Solar Now

Xinyi Energy Holdings Ltd remains in focus as Hong Kong-listed solar stocks face renewed pressure, while investors watch the company’s utility-scale solar portfolio and China power-market exposure.
Xinyi Energy Holdings Ltd is drawing attention as Hong Kong solar-related shares have been under pressure this month, with peers such as Xinyi Solar also seeing sharp moves in local trading. For US investors, the name matters because it sits in the broader clean-energy and China infrastructure trade that often feeds into sentiment across emerging-market and renewable-energy portfolios.
As of: 21.05.2026
By the editorial team – specialized in equity coverage.
Xinyi Energy operates utility-scale solar power plants and generates revenue primarily from electricity sales and related project operations. The business is tied to policy support, grid access, and the economics of solar generation in China, making it sensitive to power-pricing rules and changes in subsidy or tariff structures.
The company’s model also reflects the capital-intensive nature of solar asset ownership. Unlike solar manufacturers that sell panels or glass, Xinyi Energy is exposed to long-duration operating cash flows from power assets, which means investor attention often shifts to leverage, asset utilization, and the stability of project returns rather than near-term product cycles.
The company’s core driver is the operating performance of its solar farms, including the amount of electricity generated and sold. Seasonal weather patterns, irradiation levels, and curtailment conditions can affect output, while regulatory changes in China’s power sector can influence realized pricing and operating economics.
For US-based investors who follow global renewables, Xinyi Energy serves as a proxy for the intersection of China’s power transition and listed clean-energy exposure in Hong Kong. That makes the stock relevant not only for direct Asia specialists, but also for broader thematic portfolios that compare solar operators, developers, and equipment makers across markets.
The broader sector backdrop has been mixed. A recent Hong Kong market report noted that solar-related shares moved lower, with Xinyi Solar Holdings closing 5.2% lower in local trading and the report highlighting weak sentiment across photovoltaic stocks, according to Futu News as of 21.05.2026. While that item was about a peer, it underscores the tone around the segment in Hong Kong markets.
For Xinyi Energy, investor focus tends to stay on operating scale, financing discipline, and the visibility of cash generation. In a sector where asset owners often trade on yield expectations and policy confidence, any shift in power-market pricing or financing conditions can have an outsized effect on sentiment, even without a company-specific announcement.
Xinyi Energy is relevant to US investors because it offers exposure to China’s solar buildout through a Hong Kong listing, which is a different risk profile from US-listed renewables names. The stock can therefore appear in diversified portfolios that track energy transition themes, Asia equities, or cross-border dividend and income strategies.
It also matters as part of the supply-chain and policy conversation around global solar adoption. Even when the company itself is not in the spotlight, moves in related stocks can signal how investors are pricing clean-energy demand, regulation, and macro conditions in the region.
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Additional news and developments on the stock can be explored via the linked overview pages.
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Xinyi Energy remains a sector-linked stock rather than a headline-driven story on the basis of the available recent news flow. The company’s appeal is tied to solar asset ownership, China power-market conditions, and the stability of cash generation from operating projects. For US investors, that makes it a name to watch when sentiment turns on renewables, but the stock’s day-to-day direction can still be heavily influenced by broader Hong Kong and China market moves.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute investment advice. Stocks are volatile financial instruments.

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The deal supports locally manufactured thin-film solar module deployment.
GameChange Solar and First Solar, Inc. have announced a strategic partnership to advance the deployment of domestically manufactured thin-film solar modules in India.
The companies said the agreement builds on two utility-scale solar projects in India that have already been completed using First Solar modules on GameChange Solar’s Genius Tracker™ systems.
These projects have been operating for more than a year and have achieved approximately 99.8% uptime, demonstrating strong compatibility between the technologies.
The partnership comes as India tightens local manufacturing requirements under policies such as the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers and the Approved List of Cell Manufacturers.
With a limited number of compliant suppliers, First Solar’s manufacturing base in India is expected to help developers reduce regulatory risk and improve supply chain stability.
GameChange Solar said it has spent the past year conducting engineering and R&D work to ensure its tracker systems are fully compatible with First Solar’s India-produced modules, including its Series 7 platform.
The work includes design adjustments tailored specifically to its tracker architecture.
Both companies are also working to improve system performance, focusing on optimizing energy generation profiles through the combined use of First Solar modules and GameChange Solar tracking systems.
 
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The new process could help lower manufacturing costs.
Researchers in Germany and Spain have developed a fast vacuum coating process capable of producing perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with efficiencies of up to 24.3 percent in just 10 minutes.
The solvent-free method was created by scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Valencia. It rapidly deposits uniform perovskite layers at high throughput, even on textured silicon surfaces commonly used in advanced solar cells.
Ulrich Paetzold, PhD, a professor at KIT, stated that industrial-scale manufacturing depends not just on achieving high efficiency, but also on whether the production process is fast, robust, as well as scalable.
“We were able to demonstrate that an exceptionally fast vacuum process not only produces uniform layers, but also yields efficient perovskite–silicon solar cells,” he explained.
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells stack a perovskite top cell over a traditional silicon bottom cell. Since the two layers absorb different parts of sunlight, they can capture more of the solar spectrum. Consequently, they can generate more electricity than traditional silicon-only solar panels.
However, producing the perovskite layer, the active light-harvesting component in these solar cells, remains a major challenge. Industrial manufacturing requires fast and uniform layer formation over large areas.
To address the challenge, the joint research team used a technique called close-space sublimation (CSS). This is a fast vacuum-based process, in which precursor materials evaporate and travel only a few millimeters before depositing onto the silicon cell surface. The materials then react to form the perovskite layer.
Sofia Chozas-Barrientos, a PhD student at the University of Valencia and study co-author, said the team utilized CSS to rapidly deposit organic precursor materials onto silicon without solvents.
The process consumes relatively little precursor material and allows the sources to be reused, making it attractive for industrial-scale production. “In the experiment, the conversion was completed after 10 minutes, an important advance for a vacuum-based process,” Chozas-Barrientos added.
For the study, the team carefully tuned the solar cell material to help it absorb the correct portions of sunlight. They reportedly adjusted the amount of bromine in the perovskite layer with a mixed organic source composed of methylammonium iodide and methylammonium bromide.
Alexander Diercks, PhD, a KIT researcher who spent six months at the University of Valencia, as part of the Horizon Europe project Nexus, stressed the importance of the achievement. “By adjusting the ratio of these two components, we were able to control the bromine content in the final material and achieve a band gap of 1.64 electronvolts,” Diercks explained.
The process worked across several silicon surface designs for high-performance solar cells. The scientists tested the CSS process on silicon subcells with smooth, nano-structured, and micro-structured surfaces, without changing the production settings.
Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analyses revealed uniform coverage. The tandem solar cells created with the approach obtained efficiencies of 23.5 percent on smooth, 23.7 percent on nano-structured, and 24.3 percent on micro-structured silicon cells.
“This is extremely important for scaling,” Henk Bolink, PhD, a professor at the University of Valencia, concluded in a press release. “The fact that close-space sublimation also produces uniform layers on textured silicon cells makes this approach highly relevant for practical deployment.”
The study has been published in the journal Nature Energy.

Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.
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China is advancing the Sun Chasing project to develop space-based solar power systems that collect energy in orbit and beam it wirelessly to Earth or spacecraft for continuous power supply. Early tests demonstrated over 100 m wireless power transmission and efficient microwave beaming to moving targets, with up to 1,180 W delivered and promising system efficiencies.
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A research team from China’s Xidian University has begun initial experiments under the Sun Chasing project, an initiative aimed at developing large-scale space-based solar power systems. The long-term goal is to deploy orbital solar infrastructure capable of collecting energy in space and transmitting it wirelessly back to Earth or to spacecraft, potentially providing a continuous and weather-independent power source.
The research team reports that it has successfully demonstrated wireless power transmission over distances exceeding 100 meters to a stationary target, as well as more than 30 meters to a moving target. According to the project team, these early tests are intended to validate key components of the system, including beam stability and energy delivery accuracy under changing conditions.
“In recent tests, the system achieved a wireless power transmission efficiency of 20.8% from direct current to direct current over a distance of 100 meters. It delivered 1,180 watts of power,” the Chinese State Council Information Office said in a statement. “The team has also built a wireless charging system for drones. In a test, a drone flying at 30 kilometers per hour was able to receive 143 watts of stable power from 30 meters away.”
In the proposed system configuration, solar energy is first collected using spherical crown concentrators, which are designed to efficiently capture and focus incoming sunlight across a wide surface area. This concentrated solar energy is then converted into electrical power through onboard conversion systems. Once converted, the energy is transformed into microwave radiation for wireless transmission.
The microwave signal is generated and directed by a circular active phased array antenna with a diameter of 1.2 meters. This phased array enables precise beam steering and control, allowing the microwave energy to be tightly focused toward a designated receiving station despite distance and relative movement.
At the receiving end, the transmitted microwave beam is captured by a rectifying antenna, called rectenna, which measures 5.2 meters in diameter. The rectenna converts the incoming microwave energy back into usable electrical power with high efficiency, reportedly capturing around 87% of the emitted microwave power under the test conditions.
The Sun Chasing project was initiated in 2018 and reached a major milestone in 2022 with the completion of a full-system ground validation. In 2024, the team reported a successful power transmission over a distance of more than 55 meters.
“Recent breakthroughs include improving the efficiency of solar energy collection and conversion, increasing the precision of microwave beam control to reduce energy loss, and making the transmitting and receiving antennas smaller and lighter, which is critical for space applications,” said Duan Baoyan from Xidian University. “We have also solved the problem of how to power multiple moving targets at once using a single transmitter. This means that in the future, one space power station could potentially supply electricity to several satellites or ground vehicles at the same time.”
The researchers noted, however, that there is still a long way to go before a space solar power station becomes a commercially viable reality. “The next step is to conduct in-orbit tests,” they said.
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Solar And Wind Expansion May Drive $10-15 Billion Land Investments By 2030: Report  Open Magazine
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A general view of some of thousands of solar panels.
The Hawaii Solar Energy Association called for the Legislature to reconvene on an emergency basis after lawmakers passed a bill industry officials say would retroactively impact 2026 solar tax breaks.
The Hawaii Solar Energy Association called for the Legislature to reconvene on an emergency basis after lawmakers passed a bill industry officials say would retroactively impact 2026 solar tax breaks.
Senate Bill 3125 limits and phases out state income tax credits for consumers and businesses installing rooftop solar systems — a bill the association adamantly opposed.
The bill sets income limits of $175,000 for individual filers and $350,000 for joint filers to receive renewable energy technology tax credits, which would retroactively apply to this tax year. The bill also sets a $40 million cap on total tax credits given out by the state, though that won’t go into effect until 2027.
By 2031, according to SB 3125, the state would no longer reimburse consumers for installing renewable energy technology.
“Hawaii families and businesses installed solar this year under the law as it stood, with signed contracts and capital already deployed,” Rocky Mould, the associations’s executive director, said in a news release. “Changing the rules retroactively is not tax policy — it is breaking faith with people who did exactly what the state asked them to do.”
SB 3125’s aims to preserve state income tax cuts for 80% of Hawaii taxpayers that are scheduled to take effect in annual steps through 2031. The phased repeal of the renewable energy tax credit program and six other industry tax credits are needed to afford the broad income tax relief and other spending in the state budget in the midst of expected federal funding losses for programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid that state leaders have vowed to support.
The renewable energy tax credits, which can be up to $5,000 per residential rooftop system, cost the state about $100 million annually in recent years, though the elimination of a 30% federal tax credit at the end of last year has reduced business this year by about 30%, according to the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.
The industry group claims losing state tax credits jeopardizes the ability of commercial-scale projects to “safe harbor” federal tax credits they factored into their financing.
“The affected projects have been years in the making and include many serving low-income housing, government facilities, healthcare facilities, schools, and other community spaces,” the association said. “Without legislative action, many of these projects may have to be canceled.”
The group claims the renewable energy tax credit was “one of few proven tools that delivers permanent, structural relief” from Hawaii’s high cost of living for working families.
“Eliminating the credit, especially retroactively, does not provide relief to working families,” the association said. “It removes one of the most effective tools available to help them lower their energy costs and compounds the harm already caused by the federal rollback of clean energy tax credits earlier this year.”
The trade group believes the Legislature should call a special session to adopt language that would protect projects already built or contracted this year. The group also said it is evaluating all available options, “including legal avenues,” to address the issue.
In order to call a special session, two-thirds of each chamber must submit written requests to the speaker of the House and Senate president. Gov. Josh Green also could call a special session by issuing a proclamation.

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By TIM STAUFFER, REGISTER MANAGING EDITOR
Local News
May 20, 2026 – 2:17 PM
Chanute’s energy portfolio just got greener. A new 6-megawatt solar farm at 4302 S. Plummer is now online and producing energy.
Evergy will own and operate the facility, while the City of Chanute has agreed to purchase power directly from the site for at least the next 30 years. The city has the option to purchase the facility after six years. 
Evergy made a $15 million investment in the project, according to the Chanute Tribune. The energy produced by the facility’s 12,000 panels will power approximately 1,888 homes in Chanute.
The solar facility is located on 47 acres of city-owned land. Construction took about a year, said John Bridson, Evergy’s Senior Vice President of Generation. Chanute’s city council agreed to the plan in April 2023. 
“We still own the land,” said Brandon Westerman, Director of Electric and Gas Operations for the City of Chanute. “Beforehand, it was just a hay meadow. But we saw a good opportunity to partner with Evergy to produce solar. Evergy pays for all the installation costs and maintenance.”
“I want to say the energy rate is about $37 per megawatt,” Chanute City Manager Todd Newman told the Tribune. “It’s a great deal for our city.”
Like Iola, Chanute owns and operates its electric generation and distribution systems.
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The plant will serve global markets, especially GCC countries and the United States, combining Sahaj Solar’s manufacturing expertise with Clarion Investments’ logistics capabilities.
Image: Sahaj Solar
From pv magazine India
Gujarat-based Sahaj Solar has announced a joint venture between its subsidiary Sahaj Renewable Energy Trading-FZCO and Clarion Investments LLC to establish Sahaj Energy Solar Panels Manufacturing L.L.C. in the UAE.
The joint venture will develop a 750 MW solar module manufacturing facility at an unspecified location in the Middle Eastern country. The new factory will target global markets, with a strategic focus on GCC countries including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman, as well as the United States.
The partnership combines Sahaj Solar’s manufacturing expertise with Clarion Investments’ logistics capabilities.
The facility will produce solar modules for both domestic and international markets.
Founded in 2010 and based in Ahmedabad, Sahaj Solar is recognized by the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It currently operates a 100 MW solar module manufacturing line at its Bavla plant in Gujarat, with a 1.5 GW capacity expansion under planning. The company also provides solar water pumping systems, street lighting, and off-grid and microgrid solar solutions across India and export markets.
Clarion Investments is a commercial real estate investment manager headquartered in New York City. It operates as an independent subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, which is a California-based multinational holding company and one of the largest asset management firms globally.

Driven by multi-billion-dollar investments from the likes of Tesla and Corning, U.S. solar manufacturing capital expenditure is forecast to skyrocket 150% year-on-year to $7 billion in 2027, marking a massive breakout year as silicon-based technology eclipses thin-film spending and cements a domestic supply chain.
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From pv magazine USA
Investments into PV capital expenditure (capex) across the United States are set to grow significantly in 2027, in what is likely to be a breakout year for the domestic crystalline-silicon (c-Si) industry.
Capex is forecast to reach as much as $7 billion in 2027, representing a year-on-year growth of about 150%, with investments into the c-Si value-chain potentially accounting for more than 90% of spending, compared to about 10% from thin-film (First Solar).
This article provides the first detailed analysis of U.S.-specific PV manufacturing capex, created bottom-up by analysing the investments, effective capacities and production levels of more than 35 domestic producers in the United States; by year back to 2020 and by quarter out to the end of 2027.
The details behind this new analysis form the backdrop to the content that will be presented on-stage at Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 in Austin, Texas on 22-23 September 2026 – the first event to be held in the United States dedicated exclusively to domestic PV production, equipment supply, technologies deployed and materials supply-chains.
Capex and opex the new metrics for domestic production
Since details regarding the Inflation Reduction Act were revealed back in 2022, manufacturing capacity in the United States has evolved in a somewhat lumpy fashion, characterized by First Solar’s new thin-film factories across various states in the Southeast and a spread of c-Si module factories across the country, with Texas taking the lead from a production standpoint.
While a massive step forward for a country that was for years being supplied by factories in Southeast Asia, financed and operated mostly by Chinese PV manufacturers, the investment climate for full value-chain c-Si capital spending has been largely subdued in the United States in the past few years.
This was due to uncertainty. Would the United States continue to be supplied by upstream components produced overseas as foreign companies moved capacity from one country to another to avoid the latest round of AD/CVD tariffs? Or would the requirements on foreign-ownership and control create a void in expansion plans that domestic entities were unable to fill?
However, over the past 6 months, it appears that these uncertainties have been overcome. Legacy issues with foreign ownership appear to be getting addressed now and plans have emerged from companies such as Canadian Solar, Corning and Tesla that suggest a new landscape for domestic PV manufacturing in the United States is imminent.
In short, it appears that the build-out of a domestic manufacturing ecosystem is now an accepted reality; not just for upstream cells, wafers and ingots, but the accompanying raw materials supply-chains feeding into manufacturing activity through the value-chain.
At last, the United States is moving from tracking ambitious capacity announcement plans to analysing capex and operating expenditure (opex); the key metrics associated with a credible and sustainable manufacturing segment.
First Solar’s US expansions to be eclipsed by silicon-based competitors
Since 2023, First Solar was the leading company investing in new manufacturing capacity in the United States, with over $2.5 billion committed between 2023 and 2025 to new greenfield sites in Alabama and Louisiana, in addition to upgrades in Ohio. This level of spending accounted for about one third of all PV capex in the United States during this period.
It now appears that 2027 will be the breakout year for c-Si capex in the United States, driven partly by new capacity additions at the cell stage from existing module producers. However, the major additions in 2027 are coming from the anticipated start of capex by Tesla and an expected round of ingot/wafer and module capacity investments from Corning.

First Solar’s new thin-film factories in Alabama and Louisiana were major contributors to the uptick in U.S. PV capex during 2023 and 2024, with c-Si based PV capex now dominating investments.
Spending on deposition tools from 2027 could be a pivotal moment
Until now, c-Si spending has largely been focused on new module assembly lines, with most of the deposition equipment capex coming from First Solar’s new thin-film investments. However, this is set to change as cell capacity is prioritized from 2027.
Across both c-Si and thin-film value-chains, deposition equipment is probably the most important aspect of any technology roadmap and in-house technical competence. This was recognized by the China PV ecosystem back in 2017-2018 as the country set out to own deposition tool development and production as the engine for its leading cell producers to move from p-type mono PERC structures to more advanced cell architectures.
While having a strong accumulated capacity for polysilicon production, ingot pulling, wafer slicing and module assembly is necessary to build out a self-contained PV manufacturing ecosystem, technical competence and leadership on critical tools and process flow arrangements for cell fabrication is essential for the United States to become a key player in the PV manufacturing space.

US PV capex in 2027 is forecast to see the first major spending in c-Si cell build-out, with the domestic sector moving from module assembly capability to cell fabrication knowledge and ownership.
Southeast hubs emerge while Texas still the frontrunner in module production
No different to the bidding wars that tend to exist elsewhere globally when new factory investments are first muted, PV capex in the United States has gravitated to locations where incentives are on offer.
This has created a hub of activity across states in the Southeast including Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. All of First Solar’s expansions outside Ohio have been in the Southeast; Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina.
Texas dominates PV capex in the Southwest, including Canadian Solar, Elin Elektrik, Waaree Energies, VSun, T1 Energy, SEG Solar and Imperial Star.
Outside First Solar’s thin-film capex in Ohio, states in the Midwest have also been the subject of capex, most notably Canadian Solar’s cell build out in Indiana and Corning’s new ingot and wafer lines in Michigan.
However, a large contribution from the capex forecast in 2027 is coming from Tesla’s plans that have yet to reveal a specific location, either as a stand-alone integrated hub or through geographically disperse capacity additions.

States across the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest dominate new PV manufacturing capex today in the United States, with Tesla’s factory location(s) yet to be revealed.
While the spending of the 35-40 companies driving the expansion of PV manufacturing today in the United States can be assigned to specific areas, the largest swing factor in forecasting capex (and the associated additional c-Si production volumes in the United States from 2028 onwards) is coming from Tesla’s plans to establish one of the largest PV manufacturing entities seen in the PV industry.
Forecasting domestic capex is now essential to understanding the growth of US PV manufacturing
Capex is the most important metric for any manufacturing analyst; scrutiny here cannot be underestimated. Granularity on capex at the quarterly level (value-chain and technology / process-flow specific) allows production ramp-up and phasing to be established in a far more credible and useful way than the legacy focus in the United States on unsubstantiated and speculative media announcements.
Capex provides a means of forecasting productivity 12-18 months in advance, but not any longer. In this context, the forecasting to the end of 2027 shown in this article is at the limits and is required to pre-empt firm details on some of the 2028-2030 production activity that could see major changes in the overall U.S. PV production landscape.
This includes expected capex allocations from Corning in 2027 to meet the company’s 2030 solar targets.
But the largest impact to 2027 capex is coming from Tesla’s plans. The scale and ambition of building out 100 GW of c-Si capacity (ingot-to-module, or just cell / module) seems to have spooked the U.S. PV sector, with few outlets factoring in the potential impact of this huge volume of new capacity on the domestic scene.
On the balance of probability, I have included this as a key part of the circa. $7 billion PV capex forecast for 2027, albeit yet to be assigned at any state level.
The question from my side is not debating whether a large portion of the plans will come to fruition, but how to phase the spending at various parts of the c-Si value-chain. The scope for market disruption here is so profound that all stakeholders in the U.S. PV industry need to be taking notice and reviewing what impact Tesla’s plans could have on the overall industry trajectory out to 2035.
The new Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 conference in Austin, Texas on 22-23 September 2026 has been created to understand and map out exactly how the domestic manufacturing landscape in the United States will unfold in the coming years.
If you want to be part of this special gathering and share your views on the domestic manufacturing space, you can get in touch through the contact links on the event portal here.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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Norwegian classification society DNV has issued two fresh sets of recommendations concerning floating solar installations. These documents address the engineering of buoyant platforms and the anchoring and positioning mechanisms for such systems.
The independent energy authority states that the new publications are intended to enhance safety, dependability, and sustained functionality as renewable energy expands quickly worldwide. The first document, DNV-ST-C108, specifies technical criteria for the engineering and certification of floating PV platform structures. It adopts a design methodology that accounts for possible outcomes if a float fails. This standard encompasses rules for safety categorization, design parameters, material certification, structural engineering, testing, and anti-corrosion measures, with particular attention to non-metallic materials and deterioration from sunlight exposure.
The second document, DNV-ST-E309, outlines concepts and techniques for engineering mooring and station keeping systems for floating PV. It provides direction on design forces, load combinations, and analytical methods, along with information on system layouts to lower the chance of failure throughout the station keeping setup and a corresponding hazard evaluation.
Ditlev Engel, CEO of Energy Systems at DNV, remarked that floating solar is transitioning from specialized uses to large-scale projects. He added that these new standards are crafted to assist the sector in controlling risk, boosting reliability, and fostering creativity while preserving suitable safety buffers. DNV further indicated that the two new standards are intended to work alongside its recommended practice guidelines for solar PV systems, initially published in 2021. The company noted that an update to its original guidance is scheduled for this June.
Based on research from Wood Mackenzie, worldwide floating solar capacity might hit 77 GW by 2033, driven primarily by installations in India, China, and Indonesia.
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Shares of solar panel manufacturer First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) jumped 6.1% in the afternoon session after the company announced a partnership with GameChange Solar to support the deployment of its domestically manufactured thin-film solar modules in India. 
The collaboration is aimed at accelerating growth in India’s utility-scale solar market, helping developers comply with the country’s domestic sourcing laws. This partnership builds on two previous projects where First Solar’s modules were successfully deployed on GameChange Solar’s tracker systems, operating with nearly 99.8% uptime for over a year. Given India’s evolving regulations and a limited pool of compliant suppliers, First Solar’s established manufacturing presence in the country is expected to reduce supply chain risks for developers, positioning the company for further growth.
Is now the time to buy First Solar? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
First Solar’s shares are extremely volatile and have had 30 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 11 months ago when the stock dropped 20.3% on the news that a U.S. Senate panel proposed phasing out solar and wind energy tax credits by 2028, raising concerns about future profitability and project viability for solar companies. 
The phasing out is expected to begin as early as 2026, diminishing the financial incentives that have been critical drivers of growth in the renewable energy sector.
First Solar is down 14.4% since the beginning of the year, and at $234.83 per share, it is trading 17.5% below its 52-week high of $284.59 from December 2025. Despite the year-to-date decline, investors who bought $1,000 worth of First Solar’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $3,064.
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Nvidia’s Quiet Partner. Nvidia’s chips cost a hundred grand. The connectors that make them work cost even more. One company makes them all.
Every AI server needs specialized infrastructure the chip companies don’t make. High-speed cables. Power connectors. Thermal sensors. This 90-year-old company built a monopoly on it. The AI boom just started. This stock is still flying under the radar. Claim The Stock Ticker Here for FREE.
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Britain passes 2 million solar installs after biggest monthly boom in over a decade  Yahoo
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Canadian energy firm Enbridge will develop a 365MW/1,600MWh solar-plus-storage project in Wyoming, US, as part of an ongoing partnership with tech and data giant Meta.
The first phase of the Cowboy project, near Cheyenne, Wyoming, will supply power to Meta for its growing data centre operations in the US. The partnership between Meta and Enbridge now totals approximately 1.6GW of contracted energy capacity across North America.
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Enbridge did not provide a timeline for the project’s construction or operations.
“The first phase of the Cowboy Project builds on our strong and growing relationship with Meta and reflects Enbridge’s disciplined approach to expanding our power portfolio,” said Allen Capps, Enbridge’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and President of Power business. “By integrating utility-scale solar with battery storage, we’re delivering reliable, scalable energy solutions that support Meta’s data centre operations while strengthening grid performance.”
Meta’s largest data centre development will be the US$200 billion ‘Hyperion’ construction in Louisiana, reportedly to be accompanied by 10 gas-fired power plants. The similarly grandiosely named ‘Prometheus’ cluster of data centres in Ohio forms part of the company’s commitment to spend US$600 billion on AI data centre infrastructure by 2028.
Alongside massive water, land and gas-fired energy consumption, Meta has invested significantly in US solar energy to power its operations. Last week, it announced 850MW worth of solar and energy storage power purchase agreements (PPAs) with DE Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), and at the start of this month, it inked another offtake deal with EDP for a 250MW solar PV project in Arkansas.
Not content with land-based energy resources, the company has also signed a speculative deal with US startup Overview Energy for early access to space-based solar power, harvested with satellites that beam solar energy from space to land-based PV farms, theoretically allowing for 24/7 generation.
The US data centre boom has sparked fierce debate, pitting the economic and tax benefits that these huge developments can bring to local regions against the impacts they have on power grid stability, water tables and local communities.

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The Plug and Play Solar Act, which passed on a 35-1 vote, would allow portable solar generation devices with up to 1,200 watts of output to connect to a building through a standard outlet. The bill now moves to the state Assembly, which has until August 31 to pass it during the current session.
Balcony solar
Image: Bright Saver
The California Senate has passed SB 868, also known as “The Plug And Play Solar Act.” The bill establishes a definition of and rules for “portable solar generation device(s),” which generate power from solar panels connected to a home’s writing using a standard 120V outlet, via a small inverter with up to 1,200 watts of AC output.
Such devices, commonly referred to as “balcony solar panels” or “plug-in photovoltaics” (PIPV), would be exempted from rules that require the owner to pay a fee and obtain permission from the utility company to interconnect home solar panels.
SB 868, introduced by Senator Scott Wiener in early January, was modeled after the nation’s first successful plug-in solar bill — 2025’s HB 340 in Utah. Following the Utah bill’s passage, legislators in six other states have passed balcony solar laws (though two have not yet been signed by their state’s governors).
“The cost of electricity has risen to absurd levels, and plug-in solar is an easy way families can lower costs,” said Wiener in a statement celebrating his bill’s passage in the Senate. “These units are small and mobile enough that millions of Californians can use them to save on affordable clean energy where rooftop systems aren’t appropriate. I thank my colleagues for supporting this important measure to provide affordable clean energy to more people in our state.”
The California bill passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support on a 35-1 vote, and now heads to the state Assembly. California legislators have until August 31 to pass bills for final approval this session.
As goes California…
While bills in other states have been cause for celebration by plug-in solar advocates across the country, California is seen as the most important market for the technology. The state has long been a leader in installed solar capacity, although Texas has become the nation’s solar hub as California policy has slowed new distributed solar additions.
Advocates say that the push for plug-in solar will spread the technology quickly across the state, allowing companies that sell such products to access millions of new customers — something they say will make the economics of adding a couple of panels to an apartment balcony an obvious good choice.
“These systems are simple, practical and proven. They give people the ability to plug into clean energy savings immediately,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California of the Environmental Working Group (and former executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association) in a statement. “We strongly encourage the Assembly to promptly take up and pass the balcony solar bill, ensuring that as we head into a hot summer, millions of Californians can look forward to having access to this technology and begin to see meaningful reductions in their energy bills.”
While it is uncertain whether the Assembly will pass the bill (and if so, whether outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom would sign it), at least one candidate vying to replace Newsom is a fan of plug-in photovoltaics.
“Solar keeps getting cheaper, faster, and better. Balcony solar is fantastic—unbox it and hang it up. Any politician who opposes this technology is either ignorant or is beholden to utility monopolies. As governor, I’ll unleash solar’s full potential,” wrote Tom Steyer on X.
Even without legislative action, some companies are already selling plug-in solar products in California, including APsystems, Craftstrom and the nonprofit Bright Saver. But these companies are still pushing legislators to pass SB 868.
Cora Stryker, the cofounder of Bright Saver, has been a vocal advocate for plug-in solar laws nationwide. In a statement made to pv magazine USA ahead of the Senate vote, she expressed her personal viewpoint on the momentum behind the plug-in solar movement.
“From big states like California and New York to smaller states like New Hampshire and Virginia, there’s no doubt that Americans want some agency to fight back against rising energy bills,” Stryker wrote. “Californians right, left and center are contacting their elected officials to say clearly that they need plug-in solar – not next year, but right now. The question now is whether elected officials will listen to the people. We are optimistic that they will.”
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Balcony solar that is grid tied and the utility does not charge a monthly fee to own and used can lower the utility bills by up to 25%. if the highest usage in after work in the evening the pointing the majority of the system west to catch the sunset hours could even save more. 300 watts east, 300-watts south and 600 watts west would cover continuous loads like the electric clocks, alarm systems and refrigeration systems with two ( refrigerator and separate freezer ) always plugged in. The smallest system allowed by PG&E to interconnect on the NEM programs is 2000 watts of solar power and the extra electricity is taken by the utility and sold for full value to the neighbors but only paid about 25% of the value to the owner of the panels under NEM3.0. When one gets home, after work after 4:00 PM, they increase the rates from 40 cents per kilowatt hour to 60 cents per kilo watt hour and even eat up the remaining 25% the homeowner has banked. Traditional NEM systems cost $3.00 per watt permitted and installed and the balcony solar is about $1.50 per wat packaged and homeowner installed. The savings payback is faster than traditional solar and is portable to the next domicile one moves to. Great for renters with south or west facing balconies.
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In Baranoa, Colombia, a medical cannabis company has just launched a solar farm to power part of its own operation. The project, presented by the Ministry of Mines and Energy as the first initiative of its kind in the Colombian Caribbean, brings together 147 solar panels, self-generated energy and medical weed cultivation under one agroindustrial model.
More than a technological curiosity, the initiative points to a convergence the Colombian government is looking to push more emphatically: using clean energy to modernize agriculture, lower production costs, and decarbonize energy-intensive agroindustrial sectors. In this case, the test case chosen to showcase that vision was not cattle, coffee, or sugarcane: it was marijuana.
The company behind the project, Cannabis Medical Company, operates in areas including the cultivation of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medical cannabis, plant propagation, applied research, and production under pharmaceutical standards. Now, it is also looking to generate part of the energy needed to run those operations.
Located in the Colombian Caribbean, Cannabis Medical Company installed a 105.1-kilowatt-peak (kWp) photovoltaic system designed to partially meet the energy demands of its agricultural and production processes through clean, self-generated power.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the infrastructure includes 147 high-efficiency solar panels and is expected to generate approximately 178,670 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. That energy will be used to support part of the company’s agricultural, pharmaceutical, and processing operations.
As Minister of Mines and Energy Edwin Palma said in an official statement, “this is a project that requires a lot of energy, and in order to avoid the consequences of paying high bills and depending on the instability of the system, they decided to become independent and supply their own medical cannabis industry.”
In industries like medical cannabis, where energy costs can be significant —from irrigation and climate control to processing— generating part of their own electricity can translate into a meaningful boost in competitiveness.
The news also reveals something broader than an isolated business project. Colombia appears to be starting to connect two strategic moves that, until recently, had been running on separate tracks: the development of medical cannabis and the transition toward clean energy.
The government presented the initiative as an example of agrivoltaic energy, a model in which agricultural production and electricity generation coexist. The official argument is that, in a country with more than 40 million hectares of land used for agriculture and livestock, as well as high levels of solar radiation, energy generation does not have to compete with agriculture when it can actually strengthen it.
But the logic is also economic: reducing dependence on the power grid could help stabilize production costs in export-oriented and highly technical sectors. This is especially relevant for emerging industries like medical cannabis, which still faces regional competitiveness challenges.
The project’s impact is not measured in kilowatts alone. According to official estimates, the solar farm could prevent around 35.7 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, reducing pollution associated with traditional sources of electricity generation and aligning with national sustainability goals.
Perhaps the story of Baranoa is not only about solar panels or medical cannabis. Maybe it serves as a small signal of something larger: a Colombian countryside where production no longer means just planting and harvesting, but also generating energy, reducing dependence, and rethinking agroindustry from a different perspective.
Because, at least for the Colombian government, the future of agriculture may be starting to take shape among solar panels and high-value crops.

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The Denver aerospace company signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Arizona-based space solar manufacturer.
Image: Solestial
York Space Systems (NYSE: YSS) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Solestial, an Arizona-based manufacturer specializing in next-generation silicon solar technology optimized for orbital environments.
Solestial will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary from its current facility in Tempe, Arizona, following the anticipated close of the transaction in the second quarter of 2026. Production operations will continue uninterrupted, with the developer maintaining its commercial pipeline to supply ultra-thin silicon modules to the broader civil, commercial, and national security solar markets.
Financial details submitted in regulatory filings show that York expects to issue up to 2.35 million shares of common stock at closing, with the remaining balance of the purchase price funded using cash.
York Space Systems is a U.S.-based national defense and commercial contractor providing a comprehensive suite of mission-critical solutions for national security, government, and commercial customers.
The corporate consolidation highlights a growing push to scale advanced photovoltaic alternatives as global deployment demands outpace manufacturing capacity. High production costs and prolonged component lead times have long impacted the specialized space power market. Traditional III-V gallium arsenide solar cells require highly complex, resource-intensive processing, frequently pushing equipment lead times past two years.
Terrestrial silicon cells offer a readily available, mass-produced alternative but fail rapidly when subjected to intense cosmic radiation without massive shielding. Solestial bridges this market gap by applying advanced manufacturing techniques to ultra-thin, low-mass silicon. The resulting flexible solar cells and modules deliver a highly scalable, cost-effective alternative capable of matching or exceeding the performance metrics of heritage space-grade cells.
“Solestial has proven a scalable, space-optimized solar technology that is designed to perform in ways legacy and terrestrial solutions cannot,” said Mike Lajczok, CTO of York. “That will give us the ability to build more capable platforms with better performance, lower cost, and greater design flexibility.”
Domestic wafer-to-module
As government and commercial sectors accelerate the deployment of massive satellite constellations, establishing a reliable, high-volume solar manufacturing base has become a leading objective for major defense contractors. 
Unlike traditional space solar options that depend heavily on international manufacturing pipelines, approximately 95% of Solestial’s supply chain remains anchored within the United States, said the company. The manufacturer recently expanded its Tempe production footprint by purchasing advanced, high-volume automated solar factory equipment. The industrial hardware enables complete wafer-to-module assembly on domestic soil, reducing industrial reliance on foreign-controlled processing and materials.  
“York has consistently invested in U.S.-based manufacturing as a core part of how we deliver for our customers,” said Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York Space Systems. “The acquisition builds on that approach, strengthening our supply chain by investing in a proven U.S. company, supporting the domestic industrial base, and reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical materials and manufacturing.”
Radiation-hardened silicon architecture
Solestial’s technology relies on a proprietary self-curing cell structure engineered to survive severe environmental degradation. Under natural sunlight at operating temperatures as low as 65°C, the ultra-thin silicon cells use controlled internal thermal dynamics to automatically repair microscopic structural defects caused by radiation. This integrated thermal annealing process allows modules to sustain high power-conversion efficiencies over a 10-year operational lifespan without requiring heavy, parasitic shielding materials.
The solar developer expanded its commercial footprint prior to the acquisition by signing a contract to supply solar modules to EnduroSat and working with partners to design standardized, short-lead-time solar arrays. Earlier academic research has demonstrated that ultra-thin silicon cells can successfully minimize radiation degradation through this thermal healing process.
“Solestial was founded to solve the space power bottleneck,” said Margo de Naray, CEO of Solestial. “Our customers need a solution that can scale, perform in space, and be manufactured reliably. Partnering with York allows us to accelerate all three; expanding production, deepening technical integration, and delivering a resilient, American-made capability to a broader set of missions.”
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By David Jenkins, Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship 
As a lifelong conservative who has spent decades working on energy-related issues, including serving as a campaign surrogate on energy for John McCain’s 2008 presidential run, I recall that the GOP ethos on energy has been solidly rooted in the catchphrase “All of the Above.” 
That phrase is in keeping with a genuinely conservative belief in the free market and its ability to drive investment to the smartest and most cost-effective energy technologies. 
Not only is that approach naturally suited to keeping our energy costs low, it also can best ensure that America leads the global race to dominate future energy markets.
So, it was disappointing to hear Sunshine State gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner (a Republican) seemingly abandon “All of the Above” in favor of a hairbrained energy cancel culture that results in more rate hikes and threatens our energy future.
During an interview with Drew Steele on the digital news outlet Florida’s Voice, Renner trotted out tired old myths about the reliability of solar energy that haven’t been true in more than a decade. 
While sunny Florida gets a measly 11% of its energy from solar and wind, which are now our cheapest sources of electricity, Texas is getting more than 30% of its energy from those sources. In fact, solar and wind are credited with making the Texas grid more reliable and stabilizing it during unprecedented electricity demand in 2025. 
Texas is not the only red state to take advantage of wind and solar energy. Oklahoma, another oil state, gets 42% of its electricity from renewables, and Iowa leads the nation with wind and solar accounting for a whopping 61% of the state’s energy. South Dakota and New Mexico are not far behind at 59%. 
These states are letting the market decide which energy sources to invest in, and the market is overwhelmingly choosing wind and solar. 
As Floridians labor under skyrocketing electricity costs and one utility rate hike after another, it’s worth pointing out that the price of solar-generated electricity (with storage) is typically less than half the cost of the electricity generated by natural gas plants. 
And the price of natural gas is only going up. Due to liquified natural gas (LNG) exports, data center demand and other factors driving up gas prices, Florida electric bills are projected to increase by roughly $40 billion over the next 10 years. 
But Renner’s trip down the rabbit hole of ignorance didn’t stop with his outdated reliability claims. He then implied that we should reject solar energy because too many solar panels — and the batteries used for storage — are made in China. 
It’s a good thing the United States didn’t take the Renner approach in the 1970s and decide that since Japan was flooding the market with quality cars and trucks, we should just stop driving. 
The patriotic American response to such competition is not to, as Renner suggests, surrender, but to meet that competition in the marketplace and beat it. 
The fact that the Sunshine State gets a mere 11% of its electricity from solar energy, which is produced in-state and not subject to global supply disruptions, represents a colossal failure.
Apparently, Renner — and others who have hopped on the energy cancel culture bus — have decided that because solar and wind energy is embraced by folks on the political left, they must be against it. 
That logic is about as dimwitted as deciding to boycott all vegetables because some liberal vegetarians also happen to like them. 
Solar energy is Florida’s cheapest, most abundant and most secure source of energy. And in this age of ever-rising electric bills, power-hungry data centers and global unrest, Floridians need leaders who will ditch the foolishness and get serious about lowering energy costs. 
That means a common-sense return to “All of the Above,” rejecting this wacky energy cancel culture and fully embracing this state’s God-given solar. 
David Jenkins is president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, a national organization with more than 11,000 members in Florida. Banner photo: A rooftop solar array being installed in Broward County (Paul Krashefski/U.S. Department of Energy, Public domain, via Wilimedia Commons).
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The surge is already making an impact on the grid.
Photo Credit: iStock
In the wake of extremely volatile fuel prices, the United Kingdom has passed a major clean energy milestone. The nation has now installed more than 2 million solar panel arrays, following the biggest monthly jump in more than a decade, per The Ecologist.
According to British government data, 27,607 solar arrays were added in March alone, marking the highest four-week total since 2012. 
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said about two-thirds of those new systems were rooftop panels installed on homes. It’s likely that households are adopting solar power at a rapid pace.
More solar means more low-cost, pollution-free electricity, less reliance on fossil fuels, and stronger energy security while global conflict has increased oil and gas prices. 
Britain’s solar capacity rose by 11.7% since last year. More than 2.3 gigawatts of clean power are now a part of the country’s energy mix.
The surge is already making an impact on the grid. The National Energy System Operator announced that solar power reached a new March record, topping 15 gigawatts of power for the first time. It’s another small step toward Britain running on 100% clean electricity.
The Merino Mono is a heating and cooling system designed for the rooms traditional HVAC can’t reach. The streamlined design eliminates clunky outdoor units, installs in under an hour, and plugs into a standard 120V outlet — no expensive electrical upgrades required.
And while a traditional “mini-split” system can get pricey fast, the Merino Mono comes with a flat-rate price — with hardware and professional installation included.
For these homeowners, rooftop solar can mean lower monthly utility bills and more control over energy costs. If solar panels completely cover energy use, it may take time to pay them off. But those payments could be lower than what utilities would cost in the first place. Meanwhile, developers will be mandated by 2028 to install panels on new English homes.
The country’s Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, summed up the milestone in a statement in which he said, “The numbers speak for themselves — the highest monthly installation of solar in over a decade, rising capacity and more than two million solar installations now powering homes across Britain.”
Miliband added, “This is our clean energy mission in action — helping families weather global energy shocks, bringing bills down, and getting Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster.”
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Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Cooler. High 61F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: May 20, 2026 @ 3:00 pm
Emilio Padoan, left, FITT’s vice president of operations, shows Gov. Mike Braun around the Anderson factory Friday afternoon.

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Emilio Padoan, left, FITT’s vice president of operations, shows Gov. Mike Braun around the Anderson factory Friday afternoon.
ANDERSON — Since it opened in Anderson, FITT USA has continued to expand its local operations, and executives recently announced plans to install solar panels at the facility.
Gov. Mike Braun, along with Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. and Madison County Commissioner Olivia Pratt, toured the facility last Friday.
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MADISON, NJ – The Madison Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to move forward with a plan to bring solar panels to district buildings, approving a consulting agreement and authorizing a formal bidding process at a special meeting.
The board approved hiring Talva Energy, a professional energy consulting firm, to oversee the project. Under the proposed structure, a third-party developer would finance, install, own, operate and maintain the solar photovoltaic systems on district property through a Power Purchase Agreement — meaning the district would not bear upfront construction costs.
Talva Energy had previously prepared a Solar Feasibility Assessment for the district. Under the approved consulting agreement, the firm will develop potential system designs, conduct utility interconnection analysis, manage a request for proposals process and oversee the project through final inspections and permission to operate.
The board also approved a separate resolution authorizing Talva Energy and board counsel to prepare and issue the RFP for the solar PPA.
Board members present — Kelley Browning, David Duran, Lisa Ellis, Nancy Novak and Steve Tindall — voted yes on all resolutions. No members of the public spoke at the meeting.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
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Nicholas Vincent is a passionate environmentalist and freelance writer. He is deeply committed to promoting… Nicholas Vincent is a passionate environmentalist and freelance writer. He is deeply committed to promoting sustainability and finding solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys the great outdoors and can often be found exploring some of the most beautiful and remote locations around the world. Read more about Nicholas Vincent Read More
The planet is undergoing an energy transformation unlike anything seen before, and the momentum is accelerating in ways that should give every environmentally conscious person genuine reason for hope. According to BloombergNEF, solar power is on track to become the single largest source of electricity on Earth by 2032, overtaking coal in a historic shift that would have seemed unimaginable just a decade ago.
What is driving this surge? Electricity demand is climbing almost everywhere, fueled by the rise of data centers, expanding populations, growing incomes, and the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. Rather than this increased demand threatening climate goals, researchers are finding that it is actually pulling the world toward cleaner renewable systems faster than anticipated. When people need more power, sustainable sources are increasingly the most economical and practical way to deliver it.
Global crises have also played an unexpected role. The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and conflict in the Persian Gulf have each rattled fossil fuel markets, pushing nations to rethink their dependence on imported energy. For many countries, building out solar and wind is no longer just an environmental statement — it is a matter of energy security and economic resilience.
One of the most exciting developments in this transition is energy storage. BloombergNEF has dramatically revised its battery storage projections upward, expecting global capacity to reach 2,000 gigawatts by 2035. This matters enormously because storage is what makes renewable energy reliable around the clock, ensuring clean electricity is available even when the sun is not shining. Wind is projected to become the second largest power source by 2034, further cementing the clean energy transition.
Investment in this shift is also scaling up dramatically, with annual spending expected to rise from $2.3 trillion in 2025 to over $3 trillion by the end of the decade. While serious challenges remain — particularly around meeting the 1.5C target set by the Paris Agreement — the trajectory is unmistakably moving toward a cleaner, more electrified world. Every solar panel installed and every battery deployed brings that future closer to reality.
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AMEA Power commissions 120-MWp solar park in South Africa  Renewables Now
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The three firms submitted their bids last week in the ₹3,000 crore enterprise value range for Enel’s India business comprising renewable energy generation projects with a potential capacity of 2.5 gigawatts, the people said. The bids were preceded by a six-week period of due diligence during which the Indian suitors were given access to the assets of Enel Green Power India Pvt Ltd.

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Renewable energy company explores possible wind or solar project in Minto  EloraFergusToday.com
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
That kind of growth means more pollution-free electricity is reaching homes and businesses.
Photo Credit: Acen
A major jump in clean energy production is giving New South Wales, Australia, another reason to feel optimistic about its solar future.
According to a report from PV-tech.org, renewable energy company ACEN Australia said the output from its solar farms increased by 87% compared to this time last year, reaching 528 gigawatt-hours. 
The company attributed the increase to a mix of favorable weather, improved plant performance, and new solar farms coming online.
For a grid that is steadily adding more renewable power, that kind of growth means more pollution-free electricity is reaching homes and businesses.
PV-tech noted the independent power producer has more than 800 megawatts of solar capacity across NSW, including the New England Solar Farm and the Stubbo Solar Farm.
Utility-scale solar can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut climate-warming pollution, and improve air quality. It can also ease pressure from fuel-price swings by putting more low-cost renewable energy onto the grid.
The Merino Mono is a heating and cooling system designed for the rooms traditional HVAC can’t reach. The streamlined design eliminates clunky outdoor units, installs in under an hour, and plugs into a standard 120V outlet — no expensive electrical upgrades required.
And while a traditional “mini-split” system can get pricey fast, the Merino Mono comes with a flat-rate price — with hardware and professional installation included.
ACEN is already planning for that next phase, as more capacity is scheduled to come online over the next year, including an extension of its New England Solar Farm and battery storage that can absorb excess midday power and send it back out in the evening when demand is higher.
That combination of solar and storage is especially promising for consumers. When clean electricity can be stored and used during peak-demand hours, it can help grids make better use of renewable energy and reduce dependence on expensive, dirtier backup generation.
Over time, that can support a more reliable system and help limit some of the cost volatility that shows up on utility bills.
If you’re looking to curb your home’s energy costs, a rooftop solar upgrade could be a worthy investment. 
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And, if you’re concerned about the upfront investment, Palmetto offers $0-down solar leases that make the clean energy upgrade more accessible. 
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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Solar panels, Shiyan, Hubei Province, central China, May 20, 2026. /VCG
Across the vast desert landscapes of the Middle East, a blue ocean of solar panels is taking shape. Countries across the region are partnering with Chinese PV companies to drive green energy transitions.
The collaboration has gained fresh momentum. Recently, Chinese PV manufacturer JinkoSolar signed a 2 GW module supply agreement with Masdar, an energy firm from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the Round-The-Clock (RTC) project, a PV-with-battery-storage project. The initiative, with an estimated investment of over $6 billion, is scheduled to begin operations by 2027 and is expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 5.7 million tonnes annually.
The framework agreement represents a strategic step in the UAE’s energy transition and helps Abu Dhabi achieve its target of meeting 60% of its energy demand from renewable and clean sources by 2035, said Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, CEO of the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a co-investor in the project.
JinkoSolar, one of China’s leading PV manufacturers that exports its products to nearly 200 countries and regions, is providing its Tiger Neo modules for the project. The modules are designed to maintain efficient power output under low-light conditions, such as at dawn and dusk, or during frequent dust events, thereby extending daily effective generation hours.
“Gulf countries are highly receptive to advanced and forward-looking technologies,” said Qian Jing, vice president of JinkoSolar.
Between 2021 and 2025, JinkoSolar invested over 22 billion yuan ($3.22 billion) in research and development to continuously improve cell efficiency and module power. In 2022, a power plant using the company’s TOPCon cells achieved an affordable electricity cost of just $0.0132 per kilowatt-hour in Abu Dhabi. A Saudi Arabian project, which uses the company’s new-generation TOPCon modules to power industrial hydrogen production, has achieved an electricity cost of below $0.01 per kilowatt-hour.
The Solar Outlook Report 2025, published by the Middle East Solar Industry Association, projected that solar power will account for a significantly larger share of the energy mix in the Middle East and North Africa, with capacity exceeding 180 GW by 2030.
China is the world’s largest producer of PV products, while the Middle East is among the most promising emerging markets for solar development, creating strong momentum for bilateral cooperation, according to the report.
Chinese companies are leveraging the region’s abundant sunlight while tailoring technologies to local conditions, including solutions to withstand high temperatures and sandstorms. For instance, JA Solar Technology has introduced nano-coated glass for its PV modules designed for desert environments. The coating significantly reduces dust accumulation and slows down the degradation of light transmittance, thereby lowering cleaning costs and improving power generation efficiency.
Behind these green power collaborations is support for local industrial transformation. The RTC project, for example, is designed to serve as a key energy infrastructure for local AI data centers, supercomputing and the digital economy.
Chinese companies are also exploring applications such as the coordinated development model of agriculture and PV, and seawater desalination in the Middle East, while accelerating plans to establish local manufacturing facilities.
“We are committed to exploring broader dimensions of cooperation and hope to jointly promote China’s mature technologies and solutions to wider global third-party markets,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.

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ACEN Australia’s NSW solar output surges 87% as new capacity powers up  Yahoo
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Canadian energy firm Enbridge is set to build a 365MW/1,600MWh solar-plus-storage project in Wyoming, according to a report published on 2026-05-20 by PV Tech. The development, named the Cowboy project and located near Cheyenne, represents the latest phase in an ongoing partnership with tech giant Meta. The initial phase will provide power to Meta for its expanding data centre operations in the United States.
The collaboration between Meta and Enbridge now encompasses roughly 1.6GW of contracted energy capacity across North America. Enbridge has not disclosed a construction or operations timeline for the project. Allen Capps, Enbridge’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and President of Power business, stated that the first phase builds on their relationship with Meta and reflects a disciplined expansion of their power portfolio. He noted that combining utility-scale solar with battery storage delivers reliable, scalable energy solutions for Meta’s data centres and enhances grid performance.
Meta’s largest planned data centre development is the Hyperion construction in Louisiana, reportedly valued at US$200 billion and expected to be accompanied by 10 gas-fired power plants. Another major initiative, the Prometheus cluster of data centres in Ohio, is part of Meta’s commitment to spend US$600 billion on AI data centre infrastructure by 2028. In addition to significant water, land, and gas-fired energy use, Meta has invested heavily in U.S. solar power. Last week, the company announced 850MW of solar and energy storage power purchase agreements with DE Shaw Renewable Investments. Earlier this month, Meta signed a separate offtake deal with EDP for a 250MW solar PV project in Arkansas. The company has also entered a speculative agreement with U.S. startup Overview Energy for early access to space-based solar power, which would use satellites to beam energy from space to ground-based PV farms for potential 24/7 generation.
The U.S. data centre boom has generated intense debate, contrasting the economic and tax benefits these large developments bring to local regions with their effects on power grid stability, water tables, and local communities.
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How Middle East Crisis Is Driving Up Solar Costs In India? Photograph: (AI)
India’s leading solar manufacturers are increasingly pointing to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and West Asia as a major reason behind rising raw material costs, volatile freight rates and fresh supply-chain disruptions. At the same time, many in the industry now believe the crisis could accelerate the global shift towards renewable energy and domestic manufacturing.
Executives from companies such as Premier Energies, Vikram Solar, Solex Energy, Shakti Pumps and Emmvee, during their recent FY26 earnings calls, spoke about how geopolitical instability is beginning to influence everything from procurement and pricing to exports and long-term expansion plans.
In several of the recent remarks made during the latest earnings call, the top leadership has explained the direct and indirect impact of the crisis on the Indian solar manufacturing landscape. The leadership also sees this as a golden moment to shift the focus more towards the growth of renewable energy in India. Premier Energies Managing Director Chiranjeev Saluja told his investors that the ongoing crisis is forcing countries to rethink their dependence on fossil fuels.
“The Middle East crisis is turning into a moment for renewables, as all stakeholders look to rethink energy mix and reduce consumption of fossil fuels,” Saluja said during the company’s FY26 earnings call. “We believe this is going to provide a major boost to long-term demand for the sector.”
Vikram Solar Chairman and Managing Director Gyanesh Chaudhary expressed similar concerns, saying recent geopolitical events have exposed the risks of relying heavily on imported energy. “The geopolitical disruptions for the past 2 years, most recently in West Asia, have reinforced one reality; for import-led economies like India, energy dependence is now a structural risk,” Chaudhary said.  He added that disruptions in “oil, gas and freight routes” are no longer temporary issues but are increasingly becoming “a permanent feature of the global system.”
Most companies acknowledged that the conflict has already begun affecting costs. Solex Energy CMD Chetan Shah said logistics costs had risen sharply because of the geopolitical situation. “Mainly it is a logistic cost which has increased,” Shah said, adding that crude oil-linked materials such as EVA and other plastic-based inputs had also become more expensive.
He also admitted that the situation remained highly unpredictable, with the company staying in constant discussions with customers over rising prices. “Current situation is so uncertain,” Shah said while referring to pricing volatility and supply-chain concerns.
Premier Energies also cited higher commodity and freight prices as key challenges during FY26. The company said it had deliberately built up raw material inventory to avoid future disruptions. “Because of the Middle East crisis, we have stocked up on raw materials,” the management said.
Vikram Solar also acknowledged that the war had started impacting costs directly. “We experienced some increase in the crude oil, which impacted the EVA cost,” the company said, while also highlighting rising aluminium prices. The company’s CFO Ranjan Jindal, added, “The cost actually went up by INR 0.80” because of “the impact of the war coming in.”
Shakti Pumps disclosed that geopolitical tensions had already started affecting export activity. “During Q4, exports were temporarily affected due to delays in order placement amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” the company said. The company also said higher freight and logistics costs linked to “ongoing global geopolitical disruptions” weighed on margins during the quarter.
Chairman Dinesh Patidar said rising prices of copper, stainless steel and silicon sheets had significantly impacted profitability. “The margins this year have been affected by increased raw material pricing due to the geopolitical situation,” Patidar said. According to the company, raw material inflation alone impacted quarterly profitability by around 6–7%.
Another clear trend emerging across the industry is the push towards localization and backward integration to reduce dependence on global supply chains. Emmvee said solar supply chains across the world are being reshaped as countries focus more on domestic manufacturing.
“Markets are becoming more selective, supply chains are being reconfigured and domestic manufacturing capability is becoming increasingly important across regions,” the company said. CEO Suhas Manjunatha added that the company had already diversified sourcing away from China-linked supply chains. “We already have an existing alternate supply chain to China in every material that we use,” he said.
Companies including Solex Energy, Premier Energies and Vikram Solar also highlighted ongoing investments in solar cells, wafers, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and backward integration projects to improve supply-chain resilience and reduce external dependence.
Summing up the changing industry mindset, Vikram Solar’s Chaudhary said: “Solar is no longer being pulled by incentives; it is being pushed by policy, by supply chain realignment, and by energy security.”
Despite near-term cost pressures, most companies remained optimistic about the long-term outlook for renewable energy demand, arguing that concerns around fuel security and supply-chain fragility could ultimately strengthen the case for solar energy globally.
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The Indian solar cells market size was calculated at USD 10.98 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 12.47 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 39.43 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 13.67% from 2026 to 2035.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a transformative force in the development and commercialization of solar cells. Testing various materials, developing manufacturing techniques, and predicting long-term performance would particularly take months or years, but the emergence of AI tools has since accelerated the process. In the research domain, machine learning (ML) tools analyze huge amounts of datasets, pinpointing the best performance results. 
In the manufacturing domain, integrating AI with computer vision systems enables real-time monitoring of processes and detects minor defects that can potentially compromise the whole batch.
By Material Insights
Which Material Segment Dominated the Indian Solar Cells Market?
The crystalline segment dominated the market in 2025, due to higher efficiency levels, durability, and better performance in India’s diverse climate conditions, especially in high temperatures and dust exposure. Various government-backed projects also favor crystalline technology due to its mature supply chain and cost-effective nature. Monocrystalline cells are further favored for high-utility scale solar parks and large rooftop projects. The PLI has also prioritized its production, thus creating a strong domestic manufacturing base.
The thin film segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the coming years, due to their lightweight structure, flexibility, and comparatively lower material costs, making them a popular choice for new-age applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics, portable power, and small-scale residential installation processes. Their advantage lies in their ability to perform better in diffuse light and high-temperature conditions.
Why Did the BSF Segment Dominate the Indian Solar Cells Market?
The BSF segment contributed the biggest revenue share of the market in 2025, due to their low production costs, simplistic manufacturing processes, and a well-established supply chain. Several Indian companies continue to produce BSF cells in bulk, mainly because they are economical and suitable for large-scale and cost-sensitive utility projects. These types of cells are also popular in government-backed rural projects.
The HJT segment is expected to account for the highest growth in the forthcoming years, due to its ability to deliver higher efficiency, bifacial capability, and high performance in hot climates, making it attractive for premium as well as export-oriented projects. This segment continues to gain traction due to a growing interest in manufacturers and increasing research and development efforts.
How the Monocrystalline Segment Dominated the Indian Solar Cells Market?
How the Monocrystalline Segment Dominated the Indian Solar Cells Market?
The monocrystalline segment held a dominant revenue share of the market in 2025, as monocrystalline cells are produced using a single-crystal growing process, which lowers the entire unit cost and makes them more economical compared to other options. They offer high efficiency, durability, embedded energy, and lower operational costs, making them a popular option. Monocrystalline cells have a longer life span and provide space-saving benefits, further optimizing their efficiency.
The CDTE segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the coming years. This type of technology is better suited for India’s hot and humid temperatures, as these panels perform better than any other material. Additionally, it requires less material for production, which is a critical point as India aims to reduce its reliance on imported materials.
Which Installation Type Segment Led the Indian Solar Cells Market?
The utility segment led the market in 2025, due to the country’s aggressive push towards large-scale solar parks under national programs and schemes. Utility projects often benefit from economies of scale, lower costs per watt, and easier land acquisition in rural belts, thus making them attractive for both public and private investments. Various states, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, have already become hubs for solar farms, boosting up utility scale installations.
The residential segment is expected to witness the fastest growth over the studied years. This growth is driven by decreased rooftop solar prices, supportive subsidies, net metering policies, and the rising cost of electricity in households. Increasing urbanization and the government’s push towards 40+ GW of rooftop capacity are further accelerating this segment’s growth. There are also EMI-based systems and leasing models that further increase awareness, making it accessible to middle-class households.
Recent Developments
Indian Solar Cells Market Companies
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With the National Electricity Plan review cycle underway and CERC’s flexibility market consultations open, this is precisely the moment to reweight priorities
Between May and December 2025, India curtailed 2.3 terawatt-hours of solar electricity it had already generated, enough to power Sri Lanka for a month. Grid operators ordered farms to switch off, not because demand was low, but because transmission lines could not absorb the output.
Meanwhile, coal plants kept running in adjacent states. That wasted sunlight could have displaced an estimated 2.1 million tonnes of CO2. It did not.
This is not a projection. It happened last year. And without a fundamental shift in priorities, it will get worse.
The “India adds record solar capacity” headlines are accurate and deserve acknowledgement. In 2025, India added nearly 38 GW of solar, a genuine milestone. But the same year, 50 GW of commissioned renewable capacity sat stranded because transmission infrastructure to evacuate their power simply did not exist. In Rajasthan alone, 8 GW remained stuck, with nearly half curtailed during peak solar hours. Grid operators were forced to curtail up to 23 GW between May and November to prevent system trips.
The compensation bill, Rs 575–690 crore, charged to consumers, bought no electricity in return.
Consider what India achieved on the generation side: solar tariffs below Rs 2.50 per unit in recent auctions, a competitive advantage built over a decade of policy continuity, manufacturing scale, and financial innovation. That achievement is real. But cheap generation is meaningless if the wire cannot carry it, the grid cannot balance it, and the distribution company cannot pay for it.
In FY2025, India commissioned 8,830 circuit kilometres of inter-state transmission lines against a target of 15,253, a 42 per cent shortfall and the lowest addition in a decade. More striking: 71 per cent of existing inter-state corridors are operating below 30 per cent utilisation.
The problem is not only about building more lines. It is about using existing infrastructure far more intelligently, something efficiency-first thinking has always insisted upon, and the grid is finally proving right.
Grid modernisation, in this context, is not a supporting act. It is the main act. Three things have to change.
Transmission must lead generation, not chase it. The Central Electricity Authority estimates Rs 2.44 lakh crore of investment needed for inter-state transmission to integrate 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. India has crossed 265 GW. Closing that gap in four years requires front-loaded spending, not incremental approvals after solar parks are already commissioned and sitting idle. Every new solar park built without a transmission pathway is a stranded asset in waiting.
The grid needs flexibility, not just capacity. India’s duck curve has arrived. In October 2025, daytime demand fell sharply year-on-year while evening peaks held steady, a widening swing that coal plants, with their slow ramp rates, physically cannot match. Battery storage is the obvious bridge, but operational capacity remains under 1 GW, even as a pipeline of over 90 GWh sits under development.
In addition to storage, demand-side flexibility enabled by smart controls and time-of-use tariffs can shift load away from evening peaks at a much lower cost than new generation. This approach also helps better integrate renewables, thereby reducing the overall system costs. These tools exist. Deploying them at scale requires CERC and state regulators to move with urgency rather than caution.
Distribution reform cannot remain a perennial afterthought. State discoms carry accumulated losses of Rs 6.47 lakh crore and outstanding debt of Rs 7.26 lakh crore. A discom that cannot pay generators on time will not sign new solar-plus-storage PPAs, regardless of how competitive the tariff. Aggregate AT&C losses have improved, from 22.6 per cent to 15 per cent, and the ACS-ARR gap has narrowed close to zero. But the aggregate masks severe state-level variation. 
Without financially solvent discoms, the entire value chain from panel to socket remains fragile.
This matters well beyond the energy ministry’s mandate. India’s industrial ambitions, semiconductor fabs, AI data centres being pitched to global hyperscalers, defence manufacturing corridors, PLI-linked factories, every single one depends on 24×7 reliable, competitively priced electricity. No multinational will anchor a $10 billion facility on a grid where 50 GW sits idle for want of a transmission line.
Grid reliability is not an energy problem. It is an industrial strategy problem. A geopolitical problem. A job’s problem.
With the National Electricity Plan review cycle underway and CERC’s flexibility market consultations open, this is precisely the moment to reweight priorities. The installation numbers are impressive, but they are not sufficient.
India proved solar can be cheap and bankable at scale. That was the first hard thing. The second, absorbing, moving, storing, and delivering that power without waste, without blackouts, and without passing the cost of dysfunction to consumers who can least afford it, is the work that actually determines whether the energy transition succeeds.
The grid is the product now. Everything else is an accessory.
(Authored by Sumedh Agarwal, Director, Smart and Resilient Power and Mobility, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy)
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
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Community Solar Will Lower Energy Bills for CA Renters. Why Hasn’t Legislature Acted?  GV Wire
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Nature Communications volume 17, Article number: 4512 (2026) Cite this article
Despite rapid advances in perovskite solar cells, solvent selection remains a central determinant of safety, process robustness, and end-of-life outcomes. These constraints are multi-dimensional and involve competing trade-offs, making them challenging to resolve through experimental optimization alone. This Perspective integrates green solvent engineering with artificial intelligence (AI) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to provide a unified sustainability framework. We discuss solvent-precursor coordination and processing-window robustness as governing factors. We also highlight how AI can accelerate solvent discovery and reduce key life cycle inventory gaps, while LCA quantifies trade-offs and mitigates burden shifting. This combined lens clarifies sustainability-relevant priorities for the field.
Metal–halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have progressed rapidly over the past decade, achieving remarkable power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and demonstrating strong potential for scalable manufacturing¹. Their compatibility with low-temperature solution processing and physically versatile device forms has positioned PSC as a leading next-generation photovoltaic technology. However, environmental impact, occupational safety, and long-term material sustainability are still major challenges for practical deployment^2,3. These concerns mainly arise from the solvent-intensive process and the need of viable end-of-life strategies.
Solution-processed PSCs commonly use polar aprotic solvents, such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) for preparing the perovskite precursor solution^4,5,6. These solvents are essential for dissolving lead halide salts and forming high quality film, but they are highly toxic raising significant environmental concerns. Achieving high efficiencies alone is no longer sufficient for PSC translation. Sustainability constraints, particularly solvent hazard, process energy demand, and end-of-life circularity, must be incorporated as core design criteria rather than treated as an afterthought. Solution processes, such as spin coating, blade coating, and inkjet printing are also distinguished by their solvent requirements and energy consumption, which directly affect the associated environmental burdens. To ensure the sustainability of PSCs, it is also important to further advance environmentally viable recycling routes. Most reported strategies rely on solution-based separation, where consume substantial amounts of organic solvents, indicating that solvent choice and management are critical for minimizing environmental impacts⁷.
As sustainable processing becomes more important, environmental assessment has become a key basis for selecting materials and processing methods. Life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a structured approach for quantifying the environmental impacts of PSC technologies⁸. Recently, LCA studies have identified the principal contributors to the environmental burden of PSCs^9,10, underscoring the necessity of improved materials and process design. Integrating LCA into early-stage PSC research helps identify major sources of environmental impact and prioritize lower-impact alternatives, especially as solvent substitution, process optimization, and recycling strategies continue to develop. Yet LCA is often limited by incomplete life cycle inventory (LCI) data for emerging formulations and lab-scale process conditions, making prospective and uncertainty-aware assessment essential for meaningful design guidance.
In addition to these analytical frameworks, data-driven approaches are providing new opportunities for predictive sustainability design. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a useful tool for both green solvent design and prospective environmental evaluation^11,12. Machine-learning models can rapidly screen multi-component solvent mixtures and predict their solubility and coordination behavior. They can also help identify solvent candidates that combine low hazard with favorable crystallization behavior. AI has also been proposed for integrating uncertainty analysis into LCA frameworks^13,14.
Together, these tools help shift PSC research away from trial-and-error experimentation and toward predictive, sustainability-oriented design (Fig. 1). AI accelerates the development of green solvent strategies by enabling data-driven screening and optimization of solvent systems and processing conditions. Experimental validation then confirms technical feasibility and provides feedback that refines subsequent AI-guided selection. In parallel, LCA quantifies the environmental implications of validated solvent strategies, thereby identifying hotspots and informing the selection of lower-impact processing options. In addition, AI can mitigate a major limitation of LCA, insufficient life cycle inventory (LCI) data, by predicting missing inventory parameters and enabling uncertainty-aware assessment. Collectively, these interactions provide a practical basis for aligning process feasibility with environmental performance in PSC development. In practical research, this integrated framework begins with AI-assisted prescreening of solvent candidates and solvent mixtures using descriptors related to precursor coordination, processability, and hazard. The shortlisted formulations are validated through experiments on precursor-solution stability, intermediate-phase evolution, film quality, and device performance. LCA is further employed to evaluate the validated systems and identify environmental hotspots and trade-offs associated with solvent use, energy demand, and end-of-life management. AI can also assist this stage by predicting missing LCI parameters for emerging solvent systems and process conditions, thereby improving prospective and uncertainty-aware environmental evaluation. The resulting experimental and environmental data are fed back into the model, allowing iterative refinement of solvent selection and process optimization.
Conceptual scheme of an integrated framework linking green solvent strategy, AI technology, and LCA for sustainable PSC development.
Here, we review recent progress in green solvent process, LCA, and AI related for sustainable PSC development. We first summarize advances in solvent systems for perovskite precursor inks and recycling routes, focusing on toxicity, processability, and compatibility. Then, we discuss AI research that screen green solvent candidates, guide mixed-solvent formulation, and support the design of recycling process. Finally, we analyze LCA studies that quantify the environmental impacts of PSCs from materials production to end-of-life management. Based on these aspects, this review suggests practical directions for advancing PSC technologies toward environmentally responsible scale-up and long-term viability.
Solution processing remains one of the most promising approaches for the fabrication of PSCs owing to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with large-area deposition. Nevertheless, the continued reliance on hazardous solvents and precursor formulations raises concerns regarding long-term environmental sustainability, as shown in Fig. 2a. Accordingly, recent studies have placed increasing emphasis on developing green solvent engineering strategies across the entire device fabrication sequence, including perovskite precursor preparation, anti-solvent treatment, charge-transport-layer (CTL) deposition, and solvent recovery within recycling processes³. As green solvent engineering for PSCs advances, solvent selection should be evaluated not only by laboratory film quality but also by its viability under manufacturing-scale constraints and circular economy requirements. In practice, system-level sustainability outcomes depend on solvent consumption and recovery, compatibility with scalable coating methods, energy demand associated with drying and annealing, and the feasibility of solvent reuse across both fabrication and end-of-life separation steps^15,16,17,18. Cross-technology learning from established photovoltaic manufacturing and recycling infrastructure further highlights that process integration and end-of-life logistics can ultimately determine whether a proposed “green” solvent strategy is implementable at scale^19,20. Accordingly, the following sections discuss green solvent candidates with solvent management considerations and scale-relevant constraints, rather than treating solvent substitution as an isolated materials replacement problem¹⁷.
a Illustration of the toxic solvents used in PSC fabrication. b Reported PCE of PSC devices and hazardous scores of solvents used for perovskite layer. c Anti-solvents and PCE of PSC devices using them. d Scheme of PSC device fabricated with all green solvent system. a and b adapted from ref. ³. Copyright 2024, Wiley-VCH GmbH. c adapted from ref. ⁴¹. Copyright 2021, Springer Nature. d adapted from ref. ³⁶., Copyright 2021, Royal Society of Chemistry.
For the perovskite layer, the solvent system must effectively dissolve lead halide precursors while governing nucleation, intermediate formation, and film crystallization. Widely used solvents, such as DMF and NMP are now subject to regulatory pressure due to reproductive toxicity and occupational exposure concerns. As a response, alternative solvents, including DMSO, γ-valerolactone (GVL), 2-propanol (IPA), and ethanol, have been proposed as greener candidates (Fig. 2b)^21,22,23,24. Solvent selection guides, such as the CHEM21 have already been applied in structured decision workflows for perovskite processing, where EHS-based screening is combined with physicochemical criteria (e.g., solubility, coordination descriptors) and device and process feasibility to identify safer solvent systems for scalable fabrication^25,26,27. Recent reports show that GVL-based formulations not only yield uniform, high-crystallinity films but also significantly reduce environmental burdens, particularly for climate-change and human-toxicity indicators when quantified through LCA^23,28,29. Beyond GVL, alcohol and water based precursor routes have been investigated to reduce solvent hazards. Low-polarity alcohol, such as ethanol and IPA offers safer processing conditions and advantageous volatility. However, they inherently show poor solubility for lead halide salts, which makes them unsuitable as stand-alone solvents for perovskite precursors. Ethanol has been used for perovskite precursor preparation, but only when additional coordinating additives, such as N,N-dimethylacetamide and alkylammonium chlorides, are introduced to enable complexation between PbI₂ and propylammonium chloride²². IPA shows a similar limitation. Reported IPA-based processes do not use IPA alone. They rely on mixed-solvent systems in which water or another polar co-solvent system assists the dissolution of lead salts^21,24,30,31. In these formulations, IPA mainly adjusts solvent polarity, improves drying behavior, and supports more uniform crystallization. Pb halide salts, such as PbI₂ are insoluble in pristine water. Therefore, water-based perovskite processing commonly avoids direct Pb halide dissolution and instead employs soluble Pb salts, such as Pb(NO₃)₂ as the lead precursor. Zhai et al. demonstrated high efficiency water-processed PSCs using a Pb(NO₃)₂/H₂O precursor enabled light-modulation control of conversion/film formation³². More recently, Zhang et al. reported that sodium dodecyl sulfonate surfactant modulation can accelerate the Pb(NO₃)₂ to perovskite transformation and improve film quality in aqueous processed planar devices³³. Although alcohol- or water-assisted systems offer higher environmental compatibility, they still suffer from slow crystallization, incomplete conversion, and the need for elevated annealing temperatures³³. These limitations are consistent with the distinct precursor coordination environment in protic media, which can reduce crystallization control and limit device performance relative to conventional DMF/DMSO routes³⁴.
Ionic liquids (ILs), a class of room-temperature molten salts, provide a non-volatile and chemically stable medium suitable for perovskite precursor formulation^31,35,36,37. Protic ILs containing methylammonium (MA) cations exhibit strong coordination toward Pb²⁺ species, enabling effective dissolution of lead halide salts without relying on conventional hazardous polar aprotic solvents. However, the inherently high viscosity of many ILs can compromise wettability and hinder uniform film formation, often necessitating the use of co-solvents. When appropriately diluted with greener solvents, such as water, ethanol, acetonitrile (ACN), or IPA, IL-based precursor systems achieve improved fluidity and facilitate controlled intermediate formation, ultimately supporting perovskite crystallization under more environmentally compatible processing conditions³¹. This dilution strategy, however, introduces a practical trade-off between improved processability and the need to manage residual ionic species and drying dynamics to maintain film uniformity and stability. For example, protic IL-enabled inks have been demonstrated for water/alcohol-based precursor formulations compatible with scalable coating, highlighting viscosity/processability as a key design constraint even when solvent is reduced³⁸. Accordingly, IL-based processing should be assessed by coupled criteria including viscosity reduction strategy, residual species control, and the feasibility of solvent recovery/reuse, in addition to film quality and operational stability³⁹.
The choice of anti-solvent critically influences perovskite nucleation, intermediate formation, and final film morphology (Fig. 2c)^40,41. Green anti-solvents, such as methoxybenzene, ethyl acetate (EA), acetate derivatives (methyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate), and various ethers have been explored as alternatives to toxic chlorobenzene (CB) and toluene^42,43,44,45. These solvents can promote larger grain sizes, smoother films, and improved device performance, with PCEs exceeding 20% in several reports. A representative example is EA-based antisolvent processing, which has been used to form uniform perovskite films under ambient-air processing conditions, illustrating the practical motivation for greener substitution^44,45. However, challenges remain, including roughness induced by fast-evaporating EA, sensitivity of bisolvent systems to ambient conditions, and safety concerns for ethers like diisopropyl ether due to peroxide formation^25,46. Recent assessments of green anti-solvents further emphasize the trade-off between film quality and process robustness, where changes in volatility and miscibility can narrow the processing window and influence long-term environmental stability under manufacturing-relevant conditions⁴⁶.
The CTL plays a key role in PSC performance, yet conventional hole transport layer (HTL) processing typically relies on toxic nonpolar solvents, such as CB or toluene. Recent efforts have focused on replacing these solvents with greener alternatives. EA has been used both as an anti-solvent and as a spiro-OMeTAD solvent, yielding improved PCEs up to 19.43%⁴². Fig. 2d shows a fully green blade-coated process using water, methylammonium acetate (MAAc), and EA which delivers a PCE of 20.21%³⁶. Anisole, a less toxic solvent, also enabled uniform HTL deposition with performance comparable to CB⁴⁷. Additional green solvents, such as tetraethyl orthocarbonate further enhanced device efficiency in inverted architectures, demonstrating the growing potential of environmentally benign CTL processing routes⁴⁸.
Overall, green-solvent routes are intrinsically constrained by precursor solubility/coordination and narrow processing windows, whereas others are primarily engineering-limited and thus realistically scalable when coupled with robust coating compatibility and closed-loop solvent management (recovery/reuse) under manufacturing relevant conditions. At the process level, long-term feasibility also depends on precursor/ink stability, since solution speciation can evolve during storage and handling via coordination changes and solvent degradation, thereby affecting crystallization behavior and coating reproducibility^23,49,50.
Solvent-based separation is widely used in PSC recycling, making solvent selection a critical determinant of the overall environmental impact. However, many established solvent-based recycling processes rely on toxic organic solvents, which motivates both solvent substitution and tighter solvent management^51,52,53. Recent studies show that greener options, such as water or low-toxicity organic solvents, can substantially reduce chemical burdens during recovery processes^54,55. In mesoscopic carbon PSCs, GVL enabled selective removal of the perovskite absorber while preserving the printed mesoporous scaffold for reuse, with the remanufactured devices recovering up to 89% of the initial PCE⁵⁶. Notably, aqueous-based recycling has been demonstrated as a practical route to reduce reliance on hazardous organic solvents while enabling effective materials recovery from PSCs⁵⁵. Beyond solvent choice alone, recycling of solvents themselves is also essential for improving sustainability. Several reports demonstrate that solvents used in the recycling step can be purified and reused for subsequent PSC fabrication without significant performance loss^15,57. In addition, several studies report solvent-assisted routes that facilitate reuse of recovered components or precursors rather than single-pass recovery, supporting more circular process designs^55,57. Implementing such closed-loop solvent systems reduces waste generation and meaningfully lowers the life cycle environmental footprint of perovskite technologies. At manufacturing-relevant scales, however, the environmental outcome is often governed by process-level factors, such as solvent intensity per module area, recovery yield during distillation or purification, and the associated energy demand for separation, drying, and thermal treatments^17,54,55,58. In addition, realistic devices and modules impose system-level constraints arising from multi-layer stacks, encapsulation, and coated-glass components. These features introduce additional processing steps and can shift burdens toward auxiliary materials and energy unless carefully managed^59,60. Accordingly, PSC recycling should be evaluated not only by recovery efficiency, but also by the combined trade-offs among solvent management, energy requirements, and end-of-life process integration that ultimately determine practical circular implementation^17,54,60.
Traditional sustainability research in materials science is often limited by post-experimental evaluation, which can result in a lack of forward-looking perspectives. In studies on device recycling and green solvent design, researchers often select experimental materials based on experience or existing knowledge, using trial-and-error methods^23,61,62. In perovskite research, the selection of candidate solvents has typically focused on single solvents or simple mixtures, with limited research on multi-solvent mixtures. Multi-solvent mixtures have been shown to enhance solubility and regulate nucleation effectively. However, trial-and-error approaches are inadequate for studying complex, multi-component solvent systems. Trial-and-error is not effective for identifying global optimal solutions^63,64,65,66. This limitation happens to designing solvents and adsorbents for wet recycling of PSCs. Meanwhile, the systems of complex, multicomponent solvents and adsorbents demonstrate significant potential^67,68. Fortunately, AI shows great promise in identifying optimal solutions.
Presently, there exists a scarcity of published works concerning AI-assisted green solvent design for PSCs, suggesting substantial research potential in this domain. Furthermore, the two cases just introduced focus on experimental engineering applications and lack a physicochemical perspective on the discovery of novel green solvents. In contrast, studies on organic solar cells (OSCs) in this regard have been reported on multiple occasions. The dissolution of conjugated organic molecules in OSCs relies on intermolecular π–π interactions and polarity matching, whereas PSCs depend on Lewis acid-base interactions and coordination complexes between ionic inorganic salts and organic cations (PbI₂, FAI, MAI, etc.)^69,70. Despite differing design requirements, we can discern common AI application workflows and similar Hansen solubility matching logic; however, for PSCs these should be viewed as a transferable framework that still requires PSC-specific validation and descriptor adaptation due to coordination-driven solution chemistry.
Designing green solvents for OSC active layers requires considering the replacement of harmful halogenated solvents while ensuring the solubility of acceptors and donors. Mahmood and Wang used multiple AI models to predict Hansen solubility⁷¹. Random forests produced accurate predictions for this metric (r = 0.96). More than 3000 molecular descriptors were calculated and screened to capture structural, topological, and polarity-related information beyond simple frontier orbital energies. Based on these descriptors, multiple machine-learning models were developed for PCE classification/regression and HOMO/LUMO prediction, followed by a two-step virtual screening strategy in which candidate non-fullerene acceptors were first filtered by energy-level compatibility and then ranked by predicted PCE. They screened 87 green solvents from 252 candidates using high-throughput screening and Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) profiles as a filter. As Fig. 3b shows, these solvents effectively dissolve Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and five high-performance non-fullerene acceptors. Subsequent work expanded their research in descriptor collection and model application¹¹. They benchmarked more than 40 machine-learning algorithms and showed that models trained on molecular descriptors consistently outperformed those trained on molecular fingerprints. Ultimately, they recommended four green solvents for each of 30 small-molecule donors. This study also highlighted that chemically meaningful descriptors can effectively encode dispersion, dipolar, and hydrogen-bonding interactions that govern solution-processability. Their studies primarily demonstrate transferable AI workflows, comprising descriptor generating, surrogate modeling, high-throughput screening, experimental validation. For PSCs, the same workflow can be adopted, while the screening labels and descriptors must be reformulated to reflect coordination-driven solvation and crystallization kinetics rather than molecular solubility alone. Lee emphasizes the importance of explainable green solutions beyond the black-box mechanisms of AI⁷². He presents an interpretable AI framework for predicting the PCE of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) OSCs processed with non-halogenated green solvents. This framework uses descriptors with physical meanings, such as molecular weight and HSPs. The data come from 97 devices with a PCE range of 1.02% to 16.52%. The trained gradient boosting regression model has an R² value of 0.74 and an RMSE value of 2.09. Additionally, Lee used Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) to determine the influence of key descriptors on efficiency. High SHAP values were identified for donor molecular weight (MW_donor) and nonpolar dispersive interaction (δ_d), at 1.91 and 1.15, respectively. Physically, MW_donor influences the aggregation behavior of polymer donors in solution, thereby controlling surface morphology. Meanwhile, δ_d facilitates the evolution of the morphology. Further, a 2D contour map was plotted to show the PCE change with two significant descriptors. Finally, he predicted that the BHJ-based OSC with a 120-kDa MW_donor and a 17.3-MPa δ_d would bring an efficiency of 17.5%. The explainable-AI paradigm is transferable to PSC green solvent developments. Meanwhile, perovskite-relevant interpretable descriptors should emphasize solvent coordination strength, solvation environment, evaporation/rheology, and their impact on intermediate phases, defect formation, and film uniformity.
a Data preparation process that mixing DMSO, DMF with solvent candidates with a ratio of 0.6:0.32:0.02:0.02:0.04. The prepared precursors were deposited on the TiO₂ substrates for aqueous stability checking. b Schematic workflow of the determining the low-toxicity solvent process in the air condition by a two-step Bayesian method. c A gradient tree as a PCE prediction model, and SHAP as interpretable tool. d NLP pipeline encompassing data extraction, data identification, descriptor introduction, model training, and model implement. a adapted from ref. ⁷³. Copyright 2023, American Chemical Society. b adapted from ref. ⁷¹. Copyright 2025, Elsevier. c adapted from ref. ⁷⁴. Copyright 2021, The Royal Society of Chemistry. d adapted from ref. ¹². Copyright 2022, American Chemical Society.
Natural-language processing (NLP) offers a scalable pathway to green-solvent discovery for perovskite solar cells by converting the rapidly expanding, yet fragmented, solvent knowledge scattered across thousands of papers into machine-readable evidence. By systematically extracting solvent identities, processing contexts, and safety-related cues, NLP enables more transparent, traceable, and risk-aware solvent selection. When designing perovskite solvent molecules, it is essential to comprehensively consider processes, such as their reaction, exchange, and coordination with precursors. Multi-solvent mixtures have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to effectively stabilize the intermediate phase and form high-quality films. However, the diversity of solvents and the flexible adjustment of their proportions constitute an extremely complex virtual design space. Identifying optimal solvent compositions and ratios within the vast space presents a challenge. Huang et al.‘s research offers insights for designing multi-green solvents, though their focus is not on green⁷³. They investigated the aqueous stability of perovskite films prepared with pentameric solvents. In this work, DMF and DMSO are fixed candidates, and the solvent ratio is fixed as 0.6:0.32:0.02:0.02:0.04. By systematically replacing the other three solvents with 21 solvent molecules, they constructed a dataset comprising 59 samples (see Fig. 3a). In the created ‘stable/unstable’ classification task, the extra tree achieved a test receiver operating characteristic (ROC) score of 0.85, demonstrating the highest accuracy. This model was then used to predict the water stability of 6720 solvent additives at high throughput, yielding 1608 candidate solvents. Furthermore, statistical analysis emphasized the significance of hydroxyl groups, although the study did not examine solvent ratios. SHAP analysis showed that solvent geometric eccentricity, dipole moment, polarizability, and relative vapor pressure are closely related to stability. Subsequent DFT further demonstrated that this optimal multi-solvent system can stabilize the perovskite surface through O···Pb Lewis acid-base interactions, hydrogen bonding, and weak interactions between solvents, and can modulate the electronic structure without introducing deep-level defects. For green solvents, efforts should focus on replacing DMF and conducting in-depth exploration of ratio adjustments. Machine-learning can model intermediate constraints related to coordination chemistry and process manufacturability before guiding performance optimization. Ma et al. used AI to explore low-toxicity solvents for the fabrication of PSCs under air conditions⁷⁴. They designed a two-step Bayesian method that integrates precursor solubility prediction and device efficiency prediction, the process of which is shown in Fig. 3c. The solubility model corresponds to the baseline constraints of precursor-solvent coordination and solution stability, while the efficiency model corresponds to the comprehensive results of grain size, growth kinetics, and defect control after film formation. First, they used hypercube samples of solvent and additive amounts for solubility testing. The Bayesian optimization of this process narrowed down the range of solvent and additive amounts. Next, they introduced an annealing temperature and prepared PSC devices. The second Bayesian algorithm was adopted to find the optimal process combination: 580 μL of triethyl phosphate, 25% MACl, and annealing at 120 °C. Furthermore, SHAP analysis revealed that TEP and MACl were the most critical variables. A moderate amount of TEP determined the precursor concentration and crystal quality, while approximately 25% MACl facilitated the formation of the mesophase, delayed crystallization, and promoted the formation of large grains and uniform thin films. In the work of Giri et al., AI was employed to screen for uncertain information from perovskite solvent literatures, thereby identifying safe solvents¹². The workflow is illustrated in Fig. 3d. They categorized endocrine disrupting solvents as hazardous solvents. This study employed context-aware NLP to extract over 30,000 text segments concerning perovskite synthesis from thousands of research papers. Subsequently, 35 solvent molecules were further identified, and Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System (SMILES) descriptors were assigned. The established convolutional neural network (CNN)+long short-term memory (LSTM) binary classification model achieves 90% accuracy. Together with uncertainty metrics, potential endocrine disruptors could be screened even under data-scarce conditions. In the future, more convincing machine learning frameworks should simultaneously integrate molecular structure descriptors, precursor coordination/dissolution capabilities, specific processing roles, and toxicological safety labels, thereby promote truly feasible green manufacturing.
Given the potential applications of perovskite in numerous optoelectronic fields, such as solar cells, photodetectors, lasers, and light-emitting diodes, the future recycling of this material will represent a substantial market. The directional recycling of each layer within PSC devices holds significant importance. Sprague et al. pioneered an AI-assisted proof-of-concept method for PSC recycling, establishing a unified protocol for applying sentiment analysis language processing techniques⁷⁵. A neural network trained using this protocol achieved 70% accuracy in predicting the optimal recycling strategy for valuable and harmful components within unknown devices. To prevent environmental factors, such as moisture, from affecting device performance, PSC modules must undergo encapsulation during industrialization. Due to its high technical maturity and excellent barrier properties, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) is currently the most popular encapsulation material. However, effectively de-encapsulating EVA for recovery remains a significant concern. Lu et al. established regression and classification models for high-throughput screening of 70 organic reagents used in the wet de-encapsulating process of photovoltaic modules⁵⁹. Among these, a random forest regression model with an RMSE of 0.167 predicted 10 reagents possessing de-encapsulating capability. Furthermore, a support vector machine (SVM) classification model with a total reliability score (TRS) of 0.819 identified 23 agents possessing de-encapsulation capability. The findings indicate that upon disruption of C = O bonds within EVA’s cross-linked and branched structures, reagent molecules fully occupy corresponding sites, inducing finite swelling of EVA. Conversely, cleavage of C-C bonds in the main chain structure leads to infinite swelling of EVA.
LCA is a methodology for systematically evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or activity across its entire life cycle. It considers every stage, resource extraction, production, transportation, use, maintenance, re-use, recycling, and final disposal, while quantifying energy and material inputs and outputs and assessing the associated environmental burdens to identify opportunities for improvement. In this way, LCA enables a comprehensive, cradle-to-grave understanding of the environmental performance of products or systems.
LCA proceeds through four phases. First, goal and scope definition clarifies the purpose of the study and sets the basic rules, including the choice of the functional unit and the specification of the system boundary. In LCA studies of perovskite photovoltaics, energy performance is often the priority, so kilowatt-hour (kWh) is typically chosen as the primary functional unit to facilitate comparisons across different material and process designs, as well as with other electricity-generating technologies, such as non-photovoltaic renewable energy systems. Depending on the study’s objectives, additional functional units like kilowatt-peak (kWp) or square meter (m²) may also be used^76,77. Similarly, the system boundary should be tailored to the goal by delineating the stages of the full life cycle. For example, a cradle-to-gate boundary is suitable for LCAs focusing on how the composition of the perovskite absorber affects impacts, whereas a gate-to-grave boundary can be applied to LCAs of end-of-life module recycling^60,78. However, such differences in functional units and system boundary definitions across studies can substantially limit the possibility of direct, one-to-one comparison of reported LCA results, even when they target similar perovskite photovoltaic technologies or device architectures. Even when the functional unit and system boundaries are harmonized, the comparability of LCA results remains limited. This is because key assumptions, such as assumed module lifetime, site-specific irradiation conditions, background databases, and impact assessment methods, often differ across studies. Therefore, the numerical results presented here should be interpreted as indicative ranges rather than strictly comparable absolute values. When comparing LCA studies, the reported results should be interpreted primarily as indicative trends, recurring hotspots, and major trade-offs, rather than as strict quantitative rankings. This is particularly important when functional units, system boundaries, lifetime assumptions, and inventory completeness differ across studies. Such a cautious interpretation is also consistent with recent circular-economy perspectives, which stress that LCA should guide eco-design while avoiding burden shifting across production, use, and end-of-life stages⁷⁹. Second, the life cycle inventory (LCI) compiles and organizes all relevant material and energy flows within the defined system boundary, normalized to the functional unit. Third, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) translates the inventory into impact indicators aligned with the study’s goals. For perovskite photovoltaics—where decarbonization and environmentally friendly energy technologies are central—global warming potential (GWP, kg CO₂-eq) is typically a primary environmental indicator. To advance eco-friendly manufacturing, recycling, and the use of green solvents, toxicity-related indicators, such as human, terrestrial, and marine toxicity are also frequently considered. In addition, energy-related metrics, such as cumulative energy demand (CED) are often selected⁸⁰. Because different studies may adopt distinct impact categories, characterization models, and indicator metrics, apparent differences in environmental performance should not be overinterpreted as true technological gaps but rather examined by considering these methodological choices. Finally, the interpretation phase ensures that the results are consistent with the defined goal and scope, identifies key contributors and uncertainties, and supports decision-making^81,82.
PSCs are typically fabricated by depositing multiple layers, using techniques that differ in energy demand and required raw materials. LCA have evaluated two representative deposition routes, vapor deposition (R1) and solution spin coating (R2), using previously reported device structures with PCEs of 15.4 % for R1 and 11.5 % for R2 (Fig. 4a)⁸³. The scope of LCA follows a cradle-to-gate and the 1 kWh of electricity produced by a PSCs with an assumed lifetime of one year as functional unit. It enables direct comparison across different device designs and technologies by normalizing impacts per kWh of electricity delivered. Both routes show the same ordering of dominant categories: freshwater ecotoxicity and human toxicity. Across the categories shown in Fig. 4b–d, R2 consistently exhibits lower impacts than R1, indicating a lower overall burden for the solution process. However, this should be interpreted in the context of methodological uncertainties inherent to LCA, including laboratory-scale inventories, system-boundary definitions, and assumed lifetimes, which can influence absolute values and the magnitude of the observed differences. Meanwhile, the principal contributors differ by route, with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) dominating in R1 and the perovskite layer dominating R2. Although the input mass of perovskite required to fabricate the perovskite layer is smaller in R2 than in R1, the perovskite layer exerts a higher environmental impact in R2. This is because R2 requires electricity-intensive annealing, which accounts for about 95% of that layer’s burden and elevates impacts across categories. Although the use of Pb in PSCs raises critical concerns, its contribution to the human toxicity impact is relatively lower than even MAI. Accordingly, optimization should encompass solvents, electricity, and resource use in addition to Pb containment.
a Illustration of PSC device structures, preparing with vapor deposition (R1) and spin coating (R2) methods. Environmental impacts of PSCs fabricated via R1 and R2, expressed per functional unit of 1 kWh of produced electricity: b Freshwater ecotoxicity, c Human toxicity_cancer, and d Climate change. e Environmental impacts of different solution processes. f CED versus climate change impact for precursor iodides used to synthesize perovskite. g LCA results for perovskite A-site cation precursors, and h Climate change impact mapped across the ternary phase space for A-site perovskite precursor composition. a–d adapted from ref. ⁸³. Copyright 2015, Elsevier. e adapted from ref. ⁸⁴. Copyright 2024, EDP Sciences. f adapted from ref. ⁶¹. Copyright 2025, Wiley-VCH GmbH. g, h adapted from ref. ⁷⁸. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society.
Recently, Rossi et al. compared four different solution processes, blade coating in glovebox, blade coating, spin coating, and spin coating + Press, for forming the perovskite layer using LCA to quantify environmental burdens (Fig. 4e)⁸⁴. Among these processes, blade coating shows the lowest impacts, which is associated with lower electricity demand and more efficient use of materials. The use of relatively benign solvents, for example IPA in place of CB, further reduced the indicators. Spin coating and spin coating + press produced similar overall results; the electricity advantage of spin coating was offset by greater reliance on hazardous solvents. These observations suggest that practical process selection should consider both energy consumption and solvent hazard simultaneously.
Taken together, the precursor and composition effects reinforce that processing choices must be evaluated alongside material choices and solvent management. These observations suggest that practical process selection should consider both energy consumption and solvent hazard simultaneously. This factor also influences perovskite composition because precursor production routes differ in energy and emissions. Depending on composition, different cationic iodides are used, and their environmental impacts vary accordingly (Fig. 4f). Notably, PbI₂ shows the lowest CED (85 MJ kg⁻¹) and the second-lowest climate-change impact (5.9 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹), values comparable to CuI. FAI, SbI₃, CsI, and BiI₃ follow with progressively higher indicators, whereas AgI exhibits the highest CED and climate-change values. The large burden for AgI arises mainly from silver mining and beneficiation in the life cycle inventory. More detailed LCAs of cationic iodide precursors have been reported⁷⁸. Contribution analysis for FAI, MAI, and CsI shows that solvent use and end-of-life treatment account for a major share of climate-change impact (Fig. 4g). MAI synthesis attributes ~48% of its climate-change indicator to spent-solvent incineration, and that of CsI is ~54.4%. Because precursor impacts differ, mapping the ternary composition space can indicate low-impact formulations when composition varies (Fig. 4h). For example, the Cs/FA region tends to show lower indicators, reflecting the relatively high burden associated with MAI. Nevertheless, composition also governs device properties, such as absorption edge and PCE, so precursor selection should balance environmental performance with photovoltaic function. Overall, these results reinforce that solvent choice, usage, and recovery are central to sustainable processing.
An analysis of eight polar aprotic solvents widely used in PSC fabrication has been reported (Fig. 5a, b)². The study integrated production, use, removal, and end-of-life scenarios in a life cycle framework, updating toxicity factors beyond simple carcinogenic labels. It highlighted regulatory concern for DMF-class solvents and quantified burdens associated with drying and post-processing. Among the candidates, DMSO shows the lowest combined human-health and environmental impacts, and solvent recovery is generally preferable to incineration. These results provide a quantitative basis for choosing solvents and for integrating solvent capture and recycling in scale-up. At the same time, process details, such as deposition route, solvent consumption, recovery yield, and device performance should be explicitly considered when interpreting environmental burdens.
a Schematic of LCA boundary for possible PSC production pathways. b Human health impacts associated with different solvents, expressed as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per quantity of emitted solvent. c Normalized environmental impacts (global warming potential (GWP), human toxicity (HT), Marine aquatic ecotoxicity (MAE)) of different perovskite precursor solvent systems: Ink 1 (DMF), Ink 2 (DMF and IPA), and Green solvent (DMSO and GBL), d Environmental impacts of synthesis procedure for MAPbI₃ using different solvents. e LCA contribution analysis of PSM prepared with different solvent systems. a, b adapted from ref. ². Copyright 2021, Springer Nature. c adapted from ref. ⁹. Copyright 2022, Elsevier. d adapted from ref. ¹⁰. Copyright 2025, The Royal Society of Chemistry. e adapted from ref. ²⁸. Copyright 2025, The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Subsequent LCA at device level examined inkjet printing as a scalable deposition route using a functional unit of 1 kWh (see the Fig. 5c)⁹. Using a cradle-to-gate boundary, the study reported markedly lower GWP and CED for inkjet-printed PSCs relative to spin-coated process. In addition, a green-solvent ink based on DMSO and γ-butyrolactone (GBL) showed lower impacts across categories than DMF (Ink 1) and DMF with IPA (Ink 2).
More recent analyses focused on biomass-derived GVL as alternative perovskite precursor for alleviating environmental concerns¹⁰. For MAPbI₃ and FAPbI₃, using GVL reduced overall environmental footprints versus GBL and DMF, with consistent improvements across midpoint and endpoint indicators, supporting solvent substitution with GVL and motivate parallel attention to precursor chemistry (Fig. 5d). A complementary system level study evaluated a GVL with EA as a green anti-solvent, combining device performance with techno economic analysis and LCA (Fig. 5e)²⁸. The assessment reported substantial reductions in manufacturing cost and climate-change impact compared with DMF/DMSO systems, while maintaining high device efficiency. It also identified break even conditions under different lifetimes and recycling assumptions, indicating that solvent substitution, electricity reduction, and recovery should be addressed together for scale up. Overall, the GVL and EA system emerges as a strong candidate for PSC commercialization and underscores the importance of anti-solvent selection. An anti-solvent LCA compared anisole with CB under controlled device parity and a cradle-to-grave boundary⁸⁵. Anisole shows lower carcinogenic human toxicity and freshwater ecotoxicity but a higher climate-change indicator because of its multistep synthesis. In practice, the required volume of anisole is much smaller than that of chlorobenzene, approximately one fifth. Considering actual usage, the overall burden during PSC fabrication can be substantially reduced. These observations indicate that LCA should be performed at the process level and that a clearly defined functional unit is essential for rational comparison.
Perovskite nanocrystals are also employed to form the perovskite active layer, so the environmental impact of their synthesis process should be considered. A recent study examined solvent substitution in CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystal synthesis by replacing 1-octadecene with limonene, a citrus-derived solvent, and coupled the laboratory results with LCA⁸⁶. The nanocrystals obtained in limonene showed structure and optical properties comparable to those produced in conventional media, indicating the feasibility of replacing more hazardous solvents. The LCA reported large reductions in global-warming potential, reaching about 83% for CsPbBr₃ and up to 95% when solvent recovery was implemented. These findings underscore that solvent choice is a major contributor to the overall burden and that closed-loop solvent recycling can further improve sustainability.
Beyond device fabrication, most recycling routes are solution based and consume solvents at each step. Many efforts have been made to recycle Pb from PSCs^{52,87,88,89,90,91}, and a comparative LCA has now been published that evaluates the principal processes⁵⁴. That analysis shows that organic solvents, such as DMF and EA markedly increase GWP and human-toxicity indicators, whereas water-based routes are substantially lower. Additionally, for recycling routes based on water, EA, and DMF, solvent reuse further reduces burdens; reusing the dissolution solvent ten times lowers GWP by approximately 89.55%. A recycling process using water, ethanol, and EA has also been evaluated by LCA to quantify the environmental impact of the recovery strategy¹⁷. Each solvent is purified by distillation and reintroduced into the process loop. Compared with landfilling, the recycling scenario shows lower energy requirements and a reduced environmental footprint, and the advantage persists over multiple cycles while maintaining 98.4% of the initial device efficiency. These observations indicate that PSC recycling should prioritize green solvents, minimize high-hazard organics, and integrate solvent recovery and reuse. Accordingly, LCA of recycling processes should be applied with care to ensure sustainable outcomes.
ILs are room-temperature molten salts composed entirely of ions, exhibiting negligible vapor pressure, low volatility, tunable coordination strength, and high thermal stability. In PSCs, these properties enable ambient-condition processing without an anti-solvent, since ILs can dissolve precursors, and regulate nucleation and grain growth³⁹. Their negligible vapor pressure reduces worker exposure to volatile organics, and toxic precursor solvents can be eliminated, making IL routes environmentally favorable⁹².
However, early LCA questioned whether ILs are genuinely green⁹³. Considering the full life cycle, ILs may exhibit greater environmental impacts than conventional organic solvents. Also, the environmental impacts depend on composition and production route⁹⁴, suggesting that life cycle performance should be evaluated carefully before a solvent is labeled green for use in sustainable technologies.
Fig. 6 compares solvent guidance developed by CHEM21, an EU public–private consortium, with LCA indicators. CHEM21 produced a solvent selection guide that classifies solvents by safety, health, and environmental criteria aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)²⁵. Fig. 6a, b contrasts scores for 12 representative PSC solvents: CHEM21 hazard rankings versus LCA endpoint results for environment and human health. Notably, significant gaps between the two frameworks are observed in most solvents. A solvent labeled hazardous by CHEM21 may still show comparatively favorable LCA outcomes, and the reverse can also occur. This arises from methodological scope. CHEM21 ratings are built primarily on intrinsic hazard and laboratory safety: flammability, acute and chronic toxicity, persistence, and regulatory status. These criteria are essential for worker protection and for immediate risk management, yet they do not quantify upstream energy use, greenhouse-gas emissions, or end-of-life burdens. By contrast, LCA aggregates cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave flows into endpoint categories, such as human health, ecosystems, and resources. Fig. 6c, d provide a detailed comparison of representative perovskite precursor solvent and anti-solvent. Consistent with the earlier discussion, the scoring differs between CHEM21 hazard guidance and LCA indicators. In particular, anisole is classified as favorable across the CHEM21 Safety, Health, and Environment categories, yet the LCA shows very high burdens in the corresponding endpoints for resource use, ecosystem damage, and human health. This contrast reflects LCA elements not included in CHEM21’ hazard ranking, namely multistep synthesis with high upstream energy and emissions, additional process electricity during use, and greater solvent consumption per step. Meanwhile, GVL shows the smallest LCA values in the set, including a negative value. The negative value in the resource category reflects allocation credits from its bio-based feedstock and energy integration in the inventory. Compared with DMSO, GVL receives a higher hazard score in CHEM21; however, in the LCA it exhibits much smaller impacts.
a CHEM21 Environment scores versus the LCIA Ecosystems endpoint; b CHEM21 Health scores versus the LCIA Human Health endpoint. Comprehensive comparisons for c perovskite light-absorber solvents and d anti-solvents include CHEM21 scores (Safety (S), Health (H), Environment (E)) and LCIA endpoints (Human Health (HH), Ecosystems (E), Resources (R)). CHEM21 scores were obtained from ref. ²⁵. and LCIA results were obtained with the ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint method, with LCIA values normalized to anisole as a reference to enable relative comparisons across solvents. Detailed values are reported in Supplementary Tables 2 and 3.
The application of AI in bottom-up LCAs as an alternative model for post-experimental evaluation is nothing new^95,96. The alternative models allow for the early evaluation of sustainability metrics and LCA scores. However, challenges include process scaling behaviors, electrification options, and uncertainties within chemical supply chains exist⁹⁷. Continuously updating datasets through text and data mining enables the sustainable design of PSCs by identifying environmental hotspots in a timely manner and providing real-time decision support. AI can help fill key knowledge gaps in prospective LCAs to provide decision support. AI will accelerate the shift from a “performance-driven” to a “sustainability-driven” PSC model.
Ramón et al. explored the feasibility of using AI models in LCA instead of complex first-principles models¹³. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of AI-integrated LCA, they conducted a bibliometric analysis of 387 publications. This analysis, which incorporated cluster and trend analyses, identified three modes of AI-LCA integration. Firstly, there is the rapid parameter-based prediction of LCI. Secondly, AI is employed as a surrogate model for a specific segment within the LCA process. Thirdly, comprehensive predictive models are constructed directly for large-scale LCA systems. The specific workflow is illustrated in Fig. 7a. It is widely recognized that cognitive uncertainty and random uncertainty within the modeling process constitute model uncertainty, quantitative uncertainty, and scenario uncertainty in LCA. The evaluation about AI research usually focuses on performance metrics, such as R² and mean square error (MSE), but neglects uncertainty assessment. Consequently, concerns have arisen about the lack of rigorous uncertainty analysis in LCA + AI combinations. Akrami et al. expanded upon research integrating NGBoost models with LCA. They developed a comparative analysis of GWP that considers uncertainty in AI predictions, traditional LCA, and combined uncertainty (see Fig. 7b)¹⁴. Their results show that incorporating a AI + LCA combining uncertainty analysis increases the range of potential GWPs, thus complicates decision making. As illustrated in Fig. 7c. It is suggested that modeling processes should integrate uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis to comprehensively evaluate variability in outcomes across different AI approaches. This approach can be applied to scenarios where data is scarce.
a Three AI application patterns were identified via cluster analysis and trend analysis. b Visualize the flow of information within AI and LCA models. This model incorporates uncertainties from ML and/or LCA components into a comprehensive modeling framework. c GWP distribution comparison in four different uncertainty analysis: control, NGBoost, LCA, and NGBoost+LCA. d–f Scatter plots of LCA indicators predicted by SMOreg: embodied energy for all structural attributes, net energy for all structural attributes, and net energy for active material attributes. a adapted from ref. ¹³. Copyright 2025, Elsevier. b and c adapted from ref. ¹⁴. Copyright 2022, Elsevier. d–f adapted from ref. ⁹⁸, copyright 2022, American Chemical Society.
Preliminary research on LCA + AI has been conducted in organic photovoltaics. David and Kettle investigated how to minimize environmental impact from materials and processes while maintaining device performance⁹⁸. Using device architecture information, performance metrics, and LCA indicators (embodied energy, E_Emb, and net energy, E_Net) from 1580 OSCs, they designed two AI models: sequential minimum optimization regression (SMOreg) and genetic algorithm clustering. To be specific, SMOreg evaluates the impact of different layer materials on LCA indicators, while genetic algorithm clustering identifies the optimal architecture for net efficiency output. Fig. 7d–f display scatter plots of LCA indicators predicted by SMOreg. For all structural attributes, the correlation coefficients for E_Emb and E_Net were 0.988 and 0.838, respectively. Focusing solely on active material attributes, E_Net achieved a correlation coefficient of 0.719, demonstrating reliable accuracy. Subsequent clustering identified the OSC architecture with the highest predicted E_Net as PET/Ag/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT/PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/Ag.
Green solvent approaches have gained more attention for reducing both environmental and occupational burdens in PSC fabrication. Several alternative solvent systems can yield high-quality perovskite films and competitive device performances while lowering toxicity. Nevertheless, important challenges remain in precursor solubility, nucleation and crystallization control, viscosity management, and the scala-up processing. Alcohol- and water-based routes still suffer from low lead-salt solubility and incomplete crystallization. IL-based systems require careful control of viscosity and thus the use of co-solvents. Many green anti-solvents are also highly sensitive to evaporation behavior and ambient processing conditions. Further work should improve solubility and coordination chemistry in benign media to support more robust green solvent systems. In addition, more stable crystallization pathways under realistic coating conditions, as well as robust solvent systems that are suitable for practical applications and compatible with solvent recovery are needed.
AI provides an additional tool for developing more sustainable PSC processes. Machine-learning models have been used to screen greener solvent candidates and predict film stability or crystallization behavior, reducing extensive repeated experiments. AI has also been applied to PSC recycling by using NLP-based protocols to predict suitable recovery strategies. However, most current studies rely on small datasets, simple solvent descriptors, and narrow design spaces are still at the proof-of-concept level. Thus, further studies should expand and diversify the available datasets and develop descriptors that more accurately represent coordination chemistry and phase evolution. Closer integration of AI, and experiments will be important to translate these tools into practical guidance for materials and process design.
LCA provides a quantitative framework to evaluate environmental impacts over the full life cycle of PSCs, including materials, solvents, and processing routes, encompassing materials, solvents, and processing routes. Previous work has identified solvent production and use, electricity-intensive annealing, and end-of-life treatment as major contributors to the overall impacts. However, differences in functional units, system boundaries, and inventory assumptions still make it difficult to compare values across LCA studies. More transparent and standardized reporting that reflects realistic process parameters would improve consistency between studies. AI can partly address data gaps in LCA by providing surrogate models for inventory data and environmental indicators, but uncertainty needs to be treated explicitly and kept consistent with experimental results.
For translation beyond laboratory demonstrations, sustainability gains must remain viable manufacturing-relevant constraints and practical end-of-life implementation. Solvent substitution should therefore be considered together with solvent intensity, energy demand, process integration, and realistic collection and handling conditions. Recycling pathways should likewise be assessed not only by recovery yield, but also by operational simplicity of solvent management.
Overall, advancing PSC sustainability will require coordinated progress in green solvent engineering, AI-guided design, and LCA-based evaluation. Green solvents reduce hazards at the material and process levels. AI accelerates the screening and optimization for robust solvent systems and process conditions. LCA then verifies whether proposed routes truly reduce environmental burdens. Using these three approaches together can shift PSC research from purely performance-driven optimization toward environmentally viable technologies and support responsible commercialization.
The data supporting this Perspective are available in the article, the Supplementary Information, and from the corresponding cited references.
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This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (RS-2025-00522430, RS-2025-02316700), and by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Climate, Energy & Environment (MCEE) of the Republic of Korea (RS-2025-25450823). This research was supported by the SungKyunKwan University and the BK21 FOUR(Graduate School Innovation) funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE, Korea) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
These authors contributed equally: Hee Jung Kim, Wenning Chen, Jae Myeong Lee.
School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
Hee Jung Kim, Jae Myeong Lee & Hyun Suk Jung
Department of Future Energy Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
Wenning Chen
SKKU Institute of Energy Science and Technology (SIEST), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
Hyun Suk Jung
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H.S.J. and H.J.K. conceived the study. H.J.K., W.C., and J.M.L. performed the investigation and contributed to the writing, review, and discussion of the manuscript. H.S.J. supervised the study and contributed to the review and discussion of the manuscript. H.J.K., W.C., and J.M.L. contributed equally to this work. H.S.J. is the corresponding author.
Correspondence to Hyun Suk Jung.
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There is some great news for solar power in the Bemidji area.
Otter Tail Power Company is installing a 50-megawatt solar farm near Solway, aptly named Solway Solar. It will have an impressive 100,000 solar panels and should produce enough power for 900 homes.
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The really cool thing about the chosen location is that it is near the existing Solway Combustion Turbine, which uses natural gas to produce power for peak needs. Therefore, existing transmission interconnections will be used, and no new electrical transmission lines are needed to deliver the new solar power to where it needs to go.
This reduces the overall cost of the project. Site construction began in fall 2025, with solar panel and connection work scheduled for the warm-weather building season in 2026. They expect the power to be live by late 2026.
Otter Tail says that 70 jobs are expected to be created during construction. They estimate $4.2 million in production tax will be generated over the 35-year expected life of the facility. Of that tax revenue, 80% will go to Beltrami County and 20% to Lammers Township.
The city of Bemidji will install rooftop solar on several buildings this year. The first to be built is at the city’s water treatment plant and may be completed and begin providing solar electric power by the end of May.
Solar arrays will also be installed on city-owned facilities, including Fire Station 2, the Sanford Center, Neilson Reise Arena, and the City Park Warming House in 2026.
A Solar on Public Buildings Grant covers 70% of the solar array cost, and the remaining 30% is anticipated to come from the IRS Federal Tax Credit. Each project will reduce electricity bills by supplying energy to the building. The Water Treatment facility’s solar project is expected to provide 30%.
The benefits of these solar projects include reducing the cost of purchased electricity and providing a buffer against future energy rate inflation. The Tourist Information Center solar project was completed in December 2023.
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In the January issue of Northern Lights newsletter, Beltrami Electric Cooperative shared a good article titled, “The Cloud is on the Ground.” It took most of us a few years to figure out what “the cloud” even was (in short, the digital storage of everything we see on the internet).
Electric utilities want us to bring that fluffy cloud image down to the ground and instead visualize a data center filled with rows of computer servers humming 24/7/365 running on electricity. The cloud represents a real-world demand for electricity, and one that is increasing quickly!
Our electricity needs are powered by renewables such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric, as well as coal, natural gas, and nuclear, often in remote areas of the country.
All generated power is connected by transmission lines. As demand for electrical power grows due to population growth, data centers, increased electrification of homes and businesses, and the adoption of electric vehicles, so does the need to get power from the source to where it is used.
Much of the power generation in our area comes from coal and gas plants and from wind and solar farms in Minnesota and North Dakota. When I visited with an Otter Tail Power representative last fall, they stated that their company gets 40% of its energy from wind and solar, 40% from natural gas and 30% from coal.
Solutions that utilize existing transmission lines, as the Solway Solar project does, are exceptional but seldom available.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby supports national-level climate initiatives using people power. Citizen lobbyists are trained in a given topic based on a foundation of respect and gratitude.
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I recently contacted U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and received an excellent, detailed reply. Sen. Smith emphasized that while we do need a robust permitting process to bring new energy projects to market, we need to do so without creating undue environmental risks and with community input.
Specifically, she noted that the SPEED and PERMIT Acts have passed out of the House of Representatives and have been referred to Senate committees.
Reforms are needed to shorten the approval process from a decade to a few years or less. Project developers across the energy spectrum need stable and predictable rules of the road. These include clear, enforceable timelines for federal reviews and a way to establish that agencies may not suspend project permits or operations except in extreme circumstances.
If you want to join us at CCL and learn more about permitting reform or how to lobby your representatives, this link is a good way to start: citizensclimatelobby.org/get-loud-take-action/permitting-reform.
This link provides information about permitting reform, offers a tool to connect with your Representative and Senators on this topic, and helps you start your learning journey about how Citizens’ Climate Lobby can help you add your voice to ours.
Kudos to Bemidji for your goal of becoming more sustainable through new solar installations on municipal buildings, and to Otter Tail Power Company for installing the Solway Solar project.
Let’s all be solar collectors and get out and enjoy the sunshine!
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Polly Merhar is a member of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby organization. For more information, visit CitizensClimateLobby.org.
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A herd of sheep grazing under and around a solar array. Photo courtesy of Agrivoltaics Canada
Sheep grazing around solar panels and berries thriving under the partial shade of a solar panel are just two of the many possibilities of combining farming with solar installations. It’s a fascinating idea that just may hold part of the solution to agricultural challenges faced in a time of the extremes of climate change. 
That practical and creative idea is at the heart of agrivoltaics, a relatively new concept for Canada, and even newer for Nova Scotia, whereby solar voltaic panels are paired with growing crops and grazing livestock. 
Local research work on the agrivoltaics front has been taking place at Dalhousie’s Agricultural campus in Truro since 2022, where they’ve just wrapped up their latest feasibility study — funded by the province’s Low Carbon Communities (LCC) fund; research they’ve done alongside the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) looking at how agrivoltaics can help farms cope with climate change while also generating cleaner, cheaper energy.
Stephanie MacPhee, executive director of the Office of Sustainability at Dalhousie University, is excited by the progress they’ve made toward understanding the possible inherent benefits of agrivoltaics.
“The summers are getting hotter, and you often have livestock grazing in fields without a lot of shade. These solar panels provide shade for the livestock, which has been shown to reduce heat stress,” she says.
And if summer 2025 was any indication of things to come for the province, smart new ways to help farmers deal with extreme weather will be of paramount importance.
There have been a number of crops, says MacPhee, that tend to thrive in a shaded and more protected environment, including small berry crops, apples, peaches, grapes, and leafy greens.
“There was an application that was well studied in the Netherlands for growing raspberries that’s been quite successful because raspberries tend to be susceptible to mold and so protecting them from getting too much rain is important,” she says.
Over the last year, Dal and NSCC have completed additional research in the form of another feasibility study to determine the top five locations on Dal’s Agricultural Campus in Truro for study installations. The five options, says MacPhee, vary in solar array size, electricity generation potential, and land use type (livestock grazing, research, and crops). Through this most recent study, says MacPhee, they’ve also gained a better understanding of specific Nova Scotia crops that could benefit from agrivoltaics, such as raspberries, and have researched more creative applications such as installing vertical solar PV panels to act as fencing to keep deer out of crops being used for research.
And in terms of farmer interest, MacPhee says it’s still early days, though adds that one of their students recently visited the Halifax Farmers’ market, noting a “significant level of interest” in the idea with small farm owners she approached. As with most things though, cost is obviously the ultimate unknown.
“You know, if you have a solar-ready roof versus the racking required for ground-mounted solar, it tends to be more expensive,” MacPhee says.
In its purest sense, agrivoltaics is the combining of solar with crops and grazing livestock, and although there are no examples of that happening yet in Nova Scotia, Jeff McAloon, co-founder of the Smart Energy Company, which helps farmers generate their own energy independence and a director with Agrivoltaics Canada, says a wider definition could also include all farms with solar installations, of which there are many in the province.
McAloon is referring to a large installation they’ve recently commissioned for Noggins Farm in Port Williams, Nova Scotia, where their intention is to bring in sheep to graze under and around the panels. That kind of grazing is currently happening around the province in a lease out-type arrangement, with shepherds dropping off sheep to graze or mow the grass around solar fields. Something Geoff Larkin, a local cattle farmer and Climate Adaptation Coordinator for Cattle and Sheep with The Agri-Commodity Management Association, promotes as a win-win for both groups.
“The whole idea is that the solar company, instead of mowing, hires a shepherd, who provides a vegetation management service, whereby sheep are brought in a few times a year to eat the grass,” he says. “I’d also love to see a development go in that can handle cattle. The posts have to be higher, of course, because cattle are taller than sheep.
Internationally, agrivoltaics is in use in countries like the US, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and Australia. In Canada, McAloon says agrivoltaics is making its way from west to east, and up to now has mostly been driven by utilities developing large-scale solar and the land to do that, which is where farmers have typically come in.
“Farmers have land, they’re often revenue constrained, and so will often trade growing space for land lease to a developer to do a massive 10- or 20-acre solar development,” he says. “But then this is where a mature balance between Agri and solar has to come together because if we’re purely trading that off for arable land, we’re not producing food.”
He says that realization for governments, associations, and farmers has resulted in a “we’ve swung the pendulum too far, so now we have to bring it back to balance,” kind of reaction.
Another one of McAloon’s customers has been McCain’s food, where his company installed a solar installation for a “farm of the future” concept in Florenceville, NB, which includes agrivoltaics. McAloon’s team had originally tried to set up the panels to “not take crop space,” but was surprised when that’s exactly where the farm wanted them installed.
And in terms of next steps on the research front here in the province, MacPhee is hoping to secure funding to start a pilot project to further the university’s research. Initial research showed increased yield in 10 of 26 crops they looked at, and no change in 11 others. Next steps in the form of a pilot project could work through the many permutations and combinations that affect plant growth. 
“There’s more and more interest in this area and knowledge is increasing on the topic, but more research needs to be done at a local level to really gain an understanding of how this can best be applied in Nova Scotia,” MacPhee says.
Meanwhile, McAloon says the willingness of utilities to be “more open-minded” also plays a big role in giving farmers the piece of mind they need to move ahead with costly installations around solar and agrivoltaics. 
One obstacle, says McAloon, is “the restrictive policies and rules utilities still have around solar,” though he seems hopeful that can change with time and a better understanding of solar and the grid.
“They’re trying to learn, and they have aged distribution and transmission systems, and are still fairly new to understanding solar. So, I think some of the challenges are around them understanding that when someone has solar, they’re actually taking constraint off the grid.”
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By VIVIENNE AGUILAR
Special to the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
A creative solution to water scarcity and land use is taking shape in the northern San Joaquin Valley – with hopes that this first-in-California concept will spread to the rest of the state.
What started as a study by UC Merced researchers in 2021 has become a reality in Stanislaus County canals. On April 29 regional and state officials, farmers, scientists, students, business leaders and more were invited to tour the first proof-of-concept sites for an innovative project to place solar panels over irrigation canals.
Called Project Nexus, the idea was to study how the solar panels could generate carbon-free energy while at the same time reducing water evaporation and algae growth. Spearheaded by municipal water agency Turlock Irrigation District, the initiative includes a completed site in Hickman, about 45-minutes east of Modesto, and a smaller site in Ceres.
At the event, the research team joined several partners to announce the next steps to understanding the cost of implementing the project at other sites along TID’s roughly 250 miles of canals. The agency serves southern parts of Stanislaus County, starting in Ceres, and northern areas of Merced County, stretching through Hilmar and Delhi.
California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot said the findings from Project Nexus could have exciting applications across the state, and beyond.
“I think what’s most hopeful about this project is not what it will do for this region or for TID, because, after all, it’s at pilot scale, but what we can learn from this project,” he said.
California’s water scarcity has global consequences, from food distribution to tourism – so it’s no wonder that the pioneering project has received so much attention. If scalable, the impacts would have positive impacts on nearly every sector of the state’s economy.
In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom passed executive order N-82-20, which set a goal to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030.
“We really can’t pass up any opportunity to find new ways of using our existing infrastructure,” John Yarbrough, deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources’ State Water Project said.
The Valley pilot program placing solar panels over canals is only the second in the nation; Arizona has a similar project that launched in 2023.
The road from study to reality ran through Sacramento, after Newsom saw the UC Merced study six years ago and texted Crowfoot – urging him to find a way to support the idea. That resulted in a $20 million state grant to build the pilot project, in partnership with TID, UC Merced and Solar Aquagrid, a consulting company.
When initially looking for municipalities across the state to partner with, Crowfoot said TID was prepared to take on the project. The water agency was the first irrigation district in the state, so its leadership is vocal about bringing new innovative ways to keep the water flowing to customers in rural areas, he said.
So far, the concept has met with approvals for some of the region’s toughest water usage critics – farmers. TID board member Michael Frantz of Hickman said, to his surprise, even his grouchiest customers have voiced their support of the solar panel project.
The pilot has two locations.
The first is a “wide-span” solar covering in Hickman that covers a 115 foot-wide canal, and stretches 300 feet and runs through the Dave Wilson Nursery. With 14 concrete foundations and 1,360 solar panels, construction took seven months to complete in August 2025.
In March 2025, TID began construction of its “narrow-span” coverings across the kind of slimmer canal that resembles the majority of the irrigation waterways across the district. The narrow solar covering spans 20 feet across and 1,380 linear feet near Ceres.
Brad Cohen, general manager of TID says the two current sites will be key in scaling the idea.
“As soon as we get the net cost, I think our plan is we’re already looking at where, if this could work somewhere else but very I think they’re going to be focused developments,” he said.
Between the two sites, researchers have been able to study the results of evaporation and algae buildup over the course of a full irrigation season.
The initial UC Merced study looked at similar projects in Gujarat, India and Arizona. Valley researchers have been analyzing the data from their sites. UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said this kind of work is top of mind for people in all types of sectors.
“It’s not just what happens in Turlock or in the Central Valley, but the kind of promises given to people in other parts of our country, this kind of innovation doesn’t happen in isolation,” he said.
Over the course of the irrigation season, UC Merced researcher Brandi McKuin said the results they have seen so far show 50 to 70 percent reduction in evaporation under the panels, and about 85 percent reduction in aquatic weed growth.
Now that they have these figures, McKuin’s team can begin calculating how much money the coverings can save TID and its customers on canal cleanings and maintenance and compare it to the cost of installation and upkeep.
UC Merced is among seven other universities participating in the California Solar Canal Initiative, which hopes to fast-track operational solar panel canal coverings across the state, in line with California’s goals for carbon neutrality by 2045.
There is more than enough work to share, and UC Merced students have the rare opportunity to contribute to a project that shoulders so many expectations.
“There’s a lot of different research opportunities, and a lot of them are hypothetical,” McKuin said about the environmental engineering field ”but this is one where there’s a real field element so they can come out.”
She and UC Merced colleague Roger Bales led the initial research project in 2021. McKuin now works alongside 10 other researchers and several undergraduate students at the university, like Grant Simon and Indalecio Martinez.
Simon and Martinez are helping the team find the true cost of the project, and hope to see it can be replicated statewide. Simon was impressed at how quickly the project was installed.
In no time, he said he was conducting fluid simulations for the team and looks forward to learning more in the next irrigation cycle.
“I feel like everyone has pride in this project,” said Martinez, a third-year mechanical engineering student. “We all want to see it implemented, and the global attention just kind of fuels the motivation.”
Vivienne Aguilar is a reporter for The Modesto Focus, a project of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact her at vivienne@themodestofocus.org.

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In judicial liquidation, Carbon ends its solar panel gigafactory project in Fos-sur-mer. Planned for over 3,000 jobs and 5 GW, it suffered from lack of visibility in the European solar market.
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Edited, representative image. Credits: Representative image
The desert mirrors looked beautiful from the air.
Rows of giant glass stretched across the landscape for miles.
They tracked the sun all day. Together, they focused intense light toward massive towers.
The project promised cleaner energy. Then, strange things happened.
Birds fell from the sky and burned.
Pilots reported sudden flashes bright enough to disrupt vision mid-flight.
Something hidden in that blinding light caused immediate danger. What triggered that sudden, whiteout glare, and what fate awaited the pilots who flew right into it?
This solar facility worked differently from normal panel farms.
Instead of photovoltaic panels, the site used heliostats — giant mirrors that follow the sun continuously.
Each mirror reflected sunlight toward central receiver towers, which concentrated light and produced extreme temperatures near the structures.
Researchers estimated some areas exceeded 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
That heat created an unexpected problem.
Birds crossing concentrated light beams sometimes suffered severe burns midair.
Workers eventually noticed feathers and smoke near the towers regularly.
The incidents became difficult to ignore.
But wildlife was not the only concern growing around the facility. Pilots flying nearby also started reporting unusual glare events.
Some described sudden bursts of reflected sunlight entering aircraft cockpits.
Others experienced lingering afterimages after crossing certain flight paths.
That pushed researchers to examine the reflected light more closely.
Unlike standard solar panels, heliostat systems redirect sunlight into concentrated zones. That creates extremely bright reflections under certain conditions.
Researchers studying aviation safety found some reflected beams reached dangerous brightness levels.
A dangerous hidden flaw in the king of renewable energy.
The glare changed depending on aircraft direction and sun position. That made the problem hard to predict.
Some pilots reported difficulty seeing instruments briefly after exposure.
Others struggled to refocus outside the cockpit afterward.
The effect lasted only moments in most cases. Still, even short disruptions worried aviation researchers.
Especially during lower-altitude flights.
That detail changed the discussion around concentrated solar plants.
The issue was no longer only environmental; it also involved flight safety.
Researchers began mapping where glare conditions became strongest around the facility. They tracked reflection angles throughout different seasons and daylight conditions.
The concentrated light affected insects as well as birds.
Smaller animals drawn toward brightness sometimes entered dangerous heat zones accidentally.
Predators occasionally followed them into those same areas, creating new concerns highlighted by DOE OSTI.
The pilots were experiencing temporary flash blindness caused by concentrated reflected sunlight.
Thousands of mirrors focused sunlight toward the receiver towers continuously.
Under specific angles, the reflected glare became overwhelming for human vision.
Some pilots compared it to staring directly into an intense sunlight beam.
Researchers found the glare could briefly wash out parts of the visual field.
Afterimages sometimes lingered for several seconds afterward.
The same concentrated light also created lethal heat zones around the towers.
Birds flying through those regions occasionally suffered fatal burns in midair.
The facility was originally promoted as a breakthrough for renewable energy.
Instead, it exposed unexpected risks tied to concentrated solar technology.
Researchers later explored ways to reduce glare and wildlife exposure.
Some proposals involved changing mirror positioning during dangerous periods.
Others focused on adjusting flight paths near the plant.
But the project became a warning for future concentrated solar developments.
Extreme heat and concentrated reflections created consequences few people fully anticipated before construction began.
And the latest issue for renewable energy may force a rethink by developers and society.
© 2026 by Ecoportal
© 2026 by Ecoportal

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D3Energy, one of the largest installers of floating solar in the U.S., has announced an exclusive statewide master lease with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for its on-water solar projects.
The company has already installed the largest floating PV array in multiple states, including Utah and Ohio. With plans for further installations across the U.S., the Floridian firm has a blanket agreement for floatovoltaics in its home state.
The arrangement unlocks a potentially crucial new class of renewable energy infrastructure in the Sunshine State, D3Energy representatives say. The deal provides plenty of area for solar project installations without taking farmland, state conservation land, or developable real estate away from potential developers.
“In Florida, the bottleneck on new solar is rarely capital or technology — it’s available land. This lease solves that at the state level,” says Stetson Tchividjian, managing director of D3Energy. “It took years of work with FDOT to get here. With our first project now in the water and operating, we’re ready to roll this out to partners across the state.”
D3Energy says its teams have already begun work on floating solar projects under the agreement. Removing the more common site by site approach of most solar leasing agreements provides D3Energy and other developers a leg up in Florida.

Beginning the floating solar buildout

The sweeping agreement replaces piecemeal solar material procurement with one master framework, designed for consistent partnership with FDOT. That approach is already paying off, D3Energy says, as the company completed its first project under the new framework.
Developed in partnership with the Orlando Utilities Commission, the FDOT pond project is located in Orlando and was fully commissioned earlier this year. With the framework fully validated for similar projects, D3Energy has chosen to open the opportunity up to its partners across the Citrus State.
D3Energy officials estimate that FDOT’s pond portfolio could potentially support over 1 GW of floating solar power, if fully utilized. That would be enough to power about 200,000 homes across the state, while also saving 5,000 acres of land across the state by placing the projects on water.
The lease puts projects where demand is already the highest, with many ponds located near highways and electrical substations.
The floating solar approach also has the added benefit of mitigating damage during hurricane season. After Hurricane Milton in 2024, D3Energy reported that its ten Floridian solar installations received minimal damage and remained fully operational, whereas many ground-mounted solar panels were weather damaged in the process.


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Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced a more than $1.9 million investment in five Pennsylvania schools through the Solar for Schools Grant Program to help cover the purchase and installation of solar panels including permit fees, energy storage, and utility interconnection. The program is administered by DCED and funded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
“Through the Solar for Schools grants, we are helping schools reduce long-term energy costs so they can invest more dollars where they matter most: in students, educators, and classrooms,” said Department of Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe. “These projects also create meaningful opportunities for students to learn about sustainability, energy consumption, and environmental stewardship through hands on experiences that deepen their understanding of how human decisions affect the natural world.”
School districts, intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools, chartered schools for the education of the deaf or blind, community colleges, The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and The Pennsylvania College of Technology were eligible to apply for the grants.
“At a time when energy usage, and the price of energy is a focus more than ever before,  harnessing the sun’s power through the use of solar panels is an ideal renewable energy source,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “The Solar for Schools program, and the associated Solar for Schools Toolkit makes it easy for schools to consider switching to solar, and walks them through the process. At the same time that going solar saves money, it also helps reduce our carbon footprint and reduce pollution, making it a smart decision economically, and for the environment.”
The following Solar for Schools grants were approved:
Elk County:
Philadelphia County:
 
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20 May 2026
A team from Taylor Wessing provided legal advice to greentech, a specialist in PV and BESS, on the sale of an operational photovoltaic portfolio comprising three solar parks in Bavaria, with a total capacity of 27 MWp, to STRABAG AG. In addition to the sale of the photovoltaic operating portfolio, the transaction also included the development of green electricity storage systems for the solar parks by greentech. Dr Tillmann Pfeifer and Dr Angela Menges from the firm’s Hamburg office, both of whom have particular expertise in M&A transactions, led the team.
Taylor Wessing supported greentech throughout the entire transaction process and advised on all legal aspects of the transaction. The advice covered, in particular, corporate law issues relating to the structuring and implementation of the portfolio sale as well as further project development, including matters of energy law, planning law and environmental law. The transaction was completed in March 2026 following the fulfilment of all regulatory conditions.
This advice forms part of a wide range of mandates through which Taylor Wessing regularly supports national and international clients in complex transactions in the renewable energy sector. A particular focus is also placed on providing legal support for photovoltaic, storage and hybrid projects at various stages of development.
With around 200 employees, greentech is one of the leading experts in project development, plant design, technical consultancy, construction, operations management and asset management for photovoltaic and battery energy storage power plants, covering the entire value chain of the PV and BESS downstream sectors.
STRABAG SE is a European technology group for construction services, a leader in innovation and financial strength. Its portfolio encompasses all sectors of the construction industry and covers the entire construction value chain. In doing so, STRABAG takes responsibility for people and the environment: it is working on the future of construction and is currently investing in more than 250 innovation projects and 400 sustainability projects. In the field of renewable energy, STRABAG invests in, develops, builds and operates large-scale plants with a particular focus on photovoltaics, wind power and innovative storage solutions.
Taylor Wessing Germany: Dr Tillmann Pfeifer (Partner) and Dr Angela Menges (Salary Partner) (joint lead), both Corporate/M&A, Hamburg; Dr Christian Ertel (Salary Partner) and Dr Julia Wulff (Senior Associate), both Environmental, Planning & Regulatory, Munich
In-house: Jan Kellner (In-house Counsel, Cologne)
Deloitte Legal: Dr Julia Petersen (lead, Corporate/M&A), Dr Torsten Wielsch (lead, Regulatory & Compliance), Eike Fietz, Katrin Isabelle Schultz (both Corporate/M&A, Berlin)
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Optimal power allocation and capacity configuration based on variable cut-off frequency low-pass filtering for photovoltaic with hybrid energy storage system  ScienceDirect.com
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Top 10: Companies Leading the Energy Transition  Energy Digital
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El Paso County attorney addresses rising solar panel scams  KVIA
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The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Board of Governors has approved the ISO’s 2025-2026 transmission plan, according to the source. The plan accommodates 45GW of new solar photovoltaic capacity.
A total of 38 projects were recommended to meet increasing demand over the coming decade, with half of these projects driven by forecasted load growth. The estimated cost for these projects over the next ten years is more than half of US$6.7 billion, a figure reduced from the initially projected US$7 billion a month earlier.
The approved transmission plan will enable the addition of 45GW of new solar PV capacity in several regions: the Westlands areas in the Central Valley, Tehachapi, the Kramer area in San Bernardino County, Riverside County, as well as parts of southern Nevada and western Arizona.
Solar PV is the technology that will benefit the most from this plan. Co-located battery storage projects will also gain access across the state, while standalone storage will benefit for locations closer to major load centers in the LA Basin, the greater Bay Area, and San Diego.
In the 2025-2026 plan, CAISO’s analysis of grid congestion identified the need for a new 500-kilovolt line to reduce congestion along the Path 15 corridor, a major north-south transmission route. The recommended alternative will be refined in next year’s planning, as additional engineering is required before a final recommendation.
According to the ISO, this upgrade will support renewable energy development in southern California, as well as in Fresno and Kings counties.
If all the additional solar PV capacity is installed over the next ten years, it would bring California to the 100GW milestone. The state currently has 55GW of installed solar PV as of the end of March 2026, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
The transmission plan is based on projections from the California Energy Commission (CEC), which expect California’s load to grow by 15GW by 2035 and 20GW by 2040. Installed resource capacity will need to increase by over 74GW and 107GW, respectively, in the same time frames.
According to the CEC, load growth in the coming years will be driven by building and transportation electrification, manufacturing, and large loads such as data centres.
Neil Millar, the ISO’s vice president of transmission planning and infrastructure development, stated that the organization is constantly striving to meet system needs affordably, and that this year’s plan does so while ensuring the right infrastructure is in place for new resources being added. Additionally, 12 of the reconductoring projects in this year’s plan will increase transmission capacity without requiring new transmission lines.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry in the United States, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the solar cells and light-emitting diodes landscape in the United States.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for the United States. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links solar cells and light-emitting diodes demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in the United States.
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
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Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
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China’s economy posted 5% GDP growth in Q1 2026 despite the energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. However, it is expected to have a negative impact over time across sectors such as solar cell manufacturing and electric vehicles (EVs).
While the broader economy still has buffers, the report noted that the energy crisis is gradually eroding growth momentum, with some sectors and regions feeling the impact more quickly and sharply than others. Another report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) highlighted a stark contrast between renewable energy and coal generation.
The research noted a rise in coal power generation as wind, solar, and nuclear output underperformed. It found that in April, power generation by large-scale power producers rose 2.6% year-on-year, while total power generation is estimated to have increased by 6.6%.
In contrast, Wood Mackenzienoted that electric two-wheelers received a boost from rising orders in Southeast Asia. The report stated that export orders from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia jumped by 617%, 26%, and 34% year-on-year in the first quarter, respectively, as smaller developing Asian economies faced growing oil shortages.
The CREA research noted that, following the March surge, China’s solar cell production fell 25.6% year-on-year, reflecting weaker domestic installations and a slight pullback in exports. The report added that China’s solar manufacturing sector declined as it adjusted after last year’s exceptionally rapid deployment boom.

In contrast, battery production maintained a strong growth trajectory in April, reaching 184 GWh, up 55.6% from a year earlier, driven by robust demand from energy storage and export markets. Meanwhile, despite solar and wind generation rising by 15.4% and 9.9%, respectively, growth was constrained by exceptionally poor wind conditions during March–April and weaker solar performance. China also recorded a 13.2% decline in hydropower generation, while nuclear output fell 7.7% due to extended refuelling outages.

The report also noted that weaker crude oil imports affected refinery activity in April. Crude throughput fell 5.8% year-on-year, a decline that was 3.6 percentage points steeper than in March. Refined oil product exports also dropped sharply, plunging nearly 38% year-on-year to 3.12 million tonnes — the lowest level in almost a decade.
China saw that in the first three months of 2026, it added around 41.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity, down 31% from last year. It also added 15.8 GW of wind power capacity, which is up 8% from last year.
To meet its energy requirement, CREA’s data indicated that China relied on thermal power, which reached 24 GW capacity, up 160% from last year. On the other hand, its hydro power capacity went down 33% from last year to reach 1.4 GW with its nuclear power capacity touching around 1.2 GW.  
In March 2026 alone, China added 8.9 GW of solar power capacity, down 56% from last year, 4.8 GW of wind power capacity, down 9% from last year, 4 GW of thermal power capacity, down 26% from last year, 0.22 GW of hydro power capacity, same as last year; 0 GW of nuclear power capacity, same as last year.
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Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed ultra-thin perovskite solar cells about 50 times thinner than conventional designs using a vacuum-based thermal evaporation process. The devices can be semi-transparent and energy-generating under diffuse light, making them promising for integration into building windows and facades.
Image: NTU
A research team at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore has developed perovskite solar cells that are “about 10,000 times thinner than a human hair and approximately 50 times thinner than conventional ones,” according to a study published in ACS Energy Letters.
“Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption, so technologies that unobtrusively transform building surfaces into energy-generating assets are becoming increasingly urgent,” said Professor Annalisa Bruno of NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and School of Materials Science and Engineering.
“Our perovskite cells offer clear advantages, as they can be manufactured using simple processes and at relatively low temperatures. They can also be tuned to absorb specific wavelengths while remaining transparent, and could be scaled up for use on large surfaces, thereby reducing their carbon footprint,” Bruno added.
The researcher noted that, unlike conventional silicon solar cells, the perovskite devices can generate electricity under indirect or diffuse light. “This makes them particularly well-suited for Singapore’s urban environment, where vertical surfaces and frequent cloud cover limit direct solar exposure,” Bruno stated.
Preliminary estimates suggest that installing the technology on a glass-facade building could generate hundreds of MWh per year, although the underlying assumptions and independent validation have not yet been published.
The cells were fabricated using an industry-compatible thermal evaporation process, in which materials are heated in a vacuum chamber until they evaporate and deposit as thin films on a substrate. Their semi-transparency and neutral coloration support integration into architectural glass applications.
The process also avoids toxic solvents and reduces defects in the solar cells, improving energy conversion efficiency. By adjusting deposition parameters, the researchers controlled perovskite layer thickness and produced both opaque and semi-transparent devices.
The team says this is the first demonstration of ultra-thin perovskite solar cells fabricated exclusively using vacuum-based processes, a development that could enable scalable industrial production. Using this approach, they achieved perovskite absorber layers as thin as 10 nanometers while maintaining functional performance.
In opaque devices, the cells reached conversion efficiencies of 7%, 11%, and 12% for 10 nm, 30 nm, and 60 nm layers, respectively. A semi-transparent device with a 60 nm layer allowed around 41% of visible light to pass through while achieving a conversion efficiency of 7.6%.
The researchers did not report accelerated stability data or performance on large-area surfaces beyond a few square centimeters.
“By precisely controlling thermal evaporation, we can tune the transparency of the solar cells. This opens up new possibilities for sustainable architecture, such as tinted windows that generate electricity,” Study lead author Luke White explained.
A patent covering the ultra-thin perovskite film structure has been filed through NTUitive, NTU’s innovation arm.
The researchers are now working with industry partners to validate and standardize the thermal evaporation process and to improve long-term stability, durability, and scalability ahead of potential commercialization.
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