Ranch from proceeding. Jay Dickson, Baldwin County planning and zoning director, said projects that apply before the referendum vote will be grandfathered in. “What that means is that all projects that apply after that fact will have to wait a hundred and eighty days until the zoning maps and local provisions are developed to be able to proceed forward with their project,” Dickson said. “However, if there’s any applications for major projects that come in prior to the referendum vote, they will be grandfathered in and be allowed to continue on their path under the old rules.” Fowler said she is aware of that possibility but remains hopeful citizens will be able to have input. The county has not received any building applications from Silicon Ranch. “We’re upset with a lot of folks,” Fowler said. “I mean, you’ve got the landowners, the investors, the PSC…just the whole system, the way it was created to where folks who live in unzoned, unincorporated areas have no input or notice.” Similar pushes for zoning referendums are underway in neighboring planning districts. Silicon Ranch said it will respond to the resolution Wednesday. The company will hold a public meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center in Bay Minette. Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 30, 2026 – April 5, 2026 THE recent rise in solar panel prices, triggered by China’s removal of export tax rebates, has drawn renewed scrutiny over cost pressures faced by engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contractors, most of which have little control over the price of their largest cost component. Solar modules typically account for the bulk of project construction costs, effectively rendering contractors largely price takers in the global supply chain. Nevertheless, Samaiden Group Bhd (KL:SAMAIDEN) managing director Datuk Chow Pui Hee says the EPCC contractor has already procured all the solar panels required for its current order book of RM600 million, providing earnings visibility for about two years. She tells The Edge in an interview that the company is banking on its renewable energy (RE) assets to provide more stable earnings once they become operational in about 20 months. Of the orders in hand, 75% are from large-scale solar (LSS) projects, 20% from commercial and industrial (C&I) clients, and the remainder from other segments. So far, a third of the panels have been shipped, with the rest scheduled for delivery by April, hedging it against future price increases. Storage costs are negligible, as panels are shipped directly to project sites. “Although short-term financing costs may rise, overall costs remain well within budget,” Chow says. While EPCC remains Samaiden’s primary revenue driver, the company is gradually building a portfolio of RE assets to generate recurring income. Its effective ownership portfolio stands at roughly 202mw, with the majority expected to be operational by 2028. Two utility-scale solar farms form the backbone of this strategy: a wholly owned 99.9mw project in Kelantan and a co-developed 99.9mw project in Johor, in which Samaiden holds a 70% stake. Together, they have nearly 170mw in effective capacity. Both projects are under 21-year power purchase agreements with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) and are expected to be completed by October 2027, with full financial contribution likely to be reflected in the financial year ending June 30, 2028 (FY2028). The remainder of Samaiden’s RE assets are smaller projects under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) as well as ventures in biogas and biomass. Chow expects renewable assets to contribute between 10% and 15% of its revenue by FY2028. Asked about the potential revenue from an LSS farm, Chow explains that a 100mw solar farm can generate more than RM30 million in annual revenue and has a net profit margin of 20%. Cost items include depreciation, financing interest, land rental and equipment maintenance. On top of recurring earnings, the group’s net profit margin — which ranged between 5.7% and 7.9% over the past four years — is expected to improve as the solar farms become operational. With regard to its recent RM45.5 million acquisition of a 185.57ha parcel in Teluk Intan, Perak, Chow says part of the land will be leased for solar farm development. The developer has already awarded RM290 million worth of EPCC jobs to Samaiden and the remaining land will be reserved for future projects. The issue of rising solar module prices became more pronounced after China’s policy shift earlier this year. On Jan 9, the world’s second-largest economy announced the removal of a 9% value-added tax (VAT) export rebate for solar photovoltaic products, effective from April 1. The rebate has long been viewed as an indirect subsidy to support Chinese manufacturers. Solar module prices, which fell to historic lows of seven to nine US cents per watt between 2024 and early 2025, have climbed to roughly 13 US cents per watt currently. The development has unsettled solar EPCC-linked stocks, which had benefited from strong order books and favourable RE policies. Shares in these companies have fallen between 20% and 30% since the start of the year, with Samaiden declining 30% during this period. In anticipation of the shift, Chow says, the company had included in its contracts clauses specifying that any price increases tied to the VAT rebate removal be borne by its clients. This move underscores the company’s emphasis on risk management and transparency, she adds. While Samaiden aims to grow RE asset contribution to 50% over the long term, Chow emphasises that its core business remains EPCC services, allowing it to avoid aggressive competition with developers for project ownership. “In Malaysia, developer projects are not our main priority. If we compete directly using our EPCC cost structure, we would likely win, but it would damage our relationships with customers,” she says. Instead, Samaiden typically participates in projects as both contractor and minority investor, as it can then benefit from asset ownership while maintaining a strong partnership with developers. This approach ensures long-term industry relationships and repeat mandates. Another way Samaiden sets itself apart is through its engineering capability and involvement in project financing. Developers often rely on EPCC contractors not only for construction but also for technical support when securing loans. Banks typically require detailed engineering assessments — including system design, energy-yield forecasts and construction schedules — before approving financing. According to Chow, many developers lack in-house teams capable of providing these details. As a result, Samaiden frequently prepares documentation and participates in discussions with lenders. “When developers apply for financing, the banks ask many technical questions. We help explain the engineering aspects of the project,” she says, noting that this role strengthens the company’s position as a strategic partner rather than as a mere contractor. At the same time, the company emphasises value engineering to optimise project economics. Design decisions — from panel layout and land utilisation to equipment selection — can significantly affect costs and energy output. “With tariffs getting lower, you cannot rely on higher prices to protect margins. You need to optimise the engineering,” says Chow. While some RE companies partner with private equity investors to fund their expansion, Samaiden prefers working with industry partners. Solar projects typically generate single-digit returns, which may not meet the expectations of private equity funds seeking double-digit yields. “When private equity investors ask for double-digit returns, it becomes very difficult,” Chow says, explaining that the company opts instead to collaborate with developers, landowners and companies that can provide synergistic benefits to the projects. As at end-2025, Samaiden was in a net cash position of about RM102 million, with access to a RM1.5 billion sukuk programme, of which only RM113 million has been utilised. Chow says the company’s balance sheet is strong and the available funding enables it to invest in renewable assets while continuing to undertake EPCC projects. Over the next few years, Samaiden, which has a workforce of around 150, will focus on strengthening internal systems to manage multiple projects simultaneously, instead of significantly expanding its headcount. Since the introduction of the feed-in tariff programme in 2012, Malaysia’s solar industry has experienced several boom-and-bust cycles. The policy initially attracted hundreds of service providers, but many smaller players eventually exited the market. Demand surged again after improvements to the net energy metering framework in 2019 and incentives for residential installations. Chow believes the sector is now entering another consolidation phase, owing to the slowdown in residential demand as well as the weakened rooftop installation market for commercial and industrial customers arising from policy changes that have lengthened investment returns, such as standby capacity charges and battery installations. Unlike earlier frameworks that imposed quotas and created urgency, the current structure encourages a wait-and-see approach. As a result, smaller installers that expanded aggressively during the boom years are facing declining demand. Nevertheless, Chow says Samaiden remains shielded, given its pipeline of LSS projects and secured panel supply. Looking ahead, she expects solar projects in Malaysia to become larger and more complex, particularly if government tenders incorporate battery energy storage systems. “[Compared to the current size of 100mw,] the next projects could reach 500mw, and with battery integration, their value would easily run into billions,” Chow says. Such projects will demand stronger balance sheets, experienced contractors and more sophisticated financing structures. “With larger projects, costs are higher. But as long as we have the balance sheet and the right partners, we can continue to participate,” she adds. On the financial front, Samaiden is set to deliver its fourth straight year of revenue and net profit growth. For the first half ended Dec 31, 2025 (1HFY2026), its net profit nearly doubled to RM15.23 million from a year ago, while revenue climbed 47% to RM191 million from RM129.43 million. Over the past three years, the company has consistently expanded both its top and bottom lines. Net profit rose from RM10.1 million on revenue of RM171 million in FY2023, to RM16 million on RM227 million in FY2024, and further to RM20.2 million on RM354 million in FY2025. All six analysts covering Samaiden have “buy” calls, with target prices ranging from Affin Hwang Investment Bank’s RM1.50 to TA Securities’ RM1.96. The average target price is RM1.72, implying an upside potential of 65.4% based on last Wednesday’s closing price of RM1.04 that valued the company at RM523.5 million. Kenanga Research, which has Samaiden as its top solar sector pick, expects the company’s market share to rise from 5% to 12%, supported by near-term order book replenishment from LSS5+, for which about half of capacity remains unallocated. “Given its established track record in ground-mounted solar EPCC projects, we believe Samaiden remains well positioned to scale its LSS5+ market share towards 12%, supported by a strong balance sheet and about RM1.39 billion in unutilised sukuk facilities, providing tender headroom of more than 300mw,” the research house said in a Feb 26 note. According to AskEdge data, Samaiden is trading at a price-earnings ratio of 17.6 times, lower than peers such as Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) at 25.6 times, Pekat Group Bhd (KL:PEKAT) at 21.7 times, Northern Solar Holdings Bhd (KL:NORTHERN) at 19.7 times and Sunview Group Bhd (KL:SUNVIEW) at 43.7 times.
An international study found that the specific power of commercial silicon solar modules increased from 8.5 W/kg in the early 2000s to 23.6 W/kg today, driven by advances in module design, bifaciality, and temperature management. The researchers highlighted that glass and framing dominate module weight, and considering operating conditions like nominal operating cell temperature and rear-side illumination is essential for accurate PV system design. Performance and physical parameter distributions of commercial crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules Image: UNSW, Cell Reports Physical Science, CC BY 4.0 An international research team has found that the specific power of commercial silicon solar modules increased from around 8.5 W/kg In the early 2000s to 23.6 W/kg today. The specific power of a PV module measures how much electrical power the module produces per unit of weigh. This metric can also be expressed in W/m2 and helps compare the efficiency of different solar panels regardless of their size or weight. It is especially important in space applications or portable solar panels, where weight matters more than area. Their analysis also indicated that aluminum frames constitute 6%–19% of module weight, while encapsulants account for 2%–15%. Other components, including cells, junction boxes, backsheets, and interconnections, collectively contribute 8%–16% of the total weight. The researchers noted that while thinner glass or lighter frames can enhance specific power, such modifications may compromise mechanical reliability. Overall, they concluded that glass and framing are the principal factors governing module weight, efficiency, and handling challenges. Their findings are available in the paper “Increasing specific power and the emergence of new markets for crystalline silicon photovoltaics,” published in Cell Reports Physical Science. The research group comprised scientists from the University of South New Wales (UNSW) and the Newcastle Energy Centre in Australia, the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in Brazil, the US Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. 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 *
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Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) achieved a new record high for solar PV and wind generation at 12,463MW. The record, announced by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), was set at 10:30am on 23 June 2025 and surpasses the previous record, which sat at 12,133MW and was set in December 2024. Get Premium Subscription The record has been achieved in part due to the rising number of utility-scale solar PV and wind generation projects connected to the NEM. However, it would be unfair not to mention that wind did the majority of the heavy lifting, setting a record high generation record of 9,472MW on the NEM at 22:30 on the same day. According to Open Electricity, formerly known as OpenNEM, which aims to make NEM and Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) data more accessible to a broader audience, at 10:30am on 23 June, utility-scale solar PV roughly generated 4,665MW, with the rest being taken up by wind. Solar PV has been following its usual seasonal duck curve, with Australia transitioning into its colder autumnal and winter seasons. PV Tech Premium subscribers can follow the NEM’s monthly trends via our NEM data spotlight series. In May 2025, utility-scale and rooftop solar PV dipped by 579GWh month-on-month in the NEM to a combined total of 2,861GWh. Despite this drop, this was still a year-on-year increase in May 2024, seeing Australia’s fleet generate 2,486GWh in the NEM. December 2024, the peak of the Australian summer, had the strongest solar PV generation recorded in the NEM in the past 12 months, followed by January. In other news, earlier this month, PV Tech reported that renewables supplied 100% of South Australia’s electricity demand for 27% of 2024, roughly 99 days, according to data from ElectraNet, a South Australian transmission operator. According to the organisation, wind and solar energy supplied 100% of the state’s electricity demand for at least part of the day on 299 days of the year in 2024. In addition to this, 74% of South Australian consumption was met through renewable energy output. For reference, the organisation said South Australia’s current average grid demand is approximately 1,300MW and peak demand is about 3,300MW.
The world added more than 200GW of new utility-scale solar PV capacity in 2025, marking the second consecutive year that the world exceeded this threshold of new utility-scale solar additions. This is according to figures published today by Wiki-Solar, which breaks down the addition of new utility-scale capacity—defined as larger than 4MW—by region. Get Premium Subscription As has been the case for the last decade, Asia dominated new capacity additions in 2025, adding more than 150GW of new capacity, more than was added globally in 2023, and more than global numbers for 2021 and 2022 combined. By the fourth quarter of 2025, China and India ranked first and third globally for cumulative installed capacity, with 446GW and 109.6GW, respectively. North and central America and Europe rank second and third, respectively for new capacity additions, as has been the case for several years now. According to Wiki-Solar, the top four countries in cumulative operational capacity at the end of 2025—China, the US, India and Spain—are the same as at the start of 2025, reflecting sustained growth in the world’s leading solar markets. 2025 capacity additions, by region, are shown in the graph below. There was movement in the country rankings outside of the top four. Japan boasted the seventh-largest operational solar sector at the end of the year, up from the 15th-largest in the first quarter of the year; while Chile saw its ranking increase from 20th in Q1 to 10th in Q4. These countries added 2.3GW and 1.7GW of new capacity in 2025, respectively. The publication of the utility-scale additions in 2025 echoes similar figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which noted that the world added more than 500GW of new capacity last year; Wiki-Solar’s Philp Wolfe said that he expects solar to be the world’s “primary energy source within 20 years”. The latest Wiki-Solar figures also confirm a trend identified in December, when the company reported that the world exceeded 1TW of cumulative operational utility-scale capacity for the first time.
Australian PV solar cell manufacturer Halocell Energy has launched its first perovskite-based product called the Halocell Ambient Modules. The Halocell Ambient Modules (pictured) are purpose-built for low-light conditions of 500 lux and below. Because of this, Halocell claims these are ideal for homes, offices and industrial settings. Get Premium Subscription These will be manufactured at Halocell’s production facility in Wagga Wagga, a city in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Another key aspect of the solar PV modules is that 98% of the functional materials can be recycled and reclaimed, creating a circular process for decommissioning. This aims to help prevent modules from entering landfills, which will likely become a growing issue, particularly in Australia, in the coming years and decades. Discussing the modules, the company’s website said they “deliver lightweight, flexible, and highly efficient energy for indoor electronic devices. They provide continuous, reducing reliance on batteries, and are particularly beneficial for IoT devices, smart home gadgets, and other low-power electronics.” Alongside the launch of Halocell’s first module product series, the organisation has also penned a deal with Sofab Inks to optimise its future PV modules. Specifically, Halocell will leverage Sofab Inks’ nanoparticle inks, which are designed for charge transport layers in PV. According to the two companies, these inks are engineered to reduce costs, enhance stability, and enable industrial-scale perovskite PV manufacturing. Sofab Inks was founded in 2022 as a spinout from the US’ University of Louisville’s Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research. The organisation recently announced a successful funding milestone of US$1.2 million. With Sofab Inks set to supply Halocell with its nanoparticle inks, Halocell will continue to formulate and manufacture its exclusive perovskite inks for various applications. This becomes the latest partnership Halocell Energy has signed in recent months, with deals with the University of Queensland and First Graphene. Halocell is one of several Australian solar module manufacturers, another being Tindo Solar, which recently signed a 15MW module supply agreement for projects in Vietnam. Although solar cell research and development (R&D) in Australia is among the most influential globally – particularly due to the legacy of Professor Martin Green and his team at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and their groundbreaking work on Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) technology in the 1980s – domestic manufacturing capabilities have somewhat lagged behind. As such, the number of partnerships between Australian universities and major Chinese module manufacturers has risen, coupling Australian solar innovation with China’s industrial prowess. This has been witnessed via the recent collaboration between Australian PV cell technology startup SunDrive Solar and Chinese solar manufacturer Trina Solar. Brett Hallam, an associate professor and the research director for advanced hydrogenation at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), told PV Tech Premium earlier this year that this is something that could become more numerous in Australia. “Our best chance of establishing a viable solar industry is in partnership with China,” Hallam noted. The Australian government has introduced several initiatives to help spur growth in domestic manufacturing. This includes the launch of the Solar ScaleUp Challenge and Solar Sunshot programme. Launched in March 2024, Sunshot primarily focuses on how components are made, whereas the newly launched Challenge focuses on deployment. As such, the two initiatives aim to bolster Australia’s efforts to become a hub for solar innovation and development. Richard Petterson, CEO of Tindo, told PV Tech Premium last year that the initiatives could help put Australia on the global map for manufacturing.
Turkey must deploy around 8GW of new capacity annually to meet its 2035 target of 120GW of installed solar and wind, a new report says. According to Türkiye Electricity Review 2026 published by energy think tank Ember, solar and wind accounted for 22% of electricity generation in 2025, marking a record high. However, to hit its target the country must triple its installed capacity. Get Premium Subscription The report notes that electricity generation in Turkey has undergone a rapid transformation over the past three years, driven by strong solar growth and record wind installations in 2025. Solar installations reached 4.8GW in 2023, with additions remaining close to this level in subsequent years. This has resulted in solar generation doubling from 18.4TWh in 2023 to 37.3TWh in 2025. Solar’s share of electricity generation also rose from 4.7% in 2022 to 10.5% in 2025. Combined solar and wind additions reached 6.5GW, remaining below the 8GW annual deployment required to stay on track for 2035 targets. Nevertheless, in 2025 wind and solar surpassed hydropower for the first time to become the primary drivers of renewable energy growth. Despite the expansion of renewables, coal remains the largest source of electricity generation in Turkey, accounting for 34% in 2025. Around two-thirds of coal generation relies on imports. According to a 2025 report by Ember, coal accounted for more than one-third of Turkey’s domestic electricity generation in 2024. Coal generation declined slightly from 122TWh in 2024 to 121TWh in 2025, and no new coal plants have been commissioned since 2022. However, the report notes that a purchase guarantee for domestic coal plants starting in 2026 could increase utilisation rates and potentially push coal generation to new highs. Natural gas has seen a significant decline in share over time, falling from over 40% in the early 2000s and 48% in 2014 to 22% in 2025, as wind and solar capacity expanded. Total renewable energy accounted for 43% of Turkish electricity generation in 2025, including hydropower (16%) and other sources such as geothermal and biomass (5%). While this is above the global average, it remains below the EU average of 48%. Among Europe’s 24 largest electricity-generating countries, Turkey ranks 15th in wind power,14th in solar and 16th in overall renewables share. The country has consistently ranked 16th in recent years and has not placed in the top five since 2004. In solar, Turkey’s 10.5% share places it behind countries such as Hungary (27%), Greece and Spain (22%), and Mediterranean peers such as Portugal and Italy (17%). However, among 16 countries in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia with electricity generation above 25TWh, no country exceeds a 20% share of wind and solar. Turkey leads this group with 22%. “In recent years, Turkey has achieved significant growth in wind and solar energy. However, when other renewable sources such as hydropower and geothermal are included, the share of renewables in electricity generation still lags behind European countries. On the other hand, Turkey is by far the regional leader in wind and solar energy among countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus,” Ufuk Alparslan, regional lead, Turkey and the Caucasus, Ember, said. According to Ember, the country’s battery project pipeline has reached 33GW. Since 2022, new wind and solar projects are required to install battery capacity equal to their installed generation capacity This far exceeds the pipeline in EU countries, where leading markets have 12GW-13GW of combined operational and planned capacity. Moreover, the report notes that Turkey’s battery pipeline corresponds to 83% of its current solar and wind capacity of 40GW, positioning storage as a central component of its energy transition.
Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Much warmer. High 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Partly cloudy skies. Low 52F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Updated: April 8, 2026 @ 1:04 am The uptake of solar around 2018 helped Pakistan avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year Solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply The government has introduced austerity measures to deal with energy supply shortages, including cutting the public sector work week to four days The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity
The uptake of solar around 2018 helped Pakistan avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year Solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply The government has introduced austerity measures to deal with energy supply shortages, including cutting the public sector work week to four days The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity Pakistan’s solar power push has cushioned the full impact of the war in the Middle East, analysts said, despite lingering concerns over fuel supplies and rising prices. A study published last month assessed that the uptake of solar around 2018 helped the country avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Dear Editor, {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:51) “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:51) Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Sorry, an error occurred.
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A five-year research initiative is underway in Australia to test the viability of floating solar PV systems on irrigation dams, addressing water conservation needs while generating renewable energy in the agricultural sector. The AU$13 million (US$8.5 million) project, called ‘Novel Energy and Evaporative Storage Technologies for Irrigators’ (NEESTI), secured AU$6 million in funding under the Federal government’s AU$5 billion Future Drought Fund’s Resilient Landscapes programme. Get Premium Subscription Led by economic consultancy AgEcon Australia with support from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), the floating solar initiative aims to address two challenges facing Australian agriculture: water security in an increasingly hot, dry climate and the need to reduce carbon emissions. Research conducted by the CRDC revealed that nearly 50% of on-farm water storage volume is lost annually to evaporation, highlighting the urgent need for solutions like floating solar systems. The research suggests that relocating just half of Australia’s current 16.6GW ground-mounted solar capacity to water storages as floating solar installations could conserve 296 gigalitres of water yearly while generating renewable energy. Floating solar technology offers additional benefits by freeing up valuable land for other critical infrastructure, such as buildings and farming, creating a dual-purpose solution for Australia’s agricultural sector. AgEcon principal climate analyst and economist, Jon Welsh, said the floating solar project aims to address Australia’s ‘critical trilemma’ of securing water, food and clean energy. “We know floating solar projects can work, but there are serious challenges, and a critical research gap remains – and that is how to develop a practical and cost-effective solution ready for farm rollout,” Welsh said. The research programme aims to deliver technical, economic, policy, and legal frameworks to establish a sustainable Australian floating solar PV market specifically designed for cotton growers and other irrigators, Welsh added. The floating solar research comes at a critical moment as agricultural supply chains face mounting pressure to reduce emissions to meet national and sector-specific targets. The CRDC describes the project as a “win-win” for Australian agriculture. PV Tech Premium has previously discussed the role of floating solar PV in inland reservoirs in the most recent issue of our downstream journal, PV Tech Power. Specifically, the article examines how the energy yield performance of different system configurations could enable floating PV to fulfil its potential. It is worth noting that Canopy Power Australia and Ocean Sun, a Norwegian company specialising in floating solar technology, inked a partnership earlier this year to accelerate the deployment of the new generation of floating solar solutions across Australia’s water bodies. Southeast Asia has emerged as a prime location for deploying floating solar PV systems globally. Early last year, research firm Rystad Energy predicted Southeast Asia would add around 300MW of new floating solar capacity in the first few months of 2024. SolarDuck and Tokyu Land quickly followed this by constructing the first floating solar project in Japanv. In August 2024, Malaysian energy company Cypark Resources Berhad commissioned a 100MW hybrid project featuring 35MW of floating solar PV in Merchang, a coastal town in the northeastern state of Terengganu, Malaysia. According to a report released last year, floating solar also emerged as one of the front-running technologies set to be deployed in Indonesia. India and China have recently seen two large floating solar PV projects come online, one of which is at the gigawatt-scale. State-owned China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy) completed a 1GW floating solar project, which it claims is the largest and first of its kind in the world The open-sea floating solar power plant is situated about 8km off the coast of Dongying City, on the eastern coast of China, adjacent to the Bohai Sea. Floating solar PV is being explored not only in Southeast Asia but also in Europe. Recent coverage from PV Tech last week revealed that German-based energy service provider Q Energy and independent power producer (IPP) Velto Renewables had inaugurated Europe’s largest floating solar PV power plant. The power plant has a capacity of 74.3MWp and is located in the municipality of Perthes in the Haute-Marne region of France.
The uptake of solar around 2018 helped Pakistan avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year Solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply The government has introduced austerity measures to deal with energy supply shortages, including cutting the public sector work week to four days The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity The uptake of solar around 2018 helped Pakistan avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year Solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply The government has introduced austerity measures to deal with energy supply shortages, including cutting the public sector work week to four days The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity Pakistan’s solar power push has cushioned the full impact of the war in the Middle East, analysts said, despite lingering concerns over fuel supplies and rising prices. A study published last month assessed that the uptake of solar around 2018 helped the country avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year. At projected market prices, it could save a further $6.3 billion by the end of 2026, said Renewables First and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. In the bustling side streets of Lahore, in northeast Pakistan, shopkeeper Aftab Ahmed, 49, was out shopping for solar panels to install at home to help him cut costs. “The current fuel situation in our country is such that fuel has gone beyond the reach of the common person,” he told AFP last Friday. “It has become so expensive that an average person can no longer afford fuel for a motorcycle or a car. Fuel prices are also affecting electricity bills, leading to further increases. “If we shift towards solar energy, at least some savings can be achieved from one side.” Hours earlier, the government in Islamabad announced an eye-watering 42.7-percent hike in the price of petrol and 54.9 percent on diesel. That brought protesters onto the streets, sparked queues at fuel stations, and led the government to announce free state-run public transport for a month. Rooftop solar panels are everywhere in Pakistan, helping to provide uninterrupted power and avoid often lengthy cuts in grid supply, particularly when temperatures soar. Nabiya Imran, an energy analyst with Renewables First in the capital Islamabad, said they have also helped ease the burden caused by the disruption to shipping in the Gulf. “Because people in Pakistan have adopted solar over the past several years, this… is providing a cushioning effect against the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in the power sector,” she said. “Had we not adopted solar in the first place to the extent that we have, the impacts in the power sector would be much worse.” Pakistan’s solar surge does not mean it is immune to the supply shortages that have hit countries across Asia. Last month, the government introduced austerity measures. The working week for public sector employees was cut to four days and schools were shut. The Pakistan Super League cricket tournament was also cut from six venues to two, and crowds were banned, to save fuel. But solar has made working from home more viable and affordable for Pakistanis because it cuts reliance on the grid and imported gas. Market forces have largely driven the uptake, which the study called “one of the fastest consumer-led energy transitions on record”. Unlike western economies, Pakistan did not impose tariffs on Chinese solar technology from 2013 until last year. As a result, imports jumped from 1 gigawatt in 2018 to 51 gigawatts early this year. Oil and gas price rises after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 also forced consumers to look for alternatives, as did hefty increases in domestic energy tariffs. Between 2022 and 2024, Pakistan saw a 40-percent drop in oil and gas imports, the study said. The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan’s more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity. Manzoor Ishtiaq, whose shop in Lahore sells and installs solar panels, believes making the technology affordable for everyone could help. “There should be a plan that encourages every household to adopt solar energy. This way, both the government and the public will get relief and long-term benefits,” he said. For Renewables First’s Nabiya Imran, the Gulf crisis has shown the need for less reliance on fossil fuels and energy security using renewable sources. She noted that Pakistan spent around 11 percent of its GDP on fossil fuel imports including oil, coal and liquefied natural gas in the 2024 fiscal year. “That is a big chunk of money to be spending for a country like Pakistan, which could be going towards other aspects of development.” The key now, she added, would be to push take-up of solar battery storage to prevent the use of fossil fuel-powered thermal plants to keep the lights on at peak times. Policymakers should also look at the transportation sector to reduce its exposure to global fuel and price shocks and cut emissions through initiatives such as electric vehicles, she added. video-phz/mjw/lga Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
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