Insurers tell pv magazine that severe convective storms (SCS) drove $60 billion in insured losses in 2025, a mounting toll that has become the primary force tightening capacity and raising prices across the solar energy insurance market.
PV module damaged by a hailstorm in Switzerland
Image: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, International Journal of Impact Engineering, CC BY 4.0
Severe convective storms accounted for at least 47% of global insured catastrophe losses in 2025, generating $60 billion in total losses, according to Gallagher Re’s recently published “Improving Underwriting for Renewable Assets” report.
SCS and hail have accounted for more than $200 billion, or 42%, of all insured losses in the United States since 2020, compared with 34% from hurricanes. The United States was hit by at least 13 billion-dollar insured SCS loss events in 2025 alone, making it the third-costliest SCS year on record for insurers, behind 2023 and 2024.
“Hail has emerged as a key driver of losses for solar PV, particularly in regions exposed to severe convective storms,” said Tina Baacke, head of Germany and Austria at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. “Latest Swiss Re research shows that 2025 was the third-costliest year on record for SCS – including hailstorms and damaging winds, after 2023 and 2024 (in 2025 prices) – adding $51 billion of insured losses globally. At the same time, other perils such as fire remain a key concern, with the potential to cause total losses if not effectively managed. This underlines the importance of robust safety concepts, including clear emergency response procedures and coordination with local fire services, to reduce the risk of high-severity events. At Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, we are placing great emphasis on site-specific hazard assessment, asset design and operational resilience when evaluating PV projects.”
Claims data
AXIS Capital’s analysis of closed solar claims between 2019 and 2025 found that hail accounted for 27% of natural catastrophe and extreme weather losses globally by total claim amount. More than 1 million PV modules have been damaged since 2019, accumulating a total gross claim of $342 million. The trend is being driven in part by module technology shifts: claims involving heat-strengthened glass PV modules – now widely adopted for weight and cost reductions – are $50,000/MW higher on average than claims involving fully tempered thicker glass, according to AXIS Capital data.
Sophie Draper, risk engineer for renewable energy at AXIS Capital, said increased claims activity reflects rapid solar expansion into geographies not historically associated with hail risk, where local convective weather patterns are less well understood. She said that as more projects come online globally, the growing area of glass panels is providing deeper data on hail impacts, and that AXIS Capital is monitoring scientific evidence suggesting climate change is contributing to stronger convective storms capable of generating larger hailstones.
Reflecting that uncertainty, Edward Gillespie, senior underwriter for renewable energy at AXIS Capital, said the company calibrates capacity deployment to known and unknown exposure.
“In areas we know to be highly exposed to hail or where the level of exposure is unknown, we must be prudent about the amount of capacity we deploy,” Gillespie told pv magazine. “Our aim is to deliver solutions for clients while maintaining underwriting discipline. We put a high focus on reviewing a project from the outset including how it’s been designed, constructed, and operated as well as a client’s approach to managing risk. It is important to see that clients are placing equal importance on each of these areas to properly mitigate these risks. Projects that demonstrate excellence may unlock more capacity while clients with projects in highly exposed areas may offset higher pricing and capacity limitations if their overall portfolio is well diversified, containing low and high risk-exposed projects.”
Mitigation gap
AXIS Capital sees this dynamic in South Africa, where new solar projects are increasingly located in the country’s more hail-prone eastern and northeastern regions – where energy demand and grid capacity are highest.
Tim Topham, underwriter for renewable energy at AXIS Capital, said the trend is compounding underwriting risk.
“Combined with the growing size of these projects, it creates an increased underwriting risk, and we need to take this into account when considering the terms we can provide, including limits and line sizes,” said Topham.
On mitigation, Draper said the three pillars AXIS Capital considers critical are accurate real-time forecasting, appropriate technology including trackers capable of stowing to more than 60 degrees, and a well-informed operations strategy. North American developers have broadly adopted these measures, she said, but uptake is lagging in markets with shorter operating track records, where hail probability models are warning of exposure.
AXIS Capital claims analysis found that the average cost of a PV hail claim is roughly halved when panels successfully stow, compared with claims where no stow occurred or the stow failed. Modeling by Nextracker and RETC found that for 2.0 mm front glass at 20 miles per hour front wind, breakage probability could be reduced 83% by moving from a 30-degree to a 75-degree stow angle.
Hail losses at utility-scale solar facilities have drawn increasing attention in the US market. A Texas solar project cut its insurance costs by 72% through targeted hail mitigation measures, while a separate analysis showed that hail risk exposure is increasingly affecting project finance terms. In April 2025, VDE Americas and kWh Analytics launched a new tool to help developers quantify site-specific solar hail exposure before financial close.
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How hail is rewriting the solar insurance rulebook – pv magazine International
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Published at Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews – Heliostat aiming strategies in concentrated solar power towers: A review – SolarPACES
Abstract:
In conventional solar power tower (SPT) systems, heliostats typically aim at a single point on the receiver, such as the cavity aperture center or external receiver equator. While these traditional strategies minimize spillage losses, they often cause excessive thermal stresses due to non-uniform solar flux distribution, reducing receiver efficiency and lifespan. To mitigate this, multi-point and optimization-based aiming strategies, encompassing deterministic, metaheuristic, and machine learning methods, have been developed to achieve more uniform flux profiles and enhance overall performance. This review examines heliostat aiming strategies in SPT systems, categorizing them into non-optimized (e.g., single- or fixed multi-point) and optimized approaches. It provides detailed insights into their methodologies, key parameters (such as aiming factors and allowable flux densities), and application contexts, including single- and multi-objective optimizations. For instance, studies show that optimized strategies can reduce peak flux by up to 65 % while improving thermal efficiency by 10–16 %. Incorporating recent advancements, this paper identifies research gaps, such as real-time adaptability under variable weather, and proposes future directions to advance SPT technology for maximized energy yield and sustainability.
Toufik Arrif, Samir Hassani, A. Sánchez-González, Abdelfetah Belaid, Mawloud Guermoui, Farid Melgani, Heliostat aiming strategies in concentrated solar power towers: A review,
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 227, 2026, 116489, ISSN 1364-0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.116489
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Berkeley County residents clash with county over proposed 1,500-acre solar farm – WTMA-AM
Boos and pleas for county leaders to protect a rural community filled a public hearing in Berkeley County as residents in Cross pushed back against a proposed 1
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Greenvolt Next completes 2.2MW PV plant at Astellas facility in Dublin – Solar Power Portal
Built for healthcare company Astellas, the project was completed in just four months.
May 12, 2026
Commercial and industrial (C&I) renewable energy developer Greenvolt Next has completed a 2.2MW ground-mounted PV plant in Dublin.
Built for healthcare company Astellas, the project was completed in just four months, with the C&I developer carrying out the design, installation and commissioning of the ground-mounted PV plant. It will also carry out operations and maintenance (O&M).
The project was designed with the possibility to accommodate additional inverters and also to co-locate battery energy storage on-site. The solar farm currently supplies 27% of Astellas’ electricity at the Damastown facility.
According to the company, the project included sustainability measures such as large bug hotels built using reclaimed tree stumps, the installation of several bat boxes, and a significant number of native Irish trees planted to promote local ecology and support long-term biodiversity on the site.
Sonaura to provide 7MW solar for Bentley Motors Crewe HQ
Gino Gautier, Global CEO DG of the Greenvolt Group, said: “This project shows how efficiently we can deliver on-site solutions at this level. In just four months, we supported Astellas in reducing its energy costs and improving predictability in a context of continued market uncertainty.
“The ability to combine speed with high-quality execution is increasingly important for organisations looking for these types of solutions, and we’re very pleased to meet that need.”
Part of the Greenvolt Group, Greenvolt Next operates in the distributed generation sector across 12 European markets and currently has an operational portfolio of over 405MW, with a further 1GW of signed capacity.
In Ireland, the developer targets to deliver 1GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, which includes the construction of a 1.7MW solar carport at Cork Airport. The project is expected to reach commercial operation in two phases, with the first one this summer and the second phase by August 2027.
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New community solar garden in Owatonna breaks ground with goal of reducing homeowner energy bills – CBS News
New community solar garden in Owatonna breaks ground with goal of reducing homeowner energy bills CBS News
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Rockford orchard owner fears solar farm would hurt 40-year business – WIFR
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Pat Curran, owner of Curran’s Orchard, walks the property where he’s run his business for more than 40 years.
Now, Curran says he’s worried what a proposed five megawatt commercial solar farm planned for neighboring land could mean for his orchard.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, it’ll have an adverse effect on our business, our agritourism, our rural business,” said Curran.
Curran says he believes solar farms take productive farmland out of use and thinks projects like this belong in industrial zoning districts.
He also worries the neighboring solar development could change how customers perceive the orchard and affect business.
“We say, ‘honey, let’s go pick apples this afternoon. Where do you want to go? Well, here’s one. There’s another one. This one’s got solar cells along the border. You want to go there? No, I don’t think so, I want to go to the other one. I don’t want to see solar cells when I go to pick apples, okay?’ So that’s the hurt,” worries Curran.
Curran’s Orchard took to Facebook, expressing concern and raising awareness about the proposal. The post received dozens of comments, as well as a message of solidarity from nearby Edwards Apple Orchard West.
Pivot Energy, an independent power producer and the developer behind the proposed solar farm near Curran’s, has 1,900 projects completed or under development across the U.S.
WIFR reached out to Pivot Energy for a response to the proposal and the concerns being raised in the community. The company said:
Pivot Energy is committed to responding to community concerns and believes our proposed solar project can support agriculture while creating homegrown electricity at the same time. Pivot’s proposed solar project in Rockford is compliant with both state and local solar ordinances.
All our qualified community solar projects include dual land use such as sheep grazing and apiaries supported by pollinator-friendly plantings alongside solar energy production. Our projects are designed to fit into the community by using game-style fencing and vegetative buffers for visual screening.
The solar field will be planted with native and pollinator-friendly vegetation that supports biodiversity and we will partner with local grazers to use sheep to maintain vegetation on site if approved by the county.
Diverse plant species that support butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators help agricultural operations that rely on pollination such as orchards.
Responding to community questions is an important part of our work and we will provide more information through the public process established by county and state regulations. We will work collaboratively with the county to develop a solar project that fits its needs.
Winnebago County Board member Aaron Booker’s district includes Curran’s Orchard. He says anything that can be detrimental to business weighs heavily on him.
“Where solar panels can infringe on the quality of life, I’m also a proponent of property owner rights. So it’s a delicate balance of property owner rights and quality of life for other residents in the area,” Booker said. “So me as a representative of District 1, I am going to listen to the constituents. I’m going to listen to what they have to say. And I think the apple orchard has a very valid concern. So I will listen to that. I’ll take that into consideration along with what the neighbors, the residents have to say about it, and I will be a representative of their voice.”
At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, the Winnebago County Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments on the proposed solar farm. The meeting will be in room 303 of the county administration building located at 404 Elm Street in Rockford.
Wednesday’s hearing is an early, initial step in the long permitting process to build a solar project. If approved by the county this summer, Pivot Energy anticipates starting operations in early 2028.
Copyright 2026 WIFR. All rights reserved.
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Coal India shuts down solar manufacturing arm – pv magazine International
The Indian coal company has dissolved its solar manufacturing subsidiary, CIL Solar PV Ltd, formally ending its planned entry into integrated solar PV manufacturing.
The headquarters of Coal India
Image: Coal India Limited
From pv magazine India
Indian state-owned coal miner Coal India Ltd has dissolved its solar manufacturing arm, CIL Solar PV Ltd, ending its proposed entry into integrated solar PV manufacturing.
In a regulatory filing, Coal India said the name of its subsidiary, CIL Solar PV Ltd, has been struck off the Register of Companies under Section 248(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, and that the company now stands dissolved.
The move follows a public notice issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in April 2026, stating that the Registrar of Companies proposed to strike off or remove the name of CIL Solar PV Ltd under Section 248(2) of the Companies Act, 2013.
Coal India had established CIL Solar PV Ltd as a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop a planned 4 GW solar PV manufacturing facility in India, covering ingots, wafers, cells, and modules.
The proposed gigafactory formed part of Coal India’s broader diversification strategy as it seeks to expand beyond coal mining into integrated solar PV manufacturing. The company has been entering the renewable energy sector to support the decarbonization of its operations. It plans to install 3 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2027-28 and 9.5 GW by 2029-30 across India.
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Luminous gets funding to bring LUMI solar construction robot to Australia – The Robot Report
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The LUMI robot is designed to automate solar panel installation without changing workflows. Source: Luminous Robotics
While federal funding for solar projects may be uncertain in the U.S., interest in robotics to support construction is growing worldwide. Luminous Robotics Inc. today said it has been chosen as the first project to receive funding from the Australian government’s $100 million Solar Scaleup Challenge.
“We’ve been working on this for the past 10 months,” said Jay M. Wong, CEO of Luminous. “We’ve set up an entity and a warehouse over there and can do assembly and testing. We’ve also onboarded a general manager who’s talking to local machine shops and hiring deployment technicians and engineers.”
Founded in 2023, Luminous has developed LUMI, a robot that can pick up solar panels and place them for securing onto racks. The Boston-based startup has received $4.8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
LUMI uses artificial intelligence and can help existing workforces to install 80 lb. (36.2 kg) solar panels up to 3.5 times faster, without any heavy lifting or workflow changes, said Luminous. This is a task that typically takes up to five people, often in high winds or hot weather.
“We did market research for the first six months after incorporation in August 2023,” recalled Wong. “People have been trying to automate solar installation for a decade, but there has been no mass adoption yet. Some companies may be better capitalized than others, but a lot has to do with focus. Solar people have been trying to build robotics companies, and robotics people have been trying to build solar companies.”
“We have a deep appreciation for the pain that the industry is trying to solve,” he told The Robot Report. “We don’t really care what the robot is. We’re not a technology company; we’re a company that solves problems.”
Wong said he wrote all the code for LUMI v1, which went from a concept to a robot in the field in 10 weeks. Luminous first tested its photovoltaic (PV) panel installer at a site in Virginia serving 1,300 customers.
The startup soon moved from wheels to a tracked iteration with a larger battery. Luminous sources robot arms and a chassis from partners and does all its assembly and testing in-house at a warehouse in Boston.
“We’ve built the most flexible solution in the industry for solar construction,” asserted Wong. “No other robot can pick up solar panels from front or back, which is an important enabler for inserting it into any construction process. The industry revolves around risk mitigation — keeping build projects on schedule without introducing a single source of massive risk. We’re not altering how you pick panels off pallets or trucks.”
“We’re now on Version 4, which is in limited production,” he said. “We’ve made it nimbler and are working to make things more modular, designing for manufacturing at scale. We’re starting to ship out LUMI across the U.S. and Australia.”
LUMI augments human workers in solar PV installation. Source: Luminous Robotics
Luminous said LUMI can enhance productivity and safety on Australian solar farms. While the system has already demonstrated cost reductions on solar farms in the U.S., the company said the ARENA project marks its first global deployment of a full fleet of five mobile manipulators, which could reduce solar farm costs by up to 6.2% over their lifetime.
Luminous has partnered with Equans, a global engineering, procurement, and construction firm, to deploy LUMI at two Australian solar farms — the 440MW Neoen Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales and the 250MW Engie Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria.
“Equans reached out to us last year and brought us in touch with ARENA,” said Wong. “We had to be sure it would be worthwhile to ship the product and have the support infrastructure. While there was a steep learning curve around regulations and other things, the Solar Scaleup Challenge was a great way to get into the Australian market. We’re flying out there this weekend.”
LUMI will also collect site and installation data to further refine its design and optimize performance for significant cost reductions in solar panel installation.
“Deploying our LUMI fleet in Australia will allow us to capture the data, performance insights, and real-world impact needed to drive global adoption—the kind of scale and transformation we founded Luminous to achieve,” said Wong.
The LUMI project continues ARENA’s support of Australian innovation in the solar PV industry. ARENA programs have provided more than $290 million to around 300 solar research and development projects since 2012.
“ARENA has set an ambitious goal to reduce the installed cost of solar to 30 cents per watt and bring the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) below $20 per megawatt hour,” stated Daren Miller, CEO of ARENA. “These are important targets, because at this cost solar will form the foundation for Australia’s renewable energy ‘superpower’ future.”
“To achieve net zero, Australia will need immense amounts of solar power at ultra-low cost,” he added. “We’ve already proven our ability to manufacture advanced technologies. It’s now time to apply that capability to solar PV, a cornerstone of the nation’s clean energy future.”
“Collaboration with companies like Luminous is key to reducing costs and maintaining Australia’s leading role in the development and innovation of solar technologies,” he added. “We are aiming to bring together leaders across Australia and the world to tackle the challenges presented in our quest for even cheaper renewable energy through this critical technology.”
LUMI can safely and efficiently pick up solar panels from pallets for placement on racks. Source: Luminous Robotics
Luminous is a member of MassRobotics and was recently named a finalist in the 2025 Eddie awards, which recognize innovators in Massachusetts.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the local ecosystem and the state, including from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center,” said Wong. “I learned from Southie Autonomy to be cost-efficient. We’ve been onboarding two to three people nearly every week, and we have about 12 FTEs [full-time equivalents] and five contractors.”
How is Luminous navigating changes in U.S. funding for renewable energy?
“The TAM [total addressable market] for ‘super human’ manual work is massive, at $15 trillion, and outside the capacity of immediate human scope,” said Wong. “The federal budget will affect tax credits for construction, which will hit residential markets hardest. It’s driving a frenzy to start construction immediately, particularly on the utility side.”
“But solar is still the lowest cost of energy by any source, and as AI data centers demand immediate generation for energy-intensive infrastructures, solar is still the quickest to set up,” he noted. “I’m still bullish on the industry in the U.S., and even more so globally.”
Eugene Demaitre is editorial director of the robotics group at WTWH Media. He was senior editor of The Robot Report from 2019 to 2020 and editorial director of Robotics 24/7 from 2020 to 2023. Prior to working at WTWH Media, Demaitre was an editor at BNA (now part of Bloomberg), Computerworld, TechTarget, and Robotics Business Review.
Demaitre has participated in robotics webcasts, podcasts, and conferences worldwide. He has a master’s from the George Washington University and lives in the Boston area.
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New Zealand moves to reduce red tape for rooftop solar – pv magazine International
The New Zealand government has ordered a review into the installation of residential and small- to medium-scale solar as it seeks to accelerate the rollout of rooftop PV.
Image: Kerin Gedge/Unsplash
From pv magazine Australia
The New Zealand (NZ) government has announced a Sector Review into the installation rules for residential and small- to medium-scale solar with the aim of making the deployment of rooftop PV in the country the simplest in the developed world.
Data sourced from Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko shows NZ’s distributed solar PV capacity increased 44% in 2025 with a record 258 MW installed last year. Even with the surge, only 3% of 4% of New Zealand homes have solar installed while more than 30% of Australian households now run rooftop solar.
NZ Regulation Minister David Seymour said the current installation and approvals process for residential and small- to medium-scale solar is a “red-tape nightmare”, pointing to unnecessary approval delays and inspection layers. “Just getting it approved can take months,” he said, noting that “in parts of Australia, approval of similar low-risk solar can be done in just 24 hours.”
Seymour said the NZ process currently includes up to eight layers of sign-off before small-scale solar systems can be switched on. That could require up to five separate site visits, from four separate entities.
“For example, during installation the installer often cannot turn off or reconnect the fuse, update the meter, or carry out the required independent electrical inspection,” he said. “These tasks must be done by other entities, requiring additional site visits.”
Seymour said the Victorian government’s process, which requires just one layer of sign-off for small-scale solar installation, could serve as a blueprint for NZ.
“The whole solar installation process is managed and carried out by the chosen installer,” he said. “Standard installations are inspected by a licensed electricity inspector without a site visit. Photos clearly show compliance. A site visit is only carried out in person if something unusual or non-compliant is identified in the photos.”
Seymour said the sector review will make solar an easy option in New Zealand.
“Common sense says that if something is low risk, the rules should reflect that,” he said. “Every unnecessary requirement pushes up costs and puts people off doing sensible things like generating their own power.”
Analysis by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority shows that most NZ households could save more than $595 (NZD 1,000) a year on their power bills by installing solar panels. Installation cost of a small to medium system is estimated between $5,000 to $6,900.
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Two Chinese Companies Set New World Records for Solar Cell Efficiency – The Energy Mix
Two Chinese Companies Set New World Records for Solar Cell Efficiency
Full Story: The Energy Mix
Chris Bonasia
PixTreats/pixabay
The next generation of solar panels is getting dramatically better at turning sunlight into electricity, and the technology is being readied for mass production.
Two Chinese solar companies broke solar cell efficiency records in April. Trina Solar announced its new back-contact solar cell, a design that moves all electrical contacts to the rear of the panel so nothing blocks incoming sunlight, had reached a conversion efficiency of 28%. The result was independently certified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). It was the first time a large-format silicon cell of its kind had reached that benchmark. PV Magazine reported that the company already has plans to mass produce the cell.
LONGi, also based in China, announced it had reached 28.13% efficiency with its own “hybrid interdigitated” back-contact (HIBC) cell, also certified by ISFH. When it comes to solar efficiency, fractions of a percent can determine whether a record stands. LONGi had set its previous 28.04% efficiency record for the HIBC cell just months earlier in January 2026.
“These hardcore breakthroughs in technological strength have already translated into a leading edge in mass production,” the company said in its press release.
Trina Solar and LONGi’s products are both made with silicon, the most common material used in solar cells. But cells can also be made with perovskite—which is cheaper and has greater light absorption potential, but has been less tested in the industry, explains Ossila, a United Kingdom-based science products company. According to BBC News, silicon-only cells have a theoretical maximum efficiency of around 33%, while perovskite cells have a theoretical maximum above 47%.
Solar panels in operation today generally have an efficiency of 20 to 22.5%, Energy Sage says.
The two materials can also be combined: last April, LONGi achieved 34.85% efficiency with a solar cell using both perovskite and silicon.
Another team of Chinese scientists made a breakthrough with perovskite, attaining a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.3% with rigid perovskite tandem solar cells, and 28% with a flexible version, writes Interesting Engineering.
Perovskite solar cell technology may be stepping up to large-scale production soon after Tandem PV, a high-efficiency perovskite-silicon panel maker, recently opened a commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California. A company release says the 65,000-square-foot facility has capacity for 40 megawatts each year, and is “intended to validate large-format production and accelerate market adoption.”
Canary Media reports that perovskite solar technology can help the solar industry overcome the long-term problem of eventually reaching the limits of silicon’s potential efficiency.
“Even though we’re at 30%, there’s so much more room to improve, whereas silicon is kind of hitting its natural limits,” said Tandem CEO Scott Wharton. “They’ve basically squeezed almost all the lemon juice they’re going to get out of that lemon.”
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Two Chinese Companies Set New World Records for Solar Cell Efficiency
Full Story: The Energy Mix
PixTreats/pixabay
The next generation of solar panels is getting dramatically better at turning sunlight into electricity, and the technology is being readied for mass production.
Two Chinese solar companies broke solar cell efficiency records in April. Trina Solar announced its new back-contact solar cell, a design that moves all electrical contacts to the rear of the panel so nothing blocks incoming sunlight, had reached a conversion efficiency of 28%. The result was independently certified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). It was the first time a large-format silicon cell of its kind had reached that benchmark. PV Magazine reported that the company already has plans to mass produce the cell.
LONGi, also based in China, announced it had reached 28.13% efficiency with its own “hybrid interdigitated” back-contact (HIBC) cell, also certified by ISFH. When it comes to solar efficiency, fractions of a percent can determine whether a record stands. LONGi had set its previous 28.04% efficiency record for the HIBC cell just months earlier in January 2026.
“These hardcore breakthroughs in technological strength have already translated into a leading edge in mass production,” the company said in its press release.
Trina Solar and LONGi’s products are both made with silicon, the most common material used in solar cells. But cells can also be made with perovskite—which is cheaper and has greater light absorption potential, but has been less tested in the industry, explains Ossila, a United Kingdom-based science products company. According to BBC News, silicon-only cells have a theoretical maximum efficiency of around 33%, while perovskite cells have a theoretical maximum above 47%.
Solar panels in operation today generally have an efficiency of 20 to 22.5%, Energy Sage says.
The two materials can also be combined: last April, LONGi achieved 34.85% efficiency with a solar cell using both perovskite and silicon.
Another team of Chinese scientists made a breakthrough with perovskite, attaining a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.3% with rigid perovskite tandem solar cells, and 28% with a flexible version, writes Interesting Engineering.
Perovskite solar cell technology may be stepping up to large-scale production soon after Tandem PV, a high-efficiency perovskite-silicon panel maker, recently opened a commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California. A company release says the 65,000-square-foot facility has capacity for 40 megawatts each year, and is “intended to validate large-format production and accelerate market adoption.”
Canary Media reports that perovskite solar technology can help the solar industry overcome the long-term problem of eventually reaching the limits of silicon’s potential efficiency.
“Even though we’re at 30%, there’s so much more room to improve, whereas silicon is kind of hitting its natural limits,” said Tandem CEO Scott Wharton. “They’ve basically squeezed almost all the lemon juice they’re going to get out of that lemon.”
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The next generation of solar panels is getting dramatically better at turning sunlight into electricity, and the technology is being readied for mass production.
Two Chinese solar companies broke solar cell efficiency records in April. Trina Solar announced its new back-contact solar cell, a design that moves all electrical contacts to the rear of the panel so nothing blocks incoming sunlight, had reached a conversion efficiency of 28%. The result was independently certified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). It was the first time a large-format silicon cell of its kind had reached that benchmark. PV Magazine reported that the company already has plans to mass produce the cell.
LONGi, also based in China, announced it had reached 28.13% efficiency with its own “hybrid interdigitated” back-contact (HIBC) cell, also certified by ISFH. When it comes to solar efficiency, fractions of a percent can determine whether a record stands. LONGi had set its previous 28.04% efficiency record for the HIBC cell just months earlier in January 2026.
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“These hardcore breakthroughs in technological strength have already translated into a leading edge in mass production,” the company said in its press release.
Trina Solar and LONGi’s products are both made with silicon, the most common material used in solar cells. But cells can also be made with perovskite—which is cheaper and has greater light absorption potential, but has been less tested in the industry, explains Ossila, a United Kingdom-based science products company. According to BBC News, silicon-only cells have a theoretical maximum efficiency of around 33%, while perovskite cells have a theoretical maximum above 47%.
Solar panels in operation today generally have an efficiency of 20 to 22.5%, Energy Sage says.
The two materials can also be combined: last April, LONGi achieved 34.85% efficiency with a solar cell using both perovskite and silicon.
Another team of Chinese scientists made a breakthrough with perovskite, attaining a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.3% with rigid perovskite tandem solar cells, and 28% with a flexible version, writes Interesting Engineering.
Perovskite solar cell technology may be stepping up to large-scale production soon after Tandem PV, a high-efficiency perovskite-silicon panel maker, recently opened a commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California. A company release says the 65,000-square-foot facility has capacity for 40 megawatts each year, and is “intended to validate large-format production and accelerate market adoption.”
Canary Media reports that perovskite solar technology can help the solar industry overcome the long-term problem of eventually reaching the limits of silicon’s potential efficiency.
“Even though we’re at 30%, there’s so much more room to improve, whereas silicon is kind of hitting its natural limits,” said Tandem CEO Scott Wharton. “They’ve basically squeezed almost all the lemon juice they’re going to get out of that lemon.”
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PixTreats/pixabay
The next generation of solar panels is getting dramatically better at turning sunlight into electricity, and the technology is being readied for mass production.
Two Chinese solar companies broke solar cell efficiency records in April. Trina Solar announced its new back-contact solar cell, a design that moves all electrical contacts to the rear of the panel so nothing blocks incoming sunlight, had reached a conversion efficiency of 28%. The result was independently certified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). It was the first time a large-format silicon cell of its kind had reached that benchmark. PV Magazine reported that the company already has plans to mass produce the cell.
LONGi, also based in China, announced it had reached 28.13% efficiency with its own “hybrid interdigitated” back-contact (HIBC) cell, also certified by ISFH. When it comes to solar efficiency, fractions of a percent can determine whether a record stands. LONGi had set its previous 28.04% efficiency record for the HIBC cell just months earlier in January 2026.
View our latest digests
“These hardcore breakthroughs in technological strength have already translated into a leading edge in mass production,” the company said in its press release.
Trina Solar and LONGi’s products are both made with silicon, the most common material used in solar cells. But cells can also be made with perovskite—which is cheaper and has greater light absorption potential, but has been less tested in the industry, explains Ossila, a United Kingdom-based science products company. According to BBC News, silicon-only cells have a theoretical maximum efficiency of around 33%, while perovskite cells have a theoretical maximum above 47%.
Solar panels in operation today generally have an efficiency of 20 to 22.5%, Energy Sage says.
The two materials can also be combined: last April, LONGi achieved 34.85% efficiency with a solar cell using both perovskite and silicon.
Another team of Chinese scientists made a breakthrough with perovskite, attaining a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.3% with rigid perovskite tandem solar cells, and 28% with a flexible version, writes Interesting Engineering.
Perovskite solar cell technology may be stepping up to large-scale production soon after Tandem PV, a high-efficiency perovskite-silicon panel maker, recently opened a commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California. A company release says the 65,000-square-foot facility has capacity for 40 megawatts each year, and is “intended to validate large-format production and accelerate market adoption.”
Canary Media reports that perovskite solar technology can help the solar industry overcome the long-term problem of eventually reaching the limits of silicon’s potential efficiency.
“Even though we’re at 30%, there’s so much more room to improve, whereas silicon is kind of hitting its natural limits,” said Tandem CEO Scott Wharton. “They’ve basically squeezed almost all the lemon juice they’re going to get out of that lemon.”
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Zelestra Inaugurates Its First Solar Project In Italy With 6.5 MW Agrivoltaic Plant In Ginosa, Puglia – SolarQuarter
Zelestra Inaugurates Its First Solar Project In Italy With 6.5 MW Agrivoltaic Plant In Ginosa, Puglia SolarQuarter
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Greenvolt Next Completes 2.2MWp Solar Farm At Astellas Damastown Facility In Dublin To Boost On-Site Renewable Energy – SolarQuarter
Greenvolt Next Completes 2.2MWp Solar Farm At Astellas Damastown Facility In Dublin To Boost On-Site Renewable Energy SolarQuarter
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India Adds 3.9 GW Solar Capacity in April, Crosses 154 GW Milestone Amid Rapid Renewable Energy Expansion – SolarQuarter
India Adds 3.9 GW Solar Capacity in April, Crosses 154 GW Milestone Amid Rapid Renewable Energy Expansion SolarQuarter
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Credence Solar Secures BIS Approval for 744 Wp Modules, Boosting India’s High-Efficiency Solar Manufacturing Push – SolarQuarter
Credence Solar Secures BIS Approval for 744 Wp Modules, Boosting India’s High-Efficiency Solar Manufacturing Push SolarQuarter
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India ranks 3rd globally in installed renewable energy capacity – News On AIR
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FH Capital to acquire majority stake in JinkoSolar U.S. manufacturing – pv magazine International
Private equity firm FH Capital reached an agreement to acquire a 75.1% majority stake in JinkoSolar’s U.S. manufacturing subsidiary to expand domestic module and battery production.
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From pv magazine USA
FH Capital entered a definitive agreement to acquire the majority interest in Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries Inc., while JinkoSolar will retain a 24.9% minority stake. The deal includes a 2 GW solar module manufacturing facility and a growing battery energy storage system business.
The move to a majority-U.S. ownership structure follows a period of increasing regulatory pressure on foreign-linked entities. Under Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules, manufacturers must reduce reliance on certain international technology and ownership to qualify for the full 45X manufacturing tax credits. The transaction may help the facility navigate these requirements while positioning the brand to capture the domestic content bonus, which requires a rising percentage of U.S.-sourced components through 2027.
Post-closing, FH Capital plans to deploy expansion capital to double solar module capacity to at least 4 GW and launch domestic BESS manufacturing.
While U.S. module capacity reached 72 GW earlier in 2026, the industry is now shifting focus to vertical integration. The shift toward battery energy storage system manufacturing aligns with broader market trends as developers seek integrated solar-plus-storage solutions to mitigate grid interconnection delays and meet clean energy mandates.
The firm is led by Managing Partner Sanjeev Chaurasia, who previously headed global solar investment banking at Credit Suisse and led JinkoSolar’s initial public offering in 2010. Chaurasia noted that the transaction leverages JinkoSolar’s seven-year U.S. manufacturing presence to meet rising demand for domestic clean energy solutions.
Nigel Cockroft, U.S. General Manager of JinkoSolar, stated the transaction provides the strategic direction required to grow capacity for U.S.-sourced products. The expansion into BESS manufacturing comes as the U.S. “Solar Belt” in the Southeast and Midwest continues to attract investment for advanced manufacturing hubs.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to FH Capital, while Morgan Stanley Asia Limited is serving as financial advisor to JinkoSolar.
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Port Authority Launches Major Solar Energy Expansion at Newark Airport – The Maritime Executive
Published by The Maritime Executive
Published by The Maritime Executive
Published by The Maritime Executive
Published by The Maritime Executive
Published May 11, 2026 9:29 PM by The Maritime Executive
[By: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced plans for a major expansion of solar energy infrastructure at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which will add approximately 5 megawatts of generating capacity across five airport sites and will produce nearly 5.9 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity in its first year of operation, enough to power more than 550 homes.
The project represents a significant contribution to the Port Authority’s industry-leading sustainability goals. In 2021, the agency installed 1.6 megawatts of solar capacity across its facilities. Today, driven by investments at its facilities across the region, the agency’s solar power generation capacity has grown to more than 14 megawatts, with more than 25,000 solar panels now generating clean energy across the agency’s portfolio. The Newark Liberty expansion will mark a nearly tenfold increase in solar energy capacity over five years, reaching nearly 20 megawatts in generating capacity across 32,000 panels.
Developed in partnership with SunLight General Capital under a power purchase agreement, the project will be designed, built, financed, owned, operated, and maintained by the developer. The Port Authority will purchase the electricity generated at a pre-determined rate, locking in long-term cost certainty while minimizing upfront capital expenditure. Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion targeted for 2028.
The Newark Liberty solar expansion adds to the Port Authority’s rapidly growing renewable energy portfolio at its facilities as part of its commitment to reach net-zero by 2050, as well as an interim goal of halving direct emissions by 2030. The agency recently announced it preliminarily met its interim goal of a 35 percent reduction in direct emissions through 2025.
“Since Day One, my administration has moved quickly to bring new, clean energy onto the grid and modernize our energy infrastructure — from launching six large-scale solar and battery storage projects to accelerating solar expansion statewide,” said New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill. ”We are continuing to lead with the Port Authority at Newark Liberty, and this project builds on that progress. This initiative will add nearly 5.9 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, support new jobs, and move us closer to clean energy future. Newark Liberty is one of the front doors to New Jersey, and this project will show why we are a national leader in energy innovation.”
“Newark Liberty has been central to our sustainability story for years, home to the largest rooftop solar installation at any U.S. airport and the agency’s first fully decarbonized building,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Today we’re adding to that record with 5 megawatts of new solar capacity across five more sites, moving this airport and this agency even closer to net-zero emissions.”
“The scale of what we are building at Newark Liberty, in addition to our existing rooftop installations, reflects how seriously this agency takes its obligations to the communities around our facilities and to the broader challenge of climate change,” said Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. “These five additional sites at the airport, together generating 5 megawatts, show that our net-zero commitment is more than wishful thinking. It is a construction schedule and a signed agreement, with the reality of clean energy coming online at one of the busiest airports in the country.”
“We are honored to partner with the Port Authority on such an exciting and meaningful project,” said SunLight General Capital Chief Investment Officer Ed Klehe. “Expanding solar across Newark Liberty International Airport is a powerful example of how clean energy can be integrated into complex, high-impact infrastructure. The Port Authority has shown impressive environmental stewardship and a clear commitment to reducing emissions across its facilities, and SunLight General Capital is proud to help bring that vision to life through long-term ownership and operation of these solar systems.”
The five sites for new solar installations at Newark Liberty will span rooftops, parking lots and parking structures, including the parking lot in front of Buildings 79/80 at the northeast corner of the airport campus, the Terminal C garage, the P4 parking garage, and the rideshare lot. The rideshare lot installation is specifically sized to power fast-charging electric vehicle stations, bolstering the Port Authority’s commitment to support electric vehicle usage across the region. The project will avoid nearly 2,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually — the equivalent of taking approximately 460 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road for a year.
The Port Authority selected SunLight General Capital through a competitive bidding process in 2024. Under the power purchase agreement, SunLight will build, own and maintain the solar installation sites while the Port Authority purchases the electricity they produce at a locked-in rate, a model that allows the agency to add significant clean energy capacity without a large upfront public investment.
In 2021, the Port Authority became the first U.S. transportation agency to commit to full net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the first to sign the Paris climate agreement. The Port Authority’s net-zero roadmap, released in 2023, lays out more than 40 concrete actions spanning aviation, maritime, rail, and infrastructure, including targets for fleet electrification, building decarbonization, solar expansion, and cooperative emissions reductions with tenants and contractors.
At Newark Liberty, the Terminal A parking garage already houses a 5-megawatt rooftop solar array, the largest rooftop solar installation at any U.S. airport, with 12,708 panels covering the equivalent of more than six football fields. The airport’s historic Building One, dedicated in 1935 as the nation’s first air passenger terminal, recently became the Port Authority’s first building to undergo a full decarbonization retrofit, eliminating all fossil fuel use on-site and serving as the prototype for future building decarbonization plans across the agency.
Across the region, the Port Authority’s solar buildout has repeatedly set new industry standards. A 12-megawatt solar carport is under construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s (JFK) Long Term Parking Lot 9, paired with 7.5 megawatts of battery storage and a community solar component that will deliver discounted clean energy to low-income residents in surrounding Queens neighborhoods. JFK’s New Terminal One will feature more than 13,000 solar panels on its roof, the largest solar array at any airport terminal in the country, spanning nearly seven football fields. A 1.5-megawatt array operates atop LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B garage, and a 7.2-megawatt installation at the Port of New York and New Jersey now generates 50 percent of the Port Newark Container Terminal’s annual energy needs.
Solar is one pillar of a sweeping sustainability agenda the Port Authority has pursued across its facilities. On fleet electrification, the agency has met its interim goal of converting 50 percent of its non-emergency light-duty vehicle fleet to electric, supported by more than 300 charging ports across Port Authority facilities. More than 1,700 pieces of zero-emission ground service equipment like baggage tugs, pushback tractors and belt loaders are now in use across Port Authority airports, the result of sustainability requirements the agency has embedded in its agreements with airline and terminal partners. In 2024, the Port Authority received a record grant through the EPA’s Clean Ports Program, the largest sustainability award in the agency’s history, directing funds toward cleaner equipment and infrastructure at the East Coast’s busiest seaport. Construction is also underway on the new Midtown Bus Terminal, designed from the ground up for net-zero operations and built to accommodate all-electric bus fleets.
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
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Published May 11, 2026 6:59 PM by The Maritime Executive
Authorities in Europe are intensifying their efforts to disrupt the trafficking of drugs from Latin America into the lucrative European market. Officials were celebrating the success of a coordinated operation that led to major seizures and arrests, while they were also saddened by a tragic accident. In recent months, Latin American drug traffickers have come up with new tricks to run their trade, with the Atlantic Ocean emerging as a major “cocaine highway,” officials report. Europol has warned that criminal…
Shipping
Published May 11, 2026 6:06 PM by The Maritime Executive
Fuel shortages triggered by the ongoing Iran war continue to be felt across the world, potentially also affecting polar missions. South Africa has confirmed delays to its annual Marion Island relief voyage in the Southern Ocean. The rescheduling of the relief mission to the Sub-Antarctic region is due to the late delivery of the polar diesel needed for the operation. In a statement to local media, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) confirmed that the icebreaker SA Agulhas…
Cruise Ships
Published May 11, 2026 5:48 PM by The Maritime Executive
Health authorities are confirming that the evacuation of the passengers and some of the crew from the expedition ship Hondius was finished late on Monday, and the repatriation efforts were completed. The medical efforts shift to the individual countries with support from the World Health Organization and others. Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement late on Monday, May 11, that 122 people had left the cruise ship, 87 passengers and 35 crew, and all have departed Tenerife on individually arranged…
Offshore
Published May 11, 2026 4:47 PM by The Maritime Executive
The U.S. Coast Guard led a response to a fire that is burning aboard a non-operational offshore gas platform located off the coast of California. At least two fireboats were on the scene while the USCG maintained a 1,000-yard safety zone around the platform. The operation known as Platform Habitat is reported to be approximately 7.5 miles offshore in the Santa Barbara Channel and near Carpinteria. It is owned by a company called DCOR, which has been operating offshore energy…
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Gamuda unit begins work on Australia’s Jinbi solar farm – Gamuda Berhad
Kuala Lumpur: Gamuda Bhd’s Australian subsidiary, DT Infrastructure, has begun work on the Jinbi Solar Farm for Yindjibarndi Energy Corpn (YEC), a flagship 75-megawatt renewable energy project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Located in Yindjibarndi Ngurra, about 56 kilometres south of Karratha, the project will feature around 160,000 solar panels and is expected to play a key role in accelerating the region’s shift towards cleaner energy.
Once completed, the Jinbi Solar Farm will supply renewable electricity to Rio Tinto’s regional power network, helping to support mining operations with a more sustainable and reliable energy source while reducing carbon emissions in the Pilbara.
In a statement, DT Infrastructure chief executive John Anderson said the project marks an important step for both the company’s growing renewable energy portfolio and the broader energy transition in Western Australia.
“This project is not only a vital addition to our renewable energy pipeline but also a testament to our commitment to the Pilbara’s future infrastructure.
“Partnering with one of Australia’s largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives allows us to support YEC in delivering meaningful, long-term outcomes for the Yindjibarndi community,” he said.
The Jinbi Solar Farm forms part of YEC’s wider renewable energy development plans across its Chichester Range and Eastern Development Zone hubs, which collectively support more than 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of proposed wind, solar and battery storage capacity in the Pilbara.
YEC chief executive officer Craig Ricato said DT Infrastructure’s involvement is a key step in realising the company’s vision for sustainable energy on Yindjibarndi.
Established in 2023, YEC aims to develop up to 3GW of renewable energy capacity across roughly 13,000 square kilometres of Yindjibarndi Ngurra, supporting decarbonisation, electrification and the development of new industries in the region, while generating long-term economic and social benefits for the Yindjibarndi people.
Project mobilisation is already underway, with completion targeted for early 2028.
DT Infrastructure continues to position itself as a key delivery partner in Australia’s clean energy transition, focusing on large-scale infrastructure projects that support long-term sustainability goals.
Gamuda has been steadily expanding its renewable energy footprint across the Asia Pacific, spanning solar, hydro and wind developments.
Its portfolio under DT Infrastructure includes projects such as Stage 1 of Marinus Link, the Carmody’s Hill Wind Farm, the Goulburn River Solar Farm, and the Boulder Creek Wind Farm.
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Jinbi Solar Project secures PPA with mining giant Rio Tinto – Energy Source & Distribution
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC), one of Australia’s largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives, will begin construction of the Jinbi Solar Project in the Pilbara after reaching financial close and signing a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Rio Tinto.
The project is YEC’s first to progress through to financial close, three years after YEC was established as a partnership between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and ACEN Corporation.
Related article: Rio Tinto to build two solar farms in the Northern Territory
A central component of the commercial framework is a long‑term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Rio Tinto for Stage 1 of the project. Under the agreement, YEC will supply 100% of the electricity generated by Jinbi to Rio Tinto, supporting decarbonisation of Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Pilbara operations once the project is operational.
Stage 1 of the Jinbi Solar Project will comprise a 75MWac solar facility, with an option to expand to 150MWac, including the potential addition of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), subject to regulatory approvals and future development decisions.
YEC has issued notices to proceed to its engineering, procurement and construction contractor, DT Infrastructure. Construction will now commence, with full commercial operations expected in mid‑2028.
YEC CEO Craig Ricato said, “Reaching Financial Close on our first project in the Pilbara within three years of the partnership’s operation is a significant milestone for YEC and our shareholders, the Yindjibarndi Traditional Owners and ACEN.
“It confirms that a Yindjibarndi-led project, grounded in Country and culture, can meet the rigorous commercial requirements of the energy market while staying true to our values and governance responsibilities.”
Yindjibarndi Nation CEO Michael Woodley said, “Jinbi is about more than a renewable energy project—it is about Yindjibarndi people exercising authority on Country and building an economic future that reflects our law, culture and responsibilities.
Related article: Rio Tinto reveals plans for 80MW solar farm in Pilbara
“Reaching Financial Close demonstrates that when development is Yindjibarndi‑led, underpinned by strong governance and the right partnerships, it can deliver outcomes that are both commercially sound and culturally grounded.”
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Some hate renewables, others preach the end of life as we know it if we don’t replace all coal and gas. These opposing viewpoints are exploited by partisan politics. #renewables #energytransition #fossilfuels #netzero
Australians are missing out on $1.1 billion a year in savings due to underinvestment in voltage management technologies for the grid. #grid #energytransition #technology #renewables
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Iberdrola completes panel install at Broadsound Solar Farm – Energy Source & Distribution
Iberdrola Australia has celebrated a major milestone at its Broadsound Solar Farm and Battery project, with installation of all 609,522 solar panels.
The 376MW Broadsound Solar Farm and 180MW (2hr) co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), located at Clarke Creek, about two hours north-west from Rockhampton, will generate enough electricity to power 145,000 homes.
Related article: Iberdrola begins construction on first project in Queensland
Across the site, more than 91,000 piles were driven and 7,006 trackers installed. Behind this has been a mechanical installation team of 110 people, with close to half identifying as First Nations.
Iberdrola Australia CEO and chairman Ross Rolfe AO said, “After providing energy to Australian customers, including Queensland commercial and industrial businesses, for many years we’re excited to soon be able to generate energy locally here with the Broadsound Solar Farm and BESS project.
“With more than 20 years experience working in Australian communities we’re looking forward to this big step into the Queensland market and adding to our 1.7GW of energy assets in operation across the country.
“It’s been great to work with the local community, the First Nations people, and in particular the Queensland Government and Isaac Regional Council to develop this project to deliver clean and affordable energy.”
Related article: Iberdrola Australia acquires 242MW Ararat Wind Farm
Powerlink recently completed the connection to Broadsound Solar Farm ahead of schedule, which means Iberdrola can commence testing before exporting to the National Electricity Market (NEM) once construction is complete.
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Australians are missing out on $1.1 billion a year in savings due to underinvestment in voltage management technologies for the grid. #grid #energytransition #technology #renewables
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UK Residential Solar Market Size to Worth USD 3,612.4 Million by 2034 | With a 13.62% CAGR – openPR.com
UK Residential Solar Market Size to Worth USD 3,612.4 Million by 2034 | With a 13.62% CAGR openPR.com
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SECI Floats Tender For 88 MW Solar PV Balance Of System Project In Karnataka – SolarQuarter
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Constant solar and wind power is already competitive with fossil fuels – Table.Briefings
Some renewable energy plants capable of providing a reliable, continuous supply of electricity are already cheaper than gas- and coal-fired power plants. Over the next ten years, costs for hybrid projects that include storage will continue to fall.
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We are developing a new large-capacity photovoltaic plant in Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca – Iberdrola
We are developing a new large-capacity photovoltaic plant in Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca Iberdrola
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UniCredit funds 37.2-MWp solar project at Italy’s Ravenna port – Renewables Now
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Moorhead to install solar panels at city buildings – InForum
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Jinbi Solar Farm – Gamuda Berhad
Western Australia, Australia
2026
DT Infrastructure has been appointed to deliver the Jinbi Solar Farm, a flagship 75MW project located on Yindjibarndi Ngurra (country) in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, approximately 56 kilometres south of Karratha.
Awarded by the Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC), which is one of Australia’s largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives, Jinbi Solar Farm represents a crucial milestone in the decarbonisation of the Pilbara region and will feature 160,000 solar panels.
Mobilisation is scheduled to begin in Q2 2026, with the project completion expected to be early 2028. Once operational, the facility will supply sustainable and dependable renewable energy to support Rio Tinto’s regional power network and operations.
DT Infrastructure continues to establish itself as a leading delivery partner for Australia’s clean energy transition, focusing on large-scale infrastructure that paves the way for a sustainable future.
DT Infrastructure remains committed in expanding its renewable energy portfolio, spanning solar and wind projects nationally. Beyond the Jinbi Solar Farm, key projects delivered under the company include Marinus Link (Stage 1), a major undersea and underground electricity and data interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria; Carmody’s Hill Wind Farm; Goulburn River Solar Farm and Boulder Creek Wind Farm.
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BBDF 2026: financing, grid fees, flexibility and growth – pv magazine International
More than 530 delegates from across Europe’s fast-growing battery energy storage system (BESS) sector gathered in Frankfurt for the second annual Battery Business & Development Forum (BBDF), jointly organized by pv magazine and ESS News, Conexio-PSE, and SolarPower Europe. Engaging presentations, lively discussions and the chance to connect with industry leaders from across key markets made this year’s event a major success.
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Egypt installs 800 MW of solar in 2025 – pv magazine International
Latest analysis from GlobalData expects Egypt’s annual solar additions to reach above 2 GW over the next three years, increasing to above 3.5 GW from 2029 onwards. Cumulative capacity is expected to grow from around 2.9 GW at the end of 2025 to 34.3 GW by the end of 2035.
Image: Ali Othman/Unsplash
Egypt added around 800 MW of solar in 2025, according to figures published by GlobalData. The consultancy’s latest analysis says Egypt’s cumulative solar capacity increased from 2.1 GW by the end of 2024 to around 2.9 GW by the end of 2025.
GlobalData is expecting 2.2 GW of solar to be added this year, taking total capacity to 5.1 GW by the end of 2026, followed by a further 2.1 GW in both 2027 and 2028. Annual additions are anticipated to increase from then onwards, up to an estimated 3.5 GW in 2029, taking Egypt’s total solar capacity to 12.8 GW by the end of this decade.
Yearly additions between 3.5 GW and 3.7 GW are anticipated throughout the early 2030s, taking Egypt past 20 GW of solar during 2032 and over 30 GW of solar in 2034, ahead of reaching a forecasted 34.3 GW by the end of 2035.
Solar is expected to maintain its position as Egypt’s leading form of renewables throughout the study period, with the country’s total cumulative renewable capacity expected to reach approximately 49.7 GW by 2035, GlobalData’s analysis adds.
Image: GlobalData
Mohammed Ziauddin, Power Analyst at GlobalData, said solar is emerging as the dominant driver in Egypt’s power sector, supported by strong resource availability, improving project economics and sustained policy support. “Its scalability and cost competitiveness make it well suited to meet rising electricity demand, while complementary technologies continue to support system stability,” Ziauddin explained.
GlobalData’s analysis explains that Egypt’s solar expansion is underpinned by a comprehensive policy and investment framework. The consultancy says legislation opened the market to independent power producers, while tax reductions, reduced customs duties and access to land improved project viability and long-term power purchase agreements, sovereign guarantees and the expansion of build-own-operate models further strengthened investor confidence and accelerated project execution.
Egypt’s solar pipeline is dominated by utility-scale projects. Among major projects to begin construction last year was a 1 GW solar site tied to 600 MWh of storage belonging to Amea Power and a 1.1 GW solar plus 200 MWh storage project belonging to Scatec, whose entire portfolio in Egypt has been valued at $3.6 billion.
Ziauddin told pv magazine that despite the dominance of utility-scale projects, Egypt’s smaller scale solar segments, and in particular the commercial and industrial (C&I market), are gradually gaining momentum.
“Over the forecast period, utility scale developments are expected to account for more than 60% of Egypt’s total solar market, while C&I projects are expected to comprise most of the remaining share,” Ziauddin added. “Together, utility scale and C&I solar are projected to represent nearly 98-99% of the country’s overall solar market.”
Ziauddin also explained that household level solar penetration remains limited in Egypt due to a combination of financial, structural, and behavioural barriers.
“Studies conducted at the household level in Cairo and Giza indicate that a significant proportion of households remain unwilling to adopt rooftop solar systems even when financing options are available, highlighting persistent affordability concerns and limited consumer confidence in the segment,” he said. “Households continue to rely heavily on conventional electricity and gas based energy sources, with solar accounting for only a marginal share of household energy usage. Residential deployment therefore remains concentrated primarily among higher income households, gated communities and premium residential developments.”
Ziauddin added that the stronger performing of the C&I segment relative to residential solar is driven by declining solar technology costs and a net metering framework that help to improve project viability, as well as ongoing electricity tariff reforms. He said that the government has progressively reduced electricity subsidies and implemented substantial tariff increases across C&I consumer categories over the past years.
“In August 2024 alone, electricity tariffs for commercial users increased by approximately 23.5% to 46%, while residential tariffs rose by 14% to 40% across various consumption brackets,” Ziauddin told pv magazine. “These increases have significantly improved the economics of self generation, particularly for energy intensive industries seeking to reduce operating costs and improve long term price visibility. As grid electricity prices continue to rise, the payback period for onsite solar systems has become increasingly attractive for factories, manufacturing facilities, logistics centers, hotels, resorts, and large commercial buildings.”
Egypt is also working to develop its local solar manufacturing capabilities. In December, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for an integrated solar manufacturing complex set to feature three facilities targeting an annual manufacturing capacity of 2 GW of solar cells and 2 GW of solar modules.
Earlier this year, Egyptian company Kemet signed three agreements with Chinese companies, covering plans for a 5 GW solar cell complex, a 5 GWh battery energy storage factory and Egypt’s first solar inverter factory.
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Romania’s PV and storage development: A regional success story – Renewables Now
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Oekoboiler Swiss AG Advances Photovoltaic Integration for Heat Pump Boiler Systems – The Newark Advocate
Hildisrieden, LU – November 29, 2025 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Oekoboiler Swiss AG, a Swiss manufacturer specializing in energy-efficient heat pump boilers, continues to advance sustainable hot water solutions through enhanced integration capabilities with photovoltaic systems across Switzerland. The company’s dual-energy technology combines heat pump efficiency with solar power compatibility, addressing growing demand for carbon-reduced heating solutions in residential and commercial buildings.
The company’s systems utilize a combination of ambient air and electricity to generate hot water, achieving up to 80 percent energy reduction compared to traditional heating methods. By extracting approximately 75 percent of required energy from ambient air and combining it with 25 percent electrical input, the technology produces complete hot water solutions while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Oekoboiler Swiss AG designs and manufactures its products entirely in Switzerland, ensuring quality control throughout the development and production process. The systems feature smart control technology that enables seamless integration with existing photovoltaic installations, allowing property owners to utilize surplus solar energy for water heating purposes. This capability becomes particularly relevant as Switzerland continues its transition toward renewable energy sources and stricter building efficiency standards.
The heat pump boilers offer multiple configuration options, with storage capacities ranging from 150 to 450 liters to accommodate various building sizes and usage requirements. Each system operates independently from central heating installations, providing flexibility for both new construction projects and retrofitting existing buildings. The technology also provides additional benefits such as basement dehumidification, eliminating the need for separate moisture control equipment.
The company maintains a presence at https://oekoboiler-swiss-ag.localo.site for detailed product specifications and service information.
As Switzerland prepares for the implementation of EnEV 2025 energy efficiency regulations, Oekoboiler Swiss AG has positioned its products to meet and exceed upcoming standards. The company’s commitment to sustainable innovation extends beyond product development to include comprehensive planning, installation, and maintenance services throughout Switzerland.
The integration capabilities with photovoltaic systems represent a significant advancement in residential energy management. Property owners can program the systems to automatically utilize excess solar production during peak generation periods, optimizing energy consumption patterns and reducing reliance on grid electricity during high-demand periods.
Oekoboiler Swiss AG maintains its commitment to accessibility and customer engagement through multiple platforms. Additional information about the company’s sustainable hot water solutions can be found at https://pressadvantage.com/organization/oekoboiler-swiss-ag.
Based in Switzerland, Oekoboiler Swiss AG has established itself as a leading provider of energy-efficient water heating solutions since its founding. The company specializes in developing and manufacturing smart heat pump boilers that combine advanced technology with sustainable design principles. With a focus on quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility, Oekoboiler Swiss AG serves residential and commercial clients throughout Switzerland. The company’s comprehensive approach includes consultation, system design, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance support. Customer location and service area information is available at https://maps.app.goo.gl/zBNNxGdCCBV7ZZ3C8.
###
For more information about Oekoboiler Swiss AG, contact the company here:
Oekoboiler Swiss AG
R. Heller
+41 41 511 21 77
info@oekoboiler.com
Mülacher 6
6024 Hildisrieden
Switzerland
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While countries compete for land for solar panels, Switzerland unrolls solar panels like a carpet between the tracks of an active railway. – CPG Click Petróleo e Gás
Science and Technology
Solar panels often compete with agriculture and natural ecosystems for the same scarce resource: land. The Swiss startup Sun-Ways found a solution by looking down at a train station: installing solar panels between railway tracks, taking advantage of an existing, already urbanized surface that serves no other purpose than supporting the sleepers. The first pilot project was inaugurated on April 24, 2025, in Buttes, a small village in western Switzerland, with 100 meters of solar panels installed on sleepers of an active railway line where trains normally circulate.
What differentiates Sun-Ways from similar projects in Germany, Italy, France, and Japan is that its system is removable. The solar panels can be mechanically installed and removed by a machine developed by the Swiss railway maintenance company Scheuchzer, which can place or remove nearly 1,000 square meters of modules in just a few hours. This rapid removal capability is essential to allow maintenance work on the tracks without compromising railway operations or damaging the solar equipment.
The installation in Buttes consists of 48 solar panels positioned on the railway sleepers, the rectangular wooden pieces that support the steel tracks. The modules can be placed manually or by Scheuchzer’s automated machine, which unrolls the panels as if they were a carpet laid out between the tracks.
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The process was designed to be fast enough to be carried out during scheduled maintenance intervals, without requiring long interruptions to railway traffic.
Although the solar panels are designed to remain in place while trains run over them, the ability to easily remove them is what makes their use on active railways viable. Tracks require regular maintenance, including sleeper replacement, gauge adjustment, and weld inspection. If the panels were fixed, each intervention would require complex and costly disassembly. With the removable system, the maintenance team removes the modules, performs the work on the tracks, and reinstalls the panels in a matter of hours. To keep the modules clean, a cylindrical brush can be attached to the end of operating trains.
The history of railway solar panels began in 2020, when Joseph Scuderi was waiting for a train at Renens station, west of Lausanne. Looking at the empty space between the tracks, he wondered why no one was doing anything with that idle surface. Five years later, the question transformed into a startup, an inaugurated pilot project, and formal interest from at least six countries in adopting the technology.
South Korea is one of the most advanced partners. Taebon Park, CEO of Korean Rail Solar Power Generation Project Company, personally participated in the inauguration in Buttes and intends to adapt the Sun-Ways system to South Korea’s approximately 6,600 km railway network. A pilot project is expected to start in the country later this year. Indonesia has also shown interest, with plans to start in the city of Bogor, West Java, and expand to the entire island. Japan, through its Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, is following the project as part of its decarbonization goals by 2050.
The 100-meter pilot project in Buttes will produce up to 16,000 kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to the consumption of four to six households. Sun-Ways estimates that if solar panels were installed along Switzerland’s approximately 5,320 kilometers of railway network, excluding sections in tunnels or with low solar incidence, generation would reach 1 billion kWh per year. This volume corresponds to the consumption of 300,000 households, or about 2% of all electricity used in Switzerland.
For a country that needs to multiply its solar energy production sevenfold by 2035, every available surface counts. Switzerland, like most European countries, faces the dilemma of expanding renewable generation without consuming agricultural land or natural areas. The tracks offer a solution that does not compete with any other land use: the railway is already built, the surface between the tracks is not suitable for planting or housing, and the electrical infrastructure needed to inject energy into the grid often already exists near the railway lines.
Not everyone is convinced that installing solar panels between tracks is the best idea. Martin Heinrich, a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Europe’s largest solar research institute, acknowledges that using tracks to generate energy is a great idea, but questions whether the removability of the modules is truly an advantage. According to Heinrich, photovoltaic modules should ideally be installed once and remain in place for the next 20 to 30 years. Each removal increases costs and raises the risk of equipment damage.
The Swiss transport authority also adopted a cautious stance. It authorized the test in Buttes because trains in the region operate at a maximum speed of 70 km/h, relatively low by railway standards. The testing phase was stipulated for at least three years, not six months as Sun-Ways had planned, so that the behavior of the tracks, the wear of the panels, and maintenance challenges can be evaluated in all seasons and under real, prolonged operating conditions.
Sun-Ways is not the only company exploring the idea of placing solar panels on railways, but it is the first to develop a removable system for operational lines. Projects in Germany, Italy, France, and Japan also test photovoltaic modules between tracks, but with fixed systems that require traffic interruption for maintenance. The difference with the Swiss model lies in the operational flexibility that quick removal provides, allowing the railway to continue functioning without restrictions while the panels generate energy.
Sun-Ways believes that solar panels could be installed on half of the world’s railway lines, an ambitious estimate that considers the exclusion of sections in tunnels, covered viaducts, and regions with low solar irradiation. In addition to South Korea, Indonesia, and Japan, the startup collaborates on projects in Spain and Romania and maintains exploratory talks with potential partners in China and the United States. The budget for the initial testing phase in Buttes was 585,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately US$704,000.
The Buttes pilot project marks the beginning of a testing period that will define whether Joseph Scuderi’s idea at a train station can become a global standard. The solar panels between the tracks are already generating energy, trains continue to pass over them normally, and the Scheuchzer machine has already demonstrated that installing and removing almost 1,000 square meters of modules is a matter of hours. What remains to be proven is whether the system can withstand years of continuous operation, extreme climatic variations, and wear caused by daily railway traffic.
Do you think installing solar panels between train tracks is a viable solution for Brazil, which has thousands of kilometers of railways? Tell us in the comments what you think about the Sun-Ways idea, whether the quick removal of modules is a real advantage or a complication, and which country should adopt this technology first. We want to hear your opinion on solar energy in unexpected places.
I cover construction, mining, Brazilian mines, oil, and major railway and civil engineering projects. I also write daily about interesting facts and insights from the Brazilian market.
© 2026 Click Petróleo e Gás – All rights reserved
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Villarino photovoltaic plant: clean energy in Salamanca – Iberdrola
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Silver Supply Can't Keep up With Solar Demand: Why Copper Substitution Could Make or Break the Industry – renewableenergymagazine.com
Silver, a critical input in solar panel manufacturing, is becoming harder to secure at the volumes the industry now requires. Unlike some supply hiccups, this one isn’t temporary. Instead, it’s a structural deficit where supply can’t keep up with demand — a deficit that’s been coming for a few years. Since mines produce it as a by-product, production can’t increase, which will affect solar farm installations and infrastructure unless a substitute metal can replace or reduce silver use in photovoltaic (PV) panels.
Solar power is booming, and the nonprofit Prometheus Institute says, “VDMA calculates PV module shipments in 2024 at 703 GW, with average prices having dropped by 33% compared to the end of 2023.” With an increasing demand for green power, silver production has struggled to keep up since 2021.
Researchers indicate that the shortage may result in a mining “supply that may meet only 62%-70% of demand.” Despite producing 1,090.4 million ounces in 2025, the deficit is still widening, as new PV cells require more of the precious metal than previous types.
The industry has seen a deficit for six years running, with the latest shortfall at 215 million ounces — the biggest gap yet. In industrial terms, the imbalance creates ripple effects, such as increasing pricing, sourcing challenges and production delays. Much of the demand comes from industrial use, such as solar panel production and the growing use of silver in e-vehicle battery manufacturing. This makes it a more affordable alternative crucial to the world’s sustained push toward green energy.
Every panel requires conductivity. Materials must efficiently carry electricity out of the cell, and silver still does that job better than anything else at scale. The Silver Institute says that “silver powder is turned into a paste, which is then loaded onto a silicon wafer,” with thin conductive lines printed onto cells. These lines collect and move electricity generated by sunlight.
As PV production scales, so does the need for that paste. The 2024 batch, equivalent to 703 GW, required a substantial amount of the precious metal. Depending on the type, a Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) uses 13 milligrams to 17 milligrams of silver per PV watt, while Heterojunction (HJT) cells can need as much as 23 mg/W for increased output PV panels. An average panel contains about 20 grams of silver.
As mining the metal becomes more challenging, the industry has begun looking at alternatives, such as copper and aluminum. Copper is far more abundant and a primary product during mining, unlike silver, which is a by-product. It’s already widely used in PV systems for cables and connection points, with the average being 2 to 3 tons of copper per MW produced by utility-size PV farms.
Since it’s more abundant, copper is also cheaper and widely used in electrical systems. Longi, a major PV system producer, is already moving toward substituting silver in the second quarter of 2026 in an attempt to lower costs. Other PV giants are considering base metals, such as copper, as viable substitutes.
However, it’s not an easy swap, as copper has different properties. It oxidizes more readily and doesn’t conduct electricity quite as well. Additionally, research into a copper paste for PV applications remains limited. However, initial indications are that a combination of silver and copper applied to silicon matrices mayreduce silver use by up to 93% compared to traditional designs.
Copper may be applied via paste formulas or electroplating, depending on which method works best for front-of-panel and back-of-panel use. Cold days favor conductivity and reduce resistance in metals, which is why solar panels are more efficient in winter. This variable is consistent across conductive metals.
Manufacturers grapple with metal supply challenges for the cells themselves. However, PV farm owners must consider that the supporting infrastructure for mounting systems, tracking equipment and structural components relies heavily on steel processing companies to provide materials for solar farm construction.
According to Steel Technologies, “While metallization paste gets the headlines, utility-scale PV farms also depend on steel processors to supply torque tubes and tracking system components, creating opportunities for steel fabricators to support the installation of the industry’s 703 GW output array.” From an agricultural and land management perspective, material challenges extend beyond the panels themselves. It can shape how installations are built, maintained and scaled over time.
Additionally, PV panels have an average lifespan of about 25 years, which means the U.S. may have as much as 1 million tons of PV waste by 2030 and an estimated 10 million tons by 2050. The EPA also finds that “solar panel waste could be a hazardous waste” because it contains heavy metals that can harm the environment when they leak into the soil, creating further issues. This is why selecting a safe, suitable replacement for panel components is an important consideration.
Essentially, there are two paths. If silver remains unreliable and costs continue to rise, it can slow the deployment of utility-scale development and delay projects. This will change how PV technologies are integrated into broader energy and land-use strategies.
However, if copper substitution proves effective and scalable, it could unlock an entirely new trajectory. With lower material costs and reduced supply risks, faster manufacturing time frames may become a reality.
The challenge is getting from one material to the other without compromising quality or limiting lifespan along the way. This requires more testing, collaboration between manufacturers and a stronger focus on long-term performance over short-term output gains. The solar industry has evolved in leaps and bounds, and it’s now vital that pivotal players consider the full supply chain, not just the materials in each cell.
The solar industry isn’t slowing down. Demand for clean energy keeps rising, and land use is becoming more strategic across various PV farms and utility infrastructures. The only change is the constraints currently fueling dynamic growth as the industry moves from silver to alternatives. Manufacturers must evolve to keep up with the challenges.
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Morgan residents scrutinize solar farm proposed near Chapin – Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Peter Yannakakis (standing), president of Solar Generation MW, talks about a proposed solar panel farm that would be built west of Chapin. Morgan County Board of Commissioners agreed to a memorandum of understanding with a subsidiary of the company during its meeting Monday.
A solar farm development planned for west of Chapin was the subject Monday of much discussion and criticism during a Morgan County Board of Commissioners meeting.
The board unanimously agreed during its meeting to a memorandum of understanding between itself and SG Chapin PV, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based solar company Solar Generation MW. The company wants to build a solar panel farm on 24 acres of land west of Chapin.
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Solar Generation MW President Peter Yannakakis spoke about the project during the meeting. The solar panel farm would generate 4.59 megawatts of energy at peak output for a "community solar project" that would provide renewable energy to customers unable to put solar panels on their property, he said. The electricity would be sold to Ameren Illinois; customers who subscribe to the project would receive a 10% discount on their electricity bills, he said.
"It's kind of a win-win for all," Yannakakis said.
The farm would be built along Neelyville Road and Grants Lane, Yannakakis said. No vegetative screening would be put up to conceal the solar panels from view because there are no neighbors near its proposed construction site, he said. Construction would take from six to 12 months to complete and the company has taken out a 25-year lease on the land, he said.
Yannakakis fielded numerous questions during the meeting from both the board and county residents, some of whom were skeptical about what the company was putting forth. The farm is not part of Ameren's efforts to create large-load projects around the country, nor is the company working with any closed-loop data center programs, he said.
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Solar Generation MW will issue a $300,000 bond to deconstruct the farm at the end of its lease and return the land to "the state it's in right now," Yannakakis said.
Some residents said that amount of money will not be enough to undo whatever damage construction of the farm could cause.
"How's $300,000 going to … replace the nutrients that are lost?" county resident Kristy Clegg asked. "You're going to kill that ground. That ground is not going to be viable ground ever again."
Commissioner Michael Woods noted that the county can review the amount of money in the decommissioning bond 10 years after the solar panel farm goes online and every five years afterward.
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Some residents also took issue with the lack of a plan for vegetative screening around the site.
Resident Cody Smith said a screen would provide habitats for local fauna, such as deer and pollinators. Lucy Reid of Jacksonville asked whether the company would plant screening if someone chose to move near the proposed site within the next 25 years, noting that residents often drive past the area.
"You're not doing it today, but we have to live here for 25 years," Reid said.
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Board Chair Michael Wankel said the company is not required by the state to put up screening around the site; a county ordinance that would mandate it still is under review.
However, Yannakakis said he would talk with the county about adding screening to the site "with the plan of doing it."
Ben Singson became a reporter for the Journal-Courier in 2022, joining after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Lindenhurst native previously reported for KBIA, an NPR affiliate radio station, in college.
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Egypt’s solar PV capacity set to surge to 34.3GW by 2035 – Green Building Africa
Egypt is accelerating the transformation of its power sector, with solar PV expected to become the country’s fastest growing source of electricity generation over the next decade.
According to GlobalData, Egypt’s solar PV capacity is forecast to increase from approximately 2.9GW in 2025 to around 34.3GW by 2035. The growth marks a significant shift for a market historically dominated by natural gas fired generation, particularly large combined cycle power plants.
The findings were published in the company’s latest report titled “Egypt Power Market Trends and Analysis by Capacity, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Regulations, Key Players and Forecast to 2035”.
Egypt’s cumulative renewable power capacity is expected to reach nearly 49.7GW by 2035, with solar PV accounting for the majority of new additions. The expansion reflects the country’s strong focus on utility scale renewable deployment, supported by high solar irradiation levels and an expanding pipeline of large projects.
The growth of the solar sector has been supported by a broad policy and investment framework introduced over recent years. Regulatory reforms, including the Renewable Energy Law and Electricity Law, opened the market to independent power producers and created a more attractive investment environment.
Government incentives such as tax reductions, lower customs duties, and improved land access have strengthened project economics. Long term power purchase agreements, sovereign guarantees, and wider adoption of build own operate models have also increased investor confidence and accelerated project development.
Egypt has further strengthened renewable deployment through initiatives such as the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy platform, which has mobilised international financing for large scale projects. Fast track approval mechanisms, including the Golden License, have reduced regulatory timelines and improved project execution.
Battery energy storage is also becoming increasingly integrated into new solar developments, helping improve grid stability and manage peak electricity demand more effectively.
Mohammed Ziauddin said solar PV is emerging as the dominant growth driver in Egypt’s power sector due to strong resource availability, improving project economics, and sustained policy support.
He noted that the scalability and cost competitiveness of solar technology make it well positioned to meet rising electricity demand while complementary technologies continue to support grid reliability.
Alongside solar, Egypt’s wind energy sector is also expected to record steady growth. Wind power capacity is projected to increase from approximately 3GW in 2025 to around 15.1GW by 2035, supported by strong wind resources in the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea regions.
Despite the rapid growth of renewables, thermal power will continue to play a central role in Egypt’s electricity system. Natural gas fired generation capacity is expected to remain broadly stable at between 45GW and 50GW through 2035, maintaining its role in providing baseload and flexible power generation.
Nuclear energy is also expected to become part of Egypt’s future energy mix through the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, which is projected to contribute around 4.4GW of capacity by 2035.
Ziauddin said Egypt’s long term strategy positions solar energy not only as a solution for domestic electricity demand, but also as a key enabler for green hydrogen production and cross border electricity trade.
He added that the combination of large scale solar deployment, continued natural gas generation, and the introduction of nuclear power is expected to support a more diversified and resilient electricity system while strengthening Egypt’s long term energy security and export potential.
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Iberdrola reaches 5 million MWh of electricity sold in Italy – Enlit World
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Environment Report: Plug-In Solar or Have My Power Cut? – Voice of San Diego
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To collect free energy from the sun, and lower my bills, I thought all I had to do was plug a solar panel into my apartment wall.
I was so wrong.
Doing so could put me at risk of having my electric services disconnected, the California Public Utilities Commission told me. That’s apparently true even though the panel I have could only generate enough power to charge my laptop if I’m lucky.
Laws allowing renters to plug cheap solar panels into a regular outlet at home are starting to catch-on across the country in at least 20 states tracked by Canary Media.
Supporters say renters should be able to access affordable solar and shave dollars off their energy bill with these systems. Opponents, including many investor-owned utilities, say these are energy systems they don’t control and could put electrical workers at risk by adding power to the grid during an outage that a utility can’t immediately detect.
However, Colorado just enshrined the right to get these into law this month. So has Utah and Maine. Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut are hot on their heels.
California? We’ll see. On Thursday, the state Senate Appropriations Committee will determine the fate of a plug-in solar bill by State Sen. Scott Wiener.
“Until SB 868 is signed into law … technically plug-in solar falls under Rule 21 which utilities enforce at their own discretion,” wrote Cora Stryker, cofounder of Bright Saver, a nonprofit organization formed last year to sell plug-in solar kits and help push legislation like this across the country.
Ok, before I get into Rule 21, let me set the scene: After writing about Wiener’s bill back in March, I wanted to test balcony solar at my own place and see much I could shave off my energy bill. Bright Saver lent me a 180-watt panel, which is a much smaller system than what Wiener’s bill would allow (up to 1,200 watts – enough to power a window A/C unit).
But before I tested it, I wanted to know whether plugging in my panel (which needs just a regular outlet to send power back into the wiring of my apartment and toward appliances that need it – like the refrigerator or microwave) was technically illegal. I had heard that people in northern California were trying out balcony solar and were told to stand down by Pacific Gas and Electric, the investor-owned utility managing the grid there.
Wiener, during his bill’s hearing before the Senate Energy and Utilities Committee, said residents were being forced to apply for grid interconnection – a ridiculously long application process people with rooftop solar typically have their solar companies do for them.
So I emailed the California Public Utilities Commission and asked.
“Plug-in solar is subject to the requirements for interconnection under Rule 21, which ensures safety and reliability of the grid,” wrote Terrie Prosper, a spokesperson for the Public Utilities Commission.
Rule 21 regulates privately owned energy-generating resources like solar panels, batteries.
“It requires application to the utility, payment of appropriate fees, obtaining necessary permits from local jurisdictions, and waiting for the utility’s Permission to Operate before physically connecting for safety and reliability,” Prosper wrote.
Damn. I was afraid of that. Sounds like a really complicated and time-consuming process just to be able to, maybe, shave a few bucks off my energy bill.
But then I thought, what are they going to do if I don’t follow Rule 21? Throw me into Rule 21 jail?
Prosper said my utility company could disconnect my power.
“Connecting plug-in solar to the grid without the necessary permitting and Rule 21 application can result in a customer being disconnected for safety and/or code violations, in addition to any other actions by the local jurisdiction,” Prosper wrote.
That’s a pretty big risk.
I also asked San Diego Gas and Electric if they’d cut my power. Spokesman Anthony Wagner reiterated the systems fall under Rule 21.
“Unapproved connections can create dangerous backfeed conditions that put utility workers, first responders and the public at risk,” he wrote.
So, I didn’t plug in my panel. It’s still sitting in a huge box against my wall, mocking me.
We’ll see what Thursday brings. But if California doesn’t move plug-in solar forward this year, stay tuned for part two of my quest where I embark on what looks to be an incredibly and prohibitively complex process of applying for grid interconnection!
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Solar energy to power wastewater plant – Waipa District Council
Solar energy to power wastewater plant Waipa District Council
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Maine’s Community Solar Boom Is Going Bust – The Energy Mix
Maine’s Community Solar Boom Is Going Bust
Green Energy Futures/Flickr
This story was originally published by Canary Media.
For years, community solar in Maine grew at a breakneck pace, elevating the state to the top of the list for most capacity per capita in the United States. Now, however, development has slowed to a standstill, and the industry faces an uncertain future.
“What we saw was a very swift rise, and it has now come to an end,” said Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association. “Right now, there is no opportunity for growth.”
Community solar—larger arrays that sell power to multiple users—took off in Maine after the state expanded the program supporting it in 2019. By the end of 2025, Maine had 694 watts of community solar capacity per person, far and away the most of any state in the country (second-place Minnesota had 164 watts per capita), according to a recently released report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Then, last year, lawmakers passed, and the governor signed, a law that brought that momentum to a screeching halt. The legislation includes two major stumbling blocks for the future success of community solar in the state, whose legislature and governor’s office are controlled by Democrats
First, it prohibits any larger new projects—residential solar is still OK—from enrolling in net energy billing, the system that allows solar producers to get paid for the energy they send to the grid. It is the backbone of community solar’s financial model.
Second, the law imposes hefty new fees on community solar installations that are already up and running. It’s a move that creates financial hardship for existing projects and makes developers exceedingly wary about doing business in Maine, said Jessica Robertson, director of policy and business development for New England at renewable energy company New Leaf Energy.
“That’s just incredibly damaging,” she said. “If you can have an operating project that was built in good faith under the existing laws and policies, and you can have the rug pulled out from you later, it’s impossible to have confidence.”
At a moment when energy affordability is a top priority for consumers and elected officials, many states are looking for ways to create immediate savings for struggling residents. Renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs are finding themselves on the chopping block even in left-leaning states that have traditionally supported such efforts.
Community solar has long been seen as a way to save participants money and allow environmentally conscious residents to buy clean energy without having solar on their own property. However, as such programs have become more common, there has been a rising chorus of complaints that net energy billing—often called net metering—increases costs for consumers at large, who have to absorb the expense of expanding and maintaining the grid. In Maine, for example, net energy billing added roughly $7 to the average customer’s monthly bill in 2024, according to the state’s major utilities.
Net metering battles have also erupted in California, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and other states. In Maine, during debate on the 2025 bill, one state lawmaker called net energy billing a “job-stealing solar energy tax,” while another branded it “a nefarious scheme.”
The result is a law that environmental advocates and solar industry representatives say goes too far in an attempt to save a few dollars. The abrupt end to net energy billing for community solar left pending projects in the lurch. For some, it became too expensive to wait for new rules, especially given the looming end of the federal tax credits.
“We were waiting around. Now, we’ve canceled all those projects,” Robertson said. “And we’re not the only ones. I highly doubt anyone has been able to hold on.”
The law calls for the creation of a successor program to support the development of distributed energy resources, most notably solar and storage. The state’s Department of Energy Resources has started the process and expects to launch opportunities for stakeholder feedback in the coming months, said acting Commissioner Celina Cunningham.
Developers, however, are not optimistic that the upcoming program will undo the changes made by the new law.
“I am not super hopeful about community solar,” said Lindsay Bourgoine, director of policy and government affairs at ReVision Energy. “That was a pretty strong signal from the legislature to close that market.”
Provisions encouraging development of storage could be a bright spot, said some in the industry. Maine has more than 1.9 gigawatts of solar capacity today, up from less than 100 megawatts in 2019. An incentive program encouraging the construction of batteries to store some of the power produced could create significant market opportunities for developers unable or unwilling to pursue stand-alone solar projects in the state.
“We will see what that says,” said Kate Daniel, northeast regional director for the trade association Coalition for Community Solar Access. “But I do know that at least our members are not very likely to pursue new development in Maine, mostly because they view it as a very risky business climate.”
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Maine’s Community Solar Boom Is Going Bust
Green Energy Futures/Flickr
This story was originally published by Canary Media.
For years, community solar in Maine grew at a breakneck pace, elevating the state to the top of the list for most capacity per capita in the United States. Now, however, development has slowed to a standstill, and the industry faces an uncertain future.
“What we saw was a very swift rise, and it has now come to an end,” said Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association. “Right now, there is no opportunity for growth.”
Community solar—larger arrays that sell power to multiple users—took off in Maine after the state expanded the program supporting it in 2019. By the end of 2025, Maine had 694 watts of community solar capacity per person, far and away the most of any state in the country (second-place Minnesota had 164 watts per capita), according to a recently released report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Then, last year, lawmakers passed, and the governor signed, a law that brought that momentum to a screeching halt. The legislation includes two major stumbling blocks for the future success of community solar in the state, whose legislature and governor’s office are controlled by Democrats
First, it prohibits any larger new projects—residential solar is still OK—from enrolling in net energy billing, the system that allows solar producers to get paid for the energy they send to the grid. It is the backbone of community solar’s financial model.
Second, the law imposes hefty new fees on community solar installations that are already up and running. It’s a move that creates financial hardship for existing projects and makes developers exceedingly wary about doing business in Maine, said Jessica Robertson, director of policy and business development for New England at renewable energy company New Leaf Energy.
“That’s just incredibly damaging,” she said. “If you can have an operating project that was built in good faith under the existing laws and policies, and you can have the rug pulled out from you later, it’s impossible to have confidence.”
At a moment when energy affordability is a top priority for consumers and elected officials, many states are looking for ways to create immediate savings for struggling residents. Renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs are finding themselves on the chopping block even in left-leaning states that have traditionally supported such efforts.
Community solar has long been seen as a way to save participants money and allow environmentally conscious residents to buy clean energy without having solar on their own property. However, as such programs have become more common, there has been a rising chorus of complaints that net energy billing—often called net metering—increases costs for consumers at large, who have to absorb the expense of expanding and maintaining the grid. In Maine, for example, net energy billing added roughly $7 to the average customer’s monthly bill in 2024, according to the state’s major utilities.
Net metering battles have also erupted in California, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and other states. In Maine, during debate on the 2025 bill, one state lawmaker called net energy billing a “job-stealing solar energy tax,” while another branded it “a nefarious scheme.”
The result is a law that environmental advocates and solar industry representatives say goes too far in an attempt to save a few dollars. The abrupt end to net energy billing for community solar left pending projects in the lurch. For some, it became too expensive to wait for new rules, especially given the looming end of the federal tax credits.
“We were waiting around. Now, we’ve canceled all those projects,” Robertson said. “And we’re not the only ones. I highly doubt anyone has been able to hold on.”
The law calls for the creation of a successor program to support the development of distributed energy resources, most notably solar and storage. The state’s Department of Energy Resources has started the process and expects to launch opportunities for stakeholder feedback in the coming months, said acting Commissioner Celina Cunningham.
Developers, however, are not optimistic that the upcoming program will undo the changes made by the new law.
“I am not super hopeful about community solar,” said Lindsay Bourgoine, director of policy and government affairs at ReVision Energy. “That was a pretty strong signal from the legislature to close that market.”
Provisions encouraging development of storage could be a bright spot, said some in the industry. Maine has more than 1.9 gigawatts of solar capacity today, up from less than 100 megawatts in 2019. An incentive program encouraging the construction of batteries to store some of the power produced could create significant market opportunities for developers unable or unwilling to pursue stand-alone solar projects in the state.
“We will see what that says,” said Kate Daniel, northeast regional director for the trade association Coalition for Community Solar Access. “But I do know that at least our members are not very likely to pursue new development in Maine, mostly because they view it as a very risky business climate.”
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Green Energy Futures/Flickr
This story was originally published by Canary Media.
For years, community solar in Maine grew at a breakneck pace, elevating the state to the top of the list for most capacity per capita in the United States. Now, however, development has slowed to a standstill, and the industry faces an uncertain future.
“What we saw was a very swift rise, and it has now come to an end,” said Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association. “Right now, there is no opportunity for growth.”
Community solar—larger arrays that sell power to multiple users—took off in Maine after the state expanded the program supporting it in 2019. By the end of 2025, Maine had 694 watts of community solar capacity per person, far and away the most of any state in the country (second-place Minnesota had 164 watts per capita), according to a recently released report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Then, last year, lawmakers passed, and the governor signed, a law that brought that momentum to a screeching halt. The legislation includes two major stumbling blocks for the future success of community solar in the state, whose legislature and governor’s office are controlled by Democrats
View our latest digests
First, it prohibits any larger new projects—residential solar is still OK—from enrolling in net energy billing, the system that allows solar producers to get paid for the energy they send to the grid. It is the backbone of community solar’s financial model.
Second, the law imposes hefty new fees on community solar installations that are already up and running. It’s a move that creates financial hardship for existing projects and makes developers exceedingly wary about doing business in Maine, said Jessica Robertson, director of policy and business development for New England at renewable energy company New Leaf Energy.
“That’s just incredibly damaging,” she said. “If you can have an operating project that was built in good faith under the existing laws and policies, and you can have the rug pulled out from you later, it’s impossible to have confidence.”
At a moment when energy affordability is a top priority for consumers and elected officials, many states are looking for ways to create immediate savings for struggling residents. Renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs are finding themselves on the chopping block even in left-leaning states that have traditionally supported such efforts.
Community solar has long been seen as a way to save participants money and allow environmentally conscious residents to buy clean energy without having solar on their own property. However, as such programs have become more common, there has been a rising chorus of complaints that net energy billing—often called net metering—increases costs for consumers at large, who have to absorb the expense of expanding and maintaining the grid. In Maine, for example, net energy billing added roughly $7 to the average customer’s monthly bill in 2024, according to the state’s major utilities.
Net metering battles have also erupted in California, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and other states. In Maine, during debate on the 2025 bill, one state lawmaker called net energy billing a “job-stealing solar energy tax,” while another branded it “a nefarious scheme.”
The result is a law that environmental advocates and solar industry representatives say goes too far in an attempt to save a few dollars. The abrupt end to net energy billing for community solar left pending projects in the lurch. For some, it became too expensive to wait for new rules, especially given the looming end of the federal tax credits.
“We were waiting around. Now, we’ve canceled all those projects,” Robertson said. “And we’re not the only ones. I highly doubt anyone has been able to hold on.”
The law calls for the creation of a successor program to support the development of distributed energy resources, most notably solar and storage. The state’s Department of Energy Resources has started the process and expects to launch opportunities for stakeholder feedback in the coming months, said acting Commissioner Celina Cunningham.
Developers, however, are not optimistic that the upcoming program will undo the changes made by the new law.
“I am not super hopeful about community solar,” said Lindsay Bourgoine, director of policy and government affairs at ReVision Energy. “That was a pretty strong signal from the legislature to close that market.”
Provisions encouraging development of storage could be a bright spot, said some in the industry. Maine has more than 1.9 gigawatts of solar capacity today, up from less than 100 megawatts in 2019. An incentive program encouraging the construction of batteries to store some of the power produced could create significant market opportunities for developers unable or unwilling to pursue stand-alone solar projects in the state.
“We will see what that says,” said Kate Daniel, northeast regional director for the trade association Coalition for Community Solar Access. “But I do know that at least our members are not very likely to pursue new development in Maine, mostly because they view it as a very risky business climate.”
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Green Energy Futures/Flickr
This story was originally published by Canary Media.
For years, community solar in Maine grew at a breakneck pace, elevating the state to the top of the list for most capacity per capita in the United States. Now, however, development has slowed to a standstill, and the industry faces an uncertain future.
“What we saw was a very swift rise, and it has now come to an end,” said Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association. “Right now, there is no opportunity for growth.”
Community solar—larger arrays that sell power to multiple users—took off in Maine after the state expanded the program supporting it in 2019. By the end of 2025, Maine had 694 watts of community solar capacity per person, far and away the most of any state in the country (second-place Minnesota had 164 watts per capita), according to a recently released report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Then, last year, lawmakers passed, and the governor signed, a law that brought that momentum to a screeching halt. The legislation includes two major stumbling blocks for the future success of community solar in the state, whose legislature and governor’s office are controlled by Democrats
View our latest digests
First, it prohibits any larger new projects—residential solar is still OK—from enrolling in net energy billing, the system that allows solar producers to get paid for the energy they send to the grid. It is the backbone of community solar’s financial model.
Second, the law imposes hefty new fees on community solar installations that are already up and running. It’s a move that creates financial hardship for existing projects and makes developers exceedingly wary about doing business in Maine, said Jessica Robertson, director of policy and business development for New England at renewable energy company New Leaf Energy.
“That’s just incredibly damaging,” she said. “If you can have an operating project that was built in good faith under the existing laws and policies, and you can have the rug pulled out from you later, it’s impossible to have confidence.”
At a moment when energy affordability is a top priority for consumers and elected officials, many states are looking for ways to create immediate savings for struggling residents. Renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs are finding themselves on the chopping block even in left-leaning states that have traditionally supported such efforts.
Community solar has long been seen as a way to save participants money and allow environmentally conscious residents to buy clean energy without having solar on their own property. However, as such programs have become more common, there has been a rising chorus of complaints that net energy billing—often called net metering—increases costs for consumers at large, who have to absorb the expense of expanding and maintaining the grid. In Maine, for example, net energy billing added roughly $7 to the average customer’s monthly bill in 2024, according to the state’s major utilities.
Net metering battles have also erupted in California, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and other states. In Maine, during debate on the 2025 bill, one state lawmaker called net energy billing a “job-stealing solar energy tax,” while another branded it “a nefarious scheme.”
The result is a law that environmental advocates and solar industry representatives say goes too far in an attempt to save a few dollars. The abrupt end to net energy billing for community solar left pending projects in the lurch. For some, it became too expensive to wait for new rules, especially given the looming end of the federal tax credits.
“We were waiting around. Now, we’ve canceled all those projects,” Robertson said. “And we’re not the only ones. I highly doubt anyone has been able to hold on.”
The law calls for the creation of a successor program to support the development of distributed energy resources, most notably solar and storage. The state’s Department of Energy Resources has started the process and expects to launch opportunities for stakeholder feedback in the coming months, said acting Commissioner Celina Cunningham.
Developers, however, are not optimistic that the upcoming program will undo the changes made by the new law.
“I am not super hopeful about community solar,” said Lindsay Bourgoine, director of policy and government affairs at ReVision Energy. “That was a pretty strong signal from the legislature to close that market.”
Provisions encouraging development of storage could be a bright spot, said some in the industry. Maine has more than 1.9 gigawatts of solar capacity today, up from less than 100 megawatts in 2019. An incentive program encouraging the construction of batteries to store some of the power produced could create significant market opportunities for developers unable or unwilling to pursue stand-alone solar projects in the state.
“We will see what that says,” said Kate Daniel, northeast regional director for the trade association Coalition for Community Solar Access. “But I do know that at least our members are not very likely to pursue new development in Maine, mostly because they view it as a very risky business climate.”
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Voltalia commissions 26.9 MW across three solar parks in southern France – energynews.pro
Voltalia has commissioned three solar photovoltaic parks totaling 26.9 MW in the Bouches-du-Rhône and Alpes-Maritimes departments, with part of the output secured by a corporate PPA with CERN.
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China Energy’s first Tower CSP joins two by PowerChina at Talatan – SolarPACES
Photo source: New York Times article
Source:CSTA
[CSTA News we missed from January 2026:Ed]
On 29 December, China Energy’s first tower concentrating solar power (CSP) project—the 100 MW Qingyu HVDC Phase-II plant of Qinghai Gonghe Co.—was successfully synchronized to the grid.
The plant is the group’s maiden tower CSP venture. Despite the thin air of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, complex processes and a tight schedule, the team met the corporation’s “two-no-exceed, three-zero” construction mandate (no budget overrun, no schedule slip, zero major accidents, zero quality defects, zero environmental incidents). Optimized sequencing enabled the civil foundations to reach grade level in one pour and the turbine hall to receiver panels were hoisted with millimetre precision in a record 8.5 days, setting a new benchmark for comparable projects.
The facility adopts a “CSP + PV” hybrid configuration with 12-hour molten-salt thermal storage, allowing otherwise-curtailed solar electricity to be banked and dispatched later. IoT sensors, big-data analytics and AI algorithms feed an intelligent site platform and a digital-construction showcase, giving full-cycle digital control. More than 98 % of key CSP components and valves are domestically produced. Average plant availability exceeds 76.68 %, solar-to-electric conversion is ≥ 13.39 %, and turbine cycle efficiency tops 41.77 %—all indicators placing the project at the leading edge of domestic performance.
Throughout construction the “eco-first, green-build” principle was enforced. Environmental protection measures were designed, implemented and commissioned in parallel with the main works; “build-while-restore” practices limited disturbance. Centralized work zones, water-spray dust suppression and revegetation cut ecological impact; low-carbon insulation materials and a rigorous HSE system identified and resolved over 1 000 hazards, achieving 100 % ecological-restoration index. Concurrently, 20 km² of ecological forest and a solar-pasture demonstration zone were created, planting 66 000 trees and reseeding 3 000 mu of grassland to form a “panels-generate-power, sheep-graze-between, grass-grows-below” agro-photovoltaic model.
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Solar fuels are made using thermochemistry driven by direct heat from the sun In this process, solar thermal energy provides the heat for thermochemical reactions to produce new compounds such as green hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel. Highly concentrated solar…
Here’s what dispatchable solar looks like. This gigantic solar thermal energy storage tank holds enough stored sunlight to generate 1,100 MWh/day from stored solar power. The cheapest way to store solar energy over many hours, such as the five to seven hour evening…
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Published at Energy Conversion and Management – Short-term optimal scheduling of a cascade hydropower-wind-photovoltaic-concentrated solar power hybrid power system considering dynamic frequency security constraints and flexible load response – SolarPACES
Abstract:
As the penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic generation continues to rise, the inherent randomness and intermittency of their output pose significant challenges to system frequency stability. To address the limited frequency regulation capability under high renewable penetration, this paper proposes a short-term optimal scheduling approach for a cascade hydropower-wind-photovoltaic-concentrated solar power hybrid system that explicitly incorporates dynamic frequency security constraints. First, a dynamic frequency constraint framework is developed that simultaneously accounts for inertial response, the rate of change of frequency and nadir frequency limits, and these constraints are embedded in the short-term scheduling framework as a mixed-integer linear programming formulation. Second, a coordinated frequency regulation strategy is then proposed for cascade hydropower and concentrated solar power units, with additional frequency support provided through reserved capacities of wind and photovoltaic units. Furthermore, a price-responsive flexible load model is introduced to achieve refined source–load coordination. Simulation studies on an extended IEEE 30-bus system demonstrate that the proposed approach improves the frequency nadir from 49.62 Hz to 49.94 Hz and reduces the maximum rate of change of frequency from 0.8357 Hz/s to 0.1378 Hz/s, thereby significantly enhancing the frequency-security margin. Meanwhile, the flexible load strategy reduces unnecessary hydropower cycling, increases renewable utilization, and improves overall economic performance. Thus, the proposed joint optimization of multi-energy coordinated frequency regulation and flexible load response can substantially improve the frequency security and economy of high-RES penetration power systems, providing a feasible solution for developing safe, economical, and efficient low-carbon power systems.
Yunbo Yang, Chengguo Su, Quan Tan, Shuo Han, Ruiming Zhang, Yuting Cui, Short-term optimal scheduling of a cascade hydropower-wind-photovoltaic-concentrated solar power hybrid power system considering dynamic frequency security constraints and flexible load response, Energy Conversion and Management, Volume 347, 2026, 120560, ISSN 0196-8904, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2025.120560
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Solar fuels are made using thermochemistry driven by direct heat from the sun In this process, solar thermal energy provides the heat for thermochemical reactions to produce new compounds such as green hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel. Highly concentrated solar…
Here’s what dispatchable solar looks like. This gigantic solar thermal energy storage tank holds enough stored sunlight to generate 1,100 MWh/day from stored solar power. The cheapest way to store solar energy over many hours, such as the five to seven hour evening…
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Berkeley County panel advances plan to lift Cross moratorium for 1,500-acre solar farm – WCIV
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India Solar Milestone: 150 GW Reached with Record 44 GW Jump – Deccan Herald
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Iberdrola Australia completes solar module installation at 377MW Broadsound site in Queensland – PV Tech
Iberdrola Australia has completed the installation of solar modules at its 377MW Broadsound solar-plus-storage project in Central Queensland, marking a construction milestone for what will become the company’s largest operational solar facility in Australia.
According to a LinkedIn post, the project team installed the final modules last week, bringing the total module count to 609,522 across the site located approximately 60km northwest of Mackay.
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The installation phase involved driving more than 91,000 piles and mounting 7,006 solar trackers.
A mechanical installation team of 110 personnel completed the module deployment, with close to half identifying as First Nations workers. The installation crew forms part of a broader workforce of several hundred personnel currently working to finalise the project, which is expected to commence operations later this year.
Iberdrola Australia broke ground on the Broadsound project in September 2024, with construction commencing shortly after the company secured all necessary approvals. The organisation completed its “golden row” milestone in May 2025.
The facility will combine 377MW of solar generation capacity with a 150MW/300MWh battery energy storage system, enabling the project to dispatch power during evening peak demand periods when solar generation declines.
Broadsound will connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via the existing Broadsound substation, feeding renewable energy into Queensland’s grid as the state accelerates its transition away from coal-fired generation. The project is expected to generate approximately 900GWh of electricity annually.
Broadsound is expected to be the organisation’s largest solar PV project in the country. It is closely followed by the 245MW Avonlie solar PV plant in New South Wales, comprising more than 450,000 solar panels.
The company is also developing the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park in South Australia. The site consists of 50 wind turbines and 250,000 solar modules, granting 217MW of wind and 110MW of solar PV generation.
Since 2020, when it acquired renewables firm Infigen Energy, now Iberdrola Australia, the Spanish energy company has invested in several solar and wind projects in the country and acquired engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) provider Autonomous Energy.
Indeed, in 2022, Iberdrola committed to investing between €2-3 billion (US$1.99-2.99 billion) in renewable energy assets in Australia.
The completion of installing the solar modules at Broadsound leaves remaining construction activities focused on electrical infrastructure, grid connection works, and commissioning of both the solar array and battery storage system. Iberdrola has not yet announced a specific date for the facility’s commercial operations.
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SEG Solar Announces New US 4 GW Solar Module Factory – Morningstar
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New Research Uncovers Interface-Level Physical Mechanisms Driving Ultraviolet Degradation In Topcon Solar Cells – megaproject.com
Researchers at Yangzhou University in China have investigated ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) pathways in both passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells and have concluded that this phenomenon is primarily governed by the design of the front-side passivation stack.
UVID is particularly important for TOPCon technology because its high-efficiency passivation structures rely on ultra-thin dielectric and interfacial layers that are more sensitive to UV-driven defect creation and charge accumulation, which can directly impact long-term performance and field reliability.
“UV irradiation induces silicon–hydrogen (Si–H) bond breaking and interface defect generation, whereas the optimized silicon nitride (SiNx)/aluminum oxide (AlOx) passivation structure in TOPCon solar cells maintains stable field-effect passivation and effectively suppresses recombination losses, ” corresponding author Qinqin Wang told pv magazine. “Our work further demonstrated that rational passivation-layer engineering, including optimized AlOx thickness and SiNx optical matching design, is critical for improving the long-term UV stability of TOPCon solar cells.”
The research team explained that the role of interface chemistry and hydrogen dynamics in TOPCon devices is still unexplored. In particular, the response of silicon-combined AlOx and SiNx passivation layers to UV irradiation, and their impact on hydrogen passivation and interface defect formation, is not yet fully understood
The analysis focused on interface defect density (Dit) and fixed negative charge density (Qf). Dit refers to the density of electrically active defect states at the silicon–passivation layer interface, while Qf describes the concentration of immobile negative charges embedded within the passivation layers.
The scientists used a Sinton WCT-120 metrology system for sample testing and characterization. Defect and material analyses were performed using photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), UV–visible spectroscopy, and capacitance–voltage measurements for interface defect density (Dit) and fixed charge density (Qf).
Microstructure was examined using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). UV degradation testing followed IEC 61215 standards, with accelerated exposure of 60 and 120 kWh/m² at 60 C.
The group analyzed AlOx films with thicknesses of 3 nm, 5 nm, and 6 nm under UV exposure and found that thicker AlOx layers provide better stability and reduced performance degradation due to stronger field-effect passivation. It noted that, as AlOx thickness increases, the Qf becomes more negative while Dit shows a thickness-dependent response, indicating a balance between chemical and field-effect passivation.
In addition, the academics found that UV irradiation induces Si–H bond breaking and hydrogen migration, which modifies interface defects and charge states, while thicker AlOx layers stabilize oxygen-related negative charge centers more effectively.
As for SiNx, two refractive indices were studied, showing that low-index SiNx has better UV resistance due to lower UV absorption and reduced bond breaking at the interface. UV exposure transforms the SiNx network toward a more nitrogen- and oxygen-rich composition, increasing interface defect density and altering hydrogen-related bonds, the scientists said.
“Due to its passivated-contact design and the more robust field-effect passivation enabled by the SiNx/AlOx stack, TOPCon solar cells demonstrate significantly higher resistance to UV degradation than PERC cells,” Wang said. “After optimization, TOPCon devices show only a 0.74% efficiency loss following 120 kWh/m² UV exposure, whereas PERC cells experience a much larger degradation of 3.34%.”
“These findings indicate that resistance to UV degradation is primarily determined by the quality of interface passivation, underscoring the critical role of interface-engineering approaches in the development of next-generation silicon solar cells with enhanced UV stability,” he concluded.
The research findings are available in the study “Exploring the UV degradation pathways in N-TOPCon solar cells: Interface passivation and hydrogen dynamics,” published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
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Solar Systems Integration Basics – Department of Energy (.gov)
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What is solar systems integration and how does it work? Solar systems integration involves developing technologies and tools that allow solar energy onto the electricity grid, while maintaining grid reliability, security, and efficiency.
For most of the past 100 years, electrical grids involved large-scale, centralized energy generation located far from consumers. Modern electrical grids are much more complex. In addition to large utility-scale plants, modern grids also involve variable energy sources like solar and wind, energy storage systems, power electronic devices like inverters, and small-scale energy generation systems like rooftop installations and microgrids. These smaller-scale and dispersed energy sources are generally known as distributed energy resources (DER).
The electrical grid is separated into transmission and distribution systems. The transmission grid is the network of high-voltage power lines that carry electricity from centralized generation sources like large power plants. These high voltages allow power to be transported long distances without excessive loss. The distribution grid refers to low-voltage lines that eventually reach homes and businesses. Substations and transformers convert power between high and low voltage. Traditionally, electricity only needed to flow one way through these systems: from the central generation source to the consumer. However, systems like rooftop solar now require the grid to handle two-way electricity flow, as these systems can inject the excess power that they generate back into the grid.
Increased solar and DER on the electrical grid means integrating more power electronic devices, which convert energy from one form to another. This could include converting between high and low voltage, regulating the amount of power flow, or converting between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) electricity, depending on where the electricity is going and how it will be used. By 2030, as much as 80% of electricity could flow through power electronic devices. One type of power electronic device that is particularly important for solar energy integration is the inverter. Inverters convert DC electricity, which is what a solar panel generates, to AC electricity, which the electrical grid uses.
Since solar energy can only be generated when the sun is shining, the ability to store solar energy for later use is important: It helps to keep the balance between electricity generation and demand. This means that developing batteries or thermal storage is key to adding more solar.
The electrical grid must be able to reliably provide power, so it’s important for utilities and other power system operators to have real-time information about how much electricity solar systems are producing. Increasing amounts of solar and DER on the grid lead to both opportunities and challenges for grid reliability. Complex modern grids with a mix of traditional generation and DER can make responding to abnormal situations like storms or blackouts more difficult. However, power electronics have the potential to collect real-time information on the grid and help to control grid operations. In fact, special “grid-forming” inverters could use solar energy to restart the grid in the event of a blackout.
Learn more about systems integration in the Solar Energy Technologies Office, check out these solar energy information resources, and find out more about how solar works.
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