Solar Now

Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, solar and wind energy projects were eligible for a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC), with a gradual phase-out of the credits beginning in 2032.  In 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) significantly tightened the timeline for solar projects. Under the new requirements, solar projects that began construction after July 4, 2026 must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.
Then the Department of the Treasury Notice 2025-42 tightened the rules for any solar project larger than 1.5 MW, stating that start of construction no longer means that 5% of a project must have been paid for. Instead, the 5% rule is replaced with the Physical Work Test, which defines the start of construction as when “physical work of a significant nature begins” on site. For many developers this means investing in transformers, driving steel piles or finishing significant portions of foundation work by July 4^th.
(Read: “One big bad bill for solar projects.”)
As a result of these changes, the trajectory of the U.S. solar industry has slowed. A downward trend in completion of solar projects was noted in the Solar Market Insight 2025 Year in Review report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie. The report found, for example, that tax credit changes brought by the OBBBA led to a 14% decline in installations in 2025 compared to the previous year.
While the immediate effect of the tax credit change was a surge in announced utility-scale solar and energy storage projects to the tune of 1 GW in new capacity, according to E2’s latest Clean Economy Works, the boom in announced construction lagged far below the clean energy trajectory in the years following passage of the IRA. E2 reported that between 2022 and 2024, companies announced more than 1,000 manufacturing and utility-scale generation and storage projects nationwide. Since the start of 2025, fewer than 200 new projects have been announced. Instead, project cancellations and downsizing became more common, with E2 estimating that nearly 10 GW of new capacity has been cancelled.
These cancellations come at a time when demand for new electricity generation is at an all-time high.
“The clean energy industry still sees enormous demand for new electricity generation, manufacturing, and grid infrastructure,” said Michael Timberlake, communications director at E2. “What we’re seeing is not a lack of demand—it’s growing policy obstacles and uncertainty making it harder for businesses to complete projects.”
ITC support
The U.S. solar industry has grown by more than 10,000% since the modern ITC was enacted in 2006, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), making it what SEIA considers “one of the most important federal policy mechanisms to support the growth of solar and storage in the United States.”
The ITC has gained bipartisan support in part because of the surge in solar in red states. SEIA noted that solar is surging states that traditionally vote Republican because it is the fastest, most cost-effective option for new power. “When conservative states cut red tape and allow solar to compete, utilities and developers choose the generation source that delivers the best product and that choice is overwhelmingly solar.”
In April, four Republican representatives introduced The American Energy Dominance Act to help lower costs, strengthen domestic supply chains, drive long-term investment in energy infrastructure, and support good-paying union jobs. Other similar legislation has also been introduced, yet experts say the chance of passage is slim. “Congress is pretty gridlocked,” Hilary Lefko, attorney with Norton Rose Fulbright told pv magazine USA. “We could see a broader coalition of support after the midterms, [though] it does not seem very likely at this point.”
Beyond the deadline
With the July 4 start-of-construction deadline in the rearview mirror, solar developers who missed the cutoff can still work toward qualifying for tax credits in a variety of ways. To begin with, they can get their projects in service by the end of 2027. Other ways to claim tax credits, Lefko said, is to add storage and claim tax credits on that instead of solar; buy partially developed projects that started construction and complete the project; hope Notice 2024-42 gets revoked and satisfy the safe harbor; or find a way to make the project economically viable without tax credits.
Wood Mackenzie’s Solar Market Insight Q2 2026 report notes that it will take some time to adjust to a post tax credit world. All is not lost, however, as SEIA reports there are now 262 GW of direct-current of solar capacity installed nationwide, enough to power 45 million homes. Many legislators on both sides of the aisle see the strength of the ITC, and with declining installation costs and increasing demand for clean electricity, solar will soldier on.
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UK approves new huge solar farm to power 200,000 homes  AOL.com
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South African regulatory authority National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved generation licences for four utility-scale solar PV projects under Bid Window 7.3 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), clearing more than 1GW of new capacity for development.  
The licences cover three independent power producer (IPP) Red Rocket SA projects — the 278MW Sculptor Energy facility in Mpumalanga and the 277MW Springhaas Solar Facility I and 206MW Springhaas Solar Facility VI projects in the Free State — alongside French utility Engie’s 288MW Corona Energy project, also located in the Free State.  
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According to NERSA, the four projects represent more than 1GW of installed solar PV capacity and will deliver 890MW of contracted capacity to South Africa’s electricity system. 
The regulator said it received licence applications for the projects in January before opening a public consultation process. A public hearing scheduled for May was cancelled after no objections or registrations were received, with NERSA concluding that all four projects met the required technical, financial, economic, legal and regulatory criteria. 
The approvals add to the growing pipeline emerging from REIPPPP Bid Window 7, which has been expanded through several additional allocations since preferred bidders were first announced in late 2024. With the latest licences, the programme has now awarded close to 5GW of solar capacity across the seventh bidding round. 
REIPPPP was launched in 2011 to attract private investment into South Africa’s renewable energy sector and support the expansion of new generation capacity. The programme aims to help address the country’s ongoing power supply challenges, including grid constraints and load shedding, due to insufficient electricity generation. 
According to the Global Solar Council, South Africa’s solar PV capacity reached approximately 6.3GW after adding around 1.6GW in 2025. Distributed and commercial & industrial (C&I) solar accounts for more than 59% of installed capacity, while the country has set a target of 20GW of solar PV capacity by 2030.

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US solar tracker manufacturer GameChange Energy has been selected to supply its Genius Tracker 1P Terrain Following system for the 380MWp Lower Wonga Solar Farm in Queensland.
The project is being developed by solar developer Lightsource bp, with INTEC Energy Solutions serving as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.
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According to the firm, its terrain-following tracker was chosen for its ability to accommodate challenging site conditions while reducing earthworks and supporting construction efficiency. The project will also deploy the company’s HailStow and MaxGen technologies, which are designed to provide autonomous tracker stow during hail events and optimise energy generation.
“Lower Wonga is an important project for us, representing another significant step in our growth in Australia and reflecting the growing demand for utility-scale solar infrastructure designed for diverse site conditions,” said Vaibhav Joshi, Managing director – Oceania and Southeast Asia, GameChange Energy. “Australia continues to be an important market for GameChange Energy, and we are pleased to support this project alongside Lightsource bp and INTEC Energy Solutions.”
The Lower Wonga Solar Farm adds to GameChange’s presence in the Australian utility-scale PV market, where terrain-following tracker systems are increasingly being adopted to reduce civil works on complex project sites.
Further details on the project’s construction schedule and commissioning timeline were not disclosed.
Recently, the tracker manufacturer has signed a flurry of supply deals. In March 2026, GameChange secured a contract to supply 258MWp of solar trackers for a solar-plus-storage project in Egypt.
The company signed an agreement with EPC contractor Hassan Allam Construction to deploy its Genius Tracker systems at the Benban project, which was being developed by Infinity Power. The project combined 200MW of solar PV with 120MWh of battery energy storage, with the tracker system selected to withstand the site’s high temperatures and dusty conditions.
While in February, the company signed a contract to supply its Genius Tracker system for the 1.2GW Bisha Solar PV independent power project in Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed by ACWA Power and built by EPC contractor Larsen & Toubro in the country’s Asir Province. GameChange Solar said the award reflected its expanding manufacturing footprint in Saudi Arabia, where it had established 6GW of annual production capacity.

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Lots of sunshine. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..
Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: July 8, 2026 @ 10:07 am
Lots of sunshine. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..
Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: July 8, 2026 @ 10:07 am
Aerial shot top view of solar panel photovoltaic farm
The map of the proposed “Nodaway Valley Solar Project” was on display at a public meeting at the Clarinda Country Club Tuesday afternoon. Plans call for the solar farm on roughly 400 acres just northeast of Clarinda.

Aerial shot top view of solar panel photovoltaic farm
The map of the proposed “Nodaway Valley Solar Project” was on display at a public meeting at the Clarinda Country Club Tuesday afternoon. Plans call for the solar farm on roughly 400 acres just northeast of Clarinda.
(Clarinda) — Discussions over solar ordinances and a proposed project northeast of Clarinda continue in Page County.
At its regular meeting late Tuesday afternoon, the Page County Board of Supervisors discussed its current solar ordinances and MidAmerican Energy’s proposed “Nodaway Valley Solar Project,” a roughly 50-megawatt solar development planned on nearly 400 acres near Clarinda. The discussions also follow MidAmerican’s filing of a generating certificate application with the Iowa Utilities Commission for the project. Recently, the board also discussed a copy of the county’s solar ordinance that was passed in December 2024 that had been “marked up” with suggested changes from MidAmerican. Supervisor Todd Maher says that while there are some minor language changes he would be okay with addressing, he feels the majority of the ordinance should remain the same.
“I just think that we need to stick to our principles and what we had,” said Maher. “I think if MidAmerican wants to go around it and go through other ways of doing it and bypass county rule and have that tagged on their corporation, then I guess that’s what they’ll have to do.”
The board spent nearly a year developing the ordinance, primarily drawing on other county ordinances already in place, such as those in Mills County. At least one of the concerns listed by MidAmerican was the ordinance’s setback from non-participant property lines for utility-scale solar projects, which is set at 2,640 feet and can be waived by an affected landowner providing a written waiver agreement.
Supervisors Chair Judy Clark says that she was under the impression that the board would look into possible changes to the ordinance after MidAmerican officials spoke with more of the neighboring landowners near the project.
“That was my understanding with the supervisors that once that (MidAmerican’s John Huff) visited with those people and there weren’t objections that we would go back and look at a little bit and maybe ease it up a little bit like the setbacks and stuff,” said Clark. “But that hasn’t happened and John did visit with the landowners, so he held up his end of the bargain.”
However, Clark emphasized she doesn’t like that MidAmerican is attempting to “go around” the county’s ordinances with the IUC. Maher notes that the county should ensure it has representation in the IUC hearing process for the application and stand up for its local ordinances.
“So that they at least understand that, ‘hey, this big conglomerate is going to make a workaround and kind of a bypass any county government rule,’ and basically say ‘we don’t care what your citizens or your board says, we’re going to put this project in,'” said Maher. “I think we need to at least show some resistance to that and not just back down.”
According to online IUC documents for MidAmerican’s application in Page County, the company had asked for waivers for much of the procedural and hearing process, but consideration of those waivers was deferred until after the “intervention” deadline, which is set for July 23. A hearing on the IUC application is also set for October 20, 2026. While agreeing she would prefer the county be the decision maker on what’s built in the county, Clark says some of the stricter regulations can also penalize landowners wanting to allow solar on their land.
“People who own the land have invested their time and effort and money in this for the last six years and would like it to proceed,” said Clark. “Then we’ve had everybody coming who doesn’t have a stake in it, I mean, they do as a county, but not in that particular land, who are saying, ‘oh, you’re taking it out of production.’ Well, that’s nobody’s business but the landowner’s.”
The board ultimately reached a consensus not to alter the ordinance and instead to look into getting involved in the IUC process. Maher notes that if the IUC allows the project, more conversations should be had with state lawmakers on ways to preserve local control. The IUC is a three-person regulatory body, with members appointed by the governor. Based on the agency’s website, the IUC regulates the rates and services of investor-owned electric, natural gas, water, sanitary sewage, and stormwater drainage public utilities, and has specific regulatory authority over municipal electric and natural gas utilities and electric cooperatives. The IUC also has authority over the siting and construction of electric transmission lines, intrastate natural gas pipelines, and hazardous liquid pipelines.
At KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.
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A combination of grid bottlenecks, permitting delays and flexibility limitations is slowing the growth of solar PV and wind as a share of Europe’s energy mix, according to a report from the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO).
The think-tank’s annual flagship report, which tracks Europe’s progress towards climate neutrality, said the share of variable renewables in Europe stood at 30% in 2025, but had risen “far too slowly” since 2020 to achieve the EU’s benchmark of reaching 58% by 2030.
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Although in absolute terms, combined wind and solar additions were on track, with around 70GW added in 2024, the report said this growth was skewed towards solar at 57.5GW. Wind deployments in 2024 were around 2GW lower than in 2023, and because wind has a higher capacity factor than PV – meaning it produces more electricity for the same amount of installed capacity – this slowdown led to a disproportionately lower overall electricity generation from renewables.
ECNO identified several factors that explain this sluggish growth. Grid investment, battery storage and smart meter rollout all remain insufficient, it said, while faster permitting, more integrated grid planning and stronger incentives for non-fossil flexibility are needed to scale up renewables to the levels required.
For example, it said that although grid investment has steadily increased between 2020 and 2025, progress remains “too slow”; for the distribution grid alone, a 12% to 25% yearly increase is needed, the report said.
And although on the supply side, battery storage capacity has been increasing, it remains below what the European Commission has said is needed by 2030.
Meanwhile, policies at the EU and member-state levels have been piecemeal in supporting progress on renewables. Some EU-level policy packages, such as the Net Zero Industries Act (NZIA) have been helpful in providing an “important framework” for renewables, on other fronts, policy has been less helpful.
For example, on grids, ECNO said the EU framework “remains fragmented across EU, national regulatory and Member State competences, with financing and planning decisions largely in the hands of Member States”.
“Recent EU guidance and legislative proposals on faster procedures for grids and storage, as well as tariff design that incentivises efficient grid use and end-user flexibility, are therefore important but not yet enough,” the report added.
With this in mind, the report said a white paper planned this year on electricity market integration would be “important for advancing EU market integration, improving the integration of renewables and flexibility, and reducing system costs”.
At the same time, it said Member States need to “urgently align grid planning with renewable deployment, accelerate permitting and invest in transmission and distribution”.
As the clean technology transition accelerates, another risk identified in the report is the EU’s growing dependency on China for critical raw materials, battery components, solar inverters and “other key manufacturing inputs”.
“These overlapping dependencies highlight a structural challenge: Europe’s long-term economic resilience and competitiveness depend on reducing fossil fuel imports, diversifying key supply chains and accelerating the transition to a climate-neutral economy,” the report said, adding that the risk was one the EU has begun to act on.

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Algeria should look to open its energy market to international players in order to reach its solar targets, according to a webinar on the country’s solar market held by Solarabic and the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA).
The webinar covered Algeria’s evolving solar market and the work and regulations required for the country to achieve its target of deploying 15 GW of solar by 2035, as announced by the government earlier in the year. Work is already underway via a 3.2 GW solar development plan, which is aiming to roll out up to 20 utility-scale solar projects across twelve of the country’s provinces.
Ghazi Koubaa, Project and Solutions Manager at Longi MENA, explained that Algeria’s solar rollout has been slower than some of its North African neighbours as it does not face the same fuel import pressure. He explained that while the country is heavily reliant on gas, its production is domestic and strongly linked to its export economy.
“As a result, the renewable energy driver is different,” Koubaa told attendees. “It’s not mainly about escaping an import bill. It’s more about preserving gas for higher value export, meeting rising domestic demand, diversifying the energy mix and preparing for future carbon taxes maybe from Europe for export opportunities.”
He added that when fuel is domestic and subsidized, the economic pressure to switch to renewables is naturally weaker: “It’s not necessarily a lack of economic ambition, but renewables move fast when economic pressure is strongest and where the investment framework is bankable,” Koubaa said.
Yacine Boulfrad, Technical Development Manager at Scatec, believes the main challenge facing the rollout of solar and the wider renewables market in Algeria is the ecosystem, rather than technology.
Boulfrad listed five pillars – policy, power purchase agreements, procurements, permitting and partnerships – that are required to allow for large-scale deployment. He explained that developers want to see stable policies, access to PPAs, competitive and transparent government tenders, fast permitting procedures and opportunities to work with local partners in order to enter the Algerian market.
Boulfrad also told attendees he believes Algeria should look to transition its solar market from a state-funded engineering, procurement and construction-led model towards an independent power producer (IPP) model where private developers finance, build and operate projects. He said this would help reduce government spending, lower electricity costs and attract the investment required to achieve Algeria’s renewables targets.
“[Scatec] managed to have really very low tariffs in Tunisia, for example. We are at lower than $0.03/kWh there, and we can manage the same in Algeria, or even better,” he said. “We see some signals now that the market will probably shift to IPPs, but there is no clear vision yet on it, so we are waiting for some announcements from the government. “
Boukhalfa Yaici, Director of Algeria Green Energy Cluster, said Algeria is “moving in the direction to receive international funds” following amendments to its financial law last year. He added that the collaboration of domestic and international players in Algeria will be vital as the country works towards is renewables targets.
“We think the next step, after the 3.2 GW [solar development plan], will be supported by international players,” Yaici told attendees.
Muhammed Uzair Adeem, Business Manager at PowerChina, said localization should look to create long-term value for Algeria, rather than just increasing local content, via developing local talent and strengtening the local supply chain. “When localization is treated as an investment rather than an obligation, it becomes a win-win for both the project and the nation,” he explained.
Yaici also informed attendees of Algeria’s work on grid expansion. He said Algeria’s utility, Sonelgaz, is planning where all future plants will be connected. He also said the utility is looking to build an electric highway, of around 800 kilometers in length, that would transfer energy between the north and south of the country, with longer-term plans including the sale of electricity via interconnection to neighbouring countries.
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has tracked 2.87 GW of solar in Algeria to date, according to figures available in its project database. The database adds that a further 2.6 GW of solar is currently under construction.
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The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
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Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
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Stäubli Electrical Connectors AG, a Switzerland-based manufacturer of electrical connectors for photovoltaic and battery storage systems, has appointed Sinovoltaics as an Authorized Service Provider for its PV connector portfolio across the European Union and EFTA member states. Sinovoltaics Switzerland will deliver inspection and audit services for Stäubli’s photovoltaic and BESS offerings. The agreement expands Stäubli’s service network for DC PV connectors across Europe. Sinovoltaics will provide authorized services directly to Stäubli customers within the agreed territory. The partnership has responded to rising demand for field and factory-level performance assurance.
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Sofidel: A New Photovoltaic System Now Operational in the United Kingdom  ACCESS Newswire
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How nanotechnology will bring solar energy to facades, windows, and clothing
Solar panels have been part of the urban landscape for years, crowning the rooftops of buildings. But what if photovoltaic generation could also extend to facades, windows, or other surfaces, multiplying capture capacity and, with it, the amount of energy produced? Nanotechnology could make it possible.
 
In this technology, photovoltaic solar energy has found an ally to improve its efficiency and expand its applications. Perovskite Solar cells (PSC), whose success lies in the ability of nanotechnology to maximize their performance- are achieving figures higher than the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of conventional panels made of silicon.
 
A recent international research project led by IMDEA Nanociencia has developed a perovskite cell with a certified efficiency of 25.2%, which uses new materials that improve its durability and bring it closer to market readiness. These types of cells use very thin layers and can be flexible, semi-transparent, and lightweight, so they can be applied to almost any surface, unlike what happens with conventional technologies. Their versatility, made possible by the control of matter on a nanometric scale, opens up new horizons for the development of innovative applications and ways of integrating solar energy.
 
 
Researcher Mónica Lira-Cantú leads a study group at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) that works on developing highly stable solar cells adaptable to different applications. “We make very controlled materials on a nanometric scale in the form of ink” in a process which, according to the researcher’s explanation to Planet Energy, involves placing the materials in solutions to obtain a “new generation of solar cells using printers or other methods.”
 
This would allow the integration of photovoltaic technology into previously unthinkable surfaces, such as fabrics, plastics that can be easily rolled up, or flexible substrates, among other materials. “Imagine in the future a swimsuit with photovoltaic cells that you can use to charge your phone directly,” the expert ventures.
 
This versatility could open up new options that, in the opinion of Lira-Cantú, range from military or sports applications, with solutions that can be deployed over tents, integrated into boat sails or vehicle bodies, to more everyday applications in our daily lives.
 
 
The potential is broad, but one of the fields that could most benefit from this evolution is architecture. Recently, the German institute Fraunhofer FEP developed “visually indistinguishable” photovoltaic modules from the facades of the buildings, capable of maintaining up to 80% of performance.
 
To achieve this, researchers have employed a technique called “roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography,” which allows the integration of solar modules into facades without altering the design, thanks to nanotechnology. It is not just about integrating panels, but transforming any architectural surface into another element to generate energy.
 
In parallel, a recent study by the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) designed a “nano-structured mirror” that improves the efficiency of ultra-thin solar cells and mitigates energy losses. A progress that, according to its researchers, brings closer the “creation of lightweight and flexible solar cells” with the “efficiency necessary” for real applications.
 
It is innovative, not only for its design, but also the technique with which it is manufactured: nanoimprint lithography in a single step reduces costs and simplifies the process, which, in the words of the principal researcher of the INL team, Pedro Salomé, marks the beginning of the path to “industrial-scale production.”
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Solar module capacity under ALMM crosses 200 GW
July 8, 2026
Follow Mercom India on WhatsApp for exclusive updates on clean energy news and insights
India’s solar cell manufacturing industry is entering a decisive phase as the domestic market adjusts to the implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II mandate. Industry leaders said India’s success under ALMM List-II will depend on cost competitiveness, investment in research and development, skilled manpower, and deeper integration across the solar value chain.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy expanded the ALMM by adding 10,567 MW of solar module capacity. The cumulative module manufacturing capacity under ALMM now stands at 203,637 MW.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission allowed a solar developer to continue injecting infirm power from the 100 MW solar component of its 600 MW wind-solar hybrid project and sell the power outside the power purchase agreement until partial or early commissioning because the project’s wind component was delayed due to connectivity issues.
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity partly allowed a solar installer’s appeal against the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2018 order that reduced the tariff for a 10 MW rooftop solar project from ₹7.59 (~$0.0795)/kWh to ₹5.09 (~$0.0533)/kWh. The tribunal held that the developer was entitled to a 41-day extension because the power purchase agreement became effective only after regulatory approval.
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission dismissed petitions filed by industrial consumers, renewable energy developers, and the National Solar Energy Federation of India challenging the rejection and delayed processing of green energy long-term open access applications.
NTPC Renewable Energy invited bids to set up a 400 kV substation for 900 MW of solar projects in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. The last date to submit bids is July 27, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day.
The Energy and Resources Institute floated a tender to develop 57.5 MW/115 MWh of battery energy storage systems across four 66/11 kV grid stations in Delhi. Bids must be submitted by July 27, 2026. Bids will be opened on the following day.
Spanish clean energy producer Grenergy invited bids through its subsidiary, GR Power, for the sale of 1.5 TWh of energy in Chile from its solar and battery storage projects in the country’s northern and central regions. Bids must be submitted by July 22, 2026.
Germany generated over 138.77 TWh of renewable energy, accounting for 61.8% of the country’s net public electricity generation in the first half of 2026, according to a report from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The share remained largely flat year-over-year.
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Wednesday, July 8, 2026 75° Today’s Paper
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JAMM AQUINO / 2024
Rows of solar panels soak up sunlight at Kupono Solar Farm in Ewa Beach on June 13, 2024.
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We’ve been hearing more and more in the past couple of years about battery backup for intermittent solar. No matter how far battery technology progresses, they will always need lots of land, replacement and — for 100% reliability — unimaginable costs. Under the most optimistic lithium battery cost projections, just two weeks of 100% backup power for Oahu would cost about $500 billion and occupy 5 square miles. Even the wildest projections for sodium batteries would only reduce that cost to about $50 billion and 4 square miles.
Bear in mind, the backup currently provided by Oahu’s fossil fuel generators is effectively endless.
So why are the State Energy Office and University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization not reporting on the prospective costs and land requirements to meet Oahu’s growing demand with batteries for typical sunless periods in 2045, when we aim to be 100% renewable? What’s the plan if not batteries?
Brian Barbata
Kailua

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The photovoltaic will sink daytime electricity and shoot up nighttime electricity to 140 euros per MWh in August  Demócrata
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An international research team has developed a high-pressure water-jet delamination recycling method for end-of-life (EoL) photovoltaic modules. The technology was evaluated at pilot scale for its ability to recover high-purity silver (Ag), copper (Cu), silicon (Si), glass, and polymer fractions.
“This study was initiated to investigate and upscale advanced delamination-based recycling pathways for c-Si PV modules,” the researchers said. “This work evaluates high-pressure water-jet delamination-based recycling, which mechanically separates laminated module layers while minimizing cross-contamination between material fractions. It aims to contribute to the development of scalable EoL PV recycling solutions by addressing key gaps in current recycling approaches.”
The experimental work was carried out as part of the Quasar Horizon Europe project, which focuses on advancing circular solutions for EoL PV modules through the development and demonstration of two recycling technologies. According to the research group, the proposed approach provides a separation pathway that improves material recovery compared with conventional mechanical recycling processes.
The process begins with a delamination step, in which a high-pressure water jet separates the strongly bonded layers of glass, encapsulant, solar cells, and backsheet. The technique produces a high-purity glass fraction, while the detached mixed material fraction is subsequently separated from the process water through filtration. The filtered water is then recirculated within the system, reducing water consumption and supporting a more sustainable recycling process.
In the next step, the mixed fraction – containing polymer materials, silicon cell fragments, and metallic interconnectors – undergoes further processing. Established density-based mechanical separation techniques, including wet shaking-table separation, are used to divide the material into heavy and light fractions.
“Metallic wires and busbars were further separated using eddy-current separation methods,” the researchers said. “The silicon-rich cell fragment fraction was then processed through hydrometallurgical treatment to recover silver. Silver was recovered through electrochemical deposition, followed by melting and conversion into spherical particles.”
Following the completion of the process at the experimental facility, the recovered materials were subjected to analytical characterization. The results showed that the recovered silver achieved a purity of up to 97%, while the recovered smart wire contained 78% Cu, 17% bismuth (Bi), and 4.5% tin (Sn).
The recovered silicon fraction still contained residual impurities, including 22.33 mg/kg phosphorus (P), 13.33 mg/kg silver (Ag), 10.67 mg/kg tin (Sn), and 4.83 mg/kg calcium (Ca). The recovered polymer fraction was dominated by inorganic contamination, with approximately 81% silicon (Si), 6.8% aluminum (Al), and 5.3% titanium (Ti).
“For silicon, the recycling route recovered material with residual metallization and coatings, indicating the need for further refining for high-value reuse,” the researchers concluded. “The impurity contents and profiles highlight the importance of selecting appropriate processes based on downstream purification strategies and intended end uses.”
The research findings were presented in “Material recovery and characterization from end-of-life photovoltaic modules using water-jet delamination,” published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. The team included scientists from Norway’s Foundation for Industrial and Technical Research (SINTEF) and Germany’s circular economy company LuxChemtech.

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NERSA Approves 890 MW Of Solar PV Projects Under South Africa’s REIPPPP Bid Window 7.3  SolarQuarter
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The global solar industry is entering another challenging period, with photovoltaic installations expected to decline this year and potentially remain flat in 2027, according to Frank Niendorf, Vice President at JinkoSolar. In response, the company is placing greater emphasis on integrated energy solutions and accelerating the expansion of its energy storage business.
“We are in the third consecutive year of consolidation in the solar industry,” Niendorf told pv magazine in an interview at The smarter E Europe in Munich, noting that, although all photovoltaic manufacturers continue to report losses, the major players remain active in the market.
Last year, Niendorf predicted that the substantial losses many module manufacturers had suffered in the recent past would force some companies out of the market. “A market shakeout is taking place,” says Niendorf, particularly with regard to the efforts of China’s central government to remove production capacity from the market. “However, provincial governments are providing massive support to the manufacturers in their regions.”
Module prices, meanwhile, have stabilized in recent months at around €0.12/W ($0.13) to €0.13/W. Nevertheless, some second- and third-tier manufacturers are still offering modules below production costs, Niendorf says. Producers are also facing pressure from fluctuating raw material prices. Silver prices, for example, reached record highs earlier this year, accounting for approximately 25% of module costs at the time. The situation has since eased, he adds.
Weak demand in key markets, including China and Europe, is also contributing to current price pressures. “In Germany, we are experiencing a slowdown in the market,” Niendorf says. “Given the current political discussions, we are seeing considerable investor uncertainty.”
He expects stagnation rather than growth in Germany and across Europe next year. “From 2028 onward, however, I expect new momentum,” Niendorf says. “Continued electrification and investments in data centers will drive demand in Germany upward again.”
China’s solar market is also showing signs of weakness. Niendorf expects annual photovoltaic installations in the country to fall from around 300 GW last year to approximately 150 GW this year.
Demand weakness in China and Europe is certainly also playing a role in price developments. “In Germany, we are experiencing a slowdown in the market,” Niendorf continues. “Given the current political discussions, we are seeing considerable investor uncertainty in this country.” For next year as well, Niendorf expects stagnation rather than growth in Germany and the broader European market. “From 2028 onward, however, I expect new impetus,” says Niendorf. “Ongoing electrification and investments in data centers will drive demand in Germany upward again.”
Despite the current market challenges, Niendorf believes JinkoSolar is well positioned for the next phase of industry growth. This year also marks an important milestone as JinkoSolar celebrates its 20th anniversary a testament to the company’s resilience, continuous innovation and long-term commitment to the global energy transition. Over the past two decades, JinkoSolar has grown from a photovoltaic manufacturer into one of the world’s leading clean energy technology companies, serving customers in more than 200 countries and regions.
Throughout changing market cycles, the company has consistently invested in technology, manufacturing excellence and customer partnerships, allowing it to maintain its position among the industry’s global leaders, says Niendorf.
Building on this foundation, JinkoSolar has evolved into a comprehensive one-stop energy solutions provider, offering photovoltaic modules, battery energy storage systems and intelligent energy management solutions from a single source. The company’s strategic expansion into energy storage in 2022 has further strengthened its ability to support customers across residential, commercial & industrial and utility-scale markets, according to Niendorf.
JinkoSolar has also invested heavily in its own production capacities and now operates its own battery cell production facilities with a capacity of 12 GWh. The company has also launched its own energy management system. “Around 90% of our utility-scale projects combine photovoltaic generation with battery energy storage, reflecting the market’s increasing demand for hybrid energy solutions,” Niendorf added.
However, JinkoSolar is not only investing heavily in its storage business. It is also focusing on continuous development of its solar modules. “Around 5% of our revenue is invested in research and development,” says Niendorf. A significant portion of this investment goes into the Tiger Neo series. At the trade fair in Munich, the company showcased, among other products, modules from the 3.0 series, including a 760 W module for utility-scale applications. In China, JinkoSolar is already two steps ahead. At the SNEC trade fair in Shanghai, held in early June, the company introduced modules from its Tiger Neo 5.0 series. The residential modules deliver up to 500 W of power output and are designed to compete with back-contact counterparts in the rooftop segement. They are expected to be offered in Europe soon, as Niendorf explains.
Niendorf also said he expects silicon-perovskite tandem modules to achieve broad market introduction within the next two to three years. JinkoSolar is already working on this technology. At present, however, weak demand and low prices do not provide a suitable market environment for large-scale deployment. “Our 20-year history has taught us that this industry is cyclical,” Niendorf concludes. “The companies that continue investing during difficult periods are the ones that emerge stronger. We remain committed to innovation, our customers and the long-term energy transition. We are confident that the next growth phase of the solar industry is already taking shape.”
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Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Thursday, September 9, 2026
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Australian renewables company CleanPeak Energy will develop a 9MWp rooftop solar PV system alongside 30MW/120MWh of battery energy storage for Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport in Australia.
The airport, located at Badgerys Creek approximately 50km west of the Sydney CBD, is scheduled to open in late 2026 and will become Australia’s second major international gateway serving Sydney.
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Under the 15-year agreement, CleanPeak will supply electricity sourced from a portfolio of renewable energy generators and will own, operate and maintain the on-site battery energy storage system (BESS). Combined, the BESS and the rooftop solar PV system will power the airport with 100% renewable energy.
The BESS will provide peak demand management, reduce the airport’s exposure to wholesale electricity price volatility, and support grid stability services in the local network.
CleanPeak CEO Chris Coyne said the partnership reflects the airport’s commitment to sustainability from its first day of operation.
“WSI Airport is not just building an airport, they’re building a blueprint for sustainable aviation infrastructure. We’re honoured to deliver a solution that meets 100% of their electricity needs from renewables, backed by on-site battery storage to ensure reliability and cost certainty from day one,” Coyne said.
WSI Airport CEO Simon Hickey said the energy partnership was central to the airport’s long-term operating model.
“CleanPeak’s solution gives us the certainty we need on both cost and sustainability. Having 100% renewable energy and on-site battery storage from the moment we open sets a new benchmark for airport infrastructure in Australia,” Hickey said.
The 15-year contract term provides both parties with long-term revenue and supply certainty, with CleanPeak assuming the capital costs and operational responsibility for the battery storage infrastructure in exchange for a long-term energy services agreement.
CleanPeak retains ownership of the storage asset, which allows WSI Airport to access the energy output.
This arrangement enables the airport to experience the commercial and operational benefits of battery storage without incurring capital costs for energy infrastructure. It also supports the current demands of constructing a greenfield international airport.
The WSI Airport contract is structured differently from most retrofit battery storage deployments in that the energy and storage system is being designed into the airport’s operational model from its first day of commercial operation, rather than added to an existing facility.
That approach allows CleanPeak to size and position the battery storage system optimally for the airport’s forecast load profile from the outset, rather than working around existing electrical infrastructure.
Western Sydney International Airport is being developed by WSI Airport Pty Ltd, a joint venture between the Australian federal government and the New South Wales state government, with the site located within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, a planned urban and industrial precinct around the airport.
The airport is expected to handle up to five million passengers annually in its early years of operation, growing to a projected capacity of 82 million passengers per annum at full development over several decades.
CleanPeak Energy is an Australian energy services company that develops, owns and operates distributed energy assets including solar PV, battery storage and gas-fired peaking capacity across commercial and industrial customer sites.
The company’s model of retaining ownership of energy assets while contracting the output to end users under long-term agreements has been applied across healthcare, manufacturing and now aviation infrastructure clients.
The WSI Airport agreement, at 15 years and covering 100% of the airport’s electricity consumption, is the largest commercial arrangement CleanPeak has disclosed to date in terms of contract scope and duration.
To read the full article, please visit Energy-Storage.news.

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ES Foundry, a U.S.-based crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturer, has completed a 2 GW expansion at its Greenwood facility. The expansion increased its total annual solar cell production capacity to 3 GW. The firm has also rolled out its first solar cell using the newly established production line, which marks the beginning of operations at the expanded production plant. The Greenwood plant produces bifacial PERC solar cells used in utility scale as well as distributed generation applications. ES Foundry said that the expansion would create more than 400 high-quality manufacturing jobs in Greenwood County.
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Published on Jul 8, 2026
nathan
The ES Foundry Greenwood solar cell facility in South Carolina has completed a 2 GW expansion that lifts its annual production capacity to 3 GW, with the first cell already coming off the new line. Announced in July 2026, the milestone triples the plant’s original output and cements ES Foundry as one of the largest pure play solar cell makers in the United States. The Greenwood site produces crystalline silicon bifacial cells built on passivated emitter and rear contact, or PERC, technology, aimed at both utility scale and distributed generation buyers. ES Foundry, an American manufacturer led by founder and chief executive Alex Zhu, opened the plant in January 2025 inside a converted former Fujifilm building of more than 400,000 square feet, then reached full 1 GW operation by the end of that year. The company had signalled in December that the 2 GW addition would be ready by July, and it delivered on that timeline. ES Foundry said the expansion supports more than 400 advanced manufacturing jobs in Greenwood County, on top of the roughly 500 strong workforce the site had already built. Crucially for customers, American made cells let panel makers and developers claim the extra 10 percent domestic content bonus under the federal Investment Tax Credit, a commercial edge that has driven demand toward homegrown supply since the plant first opened.
The expansion lands as the United States races to rebuild a solar cell base that all but vanished over the past decade. Wood Mackenzie analysts estimated the country held only about 3 GW of operational solar cell capacity earlier this year, a figure they expect to climb toward 20.5 GW by the end of 2027 as new lines come online. ES Foundry is not alone in the Southeast push, with Suniva running a 1 GW cell factory in South Carolina and targeting 5.5 GW by mid 2027, while Qcells now turns out cells at its Cartersville plant in neighbouring Georgia. That cluster matters because cells are the hardest link in the solar chain to onshore, sitting between imported wafers and domestically assembled modules. Demand for those cells is visible in projects like the Cider Solar Farm in New York, a 2,500 acre, US$950 million development that will become the state’s largest once complete in late 2026 and precisely the kind of utility scale buyer that benefits from domestic content credits. South Carolina has a direct stake in the outcome, since the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association projects the state’s solar economic impact will rise nearly fourfold, from US$306.6 million in 2024 to close to US$1.4 billion by 2035. By choosing a shuttered industrial campus and rehiring former Fujifilm and Ascend Performance Materials staff, ES Foundry has turned a legacy closure into a working symbol of that shift.
With the 2 GW line now live, attention turns to how quickly ES Foundry can fill it. Zhu framed the achievement around execution rather than promises, arguing that the market needs operating capacity and proven domestic suppliers able to serve customers immediately rather than fresh announcements. The company has chosen PERC over the newer TOPCon architecture partly because the older technology sidesteps the intellectual property disputes now clouding several TOPCon suppliers. Open questions remain around policy, since the value of the domestic content bonus depends on the continued shape of federal clean energy incentives, and around wafer supply, which the United States still largely imports. ES Foundry has already signed a first multi year contract exceeding 1 GW with a top tier module manufacturer, giving the expanded plant an early anchor. If domestic demand holds, the Greenwood site is positioned to become a cornerstone of a supply chain that industry body SEIA wants to reach 50 GW of American solar production by 2030.
What does the ES Foundry Greenwood facility produce? The ES Foundry Greenwood facility produces crystalline silicon bifacial solar cells using PERC technology, supplying both utility scale and distributed generation projects across the United States.
How much did the ES Foundry Greenwood expansion cost? ES Foundry has not publicly disclosed the capital cost of the expansion, though it tripled annual capacity from 1 GW to 3 GW and added a new production line.
How many jobs will the ES Foundry Greenwood facility create? The expansion supports more than 400 additional manufacturing jobs in Greenwood County, on top of a workforce of roughly 500 already at the site.
When was the ES Foundry Greenwood expansion completed? The 2 GW expansion was completed in July 2026, when the first solar cell came off the newly installed production line.
Where is the ES Foundry Greenwood solar cell facility located? It sits in Greenwood, South Carolina, inside a converted former Fujifilm building of more than 400,000 square feet.
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Driving North Africa’s Solar Expansion: Sineng Electric Supplies 154 MW of Inverters for Algeria PV Projects  SolarQuarter
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Danish developer could lose DKK millions on halted energy park  EnergyWatch
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Embattled Solar Farm Project Missing State Permit  The Ashley News Observer
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Eni Solar Home offers Italian homeowners modular rooftop photovoltaic systems with bundled installation and support. The product is driving shares of Eni (NYSE: E, ISIN IT0003132476).
By Nora Whitfield, ad hoc news Accessories & Components Desk. Reviewed July 08, 2026, 12:37 AM ET. Details in the imprint.
Eni Solar Home is the kind of product you notice on a quiet street in Bologna when a fresh line of dark panels catches the afternoon sun and throws sharp reflections into the courtyard. The system turns regular tiled rooftops into small power plants, with installers measuring each slope and cable run. You can hear the low hum of the inverter in the utility room once the system is live.
Eni Solar Home is a modular residential rooftop photovoltaic solution marketed by Eni’s retail and renewables arm in Italy, typically bundled with installation and maintenance services. Homeowners can choose different system sizes depending on roof area and expected household consumption. The kits generally pair photovoltaic modules with inverters, mounting structures, and optional monitoring systems, making them a full-package accessory to existing home infrastructure rather than a standalone building project.
According to product materials from Eni Plenitude, the residential PV offer targets families aiming to cut grid power use and stabilize bills while taking advantage of Italian incentives for self-consumption and net metering. In practice, that means smaller arrays for apartments or townhouses and larger systems for single-family homes with broad south-facing roofs. One installer described typical installations in the 3 to 6 kW range as the sweet spot for urban and suburban customers.
The Eni Solar Home offer is focused on the Italian market, where Plenitude operates a dense network of energy points and installers and markets solar packages directly to residential customers. The company’s Italian site highlights turnkey services, including system design, permitting, roof works, and grid connection, positioning Solar Home as a convenience accessory for household energy upgrades. US consumers do not currently see a branded “Eni Solar Home” offer; the home-market angle, rebates, and regulatory environment are distinctly Italian.
Eni emphasizes that households can pair rooftop PV systems with smart metering and, in some configurations, with battery storage, although storage is often offered in separate packages or as an upsell. During a recent rollout event cited in Italian business press, Plenitude CEO Stefano Goberti framed residential solar as a pillar of the company’s strategy to reach millions of customers with low-carbon solutions. On the ground, installers report that many buyers ask first about payback time and warranty terms, then about app-based monitoring and aesthetics.
Explore how Eni’s consumer energy products, including residential solar and power contracts, feed into its broader strategy and financials.
Pricing for Eni Solar Home systems is not standardized on the public site, as offers depend on roof size, system configuration, and regional installation costs. Italian consumer energy outlets cite indicative figures in the low thousands of euros for smaller rooftop systems, rising with capacity and optional storage. Incentive schemes, including tax deductions and self-consumption benefits, materially influence net cost and payback time.
One Milan-based energy consultant quoted in local press estimated that, under current Italian conditions, a typical 3 kW residential system could see payback periods in the seven-to-ten-year range, shorter for households with higher daytime consumption. The consultant stressed that return profiles depend heavily on household habits, electricity tariffs, and regional rules for net metering or on-site consumption bonuses. That nuanced landscape is central to Eni’s pitch: its brand promises guidance through the incentive maze as part of the bundled service.
While Eni does not manufacture photovoltaic panels itself, Solar Home packages rely on third-party module and inverter suppliers integrated into standardized rooftop kits. These kits are designed to be compatible with common Italian roof types, including tiled and flat concrete roofs, using mounting hardware that keeps panel tilt and spacing within recommended ranges. Cables, junction boxes, and safety disconnects are part of the core accessory set, making the product a component bundle rather than a single item.
Plenitude’s communications highlight optional digital monitoring tools that allow users to track production and consumption via smartphone apps or web dashboards. One early adopter described watching production curves rise sharply on clear days and flatten under overcast skies, turning the app into a daily habit. That kind of first-hand feedback from customers matters: beyond the hardware, usability and data transparency shape satisfaction with rooftop PV accessories.
Italian regulations require that residential PV installations like Eni Solar Home comply with national standards for grid connection, safety, and metering. Eni positions its turnkey offer as a way to delegate that paperwork and technical compliance to specialists, reducing friction for households. Net metering and self-consumption incentives, set by national and regional authorities, play into the business case, and Eni’s sales teams routinely reference these mechanisms when advising customers.
For US readers, the key point is that while the hardware looks familiar, the rules and economics are home-market specific. A rooftop array in Turin under Italian tariff structures behaves differently in the household budget than an equivalent system in Texas or California. Investors and analysts covering Eni’s strategy watch these regulatory shifts as closely as technology changes, because they impact uptake rates and margins on residential offers.
Eni, through its Plenitude subsidiary, has committed to expanding renewable and retail energy services as part of its broader strategy to evolve beyond traditional oil and gas. Residential rooftop accessories such as Eni Solar Home sit alongside electric mobility, energy efficiency solutions, and power supply contracts in that portfolio. For US investors, the product is another datapoint showing how the company tries to build recurring consumer-facing revenues in Europe.
Eni stock (NYSE: E, ISIN IT0003132476) is backed by a diversified energy business where residential solar plays a supporting role next to upstream operations, gas, and other renewables.
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Securities trading carries risks up to total loss.
Disclaimer zu unseren Artikeln: Keine Anlageberatung, keine Kauf oder Verkaufsempfehlung. Angaben zu Kursen, Unternehmen und Märkten ohne Gewähr; Änderungen jederzeit möglich. Börsengeschäfte können zu hohen Verlusten führen. Unsere Beiträge werden ganz oder teilweise automatisiert mit Unterstützung von AI erstellt und geprüft.

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Planning reforms expected to cut pre-application timelines for large-scale solar by up to 12 months have been approved in the United Kingdom, cutting red tape for projects in England and Wales.
From July 24, the UK government will scrap mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), a move which will streamline the planning process for solar projects with capacity greater than 100 MW in England and 350 MW in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate planning regimes.  
Energy generating projects above these thresholds must apply for planning through the centralized NSIP process, rather than via local government planning offices. This is typically more expensive and time-consuming than dealing with local planners, and the final decision on project approval is made by the relevant UK government cabinet minister.
Changes to UK planning law remove a slew of consultation obligations, including requirements to consult statutory consultees, landowners, local authorities and the community before submitting a development consent application to the government.
The regulation update is expected to result in faster deployment of solar, wind and nuclear plants, as well as other major infrastructure projects. The UK government estimates that cutting 12 months from the planning process could potentially save industry GBP 1 billion ($1.3 billion) over the course of the current parliamentary term, which runs until summer 2029 at the latest.
In place of the pre-application consultation, developers will receive earlier technical support and advice from the Planning Inspectorate, which is the government agency that deals with NSIP applications and planning appeals.
Removing the pre-application requirements for NSIP projects is one of a raft of measures included in the UK Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, which the UK government hopes will make project development easier across industries.
The legislation also includes provisions that make it more difficult to appeal against NSIP planning approvals, including community and local authority objections to large-scale solar projects. This was in response to a sharp increase in the number of legal challenges to UK NSIP project approvals in recent years, with a National Infrastructure Commission report finding 58% of projects with development consent orders now facing judicial review – against a long-term average of 10%.
Large scale projects now enjoy more legal protection once they secure planning consent, as judges have been given more power to decide appeals are without merit on the basis of an oral hearing, rather than a lengthy legal battle.
This change has already protected one solar project, as an appeal against the 100 MW Stonestreet Green Solar was quickly dismissed as a meritless claim.
Updating planning rules for NSIP projects follows the government’s decision to raise the threshold at which generating projects in England are assessed via Planning Inspectorate examination. Previously, English solar projects with 50 MW capacity were subject to the NSIP process, leading to what was described as a “planning dead zone” for projects between 50 MW and 100 MW.
The change comes as the government prepares to rule on multiple large-scale solar projects in the coming months, including the 740 MW One Earth Solar Farm which must be approved or rejected by July 8 at the latest. July 2026 has already been a busy month for utility-scale planning consent in the United Kingdom, with the 150 MW Dean Moor Solar Farm and 320 MW Peartree Hill both securing development consent orders.
Commenting on the planning changes, UK government energy minister Michael Shanks said Britain “cannot afford to wait years” for clean energy infrastructure approvals.
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Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Thursday, September 9, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
pv magazine USA hosts its third multi-day virtual event on advancing U.S. solar and energy storage markets, covering financing, supply chains, and distributed energy’s role in grid resilience.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
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ES Foundry has increased its operational solar cell manufacturing capacity from 1 GW to 3 GW after commissioning a new 2 GW production line  
The facility manufactures crystalline bifacial PERC solar cells and is designed to meet FEOC compliance requirements  
The expansion comes as the US seeks to strengthen upstream solar manufacturing, where domestic solar cell production remains well below module manufacturing capacity 
ES Foundry, the US solar cell manufacturer, has raised its operational solar cell manufacturing capacity to 3 GW with the commissioning of an additional 2 GW at its Greenwood, South Carolina manufacturing facility. 
The company has announced rolling out the first solar cell off the new production line. It produces the ‘proven, bankable’ crystalline bifacial PERC solar cell technology at its manufacturing facility while the industry’s current workhorse TOPCon remains mired in intellectual property related challenges.  
This is an expansion of the Greenwood factory that came online in January 2025 with 1 GW annual capacity (see Bifacial PERC Silicon Solar Cell Manufacturing Factory In US). 
ES Foundry says the factory is ‘purpose-built’ for Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) compliance as it operates with fully non-FEOC ownership, leadership, and financing. The expansion will support domestic supply chains and help customers meet local content requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). 
“The U.S. solar market does not need more announcements — it needs operating capacity, proven production and domestic suppliers that can support customers now. With our 2 GW expansion complete, our total capacity now at 3 GW and the first cell off the new line, ES Foundry is helping close one of the most critical gaps in the U.S. solar supply chain,” said ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu. 
At the end of June 2026, the US had 70 GW of operational solar module production capacity, enough to cater to the annual demand since 2025 annual solar PV additions totaled 43.2 GW AC. However, production activity further upstream needs to catch up (see US Solar Deployments Dropped 14% YoY In 2025 With 43.2 GW DC Installed).  
According to the SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, the country’s operational solar cell capacity at the end of H1 2026 was 3.2 GW, with 25 GW under construction (see SEIA: US Solar Installations Fall 27% YoY To 7.8 GW In Q1 2026). This includes Suniva, which operates a 1 GW solar cell production facility in Georgia and plans to add another 4.5 GW by Q2 2027 (see Suniva To Build New 4.5 GW Solar Cell Factory). 
Recently, Qcells also launched cell production in Cartersville, Georgia, to reach full production in Q3 2026 when it will boast an estimated 3.3 GW of capacity each for ingots, wafers, and cells, along with 3.5 GW of module production (see Qcells Launches US Solar Cell Manufacturing At Georgia). 
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Australian energy generating and retailing major AGL Energy has cut the ribbon on a microgrid combining solar generation with battery energy storage to power agricultural operations at Koompartu Farms almond orchard in South Australia.
The microgrid combines a 9.2 MW solar PV single-axis tracking array including more than 15,600 solar panels, and a 10.2 MWh battery energy storage system made up of four 2.55 MWh units, The system also includes 16 diesel backup generators, and 19 kilometres of underground high voltage power lines that will distribute power across the 9,340-hectare property.
The facility spans 15 hectares at the Koompartu property near Monash in South Australia’s Riverland region. Owned by United States-based fund manager RRG Capital Management, Koompartu is the largest almond orchard in the state with more than 2,500 hectares of plantings.
The microgrid, described by AGL as “one of the largest privately owned non-mining microgrids in Australia,” is expected to generate enough energy to meet about 85% of the farm’s 6.7 MW of energy demand while reducing reliance on diesel generation by an estimated 88%.
Brendan Weinart, general manager of sustainable business energy solutions at AGL, said the project illustrates how tailored microgrid solutions can address the energy reliability demands of large-scale agribusiness.
“This is a first-of-its-kind project and has been designed to improve local grid capacity and provide the reliability needed to keep critical irrigation systems operating,” he said. “With diesel genset usage expected to fall by 88%, the project shows the role tailored microgrid solutions can play in helping businesses reduce emissions and improve resilience.”
AGL said the project has been structured as a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) under which it builds, owns, operates and maintains the assets and supplies power to Koompartu Farms, leaving the orchard’s management team free to focus on agricultural operations rather than energy infrastructure.
The Koompartu project is the latest in a series of agricultural microgrid developments AGL has delivered in South Australia and New South Wales (NSW).
In 2024, AGL completed a 4.8 MW solar and 4.2 MWh battery microgrid at Cadell Orchards in the NSW Riverina for Australian Farming Services, reducing diesel dependence by 85%.
One year later it delivered a 6.5 MW solar and 5.1 MWh battery storage system at the nearby Canally almond orchard under a long-term PPA model.
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The Greenwood site now delivers 3GW of solar cell capacity to bolster US domestic supply chains.
ES Foundry, a US-based manufacturer of crystalline solar cells, has concluded a 2GW expansion at its factory in Greenwood, South Carolina, with the first solar cell now produced from the new line.
This development raises the company’s total annual solar cell manufacturing capacity in the US to 3GW.
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The operational expansion marks the transition from the project phase to production at the Greenwood facility.
According to ES Foundry, this step meets growing demand for domestically manufactured solar cells and aims to strengthen the supply chain for US solar module manufacturers and developers.
ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu said: “This milestone is about execution. The US solar market does not need more announcements – it needs operating capacity, proven production and domestic suppliers that can support customers now.”
Production at Greenwood focuses on crystalline bifacial passivated emitter and rear contact solar cells, a technology suited to various applications, from utility-scale projects to distributed-generation systems.
The company points to its manufacturing platform’s emphasis on high-volume output, quality control, and the documentation required for projects prioritising domestic content and regulatory compliance.
ES Foundry’s expansion comes as US-based module manufacturing increases, but the supply of domestically made solar cells remains a key limitation.
This increased capacity helps reduce supply chain uncertainty and helps customers meet content strategies under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as compliance with Foreign Entities of Concern and other procurement standards.
ES Foundry Operations general manager Lionel Moss said: “Greenwood has been an outstanding partner as we have grown. We have already hired more than 400 people, and this expansion allows us to continue bringing jobs, investment and long-term economic value to the region.”
The Greenwood facility opened in January 2025. Since then, ES Foundry has increased its workforce, secured customer agreements and scaled operations to meet demand for US-made solar cells.
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8.7.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Globenewswire | Press release
Fluke Helps Solar Installers Take the Risk Out of Rooftop Panel Installation with New PV Module Lift
Fluke Helps Solar Installers Take the Risk Out of Rooftop Panel Installation with New PV Module Lift
Innovative lifting solution eliminates the need to carry solar panels up ladders, reducing installer fatigue and supporting OSHA ladder safety requirements
Eindhoven, Netherlands, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As rooftop solar installations continue to accelerate worldwide, Fluke Corporation is introducing a safer, simpler approach to moving photovoltaic (PV) modules onto roofs with the Fluke PV Module Lift™, a portable solution designed to reduce installer fatigue, improve productivity, and support Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ladder safety compliance.
For solar installers, getting panels safely onto a rooftop remains one of the most physically demanding and overlooked aspects of the job. Because OSHA requires workers to maintain three points of contact when climbing ladders, the current method of carrying solar modules by hand creates both safety and compliance challenges. The Fluke PV Module Lift addresses this issue by providing a simple, reliable method for lifting solar panels to rooftops with an existing extension ladder.
“Solar installers shouldn’t have to choose between productivity and safety,” said Will White, Senior Solar Product Manager at Fluke Corporation. “The Fluke Module Lift gives crews a simple, practical way to move solar modules onto rooftops while reducing physical strain, supporting OSHA ladder safety requirements, and eliminating the complexity, cost, and setup time associated with traditional powered hoists. It’s a solution that easily solves a challenge installers face every day.”
Unlike traditional ladder hoists – commonly adapted from the roofing industry – the Fluke Module Lift requires no gas engine, electrical power source, or bulky equipment. The compact system fits easily in a service vehicle, sets up quickly, and costs significantly less than many powered alternatives, making it an ideal solution for residential and light commercial solar installations.
The Module Lift’s patent module hook securely grips the frame of a solar panel to prevent lateral movement during lifting. Integrated ladder ramps help panels move smoothly over ladder transitions, while a built-in braking mechanism prevents the module from sliding back down the ladder if the lifting rope is released prematurely.
Key Benefits of the Fluke PV Module Lift™
For more information about the Fluke TMPV2 Module Lift, please visit  Fluke PV Module Lift.
About Fluke 
Founded in 1948, Fluke Corporation is the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools and software for measuring and condition monitoring. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, maintenance managers, and metrologists who install, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial, electrical, and electronic equipment and calibration processes.  
###
FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit the Fluke website. 
Q: What problem does the Fluke PV Module Lift solve?
A: The Fluke PV Module Lift eliminates the need for installers to carry solar panels up ladders, helping address a common safety, compliance, and fatigue challenge in rooftop solar installations.
Q: How does the Fluke PV Module Lift benefit solar installation crews?
A: The Fluke PV Module Lift helps crews work more safely and efficiently by reducing physical strain, supporting OSHA ladder safety requirements, and simplifying the process of moving panels to rooftops.
Q: What makes the Fluke PV Module Lift different from traditional ladder hoists?
A: Unlike many powered hoists, the Fluke PV Module Lift requires no electricity or fuel, sets up in less than five minutes, uses ladders installers already own, and provides a lightweight, cost-effective solution for residential and light commercial solar projects.
Attachments

Olivia Kline Fluke Corporation olivia.kline@fluke.com
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Fluke Corporation Launches PV Module Lift to Simplify and Safer Rooftop Solar Panel Installation  Quiver Quantitative
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German households are protecting themselves from the price shock of fossil fuels by combining their love for solar with battery storage systems.
Last year, Germany generated more electricity from wind and solar than any other EU member. According to energy think-tank Ember, this accounted for more than a quarter of the bloc’s total wind and solar generation.
Alongside its 182 offshore wind projects and Europe’s largest operational solar park – which features more than 500 hectares of panels across a former coal mine – the country is also a world leader in plug-in solar.
More than a million plug-in kits were installed in Germany between 2022 and 2025 following government incentives to provide households with feed-in tariffs. This allowed households to secure a fixed price for every unit of electricity they sell to the grid.
The elimination of VAT also lowered the price of plug-in panels, which can now be bought for as little as €200, triggering a nationwide boom.
Plug-in solar is a popular alternative to traditional rooftop panels, which can be hung over balconies without incurring costly installation costs. They’re often used in rented accommodation or in houses that are unsuitable for rooftop panels.
Experts say plug-in solar devices could cover up to two per cent of electricity demand by 2045, when Germany aims to have achieved climate neutrality.
However, Germany’s renewable boom is under threat due to Europe’s outdated grid – which is causing bottlenecks across the continent. A recent report from Ember warns that more than 120 GW of anticipated renewables are at risk if infrastructure isn’t significantly improved.
The country is also wasting a huge amount of solar energy due to generation outstripping demand on clear sunny days, which can make electricity prices turn negative.
Germany has already experienced a 50 per cent increase in sub-zero pricing compared to last year, as generators underbid each other to avoid being switched off (known as curtailment).
However, battery storage systems have been identified as the most effective way to tackle both of these issues.
As solar relies on sunlight to generate electricity, energy is only generated during the day. However, energy consumption tends to be lower during these hours, as many people are out of their homes due to work or school.
In the evening, when solar panels cannot generate electricity, demand for energy increases – as people return home.
Batteries can help level out Germany’s uneven supply and demand by storing solar energy produced in the day and allowing households to use it in the evening. This prevents day-time generation from being wasted and can help relieve strain on the grid.
“With grid expansion lagging renewable deployment, flexibility has emerged as the key enabler of further progress,” Solar Power Europe, a member-led trade association for the European solar sector, says.
According to clean-tech startup 1KOMMA5°, the storage capacity of batteries in Germany has increased from 21.8 gigawatt hours (GWh) to 29.83GWh since June 2025 – marking a 37 per cent increase.
To put that into perspective, 30GWh is enough to fully charge 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs).
Around three-quarters of Germany’s battery storage capacity (almost 22GWh) is accounted for by home storage systems – with the rest being used in large-scale storage systems.
“With the beginning of the Iran war and the subsequent price jumps for fossil fuels, interest in [energy] independence has risen again,” says Jannik Schall of 1KOMMA5°.
“If you want to protect yourself from the price shocks of the fossil fuel markets, you rely on the combination of control and storage. Consumers have recognised how useful and profitable batteries are, especially in combination with solar systems, heat pumps and EVs.”
Last year, the EU installed 27.1 GWh of new battery energy storage systems – marking 12 consecutive years of record growth.
According to a 2026 Solar Power Europe report, despite a tenfold expansion of the EU battery fleet since 2021, reaching more than 77 GWh today, Europe remains “far from where it needs to be”.


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CERC permits TP Saurya to sell infirm power from Rajasthan solar project  Business Standard
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On June 1, India's solar sector cleared a bar it set for itself years earlier. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's ALMM List-II mandate for solar PV cells became legally binding. Any government-linked solar project commissioned from that date must use cells from manufacturers on MNRE's approved list, or the paperwork will not go through. No subsidy. No net metering approval. In a tender, the contract can get thrown out. Most countries building out solar at scale do not have a rule this strict. India built one, and just tightened it further.

It did not happen overnight, which is part of the point. The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers framework dates back to 2019, when MNRE grew tired of substandard or misrepresented panels entering subsidized projects. List-I covered finished modules. List-II, the one that just became mandatory, pushes the same scrutiny down to cells, the components sitting one layer below the solar panel. Getting onto that list is not quick. A manufacturer needs Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification under IS 14086 first, followed by sample testing at a BIS lab, then a factory inspection. The whole process can run close to a year. India has been developing this system for six years. Most of the Asia Pacific region is still figuring out where to start.

Some developers lobbied MNRE earlier this year for a delay, citing limited domestic cell capacity. MNRE refused, and confirmed in late May that the deadline would not move. Not every part of the industry wanted an extension in the first place. "Frequent policy reversals undermine credibility and weaken investor confidence," said Avinash Hiranandani, vice chairman and president of RenewSys India, a domestic solar cell manufacturer, arguing against any postponement.

That gap is becoming visible. On May 26, the Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry opened public consultation on its own version of the same idea: mandatory PS Mark and ICC certification covering solar modules, battery storage, inverters, charge controllers, and cables. Sixty-day comment period, enforcement expected by early 2028. It is, in effect, the Philippines arriving at a conclusion India reached in 2019, with the same diagnosis and roughly seven years behind.

This is not a coincidence, and it is not specific to one country. Solar markets have seen incredible growth, and the supply chain has grown faster than anyone can keep up with. Price competition draws in components of wildly uneven quality. In the Philippines, Meralco has publicly pushed for firmer inverter standards after finding installers using equipment that does not meet international specifications, including anti-islanding protection that is supposed to stop a system from backfeeding electricity into the grid during an outage, a real safety risk to utility line workers. Eventually, a regulator notices gaps and has to write rules to close them. India ran that sequence early and is now updating the next layer of it. The Philippines is only beginning the first lap.

As solar markets become more mature, the difference between regulatory compliance and voluntary standards becomes more important.  Governments can set the minimum. Many commercial and industrial customers already evaluate contractors based on accreditation, engineering credentials and track record, and long term accountability well before any regulator gets involved..

What actually matters here, for anyone evaluating contractors or suppliers in Southeast Asia's solar market, is not which certification scheme applies or what it's called. It comes down to a simpler question: who was already operating at India's level of accountability before their own regulator caught up? Solaren Renewable Energy Solutions Corporation is a useful example. It is a commercial and industrial solar EPC in the Philippines that holds dual accreditation from the Philippine Department of Energy and the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, has completed more than 2,500 installations totaling over 100 megawatts, and was recognized with the Asian Power Award for Solar Power Project of the Year for the Philippines.

"Accreditation and credibility have mattered to us since we started this business, long before anyone made it a requirement," said Neil Pearce, Solaren's managing director. "The growth came because of that, not the other way around."

None of that was required by law. Solaren built it that way anyway, in a market that had not yet asked for it. That is close to the same standard ALMM now forces by law in India.

India got there first because it had to face the problem before its neighbors did. Component fraud and underperformance were costing Indian homeowners and developers real money for years before the MNRE built a framework to address them. The Philippines is a smaller, younger solar market, but it is several years behind on the regulatory side and still working out what its own version of that framework will require. The companies worth watching in the meantime are the ones that did not wait to be told.

The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and are not written and produced by Forbes India journalists.

First Published: Jul 08, 2026, 11:42
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Fluke’s new panel lift cuts the ladder carry for solar installers  Stock Titan
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As extreme heat returns to parts of the UK, here’s what really happens to your solar panels when temperatures climb
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With parts of the UK facing another spell of extreme heat, many solar panel owners will be watching their generation apps closely. Hot, bright weather can look like ideal conditions for home solar, especially if you’re running fans, air conditioning or other appliances during the day.
But while long summer days can help solar panels produce plenty of electricity, heat itself does not make panels work better. In fact, very high temperatures can slightly reduce the efficiency of the solar cells. The good news for most UK households is that this drop is usually modest, and a well-designed system can still perform strongly during a heatwave.
However, heatwave generation will still depend on cloud cover, roof orientation and local conditions. A hot but hazy or stormy afternoon may not produce as much electricity as a cooler, clearer day.
Use our comparison tool to get a range of free quotes from leading solar panel installers across the UK.
But solar panels don’t work better simply because it’s hotter. They need sunlight, not heat. In fact, very high temperatures can slightly reduce how efficiently panels convert sunlight into electricity.
For most UK households, though, this drop in efficiency is usually modest. Even during extreme heat, solar panels can still perform strongly, and evidence from Britain’s hottest day on record suggests that heatwaves can still deliver some of the year’s highest solar generation.
If you’re considering installing a system before the hottest months of the year, it’s worth comparing solar panel quotes from trusted UK installers so you can see how system size, panel type, battery storage and roof layout could affect your likely generation.
Modern solar panels are designed to operate across a wide temperature range. According to trade body Solar Energy UK, most panels are built to work from around -40C to 85C, but they generally perform best when the solar cells are closer to 25C or below.
That can feel counterintuitive. After all, the hottest days are often the sunniest. But solar panels don’t like heat in the same way humans do. Strong sunlight increases the electrical current a panel can generate, yet as the panel warms up, its voltage drops, and power is essentially current multiplied by voltage. In practice, that means bright sunshine can still deliver great generation, but higher panel temperatures shave a little off the top.
One important detail is that it’s the temperature of the solar cells inside the panel that matters most, not the headline temperature on the weather app.
Solar panels are rated in laboratory conditions (often called “standard test conditions”) at 25C. Out on a roof, panels can run significantly hotter than the surrounding air because they absorb solar radiation. While wind and airflow under the panels can cool them, on a still, sunny day it’s common for the panels themselves to be far warmer than the ambient temperature.
The impact of heat is usually described using a panel’s temperature coefficient – a number on the datasheet that indicates how much the panel’s power output falls as its temperature rises above 25C.
As a rule of thumb, for every degree above 25C, solar panels can lose around 0.34 to 0.5 percentage points of power output, depending on the model and the quality of the cells.
To see what that means in the real world, consider Britain’s all-time temperature record of 40.3C, set on 19 July 2022.
If you used the air temperature alone as a rough guide, the difference between 25C and 40.3C is 15.3C. On that basis, a good modern panel would be operating at roughly 5 per cent below its optimum rating.
In reality, panels can be hotter than the air temperature in full sun. But even at the top end of many manufacturers’ operating ranges – around 85C – the loss implied by typical temperature coefficients is still usually in the region of 20 per cent compared with the 25C test condition.
That sounds large, but it’s worth keeping in perspective. First, it’s a comparison to an ideal laboratory reference point. Second, it’s a “moment in time” penalty at a particular panel temperature, not a promise that your annual solar yield will fall by 20 per cent.
For most homeowners, the bigger financial question is how this annual generation compares with the upfront cost of solar panels, rather than what happens during one unusually hot afternoon.
You may also be able to reduce the upfront cost through solar panel grants and funding, including 0 per cent VAT, local schemes or support such as ECO4 if you meet the eligibility criteria.
If you notice your system output dropping more than the panel maths suggests on very hot days, it may not be the panels at all.
Solar systems rely on an inverter to convert the electricity generated by the panels (DC) into the form used in your home (AC). Inverters generate heat while they operate, and many are designed to protect themselves by reducing output if they get too hot, a behaviour sometimes described as thermal derating or throttling.
That’s one reason installers usually try to position inverters in a cool, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. Poor airflow around an inverter – or a unit installed in a hot loft space – can make a bigger difference during a heatwave than the panel temperature coefficient alone.
Britain’s record-breaking heat in July 2022 provides a useful real-world test.
According to estimates from Sheffield Solar’s PV Live modelling, cited by Solar Energy UK, solar generated 66.9GWh of electricity over the course of 19 July 2022, supplying around 8.6 per cent of the UK’s power needs that day. Over the previous seven days, solar had provided around 9 per cent.
In other words, even on the hottest day the UK has ever recorded, the national solar fleet still supplied a meaningful share of electricity, and the evidence suggests only a small drop-off in performance.
If you’re comparing solar panels – or just trying to understand your existing system – a few details can help. These are also useful details to check when comparing the best solar panels, because headline wattage is only one part of long-term performance.
Solar panels can still work well in a heatwave, but they do not become more efficient simply because it is hot. In fact, very high temperatures can slightly reduce panel efficiency because heat lowers voltage.
For most UK homes, however, this reduction is usually modest. Longer daylight hours and strong summer sunshine often mean solar panels still generate plenty of electricity overall, even if each panel operates a little less efficiently than it would on a cooler, brighter day.
That means a heatwave is not usually a cause for concern about your solar panels underperforming. The bigger lesson is that system design is key. Panels need good airflow, inverters should be kept out of extreme heat where possible, and homeowners should look at generation over days and weeks, rather than judging performance by a single hot afternoon.
As UK summers become hotter and heatwaves more common, understanding this balance will become more important. Solar panels need sunlight, not heat, but a well-designed system should still be able to make strong use of long, bright summer days.
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Thousands of new solar panels have been planned for a military base.
Wiltshire Council has approved plans for 3,582 panels at the MOD site in Lyneham, which were put forward by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The new panels will power the new technical training school and accommodation block, which is currently being built at the site.
According to Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council said it had no objection to the proposal, as long as concerns about flooding were applied.
The parish council said in their response that drainage channels were "required…to mitigate the risk of flooding."
Wiltshire Council's own drainage officer further reinforced this, stating surface water flooding needed to be mitigated during the construction phase and afterwards.
A drainage strategy request was subsequently submitted by the MoD.
Across Wiltshire, plans for solar panels have been poised for a variety of locations including the Stourhead, where the National Trust has submitted plans to put up about 300 solar panels within the estate.
Larger projects have proven controversial however, such as the Lime Down Solar Farm near Malmesbury.
The MoD has been contacted by the BBC for comment.
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SMA Solar Technology is a key player in solar inverters and energy management systems, supporting the expansion of photovoltaic capacity in Europe and beyond. For investors, the company’s positioning in grid integration and smart home solutions is central to its long-term story.
SMA Solar Technology (ISIN DE000A0DJ6J9) is a German specialist in solar power electronics and energy management solutions, focused on inverters and system technology for residential, commercial and utility scale photovoltaic installations. The company’s products help connect solar arrays to the grid, optimize energy flows and integrate storage, supporting the broader shift toward renewable power in Europe and other regions.
SMA Solar Technology develops and manufactures solar inverters that convert direct current from photovoltaic panels into alternating current suitable for household and grid use. In addition, the company offers system solutions that combine inverters, energy management software and monitoring services to improve the efficiency and reliability of solar installations. These offerings are used in rooftop systems for private homes, commercial buildings and large-scale solar parks.
The company’s business model is closely tied to the expansion of global photovoltaic capacity and the need for reliable grid integration of solar power. As more countries adopt climate and energy transition policies, demand for high quality inverters and grid support solutions increases. SMA Solar Technology focuses on technology development, long term product reliability and service capabilities to maintain a competitive position in this environment.
Operationally, SMA Solar Technology’s activities span research and development, manufacturing, sales and after sales service for its energy systems. The company works with installation partners and distributors to bring its products to end users, while also providing digital platforms for system monitoring and performance analysis. This combination of hardware and software is designed to create recurring service relationships alongside equipment sales.
From a strategic perspective, the company seeks to address several major trends in the energy sector. These include the growth of decentralized power generation, the rising importance of energy storage, increasing digitalization of energy systems and the need to stabilize power grids with higher shares of intermittent renewables. SMA Solar Technology positions its solutions as a way to support these developments, particularly through intelligent inverters and energy management systems that can communicate with other components in a smart grid.
For more background on SMA Solar Technology and its investor information, company filings and presentations provide additional details on strategy, markets and products.
One representative category in SMA Solar Technology’s portfolio is its residential solar inverter and home energy management solutions. These devices are designed to work with rooftop photovoltaic systems, connecting solar panels to household electrical systems and the public grid. They often form the core of a system that can include battery storage, electric vehicle charging and smart home applications.
SMA Solar Technology is listed in Germany, where its shares trade on the local exchange in euros. The company is part of the broader renewable energy and electrical equipment segment, which attracts interest from investors focused on the energy transition. Official market data and quote services provide current share prices, trading volumes and market capitalization figures for SMA Solar Technology based on the latest trading session.
This article was generated automatically and technically reviewed before publication. Market prices, analyst data and company information are provided without warranty and may change at short notice. This content is for informational purposes only and is not investment, financial, legal or tax advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investing in securities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

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Energy storage and integrated solutions emerged as recurring themes across the exhibition, reflecting the industry’s changing priorities  
Manufacturers focused on improving existing technologies, while BC modules emerged as the next big trend; HJT had a much lower profile 
Manufacturers focused on improving existing solar technologies and expanding products for different applications rather than introducing disruptive innovations 
Chinese manufacturers dominated across solar and storage, while Indian companies showcased their growing manufacturing capabilities and export ambitions
The intensity of activity at Intersolar Europe 2026 – part of the annual The smarter E trade show – was so high that it matched the soaring temperatures outside Messe München. As thousands of visitors thronged the event over 3 days, one message stood out clearly: energy storage is just as important as solar.  
Doing the rounds of the trade show floor, Team TaiyangNews found that battery energy storage systems (BESS) dominated the exhibition, with almost every major company showcasing solutions for utility-scale and commercial and industrial (C&I) applications. In the residential space, plug-and-play and focused products highlighted the booths. 
Integrated Solutions Become the Norm 
The exhibition also reflected a broader industry shift. Companies are no longer positioning themselves as module, inverter, or battery suppliers alone. Instead, they are offering complete energy solutions that combine solar modules, battery storage, inverters, energy management systems (EMS), EV charging, and software on a single platform. 
The message was clear: customers are increasingly looking for integrated solutions rather than individual products, while companies are diversifying their portfolios rather than sticking only to solar in these times of tough competition. 
China-based manufacturers continued to dominate the exhibition floor with some of the largest booths and the widest product portfolios. Beyond solar modules, they showcased batteries, inverters, smart energy management platforms, and complete integrated solutions, reinforcing China’s leadership across the clean energy supply chain.  
BC Gains Ground as TOPCon Stays Strong 
On the solar side, the focus was less on breakthrough technologies and more on improving products already in commercial production. TOPCon remained the dominant cell technology, with manufacturers introducing upgraded modules offering higher efficiencies, better bifaciality, and improved overall performance through edge passivation and multi-cut cell designs, among others. 
Companies including JinkoSolar, JA, Trinasolar and Astronergy displayed their latest TOPCon products, showing there is still room to improve the technology. 
At the same time, back contact (BC) technology gained significant momentum. Companies such as AIKO and LONGi showcased high-efficiency BC modules designed to deliver higher energy output and improved performance. While TOPCon continues to lead global shipments, BC is increasingly emerging as the premium technology for applications where maximum efficiency is a priority. 
In contrast, there were relatively fewer heterojunction (HJT) product launches compared with TOPCon and BC at this year’s event. 
Beyond modules and storage, exhibitors also highlighted emerging applications such as floating solar and agrivoltaics for reservoirs, farmland and other space-constrained locations. 
The smarter E AWARD winners further underscored the direction the industry is taking. The recognized technologies and projects highlighted advances in solar PV, battery storage, virtual power plants (VPPs), green hydrogen, and smart energy management.  
As the focus country at this year’s Intersolar Europe, India had a visible presence on the exhibition floor. Manufacturers including Waaree, Premier Energies, Vikram Solar, Saatvik Green Energy, and Goldi Solar were among the exhibitors. Many said Europe remains an important market as they look to expand exports and strengthen manufacturing and technology partnerships. 
Despite the optimism on the show floor, several exhibitors acknowledged that the industry’s financial challenges are far from over. A representative from a Tier II solar PV manufacturer said companies may have to ‘wait, watch and sit tight’ over the next 12 to 18 months, with a meaningful recovery expected only expected in the latter half of 2027 or into 2028. While Tier I manufacturers are expected to weather the downturn better, he added, many Tier II and Tier III players could continue to face intense pricing pressure and consolidation. 
To summarize, if there was one defining takeaway from Intersolar Europe 2026, it was that the industry is moving beyond standalone solar products. Storage has become central to future projects, integrated energy solutions are replacing individual hardware offerings, and solar technology continues to evolve through higher efficiencies and better performance. Together, these trends signal the next phase of growth for the global clean energy industry. 
TaiyangNews covered Intersolar Europe 2026 with real-time updates in a live blog, straight from the trade show. 
TaiyangNews will be conducting a recap of the latest products at SNEC and Intersolar Europe 2026 in a 2-day Global PV System Technology Trends H1/2026 Conference on July 8 and 15. Registrations for this virtual event are free and can be done here. 
TaiyangNews 2024

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India must develop solar storage to avoid peak shortages and grid challenge: EAC-PM  Open Magazine
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