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Ultrawide-bandgap perovskite materials are critical for high-efficiency, triple-stacked solar cells.
Researchers at Nanjing University in China and collaborating institutions have developed a novel processing strategy to resolve a major efficiency issue in monolithic all-perovskite triple-junction solar cells.
In particular, a surface reconstruction and halide homogenization strategy has been designed to address performance-limiting issues in 2.0-eV ultrawide-bandgap (UWBG) perovskite films.
It led to the development of the perovskite triple-junction solar cell with an impressive 30.1 percent power conversion efficiency (certified at 29.3 percent). As per the study, this integrated design operates with high stability under continuous use and could push future multi-layered solar cell efficiencies beyond 35 percent.
Standard silicon panels currently dominate the solar industry, but face physical limits that restrict how much sunlight they can convert into energy. Perovskites offer a promising alternative, as these synthetic materials can be stacked in layers to absorb a wider range of wavelengths across the solar spectrum more efficiently.
To capture high-energy sunlight, scientists build ultrawide-bandgap (2.0-eV) perovskite films rich in bromide. But high bromide content behaves unpredictably during fabrication. The top surface dries and crystallizes first. The bottom remains wet.
This mismatch creates a rigid outer skin over a fluid core, causing the film to wrinkle, crack, and segregate its chemical ingredients. As a result, the energy is wasted, and severe voltage losses occur.
Researchers solved this issue by creating a dual processing technique that smooths the material surface and manages how the crystals form. It resolved the uneven drying issue by combining a targeted solvent bath with a small amount of oleylammonium chloride additive. 
The balanced solvent treatment reshapes and flattens the top layer, while the chloride addition forces the bromide and iodide components to crystallize at the same time. This joint approach prevents premature surface hardening, creating a smooth and structurally uniform film throughout the entire material.
A monolithic triple-junction cell combines three interconnected light-absorbing layers, each designed with a distinct bandgap to target different parts of the solar spectrum.
Elimination of surface wrinkles and structural defects led to the optimization of all three layers of the solar cell for peak energy capture. The top 2.0-eV subcell achieved a high open-circuit voltage of 1.46 V, paired with a 1.60-eV middle layer for spectrum matching and a 1.22-eV bottom layer for deep infrared absorption. 
Together, this monolithic triple-junction configuration delivered a record 30.1 percent power conversion efficiency, which was independently certified at 29.3 percent.
“The resulting UWBG perovskite films show uniform surface potential, suppressed non-radiative recombination, improved carrier mobility and an open-circuit voltage of 1.46 V,” the researchers noted. 
It works, and it even lasts. Reportedly, the finished cell retained over 90% of its initial efficiency after 569 hours of continuous, maximum-power operation under simulated suns.
After completing initial laboratory testing, the team aims to reduce voltage and fill-factor losses, refine current matching, and scale up device size for larger applications. Future studies will shift from initial efficiency measurements to evaluating module performance under realistic operating conditions, with a specific focus on radiation, ultraviolet, vacuum, and thermal-cycling durability for potential space missions.
And because it avoids heavy silicon wafers, it points toward ultralight, flexible solar modules designed for commercial roofs, wearable electronics, and satellite deployments.
Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
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Luis Reyes
Sep 28, at 2:00pm ET
“Circular economy” is one of those phrases that gets stapled to every corporate sustainability report, and most of the time it means a recycling bin and a nice infographic. So when a mining giant tells me it’s closed the loop for real, my default setting is polite skepticism.
Then I read the fine print on what’s now standing at Kennecott.
Kennecott is Rio Tinto’s copper operation southwest of Salt Lake City, built around the Bingham Canyon pit, the kind of hole you can pick out from a plane window. Since December 2025 it’s been drawing power from a 25-megawatt solar plant made up of more than 71,000 thin-film panels. And those panels contain tellurium produced right there on the property, pulled out of the same refinery that processes the mine’s copper.
Follow that loop for a second. The mine digs the ore, and the refinery pulls tellurium out of the leftovers. A Canadian company turns that tellurium into semiconductor material, an American company builds it into solar panels, and the panels go back up on the mine’s own land to power the operation that dug the ore in the first place. As loops go, this one’s pretty hard to argue with.
Almost every solar panel you’ve ever seen is built around silicon. First Solar, the company that made these, went a different way years ago: its modules use cadmium telluride, a compound laid down as a film a few microns thick on a sheet of glass. That thin coating is what actually turns sunlight into electricity, and tellurium’s half the recipe.
The catch is that tellurium is scarce, and you can’t really mine it on its own. Back when Kennecott’s tellurium circuit started up in 2022, Rio Tinto Copper’s chief operating officer at the time, Clayton Walker, explained why the metal lives where it does: “Approximately 90 percent of the world’s tellurium resource is contained in copper ore.” So if you want tellurium, you go find someone refining copper.
When a refinery purifies copper, everything that isn’t copper collects as residue in the tanks. Gold, silver, selenium and tellurium all end up in that sludge, and recovering them is basically a second, much smaller mining operation that happens indoors. The US Geological Survey says that’s where nearly all of the world’s tellurium comes from.
Rio Tinto spent $2.9 million bolting a recovery circuit onto the Kennecott refinery, designed to produce about 20 tons of tellurium a year from those byproduct streams. That made Kennecott one of exactly two tellurium producers in the United States, which sounds like a small club because it is one.
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The material that leaves Utah isn’t finished tellurium, though. Per the USGS, there’s no refinery in the United States taking the metal to a finished grade. Kennecott ships copper telluride. 5N Plus, a semiconductor materials company, converts it in Canada into the thin-film feedstock First Solar needs. First Solar builds the panels. And for this project, the panels came back to the exact operation the tellurium started in, a chain Rio Tinto points out never leaves North America.
Let me flag one thing, though. Rio Tinto says the new array’s panels contain Kennecott tellurium; it hasn’t said whether every ounce across all 71,000 came from Utah, and I couldn’t find a breakdown anywhere. The loop is real either way. Just don’t picture each panel as 100 percent homegrown.
Construction on the 25-megawatt plant started in October 2024 with Bechtel building it, wrapped up in October 2025, and the array was energized in December. Bechtel says it handed the project over two months ahead of schedule, with about 200 local jobs on the build. Add the smaller 5-megawatt plant Kennecott finished in 2023 and the site now runs 30 megawatts of solar.
So does that take a copper mine off the grid? Not even close. Rio Tinto isn’t claiming it does, either. The company’s own math says the 30 megawatts is enough to power about 1,026 average American homes a year and trims Kennecott’s Scope 2 emissions by roughly 6 percent, about 20,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, the same as taking 4,400 cars off the road.
Scope 2 is accountant-speak for the emissions behind the electricity a company buys from the grid. And frankly, that 6 percent is the most revealing number in the whole announcement: if 30 megawatts of solar only covers about 6 percent of the purchased-power footprint, you get a feel for just how much electricity a full mine, smelter and refinery complex drinks.
Now, why does a 20-ton circuit in Utah matter beyond Salt Lake City? Because of who controls the rest of the supply.
The USGS put China at roughly 75 percent of the world’s estimated refined tellurium output in 2024. China also put export controls on tellurium-bearing products in February 2025, and exporters have generally needed a government license ever since. First Solar has flagged that exposure to its own investors, something we dug into when its $1.1 billion Louisiana factory opened with no Chinese polysilicon in it and a tellurium question still hanging over it.
The company’s other answer is recycling. First Solar has run its own module recycling for more than 20 years and reported recovering over 95 percent of the material in 2025, tellurium included, which came up when we looked at where America’s dead solar panels actually end up.
Twenty tons a year from Kennecott isn’t going to rewrite that market, and I doubt anyone at Rio Tinto thinks it will. But when a country has exactly two domestic sources of a mineral and the world’s dominant refiner keeps a license book over exports, a $2.9 million circuit bolted onto a refinery that was already running looks like some of the cheapest supply-chain insurance in American energy.
Rio Tinto flipped the switch in December 2025 and made the project official on January 20, 2026, with 30 megawatts of solar now feeding an operation the company says supplies nearly 15 percent of America’s copper.
Agree or laugh out loud?
Luis Reyes · Sep 24, 2026
Luis Reyes · Sep 17, 2026
Chema Bonilla Díaz · Sep 19, 2026
Luis Reyes · Sep 21, 2026
Olivia Richman · Sep 21, 2026
Dave McQuilling · Sep 7, 2026
Luis Reyes · Sep 28, 2026
Chema Bonilla Díaz · Sep 28, 2026
Luis Reyes · Sep 28, 2026
Luis Reyes · Sep 28, 2026
Luis Reyes · Sep 28, 2026
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The U.S. Commerce Department finalised steep duties on solar cells and panels imported from India, Indonesia and Laos on Sept. 11, 2026. It found producers in all three countries dumped products in the U.S. market and benefited from government subsidies. Anti-dumping margins were set at 123.04% for India, 94.36% for Indonesia, and 65.43% for Laos. Countervailing duty rates were set at 126.09% for India, between 73.2% and 173.7% for Indonesia, and between 82.03% and 153.67% for Laos. The case originated from a trade investigation brought by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, whose members include First Solar, Hanwha Qcells and Mission Solar Energy. The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make a final determination on Oct. 14 on whether the imports materially injured or threatened to injure U.S. manufacturers. If affirmative, Commerce is expected to issue final duty orders in November. The ruling follows earlier U.S. duties imposed on Chinese solar products in 2012, which prompted manufacturers there to shift production to other Asian countries.
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Denver-based PureSky Energy and the Ecology Action Center [ECA] in Normal have partnered to launch the first community solar program in McLean County — and in the state of Illinois. It was developed through the Illinois Solar for All program.
The McLean 1 solar farm has reached full operation as of this week. The project aims to bring clean, affordable energy to income-eligible households.
It does so by allowing low- and moderate-income households to subscribe to the program with guaranteed savings of 50% of their electric bills. Other similar programs for non-income eligible households offer about 10% of savings.
“All the electricity [from the solar panels] goes into the grid and then it’s part of this electricity mix that everybody in the local area will consume, so none of the renewable energy goes directly to any of our subscribers,” said Janet Janzen, marketing manager at PureSky.
Rather, sets of solar panels have been set up in the county to collect electricity and then solar credits are reflected on subscribers’ bills. One set of panels is about a mile southeast of Bloomington-Normal and the other is in Gridley.
Michael Larkin, senior development manager, said the project is exciting because it brings the benefits of solar to communities otherwise unable to have them.
“We’re able to provide the benefit of solar to subscribers without them having to install infrastructure locally on their property, or we can provide savings to renters who don’t have control of their… yard and such,” he said. “It’s been a great benefit and we’ve basically targeted subscribers locally within the Ameren service territory to provide them with power.”
Largely, families in the program are ones who are not able to afford the costly expense of buying and installing solar panels, but the program also welcomes those who can’t have them. These include people such as renters or homeowners with houses that are too old to handle panels.
“Community solar is often the easiest way for renters and homeowners alike to participate in solar energy, because there’s no infrastructure being installed locally. It’s simply just subscribing to the community solar array,” Larkin said. “So, the biggest benefit for people is most simple — it’s lower electricity costs.”
The project also relieves worries for subscribers over nonrenewable energy consumption. The solar community project is estimated to power 429 households annually while relieving about 4.6 million pounds of CO₂.
Larkin said Illinois has a “tremendously robust” community solar program and that is what makes the state attractive. On top of that, the openness of McLean County made it an ideal spot for its first program in the state for community solar.
“McLean County was one of the early adopters of utility scale wind and their ordinance has always been relatively friendly towards solar, even before the state statute was passed to set standards across the state,” he said.
“The state still has several years ahead that are looking very favorable for solar development and further clean energy penetration with ComEd and Ameren.”
Corn Belt Energy customers are not eligible for the program at this time.
Michael Brown, executive director of ECA, said he is also excited about the project. It fits into a broader theme for sustainability he shares in: sustainability is made doable through accessibility.
“Community solar in itself, the concept of it really is all about removing the barriers for clean, renewable energy for residents,” he said. “Not everybody can afford to put solar on their home; not everybody even owns their home. In rental situations, obviously, you cannot put solar on top of your apartment.”
Even in his case, Brown said his house was assessed and denied approval for solar panels because of the mature trees on his property. He said by removing the barriers to something like solar power, anyone and everyone gets to have access if they want it.
Furthermore, solar is one of many ways the county and EAC can remain a leader in the sector.
“I think more community solar can do that, but at the same time, we need to look at other ways and places we can be installing solar,” said Brown. “I think there is growing concern about solar taking up valuable farmland, and I think even just to that point directly, there’s lots of ways where solar can coexist with agricultural usage…”
Brown said solar and agriculture can be done in the same area, but also urban locations should not be ignored. He said a good example is the solar installation at Illinois State University’s new College of Engineering.
As for his own work, Brown said EAC has recently published a new community energy strategic plan to increase the amount of clean renewable energy.
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North Star Renewable Energy has appointed Shivanand Nimbargi as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to support the company’s efforts to mobilise private capital and accelerate the country’s energy transition.
North Star Renewable Energy is a joint venture between British International Investment (BII) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). BII and CIP’s Growth Markets Fund II (GMF II) made the appointment, with Nimbargi set to lead North Star’s efforts to develop and scale renewable energy projects across India. 
Shivanand Nimbargi brings more than three decades of experience across the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and CEO of Ayana Renewable Power, a renewable energy company and a platform originally established by BII in 2018.
Under his leadership, Ayana grew into a leading renewable energy business that attracted major institutional investors and helped demonstrate the potential of BII’s platform-building approach in India’s clean energy sector.
His experience in building and leading renewable energy businesses, together with his longstanding association with BII, positions him to lead North Star as it establishes and scales its renewable energy platform in India.
North Star is also a key platform within British Climate Partners (BCP), BII’s £1.1 billion climate finance initiative established to support the decarbonisation of coal-dependent economies, including India, by mobilising private capital at scale.
North Star will invest across solar, wind and hybrid renewable energy, as well as storage projects. These projects are expected to generate more than 4 mi
Last year, British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution (DFI) and impact investor, entered a new five-year strategy; this year to launch British Climate Partners (BCP).
It developed BCP, a new £1.1 billion initiative to mobilise private capital at scale to support the energy transition in Asian developing economies and accelerate progress towards net zero. 
Through platform investments such as North Star, BCP aims to unlock institutional investment in climate solutions and support large-scale emissions reductions across Asia.
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The 100 MW, which is the first phase of the 300 MW Huainan Panji coal-mining subsidence-area floating PV project in Anhui province, achieved full-capacity grid connection. China Energy Engineering Group Anhui No. 2 Electric Power Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. is serving as the EPC contractor. The project uses the water surface of a deep coal-mining subsidence area in Panji that had remained largely idle. It is planned in two phases, comprising 100 MW in the first phase and 200 MW in the second. The project includes a 220 kV step-up substation and a 330 MVA main transformer shared by both phases. Once the 300 MW project is completed, it is expected to deliver about 350 million kWh of electricity to the grid annually.
A research team from Yunnan University and Southwest United Graduate School has developed a wide-bandgap perovskite solar cell for underwater photovoltaic applications. The device has a bandgap of about 1.96 eV and achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 16.79% under AM1.5G illumination and 34.71% under a simulated spectrum corresponding to a water depth of 10 meters. It operated continuously at its maximum power point for 1,160 hours without significant degradation, according to results published in Joule. The team also conducted field tests near Weizhou Island in the South China Sea. A 115 cm² perovskite module operated at an actual depth of 10 meters for two hours and generated 324 mWh of electricity, which was used to charge a lithium-ion battery and power an LED. Accelerated aging tests indicated a projected T80 lifetime of about 5.49 years under simulated spectral conditions corresponding to a depth of 10 meters.
Yuedong New Energy Technology has broken ground on a semi-solid-state battery pack and containerized energy storage project in Yancheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiangsu province. The facility will assemble lithium-ion energy storage modules and containerized energy storage systems, with planned annual capacity of 5 GWh once completed. According to the Yancheng government, it currently has more than RMB100 million in orders on hand and plans to complete factory renovations and begin equipment commissioning in November, targeting production by the end of 2026. Its containerized systems use dual-mode liquid cooling and liquid heating thermal management, with the company claiming system conversion efficiency of at least 94%. The products are intended for utility-scale power plants, C&I energy storage and new-energy heavy-duty trucks.
Energy developer, CGN New Energy, has launched procurement for implementation-planning services for a 12 GW integrated energy project in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia. The planned renewable energy capacity comprises 5 GW of wind and 7 GW of solar, with coal-fired power, electrochemical energy storage, pumped hydro and concentrated solar power to be configured as part of the overall project plan. Earlier this month, CGN New Energy also launched a tender for power-source planning services for the Tengger-Badain Jaran Desert renewable energy and storage base supporting the “Inner Mongolia electricity transmission to Hubei” project. The planned base includes 4 GW of wind and 8 GW of solar. The two projects together represent 24 GW of planned wind and solar capacity in Inner Mongolia.
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Researchers have carried out tests on solar panels placed as deep as 10 metres underwater, a development that could point toward longer-lasting power sources for subsea equipment and reduce a sole reliance on batteries, according to TradeArabia News Service.
The panels were engineered to capture blue and green wavelengths of sunlight, which pass through seawater more effectively than other parts of the light spectrum.
In a two-hour trial conducted near China’s Weizhou Islands, the technology produced 324 milliwatt-hours of electricity at a depth of 10 metres. The research, published in Joule, extends earlier work that had been limited to depths of two metres or less.
The team relied on perovskite solar cells, which can be adjusted to absorb particular wavelengths and serve as an alternative to conventional silicon cells. Laboratory testing indicated that the cells turned about 35% of available sunlight into electricity under conditions designed to replicate a 10-metre depth.
Drawing on the testing, the researchers estimate that the panels could run continuously underwater for roughly 5.5 years. Such a capability could potentially support subsea sensors, monitoring systems and other equipment.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Perovskite Solar Cells market in China, including market size, structure, key trends, and forecast. The study highlights demand drivers, supply constraints, and the competitive landscape across the value chain.
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Transition to Inox Solar Americas digital platforms will maintain continuity for Boviet Solar customers, technical support and warranty inquiries
GREENVILLE, N.C., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Inox Solar Americas LLC, a U.S.-based solar technology and manufacturing company specializing in the production of advanced PV cells and high-performance PV modules for the U.S. solar market, today announced that the Boviet Solar website, social media platforms, and other external brand touchpoints will begin a gradual transition to the Inox Solar Americas brand as part of the ongoing integration of Boviet Solar’s U.S. business and operations into Inox Solar Americas.
Earlier this year, Inox Solar Americas acquired Boviet Solar’s U.S. PV module manufacturing and PV cell manufacturing assets in Greenville, North Carolina, as well as its U.S. commercial operations. The acquisition established the foundation for Inox Solar Americas’ growing U.S. solar manufacturing and commercial platform.
GRADUAL BRAND TRANSITION
The brand transition will be implemented in phases across website content, social media channels, company and product information, marketing communications, trade shows, industry events, customer-facing materials, and other external brand touchpoints, progressively transitioning from Boviet Solar to the Inox Solar Americas brand.
During the transition period, customers, partners, and other industry stakeholders may continue to see both the Boviet Solar and Inox Solar Americas names across certain websites, social media platforms, product materials, technical documentation, trade shows, industry events, and other communications.
The transition will be managed progressively to maintain continuity and access to important product, technical, and customer information while establishing Inox Solar Americas as the company’s U.S. solar manufacturing and commercial brand.
The transition represents another important step in the integration of Boviet Solar’s U.S. business into Inox Solar Americas and the continued development and expansion of the company’s U.S. solar manufacturing platform.
Additional updates regarding the Boviet Solar brand transition and related platforms, materials, and communications will be provided as the integration progresses.
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR BOVIET SOLAR CUSTOMERS
Existing Boviet Solar customers and partners requiring customer service, PV module technical support, warranty assistance, product information or other product-related support can continue to submit inquiries through inoxsolar.us/company/contact-us. Inquiries submitted through the website will be directed to Boviet Solar’s Global team for review and follow-up.
INOX SOLAR AMERICAS
Inox Solar Americas, founded in 2026 in the United States, is a leading solar technology and manufacturing company specializing in advanced monocrystalline PV cells and high-performance Gamma Series™ monofacial and Vega Series™ bifacial PV modules. Inox Solar Americas’ photovoltaic solutions are engineered to meet the needs of residential, commercial, industrial, community solar, and utility-scale applications, delivering exceptional efficiency, reliability, and long-term value.
Inox Solar Americas acquired Boviet Solar’s U.S. PV manufacturing assets in Greenville, North Carolina, USA, including 3.0 GW of annual PV module manufacturing capacity and 3.0 GW of planned annual PV cell manufacturing capacity, expected to come online in 2027. Through localized manufacturing, resilient supply chains, operational excellence, and efficient logistics, Inox Solar Americas is helping strengthen the U.S. solar supply chain and meet growing domestic demand.
Inox Solar Americas is part of the broader renewable energy platform of Inox Clean Energy and the INOXGFL Group, headquartered in India. Backed by the group’s financial strength, business stability, manufacturing capabilities, technological innovation, and industry expertise, Inox Solar Americas is committed to delivering high-quality, reliable, and sustainable solar solutions to customers across the U.S. solar energy market.
For more information, visit: inoxsolar.us, inoxclean.com and inoxgfl.com.
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Researchers have shown that solar panels can generate electricity 10 meters (33 feet) beneath the surface.
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Researchers have shown that solar panels can generate electricity 10 meters (33 feet) beneath the surface.
The work was carried out by a team from Yunnan University and the Southwest United Graduate School, and was published in the in the journal Joule.
During the study, field trials conducted off the Weizhou Islands in the South China Sea demonstrated that submerged perovskite solar cells produced 324 mWh of energy over a two-hour submersion window. The generated electrical output is enough to recharge lithium-ion batteries. In addition, tests predicted that the equipment would function autonomously for roughly 5.5 years at depth.
The breakthrough addresses a longstanding technical challenge in offshore monitoring, where sunlight rapidly loses intensity below the surface. To counter the water absorbing different wavelengths, the team engineered wide-bandgap cells tailored to absorb blue-to-orange light wavelengths before testing them on autonomous robotic platforms.
The team plans to evaluate the cells at increasing depths to discover whether they can supply long-term, autonomous green power to submerged cameras, environmental sensors and offshore aquaculture installations.
Lead author Wen-Hua Zhang underscored the significance of extending operational ranges beyond the shallows:
“Very few studies have been reported on underwater solar cells, and all of them are focused on very shallow water depths of only two meters or less, a scenario far from catering for requirements of practical application. This work presents the first functional validation of submerged solar cells practically operating at a water depth of up to about 10 meters, greatly broadening their application scope.”
Zhang highlighted the real-world performance of the hardware:
“What surprised us most was so much electrical energy our large-area modules generated under real-world conditions at 10-meter water depth for only two hours. Moreover, we have achieved scaling from small-area laboratory cells to large-size modules. The combination of the laboratory investigations and the in situ experiments provides strong evidence for the operation of underwater photovoltaics.”
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CertainTeed Expands Solar Solutions With Launch of Landmark PWR  LBM Journal
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TOYO Secures $240 Million in U.S. Solar Module Supply Agreements  SolarQuarter
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The U.S. Department of Commerce has rolled out an emergency measure designed to stop a rush of imports ahead of new tariffs throughout the solar supply chain, according to pv magazine. Issued as a Temporary Final Rule by the department’s Bureau of Industry and Security in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the action imposes tight oversight and volume restrictions on polysilicon, wafers, cells, and modules coming from abroad.
The rule seeks to keep foreign suppliers and developers from amassing stockpiles before fresh trade safeguards begin on December 4. Starting that day, arriving shipments will be hit with a 15% tariff plus existing minimum import prices established under Section 232 Presidential Proclamation 11052.
Commerce is reviewing total import volumes for each importer of record relative to historical baseline averages. Those found to be importing amounts far exceeding prior baselines will be prohibited from filing any additional entries of covered solar equipment ahead of the December 4 cutoff.
Procurement contracts for equipment usually name the importer of record, which could be the project developer, an engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, a component maker, or a third-party supplier, depending on how customs clearance is handled.
To shut down possible loopholes tied to newly formed corporate entities, the rule applies stringent weekly quantitative limits to importers of record that registered after August 6 and have no historical baseline data.
From September 22 through December 4, such new importers may bring in no more than 12 kilograms of polysilicon, seven kilograms of wafers, 2,000 solar cells, and 55 solar modules per week. Customs brokers who assist entities in dodging or getting around these volume caps face financial penalties or the formal loss of their broker licenses.
Entities affected by the limits can send email requests to Commerce seeking a waiver to exceed them. Applicants must supply documentation proving that import volumes planned between August 6 and December 4 rest on legitimate commercial grounds rather than pre-tariff stockpiling, together with a binding pledge against stockpiling. Commerce intends to reply within 14 days, and its responses may ask for further trade documentation.
Commerce also keeps the power to provide tariff waivers to manufacturers that file verified onshoring plans to construct, renovate, or enlarge domestic factories for making solar products within the United States.
Clean energy trade associations and project developers caution that layering Section 232 tariffs and minimum import prices onto already existing trade duties will drive up project execution expenses, cause cell supply shortages for domestic module assemblers, and delay broader decarbonization schedules.
U.S. solar manufacturers praised the federal enforcement push, characterizing pre-policy import surges as an opportunistic tactic employed by overseas producers to erode American trade protections.
Andy Park, global chief executive officer at Hanwha Qcells, said that inundating the U.S. market with large volumes of imported products is a strategy companies abroad have long relied on to weaken American manufacturers. He noted that import volumes have repeatedly spiked before major U.S. trade or industrial policies, as companies look to exploit loopholes and secure an unfair edge before new measures kick in.
Park added that the enforcement actions are expected to help remove unlawful market practices, bring integrity and fairness back to the U.S. solar market, and ensure the administration’s trade and industrial policies meet their intended goals. He said the efforts would ultimately help attract more manufacturing investment and high-quality jobs onshore and speed up growth in American-made energy.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report is an independent strategic market study that provides a structured, commercially grounded analysis of the market for Polysilicon in the United States. It is designed for component manufacturers, system suppliers, OEM and ODM teams, distributors, investors, and strategic entrants that need a clear view of end-use demand, design-in dynamics, manufacturing exposure, qualification burden, pricing architecture, and competitive positioning.
The analytical framework is designed to work both for a single specialized component class and for a broader electronic materials / semiconductor feedstock, where market structure is shaped by product architecture, performance requirements, standards compliance, design-in cycles, component dependencies, lead times, and channel control rather than by one narrow customs heading alone. It defines Polysilicon as High-purity polycrystalline silicon, a foundational raw material for manufacturing semiconductor wafers and photovoltaic cells and examines the market through end-use demand, BOM and subsystem logic, fabrication and assembly stages, qualification and reliability requirements, procurement pathways, pricing layers, and country capability differences. Historical analysis typically covers 2012 to 2025, with forward-looking scenarios through 2035.
This report is designed to answer the questions that matter most to decision-makers evaluating an electronics, electrical, component, interconnect, or power-system market.
At its core, this report explains how the market for Polysilicon actually functions. It identifies where demand originates, how supply is organized, which technological and regulatory barriers influence adoption, and how value is distributed across the value chain. Rather than describing the market only in broad terms, the study breaks it into analytically meaningful layers: product scope, segmentation, end uses, customer types, production economics, outsourcing structure, country roles, and company archetypes.
The report is particularly useful in markets where buyers are highly specialized, suppliers differ significantly in technical depth and regulatory readiness, and the commercial landscape cannot be understood only through top-line market size figures. In this context, the study is designed not only to estimate the size of the market, but to explain why the market has that size, what drives its growth, which subsegments are the most attractive, and what it takes to compete successfully within it.
The report is based on an independent analytical methodology that combines deep secondary research, structured evidence review, market reconstruction, and multi-level triangulation. The methodology is designed to support products for which there is no single clean official dataset capturing the full market in a directly usable form.
The study typically uses the following evidence hierarchy:
The analytical framework is built around several linked layers.
First, a scope model defines what is included in the market and what is excluded, ensuring that adjacent products, downstream finished goods, unrelated instruments, or broader chemical categories do not distort the market boundary.
Second, a demand model reconstructs the market from the perspective of consuming sectors, workflow stages, and applications. Depending on the product, this may include Semiconductor wafer substrate, Photovoltaic cell absorber layer, and Power electronics substrate across Semiconductor & IC Manufacturing, Solar PV Module Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics, Automotive (EV/Power), and Industrial Electronics and Feedstock Sourcing & Qualification, Crystal Growth (CZ/FZ) Ingot, Wafer Slicing & Polishing, and Cell/Device Fabrication. Demand is then allocated across end users, development stages, and geographic markets.
Third, a supply model evaluates how the market is served. This includes Metallurgical Grade Silicon (MG-Si), Trichlorosilane (TCS) / Silane, High-purity graphite components, Significant electrical power, and Specialty chemical gases, manufacturing technologies such as Siemens Process (TCS-based), Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) Process, Upgraded Metallurgical Silicon (UMG) refining, and Monocrystalline vs. Multicrystalline growth, quality control requirements, outsourcing and contract-manufacturing participation, distribution structure, and supply-chain concentration risks.
Fourth, a country capability model maps where the market is consumed, where production is materially feasible, where manufacturing capability is limited or emerging, and which countries function primarily as innovation hubs, supply nodes, demand centers, or import-reliant markets.
Fifth, a pricing and economics layer evaluates price corridors, cost drivers, complexity premiums, outsourcing logic, margin structure, and switching barriers. This is especially relevant in markets where product grade, purity, customization, regulatory burden, or service model materially influence economics.
Finally, a competitive intelligence layer profiles the leading company types active in the market and explains how strategic roles differ across upstream material and component suppliers, OEM and ODM partners, contract manufacturers, integrated platform players, distributors, and engineering-support providers.
This report covers the market for Polysilicon in its commercially relevant and technologically meaningful form. The scope typically includes the product itself, its major product configurations or variants, the critical technologies used to produce or deliver it, the core input categories required for manufacturing, and the services directly associated with its commercial supply, quality control, or integration into end-user workflows.
Included within scope are the product forms, use cases, inputs, and services that are necessary to understand the actual addressable market around Polysilicon. This usually includes:
Excluded from scope are categories that may be technologically adjacent but do not belong to the core economic market being measured. These usually include:
The exact inclusion and exclusion logic is always a critical part of the study, because the quality of the market estimate depends directly on disciplined scope boundaries.
The report provides focused coverage of the United States market and positions United States within the wider global electronics and electrical industry structure.
The geographic analysis explains local demand conditions, domestic capability, import dependence, standards burden, distributor reach, and the country’s strategic role in the wider market.
This study is designed for strategic, commercial, operations, and investment users, including:
In many high-technology, electronics, electrical, industrial, and component-driven markets, official trade and production statistics are not sufficient on their own to describe the true market. Product boundaries may cut across multiple tariff codes, several product categories may be bundled into the same official classification, and a meaningful share of activity may take place through customized services, captive supply, platform relationships, or technically specialized channels that are not directly visible in standard statistical datasets.
For this reason, the report is designed as a modeled strategic market study. It uses official and public evidence wherever it is reliable and scope-compatible, but it does not force the market into a purely statistical framework when doing so would reduce analytical quality. Instead, it reconstructs the market through the logic of demand, supply, technology, country roles, and company behavior.
This makes the report particularly well suited to products that are innovation-intensive, technically differentiated, capacity-constrained, platform-dependent, or commercially structured around specialized buyer-supplier relationships rather than standardized commodity trade.
The report typically includes:
The result is a structured, publication-grade market intelligence document that combines quantitative modeling with commercial, technical, and strategic interpretation.
Electronics-Market Structure and Company Archetypes
Major U.S. producer, joint venture of Dow Corning
Operates one of the largest U.S. polysilicon plants
Subsidiary of Wacker Chemie, U.S. headquarters
U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi Materials
Bankrupt but legacy U.S. producer, still relevant in market history
Norwegian parent, but U.S. HQ for North American ops
Parent of Hemlock Semiconductor
Equipment supplier, not direct producer
Niche processor in U.S. market
Produces silicon feedstock for polysilicon
Separate entity from Hemlock Semiconductor, same location
Subsidiary of REC Silicon
U.S. subsidiary of South Korean OCI
U.S. office of Chinese GCL-Poly
U.S. subsidiary of Chinese LDK
U.S. trading arm of Chinese company
U.S. subsidiary of Trina Solar
U.S. office of Chinese manufacturer
U.S. subsidiary of Canadian Solar
Major U.S. solar manufacturer, uses polysilicon indirectly
U.S. solar company, significant polysilicon demand
Indirectly involved via solar supply chain
U.S. subsidiary of German SolarWorld, now defunct
U.S. division of Japanese conglomerate
U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation
U.S. division of Panasonic
U.S. subsidiary of LG
U.S. subsidiary of Hanwha Group
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Solaren Renewable Energy Solutions: Using Solar Energy To Power The Future Of AI  Benzinga
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A map showing the flight paths from the Watertown Municipal Airport and the location of the proposed Concord-Highland Solar project circled in red.
The parcel where the proposed Concord-Highland Solar Project would be built near Watertown.
A map showing the flight paths from the Watertown Municipal Airport and the location of the proposed Concord-Highland Solar project circled in red.
The parcel where the proposed Concord-Highland Solar Project would be built near Watertown.
WATERTOWN — The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Committee passed the proposed solar project north near the STH 26 Bypass in Watertown, despite the City of Watertown’s opposition.
The Concord-Highland Solar Energy Systems project is an approximately 25-acre, 5MW solar array proposed by the Seattle-based solar company OneEnergy Renewables LLC.
The City of Watertown has officially opposed the development.
In a letter to the Jefferson County Board, Watertown Mayor Robert Stocks outlined the City’s concerns, citing conflicts with the City’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use provisions, as well as safety concerns.
“A solar farm is not compatible with the planned mixed-use designation,” wrote Stocks. “It is not contemplated or permitted under the City’s adopted comprehensive plan and would significantly constrain future economic development that the plan identifies as vital for the greater community.
“A solar farm located near an aircraft landing zone can (also) create significant safety concerns for pilots, passengers, and people on the ground. Solar panels can produce glare or reflected light that may temporarily impair a pilot’s vision during critical phases of takeoff and landing.”
The Watertown Municipal Airport has been attempting to rebuild its runway for the past 15 years and an opportunity presented itself this summer for the refurbishment.
In his letter, Stocks also outlined concerns regarding the Jefferson County Solar Energy Systems Ordinance and approval from the closet municipality to the process. Stocks said the Town of Watertown did approve the development.
“In addition, a small (solar energy system) may be permitted as a conditional use, subject to the requirements of this ordinance, within the A-T zoning district with written approval from the closest municipality,” the ordinance reads.
“I’m not in favor of it,” District 5 (Watertown) Supervisor James Braughler. “It falls within the five miles (of the) airport. It also needs approval from the municipality, and there’s some potential litigation. I think it’s a poor use of the land. The first thing (when) you come into a town, you do not want to see a solar farm right there.”
Jefferson County Director of Planning and Development Matt Zangl noted that a glare analysis had “showed no glare or potential hazards of that nature.” He said that the Federal Aviation Administration had determined a, “null hazard,” relating to the proximity of the proposed project to the airport.
According to Zangl, OneEnergy had also submitted an affidavit showing that they provided notice to the airports in compliance with zoning ordinance requirements.
A letter sent to the county from Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, the law firm representing OneEnergy, said the City did not provide a, “lawful basis” to deny the project’s conditional use permit.
“Any restriction on the project must fit within one of the categories set forth in Wis. Stat. section 66.0401(1m). The Wisconsin Court of Appeals found that a municipality cannot restrict a solar project based on generalized local concerns (e.g., impact on aesthetics and property values) or incompatibility with land use and development plans. Therefore, the City’s opposition to the Project based on its comprehensive plan is not a lawful basis to deny the Project’s CUP application or impose conditions on it,” stated the letter.
“I know the big conflict is the proximity to the city. Obviously, the City (does) not provide its approval. The ordinance allows the committee to modify the conditional use requirements, meaning, if there’s a standard that the committee finds overburdensome or not applicable, the committee can modify it,” said Zangl.
Zangl stated that each solar farm should be reviewed “on a case-by-case analysis,” and the Planning and Zoning Committee “may modify (the ordinance) or make modification as necessary to ensure compliance with Wisconsin statute.”
Jefferson County Administrator Michael Luckey explained that, as far as he understood, any proposed expansions for the Watertown Municipal Airport would not overlap with the project’s footprint.
“As far as the runway expansion goes, from what I understand, they’re actually looking to expand up to 5,000 feet for runway, but most of that will be occurring on the northeastern portion of it as you go southwest,” said Luckey.
Zangl said that if the county had more information regarding possible expansions from the City, it could request OneEnergy examine any possible conflict with expansions.
Jefferson County Corporation Counsel Danielle Thompson said that the Committee could not deny the development based solely on one municipality’s disapproval.
“You cannot just rely on the fact that the City of Watertown said no,” said Thompson. “If you choose to deny today, (you) have to articulate, based on the record that’s been provided, some reason in which you believe denial is necessary to preserve or protect public health or safety.”
Zangl mentioned that a similar situation had happened, “west of Koshkonong.” The town had attempted to overturn a Public Service Commission of Wisconsin decision to approve a solar farm. The attempt did not pass and the Koshkonong facility is currently under construction.
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors will review the proposed development during its next meeting.
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By Joe Griffin
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The Micro Renewable Energy Federation (MREF) has welcomed reports that the government is planning improvements in solar PV grants for homes, farms and businesses.
These reported improvements include grant supports for battery storage and extending eligibility for grants to houses constructed since 2021.
The budget is due to be delivered by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris on Tuesday, October 6.
MREF chair Ciaran Kells also addressed the issue of solar grants for farmers under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3).
He noted that in the federation’s budget submission, “we were particularly critical of the restrictions now on TAMS supports for farm solar PV installations and proposed that non-domestic grants from the SEAI should be increased to replace TAMS”.
“We also sought new grant supports for battery storage.
“These measures will also assist thousands of small businesses in reducing their energy costs and carbon emissions.”
Earlier this year, as MREF launched its pre-budget submission, Kells criticised the “slashing of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) solar grants, with 90% of applicants being rejected due to budgetary constraints in recent tranches of farmer applications”.
Proposed measures for Budget 2027 are understood to include the eligibility of newer homes, constructed after 2021, for grant supports for solar PV installations.
Kells said: “MREF set out a number of practical measures in its 2027 Pre-Budget Submission, making a strong case for improvements in solar PV grants up to at least 6kw, the introduction of grants for installing battery storage, and insisting that the government removes the exclusion of houses that received a new ESB connections after 2021 from securing a grant.”
Kells added that MREF has continually highlighted the anomaly whereby homes constructed after 2021 are denied access to grants supports for solar PV installations.
“Proposed changes to extend grant eligibility to homes constructed since 2021 is very welcome, and overdue,” he said
Kells also welcomed recent reports that improved supports are now planned for the micro-generation sector. 
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A recent solar social post made a vivid point about the economic cost and outright danger posed by bad workmanship and ignorance.
So I thought it would be worth examining here to explain why we have standards and why, in a first-world society, you have to be prepared to employ people who know what they’re doing.

The photo above shows a garden variety AC power cable that was run through a tile roof by a thoughtless imbecile or DIY enthusiast.
That hole you can see punched through the cable was made by a tile bracket screw. To quote the industry professional holding the screw gun, he “nearly [florid expletive] died” in the process and I don’t blame him for swearing.
Why didn’t this bloke with the power tool look where he was pointing it? Well, he did, it’s just that the cable in question was placed illegally and rendered invisible by a conductive layer of foil sarking.
Threading wires over the top of a rafter might be quick and easy, but anyone familiar with AS3000 knows full well it’s a cardinal sin to run wiring within 50 mm of a finished surface, precisely because it’s easy to drive a screw or nail through it when you don’t know it’s there.
Roof tiles are a finished surface, and if you’d like to argue the rafters are 50 mm below it, there’s a special place in hell for you to listen to kids who lost their Dad in an industrial accident. Thankfully, this accident didn’t claim anyone because the circuit breaker tripped as designed, the safety standards were adequate, the system worked.
And that’s just the thing. A true patriot gets a parking fine and rejoices that the system works! So I guess we should be pleased when laws are enforced, and people realise the consequences of their actions, but the grubs who did this little bit of wiring aren’t likely to be caught.

You can carve a channel into masonry walls, secure wiring, and plaster over the top with sand and cement; that’s acceptable for a single-leaf brick wall on edge or a solid stone wall.
Australian houses are generally framed with 90 mm timbers. Once you add 10 mm of cladding on both sides, there’s enough wiggle room to run a cable down the middle and still be 50 mm from each surface. If your walls are thinner or there’s some obstruction, the wiring must be mechanically protected by at least 2 mm of steel. The easiest way to imagine that is a piece of galvanised water pipe, or in other words, something pretty much nail-proof.
It’s a legality that if you change the supply by adding a battery, everything downstream must be brought up to current standards. Sadly, some unscrupulous operators ignore the requirement or lay it as a trap when offering a cut-price quote.
When considering a solar, or especially a battery system installation, you’ll often need to put aside a separate budget for switchboard upgrades, even if it’s just to make more room. The fact of the matter is that the rules were updated in April 2021, so if you haven’t had an electrician visit in the last handful of years, there’s work to be done. From 30 April 2023, Type AC RCDs were prohibited in new installations, alterations, additions, and certain replacements.
Type AC safety switches (on the left) are better than nothing; however, if you get a quote for a switchboard upgrade over the phone and they ask for pictures, these symbols must be legible. Otherwise, you are better off replacing the whole lot.
I’ve recently attended a house to examine the aftermath of a fire that started under an inverter, next to a battery, in a domestic garage. It didn’t make the news, and when I quizzed the Office of the Technical Regulator, they didn’t really raise an eyebrow. These things happen sometimes, and when you put in large solar power systems, they’ll crop up more often.
Not to be alarmist, it’s just a fact that when you’re using more electricity in a modern all-electric home, there will be more chances for things to go wrong.
Every day is a thermal cycle: every time you use an appliance that draws heavily on the mains, or every day you move lots of power to or from the grid for hours on end, the wiring and connections are heated and cooled. Eventually, the connections can relax, and when things start to get loose, then bad joints under high load cause excess heat, and the vicious circle ramps up until a terminal blowout or blowup.
I digress because that’s a story we’ll cover in more detail soon.
I’ve written before about standards and about DIY electrical. I’ve been flamed by the handymen in the cheap seats and I get it, you’re out to save money like they do in the UK. The thing is, many don’t appreciate rules, like keeping cables 50 mm away from walls, floors, roofs, or ceilings. Even if they’re not deliberate, they simply don’t know they’re cutting corners.
Electricians, and indeed the general public, rely on everyone adhering to standards, following conventions, and abiding by the law because it keeps us all safe.
And remember, when you buy a few items from the hardware shop, on the shelf with a “licensed trades only” sticker on it, you might not save much. When you ring an electrician and ask for a price, there’s every chance they’ll double the estimate if you say “I’ve already got all the gear” because nobody likes working with cheap junk for cheapskates.
I’ve broken this short video down into the salient points with a few explainers. Shout out to Paul from Brightside Solar for making people aware of this crap.
Perfectly standard tile bracket screwed down to a rafter
 
Screw out & zoom out to see the blue foil sarking has been cut to find out what’s going on here
 
Remove the stainless steel bracket
 
The plastic packer prevents the bracket from crushing & breaking the tile. Different profiles need different spacers or brackets.
 
WHAT have we got HERE?
 
Oh that’s no good. That doesn’t belong there. Hopefully, there’s enough slack to cut and repair this cable.
 
Even if it wasn’t pierced, the cable had been crushed so tightly under the bracket that it’s now impressed a pattern on the timber rafter.
 
Grubs… It’s the understatement of the year.
What I’d really like to see is better-resourced state government regulators who could inspect and police this sort of practice. While governments have spent well on incentivising the new energy systems we need, they haven’t put additional money into the technical regulators who have the power to impose fines or strip licences from dodgy operators.
If a hidden wiring fault can nearly take out a professional electrician, it’s worth knowing what to ask before anyone touches your switchboard. Standards exist because they save lives. Get quotes from vetted installers who won’t cut corners like this one did.
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Anthony joined the SolarQuotes team in 2022. He’s a licensed electrician, builder, roofer and solar installer who for 14 years did jobs all over SA – residential, commercial, on-grid and off-grid. A true enthusiast with a skillset the typical solar installer might not have, his blogs are typically deep dives that draw on his decades of experience in the industry to educate and entertain. Read Anthony’s full bio.
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Noor Energy 1 Refinances $2.7B Dubai CSP-PV Solar Project – News and Statistics  IndexBox
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UK independent power producer (IPP) Elgin has acquired the Blackhall Solar Farm in County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland, from German energy supplier GP Joule.
Elgin plans to invest around €200 million (US$227.3 million) into the development and construction of the project, which will have a capacity of around 200MW and that Elgin described as at the “late-stage” of development. The IPP added that approval and grid connections for the project are already in place.
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The company said that the deal would increase its capacity eligible for participation in the sixth round of Ireland’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), a key facilitator of the Irish government’s goal to increase renewable generation to 80% of the country’s electricity production by 2030. Figures from Irish grid operator Eirgrid show that renewable energy accounted for 29% of domestic electricity generation in August, up 58% from the same period in 2025.
The sixth round of the RESS is the most recent edition of the Irish auction system and the first that will incorporate non-price criteria requirements under the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and separate pots for onshore wind and solar PV projects. Eirgrid plans to announce the results of the auction next January.
“As we continue to grow our portfolio of owned renewable energy assets, projects like Blackhall will play an important role in supporting Ireland’s decarbonisation ambitions, energy security and long-term economic growth,” said Elgin CEO Dermot Kelleher, who described the Blackhall project as a “significant addition” to the company’s portfolio.
Elgin has advanced a number of solar PV projects across the UK and Ireland this year, including starting construction on a 112MW solar PV portfolio and securing over half a billion dollars for a 1GW pipeline of solar projects and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
GP Joule, meanwhile, has shifted its focus to its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work in mainland Europe, starting construction on a 96.4MW solar PV project in Bremerhaven, Germany, in April.

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New Delhi: The Union government has approved Rs 75,021 crore for a rooftop solar scheme that promises households up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar systems across one crore households by 2026-27. Union and state subsidies reduce the cost. A designated bank loan is intended to help households that cannot finance the installation independently. Apartment complexes can receive support for systems serving common facilities. A separate utility-led model is intended to cover underserved households.
On paper, then, the scheme contains multiple routes to participation.

But each route begins with conditions that India’s most energy-insecure urban households may not meet. A household needs to be recognised by the formal electricity system. It needs access to a suitable roof or another eligible space. It needs control over how that space is used. And it needs either money or access to formal credit for the remaining cost.
Across three neighbourhoods in Ghaziabad and Noida, these conditions create a ladder of access.

At the top are Vijay Nagar homeowners who possess all four and are receiving government support. In Khora, households have electricity connections but do not necessarily control a roof. In Unnati Vihar, families have roofs and already use solar, but lack the regular electricity connections required to enter the standard household scheme.
The irony is that as the households become more energy-insecure, the scheme becomes harder for them to access.

In Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad, the scheme’s presence is hard to miss. Advertisements for solar companies cover colony walls. Look up and panels sit on one rooftop after another.
Over a few weeks, The Wire conducted a door-to-door survey of approximately 24 Vijay Nagar households that had installed rooftop solar. Households were identified through visits across selected parts of the neighbourhood and snowball sampling, with residents and local vendors helping locate additional installations.

Rooftops across Vijaynagar in Ghaziabad are covered with solar panels under PM Surya Ghar. Photo: Author provided

The sample is not statistically representative of Vijay Nagar and its findings cannot be extrapolated to the entire area. But within the surveyed group, the pattern was consistent and was independently echoed by the local ward councillor and multiple solar vendors operating in the area.
The households interviewed shared a strikingly consistent profile. All were property owners living in independent houses, largely three storeys or higher. Their homes generally had multiple fans and appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines. None lived in a flat or an apartment building where the rooftop was controlled collectively.
Every household surveyed had installed at least 3 kW of rooftop solar. Under PM Surya Ghar, a household installing a 3 kW system can receive a maximum central subsidy of Rs 78,000. In Uttar Pradesh, the state government under UP Solar Energy Policy 2022 provides another Rs 15,000 per kW, capped at Rs 30,000 per consumer. A household installing a 3 kW system in Ghaziabad can therefore receive up to Rs 1.08 lakh in combined central and state support.
Several households surveyed said they had received both subsidies. The assistance, however, is capped at 3 kW. A household installing a 5 kW system remains eligible for the same maximum amount of Rs 1.08 lakh.
Government support was reaching households in Vijay Nagar. Their electricity bills had also fallen substantially. But it was reaching households that had already crossed several thresholds before the subsidy entered the picture.
They owned their homes. They controlled an independent rooftop. They had regular electricity connections. And they could arrange the money required to install solar.
The survey cannot establish the income profile of all rooftop solar beneficiaries in Vijay Nagar. But it does reveal the property and financial conditions shared by those The Wire found accessing the scheme.
Households do not necessarily need to finance the entire installation independently.
Public-sector banks offer designated loans under PM Surya Ghar. Loans of up to Rs 2 lakh for systems of up to 3 kW are available without collateral, although the solar equipment is hypothecated to the bank. Interest rates advertised by individual banks, however, vary and may also depend on a borrower’s credit profile.
Although these loans are described as collateral-free, the scheme guidelines do not contain a government credit guarantee for individual household borrowers. None of the approximately 24 solar adopters interviewed in Vijay Nagar had used a bank loan to install their systems.
The Wire also spoke to four solar vendors operating in Ghaziabad, particularly Vijay Nagar. None said they had encountered customers financing their rooftop systems through the designated bank loan.
The local ward councillor of Vijaynagar similarly observed that solar adoption in the area was concentrated among households financially capable of making the investment.
In Unnati Vihar, homes lack proper solar installation, but residents use the panels in ways they have learned themselves. Everyone here has become an expert. Photo: Author provided
PM Surya Ghar is not formally restricted to independent houses.
Group Housing Societies and Resident Welfare Associations can receive central assistance of Rs 18,000 per kW for rooftop solar serving common facilities, including electric-vehicle charging. Support is available up to 500 kW, subject to a limit calculated at 3 kW for each house in the complex.
But this route does not operate like the individual household model.
In an apartment complex, the terrace is shared and its use generally requires a collective decision. The society must determine how the installation will be financed, where the panels will be placed, how the electricity will be used and how the resulting savings will be distributed.
A system powering lifts, lighting and other common facilities also does not automatically provide every flat with the same direct reduction in its domestic electricity bill that an individual rooftop system may provide to a homeowner.
None of the approximately 24 beneficiaries covered by the Vijay Nagar survey lived in an RWA-managed apartment building. The four solar vendors interviewed for this story also said they had not handled an installation under the scheme for an RWA or group housing society in the area.
Also read: Why the Modi Government’s Track Record on Solar Energy Needs a Closer Look
In Vijay Nagar, the beneficiaries interviewed had crossed every major entry barrier. They owned their homes, controlled their roofs, possessed regular electricity connections and could install solar without taking the designated bank loan.
Travel a few kilometres away and households begin falling off this ladder one condition at a time. In Khora Colony, Sunita lives with her family in a one-room home. The household has an electricity connection and owns a cooler. Rising electricity and energy costs matter enormously to them.
What the family does not have is a terrace of its own. “The Iran war has shot up our LPG cylinder costs, and this summer was unbearable for us,” she said. “If there is an aspect of solar, then we cannot dream of having it. We don’t have a terrace.”
PM Surya Ghar’s guidelines make this physical requirement clear. To receive central financial assistance, a residential rooftop solar plant must be linked to a residential electricity connection and installed on an eligible roof, terrace, balcony or elevated structure.
Sunita has the electricity connection. But she does not control the physical space required to generate solar power through the standard household route.
For families such as hers, exclusion from rooftop solar is not simply exclusion from another government incentive. They live in small homes where summer heat is difficult to escape. They own a fan or cooler, but using it for longer increases an electricity bill that must be balanced against cooking LPG, food and other essential expenses.
These are households for whom cheaper electricity could offer the greatest relief during extreme heat. But the same housing conditions that make them more vulnerable, including small homes, crowded construction and the absence of a private terrace, make the standard rooftop model harder to access.
The Union government recognises that the standard individual-household model cannot reach everyone.
Under a separate Utility-Led Aggregation model, DISCOMs can aggregate households into larger groups. Instead of each family financing and arranging its own installation, the utility or an appointed entity can install and manage the systems.
The model is intended to cover underserved households, including beneficiaries from PMAY and households belonging to BPL and SC/ST categories.
The government says around 1.6 lakh beneficiaries have been covered through this route.
But according to what The Wire observed in Khora Colony, the model is not reaching informal urban settlements. We reached out to UPNEDA for a comment on on whether the aggregation model is operational in Ghaziabad and Noida, how many households it has covered and whether households without regular connections can participate. The story will be updated when we receive a response.
Even this alternative depends on a household or settlement being recognised and reached by the formal electricity system.
A few kilometres away, in Noida, are families for whom that recognition is itself the problem. They have roofs. Some already have solar panels. What they do not have is a regular electricity connection.
In Unnati Vihar in Noida, around 500 households have been living without regular electricity connections.
Residents say many families have lived here for years. But because the settlement is treated as an informal colony, they have struggled to obtain grid connections.
In Unnati Vihar, families buy solar because there is no regular electricity supply, or bill, to reduce in the first place. Mohammad Alam, 45, is a carpenter and lives with a family of 12. His household relies on a small private solar system, but the electricity it generates is limited.
Nearby lives Babbu, 40, who sells balloons for a living. His family spent around Rs 45,000 on solar. At home, even a fan is among the basic appliances this limited supply must support.
A family of four in Unnati Vihar, displaced after the demolition of their previous home, now relies entirely on a solar panel for electricity. Photo: Author provided
These families already understand the value of solar. But going solar has not meant receiving free electricity. It has meant spending privately to assemble enough electricity to get through the day.
And then there is Sharifa, who is paying Rs 2,000 every month for a solar panel that no longer works. Sharifa, 38, lives with six members of her family. Her house has been without a regular electricity connection for years. With no grid supply available, she bought a private solar system for approximately Rs 40,000.
She could not afford to pay the amount upfront, so she bought it in instalments. She is still paying Rs 2,000 every month. Then a storm damaged the panel. The electricity stopped. The instalments did not.
Her 13-year-old son is in Class 5. The family’s limited electricity supply determines when they can use lights and fans and when and how he can study.
Sharifa put the contradiction more simply. “People who commit crimes and go to jail are also kept under a fan by the government,” she said. “But people like us don’t even have electricity in our homes.”
Sharifa could afford solar only through private instalments. But she cannot access the subsidised system through the standard household route because it sits behind a condition her family cannot fulfil: a regular residential electricity connection.
Her exclusion is not caused by a lack of interest in solar. She has already bought it. Nor is it caused by an unwillingness to pay. She continues paying every month even after the panel stopped functioning. What places her outside PM Surya Ghar is that the state does not formally provide electricity to the settlement in which she lives.
Other families have spent far more.
Sheetla’s household has four solar panels that she says cost around Rs 2 lakh. They can power lights, fans, a water pump and a washing machine.
But owning an appliance and having enough electricity to use it whenever it is needed are two different things.
The washing machine runs roughly twice a week, when there is sufficient sunlight. During the monsoon and winter, solar generation falls. The family then turns to a private generator, adding another expense.
There are around 500 households here. Many have roofs. Many are already spending their own money on solar. But without regular grid connections, they cannot access the standard PM Surya Ghar subsidy.
“We keep asking for electricity,” one resident said. “But then the government says we are living here illegally.”
Rekha was unable to pump water all day in Unnati Vihar as cloudy weather left the solar panel without enough power. Photo: Author provided
These are three different solar economies operating within the same region.
In Vijay Nagar, homeowners with regular electricity connections and independent rooftops install systems that reduce their monthly bills. Central and Uttar Pradesh government subsidies together provide as much as Rs 1.08 lakh. The beneficiaries interviewed could arrange the installation without taking a bank loan.
In Khora, households such as Sunita’s have electricity connections and are vulnerable to rising energy costs. But without control over a suitable roof, they cannot enter through the same route.
In Unnati Vihar, families face the deepest electricity deprivation of the three. They lack regular grid connections and spend Rs 40,000, Rs 45,000 and sometimes Rs 2 lakh on private solar systems simply to operate fans, bulbs and pumps.
Households with less secure housing fell out at successive stages. Some had electricity connections but no roof they could use. Others had roofs and were already paying privately for solar, but lacked the formal grid connection required to claim government support.
The result is a paradox.
The households facing the deepest energy deprivation may have the most to gain from affordable solar. But they are also the least likely to possess the property, infrastructure and formal recognition required to enter the scheme.
India can count how many rooftops receive panels and how many consumers record a zero bill. What it does not yet publicly count is how many households were unable to apply because they lacked a recognised electricity connection, control over a roof or access to formal housing in the first place.
That is the number an inclusive energy transition would also need to measure.
This story was supported by the Earth Journalism Network.
Shubhangi Derhgawen and Bindu Gurjar are independent journalists.
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Plans for a prospective solar farm are progressing again.
Jay County Commissioners gave

Invenergy plans to build Skycrest Solar, a $150 million, 155-megawatt facility on 2,500 acres in Penn and Jackson townships. The company will contribute about $1.74 million in economic development payments to the county over four years. Payments must begin no later than six months after construction begins, according to approved agreements.
One of Invenergy’s agreements with the county requires a bond to cover decommissioning costs. County attorney Wes Schemenaur noted the company plans to seek estimates from engineering firms Westwood Professional Services and Stantec. Invenergy will present the estimates as options for commissioners to choose from at their Oct. 26 meeting.
Invenergy’s agreements with the county require construction to begin by the end of 2026, with the solar panels to go online by Dec. 31, 2028.
In November 2025, Jay County Plan Commission approved a limited construction permit for Invenergy in northwest Jay County. Invenergy still needs to seek its full construction permit from the county. Schemenaur said the company plans to seek the permit in December, after which it plans to break ground.
Invenergy is the second company to seek estimates for a decommissioning bond for a solar project in Jay County.
Earlier this month, commissioners set Scout Clean Energy’s decommissioning bond for its Sun Chief Solar project northeast of Redkey at $5.64 million.
Plans for Sun Chief Solar call for a $100 million, 100-megawatt solar farm on 1,200 acres near Bitter Ridge Wind Farm. The company has until Dec. 31, 2027, to finish construction.
Over the last six years, Invenergy, Scout Clean Energy and Leeward Renewable Energy have been working to establish solar farms in Jay County. Hodson Energy had also been developing New Jay Solar Farm but recently announced it had canceled the project because it was no longer feasible without a buyer for the electricity.
Also Monday, commissioners authorized Jay County highway superintendent Bob Howell to move forward with plans to purchase a new road roller in January. The decision hinges on Jay County Council approving the highway department’s 2027 budget.
Howell explained the department has been renting a roller but pointed to rising prices. He suggested using funds budgeted for a second new pickup truck next year. Howell estimated the roller would cost $159,800 and suggested using the $57,000 pickup truck allotment as a down payment, with the remainder to come from a loan.
Commissioners also gave Howell permission to transfer one of the department’s old pickup trucks to Jay County Courthouse superintendent Monte Shrack for maintenance needs. Duane Monroe, president of the commissioners, thanked Howell for coordinating with other department heads regarding vehicles.
In other business, commissioners Chad Aker, Doug Horn and Monroe:
• Agreed to hold a public hearing at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 13 on a request to rezone Kevin Smith’s property at 7518 E. Indiana 67, Bryant, from commercial to agricultural residential.
• Tabled a decision on a request for a letter of support from East Central Indiana Regional Planning District designating the district as Jay County’s economic development district. Monroe noted district representatives plan to attend a meeting in October and suggested holding off until they make a presentation to commissioners.
• Approved the following: Jay County Health Department’s application for its annual bioterrorism grant; a $33,920 claim from JH Consulting for Jay County Emergency Management Agency’s commodity flow study, funded through a hazardous materials grant; and a $23,500 claim from Goodhew Roofing for repairs at Jay County Retirement Center (Jay County Country Living).
• Approved scrapping Jay County Highway Department’s 1993 Ford Ranger.
• Asked Jay Emergency Medical Service director Gary Barnett to seek quotes for new tablets for the department’s ambulances. Aker pointed to issues with the existing equipment.
• Learned JEMS is working on a program to begin carrying blood products on ambulances. The program would be funded by a grant for at least the first five years.
• Heard a monthly financial breakdown from Barnett. In August, JEMS had $146,217.72 in expenses and $91,829.86 in income. As of Sept. 1, the department had $212,858.87 in bills yet to be collected.
• Agreed during the drainage board meeting to hold a public hearing Nov. 9 regarding plans to combine the Upper Salamonie River watershed into the Salamonie River watershed.
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They wanted a way to keep food in the freezer from spoiling and continue pumping water from the well.
Photo Credit: iStock
Solar panels can slash electric bills under normal conditions, but many homeowners are surprised to learn that rooftop systems often stop working during a blackout without a battery and switch system.
That surprise can become an expensive one when a freezer full of food, a private well, or other household essentials suddenly lose power, even on a bright, sunny day.
In a Reddit thread on the r/TwoXPreppers subreddit, users discussed a question that often comes up after storms and utility outages. 
The original poster prompted the discussion with a question. “When power goes out I lose my solar panels because my panels can’t keep putting electricity back into the grid for safety,” they said. “But is there a way to disconnect from grid power and power my house during the day?”
What they needed most was straightforward. They wanted a way to keep food in the freezer from spoiling and continue pumping water from the well.
What a solar setup can do during an outage depends on more than the panels themselves. In many cases, a home also needs equipment such as battery storage, a transfer switch, or a hybrid inverter to disconnect safely from the grid and keep power flowing.
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Commenters also noted that battery backups do not all behave the same way. Some systems can run into black start problems, where batteries drained during an outage may not be able to recharge afterward. That issue can surprise homeowners who assume a costly solar installation automatically provides blackout protection.
“Look into generator transfer switches, solar islanding, and batteries,” a top-voted user offered. “Also consider some water storage.”
The latter was already on the homeowner’s mind after the well went dry. They shared that they “now have 525 gallon storage and a 350 gallon truck tank.”
For homeowners who want solar to keep working during outages, the first step is understanding what equipment is already installed. Some systems can be upgraded with battery storage or compatible inverters, while others may require more extensive retrofits.
“Tl;dr: You need a hybrid inverter,” one commenter said. 
Another commenter said Enphase IQ8 microinverters may keep household power on during a grid outage without a battery during sunlight hours. Beyond that, you’d need at least one IQ Load Controller to maintain system stability in off-grid mode, and you would need an Enphase System Controller or other smart switch to cut the home off from the grid during such an outage as well, since that electricity could backfeed into nearby power lines and shock or electrocute a worker repairing the outage. 
A backup-capable system may help a household avoid losing food and keep critical equipment such as refrigerators, fans, or wells operating during outages. For homes that rely on private wells, maintaining access to water may be even more important than preventing food loss.
Homeowners can also ask installers direct questions before purchasing or upgrading a system: Will it operate during a blackout? Does it support manual or automatic transfer? Can it handle a black start? And if the home already has an electric vehicle, it may also be worth asking whether vehicle-to-home backup is possible.
As for the original poster, they had options if they were willing to consult, research, and invest in a true backup.
“You can have a grid tied system with battery backups,” a commenter explained. “You just have to have a cutoff so that it doesn’t back feed into the lines. This could be a manual switch or an automated switchover (preferred).”
Battery storage, hybrid equipment, and newer solar setups can make the difference during a blackout.
• Across the United States, backup batteries paired with solar are helping more homes ride out blackouts.
• After a hurricane, one homeowner saw solar panels keep the lights on when neighbors lost power.
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UK independent power producer Elgin has acquired the Blackhall Solar Farm in County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland, from German energy supplier GP Joule, according to pv-tech. The transaction adds a late-stage development asset to Elgin’s owned renewable energy portfolio.
Elgin intends to commit roughly EUR200 million, equivalent to about US$227.3 million, to developing and building the project, which is planned to have a capacity of around 200MW. The company said the project has already secured approval and grid connections.
The acquisition is expected to expand the capacity Elgin can enter into the sixth round of Ireland’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. That auction round is the latest edition of the Irish support mechanism and the first to include non-price criteria tied to the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act, alongside separate categories for onshore wind and solar photovoltaic projects. Grid operator Eirgrid plans to publish the auction results next January.
Irish authorities have set a goal of raising renewable generation to 80% of national electricity production by 2030, with the support scheme serving as a central instrument. Eirgrid data cited in the report show renewables represented 29% of domestic electricity generation in August, an increase of 58% compared with the same month in 2025.
Elgin chief executive Dermot Kelleher said the Blackhall project would be a significant addition to the company’s portfolio and would support Ireland’s decarbonisation ambitions, energy security and longer-term economic growth as Elgin continues to expand its owned renewable assets.
Elgin has progressed several solar photovoltaic projects in the UK and Ireland this year, including beginning construction on a 112MW solar portfolio and raising more than half a billion dollars for a 1GW pipeline of solar projects and battery energy storage systems.
GP Joule, for its part, has redirected attention to engineering, procurement and construction activity in mainland Europe, having started construction on a 96.4MW solar photovoltaic project in Bremerhaven, Germany, in April.
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | September 28, 2026
Two more landfills in the Cleveland, Ohio, area are going solar, as recently announced by the City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Department of Public Utilities and Department of Port Control. A 7-MW project is being designed for a city-owned landfill off Kolthoff Drive, and a 2-MW array will be on a landfill off West 11th Street.
Solar installation at the Brooklyn landfill. Credit: SPW archives
The Kolthoff project will help power operations at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), while the West 11th project will send power to Cleveland Public Power (CPP) customers. Both projects are being developed by Enerlogics Networks, Energy Independent Solutions and Prairie Wind Group.
“Keeping costs affordable for Cleveland residents is a priority,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “This project allows us to put underused land back to work by generating energy locally, lowering energy costs, and ensuring our clean energy investments deliver real value to the people who live here.”
CPP also hosts a 4-MW project on the capped landfill in Brooklyn, Ohio, just outside Cleveland limits.
The two new landfill solar projects are being developed through a broader regional clean energy initiative funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program.
In 2024, a coalition of Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland and the City of Painesville received a $129 million grant from the EPA to expand renewable energy throughout Northeast Ohio. The funding will support solar and battery storage projects, restoration of approximately 400 acres of polluted land, and workforce development in clean energy career pathways.
The broader initiative is expected to support the development of approximately 53 MW of solar power, natural restoration projects and a 20 MW battery installation associated with the permanent closure of a coal-powered facility in Painesville. The work is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and other pollution, expand locally generated renewable energy and put previously blighted or otherwise difficult-to-develop properties back into productive use.
Cleveland committed in 2018 to reaching 100% of its electricity demand from clean, renewable energy by 2050.
“These projects bring tangible financial cost savings in a volatile energy market while reducing climate emissions in the longer term,” said Sarah O’Keeffe, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “Expanding locally generated clean energy is both a climate action and a step to future proof our community.”
In addition to generating renewable electricity, both projects will demonstrate how clean energy development can support natural restoration. Pollinator-friendly plants will be seeded beneath and around the ground-mounted solar panels, creating habitat and food sources for beneficial insects and wildlife, including bees, butterflies and birds.
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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There is undoubted controversy and increasing community resistance surrounding the growing demand for new data centers. Recent figures compiled by Goldman Sachs suggest this controversy won’t fade away either. One concern is the power these behemoths consume; Goldman Sachs data forecasts that US data-center power consumption will more than double to 66 gigawatts (GW) in 2027 from an already hefty 31 GW in 2025. This is largely driven by the demand for AI infrastructure. For context, one gigawatt is enough to power around 750,000 homes. This means the power needed to run our data centers is equivalent to what it takes to power just shy of 50 million homes.
So, couldn’t we just build solar plants next to data centers and power them that way? Let’s set some benchmarks and find out. To be fair, we’ll rule out powering massive data centers run by companies like Amazon, which can continuously draw over 100 MW of power. Instead, let’s consider how many it would take to power a medium-sized data center of 10 MW. 
For solar panels, we can use the typical output of a commercial panel: about 500 watts. A 10 MW data center would consume about 240 MWh of energy in a day; under perfect conditions with 12 hours of sunlight, a 500-watt panel can theoretically produce at least 6 kWh of energy per day. That means you’d need around 40,000 solar panels to power the data center and charge the batteries to keep it running after dark. 
The figure above makes several assumptions that reality often doesn’t match. Therefore, it’s worth taking a deeper look at how that figure comes together. First, we assumed a 12-hour window every day, and unless the data center is on the Equator, that won’t happen. However, for any location, we can assume an average of 12 hours of daylight per day over the course of a year. Even then, we’re not accounting for factors like performance drops due to weather, which is one of the biggest drawbacks of solar power. In other words, just counting how many solar panels are needed to power a data center needs a little more than introducing some industry-average figures.
Perhaps the easiest way to show how this affects the calculation is to look at how a data center’s location affects it. According to data published by Current Results, Phoenix, Arizona, has an average total annual sunshine of about 3,872 hours — or about 10.6 hours per day. By contrast, the average annual sunshine for Seattle is 2,170 hours, which equates to about 5.9 hours per day. While solar panels don’t need piercing sunlight to work, according to PowerOutage.us, they lose between 23% and 67% of their output on cloudy days.
In practical terms, the number of panels needed can depend on geography. If we take a midpoint of about 45% efficiency loss from the Power Outage figures, then a data center in Seattle would lose nearly half the potential from each panel, pushing the number far beyond 40,000 and nearly doubling it.
Data center workers don’t lock the factory gates and shuffle off home when the whistle blows; these facilities run 24/7, 365 days a year. One of the main things enabling this is a reliable and continuous electricity supply. This is where solar-only designs come up short. Even under ideal conditions, fully off-grid solar-and-battery systems reach about 99% uptime. This might sound impressive, but it falls short of the near 100% availability needed for a data center to be classified as a Tier IV facility. 
We also need to consider the footprint of such a facility. While the 40,000-plus solar panels figure sounds big, it isn’t outrageous. For instance, China’s Talatan Solar Park has around 7 million solar panels and has a footprint about seven times the size of Manhattan. As a side note, China’s massive solar farm does more than just produce electricity. However, our more modest project will still take a lot of land. A solar farm capable of producing the required 10 MW of power would need about 40 to 50 acres of land. Of course, additional infrastructure, access roads, and battery storage facilities would increase this requirement.
So, while there are examples of solar-powered-only data centers, including a 100 MW capacity facility in Dubai, a more realistic model is to use a hybrid approach to powering data centers. Currently, about a third of planned data center capacity is planning some form of onsite power production. This isn’t entirely centered on solar power (not everywhere gets as much sun as Dubai), but this approach is gathering momentum.

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India added 50.6GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and 9.7GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity in the first half of 2026, according to Mercom India’s State of Solar PV Manufacturing in India H1 2026 report.
India installed a record 27GW of solar generation capacity in 1H 2026, up 49% year on year from 18GW in H1 2025, according to the research firm.
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The growth followed a record first quarter, with India installing 15.3GW of solar generation capacity in Q1 2026, up 143% year on year from 6.3GW in Q1 2025 and 49% from 10.3GW in Q4 2025, according to data released by Mercom in May 2026.
Cumulative annual module manufacturing capacity reached 261.7GW as of June 2026, while annual solar cell manufacturing capacity stood at 36.6GW.
Of the cumulative capacity, 225.5GW of module manufacturing capacity was listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I, while ALMM List-II covered nearly 35.5GW of cell manufacturing capacity.
Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) accounted for 80% of ALMM-listed module manufacturing capacity as of June 2026, making it the dominant technology.
Monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC)/TOPCon accounted for 11%, followed by Mono PERC at 4%, heterojunction technology (HJT) at 3%, and thin-film technology at 2%.
Gujarat remained the largest manufacturing hub, accounting for nearly 45% of India’s module manufacturing capacity and more than 36% of cell manufacturing capacity. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu ranked second and third for module manufacturing, with 26.1GW and 23.4GW of capacity, respectively.
For solar cells, Gujarat led with 37% of annual production capacity, followed by Tamil Nadu with 4.3GW and Telangana with 4.2GW.
India’s solar cell and module imports increased 18% in 1H 2026 compared with the first half of 2025. Solar cells accounted for 81% of total imports, while modules represented the remaining 19%.
The US remained India’s largest export market for solar cells and modules in 1H 2026, accounting for 92% of total exports.
However, this could be adversely affected by the US Department of Commerce’s (DoC) final anti-dumping and countervailing duties on crystalline silicon PV cells from India, announced earlier this month, with a combined rate of 249.13% for Indian manufacturers. The rate comprised a 123.04% final dumping margin and a 126.09% countervailing duty.
The country’s manufacturing capacity also remained concentrated among major producers. The top 10 manufacturers accounted for 60% of India’s total module manufacturing capacity.
According to an IEEFA and JMK Research & Analytics report released in September 2026, India’s solar module production capacity had reached approximately 233GW, with factories operating at an estimated 35–40% utilisation. The report estimated that a further 135GW of module capacity backed by firm investment commitments and near-certain commissioning schedules was in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, Mercom reported that Indian Mono PERC module average selling prices declined 1.8% quarter over quarter.
India’s installed renewable power generation capacity reached 288GW as of June 30, 2026, accounting for about 54% of total installed energy capacity, according to JMK Research & Analytics’ Q2 2026 India RE Update, released in August 2026.
Solar accounted for 162GW, or 56%, of installed renewable generation capacity, followed by wind at 57GW and large hydro at 52GW.
Around 149GW of renewable power generation projects, including solar, wind, hybrid and storage, were in the pipeline as of June 30, with commissioning expected over the following four to five years. A further 48GW was in the bidding phase, with tenders issued but auctions yet to conclude.
India’s renewable energy transition, from solar PV and energy storage to grid integration, will be a key topic of discussion at the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo, co-located with the Energy Storage Summit India (ESS India), in Greater Noida on 22-24 October 2026. For the full agenda and booking details, click here.

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India’s solar cell capacity lags module additions 5x in H1, imports up 18%  Business Standard
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UNRWA inaugurates German-funded schools in Jerash Camp and Photovoltaic Wheeling Station in Amman  unrwa.org
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NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) Group has commissioned 81.34 MW of the Kalasar Solar Energy Project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, taking its cumulative installed renewable energy capacity to 11,058.57 MW.
The recently added 81.34 MW is the first phase of the Kalasar Solar Energy Project, which forms part of the 650 MW solar component of the 500 MW round-the-clock (RTC) project being developed by NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NGEL.
The 81.34 MW capacity was declared commercially operational with effect from 00:00 hours on September 26, 2026.
With the latest addition, the NGEL Group’s total installed renewable energy capacity has crossed the 11 GW milestone
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‘Few better uses of public money’: Solar panels and batteries cut lower-income households bills by two thirds  BusinessGreen
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This week on Projects Weekly, Energy Vault has acquired more than 2.3 GW of BESS projects from Goshe Energy Storage in a consequential deal for the U.S. energy sector. In Arizona, GridStor has closed a debt financing package for its White Tank project with a number of investment partners. NorthStar Clean Energy’s Hart Solar Project finished construction in Michigan last week, supplying more than 200 GWh of renewable energy across the Mitten State. Slightly southwest in central Illinois, PureSky Energy launched its first community solar farm in the Land of Lincoln. In Colorado, Cloudbreak Energy Partners and NORD/LB closed on financing for the Pueblo Battery Resource installation in the Black Hills, and Apex and Meta agreed to a seventh solar-related deal in Texas. Finally, Madison Energy Infrastructure announced a new community solar initiative with help from partners across the U.S. Keep reading for all the details and more!

GridStor and investment partners close debt financing for Arizona battery project

Utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) developer GridStor has secured a debt financing agreement worth $220 million for development of its White Tank project in Arizona.
Signed in conjunction with KeyBanc Capital Markets, ING Capital, and Zions Capital Markets, the financing will go toward construction of 100 MW / 400 MWh of renewable energy for the Grand Canyon State. Aiming for a 2027 energization date, the project will operate within a 20-year tolling agreement with Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest electrical utility.
“We are proud to work with three distinguished financial partners to complete the financing of the White Tank Reliability Project,” says Chris Taylor, CEO, GridStor. “Trusted partnerships like these are critical for advancing large-scale power supply and infrastructure to meet surging demand for new power capacity. We thank ING, KeyBanc Capital Markets, and Zions for placing their trust in us.”
Bright spot: The financial close marks GridStor’s fourth major financing milestone over the past year. The company now boasts a project pipeline of more than 3 GW of battery storage projects either in late-stage development or under construction across much of the U.S.
Filipe Barreto, director of ING, says the growth of renewable energy, especially batteries, provides a prime opportunity for investment banking firms like his.
“The rapid growth of renewable generation is driving increasing demand for energy storage solutions, making BESS assets an integral part of energy infrastructure and one of the primary themes in energy financing,” he says. “This transaction reflects ING’s confidence in the sector and our commitment to financing energy infrastructure that enhances grid reliability and supports the transition to a lower-carbon energy future. We look forward to building on this success with GridStor.”

Hart Solar Project comes online in Michigan

NorthStar Clean Energy has announced the completion of the Hart Solar Project, a new 120 MW utility-scale solar installation in Oceana County, Michigan.
Officials expect the new installation will generate more than 200 GWh of electricity every year, powering more than 21,000 homes throughout the Mitten State. The project will avoid about 96,000 metric tons of carbon emissions each year, officials add, operating through power purchase agreements with Executive Energy Services and the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) to serve customers across the region.
“Hart Solar is an important investment in Michigan’s energy future and demonstrates how strong partnerships can help deliver clean energy solutions to communities across our state,” says Brian Hartmann, president and CEO of NorthStar Clean Energy. “By working with organizations like Executive Energy Services and MPPA, we’re helping meet customer energy goals while strengthening Michigan’s energy infrastructure with additional renewable generation.”
Bright spot: The new project also aims to strengthen the state’s communities through a number of economic investments and partnerships. NorthStar officials say the project created more than 300 construction jobs, making “significant contributions” to the state’s economy throughout its development.
“Oakland County and small businesses across Michigan are expected to save on electric supply charges through the Hart Solar Project,” says Robert Bernardi of Executive Energy Services. “Through a partnership with NorthStar Clean Energy, Oakland Schools and 45 other public school districts statewide are projected to save approximately $25 million over a 10-year agreement.
“These savings will allow schools to redirect funds toward students, staff, and core educational priorities while advancing their clean energy goals.”

Cloudbreak Energy closes financing for Pueblo Battery Resource project

Energy developer and IPP Cloudbreak Energy Partners and NORD/LB have closed on $60 million in construction financing for the Pueblo Battery Resource energy storage project in Colorado.
The 50 MW / 200 MWh storage installation will be the first of its kind built in Black Hills mountain range territory, according to representatives. The project also marks Cloudbreak’s first foray into battery storage as a whole, which the company says paves the way for future storage development.
“This financing demonstrates Cloudbreak’s ability to finance and deliver on grid-scale storage assets,” says Alec Shobe, COO of Cloudbreak Energy. “Nord was the right partner for us on this deal, bringing both thoughtful deal structuring and storage-financing expertise to get Pueblo Battery Resource to this milestone. This transaction lays the foundation for the broader battery storage pipeline we’re building across the country.”
Bright spot: The financing deal “reflects NORD/LB’s continued commitment to supporting the energy transition through tailored financing solutions,” according to Sondra Martinez, head of originations for the Americas at NORD. As the first of its kind, the investment firm says the battery project represents a unique opportunity, not only for its bankers, but for the regional energy grid.
“The project represents an innovative battery storage solution supporting Black Hills Energy under a unique Build-Transfer structure,” says Sondra Martinez, head of originations for the Americas at NORD LB. “We appreciate the strong commitment and collaboration demonstrated by both Cloudbreak and Black Hills Energy throughout the process and look forward to building on these relationships.”

Energy Vault acquires gigawatt-scale Goshe Energy Storage portfolio

Grid-scale energy storage firm Energy Vault has made a move to purchase a portfolio of more than 15 utility-scale battery storage projects from Coloradan project developer Goshe Energy Storage.
Bright spot: In total, the projects account for more than 2.3 GW of BESS development, officials say. The project portfolio adds more than just energy, as the company’s team of BESS development and management professionals will also join Energy Vault’s ranks.
“This portfolio fits squarely within Energy Vault’s strategy of acquiring late-stage, de-risked development projects that can be moved efficiently toward construction and operation,” says Cory Magnuson, President of Asset Vault. “The team has a track record of originating and advancing high-quality BESS projects, and we’re glad to have them join us as we continue to scale our owned-asset portfolio across U.S. markets.”
Anchoring the portfolio is a duo of projects worth 150 MW and 200 MW of storage respectively. Set to reach commercial operation during Q1 2028, the projects will generate about $30 million in combined annual run-rate EBITDA once operational.
The deal expands Energy Vault’s development pipeline under its Asset Vault business segment, officials say. Additionally, the portfolio purchase bolsters the company’s strategy of financing, developing, owning, and subsequently operating storage and AI infrastructure assets around the U.S.
“Joining Energy Vault allows our team to continue the work we started – developing and delivering the storage projects the grid needs – with the backing of a large, vertically integrated and global platform,” says Goshe CEO Bailey McCallum. “We’re pleased that S2G will continue as a financing partner through this transition, and we look forward to seeing this portfolio through to construction and operation as part of Energy Vault’s platform.”

PureSky Energy launches first solar project in Illinois

PureSky Energy has launched its first community solar farm in Illinois, providing renewable energy to income eligible households in Ameren Corp.’s utility area.
Now operational, the 1.45 MWac project sits on about 36 acres of farmland in the Land of Lincoln. The project draws power from more than 3,360 individual solar panels, aiming to generate over 3.1 GWh for the community on an annual basis.
“Launching McLean 1 as our first project in Illinois—and dedicating it entirely to income-eligible households—is an important milestone for PureSky,” says Nicholas Topping, VP of community solar at PureSky Energy. “By participating in Illinois Solar for All and partnering with trusted local organizations, we’re ensuring that the clean energy transition delivers real, measurable benefits to the people who need them most.
“Projects like McLean 1 show how community solar can advance energy equity while strengthening local communities.”
Bright spot: The new solar farm is set to provide Bloomington, Illinois and the surrounding area with over $5.4 million in 30-year savings, officials say, while powering up to 439 homes. In total, the project will have the same environmental effect as removing 491 cars from the road.
“Affordable homeownership extends beyond the cost of housing itself,” says Tyler Wiggs, director of operations of Habitat for Humanity of McLean County. “Energy expenses can place a significant burden on household budgets, particularly for families with limited incomes. McLean 1 provides meaningful utility savings that can help families achieve greater financial stability while participating in Illinois’ clean energy future.” 

Apex and Meta add 144 MW to energy partnership in Texas

Apex Clean Energy has announced another power purchase agreement with Mark Zuckerberg-led tech giant Meta for “exclusive rights to all environmental attributes associated with energy from the Starling Solar project in Gonzales County, Texas.”
This deal, the seventh between Apex and Meta, accounts for 144 MW of renewable energy from the project, officials say. That energy will add new generation to the local grid, with the companies’ combined portfolio now totaling about 1.2 GW across five states.
“Seven projects over nearly as many years speaks to a partnership built on shared principles of responsible building and disciplined execution,” says Apex CEO Ken Young. “Starling brings new capacity to Texas and lasting value to Gonzales County long after construction wraps.”
Bright spot: Starling Solar is set to create “significant economic benefits” for the south-central Texas community. Along with $27 million in tax revenue over the project’s lifetime, the site will create 400 to 450 jobs during construction and more than $26.3 million in landowner payments.
“The best clean energy projects are the ones the surrounding community feels the benefit of directly—in school funding, in landowner payments, in local hiring,” says Amanda Yang, head of clean and renewable energy for Meta. “Starling brings all of that to Gonzales County, along with new solar generation for a Texas grid.”

Madison Energy Infrastructure launches gigawatt-scale community solar effort

Madison Energy Infrastructure has kicked off its Community Infrastructure Initiative, aiming to develop an additional 1 GW of distributed energy generation capacity by 2028.
The company’s financial commitment will mobilize up to $2 billion in capital, officials say, to help meet the growing power demands of AI data centers. Additionally, the initiative aims to create and deliver “lasting benefits” for communities, including potentially major bill savings.
“AI requires power at a speed and scale we’ve never seen before, and building that infrastructure successfully requires more than capacity,” says Richard Walsh, CEO of Madison Energy Infrastructure. “Community Infrastructure is about helping AI labs and hyperscalers show up for communities, not just in them. We’ve spent years cultivating the right relationships, development capabilities, and national ecosystem needed to turn that idea into local energy infrastructure at scale.”
Bright spot: Madison already has a number of projects and partnerships underway, including 50 MW of standalone energy storage in Colorado, 16 MW under construction with the Denver International Airport, and other ongoing partnerships to supply distributed generation across the U.S.
“The buildout of AI infrastructure and data center capacity provides a unique opportunity to deliver clean energy and local benefits to communities across the country,” said Andrew Brodeur, VP of national real estate and the sustainability team leader at EdgeConneX. “We are excited to grow our partnership with Madison and show up as a force for good in the communities we call home.”

Tags: commercial and industrial, Community Solar, Financing, project, Projects Weekly, utility-scale


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Oyster Renewable to Supply MS Agarwal Foundries 48 MWp Hybrid Power  energynews.pro
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India launches first LNG train: How is it different from a hydrogen train?  Business Standard
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“It’s very strong and will irritate your skin, so wear eye protection and gloves when you use it.”
Photo Credit: Reddit
Skipping one simple HVAC maintenance chore can leave even a nearly new outdoor unit surprisingly clogged.
One homeowner’s before-and-after photos served as a reminder that a 15-minute cleanup can protect an expensive piece of equipment and keep it running efficiently.
After finding their outdoor unit in bad shape, a homeowner wrote that a once-a-year cleaning was well worth the small effort.
“Ideally, you should be doing this annually. It’s extremely easy to do and all it takes is 15 minutes,” they wrote.
What caught the poster off guard, they said, was seeing that much buildup on a system that had been installed in late 2024.
“I’m surprised mine was this bad as its a brand new unit that was installed in late 2024 so I skipped cleaning it last year,” they added, later sharing an after photo in the comments.
For homeowners looking beyond maintenance alone, upgrading your heating and cooling system is also one of the best ways to save money on utility bills and protect yourself against rising energy prices. Palmetto can help homeowners understand their HVAC options and slash their energy bills with new, efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps, and its Comfort Plan network can connect you with vetted installers.
Heating and cooling are among the biggest expenses on many utility bills, so even small efficiency losses can add up quickly.
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To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
There is no universal answer on timing.
In the comments, one reader asked whether the cleaning was better done ahead of cooling season or once peak use was over.
“You can realistically do it whenever,” the original poster replied. “Some will argue that spring is best before it’s about to be used for the season. Others will argue that fall is best to get all the crap off so it’s not rotting on the coil all fall and winter. I like to do it in fall because it’s likely not to get dirty while not being used.”
The replies also suggested that location and home setup affect timing.
One commenter recommended cleaning “early in the season, late spring, after the heavy pollination period is done,” and another noted that an all-electric household keeps the system running year-round.
Add an outdoor unit check to your yearly maintenance list.
Another practical point was cleaner strength. Recommending Nu-Brite by Nu-Calgon, the original poster warned: “Its very strong and will irritate your skin so wear eye protection and gloves when you use it.”
If you’re unsure, bringing in a professional may be the safer move.
Maintenance helps, but an older or inefficient system may still be costing you more than it should. Palmetto’s Comfort Plan can help you explore efficient heating and cooling upgrades, and if you’re not ready to spend upfront, the plan includes $0-down options that can lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 50%. It also includes 12 years of free maintenance.
Homeowners can also pair solar panels with electric appliances, such as efficient HVACs, to drive utility costs even lower. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, saving you up to $10,000 on installations.
Skipping an outdoor-unit cleaning isn’t the only HVAC habit that can hurt performance.
• An HVAC technician warned that vacuuming disposable HVAC filters can damage them and reduce performance.
• A home maintenance expert urged homeowners to clean an air conditioning unit.
• An HVAC specialist said closing too many vents can strain airflow and raise bills.
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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“I would expect it to be included in the cost of the house, not have to take over a loan from the previous owner.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A homebuyer who offered $80,000 over asking on a house said a financed solar system nearly derailed the entire deal.
After nearly two weeks of trying to get EnFin to move a roughly $40,000 solar loan transfer along, the buyer said they were prepared to walk away unless the sellers paid it off.
Writing on Reddit, the buyer said the closing was being delayed because the home’s solar financing had to be transferred first. They said the remaining balance was still about $39,000 on an original $40,000 loan and that repeated phone calls and emails to EnFin had not resolved the issue.
By their account, the budget had no room left for another major expense.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
“I already went 80K OVER ASKING,” the buyer wrote, adding that their real estate agent, lender, the sellers, the listing agent, and the title company had all tried reaching EnFin without success.
Among the replies, one comment captured the hesitation many readers expressed: “If you’re having this much of an issue with the company holding the note on the solar panels now just imagine how much you’re going to enjoy dealing with them for the next decade while you pay off that loan.”
Financing problems can overshadow the benefits of rooftop solar. Going solar is still one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially when homeowners can compare equipment and installer pricing upfront. Tools such as EnergySage let shoppers get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes before signing anything.
Several commenters said the unpaid solar balance should be handled by the seller, like other debts tied to the property.
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“I would expect it to be included in the cost of the house, not have to take over a loan from the previous owner,” one commenter wrote.
Another user added: “The seller should bear the costs for this. They’re the ones getting a big wad of money out of the deal.”
Solar panels can lower utility bills and reduce pollution from dirty energy, but a confusing loan structure or poor servicing can turn what should be a cost-saving upgrade into a risk for the deal.
Before closing, buyers can confirm whether a solar setup is owned outright, leased, or financed and examine the terms carefully. It can also help to review electric bills from before and after installation, since expected savings don’t always match what a particular household sees.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
For homeowners considering solar, comparison shopping can make a major difference. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map also shows the average cost of a home solar panel system state by state, along with details on solar panel incentives. Together, those resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. You can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
These stories look at some of the same issues that come up when solar financing is part of a home sale.
• In Virginia, a homeowner found paid-off solar eased buyer concerns when listing their property.
• Homeowners weighing a sale heard unbiased takes on resale value after adding rooftop panels.
• Former EnergySage president Charlie Hadlow broke down what really drives solar costs for homeowners trying to avoid surprises.
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West Bengal Allots Land to Websol for 4 GW Solar Facility  energynews.pro
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“They seem pretty expensive for what I’d save in electricity costs.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A new kind of low-hassle solar panels is coming to Connecticut as the state legalizes balcony solar.
Soon, plug-in panel kits capped at 1,200 watts can be used without prior approvals, if they are at least UL-approved. That possibility is already drawing interest from residents facing steep electricity prices. 
But it has also exposed a basic problem. While the legal pathway opens Thursday, the products that many people want won’t actually be available.
The issue surfaced in a Reddit thread on the site’s r/DIYSolar community, where a Connecticut resident asked whether any plug-in solar kits would make financial sense once the state’s rule begins. 
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The original poster described the planned change as allowing UL-approved systems without advance approval and summed up the cost question: “They seem pretty expensive for what I’d save in electricity costs, although I’m in one of the top 3 states for expensive electricity.”
The OP then asked the forum: “Advice on 1,200 watt plug-in panel kits?”
Replies suggested these setups can reduce how much electricity a home pulls from the grid, but many users said shoppers may be early to a market that is not ready yet. One response was especially blunt, writing: “No UL approved kits yet.”
A different commenter pointed to a cheaper route using “UL 3700 certified microinverters” with panels bought locally, while stressing that the equipment sends electricity into the home overall instead of serving one dedicated appliance. The user added: “They are not intended to power anything specific, they just put power back into your house where it is used, offsetting grid consumption.”
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Much of the discussion then centered on what Connecticut will actually require for certification.
Some commenters said the rule could be interpreted to mean the entire package must qualify as a UL 3700-certified system, rather than relying on certification for only the microinverter.
If that reading holds, people may technically have a legal option before stores have compliant products to sell them. Multiple users said fully packaged UL 3700 kits do not seem to be on the market. 
A smaller, simpler setup could lower the barrier to entry for people who are not ready for a full rooftop installation, especially in a state with high power bills. Yet, several commenters said uncertified or partially certified combinations could create legal or interconnection headaches, especially for first-time solar users.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
For homeowners looking for bigger savings, getting rooftop solar is still one of the best ways to save money on home energy. You can try EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. 
EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Batteries can also help households keep more of the power they produce instead of wasting potential generation when usage and production do not line up. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Connecticut’s rule, scheduled to begin Thursday, is part of a broader push to legalize plug-in solar and make home installations easier.
• New Hampshire signed plug-in solar into law, blocking utilities from charging fees or demanding approval.
• California moved a step closer to legalizing plug-in solar with no permit required.
• Across the U.S., plug-and-play solar panels gained momentum as more states considered legalization.
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EDF power solutions launches remote operations center in Brazil  energynews.pro
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The responses suggested the marks might be more than a simple cosmetic issue.
Photo Credit: Reddit
One Reddit user spotted three newly darkened cells on a 2-year-old solar panel. The panel still produced power, but the main worry was about reduced output.
The discussion quickly turned to whether the change was merely cosmetic or evidence of a developing fault.
The issue surfaced in a Reddit post, where the owner described a ground-mounted DMEGC panel showing three dark areas that appeared to line up with individual cells. The original poster wrote: “Three cells have darkened suddenly … No cracks I can see front or back.”
Among the replies, one commenter asked whether the panel had shown any slight voltage drop and advised inspecting the busbars closely, while another said: “Micro crack can make such a thermal profile.”
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To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
The responses suggested the marks might be more than a simple cosmetic issue.
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, but getting strong long-term value depends on solid equipment and installation. If you’re comparing options, EnergySage can help you get free solar-installation estimates and compare quotes.
The original poster said cloudy weather made it hard to tell whether production had been affected. They also explained that the panel was wired in series with another module, so they planned to test it separately in full sun. 
In the comment thread, someone else suggested checking the back of the affected area for heat, since unusual warmth can point to a developing failure: “IF micro crack is the cause, In day time, when the temperature is high enough, micro-crack will generate a heat. touch the backside of the cell. (power loss become worse when become warmer due to the thermal expansion).”
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An unchecked panel issue can reduce production and cut into the utility-bill savings that made solar attractive in the first place. If the module is only 2 years old, documenting the issue early could also help if the seller or manufacturer needs to review a warranty claim.
A sensible next step is to test the panel on its own in strong sunlight, compare its voltage, and use an infrared thermometer if available to see whether the darkened section is running unusually hot. If those checks suggest the panel is underperforming, contacting the seller would be a good next move.
For homeowners shopping for solar more broadly, tools that make pricing more transparent can pay off. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. 
EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system state by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state, which together can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Homeowners interested in that option can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
The mystery remains unsolved for now.
“For me those dark cells are not normal,” one commenter said, while the original poster noted: “It may just be something I have never noticed before and be ok.”
These stories cover weather-related performance risks, cleaning mistakes, and new findings on solar-cell durability.
• Researchers found temperature swings can trigger failure in next-generation perovskite solar cells.
• Tests showed common cleaning products can harm solar panels instead of helping them.
• Scientists reported an increase in the durability of perovskite solar cells with a new tweak.
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Vikram Solar, an Indian solar photovoltaic module manufacturer, has secured a 400 MW solar module supply order from an EPC company for decentralised solar projects across Maharashtra. The Kolkata-headquartered company manufactures photovoltaic modules and has a commercial presence across 39 countries. Vikram Solar will supply its N-Type TOPCon G12R modules with 620 Wp output, with deliveries scheduled to begin in October 2026. The modules will be deployed across multiple geographically distributed solar installations in the state. According to the company, the projects are associated with MSKVY 2.0, a Maharashtra programme focused on solarising agricultural electricity supply. The order will use Vikram Solar’s G12R TOPCon module technology for the distributed installations. The company did not identify the EPC customer or disclose the contract value in the supplied information.
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Northwestern and southern India and Pakistan saw above-average solar irradiance during the 2026 summer monsoon, while August tropical depressions reduced irradiance in eastern and central India, according to analysis using the Solcast API. Fortunately, the majority of India’s utility-scale PV capacity is in the regions with favourable conditions. After late-August flood damage in Nepal, India began exporting electricity there, supported in part by Indian PV generation.
The monsoon arrived slowly in June and rainfall has been below average in the sunnier regions. Early June–September analysis, using forecasts out to the end of September, puts irradiance around 5% above the long-term average in those areas, whilst August saw up to 10% above average. The weaker monsoon is consistent with the strong El Niño that has developed throughout 2027. These effects are also influenced by a marginal positive Indian Ocean Dipole, an Indian Ocean temperature pattern that can counteract El Niño’s influence.
Accumulated irradiance at Jodhpur, near Rajasthan’s PV-producing areas, is provisionally tracking as the second-highest year since 2007. Bahawalpur, near solar installations in Pakistan’s Punjab province, is tracking at the top of its comparison years since 2007.
Eastern and central India followed a different course. Several tropical depressions, or low-pressure systems formed over the Bay of Bengal in August and moved northwest across land, carrying cloud and heavy rain. August irradiance in the affected areas was 20–30% below the monthly average. The provisional June–September estimate is around 10% below average across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, eastern Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra.
Spot analysis of time-series data in impacted locations demonstrates the impact this has for local solar production, revealing the impacts of the onset of the monsoon. Seen below, Nagpur started above average after the late monsoon onset, but August rain pushed its seasonal total below average. Abikapur, in Chhattisgarh, is tracking toward its lowest accumulated summer-monsoon irradiance in the comparison record after an average start.
Less PV capacity is deployed in these eastern areas than in India’s main solar-producing regions in the northwest. The sharp local irradiance decline therefore had a more limited bearing on national PV production potential than the August irradiance data alone might suggest.
Late-August floods in Nepal and Tibet, attributed glacial collapse, damaged 12 hydropower plants, PV facilities and transmission lines. Nepal’s generating capacity fell by 10%. Normally an exporter of hydropower to India during the summer monsoon, Nepal instead began importing electricity from India after the damage. Indian PV generation supported those exports, alongside the favourable irradiance across India’s main solar-producing
regions.
Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols at 1-2km resolution globally, using satellite data and proprietary AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, enabling Solcast to calculate irradiance at high resolution, with typical bias of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking forecasts. This data is used by more than 350 companies managing over 350 GW of solar assets globally.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
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Intersolar Mexico concluded its seventh edition at Centro Banamex with a remarkable growth in visitor participation. Over the three days of the event, the number of visitors entering the exhibition floor increased by more than 50% compared with 2025, reflecting renewed momentum in Mexico’s solar and energy storage markets.
Together with Aquatech Mexico, the events welcomed more than 11,000 visitors and over 350 exhibitors, bringing together technology providers, developers, integrators, investors, energy users, government representatives, industry organizations and academia for three days of business, technology exchange and professional networking.
Intersolar Mexico’s content program also achieved record participation, with more than 860 attendees taking part in the International Conference and the free Innovation Forum. The program featured 56 speakers from Mexico, Germany, Spain, Colombia, the United States and Denmark, representing industry, government and academia, with women accounting for 50% of the speakers. Combined attendance at both stages increased compared with 2025, reinforcing Intersolar Mexico’s role as a platform for market intelligence, technical expertise and exchange on the developments shaping Mexico’s solar industry.
Government participation was particularly significant this year, reflecting the growing dialogue between public institutions and the solar industry. Senator Olga Patricia Sosa Ruiz, Secretary of the Senate Committee on Energy, opened the event, while Dr. Mariano Birlain, Director General for Technological Development and Access to Energy at SENER, delivered the keynote presentation outlining the federal government’s energy priorities and plans for new renewable and storage capacity. Fidel Carrasco, Coordinator at SENER, presented one of the federal government’s major solar initiatives: the development of two hybrid concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic projects in Baja California Sur.
Senator Sosa Ruiz commented:  “Mexico plans to add 32,000 MW of new capacity by 2030, with 22,000 MW coming from renewable sources. The challenge is not only to generate more energy, but to do so efficiently, reliably and affordably, with solar power playing a pivotal role in building a cleaner, safer and more sustainable energy future.”
During his keynote presentation, Dr. Birlain elaborated on these prospects, noting that Mexico aims to achieve 99.99% electricity access by 2030. He also highlighted the role that solar power and energy storage will play in the planned expansion, with approximately 14,000 MW of new solar capacity and 5,500 MW of energy storage.
Carrasco noted that the two hybrid CSP and photovoltaic projects will total 300 MW of solar capacity and incorporate up to 16 hours of thermal energy storage. The tender is planned for the final quarter of 2026, with the projects also expected to foster a national value chain.
The federal perspective was complemented by government representatives from Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Querétaro and Mexico City, who brought regional priorities into discussions on energy demand, industrial development, investment, energy efficiency and the energy transition.
Industry experts also brought market and technology insights into the discussion. Carla Ortiz, President of ASOLMEX and Executive Director of RER Energy, highlighted the potential of photovoltaic self-consumption, noting that permits have been granted for roughly 130 MW, while solar currently represents only 15% of that capacity. Sayra Gómez, research scientist at the German research institute Fraunhofer ISE, pointed to Mexico’s strong potential for industrial solar heat, with 130 installations already supplying heat to industrial processes in the country by 2025 and significant opportunities for further growth.
The strong response was also evident on the exhibition floor, where exhibitors highlighted both the quality of the audience and the business opportunities generated during the event.
“At Intersolar Mexico, I found qualified visitors and an exhibition with a very strong audience,” said Javier García López, Managing Director of GAAL Instruments-HIOKI.
“The people attending are highly qualified and show genuine interest in the solutions we offer. That has enabled us to have meaningful conversations and develop concrete business opportunities during the event,” added Ernesto Kuri, Sales Director and distributor for the Power Road brand.
Florian Wessendorf, Managing Director of Solar Promotion International, commented: “What we experienced during these three days confirms the important role Intersolar Mexico plays in bringing the market together. The engagement of the industry and the closer dialogue with government representatives creates a very positive foundation for the continued development of the event, and we see strong potential to further expand the exhibition in 2027.”
The next edition of Intersolar Mexico will take place from September 7–9, 2027, at Centro Banamex in Mexico City.
For more information visit: Intersolar Mexico.

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French development finance institution Proparco and Banco Santander have invested into Grupo Enhol’s 467MW Illa solar PV project, which is currently under development in southern Peru.
The investment takes the form of a US$40 million senior loan, and is part of a US$289 million financing package, which includes a US$250 million mini-perm facility underwritten by Santander, Proparco and a number of global development financiers, such as Spain’s Instituto de Crédito Oficial E.P.E. (ICO). The mini-perm structure comes with a seven-year maturity and Proparco says that the finance will support the Illa project through construction and operational maturity.
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“This transaction demonstrates the value of combining the structuring and syndication capabilities of private financial institutions with the long-term financing, environmental and social expertise and risk-sharing capacity of development finance institutions,” said Proparco regional director Stanislas De La Riviere.
Grupo Enhol CFO Roberto Aguado added that the project will be Peru’s largest solar project when it begins commercial operation, which is currently scheduled for next year. The company added that the project is expected to account for 2.5% of Peru’s national electricity supply, and the news follows a number of utility-scale project advancements in the country. Earlier this year, Spanish independent power producer (IPP) Zelestra started construction at, and then announced additional financing for, a 242MW solar project.
This growth follows the publication of a report from trade body SolarPower Europe last year, in which it described the Latin American solar sector as standing at a “pivotal” moment. The report said that Peru and Colombia are “entering a new phase of energy diversification,” and Peru has already announced plans to expand its solar and wind sectors to account for 20% of domestic electricity generation by 2030, up from less than 10% in 2024.

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Fujiyama Power Systems, an India-based solar energy, has established a 1.2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The project utilizes TOPCon technology and is expected to commence production by the end of the current fiscal year. An investment of approximately INR 350-400 crore (~$36.5 million to ~$41.7 million) supports this specific development. Upon completion, this new capacity will aggregate with the existing 1.1 GW plant in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, bringing the company’s total cell output to approximately 2.3 GW. Management stated that commercial operations will begin within this ongoing financial period. This initiative represents a backward integration step designed to strengthen the company’s value chain and lower reliance on open market supplies for inputs.
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Elgin, an Independent Power Producer(IPP), has completed the acquisition of the approximately 200 MW Blackhall Solar Farm in County Meath, Ireland, from GP Joule. Elgin is a utility-scale solar and storage independent power producer that develops, finances, constructs and operates renewable energy projects. Blackhall is a late-stage, consented solar project with grid connection arrangements already in place. The acquisition adds capacity to Elgin’s Irish pipeline ahead of the upcoming Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction. Elgin expects to invest approximately €200 million in the development and construction of the project. The company is also finalising construction and energisation of approximately 150 MW of solar projects in Ireland from a previously announced portfolio transaction. GP Joule had developed Blackhall from its early stages through planning and development before completing the sale to Elgin.
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