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The project spans the Caliraya and Lewin villages in Lumban; West Talaongan, East Talaongan, Inao-Awan, Mahipon-Lumot, Tibatib and Paowin villages in Cavinti; and San Antonio and San Juan villages in Kalayaan, all in Laguna Province. The point-to-point transmission facility is estimated to cost Ps1.379bn (US$22.32m).
NKS Solar One, a joint venture between Blueleaf Energy Philippines and NKS Energy Utilities, plans to develop a 250MW floating solar project in Lake Caliraya and Lake Lumot in Laguna.
The company plans to develop the solar plant in phases, the first of which involves a 162MW Caliraya scheme and phase 2 is an 88MW Lumot project. Construction is targeted to commence in the fourth quarter and the project is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2026. They also intend to develop and operate a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facility to connect the solar farm to the Luzon grid. 
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By Sethuraman N R and Colleen Howe
Indian makers of solar panels are being forced to shut factories as they face waits stretching up to eight months for domestic components to replace Chinese imports as the government pushes to beef up domestic manufacturing, industry sources say.
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Plans for solar farm substation submitted – but campaigners think they’ve got a ‘strong case’  LincolnshireWorld
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Editor | Quantity Surveyor
Researchers have redesigned solar panel structure around the geometry of a bee honeycomb, aiming to fix a long-standing flaw in how conventional panels handle sunlight that hits them at an angle. The work was published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.
Traditional solar panels are flat, which limits how efficiently they capture light outside of solar noon. As the sun moves across the sky, its rays strike a flat panel more obliquely, and much of that light simply reflects off the glass surface and is lost rather than absorbed.
To address that, researchers built a concave, three-dimensional module using tetrahedron-shaped units arranged into a honeycomb lattice, echoing the same hexagonal cell pattern bees use to build hives with minimal material and maximum strength. The tilted cell walls create angled surfaces that recapture light a flat panel would otherwise reflect away.
According to the study, the honeycomb-structured modules delivered 28 percent greater power output than flat photovoltaic cells of the same size, without requiring any moving parts or expensive solar-tracking motors to follow the sun’s position through the day.
The structure also behaves as a mechanical metamaterial, giving it shock-absorbing properties and enough flexibility to be mounted on curved surfaces rather than only flat rooftops. Researchers say that flexibility could open the technology to uses beyond conventional solar installations, including curved building facades, vehicle surfaces and aerospace equipment.
The underlying principle borrows directly from how bees construct comb. Honeycomb cells use the least amount of wax needed to enclose a given volume while remaining structurally strong, a geometric efficiency that has previously informed lightweight panel designs in aviation, packaging and acoustic engineering.
Applying that same hexagonal logic at solar-cell scale represents a shift from treating solar panels purely as flat electrical components toward treating their physical structure as part of the engineering problem, alongside the materials used to build the underlying photovoltaic cells themselves.
The approach remains at the research stage, and further work would be needed to test durability, manufacturing costs and performance at commercial scale before honeycomb-structured panels could compete with conventional flat panel installations.
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Overcapacity remains a major challenge, according to CRU, while TOPCon 3.0 and advanced metallization are expected to lead near-term innovation
LONGi and TCL Solar advanced BC technology through improved wafers, busbarless metallization, hidden busbars, and full-screen module designs, with LONGi additionally incorporating its Advanced Contact Matrix and integrated conductive backsheet
Trinasolar promoted an integrated solution combining high-efficiency modules, intelligent tracking and storage to shift PV generation toward higher-value hours
JinkoSolar’s field data showed TOPCon outperforming BC references through higher bifaciality and stronger temperature performance, while Tongwei combined rear poly-fingers and advanced cell metallization with quarter-cut cells and an overlapping module layout
AESOLAR’s ShadeStar module maintains higher generation under partial shading while reducing hotspot temperatures and associated safety risks
The TaiyangNews Global PV System Technology Trends H1 2026 Conference, held following SNEC and Intersolar Europe 2026, brought together leading solar and storage companies to examine the technologies and products that stood out at these major exhibitions. Though the solar industry as a whole is going through tough times, the segment has not taken a back seat in terms of innovation. The sheer amount of innovations and product introductions at these events necessitated that we split the conference into two days – July 8^th & 15^th. An article summarizing Day 1 of the conference has already been published on our website. In this article, we present a summary of Day 2.
Day 2 opened with Shravan Chunduri, Head of Technology at TaiyangNews, providing a brief recap of Day 1 of the conference, followed by the key findings of the latest TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES Analysis report. Based on data collected over the past 30 months, the report highlights two major technologies that achieve benchmark efficiencies in commercial modules. In April, LONGi and AIKO – two strong representatives of the back-contact (BC) segment – provided proof of commercialization for their BC modules offering 25% efficiency. In the same month, TOPCon surpassed the 24% threshold with JA’s commercial module reaching 24.1%. Heterojunction (HJT) retained its position as a power leader, with Risen’s product rated at 740 W.
Overcapacity Clouds PV Outlook, with TOPCon 3.0 to Dominate
During his keynote, Alex Barrows, Head of PV at market research firm CRU, presented the global solar sector across four areas: markets, costs and prices, technology, and product quality. Barrows noted that while a few segments of the market, such as Europe’s residential sector, which is growing strongly, are showing signs of recovery, the overall global PV downturn driven by China is continuing. He also emphasized that the mid-term growth projection is in question amid China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which might slow progress toward 2028 and cast doubt on achieving TW-scale annual installations by 2030. However, regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and some Asian markets present potential upside.
Regarding the long-term overcapacity problem, recent mergers and acquisitions have prevented the retirement of considerable capacity from the market, suggesting the overcapacity situation is expected to persist. China’s polysilicon capacity, for example, is estimated at around 3 times market demand. While some companies expect profitability to recover in the second half of 2026, others continue to accept losses.
As a countermeasure, the companies are increasingly diversifying into related areas, mainly storage, while a few have also ventured into power electronics. Prices rose during the first half due to higher material costs for aluminum, silver, and encapsulant, mainly driven by geopolitical disruptions. On policy grounds, China’s withdrawal of export VAT rebate also pushed prices up. All these factors, including the degree of tax enforcement against below-cost pricing, will influence market dynamics, according to Barrows.
In terms of trade, Chinese cell and module exports increased 12% year-on-year during the first 5 months of 2026, although CRU expects the country’s overall export sector to dip by around 5% for the year. India’s cell-level ALMM requirements are a key contributor to this downward trend. Specific to the US cell import market, Africa is gaining traction, with cell capacity additions in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia. However, the supply of Chinese wafers to these cell fabs may pose a risk of anti-circumvention restrictions. In this context, the Philippines, with its rising cell exports to the US, is likely to be the next target for AD/CVD investigation, according to Barrow.
CRU expects TOPCon 3.0 to dominate the near term, supported by poly-finger structures, edge passivation, multi-cut cells, and overlapping layouts. Barrows was more cautious about BC, whose costs may only reach parity with TOPCon between 2028 and 2030. The two technologies are therefore likely to coexist with increasingly similar efficiencies. And perovskite-silicon tandems are expected to become commercially significant only in the early 2030s.
Continued price pressure is creating serious reliability concerns, particularly delamination and encapsulation failures observed in field testing. Yet many buyers remain unwilling to pay a premium for higher-quality modules. Barrows also highlighted trade risks related to emerging cell supply from Africa and the Philippines, particularly where Chinese wafers could trigger US anti-circumvention or antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
LONGi Advances BC Technology Through Cell, Module, and Materials Innovation
LONGi, a strong proponent of BC technology, presented the latest technical advancements in its BC product range. According to Senior Product Solution Manager Barry Chen, LONGi’s HIBC technology has achieved 28.13% cell-level efficiency. Incidentally, LONGi also announced a new world record efficiency for a perovskite-silicon tandem cell of 35.5% just one day prior to Chen’s presentation at the TaiyangNews event.
On the commercial front, one of the key innovations adopted by the company’s BC platform is its patented Advanced Contact Matrix metallization, which addresses rising silver costs and reliability risks associated with increasingly thin fingers. Its 2-layer alloy structure combines a narrow cell-contact and barrier layer topped with a wider, highly conductive current-carrying layer.
The company’s latest BC technology suite also features an innovative approach to interconnection. While not brand new, LONGi employs an integrated backsheet. According to Chen, it is a 3-in-1 technology with a conventional backsheet on the cell side, and an encapsulation film in the middle, with an intermittent conducting foil layer on top of it. This multilayer structure, mimicking high-WVTR backsheets consisting of metal foils, also serves as a highly effective moisture barrier. However, the solution is only applicable to monofacial modules with an overall power gain of about 3 to 5 W.
This latest product platform, branded Hi-MO X10, also carries forward the advanced features of the Hi-MO 9 Prime series, including a full-screen design enabled by the gapless cell layout and hidden busbars. Emphasizing the growing acceptance of LONGi’s BC technology, Chen noted that following 6 GW of BC module shipments in 2023, LONGi expects volumes to reach close to 100 GW by the end of 2026. 
Chen’s presentation also included a summary of LONGi’s progress across other sections of PV. These include TaiRay wafers, RCZ wafer technology, diamond-wire cutting, and perovskite-silicon tandems. Beyond PV, LONGi is expanding into battery storage, green hydrogen, and green methanol. Its BESS portfolio covers distributed generation, C&I, and utility applications, supported by in-house battery and energy management systems. The company’s storage shipment capacity currently stands at up to 13 GWh and is expected to rise to 31 GWh by 2028, with a longer-term target of 100 GWh.
Trinasolar Combines High-Efficiency Modules, Intelligent Tracking, and Storage
Flexibility is becoming a central theme in Europe’s energy transition as rising renewable penetration leads to more frequent curtailment and negative electricity prices. Addressing these imbalances requires solutions that shift generation and consumption across periods rather than relying solely on costly, time-consuming grid expansion. Adele Zhao, Head of Marketing, Product and Technical Service for Europe and Latin America at Trinasolar, presented the company’s approach combining high-efficiency PV modules, intelligent tracking, and battery storage. Citing IEA data, she noted that the incidence of negative electricity prices increased across Europe between 2024 and 2025, strengthening the case for rapidly deployable battery storage and more flexible PV system designs.
Discussing a UK case study, Zhao showed how a 1P tracker, by following the Sun from east to west, can broaden the solar generation profile into the morning and evening periods when electricity tariffs are higher. Compared with fixed-tilt systems, this can enable more electricity to be sold during peak-price hours. Trinasolar’s SuperTracker uses hardware, software, and smart algorithms to optimize tracking and bifacial gains under changing weather, terrain, and low-light conditions. For hilly sites, the Vanguard 1P Terrain+ tracker incorporates terrain-following capability, while independent rack control helps prevent row-to-row shading.
At the module level, Trinasolar showcased its upgraded Vertex G3 series for European rooftops. For utility projects, the company is promoting two modules: Vertex N G3 NEG19RC.20Q with a 670 W power rating and NEG21RC.20Q with 760 W. These modules feature an overlapping gapless design, an inter-cell adhesive buffer layer, and quarter-cut cells. An important advancement in this latest generation of modules is a reduction in the power temperature coefficient to 0.26%. The spec for annual degradation is also lower at 0.35% per year, including the first year, which is typically rated at 1%.
Completing the integrated offering, Trinasolar presented its Elementa 3 DC storage system combined with the Electra 13.8 AC conversion platform. The utility-scale solution provides 13.8 MW/50 MWh of capacity and incorporates 587 Ah cells, power conversion, and liquid-cooling and fire-safety systems.
JinkoSolar’s Field Data Highlights TOPCon’s Energy-Yield Advantage
Long-term field performance is becoming increasingly important, as it reflects how well the STC performance attributes translate into ground reality under real operating conditions. Presenting data from multiple test sites in China, JinkoSolar Senior Manager of PV Solutions Senbo Yan highlighted the performance of TOPCon modules compared with IBC products. His presentation first summarized the officially released field test data by SPIC from the Daqing test base in northeastern China.
The 182 mm cell-based TOPCon modules were monitored for approximately 1,300 days between 2022 and 2025. The location has an average annual irradiance of 900-1,000 W/m². According to Yan, TOPCon modules delivered an average power-generation advantage of 2.27%/W over BC modules. Higher bifaciality was identified as a key contributor, with TOPCon modules achieving 74% bifaciality, compared with 64% for the BC modules. Under 900 W/m² front-side irradiance and an ambient temperature of 25°C, the higher rear-side contribution helped TOPCon achieve a power gain of up to 2.63%. The data also indicated that the yield advantage increased with higher ambient temperatures, reaching up to 3.54% across the evaluated temperature intervals. A second test at Daqing during 2025 showed a 0.75% gain in power output per watt (kWh/kW) for TOPCon. In this comparison, TOPCon bifaciality ranged from 77% to 80%, compared with BC’s 72%.
Yan’s presentation also included field performance data from Wuwei in Gansu province, where annual irradiance reaches approximately 1,600 W/m² and module surface temperatures reach 60°C. The presented data indicated that the company’s TOPCon modules generated up to 1.28% more power per watt than the reference BC modules over a month.
Tongwei’s TNC 3.0 Includes Collective Improvements at Cell and Module Levels
High cell efficiency and nameplate power do not necessarily reflect in corresponding module or field performance. The reasons? Mismatch in optical, electrical, and thermal attributes, emphasized Jason Yang, Product Marketing Manager at Tongwei. Even record-performing cells experience power losses when interconnected and encapsulated into modules. Hotspots, microcracks, and degradations prevent high-power products from realizing power yields.
Tongwei has developed an upgraded platform, TNC 3.0, that combines improvements at both the cell and module levels to address these gaps.
At the cell level, TNC 3.0 uses what Tongwei calls a 360° passivated high-efficiency cell. The key features include passivation optimization of the front, rear, and edges, as well as metallization. The most prominent one is the adoption of a rear-polyfinger structure. According to Yang, the resulting cell reaches 26.3% efficiency, compared with approximately 25.5% for a conventional TOPCon cell. A 210 mm TNC 3.0 cell produces 11.6 W, representing a claimed gain of 0.4 W.
Module-level improvements begin with a quarter-cut cell design. Tongwei says this reduces electrical losses to around one-quarter of those associated with conventional half-cut cells, contributing approximately 4 W of additional module power. The company also employs a high-density layout based on what it calls louvered interconnection, which is essentially an overlapping layout that adds another 5 W by increasing the active cell area within the module.
Yang presented 2 products based on the platform. The G12-66 module reaches 770 W with an efficiency of 24.8%, while the G12R-66 offers up to 670 W at the same efficiency.
Tongwei also highlighted the value proposition of its latest product range in terms of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). According to Yang, the key attribute is a module bifaciality of up to 90%, which can improve overall energy yield by about 1.2%, potentially translating into a similar increase in project revenue. Yang also highlighted Tongwei’s fully integrated manufacturing value chain and world-class facilities, including a ‘lighthouse factory’ that employs AI, big data analytics, and closed-loop process control to improve efficiency, quality, traceability, and manufacturing costs.
TCL Solar Advances BC Technology From Wafer To Module
TCL Solar is bringing one of the solar industry’s longest-standing BC technology legacies into a new generation of products. Through TCL Zhonghuan’s controlling position in Maxeon / Sunpower, the group now possesses BC know-how developed over several decades. The technology portfolio comprises more than 1,600 patents, concentrated mainly in the US and Europe. The validity period of these patents mainly covers the 2030-2037 timeframe, providing a long-term, predictable window for technology use, as Xiao Geng, Deputy Chief Engineer of Product Planning at TCL Solar, underscores.
The company’s BC development also builds on TCL Zhonghuan’s established wafer expertise with cumulative wafer shipments surpassing 300 GW. According to Geng, the wafers offer minority-carrier lifetimes of up to 10,000 µs and tightly controlled oxygen content. At the cell level, TCL’s BC architecture employs submicron texturing to limit reflectance to below 9.5%. Half-cut wafers and busbarless metallization are claimed to deliver a 5 W power gain over conventional BC cells. Its Pattern OPT process uses new lithography-based patterning to avoid thermal damage from laser patterning and enhance module reliability. The electrode pattern OPT is also said to enhance the low-light coefficient to above 95% under comparable test conditions.
TCL Solar’s C2 series module features a full-screen design with hidden busbars. This facilitates another claimed 5-10 W power gain. Among the products presented, the bifacial G12R-66P reaches 680 W, while the 197-54P monofacial, dual-glass residential module delivers up to 505 W.
AESOLAR’s ShadeStar Targets Rooftop Shading and Hotspot Risks
Shading remains a significant but often underestimated challenge for rooftop PV systems. Hamed Hanifi, Director of Technology and Innovation at AESOLAR, noted that rooftop installations account for as much as 60% of Europe’s PV capacity. Even when cables, chimneys, antennas, or trees shade only around 5% of a module’s active area, the effect can range from a disproportionate power loss to complete module shutdown. Persistent localized shading can also create hotspots, potentially increasing fire risk.
Hanifi explained that an illuminated solar cell operates under forward bias, whereas a shaded cell can become reverse-biased and behave as an electrical load until it reaches the breakdown voltage. The response varies considerably among PERC, TOPCon, and BC technologies, influencing both energy loss and hotspot behavior.
AESOLAR began addressing this issue with its Shade-Free module in 2018, which incorporated 63 bypass diodes. Its latest development, showcased at Intersolar Europe, is the patented ShadeStar module based on segmented-cell technology.
The new module uses 80 G12 half-cut TOPCon cells and delivers up to 440 W of power, with an efficiency of 22.04%. It is backed by product and performance warranties of up to 30 years.
Hanifi presented the comparative results from indoor shade testing of ShadeStar modules benchmarked against TOPCon and BC butterfly-layout modules across several shading scenarios at Fraunhofer CSP. Shading tests were conducted in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions in 9 different possible scenarios. While BC outperformed TOPCon in all cases, ShadeStar outperformed BC modules. Both the reference modules are based on a butterfly design.  . Hanifi also presented the evaluation of active and passive diodes, with active diodes found to be advantageous, operating at a lower temperature of up to 30°C.
According to the company, ShadeStar is a module-level advancement that depends on the cell level. Applying the ShadeStar design to BC modules would result in a PV panel that never sleeps during the day due to shading, said Hanifi in his closing remarks.
Risen Attains Cost Parity with HJT with Low Silver Metallization
The sole representation for HJT technology at the conference was from Risen Energy. The company’s CTO, Po-Chuan Yang, presented its progress in HJT, emphasizing not only higher efficiency and module power but also reductions in material consumption and emissions. It claims to have shipped 12 GW of HJT products to more than 80 countries.
Risen’s HJT platform combines G12-format ultrathin wafers, 0BB metallization, reduced silver consumption, and low-stress cell interconnection. According to the company, its n-type, single-junction HJT cell has reached 27.03% efficiency, while its HJT tandem cell has achieved 31.95%.
The company claims to have reduced the silver content in its metallization paste from 60% to 15%, and to have less than 10% silver content in its printed seed-grid process. At this level of silver consumption, Risen’s HJT technology is comparable in costs with TOPCon, according to Yang. He added that Risen is also developing a silver-free metallization process in collaboration with Swiss research institute CSEM.
At the wafer level, Yang says that wafer thinning is an important part of Risen’s cost and carbon-reduction strategy. The company has mass-produced wafers with thicknesses ranging from 100 µm to 110 µm, resulting in finished cells of approximately 95 µm. According to Yang, Risen also has the capability to develop cells thinner than 70 µm. The company is further working with the University of New South Wales on ultra-low-emission PV products based on thinner wafers.
At the module level, Risen’s Hyper-ion Pro series provides power outputs ranging from 720 W to 745 W and reaches efficiencies of up to 24.0%. The products are rated at 90% bifaciality. Looking ahead, Risen is targeting 760 W HJT modules in 2026 to 2027, followed by HJT tandem modules exceeding 850 W in 2028.
Panel: Storage, Advanced Cells, and Application-Specific Modules Lead Product Trends
The panel discussion brought together Alex Barrows of CRU, Adele Zhao of Trinasolar, Hamed Hanifi of AESOLAR, and Xiao Geng of TCL Solar to assess the major trends emerging from SNEC and Intersolar Europe 2026.
Responding to a common question on the three most important developments, the panelists broadly agreed on the growing prominence of energy storage, the continued evolution of TOPCon and BC technologies, and the expansion of application-specific products. System integration – from PV and storage to intelligent home energy systems – was another recurring theme. Moderator Shravan Chunduri added that space PV and cable-based mounting systems are also emerging areas to watch. Barrows identified TOPCon 3.0, particularly rear poly-finger structures and advanced metallization, as one of the most commercially relevant developments. He expects further innovation in silver-copper and copper overprinting, while cautioning that supply of application-specific modules does not always correspond with actual market demand. Zhao emphasized that module performance should not be judged by STC efficiency alone. That’s because factors such as bifaciality, low-light behavior, system costs, and long-term reliability are equally important in determining project value. She also highlighted that integrated solutions tailored to specific project needs are gaining traction.
Hanifi argued that crystalline silicon is approaching its theoretical efficiency limit and that TOPCon and BC will coexist until tandem products reach commercial maturity. In the meantime, reducing cell-to-module losses and assessing products through LCOE offer more meaningful measures of value than nameplate power alone. Geng similarly described efficiency as the foundation rather than the complete value proposition. Future differentiation, he said, will depend on matching modules to customer requirements by improving contacts, spacing, frames, glass, and resistance to wind, hail, and other site-specific conditions. Looking ahead, the panel expects metallization and silver substitution to remain prominent at next year’s exhibitions.
TaiyangNews 2024

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Darrell Proctor
A California-based solar power equipment group said it has signed two separate five-year, 5-GW commercialization partnerships with a pair of India’s leading solar module manufacturers.
Caelux Corp. on July 23 said Rayzon Solar and Navitas Solar will integrate Caelux’s energy-producing solar glass with those companies’ TOPCon solar module technology. The announcements come on the heels of Caelux-Solx five-year, 3-GW partnership announced in April. Caelux on Thursday said the new deals provide a strong market signal for the direction of perovskite technology in the solar energy sector.
“We are pleased to partner with Navitas Solar, a true visionary dedicated to scaling this important energy technology in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy markets,” said Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, which is headquartered in Baldwin Park, east of Los Angeles. “By integrating our technology into its module, Navitas Solar is taking the lead in India’s ambitious clean energy goals, both in terms of domestic production and deployment. Together, we aim to deliver advanced solar solutions that support India’s clean energy transition while strengthening its domestic manufacturing capabilities.”
The Caelux-Navitas partnership is designed for delivery of ultra-high efficiency solar modules that combine both perovskite and silicon solar layers. The agreement will couple Caelux’s energy-producing glass tech with Navitas’ N-Type TOPCon solar technology, creating Hybrid Tandem modules with efficiencies of up to 28%.
Aaron Thurlow, chief commercial officer at Caelux, told POWER, “We are honored to partner with these two market-leading India-based solar module manufacturers on multi-gigawatt scale production agreements. Building on our partnership with Solx in the U.S., these deals further strengthen Caelux’s leadership position globally in bringing perovskite technology to market at scale. Just as importantly, these agreements send a powerful market signal that perovskite technology has moved beyond promise to commercial reality.”

Caelux in the deal with Rayzon Solar will integrate its energy-producing solar glass with Rayzon’s advanced TOPCon modules. The companies said their collaboration will support the “Make in India” vision of the Indian government through local manufacturing, and enable next-generation perovskite-plus-silicon modules with efficiencies of as much as 28%.
India recently reached more than 150 GW of installed solar power making it the third-largest country in terms of deployed solar. Officials have said that to continue this trajectory, and achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 (with solar as the primary driver), the country needs to install 350 GW of renewables in less than four years. The technology combination from this deal is expected to significantly improve the power density compared to silicon-only modules. The new module with the companies’ combined technology should accelerate the deployment rate for solar power.
“As India enters the next phase of its renewable energy journey, the focus must extend beyond capacity expansion to manufacturing globally competitive, high-efficiency technologies within the country,” said Ankit Singhania, co-founder and director for Navitas Solar. “Our partnership with Caelux marks an important milestone in that journey. By combining our manufacturing expertise with Caelux’s pioneering perovskite technology, we are creating one of India’s earliest pathways for large-scale production of Hybrid Tandem solar modules. Crucially, this leap in world-class technology and scale will serve as a powerful engine to fuel the Government of India’s ambitious vision of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to innovation, market leadership, and self-reliance.”
The companies on Thursday said they want to have commercial production available by 2028.
“Navitas Solar is living proof that India’s energy transition will be won by coupling advanced technology with Indian supply chains, and Indian jobs,” said Vish Iyer, managing director, India & West Asia, for Caelux. “By integrating Caelux’s energy producing glass to create high-efficiency modules, Navitas is helping India leap forward towards its clean energy goals.”
Navitas, founded in 2013, is headquartered in Surat, Gujarat, India. The company specializes in Mono PERC and high-efficiency N-Type TOPCon solar modules.
Rayzon Solar said it will leverage its 11.3-GW large-scale bifacial manufacturing platform as part of the agreement with Caelux. Rayzon Solar will overlay Caelux’s energy-producing glass on its TOPCon technology to produce the highest power density modules available, according to the company.
“We are dedicated to fulfilling India’s vision of establishing world-class, high-quality solar manufacturing at scale,” said Chirag Nakrani, co-founder and managing director, Rayzon Solar Limited. “By partnering with Caelux, we are furthering our technology leadership and strengthening India’s position at the forefront of next-generation solar manufacturing.”
“As India is one of the top solar manufacturing countries in the world, it is a strategic destination for us. This partnership is a critical step in Caelux’s growth trajectory as we look to scale our technology globally,” said Graybeal. “We are honored to partner with Rayzon Solar, an award-winning and globally-respected solar module manufacturer.”
The companies are currently collaborating on early deployments, and commercial volumes are expected to be available by 2028 and eligible for India’s government-tendered utility market.
India is experiencing dramatic growth in both solar deployment and manufacturing due to the Production Linked Incentives Schemes from India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, combined with the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) listing requirements.
“This partnership accelerates our capability to domestically manufacture at the efficiency frontier and at the scale India needs to meet its ambitious clean energy goals of 500 GW by 2030,” said Amit Barve, CEO of Rayzon Solar.
Rayzon Solar said its ALMM-listed manufacturing platform provides the scale needed to commercialize the next-generation modules. The company has facilities in Kim and Kosamba, Surat.
“Having spent my career supporting both downstream project development and solar manufacturing, I am excited about the massive impact that this partnership will have for the Indian solar market,” said Iyer.
Caelux is considered a global leader in perovskite (an advanced crystalline structure that converts sunlight into electricity) solar technology  development and manufacturing. The company’s technology transforms the top glass of solar modules into a second power generation layer, increasing energy density by up to 30% and improving LCOEs (levelized cost of electricity) by 20% or more.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
Modern process industries are experiencing fluctuating market conditions and tight operational margins, leading chemical engineers to rely on real-time data to boost efficiency and reduce costs. Yet, many organizations are at different stages in their digital transformation journey. Some are just starting, while others are looking to optimize existing solutions. This webinar explores practical ways […]
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Solar panels could save South African municipalities R10 billion a year  MyBroadband
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China to boost wind and solar generation by more than 50% in five years  Reuters
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Italian court overturns Sardinia freeze on permits for renewable energy projects  Reuters
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A powerful hail storm swept across Italy’s Marche region this week, bringing intense thunderstorms, damaging winds, and severe weather conditions along the Adriatic coast. Large hailstones battered parts of the region, causing damage to vehicles, crops, and property while leaving communities facing a difficult cleanup.
Photovoltaic systems have also been affected by the severe weather. “In the 15 years we have been managing PV systems, hail damage has been extremely rare. However, over the past two or three years, these incidents have increased significantly. This summer alone, we have already recorded a second event in the Marche region that has destroyed solar installations,” Michele Mencarelli, the Marche regional representative for Italian PV association Italia Solare, told pv magazine Italia.
Mencarelli explained that these hail events are typically highly localized, affecting specific areas while leaving nearby locations untouched. “Of the approximately 200 systems we manage, only one was damaged in this event, with losses estimated at around €80,000 to €90,000. In early June, a similar storm caused comparable damage to two systems in Monteroberto, near Jesi. A PV system located just a few hundred meters away was unaffected, while the two impacted installations were destroyed.”
Regarding the PV system near San Benedetto del Tronto, Mencarelli said the project benefits from coverage under an “all-risk” insurance policy because it was developed under Italy’s Conto Energia incentive scheme.
“The client has already filed an insurance claim. Companies are now also required to obtain catastrophe insurance, but based on my experience, many insurance policies exclude photovoltaic systems and instead refer customers to dedicated PV insurance coverage,” he added. “The issue mainly concerns newer, non-subsidized installations, where not all owners choose to purchase this type of protection.”
The damage is particularly significant considering that the modules installed at the site are certified for mechanical resistance. “They had always withstood hail events in the past, but weather phenomena have recently become much more intense,” Mencarelli said.
With the frequency of extreme weather events increasing, Mencarelli recommends that PV system owners consider dedicated insurance coverage to mitigate potential losses.
Other media reports and social media posts have also highlighted additional PV systems damaged by the hail storm.
No information is currently available on the size of the hailstones. However, a recent study found that PV installations consistently sustain damage when exposed to hailstones measuring 60 mm or more in diameter, regardless of system configuration.

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Solar panels named as cause of hospital fire  Yahoo
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Shanxi Installation wins $210m EPC deal for Oman solar IPP  Utilities Middle East
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When will plug-in solar panels be available to buy in the UK? This is everything we know so far  Ideal Home
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Author: (Patriot Photo by Don Bellach)
Xcel Energy announced on July 21, 2026, that Sherco Solar Phase 3 has been completed, becoming the largest solar facility in Minnesota. Phase 3 is located just east of Clear Lake on 80th Ave. and marks a major milestone in Xcel Energy’s plans to move to clean energy and retire the existing Sherco Coal Plant in Becker.
Currently, Sherco Solar is producing 710 megawatts of electricity, replacing the output of the Sherco generator number 2 that was retired in December of 2023, generating enough electricity to power more than 150,000 homes per year.  
Phase 4
A proposed Phase 4, located on 100 acres in Clear Lake Twp. north of Hwy. 10, would give Sherco Solar a total capacity of 910 megawatts and is expected to be completed by 2029. According to Xcel, the expansion will create an estimated 300 union construction jobs and $90 million in local economic benefits.
Sherco Transition
Xcel plans to retire the remaining coal-fired units in 2026 and 2030. A synchronous condenser, a piece of equipment that manages system stability as renewable energy increases, will be built at or near the Sherco Unit 2 site.
Xcel has two battery energy storage projects planned for the area just south of Becker’s Sherco plant. The first proposal would use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, discharged in four-hour increments to store up to 600 MW. It is expected to be completed in late 2027. The second is a multi-day storage system using iron-air batteries with a capacity of 10 MW/1,000 MWh.
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Home → Science → Chemistry
Researchers are turning toxic, centuries-old ammunition into highly efficient and cheap solar panels.
Hundreds of years ago, lead musket balls tore across European battlefields, littering the ground with toxic materials. Today, a team of scientists in Germany has scavenged a pile of this deeply tarnished, centuries-old ammunition off eBay to forge a radically different technology. They melted down the munitions and transformed them into precursor materials for solar panels.
Manufacturers require massive amounts of extremely pure lead to build perovskite solar cells, a cheap and powerful class of energy devices. Mining for new lead ravages the environment and exposes workers to toxins. By successfully harvesting clean power from degraded scrap (not just old spent bullets), researchers offer a viable, closed-loop path to scale up green grids while cleaning up historical environmental sins.
What were once spent weapons of war have now found a second life within renewable technology.
Silicon dominates the global solar market, but perovskite crystals are rapidly gaining ground. Manufacturers can print these adaptable structures onto flexible plastics, printing them directly onto lightweight fabrics.
The secret to their performance lies in a highly adaptable molecular shape. “You can mix and match atoms and molecules into the structure,” Tonio Buonassisi, director of MIT’s Photovoltaics Research Laboratory, told MIT News in 2022. “Perovskites are highly tunable, like a build-your-own-adventure type of crystal structure.”
While scientists can construct these crystal structures using a variety of elements, lead remains the undisputed champion. So far, lead-free alternatives have generally not matched the efficiencies achieved by lead-based perovskites.
Yet, relying on a toxic heavy metal creates a severe dilemma for green energy. “Perovskite solar cells rely on high-purity lead iodide,” physicist and study co-author Ian Marius Peters wrote on LinkedIn. “But lead is both toxic and resource-intensive to mine and refine.”
To find a cleaner path forward, researchers at the Jülich Research Centre sought out the most challenging raw material available. The musket fragments were tainted with carbon residue, thick layers of surface oxidation, and centuries of dirt. The scientists reasoned that extracting high-purity lead from such a contaminated source would prove they could recycle almost any modern lead waste.
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The team designed a two-step salvage operation that aims to reduce the severe environmental costs of traditional recycling. Standard industrial methods dissolve lead in nitric acid, generating massive amounts of contaminated wastewater.
Instead, the researchers melted the antique musket balls with the help of electrical contacts. They submerged these metal rods into a liquid bath containing a chemical solvent and dissolved iodine. By running an electrical current through the liquid, they oxidized the metal and stripped away impurities. This approach produced a bright yellow powder called lead iodide with 94% efficiency.
Even after the electrical bath, the raw powder still carried tiny, lingering traces of its past life—minuscule flecks of copper, silver, and zinc. Modern solar panels, however, demand flawless ingredients. To achieve that extreme purity, the scientists dissolved the powder into a liquid and slowly cranked up the heat. As the temperature rose, the pure molecules naturally snapped together to form high-purity crystals. As these crystals grew, they physically squeezed out the unwanted metallic hitchhikers, leaving behind only the pristine material needed to capture sunlight.
The final product reached a purity level of 99.999%, an industry standard known as “five nines”.
The ultimate test arrived when the team used the recycled material to fabricate functioning perovskite solar cells. Devices constructed from the ancient weapons converted roughly 21% of the sunlight they received into electricity.
This performance level is statistically indistinguishable from control cells built entirely from pristine, commercial lead. Hitting the 21% mark with heavily contaminated waste proves the industrial viability of the technique.
The authors argue that heavy industry abandons up to 40% of all lead waste. Electronic waste alone dumps millions of tons of the metal into the environment annually. The research team envisions a future where this toxic refuse never reaches a landfill.
“Millions of tons of lead already exist in waste streams that remain underutilized,” Peters added. “This work shows that toxic legacy waste can become a resource for clean energy.”
The study was published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
This article originally appeared in April 2026 and was updated with some new information.

Aerospace engineer with a passion for biology, paleontology, and physics.
© 2007-2025 ZME Science – Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.
© 2007-2025 ZME Science – Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

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According to the latest IndexBox report on the global On Grid Solar System market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The world on-grid solar system market is entering a phase of sustained expansion, with annual installations projected to exceed 500 GW by 2026 and continue climbing toward 2035. Grid-connected photovoltaic systems, which account for over 95% of all solar PV capacity globally, are becoming the backbone of renewable energy infrastructure. The market encompasses PV modules, grid-tied inverters, balance-of-plant equipment, monitoring systems, and energy storage integration components. Utility-scale projects command roughly 60% of capacity additions, while commercial and industrial (C&I) applications hold about 25%, and residential systems the remainder. China remains the dominant production and demand hub, supplying over 80% of modules and consuming roughly 35% of global output. However, India, the United States, and Europe are accelerating domestic manufacturing through targeted industrial policies. Key trends include the rise of bifacial modules and 1500 VDC inverters, digitalization of operations and maintenance with AI-based monitoring, and hybrid solar-plus-storage systems procured for grid firming. Challenges persist: supply bottlenecks for polysilicon and inverter chips, skilled labor shortages in fast-growing markets like Brazil and India, and grid integration constraints due to aging transmission infrastructure. This report provides a data-driven analysis of market size, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035, enabling manufacturers, distributors, investors, and strategy teams to navigate the evolving landscape.
The baseline scenario for the on-grid solar system market from 2026 to 2035 assumes continued policy support for renewable energy, declining levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar PV, and increasing grid integration requirements. Annual global installations are expected to grow from approximately 500 GW in 2026 to over 800 GW by 2035, driven by utility-scale projects in China, India, the United States, and the Middle East. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the market value is projected at 8.2%, with the market index reaching 220 by 2035 (2025=100). Key assumptions include stable polysilicon supply after recent capacity expansions, gradual resolution of inverter chip shortages, and continued cost reductions in balance-of-system components. Battery energy storage integration is becoming standard for new on-grid systems, particularly in regions with high renewable penetration, reshaping inverter specifications and project engineering. Grid infrastructure upgrades, while lagging in some regions, are expected to accelerate through public and private investment, particularly in Europe and North America. The market faces headwinds from trade policy uncertainties, potential tariff escalations, and skilled labor shortages in rapidly growing markets. However, the overall trajectory remains positive, supported by corporate renewable procurement targets, government net-zero commitments, and the economic competitiveness of solar PV compared to fossil fuels.
Utility-scale solar farms represent the largest end-use segment, accounting for about 60% of global on-grid solar system installations. These projects typically range from 50 MW to over 1 GW and are developed by independent power producers (IPPs), utilities, and energy companies. The demand story is driven by declining LCOE, which has made solar the cheapest source of new electricity generation in many regions. Through 2035, utility-scale installations are expected to accelerate, supported by government auctions, corporate PPAs, and grid modernization programs. Key demand-side indicators include project pipeline size, auction clearing prices, and transmission interconnection queue data. The shift toward bifacial modules and 1500 VDC inverters is improving efficiency by 5-15%, reducing balance-of-system costs. Battery storage integration is becoming standard, with hybrid solar-plus-storage projects increasingly procured for grid firming and peak shaving. Major markets include China, India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. Challenges include land availability, permitting delays, and grid connection bottlenecks, but policy support and cost declines continue to drive growth. Current trend: Dominant and growing, driven by large project pipelines in China, India, US, and Middle East.
Major trends: Bifacial modules and 1500 VDC inverters gaining share, boosting efficiency and reducing system costs, Hybrid solar-plus-storage projects becoming standard for grid firming and peak shaving, Digitalization of O&M with AI-based monitoring reducing unplanned downtime by 20-30%, and Increasing project sizes, with gigawatt-scale solar parks emerging in Middle East and India.
Representative participants: LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd, Trina Solar Co., Ltd, Canadian Solar Inc, First Solar, Inc, and Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
The commercial and industrial (C&I) segment accounts for approximately 25% of global on-grid solar system installations. This includes rooftop and ground-mount systems on factories, warehouses, office buildings, retail centers, and other commercial facilities. The demand story is driven by corporate ESG commitments, rising electricity prices, and the economic case for self-consumption with net metering or feed-in tariffs. Through 2035, C&I solar adoption is expected to grow steadily, particularly in markets with supportive policies like India, Brazil, Germany, and the United States. Key demand-side indicators include commercial electricity tariff trends, net metering policies, and corporate renewable procurement targets. The segment is characterized by smaller system sizes (typically 50 kW to 5 MW) and a focus on maximizing on-site consumption. Battery storage integration is increasing, enabling peak shaving and backup power. Major trends include the use of high-efficiency modules, digital monitoring platforms, and financing models like solar leases and PPAs. Challenges include roof space constraints, structural integrity issues, and varying local regulations, but falling costs and policy support continue to drive adoption. Current trend: Steady growth, supported by corporate sustainability goals and falling system costs.
Major trends: Corporate net-zero commitments driving rooftop solar adoption for Scope 2 emission reductions, Battery storage integration enabling peak shaving and backup power for critical loads, Digital monitoring and energy management platforms optimizing self-consumption and grid interaction, and Financing innovations like solar leases and PPAs lowering upfront costs for businesses.
Representative participants: SolarEdge Technologies, Inc, Enphase Energy, Inc, Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, ABB Ltd, and Siemens AG.
The residential segment accounts for about 10% of global on-grid solar system installations, with systems typically ranging from 3 kW to 15 kW. The demand story is driven by falling module and inverter costs, net metering policies, and growing consumer interest in energy independence and sustainability. Through 2035, residential solar adoption is expected to grow at a moderate pace, with key markets including the United States, Australia, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands. Key demand-side indicators include residential electricity rates, net metering compensation rates, and consumer sentiment surveys. The segment is characterized by a strong focus on aesthetics, ease of installation, and integration with home energy management systems. Battery storage is increasingly paired with residential solar, particularly in markets with time-of-use tariffs or frequent grid outages. Major trends include the rise of all-in-one solar-plus-storage systems, virtual power plant (VPP) programs, and digital platforms for monitoring and optimization. Challenges include high customer acquisition costs, permitting complexity, and policy uncertainty around net metering, but falling costs and environmental awareness continue to support growth. Current trend: Moderate growth, driven by net metering, falling costs, and energy independence trends.
Major trends: All-in-one solar-plus-storage systems simplifying installation and improving aesthetics, Virtual power plant (VPP) programs aggregating residential systems for grid services, Digital platforms for real-time monitoring, optimization, and energy trading, and Increasing adoption of high-efficiency modules and microinverters for maximum energy harvest.
Representative participants: Enphase Energy, Inc, SolarEdge Technologies, Inc, Tesla, Inc, LG Electronics Inc, Panasonic Corporation, and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Data centers and critical infrastructure represent a small but rapidly growing segment of the on-grid solar system market, accounting for approximately 3% of installations. The demand story is driven by hyperscaler cloud providers (Amazon, Google, Microsoft) and large enterprises committing to 100% renewable energy for their data centers. Through 2035, this segment is expected to grow significantly, as data center electricity demand surges with AI, cloud computing, and digitalization. Key demand-side indicators include data center capacity additions, corporate renewable procurement targets, and power purchase agreement (PPA) volumes. On-grid solar systems are used to power data center operations directly, often paired with battery storage for backup and grid stability. Major trends include colocation of solar farms with data centers, use of behind-the-meter solar for on-site generation, and integration with microgrid controllers. Challenges include land availability near data center hubs, grid interconnection constraints, and the need for 24/7 carbon-free energy matching, but corporate commitments and falling costs continue to drive adoption. Current trend: Rapid growth, driven by hyperscaler renewable procurement and need for reliable backup power.
Major trends: Hyperscaler renewable procurement driving large-scale PPAs for data center solar supply, Colocation of solar farms with data centers for direct on-site generation, Integration with battery storage and microgrid controllers for 24/7 carbon-free energy, and Use of behind-the-meter solar to reduce grid dependence and improve energy resilience.
Representative participants: First Solar, Inc, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd, Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd, ABB Ltd, and Siemens AG.
The grid infrastructure and renewable integration segment accounts for about 2% of on-grid solar system installations, encompassing systems deployed specifically to support grid stability, voltage regulation, and renewable energy integration. The demand story is driven by grid operators and utilities investing in solar-plus-storage systems for frequency regulation, peak shaving, and transmission congestion relief. Through 2035, this segment is expected to grow as grids face higher renewable penetration and aging infrastructure. Key demand-side indicators include grid investment budgets, renewable penetration targets, and frequency regulation market prices. Systems in this segment are typically utility-scale and include advanced inverters with grid-forming capabilities, battery storage, and smart controls. Major trends include the deployment of solar-plus-storage for grid firming, use of virtual power plants (VPPs) for aggregated grid services, and integration with transmission and distribution (T&D) upgrades. Challenges include regulatory barriers, high upfront costs, and coordination with multiple stakeholders, but the need for grid flexibility and reliability continues to drive investment. Current trend: Growing, driven by grid modernization and need for flexible solar integration.
Major trends: Solar-plus-storage systems deployed for frequency regulation and grid firming, Advanced inverters with grid-forming capabilities enabling higher renewable penetration, Virtual power plants (VPPs) aggregating distributed solar for grid services, and Integration with T&D upgrades to manage transmission congestion and voltage stability.
Representative participants: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, ABB Ltd, Siemens AG, General Electric Company, and Schneider Electric SE.
The competitive landscape remains concentrated around large multinational groups with integrated production, broad distribution reach, and stronger quality-certification capabilities.
These participants continue to shape pricing discipline, capacity planning, and product-mix upgrades across major consuming regions.
Asia-Pacific leads the global on-grid solar system market with a 55% share, driven by China’s massive utility-scale deployments and India’s ambitious 500 GW renewable target by 2030. Japan, Australia, and South Korea also contribute significantly. The region benefits from strong manufacturing bases, falling costs, and supportive policies, though grid integration challenges and land constraints persist. Direction: Dominant and growing.
North America holds an 18% market share, led by the United States with strong utility-scale and residential demand. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides long-term policy support, driving domestic manufacturing and project development. Canada also contributes, particularly in Ontario and Alberta. Grid interconnection queues and trade policy uncertainties are key challenges. Direction: Steady growth.
Europe accounts for 15% of the market, with Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland leading installations. The EU’s REPowerEU plan and national net-zero targets drive demand, particularly for rooftop solar and utility-scale projects. Grid modernization and permitting reforms are underway, but labor shortages and supply chain dependencies remain constraints. Direction: Moderate growth.
Latin America holds a 7% share, with Brazil and Chile as key markets. Brazil’s distributed generation policy and Chile’s mining sector demand drive installations. Mexico and Colombia are emerging markets. The region benefits from high solar irradiance and falling costs, but grid infrastructure, financing, and regulatory stability are challenges. Direction: Rapid growth.
Middle East & Africa account for 5% of the market, with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and South Africa leading. The region’s high solar irradiance and large-scale project ambitions (e.g., Saudi Arabia’s 50 GW target) drive growth. South Africa’s energy crisis boosts demand. Challenges include grid capacity, water scarcity for cleaning, and political risk, but falling costs and policy support are positive. Direction: High growth potential.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 8.2% compound annual growth rate for the global on grid solar system market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 220 by 2035 (2025=100).
Note: indexed curves are used to compare medium-term scenario trajectories when full absolute volumes are not publicly disclosed.
For full methodological details and benchmark tables, see the latest IndexBox On Grid Solar System market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the On Grid Solar System market in the world, covering market size, growth trajectory, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035.
The study is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, investors, procurement teams, advisors, and strategy teams that need a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers the global market for On Grid Solar Systems, which are photovoltaic power generation systems directly connected to the utility grid. The analysis encompasses complete systems as well as key subsystems and components used in grid-tied solar installations.
The report combines the standard market-statistics backbone with strategic chapters that are useful for commercial planning, sourcing decisions, market entry, competitor monitoring, and portfolio prioritization.
The market is segmented into decision-relevant buckets so that demand drivers, pricing logic, supply constraints, and competitive positions can be compared across the same analytical frame.
The classification coverage includes products categorized by type (complete on-grid systems, system components, balance-of-plant equipment, and power conversion/control modules), by application (grid infrastructure, renewable integration, industrial backup, and utility-scale projects), and by value chain segment (materials sourcing, system manufacturing, EPC, installation, and O&M).
Coverage includes global totals, major demand markets, production and sourcing hubs, leading exporters and importers, and country profiles for the top national markets.
The report combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, product-level evidence, and analyst validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to keep market sizing, trade flows, pricing, and forecasts comparable across countries and time periods.
All indicators are mapped to a consistent product definition and reviewed against the segmentation framework used in the Table of Contents.
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Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
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Plug-in solar panels will be legal in the UK from next month – here are 3 models to pre-order now  t3.com
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | July 23, 2026
A recent ruling on zoning requirements in York County, South Carolina, has determined that solar manufacturing is only allowed in heavy industrial zones. Despite that decision, Silfab Solar’s silicon cell and panel manufacturing operation in Fort Mill can continue operating in a light industrial zone due to prior approval.
A South Carolina circuit judge this week ruled that York County incorrectly designated solar panel production as “computer and electronic products manufacturing,” which is allowed in a light industrial district. The York County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) additionally claimed that “solar panel manufacturing is prohibited in the light industrial district,” and Judge William McKinnon agrees.
York County approved construction of Silfab Solar’s plant in 2022 in a light industrial district in Fort Mill. After an appeal from a Fort Mill resident in 2024, the zoning board went back on its decision, stating that solar manufacturing was only allowed in heavy industrial zones. The county said that the Silfab plant could continue construction and future operations because the new zoning decision “applies only to future projects.”
Despite Silfab lawfully being “grandfathered” into the zoning distinction, Fort Mills citizens have strongly voiced their opposition. Community members have questioned the safety of the Silfab facility, including its close proximity to a newly built elementary school. Residents are worried about the chemicals used in solar cell manufacturing. Community outrage escalated in March when two separate chemical spill incidents were reported, although the South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services and the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed there was no risk.
“The court’s recent decision has no impact on our current operations or permits. All employees are reporting to work as scheduled. … York County has previously confirmed; the BZA’s ruling only applies prospectively and does not affect Silfab because our project was well underway prior to the BZA’s decision. Silfab Solar will be appealing to ensure that future opportunities to expand production and hiring remain open and to protect the zoning process from being manipulated in the future as our opponents did in this case,” Silfab wrote in a press statement.
Silfab Solar is headquartered in Canada, operates a solar panel assembly plant in Burlington, Washington, and was planning to be one of the first brands to establish solar cell manufacturing in the United States. The Fort Mill, South Carolina, site is intended to produce 1 GW of cells and 1 GW of panels each year. Panel production has been ongoing in South Carolina while full cell production has not yet been announced.
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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JinkoSolar has launched its Qingtian 365 smart PV-storage solution for commercial and industrial (C&I) applications, targeting retail stores and other commercial settings with an integrated package covering PV, energy storage, intelligent energy management, and operations services.
The solution combines JinkoSolar’s Tiger Neo 3.0 n-type TOPCon modules, SunGiga G2 liquid-cooled ESS, AI-based energy scheduling algorithms, and the company’s Cloud platform to coordinate PV generation, energy storage, and electricity consumption.
JinkoSolar has introduced standardized configurations for different retail scenarios, including a 3.3 MW PV system with a 2.088 MWh ESS for large warehouse supermarkets and an 880 kW PV system with a 522 kWh ESS for medium-sized chain stores. The solution has already been deployed in overseas projects, including the 3.16 MW Robinson shopping mall installation in Thailand, featuring a 215 kWh liquid-cooled ESS.
Jinko Power, the renewable energy development arm of JinkoSolar, recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with AI software company SenseTime to jointly develop ‘Green Power + Intelligent Computing’ projects (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
China has released an updated national standard, Norm of Energy Consumption per Unit Products of Polysilicon and Germanium (GB 29447—2026), which will take effect on January 1, 2027, replacing the 2022 version.
The standard introduces three energy consumption tiers for polysilicon production. Under the modified Siemens process, comprehensive energy consumption limits are set at 5.0 kgce/kg, 5.5 kgce/kg, and 6.3 kgce/kg for Levels 1, 2, and 3, respectively. For the silane fluidized bed process, the corresponding limits are 3.6 kgce/kg, 4.0 kgce/kg, and 4.6 kgce/kg.
Existing polysilicon producers must meet the Level 3 requirement, while new and expanded projects must achieve Level 2. According to the Chinese PV media outlet Zhihui PV, only about 45% of existing polysilicon capacity meets the 6.3 kgce/kg threshold, and the new standard is expected to accelerate the phase-out of less-efficient production capacity.
State-owned energy developer CHN Energy has commenced operations at its Shanxi Renewable Energy Trading Center, the group’s first regional renewable energy trading platform.
The center integrates renewable energy resources from the company’s solar and wind projects in Shanxi to support regional renewable energy trading and management. It has also established a ‘daily planning and daily review’ mechanism to improve renewable energy forecasting, optimize trading strategies, and increase renewable energy utilization.
The center is also developing an intelligent trading platform and strengthening risk management throughout the trading process. The platform is expected to provide operational experience for centralized renewable energy management and market-based trading in other regions.
Last month, CHN Energy fully commissioned the Rudong integrated solar-hydrogen-storage project, billed as the largest of its kind in China (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Polysilicon manufacturer Hoshine Silicon expects to report attributable net profit of RMB 320 million to RMB 380 million for the first half of 2026, while adjusted net loss is forecast in the range of RMB 28 million to RMB 33 million. Both represent significant improvements from attributable and adjusted net losses of RMB 397 million and RMB 533 million, respectively, in H1 2025.
The company attributed the improvement to higher utilization rates, increased production and sales of industrial silicon, and stronger supply-demand conditions in the organosilicon market, which supported higher product prices and improved gross margins.
Hoshine Silicon said the difference between attributable net profit and adjusted net profit was mainly due to non-recurring gains related to the optimization of supplier payment arrangements and equipment replacement activities.
TaiyangNews 2024

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Energiekontor AG, a Germany-based developer and operator of wind and solar parks, has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with EHA Energie-Handels-Gesellschaft. The agreement covers the planned Kolitzheim-Herlheim solar park, which will supply electricity to drugstore retailer dm in Bavaria, Germany. The project will have an installed capacity of around 11 MW and is scheduled for commissioning in the first half of 2027. Once operational, it is expected to generate more than 13 GWh of electricity annually to supply renewable power to dm stores. The project will be developed without support under Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). EHA will manage the physical PPA, balancing services and electricity integration into dm’s portfolio. The solar park will also include sheep grazing alongside photovoltaic generation. 
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GM Silao Plant Inaugurates All-New Solar Panel Installation  GM Authority
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MIGA Backs 100 MW Solar Project In Tunisia With €13.05 Million Guarantee  SolarQuarter
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Law change means renters and flat owners may be able to cut bills as energy costs soar amid Iran war
British households will be able to buy plug-in solar panels later this summer after the government changed the law so the UK’s biggest retailers could bring them to market for the first time.
People across the country will be able to join the millions across Europe generating their own electricity using “balcony solar panels” from 27 August, according to legislation passed last week.
These plug-in panels have in recent years become familiar sights on balconies in Spain and in Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant).
Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, which require professional installation, balcony solar installations can be plugged into a three-prong wall socket, generating cheap electricity from a balcony, terrace, shed roof or any other outdoor space.
The legal change means that, from the end of this summer, retailers including Currys, B&Q and Asda will be able to sell DIY solar setups to people living in flats or rented homes without rooftop access, so they can generate their own solar power from their balconies.
They were among some of the UK’s biggest retail brands – including Screwfix, Wickes and Amazon – that met the government earlier this summer to discuss guidelines for the sale of balcony solar panels, which are expected to retail for at least £400 and could shave up to £110 a year off energy bills.
The government’s move to make plug-in solar lawful is expected to bring “cheap, clean power to households that have not been able to access these benefits before”, said Chris Hewett, the chief executive of Solar Energy UK.
“Our industry is working closely with government to ensure that all customers can have confidence in the safety and reliability of these new technologies,” he added.
When panels are plugged in, the clean energy generated when the sun is shining flows directly into the property’s electrical circuit through a standard three-prong plug to power electrical appliances without needing to buy as much from the grid.
Plug-in systems usually have a capacity of 800 watts, or one-fifth of the size of a typical residential rooftop solar system, so while they wouldn’t be able to power a home alone, they could help to reduce bills by up to £70-110 a year. This means it would take four to seven years to cover the initial outlay of buying a plug-in system.
The DIY solar systems are expected to come to market at a time when households have turned in record numbers to green home energy upgrades to help keep costs down as the war in Iran causes global energy prices to soar.
A record 269,000 solar installations were completed in the UK last year, over a third more than the previous year and the equivalent of a new rooftop solar installation every two minutes.
Rob Hallifax, a co-founder of Windfall Energy, said the new legislation could also pave the way for plug-in batteries in British homes. The government is reportedly considering plans to bulk buy the devices and distribute them to low-income homes, according to the i Paper.
The proposals could help households to save money on their bills by storing electricity when there is an abundance of energy available and drawing on the power when supplies are tighter. If paired with a plug-in solar system, households could store their own renewable electricity during the day and use it to run their appliances in the evenings.
Hallifax said the move towards plug-in solutions was a “massive win for consumer energy independence, and a huge leap forward for anyone who has previously been locked out of the energy transition”.
“For renters, flat owners and anyone on a budget, this opens up clean energy in a way we haven’t seen before,” said Hallifax. He added that households should still set “realistic expectations” for their new solar setup.
“Coming into force in late August means generation will naturally decline as we head into autumn and winter,” he said. “You still need access to a sunlit balcony, terrace or suitable outdoor area. And you may need permission from a landlord or freeholder to put panels in place.”

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Posted July 23, 2026 09:34am by Stan Maddux
(La Porte County, IN) – A proposed solar energy farm in La Porte County is dead, at least for now.
 
The La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals has voted against plans for a solar farm on hundreds of acres of farmland in the far southeast part of the county.  The Tuesday night decision not to grant Hoosier Solar a special exception to the current agricultural zoning was unanimous.
 
La Porte County Commissioner Steve Holifield supports the decision but feels it could be challenged in a courtroom.  He doesn’t want La Porte to become like some of the surrounding counties that already have thousands of solar panels.
 
“I don’t want La Porte County to look like Starke and Pulaski which has 55,000 acres of those things.  It’s not good for anything,” he said.
 
His other concerns include taking more farmland out of production.
 
Hoosier Solar wanted to install solar panels in the area of Indiana 104 near the St. Joseph County line.
“I look for them to sue us just because they didn’t get their way,” Holifield said.
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Solar panel enthusiast Garrett Fox speaks to Aideen Finnegan on the Better with Money Podcast.
Solar panel enthusiast Garrett Fox speaks to Aideen Finnegan on the Better with Money Podcast.
Firefighters battle Slievenamon wildfire on fourth day of blaze Video: Defence Forces Editor: Eoin Ronayne
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Zecon Awards RM328 Million EPCC Contract For 100 MW Agrivoltaic Solar Project In Sarawak  SolarQuarter
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Indian solar module manufacturers have reduced factory output as domestic solar cell shortages disrupt production. Nearly one-third of 140 small- and medium-sized makers have halted output under rules effective June 1. Other manufacturers are operating three or four days as cell waits reach six to eight months. India has about 200 GW of module capacity but only 27 GW of stated cell capacity. Effective operating cell capacity is estimated at around 16 GW to 18 GW across the country. Modules using domestic cells cost almost twice those made with Chinese cells, manufacturers told Reuters. India imports about 95% of its solar cells from China, despite efforts to expand local production. China’s restrictions on technology, equipment and technical support could slow new cell plants, while closing the supply gap may take three to five years. The shortage threatens thousands of jobs, nearly $4 billion of investment and India’s 2030 targets.
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CONWAY — During its fourth hearing on BlueWave Solar’s plans for a 20-acre solar array on Roaring Brook Road, the Planning Board considered the slope, screening and safety features of the proposed design before continuing discussion to a fifth hearing.
The application for the project on Ronald Boyden’s farmland describes a 4.99-megawatt system with solar panels set 10 feet above the ground, along with a battery energy storage system, a 20-foot-wide gravel access road and a stormwater basin.
The solar array would be a dual-use system, allowing landowners to continue using the site for farming, with animals able to graze under the panels. The solar panels would be spaced with enough room for sunshine to reach the field below, according to Melinda Costello, a civil engineer with Weston & Sampson. Instead of fixed panels, the solar panels would move to follow the sun throughout the day.
The energy from the solar array would flow into the local electric grid. Eversource would then purchase the energy through the state’s SMART 3.0 Program, an incentive program for solar power developers.
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BlueWave Solar reached out to Boyden as part of its “outreach efforts” to farmers in the state in accordance with the company’s “strong focus on agrivoltaics applications combining clean energy with sustainable farming,” Joel Lindsay, vice president of project development at BlueWave, explained in an email.
The slope of the solar panels continued to generate discussion on Tuesday night.
The town’s bylaw for commercial solar photovoltaic systems requires that the systems sit on slopes with grades of less than 15% while allowing the Planning Board to consider issuing waivers for slopes up to 18% “based on site-specific parameters.”
While board members interpreted the slope mentioned in the bylaw as the slope of the ground beneath the proposed panels, BlueWave Solar followed a different interpretation, which the board rejected, due to the company’s calculations not following the bylaw.
“Ground slope does mean something to us and it has implications on erosion,” Planning Board member Jeff Lacy said. To Lindsay, he added, “I would be surprised … if you’ve got any other towns that have acquiesced to your version of this slope definition.”
Moving forward, BlueWave Solar plans to remove from its design the solar panels that were proposed for areas with ground slopes above 18%. Costello presented a visual of the slopes that fall above 18%, and those between 15% and 18%. She and Lindsay described the importance of a waiver to keep the slopes between 15% and 18% as part of the design.
“For us, it’s important to use those areas that are 15% to 18%,” Lindsay said.
Given that the panels would sit on an established agricultural field instead of an area that would require trees to be cleared, Costello said the site “would be a good candidate for that waiver.”
For the next hearing, BlueWave Solar will work on calculating the percentage of the solar panels that have a slope between 15% and 18%.
When Planning Board member Cheryl Case echoed residents’ concerns from prior meetings about rainwater dripping off the solar panels, peer reviewer Chris Chamberland said he expects the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) would not view the panels as “impervious” as long as they are spaced 18 feet apart as proposed.
“Vegetation is the key,” Chamberland said. “Grass is the best erosion control out there, so the fact that these posts get put in on a site that’s already well-vegetated helps.”
While the engineers have increased the screening from their original design to comply with the town’s bylaw that requires “large-scale solar facilities” to include a 30-foot screen of native trees and shrubs, Planning Board Chair George Forcier asked if the screening could stretch along Roaring Brook Road from Deerfield River Portage to Boyden’s farm barns to block Roaring Brook Road travelers from seeing the array.
At other hearings, residents have voiced concerns with the impact of the array on the beloved view of the farmland from Route 116 and Roaring Brook Road.
“That is a significant addition to screening,” Lindsay replied. “I’m very hesitant about that because I think it could be difficult to make it be that effective. I don’t want to interpret your own bylaw for you, but I don’t think that we’re obligated to make the array invisible necessarily. … I don’t think we can feasibly make the array invisible.”
Forcier agreed that the bylaw only requires solar array applicants to “minimize” the array’s visual impact.
Costello said extending the 30-foot-wide screening would lead to a “significant cost.” She added that Boyden tends to cornfields on the land that would block off part of the array. Planning Board associate member Jennifer Mullins noted the corn would only reach its full height for about two months.
The board also dug into the proposed battery energy storage system, a SolBank 3.0 model stretching 20 feet long and 8 feet high.
Forcier asked whether thermal runaway from the battery would melt through the cell into the ground. Thermal runaway occurs when a battery overcharges, short-circuits or undergoes damage that heats up the battery and can cause fires or explosions.
Lindsay and Kevin LaMalva, an engineer at Fire & Risk Alliance working with BlueWave Solar, said the system is intrinsically designed to contain a random event of thermal runaway. According to LaMalva, the system has undergone testing to confirm that it prevents runaway in one lithium iron phosphate battery cell from spreading to several adjacent cells.
Lindsay added that the lithium iron phosphate within the batteries resembles a gel, not a liquid; therefore, a concrete container for the system is not required. Chamberland echoed that the battery cells do not pose a “leak risk.”
“There are various levels of defense and depth to mitigate bad outcomes to that effect,” LaMalva said.
Lacy suggested BlueWave Solar move the proposed site for the battery energy storage system behind a barn on the property, claiming he has not heard any engineering factors that would prevent the relocation.
“I view it as one of the few things we can do for the people of Conway in this project that might ease the visual burden of this a bit,” Lacy said.
While Costello and Lindsay agreed to look into this possibility, Costello said the system’s equipment pad may threaten the barn’s foundation. Chamberland said barns often lack fire protection systems, potentially exposing the battery energy storage system to a fire risk.
Members of the Planning Board agreed to continue the hearing on the solar array to a tentative date of Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m.

Aalianna Marietta is the South County reporter. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst and was a journalism intern at the Recorder while in school. She can be reached at amarietta@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. More by Aalianna Marietta
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With electricity demand set to grow, solar PV and hybrid renewables are becoming central pillars of Italy’s energy future.
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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has called for stronger cybersecurity measures across the US solar and energy storage industry in a report arguing that expanding domestic manufacturing and improving cyber resilience must go hand in hand as renewables capacity continues to grow.
The report, titled ‘Cybersecurity Priorities for America’s Solar & Storage Industry’, comes as US inverter manufacturing capacity has nearly tripled since the end of 2024, with a new production facility opened by EPC Power in July pushing the country into a tie for the world’s second-largest inverter manufacturing base.
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SEIA said the rapid expansion of solar and storage, which accounted for nearly 80% of new US power generation capacity additions in 2025, increases the importance of securing systems against cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure.
Tim Pawlenty, president and CEO of SEIA, said: “As solar and storage continue to lead the way in adding new power capacity to the grid, cybersecurity must remain front and centre. From secure and resilient systems to expanding domestic manufacturing, this report lays out the actions our industry is taking to strengthen US energy security, protect critical infrastructure and stay ahead of emerging threats.”
According to the report, US inverter manufacturing capacity has reached 55GWac following recent factory expansions. The expansion comes as US policymakers increasingly scrutinise foreign-made inverters over potential cybersecurity risks.
SEIA argues that strengthening US-based production of key technologies, including inverters, will improve supply chain resilience, increase transparency and reduce dependence on potentially vulnerable overseas supply chains.
The report identifies three priorities for improving cybersecurity across the solar and storage sector:
While large utility-scale solar plants connected to the bulk power system are subject to North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards, SEIA notes that most distributed solar and storage assets remain outside mandatory federal cybersecurity requirements.
The association warns that the rapid growth of internet-connected distributed energy resources, virtual power plants and remote monitoring systems creates additional cyber risks that require more consistent security standards.
SEIA is advocating for national cybersecurity guidance for distributed energy resources, building on existing frameworks developed by the US Department of Energy, NIST, IEEE and other standards bodies.
Beyond traditional cyber threats, the report identifies supply chain security, third-party vendors and artificial intelligence as emerging areas of concern.
SEIA said reliance on cloud platforms, telecommunications providers, fleet management software and managed service providers expands the industry’s attack surface, requiring stronger vendor risk management throughout the lifecycle of solar and storage projects.
The report also warns that while AI can improve threat detection and operational efficiency, it may also enable attackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities more quickly if deployed insecurely.
As previously reported in our sister journal, PV Tech Power, industry analysts have warned that AI-enabled asset management and optimisation tools could introduce new cybersecurity and operational risks for solar and storage portfolios [subscription required].
SEIA notes that the regulatory framework for utility-scale projects is becoming more stringent as NERC expands reliability requirements to cover more inverter-based resources.
However, it argues that distribution-connected solar and storage systems continue to rely largely on voluntary standards, resulting in inconsistent cybersecurity practices across the sector.
The association said it will continue working with industry, utilities and government agencies to help members navigate evolving compliance requirements while promoting proactive cybersecurity measures ahead of future regulatory mandates.

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The IEA says global electricity demand is forecast to accelerate through 2027, driven by industry, EVs, cooling, household appliances, and data centers 
It expects solar PV to become the world’s second-largest renewable electricity source in 2026, as renewables overtake coal in power generation 
Higher LNG prices and geopolitical tensions will continue to influence electricity markets, according to the report, increasing the importance of grid flexibility and battery storage 
Rising electricity demand from industry, electric vehicles (EVs), air conditioning and data centers is reshaping the global power mix. At the same time, volatile fossil fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty continue to strengthen the case for renewable energy. 
Against this backdrop, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that renewables will become the world’s largest source of electricity generation in 2026, overtaking coal after almost matching its output in 2025. 
According to the IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update 2026, renewable electricity generation is forecast to grow by more than 8% in 2026, increasing its share of global power generation from 33% in 2025 to 37% by 2027. Solar PV is expected to account for the largest increase in electricity supply. 
The IEA forecasts global solar PV generation to rise by around 600 TWh in 2026, matching the record growth achieved in 2025. This would allow solar PV to overtake wind power and become the world’s second-largest renewable electricity source after hydropower in 2026. It expects similar growth for solar PV in 2027. 
The growing share of renewable energy generation has helped diversify electricity supplies and improve energy security, even as the world has faced higher generation costs due to the Middle East conflict that began early this year. While additional LNG supplies, particularly from North America, have helped ease market pressures, report authors highlight that higher gas prices have led several countries in Asia and Europe to switch part of their electricity generation from natural gas to coal. 
The IEA expects global electricity demand to grow by 3.6% in 2026 and 3.8% in 2027, compared with 3% growth recorded in 2025. Global electricity consumption is projected to increase from 28,600 TWh in 2025 to 30,700 TWh by 2027. 
Among major economies, China’s electricity demand is projected to grow by 5.5% in 2026, supported by manufacturing and EV charging. India’s demand is expected to rebound by 7% after a subdued 1.6% in 2025, while electricity consumption in both the US and the European Union (EU) is forecast to grow by around 2%, driven by electrification, cooling demand and data centers. 
Authors warn that weather conditions remain a key uncertainty in the scheme of things. A stronger-than-expected El Niño event could increase electricity demand through higher cooling needs while reducing hydropower and wind generation in some regions. This may increase dependence on fossil fuel generation. 
At the same time, the expansion of renewable energy is making negative wholesale electricity prices more frequent in some markets, highlighting the growing need for grid flexibility, battery energy storage, and demand response to maintain reliable electricity systems. 
The complete IEA report is available for free download on its website. 
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Exports of Chinese-made solar components to developing countries have increased year-on-year. New customs data cited by Reuters show that Africa and Southeast and South Asia led the growth.
While sales were slightly tempered by the end of a Chinese tax rebate on exports, developing regions still imported significantly more solar capacity than the year before.
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US perovskite solar technology company Caelux has signed two agreements with Indian solar manufacturers to produce perovskite-silicon “Hybrid Tandem” modules.
The deals are with Navitas Solar and Rayzon Solar. Under the deals, both manufacturers will look to combine Caelux’s perovskite-coated solar glass with n-type TOPCon modules. The companies claimed that the resulting modules could reach up to 28% conversion efficiency. The partnerships will both aim to produce around 5GW of modules over their five-year run time.
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Caelux produces perovskite-coated solar glass, known as “active glass”, which it says can be paired with standard silicon-based solar module technologies. This design eliminates the need to incorporate perovskites – which are volatile substances – into the solar cell architecture itself.
Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, said: “By integrating our technology into its module, Navitas Solar is taking the lead in India’s ambitious clean energy goals, both in terms of domestic production and deployment. Together, we aim to deliver advanced solar solutions that support India’s clean energy transition while strengthening its domestic manufacturing capabilities.”
Caelux claimed that the increased efficiencies from its perovskite glass could have a big impact in India, given the central role that solar PV will play in India’s ambitious renewable energy targets, and the massive investment in both deployment and manufacturing the government has overseen in recent years.
“As India enters the next phase of its renewable energy journey, the focus must extend beyond capacity expansion to manufacturing globally competitive, high-efficiency technologies within the country,” said Ankit Singhania, co-founder and director, Navitas Solar. “Crucially, this leap in world-class technology and scale will serve as a powerful engine to fuel the Government of India’s ambitious vision of achieving 500GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030.”
The companies said that they planned to offer commercially available products by 2028, which will be eligible for the Indian government’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) scheme, meaning they can be deployed at government-tendered utility-scale projects.
Navitas Solar announced plans last month to invest in a 3.6GW solar cell production plant in the state of Gujarat, along with a pilot line for silicon ingot and wafer production. It currently operates 3GW of module production capacity, producing both TOPCon and PERC products.
The partnerships mirror a similar deal Caelux revealed earlier this year to produce tandem hybrid modules with US firm Solx under a 3GW, five-year partnership.
Last year, Caelux shipped its first order of its perovskite glass to an unnamed “reputable” module manufacturer. Since then, it has entered into partnerships with California-based Tandem PV on a pilot production line and, earlier this week, joined UK-based Oxford PV in joining an advanced materials research project alongside tech heavyweights like NVIDIA and Meta.

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Idaho just brought a 125-megawatt (MWac) solar farm online – and construction has begun on another one more than three times its size.
rPlus Energies has brought Pleasant Valley Solar 2 online and started building the 400 MWac Blacks Creek Energy Center in Ada County in the southwest. Counting projects that are operating, under construction, or under contract, the company has now developed more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar and storage in Idaho.
Idaho isn’t a solar heavyweight yet – it’s actually a big hydropower state – but it’s making headway. As of June 2026, the state had installed 1,301 MW of solar, ranking 34th in the US, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Solar now supplies 9.01% of Idaho’s electricity, and the industry has attracted $2 billion in investment to the state.
“Pleasant Valley Solar 2 and Blacks Creek Energy Center represent important additions to Idaho’s energy infrastructure as we work to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve,” said Lisa Grow, president and CEO of Idaho Power. “We appreciate our strong partnership with rPlus Energies and the role these projects will play in helping provide reliable, affordable energy for our customers and communities.”
Pleasant Valley Solar 2 and Blacks Creek represent a combined investment of more than $750 million in Idaho. The projects are creating hundreds of construction jobs, as well as permanent onsite jobs once they’re both complete.
They’ll generate ongoing revenue for state and local governments through Idaho’s 3.5% solar energy tax on gross earnings. rPlus says the spending tied to construction and operations will also support local businesses.
Pleasant Valley Solar 2’s project partners contributed $375,000 in workforce development scholarships for students at Boise State University and the College of Western Idaho. The money is earmarked to help train the state’s next generation of skilled workers.
“Pleasant Valley Solar 2 and Blacks Creek Energy Center are critical for supporting Idaho’s continued economic growth, and we envision this development as the next chapter in our long-term investment and commitment to the state,” said Luigi Resta, president and CEO of rPlus Energies.
Read more: Utah’s largest solar + battery storage project is officially online
If you’ve ever considered going solar, make it easy by finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing by checking out EnergySage. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 
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Time is almost up for anyone thinking about getting solar installed through the Switch Together scheme.
Registration shuts tomorrow, Friday 24 July, and once the window closes, this offer disappears. So, if you’ve been meaning to look into this solar scheme then this is the moment to act before you miss out.
Solar is a smart way to cut bills and generate your own energy, but choosing a supplier and figuring out what’s right for your home can feel overwhelming. That’s exactly why this scheme exists (and why people are hurrying to get their details in before the deadline).
Switch Together is run by Lincolnshire County Council in partnership with iChoosr. It helps households access solar technology at competitive prices, without having to compare dozens of installers or navigate the market alone. Registering is free and there’s no obligation to go ahead, but you do need to be signed up before the deadline to receive a personalised offer.
The offer covers solar panels, battery storage, optional EV charge points and retrofit battery options for homes that already have panels. Some households may also be able to earn money by exporting unused energy back to the Grid.
Cllr Danny Brookes, Executive member for Environment, said: “Lots of people have already signed up to see what Switch Together can do for them, but with the deadline now upon us, I’d urge anyone who’s been thinking about solar to get registered while they still can. The scheme gives you a clear proposal, reliable systems and competitive pricing, and you’re under no pressure to go ahead if it doesn’t suit you.”
If you want to be included, you need to register before tomorrow. After that, the offer closes.
Find out more and sign up at  switchtogether.co.uk.
Published: 23rd July 2026
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Illinois Times, the capital city's weekly source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture
Illinois Times, the capital city's weekly source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture

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For the second time in as many weeks, the Sangamon County Board was served a lawsuit seeking to overturn a Board zoning decision.
In June, the board’s legal adviser and assistant state’s attorney, Joel Benoit, warned the board of potential legal action from Summit Ridge Energy. He said the petition for a 20-acre solar farm on Lenhart Road submitted by the Virginia-based company, which has more than 100 solar farms in Illinois, follows legal guidelines.
“The proponent would have a good case if, in fact, all the requirements of applicable law were met and we denied it,” he said in response to questions from board members at the June 9 meeting.
However, he said nearby residents objecting based on a possible decline in property values would not have a strong case against the county. “In my opinion, they could sue the county, but they would be unsuccessful.”
The Board voted it down 15-8. Five board members were absent, although even if all five had been in attendance and voted for it, it would not have been enough votes to approve the project.
The state’s overarching laws on renewable energy zoning specifically “requires counties to allow commercial, utility-scale solar and wind energy conversion systems to be sited in areas zoned for agricultural or industrial use,” according to a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign fact page. “A county can have more lax requirements than called for in state law, but it cannot have more restrictive requirements.”
The Board’s Zoning and Land Use Committee approved an amendment June 18 that attempts to regulate solar and wind projects after an appellate court ruling earlier in June granted local governments more decision-making power for renewable energy projects.
Daniel Hamilton, a partner at the Springfield-based law firm of Brown, Hay and Stephens, told the committee that petitioners could claim older law should apply.
“We could potentially put them on notice and tell them that these are the new rules. However, they won’t be the new rules until they’re final,” Hamilton said. “If someone comes in and wants to do an activity, whatever that activity is, if they have knowledge that the law is changing or changed, they can claim that the old law should apply. Then it’s their burden to prove that they’ve had sufficient expenditures of funds, they’ve relied on the law as it was previously, those sorts of things.”
That’s precisely what a team of lawyers from national law firm Polsinelli is arguing on behalf of the landowner, Springfield business owner Mark Roberts III, and Summit Ridge Energy in a July 14 court filing.
“Once the application was found to meet all solar siting ordinance requirements as well as… other state and federal statutes and regulations, approving the siting approval permit became a ministerial, nondiscretionary act” thanks to state law and the county’s existing solar ordinance, the lawsuit states.
It also claims it would be “unlawful” for the County Board to deny the project on the basis of a solar project diminishing property values – a pattern that studies of real estate sales in recent years have observed.
“The County Board’s only bases for denying the Application were objections relating to property value impacts and other objections based on the Project’s compatibility with the surrounding area. None of those bases were justifiable reasons to deny the permit,” the lawsuit reads. “To the extent County Board votes to deny issuing the permit were based on the project’s impacts to property value concerns, such reason is unlawful.”
The suit claims the County Board’s review criteria for issuing siting permits “does not include a review of property value impacts.” Zoning administrator Trustin Harrison acknowledged during the board’s June meeting that the county has never studied the issue.
It also cites the same state statute a group of Waverly residents referenced in their July 6 lawsuit that states any county board decision related to zoning is subject to fresh judicial review “as a legislative decision,” so long as any action taken to seek judicial review begins no later than 90 days after the decision.
Roberts told Illinois Times he received a stream of solicitation letters from solar companies seeking to develop and lease his land. He said he has “a shoe box full of postcards, letters, full-blown brochures.”
“There are a lot of solar companies that appear to be looking at maps and then will look at where the grid is and then where there would be an opportunity for solar, they will just send out mass solicitations,” Roberts said.
Summit Ridge Energy appeared to be the most community friendly option, he said, partially due to the limited scale of the solar project.
“We received many, many solicitations and chose Summit Ridge because we felt that they were a good fit based on the projects they have done,” Roberts said.
No judge has been assigned to the case yet, and no initial court date is set.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comments from the landowner.
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Dilpreet Raju is a staff writer for Illinois Times and a Report for America corps member. He has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from American University, a master's degree from Medill School of Journalism… More by Dilpreet Raju
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We caught up with Michael Koller, Solutions Director for Europe and the UK with Envision Energy, at this year’s Smarter E Europe trade show in Munich. 
Koller was on hand to discuss how the company’s portfolio is evolving to address the core challenge facing renewable energy at scale: making intermittent generation reliably dispatchable.
The framework he outlines is built around four interlocking layers. Solar, which provides electricity generation, with storage stepping in to make that generation dispatchable and deliver flexibility. Grid-forming technology adds a third dimension, providing the kind of system stability that traditional grid-following inverters cannot, and, finally, binding it all together is AI, which Koller sees as the orchestration layer, optimising the overall system in real time against weather fluctuations, market conditions and grid constraints.
“This is how we define our future roadmap,” Koller explains. “Solar providing the electricity, storage providing the flexibility, grid-forming to provide the stability, and AI to orchestrate it all together in an optimal fashion.”
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The philosophy behind this approach is one of integration from the outset. Koller is clear that the value Envision brings doesn’t come from simply assembling best-of-breed components from different vendors, but from designing the pieces to work together as a unified system. That thinking informs the company’s recent launch of its own solar inverter, because, Koller stresses, tight integration between solar inverters, battery inverters and the plant controller unlock tangible benefits in system sizing, optimal dispatch and long-term asset performance.
It’s a proposition that appears to be gaining traction. Envision’s presence at Smarter E has grown notably across successive editions of the show, reflecting what Koller describes as rapid commercial momentum across its European and UK markets.
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by NATALIA MITTELSTADT | The National News Desk
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pushed back on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., saying that China-produced solar panels are taking over New York farmland.
Rollins testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, during which she said to Gillibrand, "And let me tell you what New York is stressed out about: it's the fact that your state is taking prime farmland and turning it into solar farms. That is absolutely inexcusable," according to a video clip the secretary posted on X.
Gillibrand responded, saying, "…New York farmers, you will see that smart farmers do both — do both."
"I have visited the New York farmers two times — two times in Upstate New York," Rollins said, before Gillibrand's time ended.

Rollins followed up on her response in the post, saying, "Since time ran out, let me be clear, @gillibrandny: Why are you ignoring the issues directly hurting farmers and driving up the price of farmland in your own state?
Rollins' remarks come after she, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, and country singer John Rich — who is the Trump administration's Special Envoy for American Landowners — sent a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) last month demanding answers about the state taking over farmland for solar farms.

“Nothing is more insulting to hardworking New Yorkers than Albany politicians who think they know it all and enthusiastically override local control and railroad local communities,” Zeldin told The New York Post on Tuesday.
“The recent actions of Hochul and her allies to force upstate communities to take on the burden of far more solar farms on agricultural land is on-brand elitism that New Yorkers have grown to despise.”
Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler told The Post on Tuesday, “New York has two-and-a-half-million small businesses and we’re watching a state apparatus go against these small businesses in favor of 18 large solar farms that are going to only raise the cost of operating for those small businesses, which employ nearly half of New York’s population. This is an example of big government overreach. That is the promise of socialism.”

Many of the multibillion-dollar solar contracts in New York have been given to foreign companies, including Canada’s Boralex, France’s EDF Renewables, and South Korea’s Cypress Creek Renewables, according to The Post.
A spokesperson for Hochul told the media outlet that New York was a “national leader in agricultural land protections” and had “invested hundreds of millions of dollars toward protecting agricultural land since the inception of the State Farmland Protection Program in 1992.”
The state "maintains robust environmental and agricultural protections for the development of new energy infrastructure projects," the spokesperson added. "Under Governor Kathy Hochul, the state has increased its support of the Farmland Protection Program, which has now preserved more than 138,000 acres of prime farmland. New York energy project development is occurring only on land that is willingly leased by landowners."
2026 Sinclair, Inc.

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Poland-based building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) module manufacturer ML System has launched a new solar tile designed for buildings where architectural aesthetics are a key consideration.
“Designed to match conventional tiles in size, thickness, and appearance, they combine timeless roofing aesthetics with advanced solar technology,” a spokesperson from the company told pv magazine. “The Vintage and Modern series are available in three colors, while the Nature line replicates the natural appearance of wood shingles, Alpine slate, and copper roofing.”
Each product line was developed to meet different architectural requirements, from contemporary buildings to heritage renovations, according to the manufacturer.
“The Modern Line features flat, geometric profiles tailored to minimalist and contemporary architecture,” the spokesperson went on to say. “The Vintage Line recreates the appearance of traditional beavertail tiles, making it suitable for restoration projects and buildings where a classic roof aesthetic is required. The Nature Line combines photovoltaic performance with textured surfaces inspired by natural materials, including slate, wood shingles, and copper roofing.”
Each design line is available in two performance-oriented series. The Pure Series is designed to maximize energy generation by increasing the active photovoltaic surface, while the Noble Series places greater emphasis on architectural integration through textured glass structures and customized finishes. Noble variants are available in Grey, Black, Red, Slate, Wood, and Copper.
The Modern Line offers the highest power output within the PhotonRoof portfolio. Depending on the configuration, individual modules deliver between 3.5 W and 88 W, with maximum power density reaching 136 W/m² in Pure Series variants. Modules are available in sizes from 300/328 mm up to 1,828 mm × 465 mm, with a thickness of 13 mm and weights ranging from 3.3 kg to 21.2 kg. Installation is compatible with standard roof battens using a spacing of 360–385 mm.
The Nature Line combines the same modular architecture with finishes designed to replicate slate, wood, and copper surfaces. Module output ranges from 3.3 W to 68.9 W, while maximum power density reaches 106 W/m² in the Pure Copper configuration. Like the Modern Line, Nature modules are 13 mm thick and available in sizes up to 1,828 mm × 465 mm.
Designed for traditional roof applications, the Vintage Line offers a smaller tile format while maintaining photovoltaic functionality. Power output ranges from 1.2 W to 19.3 W per module, with maximum power density reaching 116 W/m² in the Pure Black configuration. Vintage modules range from 180 mm to 1,080 mm × 380 mm and are installed using standard battens with 160–170 mm spacing.
The company said the PhotonRoof tiles comply with key European standards, including IEC 61730, IEC 61215, and EN 13501. They have been tested for resistance to harsh environmental conditions, including hail impacts from 75 mm ice spheres travelling at 140 km/h and wind speeds of up to 250 km/h. They operate within a temperature range of –50 C to 90 C and achieve a scratch resistance rating of 8 on the Mohs scale.
For fire safety, PhotonRoof achieves the European BROOF(t1) external fire classification, with EN 13501 ratings of d0 for no flaming droplets and s1 for low smoke emission.
The manufacturer also stressed tha the PhotonRoof is designed to integrate with conventional roofing systems, allowing photovoltaic tiles to be installed alongside matching passive elements. Passive tiles and custom edge elements provide visual consistency around complex roof details, including dormers, valleys, and chimneys.
The new product can be connected to ML System’s nexuView SCADA energy management platform through standard communication protocols such as Modbus, BACnet, and MQTT. The platform enables real-time monitoring, automated load management, battery storage optimization, heat pump coordination, and remote diagnostics down to the individual string level.
The solar tile is backed by a 30-year manufacturer performance warranty.
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Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
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Long-time Suntech partner Franz Sohm from Solar Energy Anstalt was present at the anniversary celebration. His sons Tobias and Fabian Sohm run Green Future GmbH, received the Austrian Solar Prize 2025 in the category “Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Enterprises” for the project “Energy-Independent Farm with Photovoltaics and Battery Storage”, which uses Suntech photovoltaic modules.
The Austrian Solar Prize recognizes innovative projects that advance renewable energy applications, improve energy efficiency and support the transition toward sustainable, low-carbon operations.
The award-winning project at Mooshof farm is located in Schwarzenberg in Austria’s Bregenzerwald region. Developed by Greenfuture GmbH, the project represents the next generation of the Sohm family’s commitment to renewable energy innovation.
The story began in 2004, when Franz Sohm, founder of Solar Energy Anstalt and a pioneer in the European photovoltaic industry, chose Suntech as a trusted module partner. Over the past two decades, Solar Energy has become one of Suntech’s longest-standing customers in Europe and globally.
From 2006 to 2013, Solar Energy played an important role as a distributor, helping expand Suntech’s presence in the European market.
Today, the next generation continues this partnership through Greenfuture GmbH, which specializes in customized self-sufficiency solutions, off-grid systems and emergency power applications. By combining technical expertise with the family’s long experience in solar energy, Greenfuture delivers advanced renewable energy solutions for demanding applications.
The Mooshof is a modern dairy farm with around 80 cows, its own cheese dairy and highly automated processes. Milking robots, feeding systems, milk cooling and cheese production all rely on a stable electricity supply.
To ensure uninterrupted operation, Greenfuture developed an integrated solar-plus-storage system. The project features a 300 kWp photovoltaic system using Suntech modules installed on the roof and façade, combined with a 750 kWh energy storage system.
The system supports islanding capability and black-start functionality. In the event of a blackout, the farm can disconnect from the grid and maintain critical operations during grid outages.
The solution includes two independent energy supply units located in the cheese dairy and cattle barn. Energy can be exchanged between the two systems according to demand, improving efficiency and reducing dependence on external power infrastructure.
With annual electricity consumption of around 180,000 kWh, the farm achieves approximately 85% energy self-sufficiency and significantly reduces electricity costs. Additional expansion of solar installations is also planned for other available areas.
The Mooshof project demonstrates the importance of reliable photovoltaic technology in challenging environments. Located in the Bregenzerwald region at around 700 metres above sea level, the system must withstand changing weather conditions, temperature variations and continuous operation.
Tobias and Fabian Sohm selected Suntech modules because of their proven long-term performance. Franz Sohm has relied on Suntech products for more than 20 years through his wholesale business and has reported excellent long-term performance from Suntech modules, with no module replacement required over more than two decades of operation.
For Suntech, the Mooshof project represents more than a successful installation. It reflects decades of partnership, reliability and a shared commitment to advancing renewable energy.
Over the past 25 years, Suntech has continued to develop high-performance photovoltaic technology and integrated solar-plus-storage solutions, supporting customers worldwide in achieving their clean energy goals.
Some partnerships are measured not in years, but in decades. The Mooshof project is a powerful example of what can be achieved through long-term cooperation, innovation and trust.

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Thursday, July 23, 2026
The sometimes illegal export of damaged and broken solar panels is causing added headaches for Australia’s nascent PV recycling industry, which is already struggling to survive as it awaits a long-delayed pilot scheme that it hopes will support the industry.
Australia has succeeded in reducing the number of end-of-life solar panels shipped off to other countries, thanks to legislative changes and plunging prices. But it is still going on, says James Petesic, a co-founder of solar recycling company PV Industries, and it’s adding to the woes of the local solar waste management industry.
Petesic says that – despite reports of used and damaged solar modules piling up in landfills and suburban back yards – the solar recycling industry is struggling to secure enough panels to survive.
“We are on the coalface of this industry and seeing where we’re losing panels to,” Petesic said in the latest episode of Renew Economy’s Solar Insiders podcast.
“When we speak to installers, more often than not the response, particularly two years ago, was ‘I’m sorry, I’ve already got someone that gives me $5 a panel, $10 a panel, whatever figure they were getting paid.
“And when we asked the installer where they were going, it was always offshore.” 
In the absence of a stewardship scheme, or at the very least the long promised and now suspended solar recycling pilot, Petesic says the biggest threat to the struggling industry is exports, because he’s still seeing valuable PV feedstock leaking overseas.
In most states, end-of-life panels are still being diverted to landfills, stockpiled in the hopes of a stewardship scheme appearing one day, crushed up indiscriminately to be added to building materials, or exported. 
The recycling pilot is supposed to solve these problems by paying for old panels and setting up 100 collection spots around the country.
The goal is to make it more financially viable and convenient to recycle, as well as to sort out the sort of frustrating logistics and transport issues that plague the recycling industry across the board. 
The pilot was supposed to start now, but was suspended in mid-May after a complaint about the process of choosing an administrator for the scheme. 
Solar recyclers are now stuck in a holding pattern.
“We are able to tread water, we’re able to stay alive, and we’re an okay business,” Petesic says of his company, PV Industries. “We’re not losing copious amounts of money, and our future isn’t threatened tomorrow.
“But if it goes on for too many months or years, then we are unable to secure any form of meaningful investment, we’re unable to grow in a meaningful way, and we’re unable to hit those levels of feedstock that we need to become a viable business and a successful one that can begin to thrive in Australia. 
“So, yeah, without stewardship, whether it be a pilot or a full-blown scheme, we don’t have feedstock certainty, and without that, we aren’t able to make sound investment decisions or grow the business in any sort of meaningful way.”
Exporting to low and middle income countries in Africa or Asia was once the norm for broken and end-of-life solar panels from Australia.
In 2024, Queensland alone was exporting as many as 800,000 panels a year before it launched the first recycling trial, Smart Energy Council stewardship program manager Robyn Cowie said at the time.
But changes to a Basel convention that restricts countries from dumping waste in developing nations came in on January 1, 2025. Combined with the plunging price of panels this has eroded, but not entirely killed off, the export industry.
Australia only gives export permits for hazardous waste that can’t be dealt with in country, and allows exports of panels that can still be used.
But ‘reusable’ means undergoing the same testing as a new panel and packaged up as new. Petesic says most of these so-called reusable panels are stuffed into containers with no padding as they are actually destined to become e-waste.
The left image is a container owner by Weeebytes in Melbourne. The right image is one of the containers uncovered by Australian Border Force during Oper
In February this year, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) fined a Melbourne-based recycling company $20,000 after the Singapore government intercepted one its containers and found broken solar panels.
Earlier this year, Australian Border Force revealed what it found during a global export crackdown last year alongside INTERPOL and Europol, with solar panels and inverters making up two of the four main categories of waste smuggled out of Australia.
Petesic says the regulatory changes and collapse in PV prices are improving feedstock flows to recyclers, but that exports offer a backdoor out of Australia that the industry needs closed.
“There’s more panels in the market, so we’re getting more panels, or it is that less of these operators are out there getting panels and sending them overseas to developing nations,” he says. 
“Anecdotally, I would say we’ve seen that practice halve. 
“We still do see quite often with installers that we speak to [that they] sell their panels to an individual that’s undertaking these practices. However, what we have also seen is their willingness to engage with them has reduced because the threshold for what they will receive has increased.”
Exporters now demand unbroken panels, and the extra labour of sorting through a pile of panels is pushing some installers towards local recyclers. 
“We are also seeing installers, I wouldn’t say wake up to the fact because it’s a bit harsh, but come to terms with the fact that they’re still able to make their $5 on a panel,” Petesic says.
“Although rather than selling it to an individual for $5, we charge our fee [and they] put a $5 margin on it [via a] service to their customer, so they’re still able to take a clip along the way.”
But this will-they-won’t-they supply chain isn’t enough to convince investors that solar recycling is viable enough to put money into. 
Petesic, like all solar recyclers right now, says the industry needs the pilot and a stewardship scheme to divert feedstock away from exporters and landfills and guarantee a supply coming in the door. 
“Guarantee feedstock, and at that point we would have a completely different conversation with investors,” he says. 
“Our prices being $0 at the door, we would see less panels going offshore. So it’s a bit of a double barrel approach where not only are panels free, so we’d get more of them, but we’d also get more of them because it’s more competitive when you compare it with offshore export. 
“So we’d receive not only a greater share of panels that are here, but we’d stop panels leaking from the system as well.”
To join more than 29,000 others and get the latest clean energy news delivered straight to your inbox, for free, click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.
Rachel Williamson is a science and business journalist, who focuses on climate change-related health and environmental issues.
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | July 21, 2026
Comstock Metals has signed an materials recycling agreement with Illuminate USA, which operates a 5-GW solar panel assembly facility in central Ohio. Comstock Metals will provide comprehensive recycling services for leftover materials from Illuminate’s manufacturing lines. The services include safe transportation, sorting and environmentally responsible recycling for a broad range of solar panel manufacturing byproducts.
“Our partnership with Illuminate USA is a testament to the industry’s growing commitment to circularity and stewardship,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “By providing a zero-landfill solution for solar panel manufacturing byproducts, we are helping Illuminate USA ensure that all materials are safely repurposed into new industrial goods, eliminating all downstream liability, and giving their team peace of mind knowing all materials are responsibly recycled. This is a major step toward enabling and aligning a truly systemic solar energy ecosystem.”
Comstock operates a growing, strategically positioned national recycling network, including a recently announced hub in central Ohio, to serve customers throughout the country.
“Our new partnership with Comstock Metals strengthens our commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Bryan Kresak, Illuminate’s VP of Environmental, Health, Safety and Facilities. “Together, we are taking these important steps to ensure that our operations reflect our deeply held values and advance sustainable practices across the industry.”
News item from Comstock
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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