Solar Now

Christine E. Giraldo
International Space Station Research Communications Team
From the International Space Station’s unique position 250 miles above Earth, the Sun is a vital source of energy. Solar power supports the station’s life support systems, daily activities, and hundreds of research investigations that improve life on Earth and prepare humans for deep space exploration. Over the past five years, NASA augmented the station’s power generation and distribution capability with next-generation International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs).
In 2017, a technology demonstration conducted aboard the space station tested the effectiveness of the arrays. The lightweight, compact design launches as a cylinder and unfurls like a yoga mat after installation. This advanced design reduces mass and volume at launch and uses an autonomous, self-deploying system that minimizes risks during rollout.
The IROSAs were designed, manufactured, and tested by Redwire under a contract with Boeing and are about half the size of the station’s legacy arrays. Despite being smaller, the arrays are capable of producing about 28 kilowatts of additional power.
Six IROSAs were installed outside of the space station between 2021 and 2023. In 2023, power projections prompted a request for another set of IROSAs, which launched in Dragon spacecraft’s trunk during the SpaceX 35th commercial resupply services mission to space station for NASA. Together, the eight IROSAs will increase power by more than 160kW for research and operations.
With the full upgrade in place, the space station’s revitalized power system not only supports NASA’s legacy in low Earth orbit but also helps advance technology that will extend the agency’s reach into the solar system. From planetary defense demonstrations, like the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, to future human exploration efforts, the space station is an essential testbed for the technologies needed for expeditions beyond Earth’s orbit.
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GREW Solar has received approval for the enlistment of 2,407 MW of N-type TOPCon G12R solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing capacity under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II. The capacity is located at the company’s manufacturing facility in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh. 
Earlier, in September 2026, GREW Solar Private Limited and Caelux Corporation entered into a five-year commercialisation partnership for production of 4 GW of high-power Hybrid-Tandem solar modules. Under the agreement, GREW Solar will use Caelux’s Energy Producing Glass with its N-Type TOPCon technology to manufacture advanced solar modules, including its large-format G12R series.  
Earlier, in March 2026, GREW Solar received a repeat order worth around Rs 5 billion from a domestic independent power producer. The order is for the supply of its high-efficiency M10R TOPCon photovoltaic modules. 
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A still from a NASA animation depicts Anil Menon transporting the rolled up, folded IROSA solar array to its install position. Image: NASA.
NASA is two spacewalks away from completing a major, years-long upgrade to the International Space Station that will power the orbiting lab through to its planned decommissioning in 2030.
More than five years after the upgrade work first began in earnest, NASA astronaut Anil Menon, 43, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, 44, are scheduled to depart the station’s Quest airlock at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) Thursday to install and unfurl the seventh of eight International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays, or IROSAs.
The compact, high-efficiency panels are designed to make up for power lost as the station’s original solar wings have degraded over more than two decades in orbit. Spaceflight Now will carry live coverage of the spacewalk starting at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 UTC).
If all goes to plan, Menon and Kutryk will venture back into the vacuum of space Nov. 5 to install the eighth and final array, capping an upgrade campaign that began in 2021. NASA says the eight IROSA arrays will raise the station’s available power from 160 kilowatts to about 215 kilowatts, supporting critical operations through the outpost’s final years, including its “safe and controlled deorbit” after it is retired in 2030.
“Overall, these roll-out arrays increase our power generation capability up to 30 percent,” Gaurang Patel, operations integration manager for NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program, said during an Oct. 20 briefing at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Thursday’s outing, which marks the 285th spacewalk devoted to station assembly, maintenance and upgrades, is planned to last about six hours and 45 minutes. It will be Menon’s fourth excursion outside the ISS airlock and the first for Kutryk. During Thursday’s spacewalk and on Nov. 5, Menon is scheduled to perform a series of complex maneuvers atop to the station’s robotic arm to transport the final IROSA arrays into position for roll out.
Menon, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and emergency physician, has made his three prior spacewalks since July when he arrived at the ISS aboard a Russian Soyuz.
Kutryk, a Royal Canadian Air Force colonel and test pilot who boarded the ISS Oct. 1 as part of SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission, will become the fifth Canadian astronaut to walk in space and the first since David Saint-Jacques in 2019.
The pair of final IROSA solar wings arrived at the station rolled up and folded on a carrier in the unpressurized trunk of a SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule after receiving a boost to orbit from a Falcon 9 rocket launched Oct. 13 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Each IROSA assembly weighs about 750 pounds, said Garrett Hehn, the spacewalk flight director, who is leading the operation with flight director Greg Whitney.
After Menon and Kutryk free the first array from the carrier Thursday, Menon will lock his boots into a foot restraint on the end of the station’s Canadian-made robotic arm — Canadarm2 — and ride it, array in hand, out to the left, or port, side of the station’s main truss. NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney will fly the arm from inside the station while Kutryk makes his way to the installation site along the truss.
While in transit, the arm will pivot around the IROSA assembly’s center of mass, rather than Menon’s, one direction at a time — a lesson learned from earlier installs meant to make the work “a little less tiring” for the astronaut holding it, Hehn said.
While the rolled up array is weightless in space, it still carries 750 pounds of inertia.
Once the IROSA is bolted to an awaiting mounting bracket astronauts installed during a March spacewalk, Menon and Kutryk will swing it open, doubling its length from about 10 feet to 20 feet. Hehn called that step “one of our key points of the EVA,” or extravehicular activity.
Menon and Kutryk then must lock the two halves in place and connect the new array’s power cables to the station while it’s in Earth’s shadow, when none of its solar panels are generating electricity.
“We can’t have any sun on the arrays whenever we’re handling those hot cables,” Hehn explained.
Finally, the astronauts will release the last restraints and let the IROSA array unroll on its own over about 10 minutes — no motors required — thanks to energy stored in carbon-fiber composite booms. Hehn likened the panels to a snap bracelet that, once released, “just continues rolling out steadily.”
Space shuttles delivered the station’s eight original solar wings, which were designed to last 15 years, between 2000 and 2009. Rather than replacing them outright, NASA opted to mount the smaller IROSA arrays, which generate about 8 kilowatts of electricity each, in front of the old wings, allowing the original panels’ unshaded portions to keep producing power.
The first IROSA unfurled in June 2021, though not without a fight: A spacesuit glitch and an array that wouldn’t unfold cleanly forced astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet to finish the job on a second spacewalk. Six arrays were in place by June 2023, and NASA ordered an additional pair that summer.
The Nov. 5 spacewalk will take the eighth and final array to the far right end of the station’s main truss, beyond the reach of its robotic arm. As during Thursday’s EVA, Menon will ferry the array atop the robotic arm as far as it will take him, but to cover the last stretch, he and Kutryk will pass the array between foot restraints in a maneuver Hehn said the team “lovingly” calls “the leapfrog.”
As with all spacewalks, the work carries risk. NASA’s spacesuits date to a design first flown in 1983 and are responsible for providing critical life support in the harsh environment of low earth orbit, where temperatures fluctuate between 250 degrees Fahrenheit in sunlight to minus 250 degrees in darkness during each 90-minute orbit.
A NASA inspector general audit last year flagged aging hardware and thin supplies of spare-parts as potential safety weak spots.
Collisions between a spacewalking astronaut and space debris as small as a grain of sand can prove “life threatening,” according to NASA, due to the sheer speeds involved: The ISS and the astronauts orbiting the Earth with it are already traveling at about 17,500 mph, and collisions with space debris in low earth orbit average about 22,000 mph, or 10 kilometers per second, according to NASA’s White Sands Test Facility.
Hehn said Oct. 20 that the suits are “not entirely redundant” and acknowledged they are aging, “which means we know they have some quirks.”
“Our primary goal is to keep the crew safe,” he said.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BCI, a subsidiary of Yingfa Ruineng, held a technology launch event in Jakarta to introduce its Indonesian manufacturing facility, production capabilities and technology roadmap. The facility has an annual capacity of 7.5 GW of N-type TOPCon solar cells and is Yingfa Ruineng’s first overseas manufacturing base. It is intended to serve as a regional supply hub for Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other international markets. The event also highlighted half-cell passivation, multi-cut cell designs and back-contact (BC) solar cells.

BCI Technology Launch | Partners in Progress
About 80 representatives attended, including Indonesian government-related institutions BKPM, EBTKE and IPAMP; industry associations AESI and APAMSI; and customers from Indonesia and neighboring markets. Zhang Min, President of Yingfa Ruineng, and Xu Zhenyu, General Manager of BCI, also attended.
Yingfa Ruineng said the facility supports Indonesia’s 100 GW solar power program and the country’s efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and local content (TKDN). The company operates four major manufacturing bases in Tianchang, Yibin, Mianyang and Indonesia, with combined effective capacity of 51.5 GW, including 45.5 GW of N-type TOPCon capacity. In 2025, overseas revenue accounted for 40% of total revenue, with products exported to more than 20 countries and regions.
BCI’s 7.5 GW cell capacity is positioned to support Indonesia’s growing solar market and domestic supply chain. For project developers, EPC contractors and module manufacturers, local cell production can offer shorter supply routes, closer technical coordination and greater flexibility in supply planning. BCI’s local capabilities are also intended to help Indonesian module manufacturers address applicable TKDN requirements, subject to relevant product certification and regulatory requirements.
Beyond individual orders, Yingfa Ruineng aims to build long-term partnerships with Indonesian industry participants through local supply, technical collaboration and manufacturing capability development. The company plans to strengthen its local workforce, develop supplier relationships and expand localized technical services. Through sustained investment and cooperation with local partners, it seeks to contribute to Indonesia’s domestic photovoltaic manufacturing ecosystem.
On technology, Yingfa Ruineng combines established cell technologies for manufacturing scale and supply reliability with continued development of next-generation solutions. Its processes include half-cell passivation and multi-cut cell designs to support production efficiency and cell performance. Its BC technology places electrical contacts on the rear side, leaving the front surface free of front-side electrical contacts and supporting high-efficiency designs. These characteristics may offer advantages for distributed rooftop systems, off-grid installations and microgrids across Indonesia’s many islands, although actual performance depends on product configuration, installation conditions and application requirements.
The company continues to advance its TOPCon and BC platforms. Its reported TOPCon cell efficiency of 27.3% and BC cell efficiency of 28% should be understood in the context of the specific cell designs and testing conditions. Yingfa Ruineng has also completed an initial end-to-end fabrication process for perovskite/BC tandem solar modules, marking further progress in next-generation PV R&D.
Through BCI, Yingfa Ruineng is extending its manufacturing capabilities, technical expertise and international market experience to Indonesia. The facility reinforces its international manufacturing network and provides a platform for closer engagement with regional customers and industry partners. Looking ahead, the company aims to deepen collaboration with Indonesian stakeholders in local supply, technology development, workforce training and manufacturing capacity, while aligning with applicable industrial policies, TKDN requirements and industrial park arrangements. It intends to work with government institutions, project developers, EPC contractors, module manufacturers and other industry participants to support the sustainable development of Indonesia’s photovoltaic industry and the country’s clean energy transition.

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New solar array to lower electricity costs at Apache Junction Sewer District  Apache Junction Independent
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India’s solar manufacturing push is moving towards deeper vertical integration 
Automation, robotics, and BOS solutions gained visibility at REI 2026  
ALMM deadlines, equipment supply, and skilled manpower remain concern areas for manufacturers 
Every edition of the Renewable Energy India Expo (REI), India’s largest renewable energy show, reflects the growing maturity of India’s solar PV industry. While REI 2025 saw manufacturers expanding into cell production, REI 2026 pointed to a shift towards deeper vertical integration and a stronger focus on downstream BOS solutions. 
Alongside new products and technologies, conversations on the exhibition floor also revealed concerns about the pace and sustainability of this expansion. 
The growing presence of equipment and materials suppliers was a notable feature of REI 2026. Companies across wet-chemical processing, laser processing, screen printing, thermal processing, inspection, sorting, and factory automation showcased solutions for different stages of PV production. 
Companies offering cleanroom engineering, HVAC, process utilities, and laboratory infrastructure were also well represented, even though these are less visible parts of a manufacturing facility. Their growing representation reflects the wider range of capabilities available and sought to support India’s expanding manufacturing base.  
One could see developments in module design, including quarter-cut cells, junction-box configurations, and materials suited to newer module architectures. 
In terms of cell technology, TOPCon remained prominent among the cell technologies discussed at the exhibition, while back-contact (BC) designs also attracted attention, continuing the trend from last year (see From Modules to Materials: India’s Solar Industry In Expansion Mode). 
Heterojunction (HJT) is not on the radar for most manufacturers in this market, except, of course, Reliance Industries, which plans to build a 20 GW cell and module line. It has already reached over 6 GW of module and close to 5 GW of cell production capacity. The company plans to achieve the 20 GW mark next year. 
Automation was another important theme, with equipment suppliers showcasing solutions across different stages of PV production. Inspection, sorting, and automated handling technologies are becoming increasingly relevant as manufacturers seek higher production efficiency, consistent quality, and lower operating costs. 
Robotic module cleaning was among the more visible downstream segments. Companies including BECSA, Sol-Bright, SUNPURE, Solar-LIT, and GREENLEAP Robotics presented cleaning solutions, while Premium Motion highlighted a cleaning robot alongside its tracker offering. Aegeus Technologies presented its autonomous rooftop solar panel cleaning robot aiming to ‘democratize’ rooftop panel cleaning across India. 
Most solutions focused on automated or waterless cleaning. However, discussions with industry participants suggested that the technology has seen relatively limited fundamental changes in recent years, despite intense competition. TaiyangNews’ conversations on the trade show floors also found that the market is consolidating, with smaller players finding it difficult to compete. 
The module bill of materials (BOM) segment covered encapsulants, backsheets, glass, aluminum and composite frames, junction boxes, connectors, cables and metallization consumables. 
An interesting observation was the growing competitive potential of Indian component manufacturers, which are expanding horizontally and vertically as they increase capacity to meet demand, position themselves as integrated solution providers, and open new revenue streams. Solar PV glass manufacturer Borosil Renewables, for instance, has ventured into solar module production. 
One Chinese junction-box and connector supplier expected Indian companies to become increasingly competitive over the next five years. 
The exhibition also featured fixed mounting structures, trackers, solar carports, and other structural solutions. Storage companies, meanwhile, increasingly presented turnkey solutions, as no local battery cell manufacturing capabilities exist yet. 
Despite the upbeat atmosphere, discussions revealed concerns about the December 2026 ALMM deadline and its implications for manufacturers. Some industry participants anticipate consolidation as smaller companies struggle to meet compliance requirements and remain competitive. Others may consider contract manufacturing or shift their focus towards exports. 
Not every company appeared equally confident about the market outlook. Some exhibitors acknowledged that their participation was driven partly by the need to maintain a market presence rather than strong expectations of immediate business. 
Limited domestic cell capacity could also put upward pressure on module prices. Meanwhile, the industry fears China’s export controls on certain PV manufacturing equipment could disrupt India’s expansion plans, potentially delaying equipment deliveries (see China Proposes Export Curbs On 12 Solar PV Technologies). Manufacturers are exploring European alternatives, although their availability and ability to meet the scale and timelines of Indian demand remain uncertain. 
The availability of skilled workers to operate and manage increasingly sophisticated production lines was another recurring concern. 
Overall, REI 2026 reflected an Indian solar manufacturing industry that continues to attract investment, technology providers, and international interest. The expansion is creating opportunities across the value chain, from upstream production equipment to downstream solutions. However, translating manufacturing ambitions into sustainable operations will depend on more than installed capacity alone. 
TaiyangNews also ran a live blog from the REI 2026 trade floors here.  
TaiyangNews 2024

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China is exporting a record amount of clean energy technology and equipment as the energy crisis from the Iran war drives surging demand for renewables, and that will help reduce global emissions, according to a report released Thursday.
Once installed or deployed, these 2026 exports will likely avert emissions of about 450 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, roughly equal to Brazil’s annual emissions, says the analysis by the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
It’s a small sign of progress as global efforts to curb climate change fall short. In November, Turkey will host annual U.N. climate talks where electrification is expected to be a leading topic.
“This is a pivot point for the outlook of global energy and global emissions,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, with CREA. “We’re seeing growth in clean energy that is much, much faster than anyone predicted just a few years ago.”
China is by far the largest global supplier of renewable energy equipment, from solar panels and wind turbines to electric vehicles and batteries. Most of what it makes is sold domestically, but a sizeable share is exported.
In the first nine months of 2026, CREA tracked a 61% increase in exports of electric vehicles, a 45% jump in shipments of wind turbines, a 39% spike in battery exports and 22% growth in overseas sales of solar equipment, compared to the same period last year.
Southeast Asia was a major destination. China’s clean energy exports to the region jumped nearly 160% from last year to this September, according to Ember, an independent global energy think tank.
The value of China’s electric vehicle exports hit $72.8 billion in the first nine months of this year, up from $39.7 billion last year, according to the research firm Atlas Public Policy.
If these export trends continue for the rest of 2026, about 8,400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide will be averted over the lifetime of all the clean tech China exported this year, CREA estimates.
That’s about 24% of annual global emissions, more than the United States’ and India’s emissions combined.
The analysis by CREA is based on export data, the electricity systems in destination countries and Chinese emissions during manufacturing. Independent experts said the estimate was in line with the scale of China’s exports, but were unable to validate the data.
Despite President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs, Chinese clean tech exports to the U.S. rose 13% in January-September compared to a year earlier.
“The demand is much stronger than I expected,” Myllyvirta said. “That’s certainly noteworthy.”
China is both the world’s biggest provider of clean tech equipment and the largest global source of carbon emissions.
Muyi Yang, a senior policy analyst at Ember, likened China’s energy transition to replacing the engine of a ship while it’s still at sea.
The drastic war-related disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, usually the source for a fifth of the world’s oil and gas, hit import-dependent Asian countries first and hardest.
Renewed interest in clean energy options is likely to persist even after the war, said Yu Sun Chin, with the research group Zero Carbon Analytics.
Consumers in Southeast Asia are paying more for their electricity and fuel and opting for renewable alternatives such as rooftop solar.
Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have offered various incentives for installing solar and purchasing electric vehicles to help reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Philippines implemented similar policies and became the second-largest destination for Chinese solar exports in the first quarter of 2026. Indonesia has pledged to install 100 gigawatts of solar power by 2029.
“The surge in clean energy policies in Southeast Asia shows there is a paradigm shift happening,” Chin said. “Considering Southeast Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate impacts, every emission cut matters in limiting a rise in global temperatures.”
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WESTERN BUREAU:
Mount Alvernia High commissioned its new solar power system into service during a ceremony at the Montego Bay, St James-based school last Thursday.
The handover and blessing of the replacement system will complement another one donated by the school’s Central Florida International Alumni Association in September.
Mount Alvernia’s Principal Keron Whyne thanked stakeholder groups such as Food For the Poor, which funded the replacement system following the loss of the original one it had donated during the passage of Hurricane Melissa a year ago.
“Our solar system, which was first commissioned in June 2023, provided an important source of energy for our school until Hurricane Melissa came. Today, we celebrate not only its restoration, but also the resilience and collaboration that have made its return possible,” said Whyne.
“We remain committed to nurturing young women who lead with integrity, compassion, and responsibility. May this restored installation serve as a lasting symbol of hope, partnership, and renewed possibilities for our very own Mount Alvernia High School and its future generations,” she added.
The school’s Students’ Council President Savannah Casserly echoed similar sentiment.
“I feel very proud of my school for being able to accomplish this. … Despite going through so many challenges due to the hurricane, we were still able to come out better and stronger than ever. I just think this is a representation of more than solar panels, but also of the resilience of our school community,” she said.
The school’s original solar power system, valued at $31.8 million, consisted of 108 panels. The overall cost included electrical work and construction of rooms to house the inverters.
The replacement system, which includes restored panels valued at $3.9 million, is an upgrade to what was lost. It contains 80 bifacial panels generating 50 kilowatts worth of energy, with a 12 percent greater capacity than what the previous panels provided.
Sasha Gaye Shaw, Food For the Poor Jamaica’s programme manager, described the donation as an investment in the future of the youth and their education.
“At Food For the Poor, we believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives. We also recognise that quality education requires a safe and supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and reach their full potential,” she said.
“This project is particularly significant following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which destroyed the school’s previous solar panel system. Its restoration represents not only an investment in infrastructure, but also a demonstration of resilience, recovery, and the power of partnership,” added Shaw.
christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com
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Mark A. Garcia
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:08 p.m. EDT.  
During the 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk, Menon and Kutryk installed and deployed an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the station’s 2A electrical power channel. The array is the seventh IROSA installed on the station and will provide additional power to support critical operations, including a safe and controlled deorbit.
Menon and Kutryk also completed several get-ahead tasks to prepare for a planned Thursday, Nov. 5 spacewalk, when they will install the eighth and final IROSA on the 3B power channel. NASA will provide live coverage beginning at 6:45 a.m. Learn how to watch:
https://www.nasa.gov/live/
Following the Nov. 5 spacewalk, the roll-out solar arrays will be fully installed, completing the space station’s power system augmentation. Together, the eight arrays will increase available power by up to 30%, boosting the station’s power generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
U.S. spacewalk 100 was Menon’s fourth and Kutryk’s first. It also was the 285th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.
Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.
Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here.
Mark A. Garcia
NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.

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Home › News › Mazda adds solar power deals at Miyoshi and new KD Center
Mazda is using power purchase agreements to add factory solar without owning the panels, keeping capital tied to vehicle work
Mazda is extending on-site solar power purchase agreements to two more Japanese sites, its Miyoshi Plant and the Mazda KD Center due for completion in November, with Orix supplying the solar equipment at both as power provider. At Miyoshi, surplus solar output will go into a storage system built with new automotive lithium-ion batteries.

The plant will use the solar electricity on-site, with the battery system holding excess output for later use and trimming peak demand. Applying vehicle-grade batteries to factory storage gives Mazda a stationary use for automotive cells within its own operations.
At the KD Center, steel sheet producer Toyo Kohan will take the environmental value of surplus solar power, including its carbon dioxide savings. Mazda says this spreads renewable energy use across the wider regional supply chain. It frames both projects as part of wider work with partners to test and deploy carbon-neutral technologies, which it expects to support the region’s development and industrial competitiveness.

Under these agreements the provider installs the generating equipment on Mazda’s premises and sells it the output, so the automaker adds renewable supply without building its own capacity. The projects support Mazda’s goal of carbon-neutral global manufacturing by 2035, which rests on energy saving, renewable power and carbon-neutral fuels.
Source: Mazda
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Avaada Electro Achieves 7.1 GW ALMM Enlistment for TOPCon Solar Cell Manufacturing Capacity in Maharashtra  SolarQuarter
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Funding through the Solar for Schools Program, including nearly $450,000 for Steelton-Highspire, is helping schools across Pennsylvania transition to cleaner, renewable energy while reducing costs.
The program has helped more than 40 schools convert some of their electricity usage to solar energy, helping the environment and helping districts save money.
The Solar for Schools Program, created by Governor Josh Shapiro in 2024 to help generate more clean, affordable, and reliable energy while creating more jobs and lowering costs for Pennsylvanians, has so far invested $27,188,960 in 84 schools across the Commonwealth.
Steelton, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger visited Steelton-Highspire School District’s new solar array alongside district and local officials to highlight the Shapiro Administration’s investment in clean energy to benefit schools across the Commonwealth, including an additional $25 million in the 2026-27 budget for the Solar for Schools program.
Funding through the Solar for Schools program, including nearly $450,000 for Steelton-Highspire, is helping schools across Pennsylvania transition to cleaner, renewable energy while reducing costs. The Steelton-Highspire School District is expected to save $3.6 million over the next 20 years as a result of its solar investment.
“As we look at different options that can provide electricity to schools across Pennsylvania, solar is one of the cleanest, greenest options.” said Secretary Shirley. “Recipients of the Solar for Schools program, like Steelton-Highspire School District, are thinking to the future about how they can use the sun to power their buildings, save money, and decrease emissions to improve air quality for everyone.”
“The Solar for Schools program enables school districts across Pennsylvania to lower their electricity bills and invest those savings into their students,” said Secretary Siger. “Solar for Schools investments like this one provide schools with reliable zero-emissions technology, support Pennsylvania jobs, and lower the electricity burden for communities and schools.”
The Solar for Schools program, created by Governor Josh Shapiro in 2024 to help generate more clean, affordable, and reliable energy while creating more jobs and lowering costs for Pennsylvanians, has so far invested $27,188,960 in 84 schools across the Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro secured another $25 million in the 2026-2027 budget to ensure the program continues. DCED has established a grant program that school districts, intermediate units, charter schools including cyber, regional, and a school for education of the deaf or the blind, area career and technical schools, specific trade and technical schools, and community colleges can use to fund solar energy projects. These grants aid in the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage, and utility interconnection. The Pennsylvania Solar for Schools Toolkit is organized into ten basic steps, and is designed specifically for school stakeholders in Pennsylvania to determine whether a solar project makes sense for their facility.
Steelton-Highspire School District (Steel-High) has been a leader in sustainability and the use of clean energy through innovative partnerships and forward-thinking that benefits the district’s students and the surrounding community.
“The Steelton-Highspire School District is proud to be part of the Solar for Schools initiative and to provide our students with an opportunity to see how renewable energy, sustainability, and innovation are shaping our future,” said Steelton-Highspire School District Superintendent Willie Slade. “This partnership is about more than installing solar technology—it is about creating authentic learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to real-world careers. We want our students to understand that they can be leaders in building a cleaner, more sustainable future for their families, our community, and Pennsylvania.”
Steel-High received a Solar for Schools grant in 2025 for $446,363 to install high-efficiency solar panels to reduce energy expenses and carbon emissions, while also integrating renewable energy education into the district curriculum, providing hands-on STEM learning.
Steel-High went on to install a 1.7 MW solar array in an area that was previously a dumping ground for debris from Hurricane Agnes. The array covers 100 percent of the district’s electricity needs through a power purchase agreement, saving $3.6 million over 20 years.
In collaboration with the McClure Company, the district has implemented a series of energy efficient upgrades that have reduced the carbon footprint while creating substantial cost savings, which are reinvested into the district. In addition, the school’s collaboration with First Student has six electric school buses that not only lower operational costs, but also provide a quieter, healthier transportation experience for students.
For more information about DEP, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website, or follow DEP on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
For more information about DCED, visit the agency’s website, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
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Anker's latest portable power station is smaller and bigger in the best of ways.
I am a fan of both the Anker SOLIX F3800 and its refined follow-up, the F3800 Plus. There’s a row of them in the pantry of my home. So I’m happy to say Anker has released a spiritual successor: the Anker SOLIX S5000. While it’s not better in every way, it improves in the ways that matter most. I’m not a fan of some changes Anker has made to its newer portable power stations, but it has knocked this one out of the park.
The Anker SOLIX S5000 is a 5024Wh portable power station that is the smallest in its class, with nearly half the volume and a quarter of the weight of the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus. It can output 4500W of power, charge at up to 3000W, and has an idle draw of under 10W.
We go hands-on with every product to ensure it’s worth your time and money.
The sticker price for the Anker SOLIX S5000 is $3,600. Based on Anker’s track record and that of most portable power stations, you can expect recurring discounts.

The Anker SOLIX F3800 was the first portable power station of its size that I had ever purchased. When it was dropped off outside my door, I was shocked to find that I could not get it up the steps. At over 130 pounds, it weighed only a few dozen pounds less than I did. When I later received the updated F3800 Plus to review, it was nearly identical, and its weight was unchanged.
So I was shocked when the S5000 arrived. It is a significantly smaller power station, nearly half the size, yet it can store substantially more energy. At 97 lbs, it’s still by no means lightweight, but it is light enough now that I can carry it up and down steps on my own (I can finally stop considering buying a ramp from Lowe’s). A power station becomes that much more accessible when you don’t have to be jacked to move it around. Though, to be clear, I still look far from graceful as I raise or lower this thing a mere few inches at a time.
While the S5000 feels like a successor to the F3800 Plus, it’s not. The S series is a different product line, and this unit instead takes its design cues from the more recently released Anker SOLIX S2000. You could almost describe the S5000 as a longer S2000 with two wheels, a handle, and extra ports. Both the S5000 and the S2000 lack a light on the front.
The S5000’s diet shows up in several areas. The build quality of my pre-production model feels less durable than the F3800. The F3800 feels so solid that I’m concerned about it damaging everything it rolls over or bumps into. The S2000 feels just delicate enough that I’m more inclined to baby it. The handle gives me the impression that it might buckle under its own weight. Nonetheless, so far so good.
The F3800 has four caster wheels on the bottom, which makes that power station stand upright and easy to roll around. The S5000 has only two wheels and is designed to lie flat. You must lift the front end up and pull out the carrying handle whenever you wish to wheel it around, like the Anker SOLIX F3000. While the S5000 is perfectly capable of tilting back and standing upright, it is not intended to be used in this way. The cooling vents for the power station are on the front and back of the product, so you don’t want one end pressed against the ground for long.
Upon first impression, the S5000 feels like magic. Despite being much smaller, its LifePO4 battery cells are able to store 5,024Wh of power, which is a notable increase over the 3,840Wh in the Anker F3800 Plus. This difference matters even more as you scale up. I could fit four of these side by side in a space that could only hold three F3800S. Likewise, an S5000 with a single expansion battery isn’t that far from an F3800 Plus with two.
How is Anker able to make this happen? While battery improvements account for some of it, the S5000 also packs a smaller inverter than the F3800. The S5000 can manage a sustained load of 4,500W, down from 6,000W with the F3800. You can also chain two F3800’s together to reach a total output of 12,000W, a feature that isn’t present with the S5000. So if you have hopes of hooking a portable power station up to a large battery bank and firing up a 5-ton heat pump, the F3800 Plus remains the better option even despite the S5000’s increased capacity.
That said, the capacity doesn’t tell the whole story. While the existing F3800 Plus and F3800 have identical batteries, the Plus lasts much longer in real-world use. This is because of the newer model’s significantly lower idle draw. The F3800 drains at around 50W per hour when the AC inverter is on, even if nothing is plugged in. The F3800 Plus reduced this number by roughly half. The S5000 goes down further still and idles at around 10 watts (less than that if you’re only using 120V). This means you have a larger battery that drains more slowly.
When I connected the S5000 to my electrical panel at around 99% at 9 AM one day, it estimated 11.7 hours of runtime. When I came back three hours later, the display showed 73% and an estimated 8.8 hours remaining. On that same day, when I plugged in an F3800 Plus at 97% and gave it the same steady 400W load, it estimated 7.3 hours. This means the S5000 at a 73% state of charge could run for another hour and still last roughly as long as the F3800 Plus when full.
Anker’s engineers have learned a lot about power stations over the past few years. Unlike the F3800, the S5000 has all of its ports on the front of the unit. You’re not left with some cables sticking out the front and others extending from the side. This means you can better press it up against the wall while it’s in use.
Unlike the Anker SOLIX F3000, the four AC outlets on the front are spaced out enough that you have room for larger charging blocks.
The S5000 supports 120V and 240V charging, but not at the same time. The 240V charging port allows me to plug the S5000 into a generator inlet port in my home and power my electrical panel. When I do so, the four 120V AC ports are unavailable.
That said, the S5000 does now allow you to utilize the 240V port while charging the power station at 120V. This means you can recharge the power station with a generator without having to disconnect it from your home.
I don’t own a gas generator, so I’m more affected by the changes to solar input. The original Anker SOLIX F3800 had two standard XT60 ports for solar input. The updated model replaced these ports with two proprietary ones. This proprietary port lets you connect far more solar panels in series, but you must have an Anker-specific cable or dongle to use your existing panels.
The S5000 meets in the middle — it has one XT60 port and one proprietary port. This change makes quite the difference to how the S5000 is able to draw power from the sun.
The XT60 port on the S5000 can take up to 1,000W of solar input, while the proprietary port can take up to 2,000W. This means the system maxes out at 3,000 watts, slightly lower than the max 3200W solar input of the F3800 Plus.
This change is bigger than the 200-watt discrepancy might suggest. The 1,000W max of the XT60 port is more difficult to achieve than Anker’s proprietary port. You must run wires to each solar panel in parallel in order to avoid exceeding the 60V limit. The proprietary port maxes out at 165V, giving you the range to more easily connect solar panels together in series, reducing setup time and the number of cables you must fuss with.
That said, I can’t say I dislike the change. I usually do not try to charge my power station as fast as possible. More often, I simply connect a 400W portable solar panel to each port. This tends to charge my station faster than it’s discharging as it powers my home. In those rare times when I want to connect all of my solar panels to this one station, I can adjust. This decision ultimately means I can still charge the power station even if I forget to grab Anker’s proprietary plug.
On that note, Anker also sent me the bifacial versions of its PS100, PS200, and PS400 portable solar panels (the new PS400 is the one without the blue handles in the gallery above). These new versions have aluminum frames and solid legs, making them sturdier than the prior models that I purchased bundled with my Anker SOLIX power stations in the past. These new panels also manage to be lighter. While all three models are great, the PS400 is so much lighter and smaller that I’ve gone from begrudgingly only pulling out 400W panels during outages to using them all the time to get free energy using my power stations whenever possible. I’ve enjoyed these review samples so much that I decided to purchase more while they were still on sale for Prime Day. That sale’s over, but there will be more.
The Anker F3800 series uses a standard plug for AC charging, but this isn’t the case with the S5000, which comes with a proprietary charger. This is a continuation of a disappointing trend. First, the solar input ports became proprietary, and now the charging plug is too.
This is in addition to the fact that expansion batteries only work with the specific model they’re designed for. If I bought a BP3800 expansion battery for my original F3800, it would thankfully be compatible with the F3800 Plus, but it would be incompatible with the S5000. That battery would go a lot farther plugged into Anker’s newest power station, thanks to the significantly lower idle draw, but I would be forced to continue plugging it into the older power stations that won’t run as long instead.
Anker isn’t unique in this, but that doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable. Competitor Bluetti has shown that portable power stations can be designed in such a way that newer models work with pre-existing expansion batteries.
If you want the longest-lasting power station that won’t look like it belongs at a construction site sitting in the corner of your living room, then you want the Anker SOLIX S5000. While I do have a few qualms, I’m still blown away by how much power is contained in this small package, and this is the issue I felt Anker most needed to address about its prior models. The S5000 may not be as powerful as the F3800, but I believe Anker made all the right trade-offs — so much so that I would recommend paying more for the S5000 over the F3800 Plus, even if you see the latter on sale. Your back will thank you.
The Anker SOLIX S5000 is a 5024Wh portable power station that is the smallest in its class, with nearly half the volume and a quarter of the weight of the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus. It can output 4500W of power, charge at up to 3000W, and has an idle draw of under 10W.
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Perez’s property was the first home to receive a full retrofit through the program.
Photo Credit: Central California Asthma Collaborative
In Kern County, California, some homeowners are getting financial support to upgrade their homes and remove gas appliances that are exacerbating asthma.
Homeowner Maria Perez lives in the first home that was retrofitted through the Kern CASA Project. Perez spoke with KBAK about the experience.
Asthma care and a fixed income created competing pressures for Perez, who wanted gas appliances out of her home. A home makeover provided through the program offered her a way to improve her health without adding financial strain.
Her home now depends less on gas after the local program supplied electric appliances, solar panels, and battery storage at no cost.
The Kern CASA Project provides eligible households with free health and energy improvements. Perez’s property was the first home to receive a full retrofit through the program, according to KBAK. 
Now, her stove and dryer run on electricity, as do the replacement water heater and heating and cooling equipment. This way, she doesn’t have to worry about dangerous pollutants in her home that can worsen her asthma symptoms.
The project manager for Perez’s home upgrades, Brianda Castro, explained to KBAK how the new appliance should help. Castro told the outlet, “When you eliminate the use of gas in the home, it eliminates those pollutants and so therefore it creates a healthier just air quality within the home.”
Castro added, “These appliances are also newer which means that they are not very affordable for the regular low-income household. The beauty about the programs that we offer to residents in low-income communities is that it has no cost to the homeowner.” 
Crushed by your monthly electric bills? Palmetto can take care of you with an exclusive solar offer for Southern California residents.
Palmetto’s home energy savings plans deliver all the benefits of going solar with zero upfront investment. For a limited time, special rates in Southern California can unlock bill savings of up to 40% — and you can get a custom quote in seconds without sharing your email or phone number.
The added panels will help to keep Perez’s energy bills affordable, as going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy. Palmetto is currently running an exclusive offer for Southern California residents that allows customers to save an average of 40% on their electric bills with $0 down.
At least 18 additional homes will be upgraded through Kern CASA, KBAK reported, but applications for this funding round have closed.
For Southern California residents considering solar on their own, Palmetto offers another potential route to lower energy costs. With Palmetto’s help, the average Southern California resident can save 40% on their electric bills, which can add up to thousands of dollars per year.
Replacing gas appliances, adding solar panels, and installing batteries can change how a home uses energy and what it costs to run. 
• California proposals could make rooftop solar and heat pumps more affordable for residents.
• Pasadena utility customers could access zero-interest solar and battery loans worth up to $65,000.
• California is turning to home batteries to curb bills and reduce reliance on gas plants.
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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Set against the backdrop of a family preparing for Diwali, the film follows a young boy whose fascination with the sun leads him to imagine who switches on its lights. While his family is immersed in the hustle and bustle of Diwali preparations, his curiosity goes largely unnoticed. Determined to find an answer, he observes the sunrise and tries to share his discovery with his family, but the festive rush leaves little room for his seemingly unusual question.
Just when his enthusiasm begins to fade, an unexpected power cut in the neighbourhood changes everything. As the family looks at their partially lit home and the brightly illuminated house across the street, the boy spots something that explains the difference: solar panels on the neighbouring rooftop. His observation brings the family closer to understanding the possibilities of harnessing the Sun’s energy.
By placing a child at the heart of an energy-led narrative, the campaign humanises innovation and shows how curiosity can challenge conventional thinking and unlock new possibilities. The narrative also brings solar energy into the festive conversation, positioning it as an opportunity to rethink how homes and communities can be powered. The campaign uses the emotional appeal of Diwali and the innocence of a child’s imagination to communicate a larger message: meaningful innovation often starts with a simple question, an unexpected thought or the courage to see things differently.
The film culminates in the message, “Is Diwali, sirf diye se ghar nahi, apni soch se har zindagi roshan karo”, reinforcing the idea that the true spirit of illumination extends beyond physical light. With the closing thought, “Apni soch ka diya jalao”, Luminous encourages audiences to embrace fresh perspectives and discover new possibilities this festive season.
Neelima Burra, SVP – Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, Luminous Power Technologies, said, “Diwali is that special time of year when homes glow a little brighter, families come closer, and even the smallest moments bring the greatest joy. With our Diwali film, we wanted to capture this festive warmth through the eyes of a curious young boy, whose perspective allows us to look at energy differently and reminds us that even the simplest thought can inspire a brighter possibility. Just as we look forward to lighting up our homes during the festival, it is heartening to see how solar can bring new possibilities to the way we power them. This Diwali, we hope our film brings a smile to viewers and inspires them to see the light and possibilities all around us.”
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Monday
November 02, 2026
China Energy International Group today (1 November) expressed interest in investing in a solar power plant at Payra Port.
The interest was expressed during a meeting between a delegation of the company and State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Division Md Rajib Ahsan at the conference room of the ministry this morning, according to a press release.
During the meeting, the delegation said the company has extensive experience in developing large-scale energy infrastructure and constructing power plants in China.
Welcoming the company’s interest, the state minister said Payra Port was expanding day by day. He said effective initiatives were also needed to meet the growing energy demand alongside the development of the port’s infrastructure and enhancement of its capacity.
“The government has always encouraged foreign investment in the country’s power and energy sector. The incumbent Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is very sincere in this regard,” he said.
He further said Payra Port was an important national installation and that its security must be given the highest priority.
The state minister also stressed the need to ensure that all investment and development activities were carried out in line with national interests, security considerations and relevant policies.
The chairman of the Payra Port Authority and senior officials of the Ministry of Shipping were also present at the meeting.
Solar power plant / Payra Port / China
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An IEA Special Report
Solar PV is a crucial pillar of clean energy transitions worldwide, underpinning efforts to reach international energy and climate goals. Over the last decade, the amount of solar PV deployed around the world has increased massively while its costs have declined drastically. Putting the world on a path to reaching net zero emissions requires solar PV to expand globally on an even greater scale, raising concerns about security of manufacturing supply for achieving such rapid growth rates – but also offering new opportunities for diversification.
This special report examines solar PV supply chains from raw materials all the way to the finished product, spanning the five main segments of the manufacturing process: polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells and modules. The analysis covers supply, demand, production, energy consumption, emissions, employment, production costs, investment, trade and financial performance, highlighting key vulnerabilities and risks at each stage. Because diversification is one of the key strategies for reducing supply chain risks, the report assesses the opportunities and challenges of developing solar PV supply chains in terms of job creation, investment requirements, manufacturing costs, emissions and recycling. Finally, the report summarises policy approaches that governments have taken to support domestic solar PV manufacturing and provides recommendations based on those.
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What Are Photovoltaics? (2026)  ConsumerAffairs
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Digital newspaper of Maspalomas and southern Gran Canaria
Digital newspaper of Maspalomas and southern Gran Canaria
 
The administrative file of the Lomo Gordo 4 photovoltaic park, a two-megawatt nominal power installation promoted by Tinojai Renovables, a family company of Del Castillo and Bravo de Laguna, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, has revealed a territorial conflict previously unknown to the public in the south of Gran Canaria. 

According to the report issued by the General Directorate of Industry, Mining Service dated August 7, 2023, the land chosen to build the energy infrastructure is located superimposed on the perimeter of a Geothermal Resources Exploration Permit of Section D, called “Lisa 164”.   

The technical analysis provided by the mining agency details that, although the projected location for the plant avoids the traditional mining rights corresponding to sections A, B and C regulated by the Mining Law of 1973, the layout and site fully coincide with the interior of this deep geothermal research license. 

However, the regional department endorsed the continuation of the file after noting that the geothermal permit currently lacks a mapped or defined location for a future deep research borehole, a milestone that would require a specific administrative authorization procedure and a mandatory environmental impact assessment process before materializing on the ground.   

This administrative interference reveals the pressure and saturation that rural land in the south of the island is enduring, where massive files for the penetration of photovoltaic renewable energies and initiatives to harness the heat of the subsoil converge simultaneously. 

The project, which has a budget of 1.498.459 euros and includes a 1.907-meter-long underground evacuation line, has had to overcome a complex bureaucratic path marked by unfavorable initial sectoral reports on historical heritage, biodiversity and road safety next to the GC-1 highway, culminating in the granting of its administrative authorization and declaration of public utility with retroactive effects from October 19, 2026.   
 
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China solar industry faces shakeout, but rock-bottom prices to persist  Reuters
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June 13, 2024
One of the most transformative changes in technology over the last few decades has been the massive drop in the cost of clean energy. Solar photovoltaic costs have fallen by 90% in the last decade, onshore wind by 70%, and batteries by more than 90%.
These technologies have followed a “learning curve” called Wright’s Law. This states that the cost of technology falls consistently as the cumulative production of that technology increases.
The chart shows the perfect example of this for solar power. This data comes from the International Renewable Agency, Greg Nemet, and Doyne Farmer & François Lafond.
On the horizontal axis, we have the cumulative installed capacity of solar panels, and on the vertical axis, the cost. Both are measured on logarithmic scales, and the trend follows a straight line. That means the fall in cost has been exponential.
Costs have fallen by around 20% every time the global cumulative capacity doubles. Over four decades, solar power has transformed from one of the most expensive electricity sources to the cheapest in many countries.
Technologies that follow Wright’s Law get cheaper at a consistent rate, as the cumulative production of that technology increases.
Related topic pages:
October 31
Hannah Ritchie
One in four people in the world is younger than 15. Just one in ten is 65 or older.
But there are huge differences in this distribution across countries. In the chart, I’ve shown these global figures alongside the country with the largest share of children, the Central African Republic, and the one with the largest share of older people, Japan.
In the Central African Republic, half of the population is under 15. Being over 65 is pretty rare: just 2% of the population.
Japan is the opposite. Being a child or adolescent puts you in the minority. Almost one-third of the population is 65 and older, and that share is growing quickly.
These differences in age distribution matter a lot for a country’s infrastructure, socioeconomic conditions, and public spending — from pensions and healthcare to childcare and education.
October 29
Max Roser
The chart shows the relationship between GDP (gross domestic product) per capita — a measure of average incomes in a country — and people’s living conditions.
Where GDP per capita is higher, living conditions are far better in many ways. Where average incomes are higher, children die less often, fewer of them are born dead, mothers die less often, fewer children suffer from hunger, doctors can focus on fewer patients, people live longer, more people can read, children have better access to education and better learning outcomes, more people have access to electricity and clean drinking water, and people are happier with their lives.
The disparity between countries with a low and a high GDP per capita is enormous. Looking at the first panel, for example, you can see that a child born in one of the poorest countries is more than 20 times as likely to die as a child born in one of the richest.
October 27
Esteban Ortiz-Ospina
China makes and exports more goods than any other country. So, perhaps unsurprisingly, when I think about China’s economy, the first thing that comes to mind is manufacturing — increasingly at the technological frontier in electric vehicles, batteries, and solar panels.
China’s position in manufacturing follows decades of economic transformation. The chart shows one aspect of this: the decline in agricultural employment.
At the turn of the 21st century, around half of all Chinese workers were employed in agriculture. One generation later, that share had more than halved, reaching 22% in 2025.
I find it striking how far the share of workers in agriculture has fallen, and just as striking how high it remains. Agriculture employs more than a fifth of China’s workers, while accounting for less than 7% of its GDP.
October 24
Hannah Ritchie and Pablo Arriagada
If the world is to reduce its carbon emissions and tackle climate change, it needs to move away from fossil fuels to low-carbon power.
There are two key sources of low-carbon electricity: renewables — which include solar, wind, hydropower, and others — and nuclear power.
While rapid growth in solar and wind has increased the amount of electricity coming from renewables, a lack of enthusiasm for nuclear means it’s playing a shrinking role in the global mix.
In the chart, you can see the share of global electricity coming from fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear since 1985. Since 2000, nuclear and renewables have followed very different trajectories. Back then, both accounted for a similar share of global electricity. But in 2025, renewables made up more than three times as much: 34% compared to 9%.
The total amount of electricity produced by nuclear plants is about the same as it was two decades ago. But because the world produces much more electricity overall, its share of the electricity mix has declined.
October 22
Max Roser
The World Bank’s International Poverty Line is an extremely low poverty line. Set at $3 per day, it draws attention to the living conditions of the poorest people on the planet.
In the chart above, you can see how the share below this poverty line has declined over the last generation. In the year 2000, 36% of the world’s population lived on less than $3 per day. In 2024, it was 10%.
But is progress against global poverty only happening when measured against such a very low poverty line?
The chart gives the answer. The entire blue line is below the entire dark red line. This tells us that no matter what line you choose, the share below it has declined globally.
Progress against higher poverty lines has been large, too. The share living on less than $5 a day has declined from 57% to 25%, and the share living on less than $10 a day has declined from 74% to 53%.
But on the right-hand side of the chart, we see that most people still live on low incomes: 81% of people in the world live on less than $30 a day, or about $900 a month.
October 20
Hannah Ritchie and Pablo Arriagada
The HIV epidemic — which started in the early 1980s and progressed rapidly in the 1990s — has had lasting impacts that continue today. More than 800,000 people still die from HIV/AIDS every year.
But some countries were hit much harder than others.
In the chart, you can see the share of all deaths in a given year caused by HIV/AIDS in four countries that were particularly badly affected.
At the height of the epidemic, more than half of all deaths in Zimbabwe and Botswana, and over 40% in South Africa and Namibia, were caused by the disease.
Thankfully, interventions to prevent the spread of HIV and treatments such as antiretroviral therapy have reduced death rates across the world. But about one in five deaths in these countries was still caused by AIDS in 2023.
October 17
Hannah Ritchie
Religious compositions vary a lot from country to country.
In my own country, the United Kingdom, Christianity is the most popular, and following no religion is becoming increasingly common, particularly among young people. But I struggle to get a sense of how these differences stack up globally.
The Pew Research Center publishes estimates of religious affiliation across the world. You can see the global breakdown in the chart for 2020 (the most recent year available). It shows the number of people who identify with each religion. Pew counts people by the religion they report, regardless of their beliefs or practices.
You can see that Christians are the largest group, with 2.3 billion people, followed by Muslims, with 2 billion. People with no religious affiliation come close behind.
Those not affiliated with any religion are among the largest groups in the world. But this undersells religion’s reach: when we add up all religious groups, most people in the world — around three in four — identify with a religion. Those with no religious affiliation are still a minority.
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Solar PV supply chains: Technical and ESG standards for market integration  IRENA – International Renewable Energy Agency
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Solex Energy’s proposed US expansion is not only a story about an Indian solar manufacturer seeking overseas growth. It also reveals the uneven development of India’s domestic solar supply chain, where module manufacturing capacity has expanded far faster than cell production and where newer manufacturing technologies are competing with older, partly idle capacity.
The company plans to establish solar module and cell manufacturing capacities in the United States as part of a $1.5 billion investment roadmap through 2030, Chairman and Managing Director Chetan Shah told Press Trust of India. Solex has formed a team to study possible locations, investment requirements and other parameters, but has not disclosed specific US projects, citing regulatory compliance.
That distinction matters. The US proposal is currently an expansion plan under evaluation, not a commissioned project with a published site, capacity, investment schedule or construction deadline. Its significance lies in what is driving the move: access to a large clean-energy market, trade barriers affecting Chinese imports and the search for reliable suppliers of solar components.
## From Gujarat capacity to a global manufacturing strategy
Solex currently operates a 4 gigawatt module manufacturing facility in Gujarat and aims to increase its module capacity to 10 GW. It is also establishing 10 GW of cell manufacturing capacity and 2 GW of ingot and wafer production, according to Shah’s comments reported by PTI.
These planned capacities cover several stages of the solar manufacturing chain. Modules are the finished panels deployed in solar projects. Cells are the units inside those modules that convert sunlight into electricity, while ingots and wafers are upstream inputs used to make cells. Building capacity across these stages can give a manufacturer greater control over supply, although the report does not establish how much of Solex’s proposed capacity is operational, under construction or financed.
The company’s proposed US manufacturing presence therefore sits alongside, rather than replaces, its Indian expansion. The roadmap combines a domestic manufacturing build-out with an international market strategy. Shah described the US as a high-potential market and said the company was targeting it because of global demand for clean-energy components and the opportunity to position Indian production as a cost-effective alternative to Chinese suppliers.
He also said that anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports have made India the sole viable supplier of low-cost alternatives. That is the company chairman’s assessment, rather than an independently established conclusion in the supplied report. It nevertheless identifies the commercial environment in which Indian manufacturers are evaluating overseas investment: solar equipment is increasingly shaped not only by production costs, but also by trade policy and the location of supply chains.
## The capacity imbalance inside India
The most consequential figure in the report is the gap between India’s module and cell manufacturing capacity. As of October 2026, India had about 262 GW of module manufacturing capacity but only about 37 GW of cell capacity, Shah said.
The difference is more than a statistical mismatch. A module industry cannot operate at full potential if the cells required for production are insufficient, unavailable in the right technology or not economically competitive. The figures cited by Shah indicate that India has built a very large potential downstream manufacturing base while cell production remains much smaller.
The report does not say that all 262 GW of module capacity is operational or producing at its stated maximum. Shah specifically said that several capacities are non-operational and that much of the installed capacity uses older monocrystalline PERC technology. He added that the module capacities have been established for the latest tunnel oxide passivated contact, or TOPCon, technology.
This creates a second layer to the capacity problem. The issue is not simply how many gigawatts have been announced or installed. It is also whether facilities are operational, whether their technology matches current market demand and whether upstream cell production can support the modules that manufacturers intend to produce.
The supplied figures therefore describe capacity in different states of readiness and technological relevance. They should not be read as equivalent to actual output. But even with that qualification, the gap cited by the company points to a supply-chain structure in which the availability of cells can constrain the utilisation of module plants.
## Why ALMM-II has become a manufacturing question
The dispute over the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers framework, or ALMM-II, connects the company’s expansion plans to the government’s domestic manufacturing objectives. Shah said the industry is aligned with the framework’s objectives and has invested thousands of crore in Indian module capacity to support the country’s net-zero goals.
He also called for an extension of ALMM-II by at least 12 months because of current cell availability conditions. The framework mandates the sourcing of made-in-India cells from an approved list of module manufacturers, according to the report.
The policy issue is therefore linked directly to the capacity imbalance. If domestic module manufacturers are required to source approved Indian cells but cell availability is limited, companies may face a gap between policy eligibility and physical supply. The report does not provide the government’s response to the request for an extension, nor does it specify the current implementation date or the criteria under which the framework may be extended.
For manufacturers, the timing of compliance can affect procurement, plant utilisation and the commercial viability of new capacity. For policymakers, the challenge is to align a domestic-content framework with the actual pace at which upstream manufacturing is being built. The numbers cited in the report suggest that module capacity has expanded much faster than cell capacity, making implementation dependent on the narrower part of the chain.
## The technology transition behind the numbers
Shah’s reference to older monocrystalline PERC capacity and newer TOPCon technology adds a technology dimension to the supply question. Installed capacity is not automatically interchangeable. A plant configured for one technology may not be able to produce another without additional investment, equipment changes or operational adjustments.
The report does not provide comparative efficiency figures, production costs or utilisation rates for PERC and TOPCon facilities. It also does not establish how much of India’s 262 GW module capacity is based on each technology. What it does show is that capacity expansion is taking place during a transition in manufacturing technology, when the value of a facility depends partly on whether it can serve current demand.
That makes the manufacturing pipeline more complex than a race to add headline gigawatts. Cell production, wafer and ingot capacity, module technology and operating status all influence whether nominal capacity translates into deployable solar equipment. Solex’s plan to add 10 GW of cells and 2 GW of ingots and wafers indicates an attempt to expand into upstream segments, but the report does not provide completion dates or expected output from those facilities.
The same limitation applies to the proposed US operations. Solex has identified the market and created a study team, but has not announced locations, project capacities or a construction timetable. Until those details are disclosed, the US plan is best understood as an announced strategic direction rather than a fully defined infrastructure project.
## What the announcement says about solar manufacturing policy
India’s solar manufacturing policy is being shaped by two simultaneous objectives: creating domestic industrial capacity and supporting the rapid deployment of renewable energy. The ALMM-II discussion shows the tension between those goals when supply-chain capacity is uneven.
A domestic-content requirement can create demand for Indian manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports. But it also increases the importance of whether domestic suppliers can provide sufficient volumes, approved products and the technologies required by project developers. The report’s cited capacity figures indicate that the upstream portion of the chain remains considerably smaller than the module segment.
Solex’s proposed US expansion adds an international dimension. The company is seeking access to a market it describes as large and high-potential while continuing to expand in Gujarat. Its rationale, as stated by Shah, is based on global clean-energy demand and a competitive position relative to Chinese suppliers. The report does not provide a financing structure, projected employment numbers, expected export volumes or details of any US incentives, so the broader economic impact cannot yet be established.
For India’s built environment and energy transition, the key issue is whether manufacturing announcements become functioning, technologically current production lines. Solar capacity is ultimately relevant to cities, industries and households through the electricity projects that use the equipment. That link depends on production reliability, not only on announced gigawatts.
## The larger urban and infrastructure question
Solar manufacturing is often treated as an industrial-sector story, but its consequences extend into infrastructure planning. Renewable-energy deployment requires a dependable supply of modules, cells and upstream inputs. If one part of the chain expands much faster than another, project execution and procurement can be affected, even when the overall manufacturing headline appears positive.
The Solex announcement illustrates why capacity data needs to be read alongside operational status, technology and policy rules. India’s reported 262 GW of module capacity and 37 GW of cell capacity show a substantial imbalance. The company’s call for more time under ALMM-II indicates that manufacturers see cell availability as an immediate implementation concern, while its own investment roadmap shows how firms are responding by pursuing upstream integration and overseas markets.
What is established is that Solex is studying US manufacturing opportunities, expanding its planned Indian capacity and seeking a possible 12-month extension to ALMM-II because of cell availability. What remains unresolved is the location, scale, timing and financing of its US projects, as well as how quickly India’s cell and wafer capacity will become operational. Those details will determine whether the announcement represents an early-stage corporate plan or the beginning of a measurable shift in solar supply-chain geography.

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Demonstrating visionary insight and unwavering environmental commitment to leave an environmental legacy at ninety-two years old, beloved former president Jimmy Carter decided to give up ten acres of his historic farm in Plains, Georgia, to install thousands of solar panels. Far from keeping the lands dedicated exclusively to traditional peanut and soy harvesting, the political leader immediately accepted the proposal brought by SolAmerica Energy through his grandson, transforming the rural landscape into a sustainability beacon for the entire community.

While gleaming photovoltaic modules began capturing clean solar energy, Jimmy Carter himself reflected on the urgency of leaving fossil fuels behind and heavily betting on renewable sources in The United States, additionally recalling the bitter occasion when solar panels he installed at the White House during his term were removed by his successor Ronald Reagan.
Likewise, operating with astonishing capacity to supply a vast portion of local inhabitants, the solar energy photovoltaic plant driven by Jimmy Carter rapidly became an efficiency model within the state of Georgia and also an environmental legacy. Even though the farm’s agricultural grounds generate modest revenues for the presidential family, the primary goal never tied into commercial profit, but rather into consolidating profound change against policies from administrations reluctant to ecological transition. Thus, the twenty-five-year contractual agreement guarantees that the green legacy structured by Jimmy Carter and his solar panels will continue injecting clean energy into the main grid until 2042, proving that solar energy convictions defended by Carter since the 1970s transcended his own presidency in The United States to inspire new generations.
 
 
Una publicación compartida de Christina Lorey (@christinalorey)
On the other hand, consolidating himself as an unquestionable benchmark of ecological activism from his own home, the initiative developed by Jimmy Carter left a mark and an environmental legacy in clean technology development across the southern part of the country. Consequently, while political discussions regarding climate crisis occupied national headlines, earthly commitment shown by Carter exhibited that political leaders generate real transformations from their private properties. Thus, while the solar energy plant and its solar panels keep operating under strict performance standards, the former president’s figure stands firm as an absolute pioneer who converted his Georgia farm fields into an eternal symbol of hope, proving that betting on solar energy was a decision as courageous as it was accurate for the planet’s future.

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Redefining for a better future.
Wednesday, 14 January 2026: Eskom is continuing to make it easier and cheaper for residential and business customers with solar PV or other Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems to meet the legal requirement to register them with the electricity service provider.
Under Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, all systems under 100 kilovolt-amperes (kVA)must be registered with the network service provider (Eskom or municipalities) and comply with grid code requirements.
The vast majority of residential systems are under 50kVA. All registration and connection fees of up to R10,000, including a free smart meter, are waived until 31 March 2026 for Eskom household customer solar systems up to 50kVA.
Compliance simplified
Since 1 October 2025, Eskom has simplified solar system compliance after working with industry stakeholders. Eskom’s residential customers may now have their systems signed off by a Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) registered person (excluding single-phase testers).  An Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) registered professional is no longer mandatory. This follows a review of compliance and safety requirements as well as a stringent due diligence process, pending the expected changes by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) of wiring standards.
Registration of an SSEG system is commonplace worldwide and helps ensure a home or business is safe, technicians are protected when working on the network and the community electricity supply remains reliable.
Eskom is working with key national organisations, including South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities – Southern Africa (AMEU), South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), Electrical Conformance Board (ECB), and Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (ECA), to simplify and harmonise SSEG rules across the country.
Key customer benefits at a glance
Who needs to register?
Documents customers need to submit
Quick Registration
For more information
Eskom remains committed to safe, affordable and legally compliant solar PV integration for all customers.
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Fedgroup has closed a R51.8 million private capital deal with Coega Steels to fund 75% of a 7.1 MWp solar PV installation. The financing is structured as an Instalment Sale Agreement, with Coega Steels contributing a 25% deposit of R17.3 million.
The installation is being delivered in partnership with Emergent Energy and combines rooftop and ground mounted solar across the Coega Steels site in the Coega IDZ. Once fully operational, the system is expected to generate about 9.3 GWh in its first year, using 11,420 panels spread across multiple installation areas.
The system comprises a 2.5 MWp installation on the new building, a 1.4 MWp installation on the existing building and a 3.2 MWp ground mounted component. Together, these are expected to deliver first year electricity savings of roughly R19.2 million. Coega Steels plans to add a further 19.8 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2027. Fedgroup hopes to support this phase through direct funding of additional income-generating energy infrastructure.
For a manufacturer that operates around the clock, the project represents a material shift towards lower cost and more resilient energy. Coega Steels works in an environment where energy reliability and cost control are business critical, and the installation will reduce its reliance on grid electricity while supporting its move towards greener steel production. The scale of the system is matched to the demands of heavy industrial operations.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal






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Rural Nevada solar project nears approval despite opposition  AOL.com
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Module prices in China softened during the week of 22 to 28 October, as manufacturers accelerated shipments to hit annual targets with only about two months left in 2026, InfoLink Consulting reported in its latest weekly spot price update.
The TOPCon price for distributed projects dropped by about 0.7% to RMB 0.735/W, while the overall average slipped by roughly 0.3% to RMB 0.717/W. Suppliers are gradually offering concessions to support deliveries. Actual TOPCon delivery prices stand at RMB 0.65 to RMB 0.71/W for ground mounted projects and RMB 0.68 to RMB 0.76/W for distributed projects. BC modules command a premium, at RMB 0.75 to RMB 0.77/W for ground mounted projects and RMB 0.78 to RMB 0.81/W for distributed projects.
Strategies are diverging across the value chain. Wafer and cell producers have started raising quotes, driven by the pace of downstream shipments and year end demand from ground mounted projects in China. Module manufacturers, facing weak demand, are focused on drawing down inventories and are lowering prices to move product faster. N type 210N cell prices rose to an average of RMB 0.305/W and are expected to reach RMB 0.31/W next week, while 183N and 210RN cells were flat at RMB 0.30/W and RMB 0.31/W respectively. Quotes for 210RN are starting to soften, and the market expects prices to fall in late November.
Upstream, polysilicon prices held at roughly RMB 40 to RMB 43/kg for n type recycled material and RMB 40 to RMB 41/kg for granular material. Trading was subdued, with high industry inventories and cautious buyers limiting activity, although production cuts that began in October and are expected to continue in November are providing a price floor. Wafer prices were broadly stable, with 210N at RMB 1.13 to RMB 1.15/piece.
Outside China, the average TOPCon module price stayed at US$0.114/W. In the Middle East, regional conflict continues to disrupt shipments and cause logistics delays, leaving deliveries constrained for now. European module prices held steady this week.
In the US, the latest Section 232 announcement of 6 August is expected to unsettle price trends. With the minimum import price acting as a floor, prices for both imported and domestically made modules are forecast to rise once the measures take effect. In India, a small number of recent orders have edged higher, driven by early stocking linked to the US measures. Increases have been more pronounced for projects not subject to the Domestic Content Requirement, while prices for DCR projects have changed little as demand there is mainly domestic.
For African developers and procurement teams, the softening in China module prices may offer short term buying opportunities, although rising wafer and cell costs and shifting trade policy elsewhere could influence pricing in the months ahead.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal






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U.S. Government Accountability Office
This Spotlight examines evolving solar cell technology. Most electricity-generating solar cells are made with crystalline silicon in a process that is complex, expensive, and energy-intensive. Alternative materials may perform better and be easier and cheaper to make. Some absorb light 10-100 times more efficiently using thin films. In addition, these cells can be manufactured quickly and easily, reducing cost.
Some alternative materials remain in the early stages of research and development but others are already in use. For example, cadmium telluride solar cells are produced commercially and cost about the same as crystalline silicon cells.

US generation of electricity from solar energy could grow six-fold by 2050. Alternatives to commonly used crystalline silicon cells may reduce material usage, manufacturing capital expenditures, and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these new materials, however, are under development, and more research is needed to better understand their potential.
What is it? Most solar cells (the components that generate electricity from sunlight) are currently produced with crystalline silicon in a process that is complex, expensive, and energy-intensive. Alternative materials—such as cadmium telluride, amorphous silicon, perovskites, and organic (carbon-containing) compounds—applied in thin layers of film may perform better and be easier and cheaper to manufacture.
How does it work? As sunlight shines on a solar cell, some of the energy is absorbed to generate electricity either for immediate use or for storage in batteries (see fig. 1). The more readily a given solar cell absorbs light and transforms it into electricity, the higher its efficiency. The electric current generated by sunlight flows through wires that connect the front and back contacts of the solar cell.

Figure 1. A simplified representation of how a solar cell generates an electric current.
Some alternative materials absorb light 10 to 100 times more strongly than crystalline silicon, allowing them to produce electricity using less material. In turn, solar cells made with these materials are typically thinner and weigh less. In addition, these thin film solar cells can be manufactured quickly, reducing cost.
How mature is it? The maturity of these alternative materials varies widely, with some currently used to manufacture solar cells and others in the early stages of research and development. For example, cadmium telluride cells and copper indium gallium diselinide cells together account for roughly 10 percent of current solar cells and they are already cost-competitive with crystalline silicon cells.
Novel solar cells under development use a variety of materials. Among them is amorphous silicon, which is non-crystalline and can be deposited as a thin film. Perovskites are an emerging class of materials with rapidly increasing efficiencies. Organic materials offer yet another option for thin films. They consist of carbon-containing compounds, either long chains or molecules, tailored to absorb specific wavelengths of light. Researchers are also investigating the use of quantum dots—microscopic particles of compounds such as cadmium telluride, cadmium selenide, indium phosphide, or zinc selenide, that are able to produce electricity from light.
Although these diverse materials differ in their chemical composition, they all fall under the category known as thin films because of the extremely thin layer—comparable in thickness to a red blood cell—in which they are applied (see fig. 2). In addition to being easy to produce and relatively inexpensive, these materials can be deposited on a variety of substrates, including flexible plastics in some cases.

Figure 2. Current and potential alternative materials for solar cells are applied in extremely thin layers, with emerging materials being the thinnest.
In addition to absorbing light, solar cells must convert it to electricity. While promising, commercial thin film solar cells currently average a conversion efficiency in the range of 12 to 15 percent, compared to 15 to 21 percent for crystalline silicon, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study. In addition, they require appropriate sealing materials to protect them from ambient oxygen and moisture. As a result, many alternative solar cell materials are currently under development or limited to specialized applications.
As alternative materials for solar cells continue to evolve and mature, some key questions that policymakers could consider include:
For more information, contact Karen Howard at 202-512-6888 or HowardK@gao.gov.
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A car roof can only catch so much sunlight, and adding more panels brings its own problems.
A solar roof seems like an ideal EV accessory. Park outside, skip plugging it in, and drive away with a full battery. The problem is that even a relatively large car roof provides little room to harvest solar energy, and driving a modern EV requires significant electricity.
You might think to add more panels. However, additional hardware hinders the car in more ways than one. Added weight requires electric motors to work harder and thus draw more energy. Furthermore, extra hardware can compromise aerodynamics, increasing drag and lowering efficiency. 
Car makers are attempting to overcome these limitations by testing solar panels that can be stretched when a vehicle is parked, along with light EVs that can go further on each watt-hour. However, implementing these concepts comes with practical challenges, which we’ll explore.
In comparison, RVs are better suited to rooftop solar since panels (such as Winnebago’s 210W system on the Revel Sport) can be used to power lights, fans and refrigerators. They’re not expected to help move the vehicle.
Begin with the numbers. The EPA estimates the median model-year 2025 EV uses 39kWh per 100 miles, or 390Wh per mile. Let’s assume that a 400W solar array is mounted on approximately 22 square feet of an EV’s roof. If it generated its rated output for four hours, it would only produce 1.6kWh before charging losses. This is sufficient energy for approximately 4 miles at the EPA’s average consumption rate.
And that’s assuming favorable conditions. Shade, cloudy weather, heat and unfavorable parking angles can all reduce solar output. You also have limited roof space. Still, we can’t help but think of Squad Mobility’s tiny solar-powered EV, which pairs a 250W roof panel with a 794-pound city car.
Larger arrays add weight and may increase aerodynamic drag, especially when mounted above the bodywork. Panels that are integrated flush with the roof can largely avoid the aerodynamic penalty, but not the space issue. The compromise is demonstrated in Nissan’s Ao-Solar Extender prototype for its Sakura EV, which generates up to 300W with the panel retracted for driving. When the car is parked, an extra panel slides over the windshield to increase the output to 500W. The expandable configuration provides Nissan with more collecting area without a big panel protruding at highway speeds.
Instead of attempting to cram a massive solar panel on a traditional vehicle, Aptera has designed an EV featuring a teardrop-shaped body with three wheels, just two seats and lightweight composite construction. That’s quite different from the median model-year 2025 EV. Aptera is aiming for 100Wh per mile, which is about a fourth of the EPA’s median EV consumption.
Aptera’s solar panels have delivered measurable results. During July testing in Southern California, TÜV Rheinland measured 4.23kWh delivered to an Aptera prototype’s battery, with the car parked, untouched and its hatch closed. At Aptera’s targeted efficiency, that equates to about 42 miles of solar range. That could translate to plugging in less often for someone who has a short commute and a sunny parking spot. Still, garage parking, a few days of cloudy skies or a long road trip alters the equation. The test also confirmed the electricity collected, not how far the car could actually drive on it.
History has shown that Aptera’s goal isn’t easy. For example, Lightyear suspended production of its first solar EV in January 2023, just weeks after deliveries began. Lightyear’s operating company, Atlas Technologies, entered bankruptcy days later. 
Aptera has yet to announce a final selling price, but the Launch Edition has a target price of $40,000. The company says in its October 1 SEC filing that it plans to begin building its first 40 production vehicles by the end of 2026, with customer deliveries expected in early 2027, subject to financing, supplier performance and regulatory approvals.

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Energies Media
The energy industry has long been associated with a tremendous number of hurdles that developers have to overcome if they want to pursue certain projects. However, ever since the clean energy transition started, various nations, including the United States, have reduced the number of restrictions that companies are facing because they understand the importance of achieving their clean energy targets. This explains the abundance of projects that have materialized after companies became aware that there is a path of less resistance that they can take to ensure that electricity is made available. As of late, T1 Energy secured a federal waiver to keep Texas solar manufacturing moving.
One of the keys to success in the energy industry lies in a company’s ability to capitalize on any momentum that it is experiencing because there are no guarantees that the environment will always allow it to generate revenue and execute captivating projects, especially considering the rapid pace at which the industry evolves.
T1 Energy Inc. is an energy solutions provider that is currently focused on establishing an integrated U.S. supply chain for solar. The solar sector was once regarded as a very risky investment because developers knew there was no way to guarantee the consistent availability of sunlight throughout the year, but nowadays, technology allows them to overcome all challenges.
In December 2024, T1 completed a transformative transaction, positioning the company as one of the leading solar manufacturing companies in the United States, with a complementary solar and storage strategy. Based in the U.S. with plans to expand its operations in America, the company is also exploring value optimization opportunities across its portfolio assets in Europe.
A press release from T1 Energy Inc. announced that the company has received a waiver from the Department of Commerce that supports its advanced photovoltaic manufacturing activities and plans to expand U.S. solar cell manufacturing. One of the biggest advantages for the United States during the clean energy transition is that there are various governmental bodies that are actively involved in ensuring that projects can be executed with ease.
T1 is a company that industry experts believe is in the process of shaping the future direction of the solar energy sector, as the company heavily incorporates technological innovation in its projects. T1 is the largest American-owned manufacturer of silicon-based TOPCon solar modules. In this particular instance, the company asked for the expedited waiver to import up to 1.725 GW of solar cells to facilitate uninterrupted manufacturing at T1’s G1_Dallas solar module facility in order to meet existing and expected contract demand.  
Texas has become the national leader in utility-scale solar energy production, surpassing California in 2025. In 2025, solar power generation across the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid officially overtook coal-fired generation for the first time. Texas accounts for an estimated 19.8% of total U.S. utility-scale solar generation.
According to reports, the cumulative utility-scale solar capacity has surged past 55,000 MWdc, with Texas projected to lead the nation in new additions. The abundant open terrain in West Texas combined with high solar insolation is known to make large-scale farm development fast and cost-effective.
T1 Energy is well-respected for supporting the proclamation and believes the Commerce Department’s action improves American manufacturing and provides a foundation for a thriving solar industry. The company requested the waiver in order to ensure access to necessary solar cells for a limited duration while construction on the 2.1 GW Phase 1 of the company’s G2_Austin solar cell fab in Rockdale, Texas continues.
The waiver relates to the Trump Administration’s Section 232 proclamation in August that takes essential steps to prevent market dumping and price manipulation of imported polysilicon and solar products that are derived from polysilicon.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.

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A new solar project was just installed in the US. 
Set a timer for 60 seconds and wait. Maybe take a step outside and soak up some sunlight. 
Zing!—another solar project was just installed. 
The sun is shining on the solar industry; the numbers are impressive. Today, there is enough solar capacity in the US to power the equivalent of 23 million homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). That’s 126 gigawatts (GW), coming from millions of solar systems across the country.  
The US solar industry was valued at $33 billion in 2021, employed more than 230,000 people, and continued to grow in power capacity at an average rate of 33 percent per year.  
Solar panels generated almost 4 percent of electricity in the US in 2021, up from less than 1 percent in 2015. In some places that number is much higher; for example, 17% of California’s electricity generation came from solar in 2021. Almost half of all new energy capacity added to the US grid in 2021 came from solar. Even more encouraging, by 2030, the solar industry aims to generate nearly a third of US electricity.  
With so many solar panels planned for the coming years, you might be wondering: what exactly are solar panels and how are they made? 
There are two types of solar technology for electricity generation. The most common are photovoltaic (PV) panels or modules, which use the sun’s light to make electricity. Another technology, concentrating solar power (CSP), uses the sun’s heat instead. 
The most common type of PV panel is made using crystalline-silicon (c-SI). That technology accounts for 84% of US solar panels, according to the US Department of Energy. Other types include cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium (di)selenide panels, and thin-film amorphous silicon. Because c-SI panels compose most of the US and global market, I focus on them in this blog.
Building a crystalline silicon solar panel is a bit like building a sand castle, because silicon comes from sand! Beach sand is silicon dioxide, aka silica. (If beach patrol put that on a warning sign, I bet no one would step foot on the beach!). Silicon, in the form of silicon dioxide sand and gravel, is the second most abundant element on Earth, next to oxygen. 
Before it’s used in a solar panel, silicon dioxide must be turned into pure “metallurgical grade silicon” (MGS). This process uses a lot of energy: producing 1 kilogram of metallurgical grade silicon requires 14-16 kWh of power, which is roughly equivalent to using your home oven for seven hours. Still, over their lifetimes, solar panels emit 25 times less carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour than coal-powered electricity. 
Chemistry break! The recipe for cooking up metallurgical grade silicon is
Add 1 part silicon dioxide (gravel) and 2 parts carbon (sourced from coal, charcoal, or wood chips) to an electric arc furnace 
Crank up the heat to 2200 degrees Celsius (this is a third of the temperature of the sun!!) 
Ta-da! You’re left with 99% pure silicon and carbon monoxide (that’s from the carbon we added, bonded to the oxygen we removed from the silicon dioxide) 
But solar panels are perfectionists; they demand silicon to be close to 100% purity. To achieve that, we need to upgrade the silicon into an even more pure polysilicon metal using a process that involves hydrochloric acid and hydrogen gas. (Fun fact: about 12% of the world’s silicon production is currently processed into polysilicon for solar panels.)
After adding the acid and gas, we are left with chunks of polysilicon metal, which are typically melted down again in a roughly 5-meter-long cylindrical mold. Boron is added to give the metal a positive electric charge on one side. The hot, melty silicon cools and forms a single crystal (“monocrystalline”) structure as a cylindrical ingot. Ingots are any material cast into a rectangular shape, like bars of gold.
(Another process is used to make “polycrystalline” silicon wafers, in which multiple crystals form. This process tends to lead to less efficient panels but can reduce the cost of wafers.)
Next, a wire saw cuts the pure metal blocks of polysilicon into paper-thin, typically 7-inch by 7-inch flat slices called wafers.
The wafers are heated in an oven and a thin layer of phosphorous is added, giving one side (the opposite of the positive boron side) a negative charge. Next, an anti-reflective coating is added to the wafers because without it these shiny disks reflect sunlight—and we want them to absorb it instead. At this stage, the wafers are now capable of absorbing the sun’s energy and converting it into electrons. Now we need to add silver metal conductors so those electrons can get turned into an electrical current that devices can use! 
Silver—the most conductive element in the world—intercepts the electrons in the silicon wafers and turns them into current. The silicon wafers now form a conductive solar cell. Each solar panel, usually containing 60 or 72 cells, uses about 20 grams of silver—a fraction of the panel’s weight but about 10% of its total cost.  
Copper metal conductors and wiring connect the solar cells together into one big solar panel, giving it the classic matrix appearance. Copper is a good electrical conductor and very malleable, making it a great material for forming the wiring that moves the current through the panel.
Zap! A solar panel has been made.
Now multiply it by about 60 million for the US alone, each year.  
And then speed it up because we need solar to play an ever-growing role in achieving our clean energy and climate goals.  
There’s a lot that goes into making solar happen beyond building panels, but responsibly accelerating solar panel manufacturing and installation is a critical step in the journey towards a just, sustainable renewable energy future.  
Want to learn more about the solar panel supply chain? Which countries are driving PV material mining and PV manufacturing? What does the solar panel repair and reuse industry look like today? How can we recycle solar panel materials and create a lower-waste circular supply chain? Click the links for answers!
Mining Raw Materials for Solar Panels: Problems and Solutions
Solar Panels Should Be Reused and Recycled. Here’s How
Posted in: Energy
Tags: Manufacturing, Renewable energy, renewable energy lifecycle, solar, solar PV
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Ultrathin organic solar cells could turn buildings into power generators  Science | AAAS
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Households across the UK are embracing solar power as the government accelerates its clean power mission.
Households across the UK are embracing solar power as the government accelerates its clean power mission to reduce Britain’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets following the outbreak of the war in Iran.
New government data published today shows that more than 27,000 solar installations were completed in March 2026 – the highest monthly total since 2012 – bringing the total number of solar installations across the UK to more than two million for the first time.
Solar capacity increased by 11.7% over the past year, adding 2.3 GW of clean, homegrown electricity to Britain’s energy mix. This growth means more British renewable power is being generated domestically, helping to protect families and businesses from international gas price shocks.
The record growth comes as the government steps up investment in solar power across homes, schools and communities to deliver its clean power mission and help cut energy bills. This includes:
This month saw a new record for solar generation, with National Energy System Operator data showing solar output passing 15 GW for the first time on Britain’s electricity system, underlining the pace at which clean, homegrown power is being rolled out.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 
The numbers speak for themselves – the highest monthly installation of solar in over a decade, rising capacity and more than 2 million solar installations now powering homes across Britain.  
This is our clean energy mission in action – helping families weather global energy shocks, bringing bills down, and getting Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster.
These installations build on the success of Great British Energy’s solar scheme, with the government backing the company to support a further 100 schools and colleges with rooftop solar installations this year.
In addition, subject to final approvals, the government is providing an extra £100 million for the Social Housing Fund, helping deliver up to 57,000 solar installations for households during this financial year.
See Solar photovoltaics deployment.
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First Solar, CubicPV Enter into US Patent Licensing Agreement  Business Wire
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“Critically, it will ensure that households across society can overcome any financial barriers.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Homeowners in the United Kingdom will face an added cost when purchasing solar panels and batteries, as a tax-free window closes April 1, 2027.
The change, which introduces a 5% value-added tax, comes alongside new financing support — but also budget cuts for cleaner home energy.
For U.K. households buying residential solar equipment or battery storage, VAT is not part of the bill, according to pv magazine.
Government backing for some of the lending risk is central to Warm Home Loans, which is intended to help finance solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps. The government published guidance for the program alongside the tax change.
Adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages and save money on energy. By storing electricity for later use, batteries can also give households greater energy independence.
For U.S. homeowners exploring those benefits, EnergySage offers information on home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with electrification brand Qmerit to help homeowners get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme remained in place despite predictions that it would be canceled, but its future budget was reduced by around £700 million, or $932 million.
The government committed £400 million ($536 million) for 2027-28, with later funding increases expected to roughly track inflation. Previous allocations were £600 million ($804 million) for 2027-28, £683 million ($915 million) for 2028-29, and £709 million ($950 million) for 2029-30.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
Between May 2022 and August 2026, the scheme received 151,136 voucher applications, with 98% seeking air-to-water heat pumps, the U.K. government said. Still, installations remain well below the government’s target of 450,000 heat pumps annually by 2030.
The broader Warm Homes Plan will receive a further £335 million ($449 million) in 2027. However, £1 billion ($1.3 billion) is being removed from its multi-year budget to help fund defense.
U.K. government guidance leaves room for a mix of funding sources: consumers may be able to reduce financing costs further by using grants or other support together with Warm Home Loans.
An installer, retailer, or mortgage provider can serve as an applicant’s route to financing; applying directly to a participating lender is another option. Listed participants include HomeServe Finance, Hometree Finance, Sunsave Energy, and Tandem Bank, according to the U.K. government.
A further £100 million ($134 million) could be available to help social housing tenants, pending final approval. The funding would support up to 57,000 solar installations during the financial year covered by the announcement.
For homeowners in the U.S. considering smaller-scale backup, Pila offers another strong battery backup option. Pila’s plug-and-play batteries are priced at a fraction of what a whole-home backup system would cost.
Separately, the government pledged to eliminate fixed standing charges on gas bills and shift those costs into usage rates. It estimates that 60% of households could save around £45 ($60) annually.
Solar Energy UK’s chief executive, Chris Hewett, emphasized the loan program’s potential to make cleaner home energy more accessible.
“With the Warm Homes Loan Scheme now in place, more homes can go solar next year than ever before, taking control of their energy and insulating themselves from high energy bills,” Hewett said. “Critically, it will ensure that households across society can overcome any financial barriers, making sure that the benefits are felt where they are most needed.” 
The U.K.’s coming VAT change gives homeowners considering solar another reason to compare installation prices and financing options. These stories cover European energy policy and U.K. homeowners weighing installation quotes.
• The EU opened a national escape clause for solar, heat pumps, and batteries through 2028.
• A U.K. homeowner’s $4,000 solar-and-battery budget drew warnings that the target was much too optimistic.
• A London homeowner’s $20,000 solar-and-battery quote drew reassurance from owners who considered the price fair.
• A UK homeowner’s $7,400 bundle discount still left a solar quote other owners considered sky-high.
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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Energies Media
England’s large-scale solar projects are becoming more attentive to sensitive native habitats and protected species.
The nation is rapidly transitioning to renewable energy to meet national climate targets and modernize grid infrastructure.
However, the deployment of photovoltaics is often opposed due to concerns about ecological preservation.
Developers are now tasked with striking a careful balance between energy security and native species conservation.
Can innovative habitat management and long-term monitoring effectively support endangered wildlife?
England has relied on fossil fuels for power generation for a very long time.
Fortunately, the nation is eager to break this long-standing reliance.
A major historic milestone was reached in 2024, when England shut down its final coal-fired power plant.
However, the country still faces immense pressure from strict climate mandates and urgent grid modernization requirements.
Under national policy, 100% of electricity must be generated from clean sources by 2030.
This transition can be achieved by cutting grid carbon intensity to below 0.11 pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour.
At the same time, aging infrastructure and rapid residential and transport electrification require a total power network overhaul.
To relieve the nation’s mounting pressure, utility-scale renewable energy capacity growth must accelerate.
This is where the rapid deployment of large-scale solar arrays comes in.
It provides immediate, high-volume capacity needed to replace legacy power production while securing long-term grid stability.
Solar panel installations are increasing across England, playing a distinct role in securing its future energy resilience.
Yet rapid deployment continues to face significant bottlenecks across the country.
In fact, utility-scale solar projects are often opposed by local communities and rural advocacy groups.
Strong concerns have been expressed over the transformation of traditional agricultural landscapes.
Critics argue that covering farmland with photovoltaics will disrupt food production and degrade the open countryside.
Beyond agriculture, conservationists oppose solar development due to potential damage to local wildlife corridors and natural habitats.
Consequently, this resistance often delays planning approvals and slows the achievement of regional clean energy targets.
Fortunately, British Solar Renewables took a proactive approach to overcome these deployment challenges.
The company’s goal is to prove that solar generation and ecological conservation can coexist.
As a result, the Little Crow Solar Park and battery energy storage system (BESS) project was acquired and developed.
Targeted wildlife monitoring and interventions at solar farms can be highly transformative.
The Little Crow Solar Park and BESS project near Broughton in North Lincolnshire, England, exemplifies this.
It will generate roughly 169,800 MWh of clean electricity each year, which is enough to power approximately 44,696 homes.
The BESS will store up to 90 MW of power and support grid stability.
However, the project also commits to delivering a 140% Biodiversity Net Gain.
The solar park will include habitat improvements such as:
Crucially, the site will provide vital habitat for the threatened great crested newts.
 
This protected amphibian will be monitored in years five, ten, fifteen, and twenty, ensuring long-term population health.
Furthermore, selected arable land areas will continue to cultivate rare plant species.
Ground vegetation will be managed naturally using sheep grazing.
Little Crow is currently advancing through its pre-construction phases toward full operational status.
It has cleared development consenting.
Its broad land management strategy serves as a vital framework for future utility-scale clean energy projects.
Ultimately, it proves that massive solar-and-battery projects can expand without compromising native ecosystems by implementing targeted ecological interventions during planning.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.

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ENGIE commissions 450 MW of solar capacity in India through its 250 MW Khaba project in Rajasthan and 200 MW Khavda project in Gujarat, taking forward its renewable energy expansion.
October 30, 2026. By News Bureau
ENGIE announces that two major solar projects are now fully operational in India: the 250 MW Khaba project in Rajasthan and the 200 MW Khavda project in Gujarat, with a combined capacity of 450 MW.
These two assets further strengthen the Group’s renewable footprint in the country and demonstrate its ability to deliver large-scale developments while supporting local communities and contributing to regional economic activity, with approximately 80 percent of the construction workforce hired locally.
This operation comes around when ENGIE has secured its first battery storage projects: a 280 MW / 560 MWh BESS in November 2025 and, in January 2026, a hybrid project combining 200 MW of solar with a 100 MW / 600 MWh battery storage system.
Amit Jain, CEO and Country Manager India, Managing Director Renewables & Batteries SEA, ENGIE said, “The commissioning of the Khaba and Khavda solar projects marks an important milestone for ENGIE in India, adding 450 MW of new renewable capacity to our operational portfolio. Delivering projects of this scale requires strong execution, operational discipline and close collaboration with local communities. With the majority of our construction workforce hired locally, these projects also reflect our commitment to creating value beyond clean energy generation. As India’s energy needs evolve, we remain focused on building reliable, high-quality renewable infrastructure across solar, battery storage and hybrid solutions to support a cleaner, more resilient and energy-secure future for the country.”
Located in Barmer, Rajasthan, the 250 MW Khaba solar project has been developed through Khaba Renewable Energy Private, a wholly owned subsidiary of ENGIE. Each year, the project will generate approximately 650 GWh of electricity and avoid nearly 180 kilotonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Pedro Vasconcelos, ENGIE Executive Vice President in charge of Renewable and Flexible Power, said, “India is a key growth market for ENGIE, where we are continuing to build scale and momentum as we contribute to one of the world’s major energy transitions. As the market evolves, we also see increasing opportunities in corporate PPAs and in combining renewable generation with more sophisticated energy management and flexibility solutions. Our ambition is to build on this momentum and use these capabilities to create additional value for our customers and for ENGIE.”
Located within the Khavda Renewable Energy Park in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, the 200 MW solar photovoltaic park has been developed through Enren II Energy Private Limited. The project, contracted to supply electricity to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), will generate approximately 350 GWh of electricity annually.

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Evolving Climate Risks Are Reshaping RE Insurance: Amitabh Dewan, Policybazaar for Business

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Students from the Training Center of Central Texas (TCCT) tour the Big Elm Solar project on Monday near Troy.

Education Reporter
Students from the Training Center of Central Texas (TCCT) tour the Big Elm Solar project on Monday near Troy.
TROY — Students enrolled in the Solar Maintenance Technician program at the Training Center of Central Texas (TCCT) in Harker Heights visited the Big Elm Solar project last week. However, the tour of the facility was more than just a field trip, according to Reginald Hodges, president and CEO of the training center.
“I believe it represents an important story for Central Texas and potentially the nation,” Hodges said.
On Monday, Big Elm facility manager Adam Smith led about 20 candidates enrolled in TCCT’s 15-week solar maintenance program around the 200-megawatt solar project, owned and operated by Virginia-based renewable energy company Apex Clean Energy.
According to ERCOT a single megawatt is enough to serve about 250 residential customers during ERCOT peak hours.
The students got a closer look at the site that sits on 3,000 acres of land near Troy in northern Bell County. They were given the opportunity to ask questions and familiarize themselves with the solar project, similar to the type of facility they may work at after graduating from the program in the coming weeks.
According to TCCT’s website, its solar maintenance course was developed in partnership with Leeward Renewable Energy and is aimed at preparing students for immediate employment through a direct hiring pipeline.
The center’s website explains that the program is designed specifically for the utility-scale solar industry, not residential installations. Through the course, students can train on Sungrow 3600 inverters, PowerTitan battery energy storage systems, drones, and virtual reality simulations to prepare for field conditions.
However, TCCT may soon expand the educational offerings available through the course.
“The missing piece in many workforce programs is the connection between classroom training and verified competency in an actual operating environment,” Hodges said. “Through our developing partnership with Apex Clean Energy, we are working to close that gap.”
He said TCCT’s vision is to expand its training beyond its Harker Heights campus and into an operating utility-scale solar facility, where students can gain supervised field experience and demonstrate competencies aligned with emerging national certification standards.
“That is why Big Elm is so important. We are not simply visiting a solar farm,” Hodges said. “We are working toward establishing an extension of our training environment at an actual operating energy facility.”
According to Hodges, the program’s current cohort is participating in the pilot of a new national certification pathway being developed with the American Clean Power Association’s Clean Power Institute. However, he stated that the certification process is still being finalized.
“It would be more accurate to describe these students as the first cohort preparing for the new national certification pathway rather than having already secured a finalized certification upon graduation,” Hodges said.
He mentioned that TCCT is also working closely with Apex on the logistics for incorporating practical field assessments at Big Elm into that pathway.
“National certification integration and the role of operating-site final assessments remain in development and require formal approval,” he said.
According to Apex spokeswoman Cat Strumlauf, Big Elm will host students in TCCT’s Solar Maintenance Technician program for their assessments, through a partnership with the Clean Power Institute. TCCT plans to bring students out about once a quarter.
“The assessments are visual. With their teachers on site, students identify key components — inverters, combiner boxes, tracker systems, etc. — and walk through how power moves from that equipment to the substation and onto the grid,” Strumlauf said. “Students and teachers won’t do any hands-on work.”
The solar site also has ties to some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
Strumlauf stated that the Consortium for Climate Solutions, which includes several Massachusetts organizations, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Big Elm several years ago.
Harvard’s Office of Sustainability webpage explains that a VPPA is a long-term financial contract through which an organization supports the development of a renewable energy project without physically receiving the electricity.
“A single buyer, or group of buyers, agrees to a fixed price for the electricity a renewable energy project is expected to generate. The project developer sells the electricity into the local wholesale market at the prevailing market price,” the webpage says. “The VPPA functions as a financial settlement: if the market price is below the fixed price, the buyer pays the developer the difference; if the market price is above the fixed price, the developer pays the buyer the difference.”
Harvard stated that the Consortium enables greater renewable energy investment through the Big Elm Solar project in Bell County and Bowman Wind, an Apex wind energy project in North Dakota.
According to the university, the two electricity projects, combined with ongoing renewable electricity procurement in New England, provide Harvard with the equivalent of 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, fulfilling a key component of its goal to be fossil fuel-neutral by 2026.
In a 2024 news release announcing the VPPAs for Big Elm Solar and Bowman Wind with the Consortium, Apex stated that, beyond their environmental benefits, the two projects would generate about $64 million in tax revenue for their communities
“These projects will provide new sources of clean electricity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support a more resilient and diverse electricity grid, and collectively will generate clean power equal to the electricity use of 130,000 U.S. homes for each year of the 15-year duration of the contracts,” Apex said.

Education Reporter
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Area police reports indicated:
A Killeen man will have to complete a violence intervention program after he pleaded guilty to assaulting an elderly person whom he accused of taking his marijuana, according to court records.
Area police reports indicated:
Bell County indictments released Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026:
Police said that a conflict over flirting led to a murder in Killeen earlier this year followed by an indictment of a 28-year-old man this week.
Area police reports indicated:
Killeen police have arrested and charged a 21-year-old man with a felony after he was accused of crashing his SUV into a residence last week, injuring two people who were asleep.
Area police reports indicated:
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Energies Media
Considering the abundance of companies that are all vying to become pioneers in the solar sector, there are some companies that are choosing a different route by experimenting with certain projects that will allow them to stand out from the rest and occupy their own unique lane. Companies that are based in the United States have a huge advantage because they are based in one of the leading solar energy markets in the world. Additionally, the U.S. has a wide range of access to wealth and resources that allow it to execute projects that not all countries may be capable of. Recently, a Virginia developer signed a 25-year deal for the first commercial solar-thermal project in India.
247Solar is a company that is known for delivering modular, always-on renewable power and heat to industrial and infrastructure customers worldwide. The company is built on a foundation of technology that originated at MIT and is supported by a deep intellectual property portfolio. Its systems are known to assist customers in reaching net-zero objectives with strong economics and high reliability.
There are expectations from industry experts that 247Solar can enhance its reputation on a worldwide basis and be among the most recognizable companies in the world. Pursuing an initiative in India is massive considering how much respect the nation has gained for its dominance in solar generation. India is the world’s third-largest solar power producer, with a total installed solar capacity that reaches roughly 164.59 GW as of mid-2026.
According to a press release from 247Solar, India’s largest electric utility, NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation, has signed a power purchase agreement with 247Solar, a Virginia-based company that has greatly improved on the first generation of solar thermal technologies for generating round-the-clock clean electricity.
There will be a number of U.S. based companies that are paying close attention to this initiative because it could create a blueprint for how they can approach future energy generation. The deployment is expected to be 247Solar’s initial commercial project, an essential milestone for overcoming the intermittency of conventional clean energy technologies.
For India, the collaboration with a U.S. based company comes at the most fitting time, considering that the nation is aiming to meet surging electricity demand, and its utilities have recently built coal capacity alongside solar and wind power to cover the gap that was left by photovoltaic panels when the sun sets and during bad weather.  
NTPC is expected to test whether 247Solar’s system is capable of closing the gap and reducing the utility’s reliance on coal. This is not a huge surprise considering that India, like most countries, is part of the clean energy transition.
With the success of this initiative, its backers expect the utility to look at expanding the technology more broadly across India. In India, the solar capacity has grown dramatically from an estimated 3 GW in 2014 to over 160 GW today, mainly because of the Press Information Bureau’s clean energy updates.  
India is in a position where the quantity of projects is not of great importance, but the quality of initiatives is highly essential, which means each project must bring something new. The new version of solar thermal solves the problem of intermittent solar and wind power and avoids spending on outdated, expensive, and dirty coal plants. India’s rapid growth needs more clean, reliable, and affordable energy.   
India is aiming to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with solar expected to contribute almost 292 GW to that goal, which explains the government’s decision to facilitate deals such as the one reached with 247Solar.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.

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Reporter
The calculator comes as SEAI has increased its Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant for solar PV from about 23% to 45% of eligible costs, for nine months from October 6.
“Farmers want to generate their own power, but the cost has been a barrier since ranking and selection was introduced in TAMS,” said IFA Kilkenny Chair, Brendan Hickey.
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“IFA lobbied the Government hard for a better grant, and the increase to 45% is a real step forward. I encourage every farmer who is thinking about solar to use the calculator, get a survey and quote, and price their project now while the higher rate is available”.
SEAI Grant
The SEAI grant is a direct application, with no ranking or tranche wait.

Farmers are also advised to check with their accountant how Accelerated Capital Allowances may apply to their investment.
The 45% SEAI rate remains below the 60% available under the TAMS Solar Capital Investment Scheme, but only one in ten TAMS solar applications are currently being approved.
James Kelly, IFA Director of Organisation said: “IFA and Bord Gáis Energy have a tailored solar offering for farmers. To date we have successfully installed hundreds of systems on farm rooftops around Ireland.
“To see which grant and solar system could be right for you and your farm business, call 0818 989 498 or visit ifa.ie/solar.”
Meanwhile, IFA Renewables Chair Maurice Brady said a proportionate battery grant is now also an absolute necessity. He called on Minister Darragh O’Brien to to “address this as a matter of urgency.”
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Solex Energy’s plan to build solar module and cell manufacturing capacity in the United States is more than an overseas expansion proposal. It also highlights a structural imbalance within India’s renewable-energy supply chain: the country has reported module manufacturing capacity of about 262 GW, but cell capacity of only around 37 GW as of October 2026.
The Gujarat-based company is considering US investments as part of a $1.5 billion roadmap through 2030, according to Chairman and Managing Director Chetan Shah. The company currently operates a 4 GW module manufacturing facility in Gujarat and plans to raise its module capacity to 10 GW. It is also establishing 10 GW of cell manufacturing capacity and 2 GW of ingot and wafer production.
The proposed US facilities have not yet been detailed. Shah told PTI that the company is studying possible locations, investment requirements and other parameters. He did not disclose project specifics, citing regulatory compliance. The immediate announcement, therefore, is not a confirmed construction schedule or a finalised investment commitment in the US. It is an expansion plan being evaluated within a larger corporate investment programme.
Its significance lies in the supply-chain choices behind solar deployment. Solar modules are assembled from cells, while cells depend on upstream inputs such as wafers and ingots. A large module-making base without a comparable cell-manufacturing ecosystem can leave manufacturers dependent on limited domestic supplies or imports. Shah’s comments place that imbalance at the centre of the company’s argument for expanding across more stages of production.
The mismatch is considerable on the figures cited by the company chairman. India’s reported module manufacturing capacity is about seven times its cell capacity. But capacity figures do not automatically represent operational output. Shah said much of the installed module capacity consists of older mono PERC technology and that several facilities are non-operational. He also said newer module capacity has been established for TOPCon technology.
This distinction matters because nominal capacity can conceal the usable strength of an industrial system. A factory that is installed but inactive does not contribute to current supply. Similarly, a facility built around an older technology may not serve manufacturers or project developers seeking newer products. The information supplied by Solex does not provide utilisation rates, production volumes or a technology-wise breakdown of operating plants, so the precise scale of the effective capacity gap cannot be established from the available data.
The company’s US strategy is linked to both demand and trade conditions. Shah described the United States as the largest global solar market and said steep anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports leave India as the sole viable supplier of low-cost alternatives. He said Solex is seeking to use the US market’s demand for clean-energy components while positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to Chinese suppliers.
That positioning reflects how solar manufacturing is increasingly shaped by trade policy as well as by energy demand. For manufacturers, the location of a plant affects market access, compliance requirements and the commercial viability of exports. Solex’s proposed US study therefore sits at the intersection of industrial policy, international trade and the physical infrastructure needed to produce low-carbon energy equipment.
For India, the more immediate policy question is domestic. Shah said the industry is aligned with the government’s objectives under the ALMM-II framework and has invested thousands of crore in module capacity to support the country’s net-zero goals. He nevertheless called for an extension of ALMM-II by at least 12 months, citing the availability of cells under current market conditions.
The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers framework requires the sourcing of made-in-India cells from an approved list of module manufacturers, as described in the supplied report. The policy is intended to connect the growth of solar deployment with domestic manufacturing. However, the industry’s reported capacity figures show the difficulty of enforcing a domestic sourcing requirement when the upstream cell base is much smaller than the module base.
This is the institutional tension at the heart of the issue. A manufacturing policy can create demand for local production, but the production chain still needs sufficient capacity, compatible technology and functioning facilities. If module capacity expands faster than cell capacity, the constraint moves upstream. If the approved domestic supply is not available in adequate volume, project execution and manufacturer planning can come under pressure. Shah’s call for a 12-month extension is an industry position, not an announced government decision, and the source material does not indicate whether the government has accepted it.
The numbers also show why capacity announcements need to be read cautiously. Solex’s own Indian plans include a rise from 4 GW of module capacity to 10 GW, alongside 10 GW of cell manufacturing and 2 GW of ingot and wafer production. These are substantial planned capacities, but the report does not provide commissioning dates, financing details, plant locations beyond the existing Gujarat operation, or expected production levels. The same caution applies to the proposed US projects, for which the company has not disclosed locations or investment allocations.
The distinction between modules, cells and upstream materials is especially important for urban and infrastructure planning. Solar generation is ultimately deployed through buildings, industrial facilities, open land and electricity networks. But the equipment that enables that deployment is produced through industrial systems requiring land, power, logistics, skilled labour, capital and regulatory clearances. A shortage at any stage can affect how quickly renewable-energy projects move from procurement to construction and commissioning.
The source does not provide project-level evidence linking the reported manufacturing gap to delays in a specific solar park, rooftop programme or urban electricity project. It would therefore be premature to claim a direct impact on consumer tariffs, construction schedules or city-level power reliability. What the evidence does establish is a supply-chain imbalance identified by a company operating in the sector, combined with a policy framework that places greater emphasis on approved domestic sourcing.
Solex’s international ambitions also reveal the changing scale of India’s solar manufacturing industry. The company is not presenting the US as a substitute for its Indian expansion. Its roadmap includes larger domestic module and cell capacity as well as upstream production, while the US is being examined as an additional market. That suggests a strategy built around geographical diversification and deeper integration of manufacturing stages, although the company has not disclosed how the $1.5 billion would be divided between India and the US.
The next stage will determine whether these plans become operating assets. For the US proposal, the company has formed a team to assess investment requirements, locations and related parameters. For India, the outstanding questions concern the pace at which planned cell, ingot and wafer facilities become operational, the extent to which existing module capacity is usable, and how ALMM-II will be applied if cell availability remains constrained.
The evidence currently supports a clear conclusion but not a complete forecast. India has built a much larger reported module manufacturing base than cell manufacturing base, while older technology and non-operational capacity complicate the headline numbers. Solex Energy’s proposed US expansion responds to global demand and trade conditions, but it also underscores the need to evaluate solar manufacturing by operational capacity and supply-chain depth rather than by module announcements alone. The company’s next disclosures and any government decision on the ALMM-II timeline will clarify how the industry’s capacity gap is addressed.

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The City is investing R21 million in a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at Wesfleur Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in Atlantis aligned to its
efforts to reduce electricity costs over time while supporting more sustainable wastewater treatment operations. This is just one of the City’s recent pioneering energy security milestones. 
The installation comprises 1 680 solar panels with a total capacity of 1,04 MW, expected to generate approximately 1,75 million units of electricity annually,
equivalent to the electricity needs of around 365 households. The panels capture sunlight on both sides and face east and west, maximising electricity generation throughout the day. Six inverters convert the solar energy into electricity for use at the treatment
works.
‘This investment follows a similar R14,6m project at the Kraaifontein WWTW which the City launched in August 2024. Investing in state of the art renewable
energy infrastructure helps the City ease reliance on the electricity grid, lowers operating costs and contributes towards a reduced carbon footprint. Projects like this support our efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable metro,’ said Mayoral Committee
Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
Security measures include CCTV cameras and security lighting, with backup power providing up to 6,5 hours of lighting during an outage. Importantly, the
project has also created employment opportunities for 11 local workers.
‘The City also recently launched South Africa’s first metro-built hybrid power station. This R220m hybrid power facility, also located in Atlantis, has 12
850 solar panels and two utility-scale batteries, covering 15 hectares or roughly the area of 21 rugby fields. These projects are examples of the City’s commitment to energy security,’ said Alderman Limberg.
Cape Town is South Africa’s first city to achieve various other pioneering energy security milestones over the current municipal term, including:

Signing of two IPP Power Purchase Agreements – saving up to 21% below-Eskom rates – as part of an initial power procurement of up to 200MW to be bought on the open market.
The City further plans to procure up to 500MW from energy traders and aggregators, as well as further power generation from waste-to-energy producers.

The Municipal Energy Efficiency Programme across City operations – including streetlight and building retrofits, rooftop solar PV – has to date saved more than 427 GWh of electricity
and generated savings of approximately R625 million.

The municipal SSEG programme has seen 2,2 MW in solar generation so far installed across multiple municipal sites as part of a 25MW target within the next two years.


Enabling Capetonians to earn cash for power, with residents and businesses earning R67 million from selling 150 gigawatt hours of their excess solar power back to the City
in exchange for municipal bill credits and cash since June 2024. Over 250 MVA of rooftop PV has since been installed across the city, which effectively reduces pressure on the grid and improves energy resilience.

Introducing energy trading that is ‘wheeled’ across the City’s grid, with over 1 700 megawatt hours of power traded between power producers and consumers since 2024.

Completion of feasibility studies and readiness to engage the market for development of a City-owned 70MW hybrid solar PV and battery storage power plant in Paardevlei by 2029.


Successfully mitigating 24% of load-shedding during the extended Eskom generation crisis period – the only city to do so.
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Housing Society Saves Big by Going Solar: Central Scheme Drives Major Electricity Cost Reductions
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Housing society in Nalasopara East saves 90% on electricity bills by switching to solar power, highlighting benefits of government's solar energy scheme.
Mumbai: Amid rising electricity tariffs, a housing society named Saraswati Heights and its members in Nalasopara East are recording significant savings on their electricity costs after they decided to switch to solar energy.
The society decided to install a 25-kilowatt solar power system in its building. This has resulted in a reduction of monthly electricity bills by approximately 90 per cent, said many society residents.
Pradeep Mishra, a resident of the society, shared that the idea to install solar panels emerged a year ago. He and other residents gathered information about solar energy and various central government schemes online, and they collectively decided to move ahead with a solar power system.
According to Mishra, the society consulted several vendors before selecting one, based on an assessment of their services and proposals. Once the selection process was complete, the 25-kilowatt solar power system was installed within two to three months.
Mishra said that the subsidy amount, under the PM SuryGhar: Muft Bijli Yojana, was credited to the society’s bank account within just 15 days of the installation. The society received further subsidy of approximately 30 per cent, which significantly lowered the total project cost.
The society reports a substantial decrease in electricity expenses since the solar system became operational.
According to Mishra, monthly electricity bills have dropped by nearly 90 per cent compared to previous costs, providing the society with consistent financial savings.
Mishra and other individuals are now suggesting others to take advantage of the Central government’s solar energy scheme, stating that such initiatives have the potential to drastically alter expenses of ordinary citizens, housing societies, and small-scale consumers like them.
Besides savings, solar energy also plays a significant role in environmental conservation.
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Pradeep Mishra expressed gratitude to the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also appealed to other housing societies to adopt solar energy.
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Energies Media
Climate change is shaping decisions in business, government, and everyday life. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that cutting greenhouse gas emissions quickly is key to limiting future warming, while the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that the energy sector remains the largest contributor worldwide.
At the same time, clean energy innovation is moving fast. Researchers, utilities, and technology companies are testing solutions that could improve efficiency and increase security.
If you want to understand where the next breakthroughs may come from, these technologies deserve close attention.
Traditional silicon solar panels have become more affordable over the last decade. However, perovskite cells have attracted attention because they can convert sunlight into electricity efficiently while using less material.
Many developers now focus on tandem cells, which combine a perovskite layer with silicon. Each layer captures a different part of the solar spectrum, allowing the panel to generate more power from the same amount of sunlight.
If you want to research emerging technologies for your home, use a trusted VPN for Chrome to protect your data in the process.
Some industries remain difficult to electrify directly. Steel production, shipping, and certain manufacturing processes often require extremely high temperatures or energy-dense fuels.
Green hydrogen offers one potential solution. Producers create it by using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Companies can then use the hydrogen as a fuel or feedstock without relying on fossil fuels.
Renewables work best when storage systems can balance supply and demand. Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the market, but researchers are developing alternatives that address safety, durability, and scalability challenges.
Solid-state batteries replace liquid electrolytes with solid materials, which may improve safety and increase energy density. Flow designs use liquid electrolytes stored in external tanks, making them attractive for large-scale grid applications. Utilities can scale storage capacity by increasing tank size, a feature that suits long-duration storage projects.
Many coastal regions have strong winds over deep water where conventional offshore turbines can’t operate economically. Floating platforms solve that problem by supporting turbines on structures anchored to the seabed.
This approach opens access to vast new areas for renewable generation, including the United States, Norway, and Japan. As designs mature, developers could unlock further locations that previously were out of reach.
Modern electricity grids must manage growing numbers of solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, and distributed resources. Artificial intelligence helps operators process enormous amounts of data and respond more effectively to changing conditions.
AI systems can forecast demand, predict equipment failures, and optimize distribution in real time. Smarter grids help communities integrate more renewable energy without compromising reliability.
While no single innovation will solve every challenge, these kinds of advances show how quickly the sector is moving toward a cleaner, more flexible future.

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The Longmarsh Green Energy project would cover nearly 4,700 acres of farmland – an area larger than 2,600 football pitches
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When Martin Little, 76, and his family moved into their cottage near Tilney St Lawrence in rural Norfolk in 1980, they were searching for a place to raise their children while being surrounded by nature.
And for nearly 50 years, they enjoyed just that. But now, they and residents in the neighbouring villages of Fincham and Barton Bendish face the prospect of a 4,700-acre data centre being built, which they describe as an “existential threat” to the beauty of their picturesque surroundings.
The Longmarsh Green Energy project, which would be built near King’s Lynn, would require up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of energy at any given time, while an accompanying solar farm would generate up to 1.3GW to support it.
If approved, the two sites would become the largest solar farm in the UK, and one of the biggest data centres in the country, with developers Evolution Power Limited (EPL) saying it could attract £25bn of investment.
For many, the prospect of a “titanic” metal construction appearing outside their windows in the pretty villages has caused deep dismay.
Mr Little said: “We moved here because of the views, the fenlands and isolation. Once you’ve seen the skies and the rural views, it really gets to you. For us, our cottage will be surrounded on all four sides by a sea of glass.”
He added: “I would find it impossible to live here, but I can’t stay and I can’t leave. Who would buy my house? We are now all subject to planning blight and we couldn’t move if we wanted to.”
In Simon Power’s case, he and his wife moved back to Barton Bendish to their “forever home” last year, after spending the past 15 years in the surrounding community. But he fears the data centre could change their plans to stay.
“We have one of the lowest levels of light pollution in the UK,” he said. “It’s disheartening to think of five metre fences with lighting on top being constructed everywhere.”
One of their key concerns is the destruction of agricultural land – West Norfolk is one of the highest-yielding arable farming regions in the UK due to its high organic-rich soils and favourable climate.
“Due to its scale, it will destroy 4,695 acres of the best land in the country. It equates to 25.5 million loaves of bread if you put the whole area down to wheat farming.
“I think the point is that none of us are against data centres, as we are all users of data, and none of us are against solar power energy, as we all use electricity.
“What we’re against is the fact that you can put a data centre in many places, but you can only grow the sort of crops and the quality and volume of these crops on the land that we’ve got.
“It’s one thing to bang on about being independent and self-sufficient in data centres, but you also need to be that in food. You can’t eat data.”
Concerns have been raised over the impact on communities of data centres, which provide the computing power to train and run artificial intelligence (AI), among other things. Earlier this week, chancellor John Healey announced a British Data Centre ​Covenant, requiring operators to invest in local communities, create jobs and protect water supplies ​in return for priority grid connections.
Speaking from her Barton Bendish home, Emily Gerard, 35, looks out of her window as she said: “I’m looking out at a field which is absolutely beautiful. As it is flat land, we can see the landscape for miles; we get beautiful sunrises and sunsets and moonlight – we get an abundance of wildlife, a huge quantity of owls, badgers, deer and others. It’s really something; there’s not much to not love.”
The residents were informed of the plans on 15 October, when leaflets were placed through their letterboxes. EPL has said it hopes to have the project operational by 2032 and that it would create thousands of construction jobs, as well as an estimated 500 “direct operational” roles on site.
However, Mr Power said that while there had been “very generic broad sweeping statements” about community initiatives and jobs, they had received little information on how this would take shape.
A borough council meeting is set to discuss the plans on 16 November, after a number of local meetings and over 42,000 people signing a petition set up by Ms Gerard.
The developers have stated that the area on which the proposed data centre would be built is over 400m from nearby houses and 750m from the main nearby villages.
But residents aren’t giving up without a fight.
“I have been stunned and so proud of how people have reacted. Personally, I’m not yet to find anyone who has anything positive to say about this project at all,” Mr Little said.
West Norfolk MP James Wild said: “I share residents’ deep concerns about the size of the proposed Longmarsh development and further industrialisation of Norfolk’s countryside. When food security is more important than ever, we should not be sacrificing productive farmland for development on such a disproportionate scale.
“While Norfolk must play its part in providing critical infrastructure, there are already other major projects planned, including Droves solar farm, yet there is a lack of coordination between schemes and assessment of the cumulative impact on our countryside and communities.
“Local residents are understandably anxious about what these proposals could mean for their homes and the communities in which they live. Their quality of life must be protected and any development that proceeds must deliver meaningful benefits for the communities bearing its impact.”
The plans have not yet been submitted for a formal planning application, with the developer saying it welcomes feedback in a community consultation, which is running until 26 November.
A spokesperson for the Longmarsh Green Energy Consultation Team: “We recognise the importance of local community input into the design of our proposals and welcome comments during this consultation period prior to submitting a DCO application.
“We have already received helpful feedback during the community consultation, and the points raised will be carefully considered alongside outputs from stakeholder engagement and further technical work as we develop the proposals.
“We are committed to working with residents nearest to the proposals to develop site-specific mitigation measures, including appropriate planting, screening and landscape treatments prior to submission.”
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “Solar is one of the cheapest and quickest forms of energy to build, helping get bills down for good.” 
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