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India’s hidden battery fleet can become key to managing power demand  Business Standard
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Despite the importation of N435.52bn worth of solar panels in 2025, Nigeria has become a net exporter of the commodity with 85.71bn of the product sold to other countries in the first quarter of 2026.
According to data from the Q1 Foreign Trade by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria exported the solar panels labeled ‘Photovoltaic cells assembled in modules or made up into panels’ N85,790,866,719.18 (billion) to United States of America, Burkina Faso, India, and Ghana
It breaks down the amount each country bought to show that the USA bought the product worth N34.23bn followed by Burkina Faso with N20.40bn, India N13.85bn, Indonesia N12.71bn and purchased the product worth N2.96bn.
This was attributed to the investment the federal government had made on the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The investment decision through the World Bank funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) $300m project, has seen partnerships with partnerships with institutions like FCMB, Lotus Bank, and InfraCorp, provide grants, low-interest loans, and offtake agreements to companies localizing the renewable energy supply chain.
It would be recalled that last month the REA allocated approximately $425 million to establish eight new renewable energy manufacturing facilities, coinciding with the rapid expansion of its solar panel production capacity from 120 megawatts (MW) two years ago to 300MW.
Speaking at a webinar hosted by the African Association of Energy Journalists and Publishers (AJERAP), REA’s managing director, Dr. Abba Aliyu hailed the progress as a direct outcome of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy.
“This policy prioritises local content development and domestic manufacturing,” he said, noting that 2025 was a “defining year” for the sector.
Aliyu revealed that imports of solar cells and components for local assembly surged to 837MW last year—more than double the cumulative 375MW from all prior years combined—surpassing finished product imports.
“This is a powerful demonstration that the Nigeria First policy is driving a structural shift toward domestic manufacturing,” he added.
He said the $425 million investment, bolstered by commitments from the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) 2025, is fostering an integrated ecosystem of manufacturing, deployment, and financing.
REA’s flagship programs, including the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) and Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES), are creating steady demand.
“These large-scale deployment programmes are now providing the predictable demand required to sustain domestic manufacturing, ensuring local production matches real market opportunities,” Aliyu explained.
Regulatory support is accelerating growth, with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) expanding frameworks for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to enable up to 10MW projects via decentralised and interconnected mini-grids.
“This unlocks new opportunities for private sector participation.”
He stated that Nigeria is emerging as a regional powerhouse, with locally made solar panels already exported from Lagos to Accra, Ghana.
“We are transitioning from a renewable energy consumer to a regional supplier,” Dr Aliyu said, pointing to potential solar deployments in border communities for cross-border electricity trade.
He said the model’s appeal is spreading continent-wide, with nations like Mozambique, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, and Mauritius consulting REA.
“Nigeria’s electrification model is increasingly being recognized across the continent,” he noted.
Looking ahead, NREIF 2.0 will prioritize regional integration. “We are building a fully integrated renewable energy ecosystem anchored on local manufacturing, scalable deployment, and regional collaboration,” Aliyu said.
 
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From Gulf Oil to Solar Power: How India Can Reduce War-Driven Energy Risks  BW Businessworld
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Business Hanhwa QCells begins solar cell production at U.S. factory
Published : June 10, 2026 – 10:39:22

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Hanwha Qcells Co., a major South Korean solar energy company, said Wednesday it has begun producing solar cells at its new manufacturing facility in the US state of Georgia.
The company said it expects the plant to reach full production capacity by the end of the third quarter, making it the largest operating solar cell manufacturing facility in the United States.
Its module assembly plant in Cartersville, Georgia, is also operating at full capacity, producing about 16,700 solar panels per day.
When fully operational, the facility will provide 3.3 gigawatts of vertically integrated ingot, wafer and cell production capacity, along with 3.5 GW of module manufacturing capacity.
The facility will be Qcells’ first US manufacturing complex capable of producing the key components of a solar photovoltaic module under one roof, from ingots to finished solar panels. (Yonhap)
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Gamuda Renewables has secured an interest in the 1,800MWh Hazelwood North solar-plus-storage project from Latrobe Valley-based developer Manthos Investments.
Marking the Malaysian infrastructure group’s entry into the Victorian energy market, the transaction is subject to approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
The Hazelwood North project is an approved 450MW hybrid solar and battery energy storage development spanning 1,100 hectares between Morwell and Traralgon in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.
The facility is designed to pair 450MW of solar generation with a 4-hour, 1,800MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Construction is expected to commence in 2028, with commercial operations targeted in 2030, pending a final investment decision.
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Planning approval was granted in September 2024 through Victoria’s Development Facilitation Program. At the time of its approval, the Hazelwood North project was the largest proposed solar PV power plant in Victoria, being developed by Manthos Investments, a family-owned Latrobe Valley business, on a 1,100-hectare property utilising excess grid capacity left by the closure of the Hazelwood coal-fired power station in 2017.
Gamuda Renewables chief strategy and development officer Jarred Hardman said the acquisition captures where the energy transition is heading.
“Hazelwood North marks a significant milestone for us – not only as our first Victorian asset, but as a project that captures exactly where the energy transition is heading. The opportunity to expand the project to include a data centre is something both Manthos and our team are genuinely excited about,” Hardman said.
Gamuda Berhad is listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and currently operates across nine countries.
A stated strategic objective of the acquisition is the potential to co-locate a data centre on the Hazelwood North site, directly powered by on-site solar and battery storage.
Manthos and Gamuda Renewables said they are actively exploring a project expansion to include a co-located data centre, with the BESS positioned as a buffer during periods of variable generation, reducing dependence on the shared transmission network and offering data centre operators a dedicated, clean power supply from a single integrated asset.
The model aligns with Victoria’s own stated ambitions to attract data centre investment, and with the broader national debate about how to ensure data centres bring a new generation rather than drawing on capacity already committed to other consumers.
The Latrobe Valley location offers access to significant existing transmission infrastructure built to serve the coal-fired generators that formerly occupied the region, providing a grid connection advantage for large, constant-load facilities.
Energy storage has been recognised as several technologies that could be stand to benefit from the accelerating rollout of data centres across the globe, especially in Australia.
Speaking exclusively to ESN Premium at the Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026 earlier this year, Jeff Monday, chief growth officer at Fluence, predicted that once standardised battery storage blueprints are finalised with hyperscale customers in the US, deployment in Australia will accelerate rapidly, describing the data centre battery storage opportunity as a “slingshot” moment for the market.
The data centre opportunity for battery storage has been developing for several years, but the pace of AI infrastructure buildout is compressing timelines.
Indeed, battery storage can serve data centres in multiple ways (Premium Access): replacing diesel generators for backup power, smoothing demand to reduce peak grid charges, and enabling facilities to participate in grid services markets, all of which improve both the economics and the environmental profile of data centre operations.
The Hazelwood North acquisition is Gamuda Renewables’ third asset in the National Electricity Market (NEM), following the company’s entry into Australian renewable energy development in September 2024.
The developer set an initial target of 1-2GW by 2029, which it says it has achieved in under two years, and has since revised its ambition upward to 5GW of assets under development, construction and operation by 2031.
Gamuda’s Australian construction arm, DT Infrastructure, is also the EPC contractor for Edify Energy’s Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar and storage projects in Queensland, both of which are set to be powered by CATL technology.
The Hazelwood North project also connects Gamuda Renewables to the Latrobe Valley’s industrial transition narrative.
The region hosted Australia’s first large-scale battery storage system, built at a decommissioned coal plant. As Energy-Storage.news reported back in 2024, Eku Energy’s 150MW/150MWh Hazelwood BESS became the first grid-scale battery in Australia to be built at a former coal-fired power station, repurposing the site’s transmission infrastructure for storage rather than generation.
The Hazelwood North Solar Farm sits on adjacent land and will draw on the same grid infrastructure that served the former power station, continuing a pattern of renewable energy and storage development on and around the former coal generation footprint.
Interested in Australia? Read Energy-Storage.news’ Energy Storage Summit Australia coverage and related content.

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KUALA LUMPUR (June 10): Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said on Wednesday it is acquiring a stake in Hazelwood North Solar Farm and battery energy storage system in Victoria, Australia.
The 450-megawatt hybrid project is set to enter construction in 2028 with commercial operation expected in 2030, pending a final investment decision, Gamuda said in a statement. The acquisition is subject to approval from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.
Transaction details on the acquisition and project’s financials were not disclosed.
More to come

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India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has approved the development of a 250 MW solar power project with an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS) at Sitapur (Ex-Cantonment) in Uttar Pradesh. The project will be developed on around 850 acres of vacant defence land.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), this is the first renewable energy project of its kind undertaken by the ministry, involving the deployment of a utility-scale solar power generation facility with integrated battery storage on defence land.
In addition to strengthening the long-term energy security of the Armed Forces, the project is expected to significantly reduce expenditure on conventional grid power for defence establishments.
State-owned power producer NTPC Ltd is implementing the project through a competitive bid process to realise the most optimal energy pricing and savings for defence establishments. The MoD, NTPC, Army headquarter and Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) will work in close coordination to ensure timely implementation of the project.
“Upon completion, the Sitapur Solar Power Project is expected to emerge as one of the country’s most significant renewable energy projects established on defence land and a benchmark for future solar-plus-storage projects in the defence sector,” stated an MoD release.
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Science and Technology
Chinese solar panels became too abundant for global demand, creating an industrial crisis within the very sector that helped make clean energy cheaper. According to an analysis published by Xataka, China reached an annual production capacity of 1,000 GW after years of accelerated investment.
According to information published by Xataka, the problem involves Chinese solar energy manufacturers, global supply chains, governments that raised tariff barriers, and consumers who could benefit from cheaper modules. The scenario worsened between 2025 and early 2026, when below-cost prices, bankruptcies, and excess inventory began to expose the limit of expansion.
The Chinese expansion in solar energy reached a scale difficult to absorb. After a strong advance in investments since 2020, the country’s companies reached a production capacity of 1,000 GW of solar panels per year, according to the data cited in the analysis.
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For comparison, global demand in 2023 was 451 GW, according to Energy News mentioned by Xataka. In the same year, Chinese production of solar cells reached 588 GW, already above the volume the international market could absorb.
The result was a paradox: the technology became cheap, but the industry suffered. Instead of just accelerating the energy transition, the excess created inventories, a sharp drop in prices, and pressure on manufacturers.
This situation highlights an important difference between productive capacity and actual use. Producing solar panels on a historical scale does not automatically resolve network, storage, installation, financing, and trade policy bottlenecks.
The crisis worsened when modules began to be sold below production cost. According to data from EnkiAI cited in the analysis, the price of a solar module fell to about $0.10 per watt, below the estimated $0.16 per watt for more advanced TOPCon modules.
This type of drop may seem advantageous for buyers, but it destroys margins within the production chain. When many companies sell below cost to survive, the entire sector enters destructive competition.
More than 40 Chinese manufacturers went bankrupt, were acquired, or ceased to be publicly traded, according to the survey cited by Xataka. Among the largest surviving companies, one-third of the workforce is said to have been laid off.
JinkoSolar, identified as one of the largest global suppliers, reported a 29% drop in revenue, an 86% decline in gross profit, and a net loss of 4.45 billion yuan in 2025. This data illustrates how even industry leaders were affected.
The case of solar panels is not the same as a common crisis in steel, cement, or other industrial products. Solar energy is a central technology for decarbonization, the result of decades of research, scale, and productive advancement.
Therefore, the surplus has a greater impact than a simple commercial dispute. The world gained access to cheap clean energy on an unprecedented scale but failed to turn this opportunity into coordinated deployment.
The analysis cites economist Adam Tooze, in a column in the Financial Times, to reinforce this contradiction: the clean energy that seemed distant at the time of the Paris Agreement became technically available, but some factories began facing shutdowns and losses.
The problem is not just in the manufacturing capacity. It is also in the ability to install, connect, store, finance, and distribute this generation in electrical grids prepared to handle much larger volumes of renewable energy.
China controls more than 80% of the global solar energy production chain, according to data cited in the analysis. This concentration involves modules, cells, components, and critical manufacturing stages.
By the end of 2025, the country’s operational module capacity exceeded 900 GW. The five largest Chinese manufacturers control more than 50% of the market, while LONGi Green Energy shipped more than 45 GW in 2025.
This dominance made solar energy cheaper, but also increased global dependence on the Chinese industry. For countries seeking their own industrial security, the surplus of Chinese solar panels has become an economic and strategic challenge.
The Made in China 2025 plan appears as part of this movement. Beijing has moved from acting solely as a low-cost factory to seeking leadership in core technologies for the energy future.
Instead of fully taking advantage of the price drop to accelerate solar panel installation, many countries responded with tariff barriers. The justification usually involves protecting local industry, economic security, and trade disputes.
However, this reaction also increases the cost of the energy transition for consumers and companies. When the world blocks part of the cheaper supply, clean energy arrives more slowly and at a higher cost.
The analysis points out that American tariffs did not create a domestic solar industry equivalent to China’s. Instead, they raised the cost of panels for U.S. consumers, while China continued exporting to other markets.
This conflict summarizes the current dilemma. Countries want cheap clean energy, but also want to reduce dependence on a production chain dominated by a single nation. The two goals do not always advance together.
The crisis led the Chinese government to seek measures to contain the price war. Among the proposed measures are capacity controls, minimum indicative prices, mergers, acquisitions, and intellectual property protection.
More than 30 manufacturers even supported a pact to stabilize prices and reduce supply. However, six months later, according to the analysis, production continued to rise, installations increased, and losses persisted.
The attempt to organize the sector shows that China’s own productive success has gotten out of control. The country created a gigantic industry, but now needs to prevent internal competition from destroying companies, jobs, and technological capacity.
There was also a proposal for large manufacturers to jointly invest in the purchase and closure of less efficient facilities. The idea would be to reduce productive excess and stop the price decline, but this type of adjustment tends to be slow and painful.
The period of extremely cheap modules may not last at the same pace. According to projections cited in the analysis, Chinese modules may rise between 10% and 20% by 2026 due to adjustments in overproduction and new logistical pressures.
Wood Mackenzie also forecasts an additional increase of 9%, according to the text. Even with this rise, prices would still remain low in historical terms, only moving away from the extreme level caused by below-cost competition.
This means that the window for very cheap solar energy may be narrowing. The question is whether the world will be able to take advantage of the still low prices before sector consolidation reduces the surplus supply.
The decisive variable for 2027 will be how the surplus will be resolved. The market may undergo orderly consolidation, with planned closure of less efficient factories, or face new commercial and financial disruptions.
The excess is not only apparent in industrial production. China also installed so many solar panels that, in some regions, it generates more energy than it can store or transmit efficiently.
The grid and storage infrastructure did not keep pace with installations. Thus, part of the clean energy generated may be wasted due to lack of distribution, storage capacity, or market incentives.
Provincial regulations requiring batteries in solar projects did not fully solve the problem, according to the analysis, because many systems were underutilized due to inadequate incentives in the electricity market.
This is the paradox within the paradox. China has an excess of solar panels, abundant clean energy, and cheap technology, yet it still faces physical and regulatory bottlenecks to transform all this into useful electricity at the right time.
The price war also raised questions about quality. The analysis points out that some manufacturers have started to cut back on testing and materials to survive in a market with compressed margins.
This risk is relevant because solar panels need to operate for decades. A module that is too cheap can become expensive if it loses performance earlier than expected or fails to meet long-term guarantees.
The sector is already discussing the possibility of products installed today showing inferior performance in the coming years. This concern can affect investors, consumers, and companies that depend on technical predictability.
The consolidation of the market will also be decisive for guarantees. If manufacturers go bankrupt or disappear, customers may have difficulty accessing assistance, replacement, or commitments made at the time of sale.
The Chinese case shows that abundant technology is not enough to solve the energy transition. It requires a network, storage, commercial rules, financing, planning, and political capacity to transform surplus into useful installation.
The OECD, cited in the analysis, indicates that the solar industry is one of the most subsidized sectors in the world. At the same time, these subsidies helped provoke one of the largest cost reductions ever seen in renewable technology.
The real debate is not just whether China subsidized solar panels, but what the world did with this cheap supply. The global response was fragmented: some tried to buy, some imposed tariffs, some protected their industry, and some failed to install quickly enough.
The crisis reveals a failure of coordination. While the Chinese industry produced at scale, the rest of the world did not create agile mechanisms to absorb, install, and integrate this energy in a planned way.
Solar energy is not expected to disappear as a sector. Chinese companies remain large, efficient, and present in almost all markets, while cheaper batteries are beginning to be integrated into solar systems to provide grid stability.
China itself has greatly expanded its installed capacity. According to data cited in the analysis, the country surpassed 1,230 GW of installed solar capacity in February 2026, with an annual growth of 33.2%.
Even so, the transition may become more expensive and more chaotic than it could have been. The abundance of solar panels offered a rare opportunity to accelerate installations, reduce emissions, and lower electricity costs on a global scale.
If the consolidation is organized, the sector may emerge smaller, more stable, and still competitive. If it is chaotic, the world may lose manufacturers, warranties, jobs, and part of the capacity that made clean energy so cheap.
The Chinese solar panel crisis reveals an uncomfortable question: what happens when the world finally manages to produce cheap clean energy on a large scale, but cannot use this supply at the same speed?
On one hand, China created an industry capable of manufacturing more modules than the global demand can absorb. On the other hand, tariffs, limited networks, inventories, bankruptcies, and geopolitical disputes have prevented this surplus from becoming a faster energy transition.
The paradox is that clean energy has become too cheap for part of the industry to survive, but it is still not accessible enough to reach all the places that need it. This contradiction may mark 2026 as a decisive year for the sector.
And you, do you think the world should take advantage of China’s cheap solar panels to accelerate the energy transition or protect local industries even if it makes clean energy more expensive? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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The P21X by Polydrops is a limited-production travel trailer that examines how mobile living can operate within the constraints of finite energy. Developed as an evolution of the P21 model and the company’s energy-conscious design approach, the project extends a self-contained living system into more demanding terrain while maintaining a focus on efficiency, resource management, and aerodynamic performance.
 
Since 2019, Polydrops has approached mobile habitation through the lens of energy consumption. Rather than increasing capacity through larger batteries, generators, and storage systems, the company has focused on reducing energy demand through insulation, lightweight construction, and aerodynamic optimization. The P21X continues this strategy, treating energy not as a resource to be accumulated but as a condition that informs every aspect of the design. Designed for use beyond paved roads, the trailer incorporates a 15-inch ground clearance, reinforced chassis components, and all-terrain tires. While these modifications improve access across uneven terrain, they also introduce aerodynamic challenges by increasing frontal area and altering airflow beneath the trailer. To address these conditions, Polydrops developed a rear spoiler that manages airflow around the elevated body while contributing to the trailer’s overall visual composition. Stone guards integrated into the lower body provide protection from debris and reinforce the relationship between function and form.
 
The structure is based on a lightweight aluminum frame finished in clear-anodized aluminum. Wood has been eliminated as a structural material, while a continuous 2-inch insulation system minimizes thermal bridging and reduces the energy required to maintain interior comfort. The resulting enclosure is designed to support year-round habitation while limiting operational energy demands. A 1,300-watt solar array developed by Aptera Motors is integrated into the roof and paired with a standard 5 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery system. An optional 10 kWh configuration is available for extended operation. Together, these systems are intended to support climate control and daily electrical loads without reliance on external power connections.

all images courtesy of Polydrops
 
 
 
The interior organization is shaped by the aerodynamic envelope of the trailer, which limits available volume while improving towing efficiency. Within this compact footprint, sleeping, dining, work, storage, cooking, and sanitation functions are integrated into a flexible spatial arrangement. At the rear, a queen-size bed converts into a dining or work area, allowing the space to accommodate multiple modes of use. Near the entrance, a bench and Lagun table form a secondary workspace that can adapt to dining, seating, or work-related activities. A concealed bathroom is incorporated within the same area. When the seat is removed and the enclosure opened, the space reveals a toilet and shower. A removable privacy curtain allows the zone to function as an enclosed bathroom while preserving the efficiency of the overall layout. This multifunctional approach enables the trailer to support a complete living program without increasing its physical footprint. Water consumption is addressed through a sponge-based shower system that reduces usage to approximately one gallon per shower. By lowering both water demand and the energy required for heating, the system supports the project’s broader emphasis on resource efficiency.
 
Through its combination of lightweight construction, solar integration, aerodynamic refinement, and adaptable interior planning, Polydrops’ P21X investigates how off-road mobile living can operate within the limits of finite energy. The project presents a design framework in which efficiency, rather than capacity, becomes the primary driver of form, performance, and habitation. Production of the P21X is limited to 20 units.

the P21X explores mobile living within the limits of finite energy
the trailer extends Polydrops’ energy-focused design approach into off-road terrain

roof-mounted solar panels generate power for daily operation

all-terrain tires expand the trailer’s operational range

aerodynamic refinements respond to the challenges of increased ride height

a clear-anodized aluminum finish defines the exterior appearance
sleeping, dining, and working functions are integrated within a compact footprint

the trailer is constructed around a lightweight aluminum frame

a queen-size bed converts into a dining or work surface

a bench and Lagun table create a flexible secondary workspace

reinforced chassis components support travel across uneven terrain

a rear spoiler manages airflow around the elevated body
 
project info:
 
name: Polydrops P21X
designer: Polydrops | @polydrops
design team: Kyunghyun Lew, Jieun Cha
 
 
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
 
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Rows of solar panels stretch across what were once abandoned tidal flats in Dongshan county, Zhangzhou, Fujian province. Steel pillars driven into the seabed hold the panels above the waterline, allowing aquaculture activities to continue below while clean electricity is being generated above — a visible example of how coastal provinces maximize limited marine space.
The 180,000-kilowatt solar farm, built on more than 200 hectares of mudflats, is the country’s first offshore solar project in a high-wind-speed zone, operated by China Three Gorges Corporation. The project exemplifies how offshore wind and coastal solar are reshaping the province’s energy landscape.
Dongshan is part of a larger national effort. China has to date approved more than 200 offshore wind projects, pushing cumulative grid-connected capacity past 47 million kW — around half of the global total and the world’s top ranking for five consecutive years, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
"Fujian has some of China’s best conditions for offshore renewable energy — strong, consistent winds averaging more than 9 meters per second, long coastlines with suitable tidal flats, and deep waters just offshore," said Chen Qingsen, deputy general manager of the Fujian Three Gorges Offshore Wind Power International Industrial Park Operations Co.
Chen said solar and wind power are complementary — solar generation peaks during daylight hours while wind often strengthens at night, creating a more stable collective output. He noted that one full rotation of a 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine generates about 34 kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power an average Chinese household for more than a week.
"From 2019, when the first domestically produced 6.7-megawatt offshore wind turbine was unveiled here, to 2024, when the world’s largest 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine rolled off the production line, we have launched turbines of 8, 10,13, 16, 18, 20 and 26 megawatts, continuously breaking global records while achieving 100 percent domestic production of key components," Chen said, adding that these turbines are accelerating their entry into overseas markets.
Prior to 2017, China’s largest domestic turbine was limited to 5 MW, with critical components reliant on overseas suppliers. The 67-hectare park, established in 2016, broke that pattern as China’s first industrial cluster covering the full offshore wind power chain.
Yue Qi, director of the institute for marine resources protection and utilization of the National Ocean Technology Center, emphasized that offshore renewable energy is a strategic priority for China’s energy transition.
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) sets a target of 100 million kW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
"The target reflects the central government’s commitment to scaling up clean energy while developing the marine sector as a new engine of economic growth," Yue said.
Developing offshore wind along China’s eastern seaboard also carries a logistical advantage over transmitting power from the west. "Short transmission distances and proximity to consumption centers mean we can avoid the massive losses and infrastructure costs of long-distance west-to-east power transfer," Yue noted.
As nearshore waters grow increasingly crowded, the industry is pushing farther out. China’s site-selection standards have evolved from the early "double-10" principle — at least 10 meters deep and 10 kilometers offshore — to the current "single-30"standard of at least 30 meters deep or 30 km from shore.
In 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources introduced policies for the three-dimensional, layered use of marine space. Around 4,000 such multiuse projects now operate nationwide, according to Yue.
Looking ahead, China is exploring a new frontier of undersea data centers directly powered by offshore wind to support artificial intelligence and 5G infrastructure.
limenghan@chinadaily.com.cn
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South Korean solar maker's $2.5bn factory will produce cells using its own wafers, ingots
Qcells, part of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, has become one of the largest U.S. producers of solar panels after investing billions of dollars to set up two giant factories in Georgia. (Photo by Pak Yiu)
CARTERSVILLE, Georgia — Hanwha Qcells began production of solar cells in the U.S. on Tuesday, debuting the country's first integrated supply chain plant for the clean energy technology.

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Science and Technology
Installing solar panels in a pasture can help cool dairy cows on hot days, indicates a study conducted in the United States. In the summer of 2019, researchers from the University of Minnesota monitored cows grazing in the shade of a photovoltaic system on a dairy farm in Morris, Minnesota, to measure the effects of shade on the animals. The conclusion was that solar panels reduced signs of heat stress, although without increasing milk production.
The experiment, published in 2021 and presented as a starting point, lasted only one summer and involved 24 crossbred cows, half with access to shade and half in full sun. According to the authors, the animals sought the shade of the panels on only 28 of the 175 pasture days, too short a time to reveal long-term effects. Even so, during the hottest hours, the shaded cows breathed more slowly and maintained a lower body temperature.
The research arose from a gap, as no previous work had installed a solar system on the ground to shade dairy cows and measure the effects. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota’s dairy farm in Morris, which milks about 275 cows twice a day and represents a medium-sized property in the state. The motivation was to test agrivoltaics, the idea of using the same land to generate clean energy and produce food, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
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In the summer of 2018, a 30-kilowatt photovoltaic system was installed, with solar panels positioned between 2.4 and 3 meters high, tilted at 35 degrees and facing south, at an approximate cost of US$ 90,000, about R$ 490,000. Between June and September 2019, 24 crossbred cows were divided between a shaded group and another in full sun. Each animal wore a CowManager ear sensor and a SmaXtec device in the stomach, which measured internal temperature, activity, and water intake, while maximum temperatures ranged from 27 to 34 degrees Celsius. The results were published in the Journal of Dairy Science in 2021, by a team led by Professor Brad Heins.
Where the sun was strong, the shade from the solar panels made a measurable difference. In the afternoon, shaded cows breathed more slowly, about 66 times per minute, compared to 78 for those exposed, a clear sign of less heat stress. The internal body temperature confirmed the situation, with cows in full sun recording values up to about half a degree Celsius higher between mid-afternoon and dawn.
For the researchers, even a small temperature difference is relevant from the animal’s perspective. Professor Brad Heins summarized that, for the cow, this variation “is quite a lot,” and raised the hypothesis that cooler bodies could, in the future, sustain higher milk production. During the hottest hours, between milkings, cows with access to shade remained more comfortable.
Despite the relief from heat stress, the solar panels did not increase milk production, contrary to expectations. The study found no differences between the two groups in production, fat and protein content, weight, body condition, water intake, injuries, gait, or number of flies. In practical terms, the shade improved comfort but did not translate into more milk in the bucket.
The authors’ own explanation is simple, as the cows used the shade on only 28 of the 175 pasture days in the summer. This exposure was too short to measure long-term effects, and the team suggests that if the animals had stayed in the shade the entire summer, changes in production might appear. Therefore, the work is treated as preliminary, a starting point, and not as proof that panels increase milk production.
The shading also brought an unwanted effect, as the cows ended up with dirtier bellies and hooves. This happened because they used the shaded area to rest and lie down, and they defecated and urinated right there, leaving the soil dirty under the panels. The ground under the panels was cooler and more humid, and the animals tended to concentrate in a smaller space.
The researchers also noted that the shaded cows had fewer periods of high activity, as they spent the hottest hours standing under the solar panels. There is, therefore, a possible embedded cost, as it is plausible that the animals traded grazing time for refuge in the shade. The balance between comfort and feeding behavior appears as a point to observe in larger studies.
First of all, the agrivoltaic system was still an energy plant, not just a roof for the cattle. Throughout 2019, the 30-kilowatt solar panels generated about 35,535 kWh, equivalent to approximately 35.5 MWh, a volume that, according to the study’s environmental benefit calculations, would avoid about 37 tons of CO2, the same as planting around 2,066 trees. These numbers are estimates from the study itself, and in 2020 a larger plant, of 240 kilowatts, was added to the pasture.
The study was explicitly a starting point, and the team has already announced a new project in 2021. The idea is to design solar structures that serve as shade in the summer and as a barrier against wind and snow in the winter, as well as to test tracking panels on low-value agricultural land. In subsequent tests, researchers found that good quality forage grows under the panels, but in fully shaded areas, pasture production dropped significantly, reinforcing the need to balance shade and cultivation.
The University of Minnesota study suggests that solar panels can be an acceptable way to alleviate the heat for grazing dairy cows while generating clean energy. The thermal comfort gains coexist with clear limits, such as the lack of increase in milk production in this short experiment and the dirt accumulated under the panels. More than a ready solution, agrivoltaics applied to livestock appears as a promising path that still needs larger and longer studies.
And you, would you plant solar panels on your property to generate energy and provide shade for the cattle, or do you think the land yields more without the panels? Share your opinion, respecting different views on the subject
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On the floor at SNEC 2026 in Shanghai, the world’s largest solar and energy storage trade show, one trend is clear: standard silicon module efficiencies continue to rise. Modules with 25% efficiency are now commonplace, while 23% has effectively become the floor and 24% the mainstream product level.
Two years ago, at Intersolar Munich, Aiko Solar introduced what was then the market’s first 25% solar module. At this year’s SNEC, the company presented a 25.6% module and indicated further efficiency gains ahead.
Nearby, JinkoSolar showcased several high-efficiency products. Among them was the newly launched flagship 700 W, 25.91% Tiger Neo 5.0 (link below), and their 25.17% “AIDC” module, a data-center-focused panel based on the Tiger Neo 3.0 platform launched at SNEC. Canadian Solar, exhibiting nearby, displayed a 25.2% module. One hall over, Longi presented a 25.5% product.
The focus on efficiency is significant because it effectively reduces the cost contribution of all other system components. For example, if a single module produces twice the energy output, the value of labor is effectively doubled, as installation work delivers twice the lifetime energy per installed unit.
Module efficiency, driven by cell efficiency, is directly linked to lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). “In the solar industry, conversion efficiency is a defining metric. Each one-point increase in cell efficiency translates into more than a 5% reduction in system costs,” said Li Zhenguo, founder and president of Longi.
In China, this focus on efficiency dates back to the Top Runner program, introduced in the second half of the 2010s. The program set minimum module efficiency thresholds of 17% to 18%. At the time, efficiency records were held by mono-PERC products.
High-efficiency modules are not limited to the largest manufacturers. Increasingly, companies are collaborating with wafer and cell suppliers to assemble co-developed platforms.
At the show, Huayao PV presented its HY500-B96EDD module, a 500 W product with 25.02% efficiency, while Suntech displayed a co-branded 680 W / 25.2% module. Hanersun—also co-branding on the Suntech unit—showcased a 680 W module at 25.2% efficiency.
While these modules do not share identical SKUs, they likely reflect shared underlying cell platforms.
Across both announcements and exhibition floors, even higher efficiencies are emerging.
Three recent solar cells have surpassed 28% efficiency, from Trina Solar, Longi, and JA Solar. All three rely on back-contact architectures. Trina’s approach is described as TOPCon-compatible hybrid back-contact (THBC), Longi’s as hybrid interdigitated back-contact (HIBC), and JA Solar’s as hybrid back-contact (HBC).
At its booth, JA Solar demonstrated a record cell integrated into a module with 26% efficiency. A company representative said the product is not yet in mass production but is expected to enter production soon.
Longi stated that modules based on its hybrid interdigitated back-contact (HIBC) cells have reached 26.4% efficiency under certification. This module is currently the world’s most efficient silicon module on record, for now.

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SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) — Hanwha Qcells Co., a major South Korean solar energy company, said Wednesday it has begun producing solar cells at its new manufacturing facility in the U.S. state of Georgia.
The company said it expects the plant to reach full production capacity by the end of the third quarter, making it the largest operating solar cell manufacturing facility in the United States.
Its module assembly plant in Cartersville, Georgia, is also operating at full capacity, producing about 16,700 solar panels per day.
When fully operational, the facility will provide 3.3 gigawatts (GW) of vertically integrated ingot, wafer and cell production capacity, along with 3.5 GW of module manufacturing capacity.
The facility will be Qcells’ first U.S. manufacturing complex capable of producing the key components of a solar photovoltaic module under one roof, from ingots to finished solar panels.

Hanwha QCells Co.'s U.S. solar cell factory in Cartersville, Georgia, is seen in this undated photo provided by the solar panel maker. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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Chinese PV module maker Astronergy, a unit of the Chint Group, has unveiled its new Astro N8 Pro series at SNEC 2026 in Shanghai last week.
The new series includes two formats. The CHSM72N version offers a power output of 800 W to 825 W, with module efficiency of up to 24.4%. The CHSM66N version is rated at 740 W to 760 W, with a maximum efficiency of 24.5%. The modules measure 2,595 mm × 1,303 mm × 33 mm and 2,384 mm × 1,303 mm × 33 mm, respectively.
Astronergy said the Astro N8 Pro series is based on its TOPCon 5.0+ technology platform and incorporates 210 mm wafers, quarter-cut cells, high-density encapsulation, and multi-busbar technology. According to the company, the design is intended to increase module power while reducing hot-spot risk, improving reliability, and lowering balance-of-system costs for utility-scale and distributed PV projects.
According to the company’s product information, the modules have a bifaciality factor of around 85% and a power temperature coefficient of -0.26%/C. The series supports system voltages of up to 1,500 V DC and offers a positive power tolerance of 0 W to 3 W. Astronergy said the product is designed for high-output applications where land use, string design, and lifetime energy yield are key considerations.
The company also highlighted the series’ long-term performance. The Astro N8 Pro modules are backed by a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year linear power warranty. First-year degradation is specified at no more than 1%, followed by annual degradation of no more than 0.35% from the second through the 30th year.
The 72-cell-format version features an anti-dust frame design aimed at applications where soiling losses and cleaning costs can affect project economics. Astronergy said the design is intended to reduce power losses caused by dust accumulation and deliver additional energy generation gains of around 2% to 6%, depending on site conditions.
Astronergy President Lu Chuan said the Astro N8 Pro series reflects the company’s long-term development of n-type technology and system-level optimization.
At SNEC 2026, the company also showcased the Astro N8, a 745 W module for utility-scale solar projects; the Astro N7 Pro, based on TOPCon 5.0+ technology and a quarter-cut cell design; and upgraded Astro N7 3.0 and Astro N7s 3.0 products for differentiated applications.
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Jinko Power, a subsidiary of the Jinko solar group, has signed a framework investment agreement with the Zhongwei municipal government to build a 1 gigawatt data center in Ningxia, western China, supplying it directly with solar power (Nikkei Asia; pv magazine). The project carries planned investment of about RMB 24.5 billion (around USD 3.6 billion), would cover roughly 534,000 square meters, and is designed for about 50,000 standard racks built in three phases (Yicai Global; pv magazine). It marks the world's largest solar-panel maker's entry into 'green computing' under China's 'Eastern Data, Western Computing' initiative. Reporting stresses the deal is a framework arrangement still subject to multiple approvals and funding; the final size, plan, and timeline could change materially, or the project could be terminated.
Jinko Power, a subsidiary of the Jinko solar group, has signed a framework investment agreement with the Zhongwei municipal government to develop a 1 gigawatt data center in the Ningxia region of western China, supplying electricity directly from its own solar plants (Nikkei Asia; pv magazine). Reporting puts planned investment at about RMB 24.5 billion (around USD 3.6 billion), with the facility covering roughly 534,000 square meters and designed for about 50,000 standard racks built in three phases (Yicai Global; pv magazine). The move marks the world's largest solar-panel maker's entry into the data-center, or green computing, business as AI drives power demand.
Multiple outlets stress the arrangement is a framework agreement that remains preliminary and subject to multiple approvals and funding scrutiny; the final project size, investment plan, and implementation path may change materially, or the project could be terminated (pv magazine; Yicai Global).
Industry pattern: co-locating renewable generation with data centers is a growing architecture to absorb variable solar and wind output and reduce curtailment. Such implementations typically require integrated power-electrical design, demand-flexibility mechanisms, and contracts that align generation dispatch with server load. China has seen rising solar curtailment in recent years, part of the economic rationale that reporting assigns to projects pairing generation with on-site compute.
The project fits China's national 'Eastern Data, Western Computing' initiative, which steers compute capacity toward western regions with abundant energy and land. Chinese local governments and energy firms have increasingly pursued such compute-power coordination models to monetize stranded renewables and anchor industrial investment in underpopulated areas. For infrastructure planners and ML-ops teams, these projects shift trade-offs between grid-provided resilience and on-site generation and raise questions about latency, network backhaul, and cooling in desert locations.
Industry observers should track formal financing announcements and tranche sizes, any joint-venture filings, and provincial or national approvals tied to the project. Progress from a framework agreement to a funded, permitted build will be the key signal of whether the generator-plus-compute model scales.
A 1 GW solar-powered data center is a notable AI-infrastructure development tied to China's 'Eastern Data, Western Computing' push and the renewable-plus-compute trend. Because it is a single regional project still at the framework-agreement stage and subject to approvals and financing, it rates as solid rather than industry-shaping.
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Revolve Renewable Power Corp. signed definitive agreements on June 5, 2026 to acquire a 125 MW three-project utility-scale solar development portfolio across Illinois, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.
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Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has issued directives for speeding up the completion of all executive procedures related to Egypt’s initiative to encourage the installation of solar panels in factories and homes with the aim of launching it as soon as possible and expanding the use of renewable energy sources.
During a meeting, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly instructed relevant authorities to finalize the initiative’s executive framework for Cabinet approval. He also directed them to prepare a comprehensive promotional plan to highlight the financial incentives and facilitation measures it will offer, helping increase the adoption of solar energy systems.
Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat reviewed the initiative’s main features, implementation mechanisms, and proposed incentives for beneficiaries. He noted that it supports the state’s efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in Egypt’s energy mix and improve resource efficiency.
Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem said there is ongoing coordination between the Ministries of Industry and Electricity, as well as with Financing Institutions and the Federation of Egyptian Industries, to develop suitable financing mechanisms and incentives that encourage factories to expand their use of solar energy in a way that helps reduce production costs, and enhance industrial competitiveness.
The initiative targets the installation of solar power units in industrial complexes, large factories, and homes to reduce electricity consumption and ease pressure on natural gas resources and the national electricity grid.

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The Cartersville plant is a milestone for domestic clean energy as developers rush to beat upcoming tax deadlines.
Qcells on Tuesday said it started manufacturing solar cells at its factory in Cartersville, Georgia, a major step toward having a fully domestic solar supply chain.
The factory will be the only one in the U.S. to make every major solar panel component — ingot, cells, and wafers — under one roof. Production is still ramping up, but by the end of this year it is slated to have 3.3 gigawatts of capacity. The company makes 8.6 GW of finished solar panels a year between its Cartersville factory and another in Dalton, or enough to fulfill about 20% of U.S. installed capacity last year. 
According to Scott Moskowitz, Qcells’ vice president of market strategy, it’s a major milestone given that just a decade ago, the U.S. solar manufacturing industry was “basically extinct.”
“Now Qcells sells panels that are U.S.-made, which gives our customers certainty over their supply chains, minimizes risks, and the opportunity to take advantage of domestic content bonuses that exist under the investment tax credit,” he said.
Solar project developers are rushing to start construction ahead of a July 4 deadline, imposed last year by the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill, to qualify for an up to 40% investment tax break if a certain percentage of their materials are U.S.-made. Those that meet the deadline will have four years to complete the project and secure the credit. 
Otherwise, projects that miss the deadline will have to be operational by the end of 2027 to qualify for the tax credits. OBBB also attached “foreign entity of concern” rules to the tax break to prevent Chinese-linked firms in the U.S. from claiming subsidies, although the Treasury Department still hasn’t finished that guidance. 
While the ITC has been a key driver of U.S. solar demand since 2006, it was the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act’s 45X manufacturing tax credits for clean energy components that spurred record investment in new U.S. factories — or more than $100 billion between 2023 and 2025 across batteries, solar, electric vehicles, and critical minerals.
The OBBB left 45X intact. The credit allows U.S. companies that make multiple clean energy components in the same factory to claim the credit for each step. That’s a boon for Qcells’s Cartersville factory, which is eligible for nearly $550 million in tax breaks, offsetting a portion of the $2.5 billion initial capital investment announced in January 2023. 
The opening of the Cartersville plant boosts the domestic solar supply chain. But for now, Qcells, a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group, will still import the majority of its solar components from suppliers in South Korea and Malaysia to produce its 8.6 GW of panels. Last year, shipments of solar cells were slowed down by the U.S. Customers and Border Protection for months under a law that bars goods made with forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region from entering the U.S. Qcells said it was certain its supply chain was free of material from Xinjiang, and was able to return to normal operations by March, PV Magazine reported. 
The border delays underscored the risks of relying on foreign solar supply chains at a time when every administration dating back to former President Barack Obama has implemented tariffs on imports from China, as well as Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. That goal is to help U.S. manufacturers compete with China’s dominance over the supply chain and its attempts to circumvent U.S. trade barriers. The Trump administration is also considering tariffs on imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos.
U.S. solar manufacturers now make enough panels — or nearly 70 GW — to more than satisfy annual domestic demand, Moskowitz said, but there are still gaps in solar wafers and cells. The Solar Energy Industries Association in June reported 3.2 GW of U.S. cell production and 7 GW of ingot and wafer production. 
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Qcells’ factory will boost those totals. And U.S. peers Suniva and T1 Energy are also expanding U.S. cell production. However, the ups and downs of policy have also dissuaded some investment as well; Norway’s NorSun earlier this year canceled plans for a 5-GW ingot and wafer factory in Tulsa, Okla. 
“We’ve come a long way in reshoring our supply chains, but there’s still gaps,” Moskowitz said. “So that means there’s an opportunity to continue supporting existing investments and cultivate new ones.”
Still, the U.S. solar manufacturing industry remains turbulent. The investment tax credit for solar — which incentivizes developers to buy U.S.-made equipment — sunsets in 2028. That means any projects that start construction that year and beyond could decide to buy cheaper imported equipment to keep costs down. Meanwhile, the OBBB also ended the residential solar tax credit, eroding demand from homeowners facing higher upfront costs. That helped fuel a flurry of bankruptcies among consumer loan and installation companies. 
Many solar manufacturers are focused on the utility-scale market, which faces its own headwinds. They include lengthy grid interconnection queues and the Trump administration’s policies blocking permits for projects on federal lands. Those policies have left a pipeline of more than 57 GW of new solar and wind capacity at risk of delay or cancellation by 2029.
Moskowitz was optimistic that the “overwhelming” political support for U.S. manufacturing will continue. He added that energy affordability is now a kitchen table issue, and solar is one of the cheapest and fastest sources of energy to deploy.

Catherine Boudreau is a senior reporter at Latitude Media. She’s spent a decade covering, energy, climate and agriculture issues at the intersection of business and policy, at publications including Business Insider and Politico.

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Qcells, a South Korean solar manufacturer with facilities in the U.S. and Malaysia, is now manufacturing solar cells, a critical step whereby the company is now manufacturing the major components of a solar module all under one roof.
The solar manufacturer said it expects to be at full production in its Cartersville facility by Q3 2026, producing an estimated 3.3 GW each of ingots, wafers, cells, and 3.5 GW of modules a year. 
Qcells also has a manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia, which tripled its module capacity to 5.1 GW in late 2023. At full capacity, the two facilities can produce 8.6 GW of solar modules, or approximately 47,000 panels, annually, Qcells reports.
“Producing the first solar cells at Cartersville is a milestone for Qcells and for American manufacturing,” said Andy Park, Global CEO of Qcells. “A dependable domestic supply chain doesn’t just create thousands of good-paying jobs, it gives our customers greater certainty on price, supply, and tariffs, and a product they can trust from start to finish. 
By the end of 2026, Qcells said it expects to employ a combined workforce of nearly 4,000 people across the two Georgia sites.
The addition of 3.3 GW of cells to the U.S. solar supply chain comes at a critical time when electricity demand at an all-time high, according to a recent report by Enverus, and solar projects rush to begin construction before the deadline for tax credit eligibility.
In a recent webinar on U.S. solar manufacturing, Jade Jones, senior director, solar products manufacturing and supply chain for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) noted that the current state of U.S. solar manufacturing is “an exciting story.” She noted that manufacturing is taking place in 43 states and Puerto Rico, and that for some solar products, domestic capacity is sufficient to meet domestic demand.
“There are gaps upstream, but upstream manufacturing buildout typically follows downstream build out,” said Jones.
According to SEIA, solar module manufacturing has grown from 8 GW prior to the federal manufacturing tax credits to 69.9 GW as of June 2026, which is an increase of more than 750%. In 2024, U.S. solar cell manufacturing was onshored for the first time since 2019, and SEIA reports that about 30 GW of manufacturing is now under construction.
While U.S. solar module manufacturing has seen steady growth since 2018, ingot, wafer and cell manufacturing has only just begun to rise. In a press conference last year, Scott Moskowitz, vice president of market strategy and industrial affairs at Qcells, said the company had invested over $3 billion to embrace the challenge of building out the entire supply chain on U.S. soil.
In addition to completing its vertically integrated solar manufacturing facility, Qcells has expanded its reach into other areas of the clean energy industry including recycling and energy storage.
The company’s first recycling operation, which is based in the Cartersville facility, is expected to have the ability to recycle approximately 250 MW of solar panels annually, or approximately 500,000 panels per year.
Qcell’s foray into energy storage, dubbed “Qcells New Homes,” is a new business division designed to provide builders with a turnkey solution for integrating solar and battery storage into new construction projects.
“With storage, EPC, and solar recycling also in our portfolio, we are far more than a panel company,” Moskowitz told pv magazine USA. “We are building the clean energy infrastructure this country needs.”
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MSolar Manufacturing, a Virginia-based manufacturer of solar panels, has announced plans to invest $23.775 million in a new solar manufacturing facility in Mount Jackson, Shenandoah County, Virginia. The 56,000-square-foot facility will support a vertically integrated production model covering solar glass, silicon cells, heterojunction (HJT) cells,and solar module assembly. The project is expected to create 150 new jobs in the region.  MSolar said the facility will manufacture more than 500,000 HJT solar panels annually for utility-scale and commercial projects across the United States. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Shenandoah County supported the project, while the Virginia Jobs Investment Program will assist with recruitment and workforce training. The company described the facility as the first step in expanding its domestic solar manufacturing platform.

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Solar module prices continued to rise across Europe in May, while buyer confidence recovered to its highest level since the start of the year, according to the latest market report from solar trading platform sun.store. 
The company’s latest PV Index found that the PV Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased to 70 in May from 66 in April, indicating stronger purchasing intentions among solar buyers following a brief slowdown last month. 
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The rebound came as module prices continued their upward trajectory across most technology categories, extending a trend that has persisted throughout 2026. 
According to the report, tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) bifacial modules reached an average price of €0.125/Wp (US$0.14/Wp) in May, up 7% month-on-month, while TOPCon monofacial modules remained unchanged at €0.122/Wp. 
Sun.store said that the increase in bifacial module pricing was partly driven by a shift towards larger-format modules exceeding 500W. 
Additionally, premium residential modules witnessed further gains. Full black modules rose 3% month-on-month to €0.128/Wp, while back contact modules increased 4% to €0.134/Wp, making them the highest-priced category tracked by the index. 
The report suggests that demand for higher-efficiency and premium residential products remains resilient despite rising equipment costs. 
Based on sales volume through the platform, Trina Solar overtook JA Solar to become the best-selling module supplier in May. LONGi, Jinko Solar and Canadian Solar rounded out the top five manufacturers. 
While module prices continued to increase, inverter pricing remained largely stable for a third consecutive month. Hybrid inverter prices for systems between 1kW and 15kW were unchanged at €95.34/kW, while larger hybrid systems declined 3% to €79.60/kW. 
String inverter pricing also showed limited movement, with systems between 1kW and 15kW remaining flat at €44.02/kW and larger systems increasing slightly by 2% to €27.68/kW. 
In the inverter rankings, Deye maintained its leading position in the hybrid inverter segment ahead of Huawei and GoodWe. In the string inverter category, Huawei reclaimed the top position from Sungrow after briefly losing the lead in April. 
The report’s PMI survey, based on responses from 1,101 Sun.store users, found that 49% of respondents planned to increase purchases over the coming months, while only 10% expected to reduce procurement activity. The share of buyers planning to cut purchases was the lowest recorded during the reporting period. 
According to the last report, the PMI fell from 68 to 66 despite continued price increases across most module categories. At the time, sun.store attributed the decline to a moderation in demand growth following what it described as an exceptionally strong first quarter. 
With both pricing and buyer sentiment moving higher in May, the report suggests the European solar market is entering the summer installation season with demand remaining robust despite higher module costs. 

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Aresearch group from China’s Shandong Police College has developed a novel soft chemical treatment to improve the efficiency of kesterite-structured copper–zinc–tin selenide (CZTSe) solar cells.
“At present, the mechanism of alkali metal treatment of kesterite solar cells still needs to be further studied,” the researchers explained. “Sodium (Na) or potassium (K) treatment can significantly boost the performance of thin-film solar cells. Alkali metal treatment can passivate the absorber surface, reduce grain-boundary defects, optimise crystal quality, and increase carrier concentration. The process of alkali metal treatment of the solar cell absorber layer also has a very important impact on the solar-cell device.”
With the proposed method, the absorber layer was prepared using a potassium fluoride (KF) solution.
The team fabricated the CZTSe solar cells on soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates coated with a molybdenum (Mo) back contact. Metallic copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and tin (Sn) precursor layers were deposited via magnetron sputtering and adjusted to a copper-poor, zinc-rich composition. The precursors were then immersed in KF solutions at concentrations of 0, 3, 6, or 9 mmol/L for 20 minutes, followed by drying at 80 C for 20 minutes.
Subsequently, the samples were selenized at 550 C in a selenium atmosphere to form the CZTSe absorber layer. The solar cells were completed by depositing a 50 nm cadmium sulfide (CdS) buffer layer, followed by intrinsic zinc oxide (i-ZnO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), and nickel/aluminum (Ni/Al) front contacts. The final device structure was SLG/Mo/CZTSe/CdS/i-ZnO/AZO/Ni:Al.
Following fabrication, the team characterized the devices using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), current density–voltage (J–V) measurements, external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements, and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. The results show that CZTSe performance improved with increasing KF concentration up to an optimum of 6 mmol/L. However, further increasing the KF concentration to 9 mmol/L led to performance degradation.
Specifically, the device treated with 6 mmol/L KF achieved an efficiency of 8.04%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.392 V, a short-circuit current density of 34.3 mA/cm², and a fill factor of 59.7%. These results compare with the reference device (without KF treatment), which showed values of 6.59%, 0.332 V, 33.7 mA/cm², and 58.8%.
To further understand the underlying mechanisms, the team used wxAMPS simulation software to study how interface defects and carrier density influence device performance. By varying these parameters, they found that reducing interface defects significantly improved efficiency and Voc by suppressing carrier recombination. In contrast, increasing carrier density was found to degrade device performance.
“It has been demonstrated that potassium can promote the growth of CZTSe grains during high-temperature selenization and reduce void formation during film growth,” the team concluded. “In addition, the soft KF treatment also provided an excess potassium source and effectively suppressed surface decomposition. In particular, it reduced the loss of Sn through the desorption of SnSe(g), resulting in an improved CdS/CZTSe interface.”
The proposed technique was presented in “Potassium processing interface engineering for carrier regulation of efficient CZTSe solar cells,” published in Materials Today Communications.
From pv magazine Global
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08 Jun 2026
Renewable energy will soon help power the operations of one of Glasgow’s best-known city-centre hotels, following a rooftop solar panel installation project. The Glasgow Marriott Hotel recently completed a multi-million pound refurbishment and investment continues as work is currently underway to install a new solar panel system.  Once operational, the six hundred solar modules installed by Sustain Commercial Solar will generate clean electricity to support the hotel’s day-to-day operations. The initiative will reduce its annual grid electricity demand by 11.4% and deliver a significant and measurable cut in operational carbon emissions of 35,812 kg per year. 
The installation is the latest step in the wider sustainability programme for the four-star deluxe Glasgow Marriott Hotel. As one of the first hotels in the city to achieve Green Key certification, a leading international environmental benchmark for tourism businesses, the Glasgow Marriott has already demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental standards. The hotel has also secured Gold Certification from The PLEDGE™ on Food Waste, using Winnow AI technology to track food waste in real time and improve kitchen efficiency.
Further initiatives introduced across the hotel include EV charging points in the car park, motion-sensor lighting throughout the building, water-conserving fixtures and the removal of single-use plastics, including plastic straws and stirrers, from all hotel operations. 
Glasgow Marriott also recently installed a voltage optimisation unit. This technology reduces and stabilises incoming grid voltage which ultimately improves energy efficiency, decreases carbon emissions, and extends the lifespan of electrical equipment throughout the hotel.
Chris McGuinness, General Manager of the Glasgow Marriott Hotel, said: “Sustainability is something our guests increasingly expect from the places they choose to stay, and it is something we are taking very seriously as a business. Installing solar panels is a practical step towards reducing our environmental impact while continuing to deliver the high standards of hospitality we’re known for and are proud to provide.
“Since the Marriott Hotel became a part of Glasgow’s skyline 40 years ago, the city has continued to attract global conferences, major sporting competitions and culturally significant international exhibitions. It is important for hotels to play their part in supporting the city’s reputation as a bustling, dynamic destination with plenty to offer, in a manner that sustainably supports the pursuit of further growth.”
Situated in the vibrant city centre, just off the M8, the award-winning Glasgow Marriott Hotel with over 300 bedrooms, extensive meeting facilities and premium food, beverage and leisure facilities, is a first-choice for commuters, corporate guests, and leisure travellers alike from Scotland and beyond. 
The solar PV installation project is being delivered with the hotel’s day-to-day operations fully protected throughout, ensuring no disruption to guests or staff during the installation process.
Nick Elbourne, Director at Sustain Commercial Solar, added: “The Glasgow Marriott presented a genuinely interesting installation, working across mixed roof elevations in a live city-centre hotel environment requires careful planning and tight coordination with the operations team. The result is a high-performance system that will deliver clean energy to this building for decades, and a real statement of intent from a major hospitality brand.”
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When we launched the “300 GW/a PV initiative” in September 2012—calling for 300 GW of annual global PV installations by 2025 and 200 GW of cumulative installed capacity in Germany—the global market was adding just 27 GW to 30 GW per year. The objective was intended to inspire and motivate the industry.
The outcome exceeded even those ambitions. The industry did not merely reach 300 GW of annual installations; it surpassed that milestone spectacularly, ending 2025 with 698 gigawatts of newly installed photovoltaic capacity.
Global installed PV capacity now stands at almost 3 TW. While it took nearly 40 years to reach the first terawatt, total capacity has tripled within just three years.
Germany has now reached 126 GW of installed PV capacity—almost 2.5 times the former 52 GW cap that remained in force until the summer of 2020. When that cap was introduced in 2012, Germany’s cumulative capacity stood at just 34 GW.
At that time, photovoltaics supplied around 4.5% of Germany’s electricity generation. By 2025, that share has risen to 16% to 16.9%. Nearly 6 million PV systems are now registered across the country. Of these, more than 1.3 million are balcony or plug-in solar systems—a market segment that was effectively nonexistent and unmeasured in 2012.
PV has become firmly embedded in German society. More than 15% of all households now actively generate electricity from the sun.
Germany alone installed more new PV capacity in 2025 than the entire European Union did in 2012. Yet the EU still falls far short of its financial and technical potential for annual PV deployment.
Today, new solar and wind projects can increasingly be developed without subsidies or special advantages. By contrast, new gas-fired power plants—and the few remaining nuclear projects—continue to depend on substantial public support and long-term policy privileges.
The year 2025 also marks another significant milestone. Thanks to the massive expansion of PV—equivalent to approximately 1.4 billion solar modules and generating electricity comparable to around 150 large nuclear power plants—global fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation declined for the first time despite overall growth in energy demand.
This represents a monumental achievement.
More has been accomplished than even the most ambitious advocates once promised. These successes should inspire both the next generation of “Burning Ambitions” and the continued effort to advance the ongoing electric revolution.
Several additional figures underline the pace of change in 2025:
Such extraordinary progress deserves reflection, lessons for today’s challenges, and new ideas for the next major leap forward.
On September 26, 2012, on a cloudy day in Frankfurt, the pv magazine/Solarpraxis initiative “300 GW/a PV initiative” was presented during EU PVSEC. Among those attending were then-Fraunhofer ISE Director Eike Weber and then-Reiner Lemoine Institute Managing Director Christian Breyer.
Against the backdrop of an extremely difficult year for the industry and a global market of only 27 GW to 30 GW, proposing a more than tenfold expansion generated both enthusiasm and skepticism. Some observers dismissed the vision as “crazy,” while others rejected it outright.
The German target of 200 GW of cumulative installed capacity was viewed by some industry representatives as particularly risky, with concerns that it might alarm policymakers.
Germany installed almost 8 GW in 2012, accounting for more than 25% of the global market. The EU installed over 16 GW, representing more than 60% of worldwide demand, while China added only about 3 GW that year.
By late summer 2012, concerns throughout the industry were profound. Across Europe, market support programs were being scaled back or terminated, while a major trade dispute with China was looming.
Many leading PV manufacturers had already gone bankrupt or were close to insolvency. At the same time, the German government failed to recognize the industrial and technological capabilities that the country had built.
The February 2012 amendment to the Renewable Energy Act—often referred to as the “EE Guillotine Amendment”—focused almost exclusively on reducing feed-in tariffs while overlooking the broader technological and industrial significance of the sector.
The result was an unprecedented wave of bankruptcies throughout the German solar industry. Germany’s position as a technological and industrial pioneer was severely weakened, and the consequences are still visible today.
What later became known as the “Altmaier dip” was already having devastating effects in 2012, with tens of thousands of jobs lost that year alone. Many affected companies—often small and medium-sized enterprises or craft businesses—disappeared quietly, attracting little attention from either politicians or the media.
Few moments in the history of the Federal Republic have seen a future-oriented technology suffer such a rapid setback due to a combination of strategic misjudgment and ideological policymaking.
Understanding this context is essential to understanding the atmosphere surrounding the solar industry in September 2012 and the long-term consequences of inadequate industrial policy.
Since then, China has consistently prioritized innovation and manufacturing scale. As a result, it now dominates the global solar industry. Our hope in 2012 was that global PV development would continue despite Germany’s policy mistakes and that the sector would not be derailed.
The 300 GW Initiative sought to communicate precisely that message: the industry had a bright future and was worth supporting despite its immediate challenges.
Another major factor influencing our “Burning Ambition” in 2012 was the state of battery technology.
Battery storage cost more than €1,000 ($1.154) per kWh, and no mass-produced electric vehicle could reliably deliver a driving range of 200 kilometers.
Today, virtually every mass-market EV exceeds that range, while battery prices have fallen by more than 90%. Large-scale manufacturing has driven rapid innovation while dramatically reducing costs.
Thirteen years ago, these developments were themselves considered unrealistic visions. In many cases, they attracted even more skepticism than our projections for solar deployment.
Consequently, even our own expectations for the future PV market were conservative compared with its true long-term potential. With affordable battery storage and continued reductions in module and cell costs, the market potential is measured not in hundreds but in several thousand gigawatts of annual installations.
What an extraordinary success.
The global energy market, at more than 170,000 TWh per year, is many times larger than today’s electricity market alone. The ongoing electric revolution seeks to serve that entire market sustainably and far more efficiently than current systems.
Against that backdrop, a new ambition could be 3 TW of annual global solar installations by 2035. Achieving that goal would require only a little more than a fourfold increase from the 698 GW installed in 2025—not the tenfold increase envisioned in 2012.
Battery storage and many other enabling technologies are now widely available, while costs continue to decline and efficiency continues to improve.
So why not set a new goal?
3,000 GW annually by 2035—make it happen.
Author: Karl-Heinz Remmers
Karl-Heinz Remmers was publisher of pv magazine from 2008 to 2015, before handing over to Eckhart Gouras. He is chief executive of PV service and product company Solarpraxis AG and has been active in the solar industry for almost three decades.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
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India’s solar paradox: How sunlight drives peak demand and provides a solution  Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
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Solar power capacity in India is now over 150 GW. This extraordinary success seems to be facing problems now. The system is unable to absorb all the solar power that can be generated. 23GWh of curtailment per day has been reported. Solar power is generated without any further cost and hence curtailment means loss of free electricity.
Have we been creating solar capacity faster than we needed to? Maybe we should slow down and give up the goal of creating 500 GW of fossil fuel free capacity by 2030. These doubts are occurring just when we seem well set to achieve the ambitious target announced by the Prime Minister. Many Discoms are reported to be reluctant to sign fresh PPAs for solar power after completion of the SECI bid process.
Solar power is generated only when the sun shines on a solar panel. For the remaining part of the day, the Discom needs to supply electricity from alternative sources. Traditionally, the Discoms have been entering into long term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) usually with thermal power plants. These plants have enough flexibility in generation to supply electricity to meet demand which on any day varies, more on some days and less on others.
Solar power has complete inflexibility in generation and therefore as its share grew, thermal power generation needed to become more flexible. But there are technical limits. Regulations require thermal plants to be able to bring down generation to 55% of full capacity. But if the share of solar power generation rises to levels during the day when thermal power plants reducing generation to 55% still results in supply exceeding demand, then grid stability is in danger and curtailment of solar generation becomes unavoidable.
Creating an integrated all India grid has been a major achievement; state grids becoming integrated into regional grids and then into the national grid.  Investments to increase transmission capacity follow the demand signal coming from new investment in generation and the destinations where the power generated would be consumed. The problem that is being seen flows from the fact that solar projects take less time, about a year and a half, to put up whereas transmission lines take longer, three to four years. So, some of the problems being experienced result from transmission capacity lagging behind. This is a solvable coordination issue.
From the Discom perspective there are two problems. As the transmission capacity created for solar projects is used only when the sun shines, real transmission costs have been rising. Then for supply of electricity outside solar hours, they have long term contracts for thermal power where they pay fixed charges irrespective of how much power they take. This makes the per unit cost of electricity rise as the capacity utilisation of a thermal plant goes down to accommodate the inflexible solar power generation in the day.
Create as much storage as possible; Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), PSPs (Pump Storage Projects), and Concentrated Solar Thermal Projects (CSPs) with storage. And all three together and as rapidly as possible. The good news is that the market discovered price of solar power with storage is now lower than new thermal power. On purely commercial considerations, new thermal plants need not be built to meet additional demand. But the quantity of storage capacity needs to rise manifold. As storage increases where there are large solar projects in states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, curtailment of solar power generation would end as it would be stored for supply in the evening. Further increase in storage would then enable thermal plants to generate at full capacity with generation in solar hours being stored to provide electricity at night and during peak demand hours. Storage thereafter would give confidence that reliable supply would be possible without contracting for new thermal capacity and giving the consumer cheaper electricity.
The Discoms need to contract for storage capacity. Battery prices are low. They get installed easily without needing much land in about a year. Discoms need to choose the optimal mix of sizes and locations and begin inviting a series of large bids individually as well as collectively through SECI. Depending on market response, the feasible pace of scaling up would emerge. Awarding contracts for 10, 000 MWhr initially would be a good beginning.
In PSPs electricity is used to pump water to a higher reservoir which is then allowed to fall and generate hydroelectric power when needed. River sites have been identified, and development of over 75 GW has been initiated. The Ministry of Power needs to work with the state governments to steer progress. Forest and other clearances could be given quickly using satellite and/or drone imagery to determine the number of trees, their species and on this basis, the money that the project developer has to pay. Off river PSPs require the creation of two reservoirs at different heights. These can be developed faster. The first off river PSP unit has been commissioned recently. The government should use satellite and drone imagery to identify sites and recover this cost from developers when sites are given.
CSPs use mirrors to reflect solar radiation to heat molten salt, the stored heat is used to generate steam and run a turbine to generate thermal power when needed. The areas adjacent to the large solar projects are ideal locations for CSPs. The transmission lines are already there, and their capacity utilisation would rise. The intention of developing, say, 10,000 MW of CSPs in phases may be announced and bidding initiated. The size of the market would get private investment to produce these special mirrors, reducing the cost of these projects substantially.
Rapid growth of solar power capacity now requires equally rapid growth of storage. Curtailment of solar power would end if we award large contracts for battery storage immediately. And begin development of PSPs and CSPs at full speed so that the need for new thermal power plants begins to end.

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In a ruling with national implications, the US District Court for the District of Columbia found that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner when it dictated that wind and solar power facilities were no longer eligible to use the 5% safe harbor method to lock in the tax credit in Notice 2025-42 (the Notice). The court vacated the Notice nationwide and sent it back to the IRS.
The effect of the ruling may be small, though, especially among risk-averse solar developers. David Burton, partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, told pv magazine USA, “Given the risk of it being overturned on appeal, most developers will be disinclined to rely on it.” He noted that he thought the opinion was well reasoned, the practical possibility of reversal was enough that developers would avoid relying on it outright.
Burton does suggest the ruling does give a strong backup value though if a developer has already spent 5% of the project’s costs in the already ongoing, ordinary course of business.
Those who filed the case argued that the IRS “failed to articulate a reasoned basis for the major policy change,” that it “arbitrarily singles out wind and certain solar projects for disfavored treatment without justification,” and that the IRS “entirely failed to consider serious reliance interests or evaluate alternative policy options when adopting the Notice.”
In the filing, Oregon Environmental Council v. Internal Revenue Service, the judge stated:
Taken together, these factors lead the Court to conclude that the Notice’s cursory explanation is insufficient to show the “path” that led the IRS to eliminate the Five Percent Safe Harbor for wind and large-scale solar projects, while leaving the Safe Harbor in place for other clean energy projects. See State Farm, 463 U.S. at 43 (quoting Bowman Transp., 419 U.S. at 286). Because the Defendants failed to articulate a reasoned explanation for this consequential decision or give due consideration to the serious reliance interests engendered by its prior policy, Notice 2025-42 is arbitrary and capricious.
The court’s five factors that were “taken together”, on pages 50-53, are as follows:
First, there was no explanation of the core premise. The Notice never explained how projects using the 5% safe harbor were “circumventing” the statutory cutoff or engaging in “artificial manipulation of eligibility”.
Second, there was no explanation for rejecting narrower alternatives. The Notice didn’t say why the IRS eliminated the safe harbor outright rather than adopting the targeted anti-circumvention measures commenters proposed.
Third, there was no explanation for singling out wind and large solar. The credits are technology-neutral, yet the Notice treated wind and large-scale solar differently from other clean energy technologies without explaining why. In fact, the court noted that multiple commenters had warned about the resulting regulatory fragmentation.
Fourth, litigation reasoning didn’t fill the required logic gap. The “stockpiling” rationale the IRS pressed in its briefs wasn’t in the Notice or the record, and “outsiders’ informed speculations are not a substitute for reasoned explanation.”
Finally, the record of actions contradicts the stated rationale. “A thorough review of the record undercuts the conclusion that the Defendants made a reasoned decision to eliminate the Five Percent safe harbor…based on concerns about stockpiling.” The Notice never explained why stockpiling concerns applied to wind and large solar but not to similarly situated projects using other technologies.
While Burton said many developers would be disinclined to take such risks, he did see a subset who could make use of the ruling. He pointed to projects larger than 1.5 MW — the cutoff to use the 5% safe harbor under the Notice — that “don’t require a master power transformer and don’t have the necessary permits to undertake on-site work,” whose developers he sees, “are scrambling to begin construction without the 5% safe harbor.” The ruling, Burton said, “allows those developers to use the 5% safe harbor and roll the dice on the appeal.”
As of the end of the day on June 6, the government had yet to file an appeal.
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The new pv magazine Global May issue is now available!
Mountains to climb
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Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
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We are participating in Intersolar 2026 again this year! Visit us at our Booth Hall 2 A2.250 to discuss the latest trends within the photovoltaic industry with the pv magazine team.
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From ESG to EBITDA: Indian Cement Makers Turn to Solar and Green Power to Protect Margins Photograph: (AI)
India’s leading cement manufacturers are increasingly turning to solar power, waste heat recovery systems (WHRS) and other renewable energy sources, not just to meet sustainability targets but also to strengthen profitability and reduce exposure to volatile fuel costs.
Recent earnings calls and sustainability disclosures from Ambuja Cements, Shree Cement and Sagar Cements indicate that renewable energy is becoming a core component of operational strategy, with companies investing aggressively in green power assets to lower energy costs and support long-term decarbonisation goals.
Among the three, Shree Cement has emerged as one of the frontrunners in renewable energy adoption. The company disclosed that the share of green electricity in its total power consumption increased to 61% in the March quarter of FY26, up from 59% a year earlier. Managing Director Neeraj Akhoury said, “The company’s share of green electricity in total electricity consumption stood at 61% in Q4 FY26, up from 59% in Q4 FY25,” adding that the company continues to ramp up its green power generation portfolio, which now stands at 666.5 MW.
The renewable push is also gaining momentum at Ambuja Cements, where management has identified green energy as a major source of future cost savings. During its earnings call, CEO Vinod Bahety said the company expects significant operational benefits from increasing renewable energy utilisation. “In terms of the green energy cost… which is going to see a substantial improvement further in our overall utilization. Therefore, I strongly believe ₹150 to ₹200 savings will come from these components,” he said.
Ambuja’s green power share reached 32% in Q4 FY26, compared with 26% previously, while the company has set a target of achieving 60% green power by FY28 as part of its broader decarbonisation strategy. The company has also accelerated investments in solar, wind and waste heat recovery projects to reduce its dependence on conventional energy sources.
Meanwhile, Sagar Cements is increasingly positioning renewable energy as a key profitability driver. Joint Managing Director Sreekanth Reddy told investors that the company expects margins to improve through a combination of WHRS, solar power and operational efficiencies. “We expect profitability to improve, supported by structural cost efficiency initiatives. This includes benefit from WHRS and increasing share of renewable energy through solar power,” he said.

The company recently commissioned 2.8 MW of waste heat recovery capacity and expects the balance 1.55 MW of its 4.35 MW WHRS project to become operational by the end of June.
The growing emphasis on renewable energy comes as power and fuel costs continue to account for a significant portion of cement production expenses. Industry executives increasingly view captive renewable generation and WHRS not only as sustainability initiatives but also as effective hedges against fluctuations in coal and petcoke prices.
The trend is also reflected in the companies’ long-term climate commitments. Sagar Cements has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, identifying renewable energy transition and waste heat recovery as key levers for reducing carbon emissions. Ambuja is pursuing a similar pathway through increased renewable energy deployment and lower-carbon production processes, while Shree Cement continues to expand one of the largest renewable power portfolios in the domestic cement sector.
With cement demand expected to remain supported by infrastructure spending and construction activity, industry participants believe renewable energy investments will increasingly influence both competitiveness and profitability. As companies seek to improve margins in a cyclical market, solar power, wind energy and waste heat recovery are rapidly moving from the periphery of corporate sustainability programmes to the centre of business strategy.
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The commitment of major technology companies to renewable electricity continues to drive new investments in the energy sector. In this context, Avangrid, Iberdrola’s subsidiary in the United States, has signed a new power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft for the Bluebird Solar project, a 140 MWdc (100 MWac) photovoltaic plant located in Washington state.
With this contract, both companies surpass 500 MW of jointly contracted energy capacity in the US market. The transaction strengthens a strategic relationship that has gained importance in recent years due to the increased demand for clean energy from technology companies seeking to support their sustainability goals.
The Bluebird Solar project represents a further step in Iberdrola’s expansion within one of its priority markets. Through Avangrid, the energy group continues to strengthen its image as a provider of renewable solutions for corporate clients requiring long-term supply contracts.
Furthermore, this new agreement makes Bluebird Solar the fourth project undertaken jointly by Avangrid and Microsoft. The collaboration includes solar and wind power developments promoted over the past few years, reflecting a shared strategy aimed at increasing the availability of emission-free electricity.
The increasing digitalization of the economy and the development of technological infrastructure are driving up the energy needs of large companies. As a result, PPAs have become a crucial tool for ensuring access to renewable energy with stable supply and predictable costs.
Microsoft is part of a growing group of companies turning to renewable energy contracts to support the growth of their operations. The expansion of data centers, digital platforms, and AI-based services is generating sustained demand for clean electricity in various markets.
In this context, Iberdrola and Avangrid aim to position themselves as strategic partners for long-term energy supply. The development of new photovoltaic and wind power projects allows them to meet the needs of the technology sector while promoting the transition to a lower-emission energy mix.
Likewise, this type of agreement favors the incorporation of new renewable capacity into the electrical system, contributing to energy diversification and the strengthening of the generation infrastructure in the United States.
As planned, Bluebird Solar will begin operations in 2028. Once operational, the project will bring new renewable generation capacity to Washington state and contribute to local economic development through investment, job creation, and tax revenue generation.
The initiative also reinforces Iberdrola’s growth strategy in North America, a region where the company continues to expand its project portfolio to meet the growing demand for renewable electricity from industries and large corporate consumers
Source and photo: Iberdrola
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India’s Solar Energy Capacity Additions Fall 2.7% In May: MNRE Data Photograph: (Archive)
India’s solar power capacity additions declined marginally in May 2026 from a year earlier, even as wind installations registered robust growth and overall renewable energy deployment continued to expand. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the country added 2.81 GW of solar capacity during May 2026, down 2.7% from 2.89 GW added in the corresponding month last year.
The slowdown in solar installations comes despite the sector maintaining its dominant position in India’s renewable energy mix. Solar accounted for nearly 88% of the 3.18 GW of renewable energy capacity added during the month, excluding large hydro projects.
In contrast, wind power additions rose sharply to 370.45 MW in May 2026 from 233.7 MW a year ago, reflecting a year-on-year increase of around 58.5%. As a result, total renewable energy capacity additions excluding large hydro stood at 3.18 GW in May 2026, marginally higher than the 3.12 GW added during May 2025.
Including large hydro projects, India’s total renewable energy capacity addition reached 3.48 GW during May 2026, comprising 2.81 GW of solar, 370.45 MW of wind and 300 MW of large hydro capacity. For the first two months of FY27, India added 8.05 GW of renewable energy capacity, comprising 6.79 GW of solar, 712.2 MW of wind and 550 MW of large hydro capacity, according to the ministry’s data.
India’s cumulative renewable energy capacity reached 282.75 GW as of May 31, 2026, while total non-fossil fuel installed capacity stood at 291.53 GW, including 8.78 GW of nuclear power. Solar power continued to dominate the country’s clean energy portfolio with cumulative installed capacity touching 157.05 GW. Of this, 118.79 GW came from ground-mounted projects, 27.88 GW from grid-connected rooftop systems, 4.06 GW from hybrid projects and 6.31 GW from off-grid installations.
Wind power capacity stood at 56.81 GW, while large hydro capacity reached 51.96 GW, including 7.43 GW of pumped storage projects. The latest figures indicate that while solar installations remain the primary driver of renewable energy growth, monthly additions have moderated compared with last year’s pace, increasing the importance of stronger contributions from wind and other clean energy segments to sustain India’s renewable energy expansion trajectory.
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The latest West Asia conflict has exposed the risks of heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels. Renewable energy, battery storage and EVs are increasingly being seen as a means for energy security. India must strengthen domestic manufacturing, secure critical raw materials, and deepen technology partnerships to reduce renewable supply chain risks.
June 09, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey

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Qualitas Energy continues to expand its presence in North America with the acquisition of a photovoltaic solar project in the development phase located in Illinois. The facility will have a planned capacity of 164 MWp and will strengthen the company’s growth strategy in one of the most dynamic renewable markets in the United States.
The asset was acquired from Bechtel Enterprises and is located within the market managed by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), a key region for the development of new renewable capacity due to its energy demand and commercialization opportunities.
Currently, the project has full site control and the required permits to advance to the next development stages. It has also received strong support from the local community and unanimous approval during the county permitting process.
According to the planned schedule, the Notice to Proceed (NTP) is expected in the second quarter of 2028. Subsequently, commercial operation date (COD) is scheduled for the third quarter of 2029.
The combination of an advanced development status and a favorable position within the regional electricity grid reduces technical and regulatory risks during the pre-construction phases.
One of the most relevant elements of the project is the possibility of integrating up to 64 MWac of battery storage capacity.
This future incorporation would allow for the development of hybrid solar and storage solutions capable of improving the asset’s operational flexibility. Furthermore, it would open the door to structuring combined power purchase agreements (PPAs), a modality increasingly demanded by corporate consumers and large buyers of renewable electricity.
The incorporation of storage systems would also contribute to optimizing the management of generated energy and strengthening the project’s long-term revenues.
The site has a favorable interconnection position within the MISO market, a factor that increases its commercial attractiveness.
Thanks to its proximity to distribution centers in Minnesota and Illinois, the project will be able to access various customer segments. These include industrial companies, large utilities, electricity traders, and public renewable energy procurement programs.
This diversity of potential buyers offers multiple alternatives for the future commercialization of the energy produced.
The operation was carried out through Qualitas Energy Fund VI, the investment vehicle launched by the company at the end of 2025.
With over 14 billion euros invested in the energy transition since 2006, Qualitas Energy maintains a global portfolio of approximately 11 GW of renewable assets in operation and development. Its activity spans technologies such as photovoltaic solar energy, wind energy, energy storage, hydroelectric energy, concentrated solar power, and renewable natural gas.
Alejandro Ciruelos, Partner at Qualitas Energy in the United States, noted that the acquisition reflects the firm’s ability to identify renewable assets with strong fundamentals and growth opportunities in markets with high development potential.
The transaction was advised by Norton Rose Fulbright on legal matters, Sargent & Lundy on technical aspects, and Leo Berwick on financial and tax areas.
Source and photo: Qualitas Energy
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Maharashtra Urja Expo 2026 Powers India’s Clean Energy Momentum with Industry Recognition, Innovation & Collaboration  SolarQuarter
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Halocell Energy has been awarded an AUD 606,680 ($428,000) grant under the Australian government’s Industry Growth Program to expand its perovskite PV manufacturing capabilities, upgrade equipment and grow operations at its production facility at Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.
The project is expected to boost production of the company’s indoor perovskite PV modules from 7,000 to 100,000 units per annum.
Halocell, which produces lightweight and flexible PV modules optimised for low-light conditions, said the funding will enable it to upgrade its Wagga Wagga manufacturing facility with advanced roll‑to‑roll manufacturing equipment and optimise production processes. The grant will also support expansion of Halocell’s engineering and operations workforce.
“This funding will help us scale production of our next-generation perovskite photovoltaic modules for high-value markets,” the company said.
Halocell said its modules are designed for high-value applications requiring high power density, low-light performance and radiation tolerance.
“Our lightweight, flexible modules deliver industry-leading power density, broad-spectrum performance, including superior output in low-light and cloudy conditions, and strong radiation tolerance, making them ideal for demanding applications were reliability and efficiency matter most,” it said.
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According to the latest IndexBox report on the global POE Encapsulant Films market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The global market for Polyolefin Elastomer (POE) encapsulant films is a critical and dynamic segment within the advanced materials and renewable energy ecosystems. As of the 2026 analysis, this market is characterized by robust growth driven primarily by the relentless global expansion of photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing and installation. POE films have secured a vital position as the encapsulant of choice for high-performance and durable solar panels, particularly in demanding environmental conditions. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the market’s current state, its intricate supply chains, and the competitive forces at play. The transition towards more efficient and longer-lasting solar modules, including the rapid adoption of bifacial and heterojunction technology (HJT) cells, has fundamentally altered material requirements, favoring POE’s superior properties. This shift, coupled with the overarching global imperative for energy security and decarbonization, creates a stable, long-term demand foundation. The market outlook to 2035 is shaped by technological evolution, geographic shifts in manufacturing, and the continuous pursuit of cost optimization and supply chain resilience among both film producers and module manufacturers. This analysis synthesizes data on production capacities, trade flows, price determinants, and strategic activities of key industry participants. It aims to equip stakeholders with a granular understanding of the factors that will influence market trajectories, investment decisions, and competitive positioning over the next decade. The convergence of energy policy, technological innovation, and industrial strategy makes the POE encapsulant film market a focal point for understanding the material inputs behind the global
The baseline scenario for the POE encapsulant films market from 2026 to 2035 points to sustained expansion, underpinned by structural shifts in solar module technology and global renewable energy targets. By 2035, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.5%, with the market index reaching 215 relative to 2025. This growth is supported by the increasing penetration of bifacial modules, which require POE films for their superior transparency and moisture resistance compared to traditional EVA. Additionally, the rise of heterojunction (HJT) and TOPCon cell architectures, which are sensitive to moisture and potential-induced degradation (PID), further drives demand for high-performance POE encapsulants. On the supply side, capacity expansions by major film extruders in Asia-Pacific and North America are aligning with demand, while resin producers are developing tailored POE grades to enhance cross-linking and UV stability. However, the market faces headwinds from price volatility in polyolefin feedstocks and competition from lower-cost EVA alternatives in price-sensitive segments. Regulatory support for solar energy in Europe, China, and the US, along with corporate renewable procurement, provides a stable demand floor. The outlook assumes no major disruptions in trade flows or technology breakthroughs that would displace POE, though advancements in encapsulation alternatives like thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO) are monitored. Overall, the market is set for steady growth, with demand accelerating toward 2035 as module efficiency and durability requirements intensify.
The photovoltaic solar module segment accounts for the largest share of POE encapsulant film demand, driven by the global build-out of utility-scale solar farms and distributed rooftop systems. As of 2026, module manufacturers are increasingly specifying POE films for bifacial and high-efficiency panels to meet warranty requirements of 25-30 years. The shift from EVA to POE is most pronounced in modules using heterojunction (HJT) and TOPCon cells, which are sensitive to moisture and PID. By 2035, demand from this segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8-9%, supported by falling module prices and rising energy yields. Key demand-side indicators include global solar PV additions (targeting 500 GW annually by 2030), module efficiency benchmarks, and warranty claim rates. The mechanism is clear: as module performance requirements tighten, POE’s superior volume resistivity and UV stability become non-negotiable for premium products. Current trend: Dominant and growing, driven by utility-scale and rooftop solar installations.
Major trends: Increasing adoption of bifacial modules in utility-scale projects, Integration of POE films with multi-busbar and shingled cell designs, Development of ultra-thin POE films to reduce material costs, and Rising demand for anti-PID and high-volume resistivity films in humid climates.
Representative participants: LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd, Trina Solar Co., Ltd, Canadian Solar Inc, First Solar Inc, and Hanwha Q Cells Co., Ltd.
BIPV applications represent a fast-growing segment for POE encapsulant films, as architects and builders seek durable, visually appealing solar solutions that replace conventional building materials. POE films are favored for their transparency and color stability, enabling custom-colored or patterned modules that blend with facades and roofs. The segment is driven by stricter building energy codes in Europe and North America, as well as corporate sustainability goals. By 2035, BIPV demand for POE films is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12-14%, albeit from a small base. Key indicators include green building certifications (LEED, BREEAM), BIPV product launches, and government mandates for net-zero buildings. The mechanism involves POE’s ability to maintain optical clarity and adhesion under thermal cycling and UV exposure, critical for long-term building aesthetics and performance. Current trend: Rapidly growing niche, driven by green building regulations and aesthetic integration.
Major trends: Integration of POE films with colored and textured glass for architectural harmony, Development of lightweight BIPV modules for retrofit applications, Rising adoption of solar roof tiles with POE encapsulation for durability, and Collaboration between film manufacturers and building material suppliers.
Representative participants: Tesla Inc, Onyx Solar Group LLC, Solaria Corporation, AGC Inc, Saint-Gobain S.A, and Ertex Solartechnik GmbH.
Automotive solar roofs are an emerging application for POE encapsulant films, as electric vehicle manufacturers integrate photovoltaic panels to extend range and power auxiliary systems. POE films are preferred for their flexibility, UV resistance, and ability to conform to curved vehicle surfaces. The segment is currently small but poised for rapid growth as EV production scales and solar roof options become standard in premium models. By 2035, demand from this segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15-18%, driven by EV sales targets and consumer demand for energy autonomy. Key indicators include EV production volumes, solar roof adoption rates in new models, and automotive durability testing standards. The mechanism relies on POE’s ability to withstand thermal cycling, vibration, and UV exposure in automotive environments, ensuring long-term performance without delamination. Current trend: Emerging segment with high growth potential, driven by electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Major trends: Integration of POE films with curved and lightweight solar panels for EVs, Development of high-efficiency solar cells for automotive applications, Partnerships between automakers and solar film manufacturers, and Rising focus on vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) for commercial fleets.
Representative participants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Sono Motors GmbH, Lightyear (Atlas Technologies B.V.), and Hanergy Thin Film Power Group.
Portable solar chargers represent a niche but stable segment for POE encapsulant films, catering to outdoor enthusiasts, emergency preparedness, and off-grid applications. POE films are used in flexible, lightweight solar panels that can be rolled or folded for portability. The segment benefits from increasing consumer interest in sustainable outdoor gear and the need for reliable power in remote areas. By 2035, demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6-8%, supported by rising disposable incomes and outdoor recreation trends. Key indicators include sales of portable solar products, camping and RV market growth, and disaster relief spending. The mechanism involves POE’s flexibility and durability, which allow for repeated bending and exposure to outdoor elements without cracking or yellowing. Current trend: Steady growth, driven by outdoor recreation and off-grid power needs.
Major trends: Development of ultra-lightweight and foldable POE-based solar panels, Integration with power banks and USB charging systems, Rising demand for solar chargers in humanitarian and military applications, and Use of recycled materials in portable solar product manufacturing.
Representative participants: Goal Zero LLC, Anker Innovations Limited, Renogy LLC, Jackery Inc, EcoFlow Technologies Co., Ltd, and SunPower Corporation.
Agricultural solar panels, or agrivoltaic systems, are an emerging segment where POE encapsulant films are used in panels designed for installation above crops or grazing land. These panels require high durability and UV resistance to withstand agricultural environments, including dust, humidity, and chemical exposure. POE films are preferred for their moisture barrier properties and long-term reliability. The segment is driven by policies promoting dual-use land management and the need for renewable energy in rural areas. By 2035, demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10-12%, supported by agrivoltaic pilot projects and government incentives. Key indicators include agrivoltaic installed capacity, crop yield studies, and agricultural land use policies. The mechanism involves POE’s ability to maintain transparency and adhesion under continuous outdoor exposure, ensuring consistent energy generation while allowing light transmission for crop growth. Current trend: Niche but growing, driven by dual-use land policies and food-energy nexus.
Major trends: Development of semi-transparent POE films for optimized light transmission, Integration with tracking systems to balance energy and crop needs, Rising adoption in water-scarce regions for combined irrigation and power, and Collaboration between solar developers and agricultural research institutions.
Representative participants: Next2Sun GmbH, SunAgri (Sun’Agri SAS), Enel Green Power S.p.A, BayWa r.e. AG, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd, and Trina Solar Co., Ltd.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Asia-Pacific leads the POE encapsulant films market, driven by massive solar module manufacturing in China, India, and Southeast Asia. China alone accounts for over 70% of global PV production, with POE adoption accelerating in bifacial and HJT modules. The region benefits from low-cost resin supply and government renewable targets, with demand expected to grow at a CAGR of 8-9% through 2035. Direction: Dominant and growing.
North America is a significant market, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and reshoring of solar manufacturing. POE films are increasingly used in utility-scale projects requiring high durability. The US and Canada are expanding domestic film extrusion capacity, with demand growing at a CAGR of 7-8% as module quality standards rise. Direction: Steady growth.
Europe’s market is driven by ambitious renewable energy targets and BIPV adoption. Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands are key consumers, with POE films favored for premium residential and commercial installations. Demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6-7%, supported by green building regulations and corporate sustainability commitments. Direction: Moderate growth.
Latin America is an emerging market, with Brazil and Chile leading solar deployment. POE film demand is growing as utility-scale projects adopt bifacial modules for high-irradiance regions. Infrastructure challenges and import tariffs pose constraints, but demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9-10% through 2035. Direction: Emerging growth.
The Middle East and Africa are niche markets, with solar projects concentrated in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and South Africa. POE films are used in desert installations requiring high UV and heat resistance. Demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10-12%, driven by large-scale solar parks and off-grid solutions. Direction: Niche but expanding.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 8.5% compound annual growth rate for the global poe encapsulant films market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 215 by 2035 (2025=100).
Note: indexed curves are used to compare medium-term scenario trajectories when full absolute volumes are not publicly disclosed.
For full methodological details and benchmark tables, see the latest IndexBox POE Encapsulant Films market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the POE Encapsulant Films market in the World, including market size, structure, key trends, and forecast. The study highlights demand drivers, supply constraints, and competitive dynamics across the value chain.
The analysis is designed for manufacturers, distributors, investors, and advisors who require a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers Polyolefin Elastomer (POE) encapsulant films, which are specialized polymer sheets used primarily as critical encapsulating and protective layers in photovoltaic modules. The coverage includes films differentiated by key functional properties such as cross-linking capability, volume resistivity, UV resistance, and anti-Potential Induced Degradation (PID) performance. The analysis spans the material’s role in protecting solar cells from environmental stress and electrical insulation throughout the product lifecycle.
The market for POE encapsulant films is classified through a multi-dimensional framework. Segmentation is analyzed by product type, focusing on key performance variants such as cross-linked, UV-resistant, and anti-PID films. Application segmentation covers the diverse end-uses across the solar energy sector, from utility-scale modules to specialized BIPV and automotive applications. Furthermore, the report examines the value chain, tracking the market from polyolefin resin and additive suppliers through film extrusion and finally to solar module assembly and project development.
World
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
Major supplier for PV modules
Specialist in EVA and POE films
Key in-house and merchant supplier
Known for advanced POE formulations
POE film technology developer
Key Asian supplier
Develops POE for electronics & PV
Part of Toyo Aluminium group
Domestic market leader
Focus on dual-glass modules
Rapidly expanding capacity
Supplies domestic PV industry
Part of larger chemical group
Historical player, advanced materials
Advanced adhesive films portfolio
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The SNEC 2026 solar PV and energy storage exhibition in Shanghai, China, became the focal point for product unveilings and demonstrations by major industry participants. Held from 3-5 June at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center, the event drew estimated crowds in the hundreds of thousands, solidifying its status as China’s premier trade fair and the largest globally.
In prior years, certain enterprises deliberately opted to debut flagship offerings at international gatherings like RE+ in the United States, Intersolar/ees Europe, and the publisher’s own Energy Storage Summit series. Although this pattern is anticipated to persist given market developments, SNEC continues to serve as a crucial venue for technology vendors seeking visibility.
Given its roots and primary emphasis on solar PV, it comes as no surprise that, in addition to dedicated energy storage and battery firms, the dominant players in China’s solar sector leverage this occasion to highlight their escalating focus on battery energy storage system technologies.
The foremost lithium-ion OEM globally provided initial insights into the technical details of its upcoming sodium-ion BESS product line. CATL’s sodium-ion BESS container is slated for its debut mass shipments in the third quarter of 2026. Adopting the conventional 20-foot container footprint typical of Li-ion BESS units, this product delivers 3.07MWh of energy storage and weighs roughly 47 tonnes. CATL asserted a cycle life of 15,000 cycles at 25 degrees Celsius, decreasing to 9,000 cycles at 45 degrees Celsius, claiming this represents an 80% performance improvement over Li-ion under elevated temperatures. Its 316Ah Na-ion cell, also presented at SNEC 2026, integrates seamlessly with the company’s current 587Ah lithium iron phosphate system framework, encompassing container and module design, battery management system communication, and power conversion system compatibility.
BESS-focused Li-ion manufacturer Hithium introduced its 8-hour native long-duration energy storage system, the Power 6.9MWh BESS, at the expo, alongside the debut of its Cell 650Ah large-capacity storage battery and a 10+MWh variant of Power. The firm stated that these products, engineered specifically for LDES uses and initially launched in late 2025, address market needs for economical, secure, dependable, and mass-producible options. Hithium identified LDES as a key strategic focus. Within the standard 20-foot ISO container format, the Power system incorporates a 1300Ah cell developed by Hithium. Engineered for a 25-year operational lifespan, this solution can be arranged in side-by-side or back-to-back layouts. Beyond displaying its complete product lineup, including 1175Ah and 587Ah cells, 2-4-hour Li-ion BESS versions, and a 1MWh Na-ion BESS, Hithium also finalized a 1GWh, three-year strategic collaboration agreement at SNEC 2026 with DSS Solar, a Vietnamese provider of residential, commercial, and industrial energy solutions.
After its comparatively recent move into the energy storage sector and the acquisition of system integrator PotisEdge, solar PV heavyweight LONGi attended SNEC 2026 to promote its solar-plus-storage initiative, LONGi ONE. The concept aims to deliver an integrated offering to clients, minimizing dependence on sourcing from various vendors and thereby reducing complexity and potential efficiency losses in system design and project implementation. The LONGi ONE lineup encompasses utility-scale, C&I, and microgrid BESS solutions along with PCS technology. The company claimed its OneBank 2.0 and OneMatrix 2.0 utility BESS products attain 93% round-trip efficiency, while cluster-level management boosts lifetime energy throughput. These systems can also achieve 99% availability, according to a LONGi statement. Furthermore, its C&I solution, Hi-MO One, boosted onsite solar utilization by 30% in a recent Chinese project, LONGi stated. The comprehensive integration also offers clients a single point of accountability, a frequent challenge for developers.
Vertically integrated battery producer and BESS technology firm EVE Energy, mirroring others, displayed a high-energy-density 20-foot BESS unit. Alongside its current Mr Big series of BESS enclosures, this new product promises over 6.9MWh of energy capacity within the same footprint. EVE indicated that cell-to-pack integration allows its Li-ion BESS to exceed 10,000 cycles, supported by multiple fire safety layers. Additionally, during the event, the company announced it had inked agreements totaling more than 67GWh. These deals were made with Chinese entities Shanghai Power Electronics, Jiangsu Vertrans Energy Technology, Zhejiang Savant Digital Technology, Tianjin RY Energy, and Brazilian firm Genesis Energia e Technologia.
Battery and BESS manufacturer Rept Battero, besides featuring soccer star Ivan Cordoba at the expo to commemorate its partnership with Italian club Inter Milan, unveiled its new Na-ion cell. Rept Battero’s 320Ah sodium-ion variant of its Wending battery cell targets large-scale BESS applications. The company asserted that the Wending 320Ah can achieve 20,000 cycles and sustain energy efficiency of 97% or more during charge-discharge cycles. The firm also presented a new 85Ah high-power lithium-ion cell, tailored for backup power and peak shaving needs of artificial intelligence data centers. This cell supports a 10C maximum continuous discharge rate with a cycle life exceeding 60,000 cycles and has passed thermal runaway, needle penetration, and other safety assessments.
Primarily recognized for its module-level solar inverters, Hoymiles, akin to LONGi, exhibited products for the solar-plus-storage market at SNEC 2026. Hoymiles launched the HoyPrime AC 6.126MWh AC container, along with its other utility-scale, C&I, residential, and DIY energy storage offerings. HoyPrime consolidates batteries, PCS-level controls, and system-level energy management into a single platform. The company stated that its factory pre-assembly and pre-commissioning streamline on-site installation and cut commissioning times while maintaining product quality uniformity. For the C&I sector, Hoymiles showcased its C&I all-in-one BESS solutions, including a DC-coupled model. Additional products featured a grid-forming PCS for solar in weak-grid settings, balcony solar kits, and a residential all-in-one battery system.
GCL System Integration Technology introduced a mobile solar PV storage solution, the EcoPower Mate, for its initial public display. Targeting off-grid markets such as mining and heavy industry in remote areas, GCL SI claimed it can supply on-site power at a notably lower cost than comparable diesel generation and backup capacity.
Electric vehicle charging and BESS solutions provider StarCharge presented its new solid-state transformer. This SST enables medium-voltage direct connection and six-way power output, which StarCharge stated enhances conversion efficiency for heavy-duty EV charging stations, utility-scale BESS, and data centers. StarCharge’s product range also included liquid-cooled EV charging solutions, a 960kW integrated solar-plus-storage charging system, and its own 6.25MWh BESS container utilizing 587Ah battery packs. The company also revealed a renewable energy, virtual power plant, and investment partnership with Australian renewable energy product distributor SolarJuice during the expo.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the lithium-ion accumulator industry in China, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the lithium-ion accumulator landscape in China.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for China. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
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Qcells has just begun manufacturing solar cells at its new factory in Cartersville, Georgia, the company announced today. It already produces solar modules there.
The company won’t be producing only solar cells and modules at the factory, though. It is going to be a vertically integrated production facility for solar modules.
“Qcells’ Cartersville facility will add 3.3 GW of vertically integrated ingot, wafer, cell, and 3.5 GW of module capacity when fully operational,” the company writes. “Qcells’ total U.S. output will hit 8.6 GW by the end of the Q3 2026, approximately the energy needed to power roughly 1.3 million American homes for a year.”
If this sounds unusual to you, that’s because it is. The company adds that this is going to be the first (“and only”) manufacturing facility in the United States to produce these various components of a solar PV module (ingot, wafer, cell, and module). “Cartersville will be the first and only U.S. factory to produce the major parts of a solar photovoltaic module under one roof, from ingot to finished panel.” The company can claim tax credits for each of these parts and the panel as a whole.
Remember that the Biden administration got large subsidies in place for producing solar panels as well as solar PV components in the US, and these have actually survived the various Trump administration attacks on pro-cleantech policies. Having all of this production in one spot must make for very competitive products from Qcells.
“Qcells customers will benefit from both an easier path to qualifying for the domestic content tax credit and greater supply certainty for their projects,” the company shares. That’s a 10% domestic content bonus under the Investment Tax Credit. “Because the major components of each module are made domestically, customers can pursue qualifying projects with greater confidence on pricing, supply and sourcing. With demand for fully domestic solar equipment growing, Qcells expects strong interest in Cartersville-produced modules.”
The company is already at full module production at the factory. It is able to produce 16,700 solar PV modules a day there.
When full solar cell production is achieved in the fall of this year, this will be the largest solar cell production facility in the history of the United States. It will also become the biggest ingot and wafer production facility in the country.
“With cells in production, the factory will scale fast: by Q3 2026, Cartersville will make 3.3 GW each of ingots, wafers, cells, and 3.5 GW of modules a year. Together with the expanded Dalton factory, which tripled module capacity to 5.1 GW in late 2023, Qcells’ total module capacity in Georgia will reach 8.6 GW a year, or 47,000 panels a day, approximately the energy needed to power roughly 1.3 million U.S. homes for a year,” Qcells writes. “The Cartersville investment is also bringing thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs to Northwest Georgia. Together with the expanded Dalton campus, Qcells’ Georgia operations are expected to employ nearly 4,000 people — an estimated 3,800 direct jobs across Bartow and Whitfield Counties.”
The solar power industry is alive and well in the United States. Kudos to Qcells for pushing it along.
Also see: “US Clean Energy Can Now Power ~80 Million Homes!“
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Page County board hears solar project update  KMAland.com
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Meta and Zelestra are expanding their fast-growing US solar partnership with yet another Texas project as the tech giant’s electricity demand continues to climb.
The two companies announced a new power purchase agreement (PPA) for the 180 MW Palmera Solar Plant in Freestone County, Texas. The new Texas project comes as Zelestra ramps up work on two other Meta-backed solar farms already under construction: the 176 MW Skull Creek Solar Plant in Anderson County, Texas, and the 200 MW Reclamation Solar Project in Gibson County, Indiana.
Together, the Skull Creek and Reclamation projects are expected to support around 400 jobs during peak construction. They’ll join the 81 MW Jasper County Solar Project in Indiana, which recently came online as the first completed project in the partnership.
Meta and Zelestra now have agreements covering roughly 1.4 GW of solar capacity across eight US projects, all expected to be online by 2028.
The Skull Creek project in Texas is expected to create around 200 jobs at peak construction and generate an estimated $8.2 million in local economic impact in Anderson County. The solar farm will use around 400,000 bifacial solar panels. McCarthy Building Companies will serve as the lead EPC contractor for the project.
The Reclamation Solar Project in Indiana is being built on reclaimed former coal mining land. It’s expected to support around 200 jobs during peak construction and will include roughly 325,000 US-made bifacial solar modules.
Zelestra says the Indiana project will also focus on soil restoration, native vegetation growth, and biodiversity improvements. Qcells will provide both the solar modules and engineering, procurement, and construction services for the project.
The company says its projects are designed to help meet growing electricity demand from hyperscalers and large corporate customers like Meta.
Arlington, Virginia-headquartered Zelestra says it currently has a development pipeline of around 15 GW across major US markets.
Read more: A $900M Texas solar mega-farm will power Meta’s data centers
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The global solar tracker market increased 19% year-on-year in 2025 with more than 134 GWdc of equipment shipping, according to analysis by Wood Mackenzie. The result is a record year for global tracker shipments, outperforming the 111 GWdc from 2024.
US-based Nextpower maintained its top global position for the eleventh straight year, with its core tracker business growing to nearly 40 GWdc of shipments globally.
US’s Gamechange Energy, China’s Archtech Solar, US’s Array Technologies and Spain’s PV Hardware rounded out the top five worldwide, representing the same group as the previous two years.
Wood Mackenzie’s analysis says Gamechange Energy enjoyed a particularly strong year for shipments to India and Africa, the latter of which it says its the fastest growing region for tracker demand. Arctech’s performance last year was highlighted by success in Saudi Arabia, which surpassed Spain as the third largest tracker market. 
The US domestic tracker demand rebounded by more than 25% compared to 2024, surpassing 40 GWdc of shipments for the first time. Nextpower extended its market share above 50% in the US, widening its gap over Array Technologies and Gamechange. Together, these three companies account for nearly 90% of the entire US solar tracker market.
Joe Shangraw, Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, says the US market remains uniquely important to the top American vendors.
“Not only is the revenue-per-watt significantly higher than international averages, but the US is the epicenter for tracker innovation in this current era of mergers and acquisitions activity, smart software and expanded product offerings,” Shangraw said. “Success in the US is the best tool for global expansion.”
Europe’s tracker market also grew last year, reaching a new shipment record of 25 GWdc. Valencia-headquartered Axial captured the highest market share in Europe, Wood Mackenzie says, thanks to its key markets in EU countries, such as Italy, where funding its being used to support dual land use projects.
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California-based independent power producer (IPP) Pathway Power has raised $150 million in debt funding to support the late-stage development and construction of its United States BESS portfolio.
Led by AB CarVal, the funding will cover interconnection, power purchase agreements (PPAs), equipment deposits, and other project costs.
Pathway Power has been in business since 2022 and focuses primarily on hybrid and energy storage projects. Its current pipeline comprises 13 hybrid and battery energy storage (BESS) projects totaling approximately 3.2 GW (AC) across the United States.
The company’s CEO, Jam Attari, said the IPP is pleased to collaborate with AB CarVal as its facility lender.
“Their deep expertise in renewable energy finance and confidence in our pipeline are meaningful validation of our project fundamentals and approach to building clean energy capacity. We look forward to putting that capital to work,” said Attari.
AB CarVal has deployed more than $4.5 billion in energy transition investments since 2017. It has around $22 billion in assets under management.
“We believe Pathway’s strong pipeline of hybrid solar and energy-storage assets are set to provide generation and grid stability in critical regional transmission organizations (RTOs),” said Alex Flamm, managing director with AB CarVal.
These RTOs include the Southwest Power Pool, MISO, California ISO, PJM, and ERCOT.
Flamm added that the financing will support the projects as they address load growth in these congested markets from data centers and reshoring.
“We look forward to seeing these projects break ground in the coming months,” the managing director said.
Meanwhile, on June 2, Google announced it signed a three-year deal with Voltus to unlock up to 100 MW of electricity capacity to power its data centers in the PJM region, home to the data center capital of the world.
The deal will see Voltus leverage batteries and smart thermostats to provide a virtual power plant (VPP) service.
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Global solar portfolios are increasingly producing fragmented and incomplete data, which can impact project performance and financial returns.
Research from Sandia National Laboratories – one of the US Department of Energy’s network of research labs – shows a broad range of inconsistencies and a lack of standardised processes across data collection and sharing in solar PV portfolios. The laboratory said that the PV industry “lacks clear and consistent understanding of PV operations software” and their impact on performance and monitoring.
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The study assessed 24 software providers with 1.1TW of installed utility-scale and corporate & industrial (C&I) solar capacity across 115,000 sites. It identified a series of key takeaways, including some related to publicly available, shareable plant performance data.
58.3% of the sites in the assessment were in North America, with 25% in Europe and the rest in Asia and Africa.
The research found that while 70% of platforms offer public APIs (programmes that allow data to be shared between two applications or sites), 30% still place restrictions and costs on data export, demonstrating that interoperability and data accessibility challenges still persist across the industry.
Sandia National Laboratories said the findings follow the “rapid” expansion of the solar operations software market and global solar PV deployments themselves.
These operations platforms are managing ever larger and more diverse portfolios of solar assets, with bigger pools of data across different countries. There is also a diversification of suppliers and manufacturers with different product specifications and performance criteria.
“The solar industry has scaled at an unprecedented rate, leading to operators managing more assets, systems and data than ever before,” said Alon Mashkovich, CEO & co-founder of enSights, one of the energy monitoring companies involved in Sandia Labs’ research.
“All of this has led to a fragmented data landscape that makes it increasingly difficult for operators to gain a clear understanding of portfolio performance, ultimately limiting their ability to maximise returns and realise the full value of their assets.”
He continued: “The data accessibility issue and array of different performance KPI definitions are only compounding the data fragmentation challenge, at a time when operators are under increasing pressure to optimise portfolio performance and returns.
 “By removing these barriers, we will be able to enable operators to obtain a clear, transparent view of their portfolios that will enable better decisions, stronger performance and greater confidence in the data that drives them.”
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Solar farm nearly the size of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport could come to southwest suburbs  NBC 5 Chicago
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Qcells starts cell production at Georgia factory in milestone for US solar  Reuters
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | June 9, 2026
Qcells has begun manufacturing silicon solar cells at its integrated factory in Cartersville, Georgia. The company has invested $2.5 billion into the Cartersville campus, which already assembles solar panels and will soon also make silicon ingots and wafers. Qcells will operate the only fully integrated silicon solar panel manufacturing site in the United States.
Credit: Qcells
Qcells expects to reach full production of the 3.5-GW cell line by Q3 2026, making it the largest operating solar cell factory in the United States. ES Foundry operates a 3-GW cell factory in South Carolina, and Suniva has a 1-GW cell factory in Georgia.
“Producing the first solar cells at Cartersville is a milestone for Qcells and for American manufacturing,” said Andy Park, Global CEO of Qcells. “As our ingot, wafer and cell lines reach full capacity, we’ll be making the major components of a solar panel right here in Georgia. A dependable domestic supply chain doesn’t just create thousands of good-paying jobs, it gives our customers greater certainty on price, supply, and tariffs, and a product they can trust from start to finish.”
Credit: Qcells
Qcells, an American-focused panel brand with backing from Korea’s Hanwha Solutions, currently operates a 5.1-GW panel assembly campus in Dalton, Georgia, along with the 3.5-GW cell and panel facility in Cartersville. This brings Qcells’ total domestic panel manufacturing capacity to 8.6 GW, making it the largest silicon panel maker in the United States. The company employs an estimated 3,800 people in Georgia.
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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Brunei’s Department of Energy has published a tender for five grid-connected solar installations at five government buildings.
The tender notice says the work will cover the design, build, operation and maintenance of the solar systems to be built on the rooftops and carports at five government buildings within the northeastern Brunei Muara district. The selected developer will also be required to determine the feasible PV capacity at each building.
The tender is open to local and international companies. Interested bidders can collect the tender document until June 9, ahead of a deadline for applications of June 23. The tender is also subject to a non-returnable fee of BND 1,000 ($776.85).
Brunei had a cumulative solar capacity of 6 MW by the end of last year, according to figures published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an increase of 1 MW on figures from the year prior. The country has set a target of reaching 30% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2035.
Last June, pv magazine reported a 30 MW solar project is under development in Brunei. A 25-year power purchase agreement is in place with the country’s government.
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Glint Solar is targeting expansion in the US market and seeking new opportunities in the data center segment – and the Norwegian solar and battery storage software company has appointed a new CEO to support its ambitions.
Simen Fure Jørgensen brings AI sector and startup scaling experience to Glint Solar. Jørgensen was the co-founder of Otovo, a European residential solar platform that uses Ai monitoring for system optimization.
“It was my idea to get him in,” said Harald Olderheim, co-founder of Glint Solar and now former CEO. “I’ve seen what he’s done with Otovo and he scaled the team to 400 people and took it on the stock exchange. He took a Norwegian solar software tech company to a lot of countries so I asked him to join.”
Olderheim told pv magazine he will still be active in the business, leading the company’s US expansion. Olderheim argued that to succeed in the US market “you really need a good founder presence.”
The sales pitch to the US solar industry will likely focus on protecting investment for renewables and data center developers by using software tools to develop the most viable sites. “It’s really about de-risking the development pipeline,” Jørgensen explained, highlighting Spain as an example of a market where a high volume of solar projects were cut from the grid connection queue after they were deemed not viable.
“I don’t know how many millions of euros went out the door there, but that had to be a lot of lost cash,” Jørgensen said.
As it pursues US expansion, the core business for Glint Solar remains unchanged – offering software tools for identifying and designing utility-scale solar and battery storage projects – but with plans to increasingly incorporate features for data center developers.
“This is an enormous market,” said Jørgensen. “Hundreds of billions of dollars are being poured into this, and speed to power is crucial for data centers.”
AI tools such as a project visualization feature have also been integrated on Glint Solar’s platform, and Jørgensen teased a new customer facing AI assistant for developers that is currently in beta testing.
“You can ask the agent to basically go over millions of potential sites and ask to get a ranked list of the top 100 sites in one US state, for example,” he said.
Other recent additions to the range include a battery storage noise calculator which models the impact on the area surrounding a proposed BESS installation. Noise pollution is a common objection to BESS proposals and modeling this kind of impact can help streamline applications for planning consent, according to Glint Solar. It’s the type of feature the company hopes it can sell to the data center industry.
“Early engagement from the community helps a lot, when [developers] are talking to them they can show that this will not be a problem,” Olderheim explained. “You can easily put up a noise wall in the software – it takes two seconds – and then you can see how that affects the noise, and this helps to have the community with you.”
Jørgensen also highlighted how renewables developers in many markets are facing shifting regulations, which he sees as an opportunity for Glint Solar as investors are forced to quickly adapt designs to meet new requirements. The new CEO highlighted ongoing reform in the German market as an example.
“In Germany, we have these flexible connection agreements. But the German authorities change their minds on how this should work. We can change the setup for your project within a couple of clicks. For the siting, for the connection agreements and so on.”
European solar and storage professionals will also be able to get hands-on experience of Glint Solar product development at Intersolar Europe at The smarter E exhibition in Munich from June 23.
Olderheim said Glint Solar will have engineers at the exhibition who are tasked with creating functional design software on the spot through what they call “Glint Labs”.
“At Intersolar they can join us, say what they want, and then 20 minutes or half an hour later they can see the [software] feature they requested. They get a waffle and a coffee and then they can see what we build,” he said.

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