FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Electricity and water don’t usually mix, but technological advancements in floating solar arrays open the potential to generate electricity while decreasing impacts on farm irrigation reservoirs and agricultural land. Michael Popp with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is undertaking a new research project to test solar arrays on the reservoir at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. “The goals are to not convert agricultural land to solar panel use, save irrigation water and create a synergy between utility companies, solar investors, farmers and policymakers,” said Popp, the Harold F. Ohlendorf Professor of Farm Management in the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the experiment station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Floating solar systems are also not visually intrusive when compared to traditional land-based photovoltaic systems, Popp said, because the embankments of the reservoir serve as a barrier to block sight of the systems. Ryan Loy, an assistant professor and extension agricultural economist with the Division of Agriculture, recently joined Popp to talk about the project in an episode of the “Morning Coffee and Ag Markets” podcast for the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence. Popp and his collaborators are currently surveying Mid-South households and farmers on their perceptions of floating solar arrays and their willingness to pay for not diverting agricultural land to solar. The survey is set to expire on May 15. The survey is available online. Collaborators on the project, which is funded by Popp’s endowed chair position and the Division of Agriculture, include Chris Henry, professor and water management engineer, and Yi Liang, associate professor emeritus — both with the department of biological and agricultural engineering — and a cadre of graduate and undergraduate honors students. At the Rice Research and Extension Center, anchors have been placed for buoys to hold the 70-kilowatt, 96-panel floating solar array on about 0.1 acre of a 40-acre reservoir, along with 24 more panels on the reservoir embankment. The panels are expected to be installed in May, Popp said. Although used in other parts of the nation and world, the research project will help determine economic feasibility within Arkansas, as well as practical operation and maintenance routines of a floating solar array for the unique characteristics of Arkansas. For example, Arkansas’ Delta is situated in the Mississippi Flyway, and Popp would like to see how migratory birds may react to the floating solar array. The system will also provide a platform for new areas of research for graduate students in agricultural economics and agricultural engineering. In addition to not taking up farmland for solar energy, Popp said the benefits of floating solar systems include a reduction of water evaporation by 25 to 50 percent, depending on the amount of coverage over the water body. It remains to be definitively seen on smaller systems, Popp said, but by blocking light on the water, the floating panels may also reduce algal growth that fouls irrigation equipment. Because floating solar panels are installed at a lesser angle than land-based systems, a 2020 study in Brazil also suggested less area is needed to produce the same amount of electricity. “Our calculations suggest that of the available surface areas of water and embankments on irrigation reservoirs, it would require approximately 2.2 to 2.6 acres per megawatt,” Popp said. That’s about half as much as land-based systems, which require about 5.5 to 9 acres per megawatt because of shading issues and the need to manage vegetation. “Land installations tend to have a larger surface area footprint,” Popp said. “Not only are we not using agricultural land, but we’re also using less surface area per megawatt.” Solar land leases have become a financially attractive proposition to farmers in relation to what they could get from leasing it to a tenant farmer, Popp said. Utility-scale solar installations were projected last year to occupy about 0.2 percent of Arkansas’s 13.7 million acres of agricultural land, rising to an estimated 1.7 percent of cropland in select counties. With preference for land-based solar arrays given to cleared, level and well-drained land, parcels commonly displace cropland near transmission stations but can also be found on marginally productive farmland, Popp said. A solar land lease can range from about $450 to as much as $2,500 an acre. Comparatively, cash rent per acre for tenant farmers in Arkansas has averaged about $50 an acre for non-irrigated cropland, $150 for irrigated cropland, and $20 for pasture, according to a 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses. Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in On sale in Aldi stores nationwide, the device features four fold-out solar panels Removed from bookmarks The sun is shining, you’ve secured your Glastonbury Festival tickets and summer getaways are officially on the horizon. Arriving just in time for the warmer weather, Aldi has launched a new £30 portable solar panel, and it’s already selling out. Solar panels are more popular than ever, and Aldi’s foldable solar panel charger costs far less than the best solar chargers we’ve tested at The Independent. Boasting four fold-out solar panels, you can charge several devices on the go thanks to its three USB-C ports. But the summer gadget is already flying off the shelves, with some local branches already selling out. Retailers like Lidl, Iceland, Currys and Amazon are gearing up to sell £400 plug-in solar panels as part of a government push to bring cheaper home energy tech to the UK. Therefore it’ll soon be easier than ever to invest in renewables, without having to shell out for an entire solar panel roof. On sale now, Aldi’s portable solar panel is a specialbuy, so it won’t be restocked. Here’s everything you need to know Read more: We’ve found the best solar panels in the UK Designed for camping, hiking and all your outdoor adventures, Aldi’s £29.99 portable solar charger will help you out when you’re nowhere near a plug point. It has a foldable design, so it’s easy to pack away. It features four solar panels, which can be spread out to capture more sunlight. There are also three handy USB-C ports, meaning you can charge multiple devices at the same time. While we haven’t tested Aldi’s portable solar charger for ourselves, the supermarket chain says it has a 40W maximum output in strong sunlight, but you might get slower speeds if it’s a cloudier day. Unlike a traditional power bank, solar chargers don’t store energy, but generate it on the go. Aldi’s portable solar charger landed in stores over the weekend as part of its specialbuys range. You don’t have long to snap it up. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Electricity and water don’t usually mix, but technological advancements in floating solar arrays open the potential to generate electricity while decreasing impacts on farm irrigation reservoirs and agricultural land. Michael Popp with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is undertaking a new research project to test solar arrays on the reservoir at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. “The goals are to not convert agricultural land to solar panel use, save irrigation water and create a synergy between utility companies, solar investors, farmers and policymakers,” said Popp, the Harold F. Ohlendorf Professor of Farm Management in the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the experiment station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Floating solar systems are also not visually intrusive when compared to traditional land-based photovoltaic systems, Popp said, because the embankments of the reservoir serve as a barrier to block sight of the systems. Ryan Loy, an assistant professor and extension agricultural economist with the Division of Agriculture, recently joined Popp to talk about the project in an episode of the “Morning Coffee and Ag Markets” podcast for the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence. Popp and his collaborators are currently surveying Mid-South households and farmers on their perceptions of floating solar arrays and their willingness to pay for not diverting agricultural land to solar. The survey is set to expire on May 15. The survey is available online. Collaborators on the project, which is funded by Popp’s endowed chair position and the Division of Agriculture, include Chris Henry, professor and water management engineer, and Yi Liang, associate professor emeritus — both with the department of biological and agricultural engineering — and a cadre of graduate and undergraduate honors students. At the Rice Research and Extension Center, anchors have been placed for buoys to hold the 70-kilowatt, 96-panel floating solar array on about 0.1 acre of a 40-acre reservoir, along with 24 more panels on the reservoir embankment. The panels are expected to be installed in May, Popp said. Although used in other parts of the nation and world, the research project will help determine economic feasibility within Arkansas, as well as practical operation and maintenance routines of a floating solar array for the unique characteristics of Arkansas. For example, Arkansas’ Delta is situated in the Mississippi Flyway, and Popp would like to see how migratory birds may react to the floating solar array. The system will also provide a platform for new areas of research for graduate students in agricultural economics and agricultural engineering. In addition to not taking up farmland for solar energy, Popp said the benefits of floating solar systems include a reduction of water evaporation by 25 to 50 percent, depending on the amount of coverage over the water body. It remains to be definitively seen on smaller systems, Popp said, but by blocking light on the water, the floating panels may also reduce algal growth that fouls irrigation equipment. Because floating solar panels are installed at a lesser angle than land-based systems, a 2020 study in Brazil also suggested less area is needed to produce the same amount of electricity. “Our calculations suggest that of the available surface areas of water and embankments on irrigation reservoirs, it would require approximately 2.2 to 2.6 acres per megawatt,” Popp said. That’s about half as much as land-based systems, which require about 5.5 to 9 acres per megawatt because of shading issues and the need to manage vegetation. “Land installations tend to have a larger surface area footprint,” Popp said. “Not only are we not using agricultural land, but we’re also using less surface area per megawatt.” Solar land leases have become a financially attractive proposition to farmers in relation to what they could get from leasing it to a tenant farmer, Popp said. Utility-scale solar installations were projected last year to occupy about 0.2 percent of Arkansas’s 13.7 million acres of agricultural land, rising to an estimated 1.7 percent of cropland in select counties. With preference for land-based solar arrays given to cleared, level and well-drained land, parcels commonly displace cropland near transmission stations but can also be found on marginally productive farmland, Popp said. A solar land lease can range from about $450 to as much as $2,500 an acre. Comparatively, cash rent per acre for tenant farmers in Arkansas has averaged about $50 an acre for non-irrigated cropland, $150 for irrigated cropland, and $20 for pasture, according to a 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. PHOTO: Michael Popp, Harold F. Ohlendorf Professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, stands on a floating solar array in Spain in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Mike Popp)
Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited proposals to set up interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects for assured peak power supply of 1,500 MWh (500 MW for three hours) under a contract-for-difference (CfD) mechanism. Image: Adani Green Energy From pv magazine India Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited proposals to set up interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects for assured peak power supply of 1,500 MWh (500 MW for three hours) under a contract-for-difference (CfD) mechanism. SECI will enter into CfD agreements with successful bidders for the supply of renewable energy through power exchanges for a period of 12 years. Renewable energy developers selected in the tender will set up ISTS-connected projects, with or without energy storage systems (ESS), primarily to sell electricity generated from the projects on power exchanges. Projects may be located anywhere in India at sites selected by the developer. For each project, the renewable energy generation components and ESS, if deployed, must be co-located. Developers for 500 MW of contracted capacity will be selected through an e-bidding process followed by an e-reverse auction. Bids may be submitted for a minimum cumulative contracted capacity of 50 MW and a maximum of 125 MW. Developers must schedule energy supply on a day-ahead basis by selecting any three-hour period within the defined peak-hours window of 18:00 to 24:00, ensuring the selected period falls within non-solar hours as defined under applicable General Network Access (GNA) regulations. They must sell 3,000 kWh of energy per MW of contracted project capacity during the selected peak hours each day through power exchanges. “Developers are required to sell all generated energy on the exchanges and may optimize dispatch by choosing the three-hour window when market clearing prices are expected to be highest, thereby maximizing revenue,” the tender document states. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Uma Gupta Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this. Close
Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. Advertisement Nature Photonics (2026)Cite this article Metal halide perovskite solar cells have achieved notable progress over the past 15 years. However, due to their ionic nature, they are vulnerable under an electric bias. This issue limits their application in solar modules under partial shade, which often occurs in real-world operation. Here we developed a van der Waals antimony oxide (Sb2O3) interlayer at the perovskite/electron transport layer interface using scalable thermal evaporation. Thanks to its two-dimensional molecular crystal structure, the interlayer forms an atomically compact physical barrier that effectively passivates trap states, suppresses interfacial ion migration and enhances electrical robustness. Devices featuring the Sb2O3 interlayer achieved a certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 27.3% and demonstrated a high reverse-bias resistance of −22.3 V. We demonstrate solar modules with an area of 62.37 cm2 and a certified PCE of 23.1%. They retained 96.4% of their initial PCE after 1,000 h of maximum power point tracking at a temperature of 65 ± 5 °C. The modules also maintained 91.2% of their initial PCE after 1,510 h of a shading test at 65 ± 5 °C. Our strategy provides an effective approach for enhancing the reverse-bias stability of perovskite solar cells and paves the way for their practical application in photovoltaic modules. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Buy this article USD 39.95 Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout All data are available in the main text or Supplementary Information. Liu, S. et al. Buried interface molecular hybrid for inverted perovskite solar cells. Nature632, 536–542 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Qu, S. et al. Redox mediator-modified self-assembled monolayer stabilizes a buried interface in efficient inverted perovskite solar cells. Energy Environ. Sci.18, 3186–3195 (2025). Article Google Scholar Du, J. et al. Face-on oriented self-assembled molecules with enhanced π–π stacking for highly efficient inverted perovskite solar cells on rough FTO substrates. Energy Environ. Sci.18, 3196–3210 (2025). Article Google Scholar Chen, H. et al. Improved charge extraction in inverted perovskite solar cells with dual-site-binding ligands. Science384, 189–193 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Yang, Y. et al. Amidination of ligands for chemical and field-effect passivation stabilizes perovskite solar cells. Science386, 898–902 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Lan, D. & Green, M. A. Combatting temperature and reverse-bias challenges facing perovskite solar cells. Joule6, 1782–1797 (2022). Article Google Scholar Ni, Z. et al. Evolution of defects during the degradation of metal halide perovskite solar cells under reverse bias and illumination. Nat. Energy7, 65–73 (2021). ArticleADS Google Scholar Razera, R. A. Z. et al. Instability of p–i–n perovskite solar cells under reverse bias. J. Mater. Chem. A8, 242–250 (2020). ArticleADS Google Scholar Li, N. et al. Barrier reinforcement for enhanced perovskite solar cell stability under reverse bias. Nat. Energy9, 1264–1274 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Ren, X. et al. Mobile iodides capture for highly photolysis- and reverse-bias-stable perovskite solar cells. Nat. Mater.23, 810–817 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Rajagopal, A., Williams, S. T., Chueh, C.-C. & Jen, A. K. Y. Abnormal current–voltage hysteresis induced by reverse bias in organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite photovoltaics. J. Phys. Chem. Lett.7, 995–1003 (2016). Article Google Scholar Bowring, A. R., Bertoluzzi, L., O’Regan, B. C. & McGehee, M. D. Reverse bias behavior of halide perovskite solar cells. Adv. Energy Mater.8, 1702365 (2017). Article Google Scholar Jiang, F. et al. Improved reverse bias stability in p–i–n perovskite solar cells with optimized hole transport materials and less reactive electrodes. Nat. Energy9, 1275–1284 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Teale, S., Degani, M., Chen, B., Sargent, E. H. & Grancini, G. Molecular cation and low-dimensional perovskite surface passivation in perovskite solar cells. Nat. Energy9, 779–792 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Wang, J. et al. Dipolar carbazole ammonium for broadened electric field distribution in high-performance perovskite solar cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc.147, 8663–8671 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Shen, Z. et al. Efficient and stable perovskite solar cells with regulated depletion region. Nat. Photonics18, 450–457 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Domanski, K. et al. Migration of cations induces reversible performance losses over day/night cycling in perovskite solar cells. Energy Environ. Sci.10, 604–613 (2017). Article Google Scholar Chen, Y., Zhong, S., Tan, M. & Shen, W. SiO2 passivation layer grown by liquid phase deposition for silicon solar cell application. Front. Energy11, 52–59 (2016). Article Google Scholar John, O., Nägele, A., Emanuel, G., Nekarda, J. & Preu, R. Interface topology and wetting dynamics of laser-induced bonds between aluminum foil and silicon nitride passivation in solar cells. Adv. Energy Mater.15, e2500106 (2025). Hoex, B., Schmidt, J., Van de Sanden, M. & Kessels, W. Crystalline silicon surface passivation by the negative-charge-dielectric Al2O3. In Proc. 2008 33rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference 1–4 (IEEE, 2008). Wang, Y. et al. Homogenized contact in all-perovskite tandems using tailored 2D perovskite. Nature635, 867–873 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Qu, Z. et al. Enhanced charge carrier transport and defects mitigation of passivation layer for efficient perovskite solar cells. Nat. Commun.15, 8620 (2024). ArticleADS Google Scholar Tang, X. et al. Enhancing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells via a polymer heterointerface bridge. Nat. Photonics19, 701–708 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Yang, Y. et al. Inverted perovskite solar cells with over 2,000 h operational stability at 85 °C using fixed charge passivation. Nat. Energy9, 37–46 (2023). ArticleADS Google Scholar Alharbi, E. A. et al. Cooperative passivation of perovskite solar cells by alkyldimethylammonium halide amphiphiles. Joule7, 183–200 (2023). Article Google Scholar Wu, X. et al. Synergistic effect of alkylammonium chlorides to trigger an ultrafast nucleation for antisolvent-free perovskite solar cells processed from 2-methoxyethanol. Adv. Energy Mater.14, 2304302 (2024). Article Google Scholar Chen, R. et al. Reduction of bulk and surface defects in inverted methylammonium- and bromide-free formamidinium perovskite solar cells. Nat. Energy8, 839–849 (2023). ArticleADS Google Scholar Yan, L. et al. Fabrication of perovskite solar cells in ambient air by blocking perovskite hydration with guanabenz acetate salt. Nat. Energy8, 1158–1167 (2023). ArticleADS Google Scholar Wang, S. et al. Fluorinated isopropanol for improved defect passivation and reproducibility in perovskite solar cells. Nat. Energy10, 1074–1083 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Bai, Y. et al. Initializing film homogeneity to retard phase segregation for stable perovskite solar cells. Science378, 747–754 (2022). ArticleADS Google Scholar Yan, B. et al. 3D laminar flow–assisted crystallization of perovskites for square meter–sized solar modules. Science388, 6749 (2025). Article Google Scholar Pei, F. et al. Inhibiting defect passivation failure in perovskite for perovskite/Cu(In, Ga)Se2 monolithic tandem solar cells with certified efficiency 27.35%. Nat. Energy10, 824–835 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Li, Q. et al. Graphene-polymer reinforcement of perovskite lattices for durable solar cells. Science387, 1069–1077 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Zai, H. et al. Wafer-scale monolayer MoS2 film integration for stable, efficient perovskite solar cells. Science387, 186–192 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Bush, K. A. et al. 23.6%-efficient monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells with improved stability. Nat. Energy2, 17009 (2017). ArticleADS Google Scholar Choi, D. et al. Carboxyl-functionalized perovskite enables ALD growth of a compact and uniform ion migration barrier. Joule9, 101801 (2025). Article Google Scholar Ji, X. et al. Multifunctional buffer layer engineering for efficient and stable wide-bandgap perovskite and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.63, e202407766 (2024). Article Google Scholar Magliano, E. et al. Solution-processed metal-oxide nanoparticles to prevent the sputtering damage in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces17, 17599–17610 (2025). Article Google Scholar Ki, M. J., Lee, H. J., Park, J. K., Heo, J. H. & Im, S. H. Formation of n-type MoO3 interlayer from a solution processable aprotic solvent-based molybdenum-peroxide precursor and its application to electron transport bilayer for efficient perovskite solar cells. Chem. Eng J.462, 142302 (2023). Article Google Scholar Zanoni, K. P. S. et al. Tin(IV) oxide electron transport layer via industrial-scale pulsed laser deposition for planar perovskite solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces15, 32621–32628 (2023). Article Google Scholar Wang, H. et al. Yttrium oxide engineered substrate enables improved durability for perovskite solar cells. Nat. Commun.16, 9508 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Wu, S. et al. A chemically inert bismuth interlayer enhances long-term stability of inverted perovskite solar cells. Nat. Commun.10, 1161 (2019). ArticleADS Google Scholar Liu, K. et al. A wafer-scale van der Waals dielectric made from an inorganic molecular crystal film. Nat. Electron.4, 906–913 (2021). Article Google Scholar Liu, L. et al. Scalable van der Waals encapsulation by inorganic molecular crystals. Adv. Mater.34, e2106041 (2022). Article Google Scholar Tippireddy, S. et al. Electronic and thermoelectric properties of Zn and Se double substituted tetrahedrite. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.20, 28667–28677 (2018). Article Google Scholar Shakoury, R. et al. Investigation of deposition temperature effect on spatial patterns of MgF2 thin films. Microsc. Res. Tech.86, 169–180 (2023). Article Google Scholar Shi, Y. et al. Tunable molecular dipole moments and orientations for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Joule9, 102009 (2025). Article Google Scholar Zhang, P. et al. Carrier dynamics of facet-dependent heterogeneous interfaces in high-performance perovskite solar cells. Adv. Funct. Mater.35, 2422783 (2025). Article Google Scholar Liu, Z. et al. All-perovskite tandem solar cells achieving >29% efficiency with improved (100) orientation in wide-bandgap perovskites. Nat. Mater.24, 252–259 (2025). ArticleADS Google Scholar Wang, Q., Dong, Q., Li, T., Gruverman, A. & Huang, J. Thin insulating tunneling contacts for efficient and water-resistant perovskite solar cells. Adv. Mater.28, 6734–6739 (2016). Article Google Scholar Download references Q.C. acknowledges the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 22479015). Y. Bai acknowledges the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52172182). C. Zhu acknowledges the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52473272). H.Z. acknowledges the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52125206). Yu Zhang acknowledges the support of National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2022YFA1402502 and 2022YFA1402602). We acknowledge the support of C. Zhang from the Tianjin Institute of Power Sources for assistance with device fabrication and the Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Program Project (Grant No. 24ZXZSSS00470). These authors contributed equally: Teng Cheng, Ying Zhang, Zipeng Xu. MIIT Key Laboratory for Low-dimensional Quantum Structure and Devices, Experimental Center of Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, P. R. China Teng Cheng, Ying Zhang, Zipeng Xu, Yujiang Du, Yunlu Cui, Mengqi Guo, Lan Wang, Fengtao Pei, Yuheng Man, Fenglong Kang, Yan Yang, Honghe Yao, Mengqi Xiao, Hanyuan Chen, Xu Liu, Tinglu Song, Yan Jiang, Yang Bai & Qi Chen Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China Yue Ma, Shuoyang Xu & Huanping Zhou School of Physics and Astronomy, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China Pengxiang Zhang & Wenkai Zhang School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China Yining Bao & Zhenhai Yang School of Interdisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Can Zhang, Yu Zhang, Cheng Zhu & Qi Chen School of Integrated Circuits and Electronics, MIIT Key Laboratory for Low-Dimensional Quantum Structure and Devices, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Yeliang Wang School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, P. R. China Haining Chen Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar Search author on:PubMedGoogle Scholar T.C., Y. Bai and Q.C. conceived the idea. Y. Bai, C. Zhu and Q.C. supervised the research. T.C., Ying Zhang and Z.X. carried out the fabrication and characterization of the PSCs. T.C., Ying Zhang, Y.C., Y. Ma, S.X., M.G. and Y.Y. carried out the fabrication and characterization of the perovskite solar modules. Y.D., F.P., Y. Man, F.K., H.Y., Haining Chen, P.Z., Z.X. and W.Z. prepared the samples and carried out the optical spectroscopy characterizations. T.C. and L.W. performed the transient photocurrent and transient photovoltage measurements and data analysis. Y. Bai and T.S. carried out the ToF-SIMS measurements. Hanyuan Chen and X.L. carried out the TEM measurements. Yu Zhang, C. Zhang and Y.W. carried out the STM measurements. Y.D. conducted the DFT calculations. Y. Bao and Z.Y. constructed the comprehensive optoelectronic model for PSCs. Y.J. and H.Z. provided advice on measurements. T.C., Ying Zhang, Y. Bai and Q.C. analysed the data and wrote the article. All authors discussed the results and commented on the paper. T.C., Ying Zhang and Z.X. contributed equally to this work. Correspondence to Cheng Zhu, Yang Bai or Qi Chen. The authors declare no competing interests. Nature Photonics thanks Sang Il Seok and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Supplementary Methods, Figs. 1–37, Note 1, Tables 1–6 and refs. 1–7. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law. Reprints and permissions Cheng, T., Zhang, Y., Xu, Z. et al. Atomically dense Sb2O3 interlayer for highly stable perovskite photovoltaic modules. Nat. Photon. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-026-01893-4 Download citation Received: Accepted: Published: Version of record: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-026-01893-4 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.
Greece is moving to make rooftop and balcony solar panels accessible to every citizen, according to the Minister of Environment and Energy. Stavros Papastavrou outlined the initiative on Monday while addressing the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Production and Trade, where lawmakers were examining a wide-ranging energy bill that also introduces new legislation designed to simplify the adoption of renewable energy and accelerate the country’s green transition. What the bill does The legislation transposes two European Union directives on renewable energy — EU Directives 2023/2413 and 2024/1405 — into Greek law, updating the existing regulatory framework with new targets, definitions and streamlined permitting procedures. A third EU directive, 2024/1788, is partially incorporated as well.
At its core, the bill is designed to lower the barriers for individual households to produce their own electricity. “The sun and the wind belong to everyone,” Papastavrou said, framing the push for balcony photovoltaic panels as a step toward what he described as “energy democracy” — the idea that access to affordable, clean energy should not be limited to large industrial players.
NEWSLETTER TABLE TALK
Never miss a story. Subscribe now.
The most important news & topics every week in your inbox.
NEWSLETTER TABLE TALK Greece already a European leader in renewables Greece has made notable strides in renewable energy in recent years. Of the 18 gigawatts of renewable capacity currently feeding into the national energy mix, 9.2 gigawatts flow through the low- and medium-voltage grid managed by HEDNO (the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator), which handles electricity supply to homes and small businesses.
Within that figure, at least 80,000 small-scale installations are already operating — one of the highest penetration rates of small renewables in Europe, according to the minister. “Energy in Greece concerns everyone, not just the big players,” Papastavrou said.
Streamlining the path for citizens The bill aims to build on that momentum by further reducing bureaucratic hurdles and increasing transparency, giving more Greeks the practical ability to install solar panels — including the compact units designed for apartment balconies, which are gaining popularity across Europe as urban households seek to cut electricity bills. The minister said the goal is “accessible, abundant energy with a diversified energy mix” and a reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, while ensuring energy security for both households and businesses. Balancing development with environmental protection The legislation also addresses how renewable energy projects and urban development can expand into areas covered by the Natura 2000 network — the EU’s system of protected natural habitats. Greece has an unusually large share of its territory under Natura 2000 protections, including entire cities such as Ioannina and Kastoria in northwestern Greece, islands like Halki and Skopelos in the Aegean, and major public infrastructure including airports and ports.
Papastavrou said the bill seeks to prevent haphazard urban sprawl in these sensitive zones while still allowing for carefully planned, limited expansion. Any proposed changes would require Special Environmental Studies, alignment with local or special urban planning schemes, and a Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment that includes a new round of public consultation. As a final safeguard, all such plans must be approved by the Council of State — Greece’s highest administrative court — which conducts a preventive legality review. “Instead of a misguided political correctness that ignores meaningful protection of nature, we choose to look at the real data and recognize the need for balanced development — with order and rules — that rationally meets the needs of the local population, maintains quality of life, and safeguards natural capital and biodiversity,” Papastavrou said.
The divestment, already partially secured via escrow, reflects regulatory pressure from U.S. FEOC policy changes. Boviet Solar also continues negotiations to sell a separate U.S. cell project. Boviet Solar’s factory in Greenville, North Carolina, United States Image: Boviet Solar From pv magazine Global Boway Alloy, the parent company of Vietnam-based PV manufacturer Boviet Solar, announced it plans to sell Boviet Solar Technology (North Carolina) LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boviet USA LLC, to Inox Solar Americas LLC, a unit of Indian solar manufacturer Inox Solar. The transaction is expected to close for total consideration of up to $254 million. It includes 100% of the equity in the North Carolina company, whose core asset is a 3 GW solar module plant that began production and external sales in the second half of 2025. The parties have signed an equity acquisition agreement, and the buyer has already placed a $25.4 million deposit into escrow, with $15 million released to the seller, meaning the agreement has taken effect. Boway’s statement also said Inox Clean Energy, the group’s clean energy platform, is targeting 10 GW of IPP capacity and 11 GW of module manufacturing capacity by fiscal 2028. Boway explicitly linked the divestment to changes in U.S. policy toward Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), saying the tighter rules introduced from July 2025 could have an adverse impact on the continued operation, compliance arrangements, and future development of its U.S. solar assets. The company further said that, under the new rules, it would no longer be able to enjoy the same federal policy support as its industry peers from Jan. 1, 2026, and that the affected U.S. business was expected to become loss-making from that point. In that sense, the transaction appears less like a routine portfolio reshuffle than a forced strategic retreat. Public reporting on the company’s April 27 disclosure said the North Carolina sale was announced alongside its first-quarter results, after pressure from U.S. policy changes had already weighed on the company’s solar business. Boway was careful to define the scope of the transaction. According to its investor-platform reply on April 27, the authorized sale of the module company does not include the separate U.S. cell project, which is still under construction and planned at 2 GW per year. Boway added that, after closing, Boviet North Carolina will no longer be consolidated into its financial statements, which it said would remove the adverse impact associated with the asset. The company also disclosed that its separate U.S. cell asset sale remains under negotiation.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Vincent Shaw Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox.
Welcome to pv magazine USA. This site uses cookies. Read our policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this. Close
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has launched a tender for 495MW of new solar PV capacity, to be deployed across ten projects. Bidders will have until 28 June to submit bids, and successful applicants will have to provide a security deposit of around US$5,000 per megawatt of allocated capacity. Successful projects will also have to be built near transmission substations, eight of which are currently in operation, while two of which—near the town of Cox’s Bazar in southern Bangladesh and the city of Tangail in central Bangladesh—are currently under construction. Get Premium Subscription Tenders are a common means of deploying new energy generation capacity, particularly in the solar sector. Earlier this year, trade body SolarPower Europe published a report showing increasing appetite for government auctions, rather than private offtake agreements, in the solar financing space, and PV Tech Premium has heard from experts in the German, Italian and French solar sectors about the role of government support for new solar projects. Bangladesh has launched tenders of its own, including tenders for 77.6MW of solar capacity last week and a 2.6GW tender last year. However, these tenders have been less successful than those in Europe, with no bids made for the March 2025 tender, raising questions about investor interest in building new solar projects in the country. Renewable energy is a small part of Bangladesh’s energy mix—renewables accounted for just 4.62% of generation in August 2025—and the government is aiming to increase this to 40% by 2050. The government is also hopeful that domestic electricity generation will meet more of the country’s electricity demand in the coming years. Figures from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) show that not only was Bangladesh a net energy importer in 2025, but that the BPDB’s payment backlogs for electricity acquired from independent power producers (IPPs) had reached US$2.2 billion in November 2025. Expanding both renewable electricity generation and domestic power sources, to reduce reliance on energy imports, will be important parts of the Bangladesh energy transition.
April 28, 2026 • By Brendan Kelso The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV), a Hartford-based environmental group, hosted a virtual event on Monday, Apr. 20, focusing on the growing role of plug-in solar in Connecticut’s clean energy future. The webinar—“What is Plug-In Solar?”—featured Bernie Pelleter, vice president of People’s Action for Clean Energy, and Connor Yakaitis, deputy director of CTLCV. CTLCV is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances environmental policy in Connecticut. Its work includes collaborating with Connecticut’s environmental advocacy groups to raise awareness of bills that address environmental issues. Additionally, CTLCV endorses pro-environmental candidates in elections and holds Connecticut political figures accountable through its environmental scorecard. This comprehensive document records each state legislator’s scores on environmental issues. The event discussed Connecticut House Bill 5340 (2026), “An Act Concerning Renewable Power Generation.” The bill was proposed in Feb. 2026 and passed by the general assembly on March 19. The proposed legislation would expand solar programs and establish a regulatory framework for plug-in, or “balcony,” solar systems. Yakaitis emphasized that public engagement will be critical to the bill’s success and encouraged attendees to contact lawmakers, including Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives Matt Ritter. “I think the biggest takeaway and call to action for folks…is that we need to reach out to our lawmakers, and people like Matt Ritter who have leadership, and tell them that solar as a whole—not just plug-in solar—is very critical right now,” Yakaitis said. “There have been talks about putting caps on residential solar, both financial and megawatt caps.” Plug-in solar refers to a small-scale solar system that can be plugged directly into a household outlet. These systems typically range from 400 to 1600 watts and include solar panels, a microinverter, and specialized cables, allowing users to generate electricity for immediate use within their homes. Unlike traditional rooftop systems, plug-in solar reduces reliance on the grid without requiring major installation or homeownership. “It’s really an appliance…like a hairdryer or a coffee pot,” Pelleter said. “Instead of consuming 1200 watts, it produces 1200 watts.” Because of their smaller size and lower cost, these systems may be particularly useful for renters and apartment residents, who are often unable to install rooftop solar panels. “People with a balcony, with a little bit of sun, not a lot of sun, perhaps in a rental situation…. Plug-in solar would be sort of the great entrée into this world of renewable power,” Pelleter said. Speakers also highlighted how plug-in solar can change how people think about their energy use. By generating electricity at home, users can become more aware of how and when they use power. Ultimately, this can lead to more sustainable, efficient habits. “If I have a solar panel out there that’s plugged into my refrigerator or my oven or whatever, I’m more conscious about the energy that I’m using and also the energy that I’m producing,” Yakaitis said. “It really ties in; it’s a mindset as well.” University students also expressed interest in using the technology on campus. Shikhar Gupta ’27, an economics and computer science major, highlighted the financial and environmental advantages of plug-in solar. “I would use it because it would save me money on utility costs in the long run, and it’s also a cleaner source of energy,” Gupta said. “Overall, things like solar panels and electric vehicles are better for the environment and better for your budget.” Other students emphasized the importance of this technology to the University’s broader sustainability aims. “Plug-in solar should be made more available [at the University] to help with energy affordability and increase the supply of renewable power,” Thalia Witkovsky ’27, an environmental fellow at the University, said. The University already has solar panels on Long Lane, Freeman Athletic Center, 19 Fountain Ave., and the Office of Admission, but personal panels would be a new development if the University chooses to implement them. The University also participates in Solarize U, a state-run solar discount program. Brendan Kelso can be reached at bkelso@wesleyan.edu. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
AmpereHour Energy has partnered with Organo Eco Habitats to deploy a centralised battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Organo Antharam residential community in Hyderabad, marking a significant step in scaling integrated solar PV and storage at the community level. AmpereHour Energy AmpereHour Energy has partnered with Organo Eco Habitats to deploy a centralised battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Organo Antharam residential community in Hyderabad, marking a significant step in scaling integrated solar PV and storage at the community level. Located in Chevella, Organo Anthara is a sustainable community model inspired by the Indian villages. It blends modern comforts with rural charm, which the company calls Rurban living. The Organo Antharam community now uses a sophisticated 500 kVA/608 kWh energy storage installation that powers the entire ecosystem. With the integration of BESS by AmpereHour Energy, residents now experience seamless, high-quality power without noise or pollution typically associated with diesel generator-based backup systems. At the core of the project is an intelligent energy system that seamlessly balances solar power, grid electricity, and battery storage to ensure optimal performance. This approach significantly reduces dependence on fossil fuels and eliminates the need for diesel generators, making it a much cleaner energy solution. AmpereHour Energy is a full-stack energy storage solutions provider. Founded in 2017, the company designs and delivers software-driven hardware-agnostic BESS. Its proprietary energy management platform optimises battery performance and ensures seamless integration with power systems. With end-to-end capabilities across engineering, procurement, and construction, AmpereHour Energy supports utilities, commercial and industrial sectors, and off-grid applications with scalable and intelligent energy solutions.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Uma Gupta Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. By subscribing to our newsletter you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on magazine subscriptions!
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. To find out more, please see our Data Protection Policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this. Close
The divestment, already partially secured via escrow, reflects regulatory pressure from U.S. FEOC policy changes. Boviet Solar also continues negotiations to sell a separate U.S. cell project. Boviet Solar’s factory in Greenville, North Carolina, United States Image: Boviet Solar
From pv magazine Global Boway Alloy, the parent company of Vietnam-based PV manufacturer Boviet Solar, announced it plans to sell Boviet Solar Technology (North Carolina) LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boviet USA LLC, to Inox Solar Americas LLC, a unit of Indian solar manufacturer Inox Solar. The transaction is expected to close for total consideration of up to $254 million. It includes 100% of the equity in the North Carolina company, whose core asset is a 3 GW solar module plant that began production and external sales in the second half of 2025. The parties have signed an equity acquisition agreement, and the buyer has already placed a $25.4 million deposit into escrow, with $15 million released to the seller, meaning the agreement has taken effect. Boway’s statement also said Inox Clean Energy, the group’s clean energy platform, is targeting 10 GW of IPP capacity and 11 GW of module manufacturing capacity by fiscal 2028. Boway explicitly linked the divestment to changes in U.S. policy toward Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), saying the tighter rules introduced from July 2025 could have an adverse impact on the continued operation, compliance arrangements, and future development of its U.S. solar assets. The company further said that, under the new rules, it would no longer be able to enjoy the same federal policy support as its industry peers from Jan. 1, 2026, and that the affected U.S. business was expected to become loss-making from that point. In that sense, the transaction appears less like a routine portfolio reshuffle than a forced strategic retreat. Public reporting on the company’s April 27 disclosure said the North Carolina sale was announced alongside its first-quarter results, after pressure from U.S. policy changes had already weighed on the company’s solar business. Boway was careful to define the scope of the transaction. According to its investor-platform reply on April 27, the authorized sale of the module company does not include the separate U.S. cell project, which is still under construction and planned at 2 GW per year. Boway added that, after closing, Boviet North Carolina will no longer be consolidated into its financial statements, which it said would remove the adverse impact associated with the asset. The company also disclosed that its separate U.S. cell asset sale remains under negotiation. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Vincent Shaw Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. By subscribing to our newsletter you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on magazine subscriptions!
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. To find out more, please see our Data Protection Policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this. Close
The term “low-light performance” may sound a bit technical, but it’s actually quite simple. When we buy solar panels, we often see a “power rating,” which is measured under standard laboratory conditions with a standard irradiance of 1,000 watts per square meter. How intense is this 1,000-watt irradiance? It’s roughly equivalent to the sunlight intensity on a clear day at noon in summer at 35° north latitude, with air quality classified as AM 1.5. However, in reality, sunlight rarely reaches 1,000 watts per square meter for most of the day. This is especially true in the early morning when the sun is just rising and in the late afternoon when it is about to set, when light intensity is very low. Additionally, light is also weak in winter, or on cloudy or rainy days. Low-light performance refers to a photovoltaic module’s ability to generate electricity effectively and maintain high efficiency under these conditions of relatively low light intensity. Ideally, there should be a nearly linear relationship between module power output and irradiance. For example, a module rated at 1000 W should produce approximately 200 W of power at 200 W/m² irradiance, since the irradiance ratio is 200 to 1000. However, in reality, internal leakage currents within the module amplify under low irradiance, causing further power degradation. In this regard, the TOPCon structure has a natural advantage over the BC structure. At a low irradiance of 200 W/m², the low-irradiance performance of the BC structure ranges from 93% to 95%, while that of JinkoSolar’s Tiger Neo 3.0 ranges from 96% to 97%, maintaining a higher power output. This has actually become a consensus within the industry, supported by a wealth of third-party empirical data, all of which demonstrates that TOPCon’s technology delivers superior power generation performance in low-light conditions. To help everyone better understand the reasons behind this, we have conducted a detailed analysis of the underlying mechanisms: 1. The first reason lies in leakage current loss The actual output current of a module equals the photocurrent minus the forward current flowing through the diodes and the current shunted by the parallel resistance Rsh. The magnitude of Rsh is primarily influenced by leakage current. Leakage current is mainly caused by poor p-n junction quality or impurities near the junction; these factors can lead to junction short-circuiting, particularly at the cell edges. Rsh reflects the level of leakage current in the cell. The higher the Rsh, the smaller the leakage current, resulting in a higher final output current for the module and, consequently, better output power. For TOPCon, the electrodes are located on the front and back of the cell, providing natural isolation between the p-type region and n-type region, effectively blocking leakage current and resulting in a high Rsh. In contrast, in the BC structure, both the p-type region and n-type region are located on the back of the cell. Since the p-type region and n-type region are interdigitated, it is difficult to achieve high-quality isolation through materials or processes. As a result, leakage current is relatively high, Rsh is low, and a significant amount of current is quietly lost, leading to a loss in power generation. Under strong light, the impact of leakage current is minimal; however, under low light, the proportion of leakage current increases, thereby significantly reducing the module’s output current and power. Let’s use an analogy. Think of electric current as water flow, and the tiny “leakage points” on the module as “small pinholes” in a water pipe. BC modules: To achieve an aesthetically pleasing front surface, both the positive and negative electrodes are placed on the back. This process is extremely complex, and during manufacturing, it’s easy for invisible “leakage points”—or “small pinholes”—to form. TOPCon modules: Their structure places the positive and negative electrodes on separate sides. The manufacturing process is relatively mature and stable, making it less likely to produce “pinholes.” At noon: The sunlight is intense, much like high water pressure and a powerful flow in a pipe. At this time, even though BC modules have “pinholes” leaking water, the total water volume is so large that the tiny amount lost is barely noticeable. Therefore, everyone’s power output is roughly the same at noon. In the morning and evening: The sunlight is weak, the water pressure drops, and the flow becomes a “trickle.” At this time, the leakage issue from the “pinholes” in BC modules becomes prominent. With such a small volume of water to begin with, the constant leakage results in a significant proportion of loss. In contrast, TOPCon modules have virtually no “pinholes” and leak very little. Even under a “trickle” of sunlight, they reliably collect most of the water—or rather, the electrical current—and use it to generate power. The conclusion is this: during early morning and late afternoon when sunlight is weakest, TOPCon modules suffer fewer “current leakage” losses and deliver significantly better power generation performance than BC modules. 2. The second reason is that, from a spectral perspective, TOPCon cells exhibit a stronger response to the core spectrum of low-light conditions, particularly red light. The spectrum of sunlight at dawn and dusk, or on cloudy days, is completely different from that of midday sunlight. Due to the Rayleigh scattering effect—where scattering intensity is inversely proportional to the fourth power of wavelength—light with longer wavelength penetrates the atmosphere more easily. In the early morning and evening, when sunlight strikes the Earth at an angle, the path through the atmosphere is longer, resulting in a higher proportion of red light. In low-light conditions, the ability to better utilize red light leads to superior power generation performance. This is closely related to the proportion of heavily dopedlayers on the back of the cell and their optical properties : Heavily doped layers generally refer to boron-diffused emitter, N-poly, P-poly, and doped amorphous-Si. These layers cause severe recombination of photogenerated carriers, preventing them from effectively contributing to current generation. Additionally, back-side layers such as N-poly, P-poly and doped amorphous-Si can cause severe parasitic absorption. In BC cells, both the P-type and N-type regions are located on the back side, where the area of the heavily doped polycrystalline silicon layer is twice that of TOPCon cells. As a result, carriers generated by red light within those layers are recombined before they can be collected, leading to a lower infrared spectral response compared to TOPCon. In contrast, the back side of TOPCon cells employs a localized N-poly structure, with N-poly accounting for less than 30% of the area. The heavily doped polycrystalline silicon region is smaller and contains fewer defects, resulting in a lower photogenerated carrier recombination rate and reduced parasitic absorption, leading to higher response efficiency for red light; This is clearly evident from the EQE (external quantum efficiency) curves of both technologies: TOPCon cells demonstrate significantly higher responsiveness in the infrared spectrum than BC cells. Simply put: under low-light conditions, where red light constitutes a higher proportion of the spectrum, BC modules “cannot capture or utilize” it, whereas TOPCon modules can perfectly absorb and efficiently convert it. This is an inherent advantage determined by cell structure—one that BC technology cannot overcome no matter how much it is optimized. Let’s use an analogy. We can compare light sources of different wavelengths to stones of varying sizes: the red light corresponds to smaller stones, while shorter-wavelength light corresponds to larger ones. The heavily doped regions within the solar cell act like a filter screen blocking the path of the current. To achieve an aesthetically pleasing front surface, BC cells concentrate both the positive and negative electrodes on the back, resulting in a very large heavily doped area. Since these areas cannot absorb light, it’s as if a filter screen with holes and gaps has been laid down. Under low-light conditions, a large amount of red light “gravel” rushes in and passes directly through the filter, wasting a significant amount of valuable low-light energy. In contrast, the TOPCon cells used in JinkoSolar’s Tiger Neo 3.0 feature a localized N-poly structure on the back, with the heavily doped polycrystalline silicon area accounting for less than 30% of the total. This allows for more thorough absorption of light, acting like a much tighter filter that firmly captures red light, enabling the cell to fully absorb it and efficiently convert it into electrical energy. Simply put: since red light constitutes a larger proportion of the low-light spectrum in nature, TOPCon is better at utilizing it. Combined with TOPCon’s lower leakage current, these dual advantages allow the Tiger Neo 3. 0 to maintain a stable relative power output of 96%–97% under low-light conditions—2–3 percentage points higher than BC modules. TaiyangNews 2024
Premier Energies Limited, one of India’s leading integrated solar manufacturers, has introduced India’s first All-Black G12R DCR Solar Module, branded as the NeoBlack Series, at RenewX Chennai. The launch marks a major step in expanding rooftop solar adoption through a combination of advanced technology and design-focused innovation. The NeoBlack Series has been developed for residential rooftops and premium commercial installations where appearance is an important consideration alongside energy performance. With a sleek all-black finish and seamless visual profile, the module is designed to blend naturally with contemporary architecture while delivering high power output. Available in capacities ranging from 600 Wp to 630 Wp, the new module uses next-generation TOPCon cell technology to improve energy generation efficiency. The product addresses one of the most common concerns among homeowners and commercial users considering rooftop solar systems—visual integration with modern buildings. By offering a uniform black surface, the NeoBlack Series provides a cleaner and more premium look than conventional modules. The design also helps minimise glare, improving comfort for nearby residents and surrounding spaces. Premier Energies said the module has been engineered using advanced in-house cell architecture and an optimised module structure to maximise light absorption and deliver dependable long-term performance. It is designed to operate efficiently under low-light and diffused-light conditions, helping users generate power consistently throughout changing weather conditions. The module also offers strong anti-PID performance, which helps reduce long-term power degradation caused by potential induced degradation. Enhanced durability features are intended to support reliable operation over many years in varied environmental conditions. The NeoBlack Series comes with a 12-year product warranty and a 30-year power output warranty, underlining the company’s confidence in product quality and lifecycle performance. Srini Adapa, Chief Growth Officer at Premier Energies, said the future of rooftop solar depends not only on efficiency but also on how well systems integrate with modern homes and buildings. He noted that the launch of India’s first all-black DCR module addresses a growing consumer preference for solutions that combine performance with attractive design. Chandra Mauli Kumar, Chief Production Officer, said creating a product that delivers both visual appeal and technical performance requires precision manufacturing and advanced production capabilities. He added that the company’s integrated cell and module manufacturing operations enable consistent quality, durability and high efficiency. The launch is expected to strengthen Premier Energies’ presence in the residential rooftop solar market, where demand is rising under government programmes such as PM Surya Ghar. It also reinforces the company’s position in advanced domestic solar manufacturing. Premier Energies, a publicly listed company, has more than three decades of experience in the solar industry. It is recognised for its focus on technology innovation, sustainability and workforce development, and has received Great Place to Work certification for five consecutive years. The story of ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ has reached far and wide. But who are makers of ‘MAKE IN INDIA’? What is their story? ‘Machine Maker’ is a dedicated magazine that seeks to bring the incredible stories… Read more B-201, SPIREA, Wakad, Pune – 411057 [email protected] +91-703-093-2700 Contact Us Subscribe India’s Top
New federal data shows solar and battery assets will comprise nearly 80% of all new utility-scale power additions planned for the U.S. electric grid this year. Image: Markus Spiske, Unsplash The U.S. electric grid is on track for a record-breaking year as developers plan to add 86 GW of new utility-scale capacity in 2026, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Clean energy technologies are set to dominate the expansion, with solar and battery storage accounting for the vast majority of all planned additions. According to the April 2026 Electric Power Monthly report, the energy transition is accelerating as fossil fuel capacity faces a net decline. Generation from renewables increased by 10.8% in the first two months of the year, providing 26% of total U.S. generation. Utility-scale solar remains the largest driver of new capacity, with 43.4 GW planned for 2026, a 60% increase over 2025 installations. Texas continues to serve as the nation’s solar hub, accounting for 40% of all new utility-scale projects. Notable additions include the 837 MW Tehuacana Creek 1 project in Texas, which is expected to be the largest solar PV facility to come online this year. Small-scale solar is also maintaining significant momentum. As of February 2026, the U.S. reached over 60 GW of total small-scale capacity, with more than 6 GW added in the last 12 months alone. The buildout of battery energy storage is keeping pace with solar growth to manage grid reliability and intermittency. Developers plan to add a record 24 GW of utility-scale storage in 2026, a massive jump from the 15 GW added last year. By the end of the first quarter of 2027, the EIA projects total U.S. battery storage capacity will surge from 44.6 GW to over 67 GW. Much of this growth is concentrated in three states: Major storage projects slated for 2026 include the 621 MW Lunis Creek BESS in Jackson, Texas, and the 500 MW Bellefield 2 Solar & Energy Storage Farm in Kern County, California. Following several years of slower growth, wind capacity additions are expected to more than double in 2026, with 11.8 GW planned. This includes two major offshore projects: the 800 MW Vineyard Wind 1 and the 715 MW Revolution Wind. In the West, hydropower generation is forecasted to grow by 6% this year as reservoir levels in California and the Northwest remain near capacity following favorable winter precipitation. As renewables continue to scale, the EIA expects the combined share of solar and wind generation to surpass 20% of the total U.S. mix by early 2027, while natural gas’ share of capacity is projected to drop below 39%. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Ryan Kennedy Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox.
Welcome to pv magazine USA. This site uses cookies. Read our policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this. Close
0 Powered by : Fujiyama Power Systems Limited, an India-based company that owns the UTL Solar brand, has approved acquisitions in two Zayo entities. Its Board of Directors have approved acquiring 31% paid-up equity share capital in ZEPL and ZCPL on April 25, 2026. Fujiyama currently holds 1,900 equity shares, or 19%, in both entities. After acquiring 3,100 equity shares in each company, its holding will reach 5,000 shares, aggregating to 50%. Each acquisition is valued at INR 31,000 (~$341) and will be completed through cash consideration. ZEPL manufactures solar panel products such as EVA sheets, junction boxes, backsheets, and other products. ZCPL manufactures electronic and electric wires and cables, including insulated cable made of steel, copper, and aluminium. Both Zayo entities have paid-up capital of INR 1,00,000 (~$1,100), while their turnover for FY 2024-25 was reported as Nil.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — State officials have officially scheduled a local public hearing to gather community feedback on a proposed 149-megawatt hybrid solar and energy storage facility in Vinton County. The project, spearheaded by Hamden Energy LLC, is slated for construction on approximately 945 acres of reclaimed mine land within Clinton Township. The site sits about two miles east of the village of Hamden. The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) will host the hearing to allow residents to provide sworn testimony regarding the development. If approved, the facility will feature a comprehensive array of energy infrastructure, including: Local residents wishing to speak must register upon arrival at the high school. Testimony is limited to three minutes per person to ensure everyone has an opportunity to be heard. All statements will be transcribed and included in the official case record for the OPSB’s final deliberation.
Witnesses who wish to provide supporting documents or “exhibits” should bring a physical copy to hand to the administrative law judge during the session. Following the local community hearing, an evidentiary hearing will take place on June 25, 2026, in Columbus. During this more formal phase, Hamden Energy, OPSB staff, and any legal intervenors will present expert evidence and technical testimony. For those unable to attend, additional project details, maps, and filings can be found on the OPSB website under case number 25-0970-EL-BGN. Log in to leave a comment
Two utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants awarded under Bid Window 5 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme have reached commercial operation, adding 150 MW of generation capacity to the national grid. The Grootspruit solar PV plant in the Free State and the Graspan solar PV plant in the Northern Cape have both achieved commercial operation date, transitioning from construction into full electricity generation. Each facility has capacity of 75 MW AC and was constructed over approximately 18 months, including full balance-of-plant engineering and construction works. The projects were developed for ENGIE and Pele Green Energy and delivered under a sub-engineering, procurement and construction model with Aurex Constructors responsible for plant design and construction. The developers supplied key equipment such as solar modules and inverters. The Grootspruit project marks a shift in geographic deployment of utility-scale solar with development extending into the Free State. According to the project team, this follows a concentration of earlier projects in the Northern Cape and reflects changes in available grid capacity. “Grootspruit is the first large-scale solar project we have executed outside of the Northern Cape since we entered the renewable energy sector,” said Delvin Bühler, Chief Operations Officer at Aurex Constructors. Together the two plants are expected to supply electricity to approximately 80 000 households and reduce carbon emissions by around 100 000 t of CO₂ annually.
Main Navigation Eyebrow Menu YORK, Neb. (KLKN) — The York County Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the zoning regulations surrounding a proposed 3,000-acre solar farm. Dozens of community members came out to make their voices heard one last time, filling every seat in the room and pleading with commissioners. “I moved out to York County to be surrounded by farm land, not an industrial solar park,” said Kirkland Doht, a York County resident. SEE ALSO: York County hears from community members for and against upcoming solar farm boundaries The zoning regulations in place include a half-mile setback from any homeowner who is not a willing partner and from platted subdivisions. Other setbacks include 330 feet from cemeteries and 660 feet from state recreational areas. Commissioners decided to adjust the setback from churches and schools, which was previously set to 660 feet and is now a half-mile. “The regulations passed today that include half-a-mile setbacks from property lines are a defective ban on solar in this county,” said Lindsay Mauw, the Program Director at Conservation Nebraska. “They are too large of setbacks and completely zone it out, creating essentially unusable land across the entire county.” SEE ALSO: York County Commissioners adopt zoning rules for 3,000-acre solar farm Emotions ran high as many voiced concerns about what it could do to generational farms. They also expressed how much the land means to the people of York County. “It is our family legacy,” said Amy Poll, a York County resident. “My son is a fifth-generation farmer, and his cousin. They want their children, and we want to leave a legacy. My great-granddad and my dad and uncles did not work this hard to save our family farm for it to be taken over by a solar industry.” SEE ALSO: York County Commissioners revisit 3,000-acre solar farm zoning rules Omaha Public Power District owns the project. Dustin Marvel, the Government & Community Relations Manager, said the setbacks are disappointing. But they will reevaluate and work to find an alternative pathway for the project. “Today’s regulations that were passed certainly are difficult, and that creates a really tough environment for our project to continue,” Marvel said. “But we remain dedicated to that process, especially here in York County.” OPPD also emphasized that agriculture and solar generation can go hand in hand for the benefit of the state, despite many disagreeing. Another important reminder from OPPD is that all land used for renewable energy projects occurs on land that has been voluntarily leased. Marvel spoke in front of the crowd, trying to reassure everyone that OPPD is not taking anyone’s land or condemning nonparticipating properties in any way. “There’s very much an agricultural concept to solar generation, just like there is wind generation,” Marvel said. “So the idea that it is one or the other is misinformation. How we look at it is Nebraska needs both.”
Charging a phone on a smart picnic table made with an old solar panel. The global solar photovoltaic market size swelled to over $500 billion last year. This is because of the simple fact that solar energy is now the cheapest electricity in history. It seems that everyone is snapping solar panels up and you should really consider investing in solar yourself. New dark black silicon modules have better performance than even solar panels from a few years ago. Companies are repowering solar farms simply to make even more money. So often panels are being retired long before the end of their lifetimes. What do we do with the leftover solar panels? They still work just fine. A new study lays out how to give retired solar panels a new life by acting as electronic picnic tables. In the old days, solar panels were often considered “retired” once they reached the end of their manufacturer warranty (typically 20–30 years), but in practice many still retain a substantial proportion of their original power output beyond that period. The annual degradation rates for crystalline-silicon cell based solar panels generally fall between 0.2% and 0.8%, with a global median of approximately 0.5% per year, indicating that even after 25 years many panels can still deliver 85–90% of their initial capacity, depending on environmental conditions and maintenance practices. Most solar panels on the market now are silicon based. For example, long-term field data from 23 solar power systems across different climates in the United States showed the median degradation rate was 0.5–0.6%/year, with numerous systems remaining fully operational after three decades. Plus, those are really old solar panels. Recent advancements in materials, encapsulation, and manufacturing processes have significantly enhanced module durability, with studies indicating that today’s solar panels can reliably operate for 30 years or more under typical field conditions. Lots of solar panels reaching end of warranties after 25 years still work just fine. In Canada to the north, the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers showed that many solar installations continue to generate usable electricity well past their 25-year warranty period, creating opportunities for repurposing retired modules in secondary applications such as community projects or educational infrastructure. In addition to end of life solar panels, because there has been so much improvement in solar panel technology over the past few years, there is a considerable amount of repowering solar farms as well – simply trading out older less efficient modules with higher efficient new ones. These old retired panels all have far more use in them. Although warranty expiration is often seen as the end of service life, many modules continue to operate reliably for years and are well-suited for reuse in open-source, small-scale systems such as solar-powered picnic tables. We now use electric devices all the time and for that we need power. Most teens today when searching for power are like carnivores searching for meat when they need to charge their phones. This keeps most of us indoors more than is strictly healthy. A successful approach to provide power outdoors uses solar photovoltaic-powered picnic tables, but the existing proprietary designs suffer from high costs. A new study addresses this limitation by presenting the design of a novel open-source solar-powered picnic table fabricated from reused, decommissioned solar panels and recycled plastic lumber. Solar powered picnic table. The open-source solar-powered picnic table acts as a conventional picnic table and provides electrical charging that supports learning and connectivity by providing outdoor power. The system integrates a 320 W solar panel, maximum power point charge controller, and 12 V lithium battery. It enables reliable off-grid power generation and storage. The device was validated under real outdoor operating conditions using everyday user loads, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops as individual and multiple connected devices at different times of the day and night. You can build one for yourself from the plans in the study for <$450, which makes it cost less than 90–95% less than commercially available options. As the system design is open source this also offers new business opportunities for small firms to handle solar panels at the end of their lifetime to cut into the $350 million market for picnic tables. The system, built using recycled and repurposed components, further enhances sustainability while maintaining durability for outdoor deployment. This is a classic example of dual use of solar – here both the energy and the surface to eat your lunch. The results of the study indicate that open-source solar furniture can provide an affordable and replicable approach for expanding renewable-powered charging access in outdoor environments. This article was originally published on Forbes.com Fans pointed a green beam of light at the Russian keeper, distracting him just enough to allow a key equalizer. SoFi posted a solid quarter of growth on Wednesday, even as its banking-as-a-service platform struggles. The US 30-year yield is back near the danger zone that has sent stocks tumbling before. The option deadline is May 1, and several NFL teams have significant decisions to make. Four total QBs make Nate Tice's early big board, and four Longhorns are in the top nine. Plus, Indiana's not done cranking out pro wide receivers. Philadelphia began a new chapter of its 2026 season and of its club history on Tuesday. Never say that Anthony Davis doesn't have layers. Here are the most notable free agents left unsigned as the offseason turns toward the summer months. Let's zoom in on the biggest strength thus far for all 30 big-league ballclubs. Mauro played eight seasons in the NFL, six of them with the Cardinals. He also played for the Giants and Raiders.
New federal data shows solar and battery assets will comprise nearly 80% of all new utility-scale power additions planned for the U.S. electric grid this year. Image: fabersam/Pixabay From pv magazine USA The U.S. electric grid is on track for a record-breaking year, with developers planning to add 86 GW of new utility-scale capacity in 2026, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Clean energy technologies are expected to dominate the expansion, with solar and battery storage accounting for the vast majority of planned additions. According to the April 2026 Electric Power Monthly report, the energy transition is accelerating as fossil fuel capacity continues to decline on a net basis. Renewable generation increased by 10.8% in the first two months of the year, reaching 26% of total U.S. electricity generation. Utility-scale solar remains the largest source of new capacity, with 43.4 GW planned for 2026—a 60% increase compared with 2025 installations. Texas continues to lead as the nation’s solar hub, accounting for 40% of all new utility-scale projects. Notable additions include the 837 MW Tehuacana Creek 1 project in Texas, expected to be the largest solar PV facility coming online this year. Small-scale solar also continues to grow steadily. As of February 2026, the U.S. had surpassed 60 GW of total small-scale capacity, with more than 6 GW added in the past 12 months. Battery energy storage deployment is keeping pace with solar expansion to support grid reliability and manage intermittency. Developers plan to add a record 24 GW of utility-scale storage in 2026, up significantly from 15 GW added last year. By the end of the first quarter of 2027, the EIA projects that total U.S. battery storage capacity will rise from 44.6 GW to more than 67 GW. This growth is highly concentrated in a few states, led by Texas with 12.9 GW (53% of new capacity), followed by California with 3.4 GW (14%) and Arizona with 3.2 GW (13%). Major storage projects scheduled for 2026 include the 621 MW Lunis Creek BESS in Jackson, Texas, and the 500 MW Bellefield 2 Solar & Energy Storage Farm in Kern County, California. After several years of slower growth, wind capacity additions are expected to more than double in 2026, with 11.8 GW planned. This includes two major offshore projects: the 800 MW Vineyard Wind 1 and the 715 MW Revolution Wind. In the West, hydropower generation is forecast to increase by 6% this year, supported by strong reservoir levels in California and the Northwest following favorable winter precipitation. As renewables continue to scale, the EIA expects the combined share of solar and wind generation to surpass 20% of the U.S. electricity mix by early 2027, while natural gas’ share of capacity is projected to fall below 39%. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Ryan Kennedy Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this. Close
Chinese solar manufacturering giant JinkoSolar has signed two solar module supply agreements totalling 600MW in Nigeria. The agreements comprise a 500MW deal with Fouani Group focused on distributed generation, and a separate 100MW module supply agreement with a local distributor for commercial and industrial (C&I) and channel deployment. Get Premium Subscription Under the 500MW agreement modules will be deployed across commercial, industrial and residential applications, including factories, retail centres and homes. The partnership aims to scale deployment of distributed solar systems in a market still heavily reliant on backup diesel generation. The companies said the agreement aligns with Nigeria’s energy transition plans and growing demand for self-generation capacity among end-users. Separately, JinkoSolar has signed a 100MW module supply agreement with an anonymous Nigerian distributor, shipping its N-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) Tiger Neo 3.0 modules. JinkoSolar said the modules offer up to 670W output and 24.8% efficiency, alongside a temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C, positioning them for operation in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. The agreement signals continued deployment of TOPCon products in West Africa’s distribution and C&I segments, where higher-efficiency modules are being adopted to improve project returns under constrained installation conditions. Nigeria’s power market is characterised by supply deficits, high reliance on diesel generation and sensitivity to energy costs, supporting demand for distributed solar solutions. However, developers and distributors face challenges including high logistics costs, climate-related performance risks and pressure on project payback periods. Nigeria added 803MW of new solar capacity in 2025, marking a 141% year-on-year increase and ranking it as Africa’s second-largest market behind South Africa. According to the Global Solar Council’s ‘Africa Market Outlook 2026–2029’, much of this growth has been driven by distributed, off-grid installations across commercial and residential segments.
Meenakshi Sinha – City Features Editor with The Times of India. Former HT.com, Plus Channel, Multimedia Communications Pvt Ltd. Areas of interest – power, civic, water, industry to art, culture, music and films. Former health, education, Authority and district administration. RTs are not endorsement.
Regalo Press and New York City-based publisher Simon & Schuster have acquired the solar industry’s latest retrospective memoir, ‘SOLAR COASTER: The Untold Story of the Solar Industry One Man’s Journey Leading with Soul.’ Authored by TurningPoint Energy founder and clean energy executive Jared Schoch, the book is scheduled for publication on Nov. 10, 2026. SOLAR COASTER offers an insider’s account of the solar industry, the publisher says, as well as a wider look at leadership tactics, purpose, and decision-making in evolving markets like renewable energy. In the book, Schoch draws on more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry’s infrastructure division. The work tracks the solar market from its origins as a niche solution to the dominant energy generation force it is today, making stops along the way to discuss market volatility, political uncertainty, and electrical execution challenges. As a “business memoir,” SOLAR COASTER also serves as a broader project on the state of the industry, according to its publisher. While completing the work, Schoch contacted universities, companies, and organizations for their input on the nature of leadership. The groups spoke on the solar industry’s most overarching goal of building a cleaner and safer world, and the business and leadership lessons they learned from their time in the energy space. Since founding TurningPoint Energy, Schoch has led the development of solar projects nationwide, and has been key in scaling the company across a number of markets. He stepped down from presidency of the company in 2023. Prior to that, the debut author held leadership roles at SOLON Corporation, SunEdison, and Johnson Controls. Proceeds from SOLAR COASTER: The Untold Story of the Solar Industry One Man’s Journey Leading with Soul will support for-profit and nonprofit investment efforts that align with Schoch’s mission. These initiatives include educational nonprofits, homelessness, and climate change, the publisher says.
Author: PPD TeamDate: April 29, 2026 Waa Solar Limited has commissioned 6,000 KW (AC) of grid-connected solar photovoltaic capacity under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Feeder Level Solarization Scheme. The company received two commissioning certificates from Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) for the projects. With this addition, Waa Solar’s cumulative commissioned capacity under the PM-KUSUM-C feeder scheme has reached 42 MW. The company said the projects support its renewable energy portfolio and contribute to India’s clean energy targets. It added that the development aligns with its ongoing participation in feeder-level solarisation initiatives. Waa Solar last week signed seven Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) aggregating 48.15 MW with Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Limited (MPPMCL). The company will supply power at tariffs ranging from Rs 2.73 to Rs 2.75 per unit, with a tenure of 25 years from the Scheduled Commissioning Date. The featured photograph is for representation only. Author: PPD Team Date: July 23, 2025 Ardour Investment Holding, a promoter entity of the Adani Group, has increased its stake in Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) to 62.5 per cent following the conversion of share warrants into equity. The warrants were originally issued in January 2024 at Rs 1,480.75 per unit, with a 25 per cent upfront payment. The remaining amount was paid upon conversion on July 18 at a revised price of Rs… Read More Adani promoters raise stake in AGEL through warrant conversion Author: PPD Team Date: November 25, 2024 Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has commissioned the North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme-XII (NERSS-XII) project, effective 2 November 2024. The notification for commercial operation was received on 23 November 2024. NERSS-XII is an interstate transmission scheme aimed at enhancing the power infrastructure in India’s North-East region. PGCIL developed the project for Rs 5.76 billion. Read More PGCIL commissions NERSS-XII project Author: PPD Team Date: December 10, 2025 THDC India Limited has begun commercial operation of the third unit of the Tehri Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant. The 250 MW unit is part of the 1,000 MW project, which is now the largest variable speed pumped storage plant developed by a central public sector enterprise. The Commercial Operation Date was commenced virtually from New Delhi by Manohar Lal, Minister of Power. The Minister said the commissioning… Read More THDCIL begins commercial operations of Unit 3 at Tehri PSP Author: PPD Team Date: January 6, 2026 CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited has emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder in a major transformer bulk procurement tender issued by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL). According to PGCIL’s procurement portal, the tender relates to the “400 kV Transformer Package 4TR 10 BULK” under the Bulk Procurement of 765 kV and 400 kV Class Transformers and Reactors of various Capacities (Lot 5). CG Power and… Read More CG Power emerges as L1 bidder for Rs 334 crore Power Grid transformer tender Author: PPD Team Date: May 20, 2025 The Government of Andhra Pradesh laid the foundation stone on May 16, 2025, for a 2,800 MWp wind-solar hybrid power project integrated with a 2,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Anantapur district. The project is being developed by ReNew Power Ventures Private Limited. The hybrid project will be executed in two phases: Phase I includes 587 MWp of solar, 250 MW of wind, and a 415… Read More Andhra Pradesh lays foundation for 2,800 MWp hybrid project with BESS Author: PPD Team Date: April 28, 2025 CSE Development (India) Private Limited has commissioned several solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects at its 100 MWp solar park in Maharashtra on April 23, 2025. The power generated from these open access captive solar projects will be supplied to various clients, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies and DRT-Anthea Aroma Chemicals Private Limited. Read More CSE Development commissions solar projects at 100 MWp park in Maharashtra Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
Zambia 
Power, Strategy & risk, Finance & investment, Politics & security 
You must be logged in to post a comment.