As part of Amazon’s ongoing Labor Day Sale event, the official Anker SOLIX storefront is offering its newest 2,010Wh S2000 Portable Power Station down at $649.99 shipped, matching the price we’re seeing directly. This newer unit has been carrying an $1,199 tag with it since it released in May, though discounts have largely kept the price down at $700, $680, and $650 this summer on average, with June’s Prime Day Sale event giving us a drop to $600. You’re getting the second-lowest price we have tracked at Amazon following its direct launch deal in May.
The Anker SOLIX S2000 power station is a more modest and compact companion that can handle plenty while reducing idle power consumption (down to sub-6W) far better than past models (which typically are at 10W to 20W). It has a nice 2,010Wh LiFePO4 capacity and steady output up to 1,500W (surging to 3,000W), to handle personal devices, appliances, and more – with a strong focus on refrigerator backup during outages, with Anker claiming it handles “up to 35 hours of refrigerator backup with 20 percent more real-world runtime than competing 2kWh units.”
It brings along eight port options for connection needs (5x ACs, 2x USB-Cs, 1x USB-A), as well as four main ways to recharge. You can do so from a standard AC outlet, by connecting up to 400W of solar panel input, using the brand’s alternator charger as you drive, or by charging from an AC outlet and solar panels together.
As I stated, Amazon’s Labor Day Sale is in full swing, and you’ll definitely want to check out the wide array of deals there. If you are strictly looking for more deals like this, be sure to head over to our dedicated power stations hub regularly for the best from multiple brands.
Get Bluetti’s 288Wh Elite 30 V2 station for compact personal device power support while down at $219
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By: Luis Reyes
Published: Aug 31, at 11:00am ET
When a solar farm comes down, every panel on it has to go somewhere, and the word the industry uses for where they go is recycled. It shows up in procurement documents, sustainability reports and ribbon-cutting releases, usually sitting next to a recovery rate in the high nineties. A Los Angeles research firm spent this year pulling regulatory filings and corporate disclosures to work out what that word covers in practice.
Sustainable Source Studios published its answer on July 22 and pushed it out to the press on August 19. For roughly nine out of every ten retired American panels, the firm says, the word covers a landfill.
Two of the recyclers named in the paper have since disputed it. One of them runs the plant in Cedartown, Georgia. And S3 has already corrected one of its own seven headline findings by a factor of fifteen.
Isaac Nichelson, who founded S3 and wrote the paper, put the central claim in a single line. “Almost none of what the United States calls ‘solar recycling’ is closed-loop recovery,” he wrote, in a passage pv magazine USA quoted on August 20.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory prices recycling a single module at $15 to $45, against $1 to $5 to drop the same module at a landfill. NREL’s own behavioral modeling of the 2020 to 2050 window puts about 80 percent of American modules in landfills, 10 percent through recycling and 1 percent into reuse under baseline conditions.
So S3’s 90 percent sits a little above the federal lab’s baseline projection, not somewhere off the map.
S3 puts the volume the country is walking into at about one million tons of retired modules by 2030 and roughly ten million tons by 2050.
The United States shut its last primary lead smelter in 2013, after the EPA tightened the national air standard for lead. S3 traces what filled the hole. Korea Zinc, through its holding company PedalPoint and the recycler evTerra, runs four shredding plants on American soil. Metal-bearing concentrate from those plants travels roughly 5,500 nautical miles, about 6,330 miles, to Korea for smelting. Korea Zinc has told investors it wants 120,000 tons a year of solar material moving through its Onsan smelter by 2030, and S3 notes that Korea’s own projected solar waste came to about 1,222 tons in 2025.
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S3 lists that gap as its third finding. American panels fill it.
Nobody disputes the shipping. What the recyclers dispute is what it means, and Korea Zinc has been moving on that front too. The company bought the Clarksville, Tennessee zinc refinery from Trafigura’s Nyrstar in December and plans to replace it with a $7.4 billion complex opening in phases from 2029, with the US Department of Defense holding 40 percent of the joint venture.
SOLARCYCLE switched on its 255,000-square-foot line in Cedartown on January 29, aiming for a million panels a year by the end of 2026 and a ceiling of 5 gigawatts’ worth annually. We wrote about that plant and the glass factory going up beside it in July.
Asked about the report, the company kept it short. “We disagree with the allegations,” it said, while adding that it welcomed attention to competing schools of thought inside the industry.
Then it gave numbers. For most of the panels it has processed, SOLARCYCLE says more than 80 percent of the mass stays in the United States and goes to domestic offtakers, with under 20 percent heading to refining partners abroad because no American refinery runs at that scale yet. The company puts its value recovery at 97 percent, and says the 0.15 percent of silver it misses ends up in a clean slag the smelter sells as a concrete input.
SOLARCYCLE has also decided against R2 certification for now, saying the standard offers thin guidance on material tracking and overlaps with the ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications it already holds.
Solar Panel Recycling, LLC runs plants in Salisbury, North Carolina, Lawrenceville, Georgia and Breckenridge, Texas. SPR went further.
“We do not shred modules and ship them overseas for smelting,” the company said in its statement, which also said no one from S3 contacted it during the research or set foot in any of the three sites.
SPR says the paper misstates its annual processing volume at 69,000 tons, about a third of what it actually runs. It says its recovered glass, aluminum and copper stay domestic, and that it sends silver offshore for final refining the same way every other operator does, because no US silver refinery works at scale.
Both companies landed on the same point about who sits at the top of S3’s chart.
The release that went out on August 19 said two North American facilities held R2v3 Appendix G, the solar-specific certification, and that one of the two ran at industrial scale.
Business Wire carried a corrected version stating that the seventh finding “understated the number of North American facilities holding R2v3 Appendix G,” and that S3 fixed it after querying SERI’s certified facility directory directly.
The corrected count is at least 30.
S3 keeps the argument alive on different ground. Of those 30-plus facilities, the revised finding says 16 are certified only to hand panels to the next vendor with no materials recovery in scope, four hold certificates scoped purely to PV modules, and one operates at industrial scale. The same correction added a line disclosing that S3 has provided sustainability consulting to Comstock Inc. That disclosure was already in the white paper’s footnotes. It was not in the original release.
Comstock Metals holds the top-right box on S3’s quadrant chart, and the paper calls it the only North American operation meeting every criterion for certified, zero-landfill domestic processing. Its plant sits in Silver Springs, Nevada, designed for 100,000 tons a year.
Comstock announced on August 11 that it had fully integrated and tested the system and run panels through every stage of production. Final integration was due mid-August, with the ramp toward a first production milestone starting after that. Chief executive Corrado De Gasperis put that milestone in September.
SOLARCYCLE and SPR both seized on the same document, arguing the paper reads a design capacity as current throughput. Comstock says S3 handled the research independently and that it supplied no data or assistance.
SERI added Appendix G to the R2 standard in 2024, and under the R2 Code of Practices, facilities handling PV modules are not required to add it to their scope until January 31, 2027. S3’s own reading of the standard is that a compliant custody record can stop at the first certified vendor in the chain, or at a smelter’s gate.
Federal rules are not going to settle it first. The EPA announced on October 23, 2023 that it would move retired panels into the universal waste category, and its own page still describes that rule as one the agency is planning to propose.
Which leaves the market doing the sorting. First Solar has run in-house recycling for its cadmium telluride modules for more than 20 years and reported material recovery above 95 percent in 2025, which is why S3 names it as an exception alongside Comstock, and why its Louisiana plant is a different animal from the crystalline-silicon lines everyone else is building.
Comstock’s first production milestone is due in September. S3’s correction is dated August 19. January 31, 2027 is the next date on the calendar that forces anyone to prove anything.
What do you think?
Luis Reyes · Aug 18, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 23, 2026
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Luis Reyes · Aug 31, 2026
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Olivia Richman · Aug 30, 2026
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The Sun Trip has to be one of the most grueling eco-adventures and rallies where e-bikes race against time for 100 percent solar recharging ability. The sheer level of raw testing of machines against the elements, with no support crew or vehicles during the expedition, is what makes this Alpine adventure reserved only for those who are deep in their roots of engineering.
The eco adventure requires the e-bikes to go through mandatory checkpoints via designated regions, or pick their own routes. There’s no scope for any repair assistance or night camping provisions. One rule that’s crystal clear is that you never touch grid electricity during the course of the competition; otherwise, you are disqualified for the solar leg. Since 2013, the event has run successful editions in Europe, Central Asia, China, and North Africa.
Designer: Shawn Boden Ryan
This year’s Alpine edition saw an interesting e-bike powered by a solar panel array mounted on the front of the ride. The man behind the build is Ryan, who took a salvaged Omnium cargo bike with a sizeable front rack panel and turned it into a solar-powered ride for the competition. The first task was to remove those big panels and make way for a very unique 200W solar power array connected to the Genasun GVB-8 boost MPPT single charge controller. This was then mated to the two 36-volt batteries – one of them from EM3-EV, and the other from Infinit. Doing the heavy lifting in the setup is a 250W Tongsheng TSDZ2B mid-drive motor from Varstrom.
Since the amount of energy generated by the solar panels is a premium, the setup runs perfectly in this configuration. Keeping the overall weight down to a minimum was essential; therefore, even with the camping gear, camera equipment, and other essentials, the bike clocked just under 135 lbs. The changing spectrum of weather during the course of the competition was a big challenge, as the heatwave proved to be a big challenge. One of his batteries – the Infinit modular – took the onslaught of 41 degrees Celsius. “The BMS was essentially doing its job and protecting the battery, but it meant that for periods of the day I couldn’t store all the solar energy the panels were producing,” Ryan said.
The handicap forced him to plug into the grid for 1kWh of energy harvesting, which automatically put him out of the solar-only competition. On the good days, the 200 W capacity proved enough to power his bike through, but scope for things going wrong was pretty thin. Even if the battery would not have failed, it was anybody’s guess if he would have managed to make it through the solar-only competition. That I say because Ryan himself admitted that, “250W Tongsheng did struggle thermally on some of the really long climbs.” Learning from those little outcomes, he is already redesigning the concept bike for the Sun Trip from France to China in 2028.
He is considering shifting from a cargo bike to a long-wheelbase semi-recumbent layout. The solar bike will have the rider seat considerably further forward, topped with the wide solar canopy. This will increase the solar area, boost the aerodynamics, and make the ride more comfortable over long distances.
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Ukraine has launched two renewable energy auctions – 50 MW for solar PV and 100 MW for solar-plus-storage projects
The maximum bid price is €0.08/kWh for solar PV and €0.12/kWh for solar-plus-storage projects
Projects can be located across several Ukrainian regions, with bids to be submitted through Prozorro.Sale
Ukraine’s JSC “Guaranteed Buyer”, the state-owned renewable energy buyer, has launched two auctions offering a combined 150 MW of support for new solar power projects, including systems paired with energy storage.
The first auction offers a 50 MW quota for solar PV projects with a ceiling of €0.08/kWh on bids.
The other auction is for 100 MW solar-plus-storage capacity with a maximum bid price of €0.12/kWh. For projects under this category, the storage system must have a power capacity of at least 80% of the solar plant’s installed capacity with at least 2 kWh for every kW of installed solar capacity. Support will be available to the winning facilities from 00:00 to 11:59 hrs. and from 14:00 to 23:59 hrs. No market premium will be paid during the period from 12:00 to 13:59 hrs.
The auctions cover projects in several Ukrainian regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv, as well as Kyiv city.
The last date to submit bids for these auctions is September 24, 2026, while bidding is scheduled for September 25. The bidding will take place through the electronic trading system of JSC “Prozorro.Sale” via authorized electronic marketplaces.
According to the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, the country targets to install more than 1.5 GW of solar and over 3 GWh of battery storage capacity in 2026, as it goes about rebuilding its power system as it deals with power shortages and electricity imports (see Ukraine Targets 1.5 GW Solar, 3 GWh Storage In 2026).
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China’s first reported expansion of a clean REIT for inter-institutional investors has put a relatively uncommon financing structure in the spotlight: turning dozens of small commercial and industrial (C&I) solar plants into an investable product for long-term institutional capital.
PCG Power completed the first expansion of its “Xingzheng Jishi – Bicheng Nengfa New Energy Holding-type Real Estate Asset-backed Special Plan (Carbon Neutrality)” on Aug. 20. The product was established in December 2025 with around 130 MW of operating C&I distributed solar assets.
Following the expansion, the underlying portfolio had grown to about 400 MW, representing roughly CNY 1.5 billion ($209 million) of investment, while cumulative fundraising exceeded CNY 800 million.
The deal matters less for its absolute size than for the capital cycle it is attempting to establish. Renewable energy projects require large amounts of upfront capital but can remain in operation for 20 to 30 years. For developers that retain projects on their balance sheets, capital can therefore remain tied up for decades. Project finance helps build assets; securitization can help recycle the capital already embedded in them.
In theory, that creates a loop: develop, build, operate, securitize, reinvest – and build again.
Renewable energy securitization itself is not new. US residential solar loan-backed securities have developed into what ratings agency KBRA describes as a mainstream asset-backed securities (ABS) product. In Europe, listed vehicles such as The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) give investors exposure to portfolios of wind, solar, and storage assets. India has also used infrastructure investment trusts, including Virescent Renewable Energy Trust, whose initial portfolio comprised around 395 MW of operating solar projects.
REIT-style structures holding renewable infrastructure, however, remain far less common than property REITs, particularly for highly fragmented C&I solar portfolios. China’s “inter-institutional REITs” are also not identical to the listed public REITs familiar to international investors. In July, the Shanghai Stock Exchange formally defined the products as real estate asset-backed securities with equity characteristics, renaming what had previously been known as holding-type real estate ABS.
The harder question is why renewable energy assets, despite their long operating lives and potentially stable cash flows, have not fitted REIT structures as naturally as offices, warehouses, or shopping centers.
PCG’s portfolio illustrates one answer: standardization.
Samuel Yan, president and CFO of PCG Power, told pv magazine that the projects in the company’s first portfolio averaged only around 3 MW each. The initial 130 MW pool comprised roughly 40 to 50 projects, while the expansion added more than 200 MW and another 50 to 60 projects across multiple provinces and industries.
Unlike a property REIT holding several large buildings, a distributed solar vehicle may therefore have to manage dozens or even hundreds of small assets. Each rooftop can differ in ownership documentation, structural loading, commercial contracts, power consumption patterns, and counterparty credit.
PCG has sought to address that problem by standardizing assets before they reach the capital market. Yan said the company applies “red-line” criteria that can disqualify a project outright, including property compliance and structural safety requirements, alongside “yellow-line” criteria under which additional returns may compensate for manageable, non-standard risks. The company then applies standardized engineering procedures, a unified operations and maintenance (O&M) platform, and common long-term operating rules.
The implication is that the financial product cannot be standardized unless the physical assets are standardized first.
There is a second challenge. A REIT platform is not simply another way for a developer to package several projects, sell them, and walk away. It requires a continuing pipeline of new assets, long-term operations, repeat expansions, and sustained cash-flow quality.
Yan said this distinguishes the model from the traditional develop-build-sell approach used by many renewable energy developers. In effect, it could turn a renewable energy developer from an asset seller into an asset manager, favoring companies that combine development, construction, O&M, power trading, and financial asset management.
China is an unusually large test bed for that model. Distributed PV capacity had reached 576 GW by the end of June 2026, according to the National Energy Administration. Meanwhile, China is formalizing a multi-layer REIT market. The Shanghai Stock Exchange said in July that inter-institutional REIT issuance across 15 asset categories, including renewable infrastructure, had already approached CNY 100 billion.
Still, REITs are unlikely to become a universal answer to renewable energy finance. Assets generally need established operating cash flows before securitization. Fragmented portfolios carry high due diligence and management costs, while electricity prices, power purchase agreement performance, curtailment, degradation, and customer credit create risks that differ substantially from property rents. Tax treatment and eligible-asset rules also vary between jurisdictions.
The more realistic role for REITs is therefore as an additional exit and capital-recycling channel alongside bank lending, project finance, infrastructure funds, and conventional ABS.
The real test of PCG’s experiment is not whether one solar REIT can be issued. It is whether portfolios can repeatedly absorb new assets and attract long-term capital. If they can, securitization could turn operating renewable energy plants from a destination for capital into a source of capital for the next generation of projects.
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Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, September 10, 2026
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Tuesday, September 15, 2026
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Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
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pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.
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ST. PAUL — Minnesotans looking to get more from their solar energy systems may be eligible for thousands of dollars in state incentives to add battery storage.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce has just over $1.4 million remaining through its Energy Storage Incentive Program for eligible customers outside Xcel Energy’s service territory. The program provides incentives of $250 per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity, up to $7,000. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Battery storage allows homeowners and businesses to store electricity produced by solar panels and use it later — including when the sun isn’t shining. By storing more of the solar energy they produce for later use, customers may also be able to further reduce their electric bills and provide low-cost clean energy to the overall power system when it is needed most.
Additionally, if a battery storage unit is coupled with the appropriate energy management system, storage units can be equipped to provide power during outages.
“Most of us don’t think much about electricity until the power goes out,” Minnesota Department of Commerce Temporary Commissioner Julia Dreier said in a press release. “Battery storage can give families and businesses another layer of resilience by allowing them to save some of the energy their solar panels produce for when they need it. We know these systems can be a significant investment, and this program can help make that option more accessible to Minnesotans who decide it’s right for them.”
The incentive is available to qualifying Minnesotans, including homeowners, businesses, government entities, and schools, served by electric utilities outside Xcel Energy’s territory. Battery systems must be paired with solar and may not exceed 50 kilowatt hours of capacity.
Minnesotans who already have solar can explore adding battery storage, while those considering a new solar installation can consider installing solar and storage together.
Commerce has provided more than $600,000 in incentives to Minnesotans through its Energy Storage Incentive Program since 2024.
Battery storage can:
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Battery systems remain a significant investment, even with an incentive. Commerce encourages Minnesotans to consider their individual energy needs and goals and talk with a qualified installer about whether battery storage makes sense for them.
“We want Minnesotans to feel like they have options when it comes to how they power their homes and businesses,” Assistant Commissioner Lissa Pawlisch said in a press release. “These incentives are one way we can help more families and businesses decide whether storage makes sense for them.”
Minnesotans interested in the program should first determine which electric utility serves their property. Those outside Xcel Energy’s service territory should talk with a few qualified solar or battery installers about system options to help determine whether a battery system meets their energy needs and goals. Customers should also check with their electric utility to see whether additional battery storage rebates or rate programs are available.
Customers within Xcel Energy’s service territory are covered by a separate battery storage incentive program administered through Xcel Energy.
Learn more about battery storage, eligibility, current incentive availability and how to apply on Commerce’s Battery Energy Storage Incentives webpage .
In 2023, Minnesota lawmakers passed more than 40 initiatives to reduce pollution and prepare communities for climate change, including 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040, a $100 million investment in climate-resilient community infrastructure, incentives for electric vehicles, and grants for expanding the use of solar.
To date, Commerce has awarded nearly 200 solar energy grants to schools and over 200 awards for solar on public buildings
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As of 2025, Minnesota has reduced emissions by 48% compared to 2005 levels. Zero-carbon energy accounts for much of Minnesota’s electricity generation, with 55% coming from renewable and nuclear sources, outpacing the national share of 43%.
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India installed 6.6 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first half of calendar year 2026, up 136% compared to the 2.8 GW installed in H1 2025, according to Mercom India’s newly released Q2 and 1H 2026 India Rooftop Solar Market Report.
The figure includes 3.8 GW of rooftop solar capacity added in the second quarter, up 41% from the 2.7 GW installed in Q1 2026. Q2 installations also increased 136% year on year from 1.6 GW in Q2 2025.
Rooftop solar accounted for 33% of India’s total solar installations during the quarter.
According to Mercom, rooftop solar installations were primarily driven by the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM Surya Ghar program). Rooftop systems had been installed in nearly 4.5 million households by June 2026, reaching approximately 45% of the program’s target of 10 million households.
Residential installations continued to dominate the market in Q2 2026, contributing 84% of total additions. Industrial installations accounted for 10%, followed by commercial installations at 5%, and government installations at 1%.
Installations under the capex model accounted for a majority of quarterly additions in Q2 2026.
The implementation of ALMM List-II requirements from June 1, 2026, increased pressure on domestic cell availability and domestic content requirement (DCR) module prices. Subsequent transition measures eased near-term pressure, with eligible net-metering and open access projects receiving a transition window until Dec. 31, 2026. Residential consumers under PM Surya Ghar opting for the “Give It Up” category can forgo the subsidy and use non-DCR modules until the program ends in March 2027.
“India has a strong residential rooftop solar pipeline, but converting it into installations will depend on faster approvals, financing, and project delivery. Higher grid tariffs should strengthen commercial demand, but rising system costs and regulatory constraints could limit industrial growth,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group. “The ALMM transition window will help projects move forward in the second half, but it could also trigger a rush to meet deadlines and increase price volatility. Beyond 2026, market growth will depend on domestic cell capacity ramping up quickly and states removing approval, metering, and grid connectivity bottlenecks.”
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Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, September 10, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Our special edition for Intersolar South America 2026 is here!
Discover the latest insights into the Brazilian solar market – in Portuguese.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.
Thursday, October 7, 2026
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Maamba Energy Ltd’s major expansion of generation capacity has seen small delays owing to logistical challenges caused by Gulf War III, but the IPP remains confident of bringing significant, additional capacity online in the near term
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Leading vertically integrated PV manufacturer LONGi and Mingyang Thin Film Technology, a subsidiary of Mingyang Smart Energy, have signed a strategic cooperation and framework agreement covering building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and zero-carbon parks. The cooperation will cover joint project development, solution collaboration, and sharing business opportunities.
Mingyang Thin Film Technology holds engineering qualifications including general contracting for power engineering construction, along with capabilities spanning project investment and development. LONGi will contribute its PV product R&D and system-solution expertise through its BIPV systems business unit. The companies plan to jointly develop projects including zero-carbon parks.
In February, Mingyang announced plans to invest more than RMB 3.5 billion in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, to develop six clean energy-related projects, including a GW-scale BIPV perovskite production line (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Perovskite PV manufacturer GCL Perovskite has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Wuhan Lingyun Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd., covering perovskite BIPV curtain walls and PV windows. The partnership will span joint R&D, product supply, EPC contracting, and market development.
GCL Perovskite will provide its GW-scale production capabilities and BIPV product portfolio, while Wuhan Lingyun will contribute its design, manufacturing, and construction capabilities in architectural curtain walls. The companies plan to develop perovskite PV curtain wall and window products for green-building applications, including low-carbon public buildings and ultra-low-energy buildings.
CL Perovskite is leading the drafting of a group standard for single-junction perovskite solar modules for space applications (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
PV wafer-cutting equipment manufacturer and silicon wafer processing service provider Gaoce reported revenue of RMB 1.58 billion in the first half of 2026, up 9.06% year-on-year. However, its net loss widened to RMB 489.89 million from RMB 88.55 million a year earlier, while net loss excluding non-recurring gains and losses increased to RMB 526.38 million from RMB 121.83 million.
Gaoce attributed the wider loss to low utilization rates across the PV supply chain and continued low product prices. In its interim report, the company said mainstream n-type wafers for TOPCon cells are currently about 130 µm thick, while heterojunction (HJT) wafers are typically around 110 µm. It is also conducting R&D and testing on 50 µm ultra-thin wafers for flexible HJT cells.
For FY2025, Gaoce Technology reported revenue of RMB 3.65 billion, down 18.43% year on year (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
The Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Shandong Energy Administration, and other authorities have issued a notice supporting co-located energy storage at renewable energy plants. For operating and planned PV projects adding storage, the total power rating of co-located storage will be temporarily capped at 50% of the PV plant’s installed capacity, while the limit for wind projects will be 30%.
Lithium-ion battery storage projects must be completed and grid-connected within one year of being included on the project list, while projects using sodium-ion, flow, solid-state, or semi-solid-state batteries will have up to 18 months. Projects adding storage duration without increasing power can be submitted at any time under simplified procedures. The same applies to storage mainly used for auxiliary power and improving output-curve accuracy, provided its power rating does not exceed 5% of the renewable plant’s installed capacity.
Shandong will also support renewable energy plants and co-located storage in jointly participating in the spot electricity market. Where storage is charged using electricity from the associated wind or PV plant, the corresponding discharged electricity will be treated as wind or solar generation for settlement. Existing renewable energy plants that fail to meet their committed storage obligations will face priority output reductions during renewable energy curtailment periods.
TaiyangNews 2024
The global solar PV operations and maintenance (O&M) market reached 348 GW at the end of 2025, after adding 61 GW during the year. The expansion came amid accelerating industry consolidation, with the 15 largest providers managing 200 GW, or 57% of the capacity analyzed.
The figures come from Wood Mackenzie’s “Global Solar PV O&M Service Provider Dynamics 2026” report, which examines portfolio sizes, cost trends and service strategies among more than 130 active providers across the Americas, Asia-Pacific excluding China, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Consolidation accelerated in 2025, with the 15 largest providers adding a combined 41 GW to their portfolios to reach 200 GW of managed capacity. NovaSource Power Services retained its position as the world’s largest solar PV O&M provider, with 38.4 GW under management at the end of the year.
RES Energy Global Services, Solv Energy, Solarig Energy Services and Recurrent Energy retained their positions among the five largest providers globally. Several are pursuing cross-regional expansion strategies as scale becomes an increasingly important competitive factor.
The rankings also saw new entrants. BayWa r.e. Services and Origis Energy Services joined the global top 15 after adding 2.6 GW and 1.8 GW, respectively, to their managed portfolios.
Engie more than doubled its O&M portfolio in 2025, rising six places to rank eighth globally. Growth was driven primarily by the Americas, where its portfolio expanded by 172%.
Sterling & Wilson recorded 53% year-on-year growth, taking its managed capacity to 13.5 GW and placing it sixth globally. The company also leads the Asia-Pacific market, where it manages 12.2 GW.
Among smaller providers, megaom, the independent O&M unit of FRV, recorded the strongest percentage growth. Its portfolio expanded by 243% to 3.8 GW, taking the company into the global top 30 for the first time.
Regional markets showed markedly different trends. Wood Mackenzie described North America as a mature and highly competitive market, with pricing pressure pushing down the cost of comprehensive O&M services. Prices for “full-wrap” contracts fell 18% year on year.
By contrast, O&M volumes in the Middle East and Africa nearly doubled in 2025. Historically lower market penetration, combined with rapid growth in PV installations, is attracting new service providers to the regions.
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The federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) will invest more than $100 million across 20 research and development projects as part of its mission to further drive down the cost of solar power generation.
In what will be its largest single investment in solar PV research and development, Arena announced on Monday that it will invest up to $105.6 million across a portfolio of projects primarily being undertaken by universities across Australia.
The funding is part Arena’s 30-30-30 vision that aims to achieve 30 per cent PV module efficiency and 30 cents per watt (W) installed cost by 2030, and solar electricity below $20 per megawatt-hour.
The investment will support research aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of next-generation solar cell technology; fast-tracking ultra low-cost solar; and reducing the cost of designing, building, operating, and maintaining large-scale solar farms.
Projects to secure funding span a range of research priorities, including improving solar efficiency, cost and stability across advanced cells and modules, and innovations to improve the performance of solar farms and reduce the levelised cost of electricity (LCoE).
The investment is the next brick in the wall of ARENA’s ambition to drive down the cost of solar to 30 cents per watt by 2030 as well as ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of solar innovation.
“Australia has played a leading role in the development of solar technology, and these projects will help ensure we continue to strengthen that position,” said Chris Faris, acting ARENA CEO.
“The portfolio brings together a mix of near-term improvements and breakthrough technologies that have the potential to lower costs, improve performance and accelerate the deployment of solar energy both in Australia and around the world.”
A total of 20 projects secured funding, weighted heavily to research and development being undertaken by Australia’s leading universities. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) secured funding for 12 separate research projects, alongside projects being undertaken by Australian National University (ANU), the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney.
Two businesses also secured funding. Newcomer Sunspence Pty Ltd was awarded $3.6 million to help develop its lightweight bifacial solar farm system, while Proa Energy Australia Pty Ltd was awarded $4.2 million to test a platform designed to help solar farms detect faults, improve performance, and reduce operating costs.
Among the recipients of funding is University of Sydney researcher Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, who was awarded $7.25 million develop more durable silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells and modules.
Partnering with Australian solar panel manufacturer Unison Solar Energy, Professor Ho-Baillie, the University’s inaugural John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience, will aim to push tandem-cell technology one step closer to becoming commercially viable. Specifically, Professor Ho-Baillie and her team will aim to demonstrate the reliability of silicon (Si)-perovskite cells under a series of industry standards.
“There isn’t much room for silicon to improve because its theoretical limit is only 30 percent – but for perovskite-silicon tandem, it is about 40 percent,” said Professor Ho-Baillie.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to make research we’ve been doing at the University for the last six years translational. We’d love to be able to see it through, to get Si-perovskite technology to the stage of being commercially viable for clean power generation.”
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Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to AU$105.6 million (US$70.5 million) for 20 research and development projects aimed at reducing the cost of large-scale solar.
The agency has described the financing as its largest single investment in solar PV research and development to date.
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The funding will support R&D projects that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance stability across advanced cells and modules, alongside innovations aimed at lowering the cost of building, operating, and maintaining solar PV power plants and reducing the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE).
The investment builds on ARENA’s ultra-low-cost solar (UCLS) ambition, which targets an installed solar cost of 30 cents per watt by 2030, as part of the agency’s broader “30-30-30” vision of 30% module efficiency and an LCOE below AU$20 per megawatt-hour.
ARENA acting CEO Chris Faris said the projects would help ensure Australia remained at the forefront of solar innovation while addressing challenges facing the renewable energy industry.
“Achieving ultra-low-cost solar requires innovation across the entire value chain,” Faris said.
“From the solar cells and modules themselves through to the way solar farms are built, operated and maintained, these projects will help unlock practical solutions that support a faster, more affordable energy transition.”
ARENA said it had initially allocated AU$60 million to the Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV Research and Development Funding Round before expanding the pool in response to the quality of applications received.
As detailed in the tables above, the funding is split across two streams. Stream 1 covers cells and modules, targeting improved efficiency, reduced cost, and better stability, with 13 projects awarded to research institutions, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the Australian National University (ANU), the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney.
The largest single grant, AU$7.4 million, went to the University of Sydney for work on durable silicon tandem cells, while ANU received AU$7.1 million for parallel-connected perovskite/silicon tandem research.
UNSW, which leads the bulk of the funded cell and module projects, is also pursuing work spanning AI-accelerated PV material discovery, chalcogenide-based tandem cells and UV resilience improvements for silicon.
Stream 2 addresses balance-of-system deployment costs, operations and maintenance, and other approaches to reducing LCOE or improving yield, with seven projects funded across ANU, UNSW, the University of Melbourne and two commercial applicants, Sunspense and Proa Energy Australia.
That stream targets a cost category that ARENA has separately identified as a growing constraint on Australia’s solar sector.
An ARENA white paper published in July 2026 found that Australia’s weighted-average installed cost for utility-scale solar had stalled at AU$1.52 per watt, with balance-of-system costs, covering labour, civil works, grid connection and project delivery, now the dominant component of total project costs and largely resistant to reduction even as module prices continued to fall.
That earlier white paper found laboratory cell efficiencies had reached 27.9%, with commercially available modules hitting 26.2% in 2025, up from 22% in 2022, but concluded that cost reduction now depends more on construction methods and system integration than on module pricing.
ARENA general manager solar Dan Sturrock made a similar point at the Smart Energy Conference 2026 in May, telling delegates that Australia needs utility-scale solar generation costs to roughly halve, to around AU$25-30/MWh on an LCOE basis, to unlock the 10GW of annual capacity additions the agency judges necessary for decarbonisation, rather than the 2-3GW currently reaching financial close each year.
The new funding round adds to a broader portfolio of ARENA-backed solar innovation initiatives.
In June 2026, ARENA committed a further AU$95.4 million to extend the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) through to 2033, a UNSW-led consortium that has been credited with a series of globally recognised advances in cell efficiency, durability and tandem cell technology since its establishment in 2012.
ARENA’s AU$1 billion Solar Sunshot programme, which targets domestic manufacturing capacity across the solar supply chain, has separately been described as a mechanism that could reshape Australia from a solar consumer into a manufacturing hub, spanning module production, polysilicon feasibility studies and ingot and wafer manufacturing.
Together, the research funding round, the ACAP extension and the Solar Sunshot programme represent parallel strands of a broader ARENA strategy aimed at closing the gap between Australia’s cell-level research strength and the project-level cost outcomes needed to expand the country’s utility-scale solar pipeline.
More than 10,800 K-12 schools across the United States now use solar energy, bringing installed school solar capacity to 2.4 GW as districts look to reduce electricity costs and increasingly pair generation with battery storage.
Generation180’s sixth edition of Brighter Future: The State of Solar and Battery Storage in U.S. K-12 Schools found that 10,840 schools have solar, representing about 9% of U.S. K-12 schools. More than 7 million students, or roughly one in seven nationwide, now attend a solar-powered school. The average school solar installation is 225 kW.
Generation180 said school solar capacity has more than tripled over the past decade. According to their new report, the current 2.4 GW fleet could produce electricity equivalent to the consumption of more than 450,000 U.S. homes.
Solar targets major school operating expense
The growth comes as school districts face significant utility expenses alongside broader pressure on facility budgets. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that K-12 districts spend nearly $8 billion annually on energy, making it their second-largest expense after teacher salaries. DOE estimates that a 20% improvement in efficiency could save schools about $2 billion annually.
Solar can help districts reduce or stabilize part of that expense over the long term. Generation180 highlighted Roanoke City Public Schools in Virginia, which expects its solar program to save $46.5 million in energy costs over 35 years.
“This report shows that school solar is no longer concentrated in just a few places,” said Tish Tablan, Senior Director of Generation180’s Electrify Our Schools program and lead report author. “Urban, suburban, and rural school districts across the country are using clean energy to reduce costs, improve facilities, and prepare students for the economy of the future.”
California maintains wide lead
State rankings for cumulative solar capacity in K-12 schools.
California remains the largest U.S. market for school solar, with 2,921 solar-powered K-12 schools and about 895 MW of cumulative capacity. New Jersey ranks second with 901 schools and roughly 310 MW, followed by New York with 701 schools and 167 MW. Illinois ranks fourth by number of solar schools with 659, followed by Arizona with 561. Massachusetts, Minnesota, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Florida complete the top 10.
The rankings look different when measured as a share of each state’s schools. Hawaii and Vermont lead the nation with solar at 30% of schools, followed by Connecticut at 29%, New Jersey at 27% and Washington, D.C., at 25%. California, despite its large absolute lead, has solar at 23% of its schools.
State rankings for number of solar-powered K-12 schools.
Growth is also spreading beyond the earliest school solar markets. From 2021 through 2025, California added 494 solar-powered schools, while New York added 318, New Jersey 219, Minnesota 194, and Illinois 153. Virginia added 111, while Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Connecticut were also among the top 10 states for new installations.
Third-party ownership remains central
Generation180 found that third-party-owned systems account for 74% of school solar capacity for projects where ownership information was available. The category includes power purchase agreements, leases, energy service agreements and off-site community solar. Direct ownership, including projects financed with grants, bonds, loans and cash, accounts for 26%.
Third-party systems were also considerably larger, averaging 280 kW compared with 149 kW for directly owned installations. Generation180 cautioned, however, that it had ownership information for only about 57% of schools in the dataset.
Battery storage gains ground
The 2026 report also contains Generation180’s first national census of battery energy storage at K-12 schools. It identified 155 schools with batteries installed since 2016. Ninety-four have solar-plus-storage systems, while 61 have battery storage without solar. Despite recent growth, batteries are installed at only about 0.1% of U.S. K-12 schools. The figure marks a notable increase from the approximately 40 schools with storage that Generation180 had identified as of early 2024.
State rankings for battery energy storage systems (BESS) in K-12 schools.
California accounts for 109 of the 155 schools identified in the new census. Massachusetts ranks second with 10, followed by Oregon with seven, Hawaii with six, and Arkansas with three.
Recent projects show how schools are using storage for more than backup power. A 5 MW / 20 MWh battery microgrid serving school facilities in Wakefield, Massachusetts, is designed to provide power outage backup while also reducing peak electricity costs. Project developer Lightshift Energy said the system could save local utility customers up to $20 million over its operating life.
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Swiss solar manufacturer Megasol has upgraded its LEVEL Up roof-integrated photovoltaic system to feature its low-glare ZRM+ (Zero Reflect Matt+) microstructured glass as standard. Designed to mimic the low reflectivity of conventional clay tiles, the surface keeps reflection levels between 3,000 and 18,000 cd/m²—well under the 20,000 cd/m² regulatory threshold confirmed in tests by Bern University of Applied Sciences. The frameless glass-on-glass module delivers over 200 Wp/m² with Class 5 hail resistance and CEN/TR 15601 rain tightness, immediately replacing earlier product lines. LEVEL Up with ZRM+ replaces all previous product variants. It is also available immediately for residential, commercial and sensitive planning zones.
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Australia’s solar industry will claim a $105 million research boost designed to make panels cheaper, more efficient and more durable.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced its biggest single stake in solar panel research and development on Monday, revealing the funds would go towards 20 projects investigating ways to advance the technology.
The announcement comes as solar energy commitments rise across Australia, with a record number of large-scale solar project investments and household rooftop solar installations during the June quarter, according to the Clean Energy Regulator.
The latest round of ARENA’s Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV Research and Development program opened in July 2025 and offered $60 million in funding to projects that could lower the cost of large-scale solar farms.
But the agency revised its funding goals after reviewing the proposals and assessing their potential, acting chief executive Chris Faris said.
“When we saw the quality of applications, we decided to increase funding to support a broader portfolio of high-quality projects,” he said.
Many of the 20 successful projects will be pursued at universities, including UNSW and the Australian National University, and most will investigate ways to make cells and modules more efficient and durable.
The ultimate goal of the investments is to lower the levelised cost of electricity from large-scale solar farms to less than $20 per megawatt hour, and Mr Faris said local researchers were well placed to achieve it.
“Australia has played a leading role in the development of solar technology and these projects will help ensure we continue to strengthen that position,” he said.
“The portfolio brings together a mix of near-term improvements and breakthrough technologies that have the potential to lower costs, improve performance and accelerate the deployment of solar energy, both in Australia and around the world.”
ARENA’s investments include projects testing ways to make solar panels better suited to Australian conditions, using artificial intelligence technology to identify the best materials, and using cells in tandem for greater efficiency.
Research into tandem solar cells, which stacked perovskites on top of silicon, had potential to deliver significant energy gains, UNSW researcher Prof Anita Ho-Baillie said.
ARENA funding would allow her research team to experiment with the cells over five years.
“Our next round of testing will prove this technology’s ability to cope with UV light and mechanical stresses,” she said.
“We’d love to be able to see it through, to get Si-perovskite technology to the stage of being commercially viable for clean power generation.”
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CONCORD — With 60% of its $75 million solar energy system down, Mount Diablo Unified School District is left with questions about maintenance, repairs and financial losses.
For years, the district has operated what it says is one of the nation’s largest solar energy systems for a kindergarten-12th grade school district. Installed in 2010 using bond money, the system has generated about 11 megawatts of energy annually and saved the district about $17 million in general fund dollars.
A recent inspection by SunUp Solar Tech Service, a solar operation and maintenance company, found that 43 of the district’s 77 inverters are offline. Inverters are key elements of a solar energy system that take direct current electricity and turn it into alternating current electricity, which is the type of energy used by the power grid, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Without the 43 inverters, the district is losing out on about 7,860 kilowatts of electricity, or nearly eight of the 11 megawatts promised in the past.
SunUp Solar identified the mechanical issues that have stunted the system, said Melanie Koslow, the district’s executive director of Maintenance, Operations and Facilities, who presented the firm’s findings to the district’s Board of Education on Wednesday.
Details of the financial impact from the outages are still unclear, though Koslow estimates that the district has spent about $2 million more annually on energy. Capital Engineering, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering firm the district has worked with in the past, has been tapped to help assess the district’s losses and develop a plan for remedying the issue.
Koslow said she expects to be back before the board in September with more details.
“What we have learned from this assessment is the cost of our systems being down is significant. The cost to bring them up is also going to be significant,” Koslow said.
It’s still unclear exactly how the solar panels are now in such poor condition.
SunPower Corporation, a major national solar company at one time, was awarded a $65 million contract in 2010 to install, monitor and maintain solar panels at 51 district sites. An additional $9.9 million was added to the project price tag a year later to account for some plan reconfigurations to account for a future heating, cooling and ventilation system project, among other needs. The project was paid for with funds from Measure C, a $348 million bond measure approved by voters in 2010.
The contract came with a 20-year performance guarantee and the promise the district would save about $192.5 million over 30 years. The project was completed in 2012.
Twelve years after making those promises, SunPower Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2024. By September 2024, it had sold off key assets to Complete Solaria for $45 million. Complete Solaria rebranded to SunPower Inc. in April 2025.
The district did not immediately respond to questions about who was responsible for system maintenance following SunPower’s bankruptcy. Asked by Trustee Linda Mayo about whether the system may still be under warranty, Koslow said conversations with previous vendors fell apart, but she has leads on a possible answer to that question.
“No one has quite figured it out yet,” Koslow said. “Hopefully, what we’re discovering here will maybe help some of our other districts.”
The district was warned about issues with the solar panels as early as the fall of 2024, when Schneider Electric, another firm behind a separate project that promised energy savings, told officials during a Board of Education meeting that about 30% of the panels appeared to be down.
Members of the Citizen Bond Oversight Committee responsible for monitoring Measure C funds have also repeatedly raised concerns about the district’s power usage.
The contract with SunUp Solar for the solar panel inspection wasn’t approved until March 25.
“The district dropped the ball anyway you look at it,” said Jim Walsh, a former member of the Measure C Bond Oversight Committee. “The incompetent leadership is mind-boggling.”
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India installed 6.6 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first half (1H) of calendar year (CY) 2026, up 136% compared to the 2.8 GW installed in H1 2025, according to Mercom India’s newly released Q2 and 1H 2026 India Rooftop Solar Market Report.
The figure includes 3.8 GW of rooftop solar capacity added in the second quarter (Q2), up 41% from the 2.7 GW installed in Q1 2026. Q2 installations also increased 136% year on year (YoY) from 1.6 GW in Q2 2025.
Rooftop solar accounted for 33% of India’s total solar installations during the quarter.
According to Mercom, rooftop solar installations were primarily driven by the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM Surya Ghar program). Rooftop systems had been installed in nearly 4.5 million households by June 2026, reaching approximately 45% of the program’s target of 10 million households.
Residential installations continued to dominate the market in Q2 2026, contributing 84% of total additions. Industrial installations accounted for 10%, followed by commercial installations at 5%, and government installations at 1%.
Installations under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model accounted for a majority of quarterly additions in Q2 2026.
The implementation of ALMM List-II requirements from June 1, 2026, increased pressure on domestic cell availability and domestic content requirement (DCR) module prices. Subsequent transition measures eased near-term pressure, with eligible net-metering and open access projects receiving a transition window until Dec. 31, 2026. Residential consumers under PM Surya Ghar opting for the “Give It Up” category can forgo the subsidy and use non-DCR modules until the program ends in March 2027.
“India has a strong residential rooftop solar pipeline, but converting it into installations will depend on faster approvals, financing, and project delivery. Higher grid tariffs should strengthen commercial demand, but rising system costs and regulatory constraints could limit industrial growth,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group. “The ALMM transition window will help projects move forward in the second half, but it could also trigger a rush to meet deadlines and increase price volatility. Beyond 2026, market growth will depend on domestic cell capacity ramping up quickly and states removing approval, metering, and grid connectivity bottlenecks.”
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Waaree Renewable Technologies Ltd has received a Letter of Award (LOA) to execute the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works for a 291 MWp ground-mounted solar PV project and 280 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The company said the project is awarded by one of India’s thermal power generating companies.
The project is scheduled for completion during the financial year 2027-28.
The latest award follows two other EPC orders secured by Waaree Renewable Technologies in August this year. These include a 124 MWp (88 MW AC) ground-mounted solar PV project from an Indian renewable energy solutions company and a 210 MWp (150 MW AC) grid-connected ground-mounted solar project from Solaris Horizon Energy, a step-down subsidiary of Waaree Energies Ltd.
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China has deployed Jilin-2, which is the world’s first 100-kilowatt (kW) floating solar platform constructed with composite bamboo framing systems.
The floating infrastructure operates off the coast of Yantai in Shandong province, representing a material shift in marine renewable energy installations.
Engineers specified bamboo-wound pipes as primary structural supports for the platform. The installation also incorporates specially engineered sea bamboo pipes designed to withstand harsh offshore conditions.
Traditional offshore solar structures depend heavily on steel, aluminum, or high-density polymers to maintain buoyancy and structural integrity in marine environments.
The Jilin-2 deployment tests the viable substitution of organic bio-composites within utility-scale renewable power generation systems exposed to salt water and wave action.
Floating photovoltaic installations require specialized support frames capable of enduring constant structural motion, sea moisture, and environmental corrosion.
By utilizing composite bamboo materials, the project examines alternative structural pipelines for marine infrastructure.
The offshore installation continues test operations off Shandong province as energy developers evaluate composite natural materials for future deep-water power projects.
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Sunday, 30 August 2026 19:29
By Greg Lambert @greglam72
A new solar farm near Lancaster University is now generating renewable energy to help fund vital council services.
Lancaster City Council said the completion of the Burrow Beck Solar Farm marks a major step forward for renewable energy generation in the district, while creating a long-term programme of habitat creation and nature recovery.
Set across two adjoining sites north of Bailrigg Lane, the council's ground-mounted solar farm is expected to generate around 3,735 MWh of renewable energy each year, the equivalent annual electricity use of around 1,500 three-bedroom homes.
Fully energised since July 2026, the electricity is currently sold to the National Grid, creating a valuable new source of income to support council services.
Together with the council's solar installations at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre and Gateway, Burrow Beck will help generate more than 5GWh of renewable electricity each year, more than the council's estate typically imports from the grid.
Based on current forecasts and energy prices, the combined portfolio is expected to provide a financial benefit of around £550,000 per annum and help insulate the council from rising energy prices.
As well as creating clean energy, the species-poor agricultural land is being transformed into the district’s first habitat bank, subject to registration.
Native wildflower seed has been sown across four hectares, together with new hedgerow, tree and aquatic planting, to establish rich ecological habitats where wildlife can thrive.
Ecologists forecast that the project will deliver an increase in biodiversity of approximately 90 per cent, along with 19 additional biodiversity units, which could support future council projects or be sold locally to meet off-site development Biodiversity Net Gain obligations.
"Burrow Beck is an excellent example of how council-owned land can deliver clean energy, income and substantial long-term benefits for nature at the same time," said Councillor Sam Riches, cabinet member with responsibility for climate action.
“By investing in clean energy, we are helping to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change and creating opportunities for future innovation that will support our communities.
“It also reflects the council’s wider commitment to protect and enhance the district’s unique ecology for decades to come and I’m excited to see the difference this project will make as the habitats mature.”
The habitats will take several years to fully develop and will be managed and monitored under the approved Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan for at least 30 years.
Historically, the site was grazed and this will resume once the grassland is sufficiently established, as part of a carefully managed conservation-grazing regime.
Planning permission was granted in September 2024, despite objections from residents.
Lancaster City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has since set ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions within the district.
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The Lancaster MP will run a 10K in Morecambe to raise funds towards a new community playground.
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The team behind Lancaster's popular annual light art festival have announced more activities to enjoy at this year's event.
Residents have pulled together to help protect a valued community park from vandalism.
Events in the local area planned to take place over the Bank Holiday Weekend have had to be called off due to forecasts of thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Our local MPs and Lancaster City Council remain at loggerheads over the name of a new local authority for the District – and you've had your say too.
A car park will close while council resurfacing works are carried out at a park in Lancaster.
Morecambe FC has announced that pension fund issues that led to the National League placing a transfer embargo on the club have been resolved.
A man from Morecambe has been charged with three counts of possessing indecent or pseudo images of a child.
Emergency services have been called after a crash on the M6 near Lancaster.
A brand new craft ale bar and kitchen has opened in the West End of Morecambe.
A national survey has highlighted positive experiences of inpatients at Morecambe Bay health trust.
A campaigner from Morecambe has called for Lancashire Police to "come clean" over use of a controversial AI tool due to worries over data privacy.
The owners of a derelict former Lancaster pub and music venue have been fined more than £4000.
First-year apprentices at Heysham Power Stations have been praised after they helped out and honed their skills at a Carnforth mini railway.
After almost two years of training and fundraising, 82 intrepid Lancaster trekkers are counting down the days until they leave for an adventure of a lifetime.
The Morecambe FC Community Foundation has received a £216,000 grant through the National Lottery Community Fund.
A new comedy festival is set to bring laughs aplenty to Morecambe as the town marks 100 years since its most famous comic was born.
The face of a Lancaster supermarket described as a "true gent and legend" has celebrated his 90th birthday.
The 96th annual summer show in Bolton-le-Sands has kept a cherished tradition alive. 
11:53am
Two Princes
Spin Doctors
11:49am
We Are Young
fun. feat. Janelle Monáe
11:46am
Hot To Go!
Chappell Roan
3:00pm – 5:00pm
5:00pm – 7:00pm
7:00pm – 9:00pm
By: Luis Reyes
Published: Aug 31, at 5:00am ET
Solar grazing has become the default picture of farming under panels. Sheep, a fence, a few thousand modules, a photograph of white dots drifting between the rows. Volkswagen keeps 50 sheep and a guard donkey on its Chattanooga array and that image has done a lot of work for the industry. Italy switched on a commercial-scale version in July with no animals on it at all, and a planting list that reads closer to a spice rack than a feedlot.
Two plants went live in the province of Benevento, in the Campania region. Morcone is rated at 9.8 MWac and Acquafredda at 9.3 MWac, which gives 19.1 megawatts between them. Around 32,500 solar panels stand across the two sites. RWE, the German utility that built and owns them, dated commissioning to July 2 and puts coverage at roughly 13,000 Italian households.
Each row rides on a tracker structure about 10 feet (3 meters) off the ground, turning on a movable axis. Italian rules set the minimum height for panels over cultivated land at 6 feet 11 inches (2.1 meters).
Three feet of clearance separates the two.
Germany leaned on a published specification and a yield threshold, which is how Vattenfall ended up with 146,000 panels and 15,000 hens in Tützpatz. Italy went at it from the geometry instead.
The Italian agrivoltaic guidelines, drawn up by the environment ministry with CREA, ENEA, GSE and RSE, set two minimum heights. Panels over cultivated land have to clear 6 feet 11 inches (2.1 meters), which is the room a tractor and its implements need. Panels over livestock, and fixed vertical modules, have to clear 4 feet 3 inches (1.3 meters), enough for animals to move underneath without ducking.
Both figures are floors rather than targets. A Bavarian hop grower went to 23 feet on his trellis poles because hops climb until they hit something.
Height buys two things at once. Lifting the modules leaves more of the field workable than a conventional ground-mount does, and the shade underneath cuts incident radiation during the Italian summer, which is when thermal stress and water demand climb. RWE also credits the structures with shielding whatever is growing below from hail, frost and heavy rain. A movable axis means the shade moves through the day instead of parking over the same strip of soil.
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A second Italian number does the heavier lifting. At least 70 percent of the total surface of an advanced agrivoltaic system has to stay in agricultural use. A developer can raise the glass as high as it likes and still fail that test by covering too much ground with it.
Massachusetts is the closest American rule with figures attached. Dual-use arrays there have to sit 8 feet up on fixed tilt and 10 feet up on trackers, and no square foot of the site may lose more than 50 percent of its direct sunlight. Which puts the Massachusetts tracker minimum at 10 feet against Italy’s 6 feet 11 inches for cropping.
Italy pays for this through its post-pandemic recovery plan, under a line the government calls Sviluppo agrivoltaico. Support arrives in two pieces: a capital grant covering up to 40 percent of eligible costs, and an incentive tariff paid on net electricity fed into the grid. GSE, the state energy services operator, runs both.
The measure has since become a financing program worth 1.099 billion euros, administered directly by GSE. Eligible recipients are agricultural entrepreneurs, groupings of them, or temporary business associations that include at least one farmer. An energy company on its own does not qualify.
That requirement is the part American programs keep arriving at from the other direction.
Monitoring is written into the eligibility rules rather than bolted on afterward. To qualify as an advanced system, a plant has to carry instrumentation that tracks continuity of the farming, water savings, recovery of soil fertility, the microclimate under the panels and resilience to climate swings. Miss the requirement and the classification goes, and the money goes with it.
RWE said in November 2025 that it had taken three more Italian agrivoltaic slots at auction, after winning two in the 2024 round. The company describes the auction terms as a contract-for-difference tariff plus up to 40 percent back on investment.
RWE has put both Campania sites under a three-year monitoring program with the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Naples Federico II. Measurements run before and after installation.
The Naples team is measuring considerably more than a photo op requires. Agrometeorological readings come first. Soil work covers chemical and biological fertility, and it reaches down to enzymatic activity, microbial diversity and mesofauna, the tier of soil life sitting between microbes and earthworms. Crop measurements cover ecophysiological status and actual yield. Pollinator communities and spontaneous vegetation close out the list, and RWE files the whole exercise under a corporate target of net positive biodiversity impact by 2030.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities voted on August 17 to award 16 projects totaling 52.06 megawatts, the first solicitation under its Dual-Use Pilot Agrivoltaics program. The farms sit in Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Salem and Warren counties. Crops run to soybeans, hay, grains, vegetables, fruit and specialty crops, with livestock in the mix as well.
The pilot came out of New Jersey’s Dual-Use Solar Energy Act of 2021 and can run to 200 MW over three years, with individual projects generally capped at 10 MW. Land has to be unpreserved farmland already in active agricultural or horticultural production. Each bidding team has to include a landowner, a farmer and a solar operator, and the farmer has to take part in planning and operation.
Demand outran the award. NJBPU said its first solicitation drew 33 preliminary proposals worth roughly 140 MW, and 52.06 MW of that got through.
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn called the pilot “the best real-life laboratory to learn the challenges the two industries face.”
Fifty-two megawatts sounds small against the national picture, and it is not. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory had counted 596 agrivoltaic sites across 65,699 acres and 10,473 MW in the United States as of early 2025, but most of that total is pollinator habitat and sheep grazing. Growing a row crop under a tracker that a combine has to get through is a different job, and there is far less of it.
Italy runs 19.1 megawatts under a single owner on two sites, with a state grant tied to a farming test written into the design rules. New Jersey spreads 52.06 megawatts across 16 farms, with a farmer written into every bid.
RWE’s own release puts the crops in the future tense. The two plants are described as intended for alfalfa, oats, broad beans, rosemary, chamomile and other medicinal herbs, with local farmers choosing, planting and harvesting in consultation with the landowners. No yield figures have been published from either site.
The sheep belong to the next batch. RWE is building four more plants: Acquafredda 2 at 11.7 MWac in Campania, Cave at 9 MWac in Calabria, and Enna at 9.5 MWac and Carcitella at 8 MWac in Sicily. That comes to 38.2 megawatts and around 50,000 additional panels, scheduled for commissioning in 2026. Grazing is planned under those four.
American programs already ask for the receipt. Massachusetts requires annual reports on crop or herd productivity from qualifying dual-use projects, and a project that stops filing them can lose its adder for one or more years.
GSE said it would sign concession agreements with each beneficiary by June 30, 2026, and each plant then has 24 months from that notice to enter service. New Jersey’s pilot has room for 200 MW over three years, and the 52.06 MW cleared on August 17 accounts for about a quarter of it.
Agree or laugh out loud?
Luis Reyes · Aug 27, 2026
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The large-scale photovoltaic power station in Kemin District, Chui Region, Kyrgyzstan. /CMG
China and Kyrgyzstan have shared close cooperation across a range of fields, from trade and investment to infrastructure and projects benefiting people’s livelihood. In recent years, the partnership has expanded into green development, with solar power becoming one of the most visible examples.
A major milestone came on April 12, 2024, when then Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen and then Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of the 400-megawatt photovoltaic project in the Issyk-Kul region.
The project marked the first cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan in solar power generation.
At the ceremony, Japarov hailed China’s contribution to Kyrgyzstan’s green development, saying that the development and utilization of renewable energy was a priority for Kyrgyzstan’s economic development. He expressed the Kyrgyzstan’s willingness to support Chinese companies in local development and deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Du called on Chinese enterprises to leverage their strengths in investment, technology, construction and operations to contribute to Kyrgyzstan’s green development.
The groundbreaking has laid the foundation for future concrete results.
The large-scale photovoltaic power station in Kemin District, Chui Region, Kyrgyzstan. /CMG
Through close cooperation between the two countries, a large-scale photovoltaic power station in Kemin District of northern Kyrgyzstan’s Chui Region began operations in December 2025, becoming the country’s first large-scale solar power station.
The project covers an area of about 230 hectares and is equipped with 193,000 photovoltaic panels. Designed to generate around 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, it provides a more stable, uninterrupted power supply for nearby communities and cities, while reducing more than 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attended the grid-connection ceremony and praised the project team’s expertise and efficiency.
The project has brought advanced renewable-energy construction and operating experience to Kyrgyzstan. It has also added new momentum to the country’s energy security and sustainable development, said Japarov.
The station is also equipped with automated systems. At its central control room, operators can monitor the condition of the photovoltaic panels, weather forecasts and the real-time operation of the supporting substation.
The power station’s technical team comprises both Chinese experts and local staff. For Kyrgyz employees, the project is also providing an opportunity to gain experience with advanced equipment and management skills.
More reliable power for local communities
Stable electricity supply has improved people’s living standards and life quality in Kyrgyzstan. /CMG
The impact of the project is particularly visible in nearby villages, where people used to suffer electricity shortages and power restrictions.
Local residents said electricity supply has become much more stable since the project came into operation.
“We have already started to forget about power cuts and electricity restrictions,” a resident told CMG. “Our electricity supply is much more stable, and we now have reliable access to power. More importantly, people’s living standards and quality of life are improving.”
Ma Wenjun, head of the Chinese company overseeing the project, said the cooperation is mutually beneficial, as Kyrgyzstan has abundant renewable energy resources while China has the necessary technology.
Part of wider cooperation
The solar projects are only one part of China-Kyrgyzstan economic cooperation.
As of the end of July, China’s cumulative direct investment across all sectors in Kyrgyzstan had exceeded $2 billion, with projects in infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and green development progressing steadily, said China’s Ministry of Commerce.
China has also participated in the construction or renovation of 11 road projects in Kyrgyzstan, significantly improving transportation infrastructure and facilitating the movement of people and transportation of goods.
The human ability to discern fact from fiction is slowly eroding because AI is getting better at spreading misinformation. Knowing how scammers are using AI to trick you is all well and good until it’s a different kind of scam. Anti-solar farm groups have been rallying behind claims that these renewable energy installations can cause all sorts of dangers, ranging from the semi-reasonable to the ludicrous (saying they go against the laws of physics). These include “warnings” of toxic smoke, leaking carcinogenic chemicals, and even mini tornadoes.
Moreover, there has been an uptick in “memes” on social media sites. Many follow the same formula: Place a sign that says “Once [insert state here] is gone, there’s no way to get it back. Solar panels belong on roofs, not on farmland” in front of a farm. All of these are the result of AI (specifically the accounts that generate and share them), and experts say the fears of solar panels causing homegrown tornadoes and ruining property values are completely unfounded. Yet the damage has already been done.
Last year, a project to install solar panels in the Acadiana region of Louisiana (better known as Cajun Country) was effectively derailed by citizens who unwittingly parroted the AI-generated misinformation during council meetings. They cited fires and toxic chemical runoff as their major concerns, and while the council decided to restrict any large-scale solar projects within half a mile of residential areas, the decision has demolished any plans for an Acadiana solar project. All because hundreds of scared people believed AI over their own research.
The anti-solar farm “meme” (yes, AI models can make memes now, just not good ones) uses a specific template that can apply to any state, and the misinformation spreads beyond geographic locations. Wherever there’s an energy industry to destabilize, AI slop isn’t far behind. Wind farms, especially offshore ones, are another popular target of disinformation campaigns — both of the AI and human variety.
Many of these campaigns revolve around the alleged threats they pose to wildlife, stirring up claims that wind farms lead to mass deaths of whales and birds. In many cases, the disinformation is sourced back to organizations with ties to fossil fuel companies or climate change denialists. To make matters worse, these campaigns aren’t limited to just one continent; similar attempts to cancel and delay wind farm projects have been found in Australia and European countries. The extent to which these movements rely on AI to help concoct disinformation and posts varies from campaign to campaign.
The disinformation campaigns really make you wonder if AI deserves freedom of speech. On one hand, the misinformation it creates isn’t illegal in and of itself, but on the other hand, the lies AI generates convince people to vote against their best interests. It’s quite the conundrum.
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“That sort of setup, [it] can actually, in theory, pay for itself in less than two years.”
Photo Credit: YouTube
A U.K. homeowner is sharing his experience with plug-in solar panels after six months of use, offering his insights as more U.S. states push to legalize these appliances.
Instead of treating DIY solar as an all-upside project, the review pairs reported savings with the compromises that can come with plug-in solar panels.
Published on August 25, the YouTube video, posted by “Dork off-grid” Alex James, tracks six months of results from a plug-in solar setup at his U.K. home.
James wrote, “I installed plug in solar in the UK in October 2025,” before comparing his savings against what a more typical DIY setup might produce.
Overall, he estimated that his plug-in solar setup saved him roughly $250 over the six-month period, or about $41 per month.
James later explained that because his system was more comprehensive, he expected a simpler plug-in setup might save people about $23 per month, and that with “that sort of setup, [it] can actually, in theory, pay for itself in less than two years.”
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Beyond these savings, James highlighted some drawbacks of plug-in panels, primarily that, without battery storage, these systems may not fully benefit from the energy they produce.
Plug-in solar can make home energy a little more flexible and affordable. For some households, it may offer a way to generate part of their own electricity, rely less on the grid during daylight hours, and chip away at rising power costs.
Lower utility bills can create more breathing room in a household budget. And when homes rely more on electricity generated from the sun, that can also reduce pollution associated with conventional power generation, helping support cleaner air and better public health.
And while some households may benefit from a compact entry-level system, others may find that energy-efficiency upgrades, community solar programs, or a professionally installed rooftop system make more sense.
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Global Solar PV O&M Market Reaches 348 GW as Top 15 Providers Increase Market Share: Wood Mackenzie SolarQuarter
source
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Officials said that the yearly purchase would equal the electricity used by more than 20,000 homes.
Photo Credit: iStock
Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of General Services announced a 20-year agreement to purchase solar energy generated in Western Maryland, a deal state officials say could save Maryland about $300 million while expanding the state’s use of renewable energy.
Approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works, the deal allows the state to buy electricity from REV Renewables’ Jade Meadow III Solar Project, Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland’s Department of General Services said, according to MoCoShow.
The outlet reported that in the beginning in 2028, DGS plans to use about half of the project’s electricity for state energy accounts. The 300-megawatt solar installation, set to be built mostly on a reclaimed coal mine in Garrett County, is expected to produce roughly 250,000 megawatt-hours of renewable power each year.
Depending on how future electricity markets develop, officials said the 20-year agreement may save Maryland between $298 million and $515 million.
Officials said that the yearly purchase would equal the electricity used by more than 20,000 homes and, starting in 2028, would make up nearly 15% of the state’s electricity portfolio.
The agreement illustrates how states can use 20-year contracts to secure cleaner energy at more predictable prices.
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Maryland also said the deal would significantly expand its direct renewable energy procurement, doubling the amount of renewable electricity it currently buys through power purchase agreements.
Building the project primarily on a reclaimed coal mine would turn a former fossil fuel site into a source of solar generation rather than developing untouched land.
Lower energy costs for government operations can ease pressure on public budgets, while more renewable power can help curb pollution linked to conventional electricity generation.
Maryland is signing a 20-year clean energy contract to lock in supply and pricing years in advance. In this case, the purchase begins in 2028 and gives the state a major source of renewable power for two decades.
The agreement ties climate goals to budget goals. The state is presenting clean energy as an operational decision that could deliver major financial returns.
Large-scale solar projects can offer benefits beyond rooftop panels. Utility-scale developments can add substantial amounts of clean electricity to the grid, support the redevelopment of underused land, and potentially help stabilize energy costs over time.
If the state’s estimates hold, the agreement could show how public agencies use clean energy procurement to save money while expanding renewable power. It also reflects how the transition to cleaner electricity is increasingly being framed as an economic strategy, not just an environmental one.
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The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with NIRL NCRTC Renewables Ltd. (NNRL) for a 110 MW captive solar power plant. The project will supply electricity to the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor. The plant is expected to meet nearly 60% of the corridor’s power requirement. NNRL will develop it, and it is expected to give NCRTC greater predictability in electricity costs. According to reports, the solar power plant is estimated to cost around INR 450 crore and is expected to be commissioned within 24 months. NCRTC will procure the electricity at a fixed tariff for 25 years. Electricity accounts for around 30% to 35% of the corridor’s operating cost. NCRTC expects the captive solar project to reduce its annual electricity expenditure by about 25%. Previously, NCRTC launched a Solar on Track pilot at the Namo Bharat Depot in Duhai (see India Solar PV News Snippets).
Sembcorp Green Infra has filed draft papers with SEBI for an IPO to raise INR 3,750 crore through a fresh issue of shares, with no offer-for-sale component. The entire issue proceeds will go to the company, which plans to use about INR 3,000 crore of the net proceeds to repay or prepay borrowings, with the balance intended for general corporate purposes. It may also raise up to INR 750 crore through a pre-initial public offering (IPO) placement, which would reduce the size of the fresh issue if completed, its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) says. Sembcorp Green Infra is wholly owned by Singapore Exchange listed-Sembcorp Industries through Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd. Sembcorp Green Infra had 3.6 GW of operational renewable energy capacity as of March 2026, with another 2.61 GW of renewable capacity and 1.43 GWh of battery storage capacity under construction.
Avaada Electro, the solar PV manufacturing arm of Avaada Group, plans to raise up to INR 7,600 crore through an IPO, according to its draft abridged prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The proposed offer comprises a fresh issue of up to INR 1,600 crore and an offer for sale of up to INR 6,000 crore by promoter Avaada Ventures. The company plans to use INR 1,200 crore of the fresh issue proceeds to repay, prepay, or meet obligations related to borrowings, with the remaining proceeds earmarked for general corporate purposes. It may also undertake a pre-IPO placement of up to INR 320 crore, which would reduce the size of the fresh issue if completed. Avaada Electro currently has 8.5 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and 3 GW of operational TOPCon cell capacity. It expects to add another 5.1 GW of module and 6 GW of cell capacity at Greater Noida, taking its annual module production capacity to 13.6 GW and cell capacity to 9 GW. In April 2026, Avaada Electro had secured SEBI approval to launch an IPO totaling INR 9,000 crore to INR 10,000 crore (see India Solar PV News Snippets).
India’s largest electricity utility, state-owned NTPC Limited, plans to accelerate renewable energy and storage as it expands its generation portfolio. In his Chairman’s Statement for FY2025-26, Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh said the company is targeting 149 GW of total power generation capacity by 2032, including 60 GW of renewable energy, including wind and solar (see NTPC Targeting 60 GW Renewables Capacity By 2032). It now aims to reach 244 GW by 2037, excluding storage. Singh stated, “This represents a significant increase over our earlier capacity plans and reflects our confidence in India’s long-term electricity demand and the role NTPC can play in meeting it.”
As of August 4, 2026, the company had more than 90 GW of operational capacity, with another 35 GW and more under construction. NTPC said its renewable generation more than doubled to 14.6 billion units in FY2026. It is developing both battery energy storage systems (BESS) and pumped storage projects and is also exploring long-duration storage technologies, including CO₂ storage and redox-flow batteries. Its strategy also includes around 30 GW of nuclear capacity, to contribute to the national target of 100 GW by 2047. The company plans to invest about INR 16.86 lakh crore through FY2037 across renewables, battery storage, pumped storage, hydro, thermal, mining, and nuclear power. It said storage would become an important part of its business as renewable penetration increases, and the power system requires greater flexibility.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has updated the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II for solar cells under the ninth revision. With this revision, India’s total ALMM List-II enlisted solar cell capacity has increased by 3.7 GW to now exceed 35 GW. The latest revision includes revised capacities of Waaree Energies (4.021 GW), EMMVEE Energy Private Limited (2.153 GW), and Avaada Electro (3.621 GW). Waaree’s revised capacity includes G12R monocrystalline n-type TOPCon bifacial solar cells with an average efficiency of 25.39%. It also updates the technology specifications of cells listed by TP Solar, RenewSys, Premier Energies, and Reliance Industries.
NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Green Energy Ltd., has won 500 MW of contracted capacity in Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) 6,000 MWh assured peak power tender (FDRE-IX). The capacity was awarded at a discovered tariff of INR 6.00/kWh. The tender covers 1,500 MW of ISTS-connected renewable energy capacity with four-hour assured peak supply. The e-reverse auction was concluded on August 21, 2026.
Waaree Renewable Technologies Ltd. (WRTL) has received a Letter of Award (LOA) for EPC works for a 291 MW ground-mounted solar PV project paired with a 280 MWh BESS. The order, from an unnamed Indian thermal power generation company, is a domestic commercial contract, it stated. The project is scheduled for completion during FY2027-28.
TaiyangNews 2024
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“I originally thought [the large oak tree] would make solar basically pointless, but with electricity prices going up, I’m looking into it again.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Surging utility bills had one homeowner looking at solar again, but a large tree casting afternoon shade on part of the roof was still a major issue.
In a Reddit post, one homeowner wrote, “I originally thought [the large oak tree] would make solar basically pointless, but with electricity prices going up, I’m looking into it again.”
They said the oak tree along a neighbor’s fence shades the roof in the afternoon and asked whether Callsun panels would be a good fit for a DIY installation in partial shade.
When sunlight is inconsistent across a roof, the panel label is usually only a small part of the story. Output can depend much more on cell design and on module-level equipment, such as microinverters or power optimizers.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
But generally, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially as utility rates rise. Homeowners who want to see what a professionally designed system might cost can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
One reason shade creates so much confusion in residential solar is that it is rarely a simple yes-or-no problem. A roof with some afternoon obstruction may still make sense for solar, but the answer depends on when the shadow falls, how much roof area it covers, and whether the rest of the array stays clear.
People building their own systems can easily zero in on a cheaper panel that looks promising in online reviews. But a low price does not help much if the roof placement, inverter setup, or overall layout are poorly matched to the home.
Afternoon shading can be especially frustrating because those hours often overlap with heavier household electricity use, meaning every lost kilowatt-hour can extend the payback period.
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Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
In other words, the main issue is usually system design rather than brand alone. A poor configuration can reduce monthly savings, while a well-planned one can still help offset high utility bills.
The first step is to measure the shade as accurately as possible before purchasing equipment. That can mean using design software, working with a shade analysis tool, or getting multiple opinions on whether microinverters, power optimizers, or a different panel layout would do the best job of limiting losses on a partially shaded roof.
Adding battery storage could also help maximize power, and it is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and even go off-grid. Home batteries can store excess daytime production for use after sunset or when the grid goes down. Homeowners can also explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Free tools can also make the shopping process much easier. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations, since the service allows homeowners to compare quotes and weigh equipment options side by side.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on local incentives. Together, these resources can help you get the best price for rooftop solar panels.
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Researchers are examining how birds interact with solar panel systems, utilizing AI-enhanced cameras to capture extensive footage of avian behavior. Observations indicate that birds engage in various activities, such as perching, nesting, and foraging within these solar arrays. Notably, the study found no instances of bird collisions with the installations, contributing valuable insights into wildlife adaptation amidst the growth of solar energy.
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“Solar plus storage made up over 80% of all new additions to the U.S. grid last year.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Factory openings are reshaping the U.S. solar industry, signaling a domestic manufacturing surge that looked far less likely only a few years ago.
By June 2026, U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity was nearing 70 gigawatts, up from roughly 8 gigawatts — an increase of more than 750%.
That growth was spotlighted by The Electric Viking (@electricviking) in a YouTube video.
In June, Qcells began full ingot-to-panel cell production in Cartersville, Georgia — the first U.S. facility of that kind in more than a decade. That step is part of a broader expansion largely tied to Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, with companies such as Qcells, First Solar, and T1 Energy helping to drive the domestic buildout.
Summerville, South Carolina, is home to one of the newest additions: Translucent Solar’s 281,000-square-foot factory.
By the end of 2026, the company expects the site to support 167 jobs, provide 1.2 gigawatts of annual capacity, and make high-efficiency modules for utility, commercial, and residential customers.
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Other projects have added fresh module and cell capacity as well, including facilities from SEG Solar in Texas, Canadian Solar in Indiana, and ES Foundry in South Carolina.
The creator summed it up this way: “Whatever you think of tariffs, factories are getting built.”
Among the comments, one viewer wrote, “Panel cost is not the major factor anymore, the rest of the installation cost is.”
Solar has moved well beyond niche status in the energy mix.
Building more equipment domestically could reduce supply-chain complexity, add jobs, and give utilities and homeowners easier access to the hardware they need without relying as heavily on imports.
A larger U.S. manufacturing base may also help steady prices, shorten project timelines, and encourage broader use of cleaner electricity that can cut household energy bills.
For homeowners, combining solar with battery storage can provide more resilience during outages and periods of peak demand.
The video also pointed to a tradeoff: panels made in the U.S. still generally cost more than Chinese-made panels, largely because Chinese manufacturers operate at a much bigger scale.
So lower prices may not arrive immediately.
Private investment, trade policy, and federal incentives are all helping power the current factory wave.
New plants are appearing across the South and Midwest, sometimes by reusing existing industrial buildings, which can help return manufacturing jobs to communities that lost them.
If you’re considering panels for your home, EnergySage can help you compare competitive bids from local installers without giving out your contact information unless you decide to move forward with one. That can make it easier to shop around and avoid overpaying.
A bigger domestic solar supply chain can also support grid expansion, help utilities bring cleaner power online more quickly, and ease some of the bottlenecks that have slowed adoption.
As managing director Augustus Rylands put it, “Solar plus storage made up over 80% of all new additions to the US grid last year. More than gas, more than nuclear and obviously more than coal.”
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BRAZIL
(MissionNewswire) The Salesian St. Dominic Savio Province, located in Manaus, Brazil, installed solar panels at the provincial house and at the Salesian community in Maturacá, located in the Upper Rio Negro region, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project directly benefited more than 1,000 people, including teachers and students of the Immaculate Conception School and parishioners of the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes.
A Salesian explained, “The project represents much more than mere financial savings. It promotes the use of clean, renewable energy, reduces environmental impact, and ensures better conditions for the Salesians to carry out their educational, pastoral, and social activities, reaffirming the province’s commitment to care for our Common Home.”
For more than 60 years, the Salesians have been in Maturacá, where they share life with the Indigenous Yanomami people. Salesians provide education and pastoral care, offering support to families and promoting human dignity.
With the installation of 26 solar panels, the community now has a system capable of fully meeting the energy needs of the religious house and part of the school and parish. The use of the diesel-powered generator has been reduced by around 90%, lowering operating costs and reducing the environmental impact. Furthermore, the system is modular and can be further expanded in the future, enabling it to supply power to other areas of the mission through the installation of new panels and batteries.
The provincial house, which coordinates the pastoral, educational, and social programs of the entire province, had faced high electricity costs, frequent blackouts, and growing operational demands due to its role as the administrative, logistical, and spiritual center of the province. The stabilization of its energy and the reduction of costs will generate a cascading impact that directly benefits local teams and, consequently, thousands of people assisted in the Amazon.
Jhone Fonseca Vilela is a 19-year-old father of a 1-year-old son. He acts as president of the student guild and actively collaborates with the Salesian oratory and school. He resides at the Xapono Yanomami of Ariabú community, located in the Pico da Neblina National Park. The community has about 1,200 people who preserve their language and traditional customs but face pressures from western culture. The local population lives with serious problems such as illegal mining, alcohol and other drugs, and poor access to quality healthcare and education.
Vilela reports a profound transformation in the community and school after the solar power was installed. He noted, “The use of freezers allowed the conservation of natural proteins for school meals. This replaced the previous consumption of canned food and ensured access to cold water. The energy also enabled electricity in classrooms and internet access. Now, students can conduct school surveys, watch instructional videos and follow news. The technology has allowed community members to communicate with relatives living in other geographical regions as well.”
Inspired by the severe shortage of health professionals in the region, Vilela’s goal is to complete high school and attend a college or technical training in healthcare. His main focus for the future is to obtain a profession to directly help his people and provide better living conditions for his own family.
Salesian missionaries in Brazil provide education, workforce development and social services throughout the country. Missionaries help to meet the basic needs of youth who are poor, including children living on the street, and provide them with an education and life skills to gain employment, break the cycle of poverty, and lead productive lives.
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The Pulse
Agrivoltaics is a buzzword in clean energy, and now, a sea cucumber farm hosts a solar installation.
Mounting the panels created an “artificial eclipse” that shifted the aquatic microclimate. Based on temperature models, young sea cucumbers under solar panel shade were estimated to hibernate for 12 days less than in open ponds. Hibernation times for full-grown adults barely changed.
The aquacultural feeding season ended up being longer than usual. Why did the animals change their cycle by 12 days?
The study was conducted on coastal sea cucumber aquaculture farms in Dongying City, China. Sensors were installed around the photovoltaic equipment for field monitoring. Environmental changes were tracked from day one of installation. The sunlight intensity over the pond surface was cut by 80.5 percent. The effect was a lowering of the average temperature in the covered zone by 2.16 degrees Fahrenheit in the peak summer months.
Researchers wanted to know how the cooler conditions under the panels affected the overall pond farming ecosystem.
The diversity of plankton species stayed steady over the entire trial period. It was not the same in the lower levels of the food web. Dinoflagellate counts in spring went up in the shaded areas. Zooplankton density, however, dropped slightly.
Laboratory checks confirmed that the animals’ digestive enzyme levels stayed constant across all the seasons.
Food availability and digestive health were not affected by the PV setup at all. The main physical impact was caused by the consistent reduction in water temperatures in the shallow farming zones.
While photovoltaic coverage created a cooler microclimate, it also altered key water chemistry parameters. The result was higher dissolved oxygen and pH levels and lower salinity.
In summer, sea cucumbers enter a state of dormancy called aestivation. This is essential to survive high water temperatures. When a biological heat threshold is crossed, the animals stop eating, lose body mass, and remain inactive to save energy.
When the cultivation ponds are open, sunlight keeps the water warm for months. Summer dormancy is prolonged, and animal growth is suspended until conditions get cooler in the fall.
When the water is shaded by solar arrays, the natural thermal timeline shifts. Temperatures shift in the upper column, which has a direct effect on how long the sea cucumbers lay dormant.
Interestingly, not all age groups were affected equally. Mature animals only shortened aestivation by a day, whereas sub-adults changed their schedule significantly.
This is indicative of how metabolic needs differ across various growth stages. Younger cucumbers. Sub-adults got back to active foraging much quicker when the temperature dropped.
This estimated 12-day shorter hibernation is based on temperature calculations, with solar shading cooling the water by 2.16°F, rather than direct observations of the animals waking up or feeding.
Dormancy in Apostichopus japonicus is linked to heat accumulation. Animals that have not reached maturity have higher metabolic rates, but also smaller energy reserves than adults. This makes them more sensitive to thermal shifts, even subtle ones.
When solar panels blocked direct sunlight and cooled the upper water layer, the microclimate crossed the physical threshold required for sub-adults to resume active feeding weeks ahead of schedule.
Because mature adults have a higher tolerance for heat and lower energy demands, their dormant period was only shortened by a day.
While shortening aestivation extends the active feeding season for commercial growers, researchers note these findings represent observed operational metrics from a single experimental cycle.
Whether early emergence impacts long-term reproductive capacity, disease susceptibility, or overall lifespan remains unverified without multi-year tracking studies.
As commercial operators expand solar installations across coastal aquaculture ponds, this 12-day shift demonstrates how artificial shading directly alters biological timing. Managing water microclimates provides a practical tool for sea cucumber production, while marking the exact boundary of current physiological understanding.
All the details of the study can be found here: Guo, S., Yu, Z., Hou, C., Wang, H., Jiang, T., Pang, L., … & Yuan, X. (2025). Integrating photovoltaic with sea cucumber aquaculture: Environmental impacts and holothurian digestion and aestivation. Aquaculture Reports, 41, 102686
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California homebuyer gets $11,340 quote for 11-panel solar system, then learns $95 plan costs more Yahoo
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（Singapore, 31.08.2026）Australia’s home battery market is booming, with more than 500,000 systems installed nationwide as falling costs and government incentives encourage households to store more of the electricity generated by their rooftop solar panels. The rapid expansion has raised an obvious question for another solar-growing market: could home batteries be the next big step for Singapore homeowners?
9 Solar FinTech CEO Kerr Sun believes batteries will become an increasingly important part of Singapore’s residential energy landscape, but cautions against assuming that every home with rooftop solar needs one. Australia and Singapore have very different housing profiles, electricity market conditions and policy environments, while rooftop solar itself still has considerable room to grow among Singapore’s landed homes.
“I see the development happening in stages: first we make solar more accessible, then batteries become more attractive as their costs come down and the economics improve,” Sun said, adding that the longer-term direction extends beyond solar panels to a home energy ecosystem combining solar generation, battery storage, EV charging and intelligent energy management. The technology, however, still needs to make financial sense for individual households rather than being installed simply because batteries are becoming more popular.
Whether a household needs battery storage depends heavily on when it consumes electricity. A family that uses a substantial proportion of its electricity during daylight hours may already be able to consume much of its solar generation directly, particularly if people work from home, air-conditioning runs during the day, an EV is charged at home or equipment such as swimming pool pumps operates while the sun is shining.
The calculation changes when electricity generation and household consumption occur at different times. Solar panels produce most of their electricity during daylight hours, whereas many households consume more electricity after family members return home in the evening, creating a mismatch that allows batteries to play a potentially useful role by storing some excess daytime generation for use later.
“A battery is not free energy. It simply moves energy from one time of the day to another,” Sun said, stressing that homeowners should compare the value of exporting each additional kilowatt-hour of solar electricity to the grid with the value of storing and consuming it later, before weighing that additional benefit against the cost of the battery throughout its useful life.
If exporting surplus electricity already provides a reasonable return and the additional savings from storing it are insufficient to justify the battery investment, continuing to export may make better financial sense. That calculation could change over time as battery prices fall, household consumption patterns evolve, EV ownership increases and energy-management technology becomes more sophisticated, which is why Sun believes homeowners should consider their entire household energy profile rather than focusing solely on the battery’s purchase price.
The same principle applies when deciding how large a solar and storage system should be. Rather than installing as much equipment as possible, Sun said 9 Solar FinTech looks at how much electricity a household consumes, when it consumes it, how much solar energy its roof can generate and what combination could deliver the greatest long-term savings.
“Sometimes that means solar plus battery. Sometimes solar alone is actually the better investment,” he said.
Cost remains one of the biggest obstacles to residential battery adoption in Singapore, particularly when compared with Australia, where government subsidies have helped reduce upfront costs and accelerate installations. Yet purchase price alone does not reveal the true economics of a battery, with usable capacity, warranty, expected cycle life, degradation, operating conditions, maintenance and eventual replacement all affecting its lifetime value.
Singapore’s hot and humid climate also makes appropriate system design and installation quality important, while homeowners considering storage need to understand how performance may change throughout the battery’s operating life. For Sun, the more meaningful calculation is therefore not simply how much a battery costs to buy, but how much each usable kilowatt-hour stored and discharged ultimately costs over the life of the system.
He expects residential batteries to become considerably more attractive as costs continue to decline and usable lifespans improve, although the pace of adoption will ultimately depend on whether the economics become compelling enough for Singapore households.
The longer-term potential of batteries goes beyond helping individual households shift solar electricity from daytime to evening use. Australia is already experimenting with virtual power plants, or VPPs, which connect large numbers of household batteries and other distributed energy resources so that they can collectively interact with and support the wider electricity system.
Sun believes Singapore could eventually move in a similar direction, particularly given its compact size, high level of connectivity, growing solar deployment, increasing EV adoption and development of smart-grid capabilities. Instead of viewing each house solely as an electricity consumer, homes equipped with combinations of rooftop solar, batteries and EVs could eventually become small energy assets connected through intelligent software.
“Individually, one home is very small. But when you connect 1,000, 10,000 or eventually tens of thousands of homes, suddenly you have a meaningful distributed energy network,” he said.
Such a transition would not happen overnight, with regulatory, technical and commercial questions still to be resolved and grid stability and safety remaining priorities. Yet the direction, in Sun’s view, points towards increasingly integrated household energy systems, beginning with rooftop solar before expanding into storage, EV integration, smart energy management and AI-assisted optimisation.
That evolution could also change the way homeowners think about solar. Instead of viewing panels, batteries and EV chargers as separate purchases, households may eventually consider how each component interacts with the others to determine when electricity should be generated, consumed, stored or supplied back to the wider energy system.
Installing more technology does not automatically translate into greater savings, as the value of battery storage ultimately depends on how and when a household uses electricity, the economics of exporting excess solar power versus storing it for later use, and whether the additional savings generated over time are sufficient to justify the cost of the battery.
As battery technology improves, that equation is likely to become increasingly favourable, but for now, the transition towards smarter home energy systems may happen one step at a time. Solar may be the starting point, while batteries become the next step only when they make sense for the home.
Australian building-integrated PV (BIPV) specialist ClearVue Technologies has announced a manufacturing breakthrough that allows its energy-generating Gen 3 glass units to accept high-performance soft low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings using the same established systems as conventional commercial glazing.
Perth-headquartered ClearVue’s Gen3 solar vision glass product features PV cells integrated into a laminated glass unit designed to generate electricity while maintaining glass transparency. The company said its units can generate more than 50 W of energy per square metre while maintaining up to 80% visible light transmittance.
In a boost to the commercial opportunities for the technology, ClearVue said its glass units can now be coated via a “magnetron sputter-coating process” after the PV cells have been laminated and processed, allowing a Low-E coating to be applied to the finished solar glass units. These coatings help control the amount of solar heat entering a building and are commonly specified across commercial façade projects worldwide.
“This removes a practical barrier for the industry,” ClearVue Chief Executive Officer Doug Hunt said. “It means energy-generating glass can be considered alongside conventional façade products, rather than requiring an entirely separate design or manufacturing process.”
“This is an important step in moving energy-generating façades from a specialist product towards standard commercial practice.”
According to ClearVue, the manufacturing capability allows the coating to be applied on surface 4, the room-facing side of the double-glazed unit, where it provides the greatest reduction in solar heat gain.
ClearVue believes it is currently the only BIPV supplier able to offer this capability while also generating renewable energy from the same glazing unit. The company said other BIPV products typically apply the coating on surface 5 of a triple-glazed unit, where thermal performance is reduced.
Hunt said the manufacturing breakthrough makes it easier for the façade industry to adopt energy-generating glazing without changing the way projects are already designed and delivered.
“For energy-generating glass to become widely used, it needs to fit within the systems the industry already understands and trusts,” he said.
“Architects and engineers can continue specifying the performance they need, while glass processors can use their existing production infrastructure. The difference is that the glass can now also generate clean energy for the building.”
ClearVue said it validated the new capability at glass manufacturer AGC Interpane’s facility in Germany, where the Gen 3 Vision Glass units were cleaned, coated and tested using the same production line and settings as conventional float glass, with no changes required to the coating process.
The manufacturing development is part of a series of recent commercial and technical milestones for ClearVue, including securing major international certifications for its Gen 3 Solar Vision Glass and its thermal management junction box.
The company’s ClearVue-Helios rooftop solar panel has also recently been added to the Clean Energy Council’s approved products list, ensuring it can connect to the grid and is eligible for all government grant and subsidy programs.
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