NevadaToday Corrado De Gasperis speaking at the Energy Solutions Forum (photo by Yasmin Barbosa) Corrado De Gasperis speaking at the Energy Solutions Forum (photo by Yasmin Barbosa) Corrado De Gasperis speaking at the Energy Solutions Forum (photo by Yasmin Barbosa) Solar panels were supposed to last 25 to 30 years. Some are not lasting that long. That is where Corrado De Gasperis began on Sept. 16, when students, faculty and community members gathered at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Joe Crowley Student Union for the first Energy Solutions Forum of the fall. The series was founded by biochemist and philanthropist Mick Hitchcock. Those in attendance included Hitchcock, Mridul Gautam, senior vice president for research and innovation, and Christopher Jeffrey, director of the Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology. The Energy Solutions Forum has brought more than 25 speakers to campus from universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, government agencies and industry. “It’s a great way for students and faculty in the University community to connect with outside community members and local industry members,” said Christopher Barile, a chemistry professor in the College of Science who coordinates the Energy Solutions Forum series. De Gasperis is CEO of Comstock Inc., a Nevada company whose roots are in hard-rock silver and gold mining on the Comstock Lode. But about seven years ago, he said, the company changed direction. Today, it recovers aluminum, silver, copper, lead and glass from old solar panels and converts waste wood into low-carbon fuels.
“In one case, we’re creating a mine that never stops producing,” De Gasperis said. “In another case, we’re creating an oil well that never stops producing.” More than a billion solar panels have been deployed in the United States and roughly eight billion worldwide, according to De Gasperis. “Mostly the assumption was they would last 25 to 30 years,” he said. “It was a far-off problem that no one was really paying any attention to.” Instead, De Gasperis said some panels are reaching the end of their usefulness after just 15 to 17 years. He estimates three to four million panels are already coming out of service annually in the United States, a number he expects to rise significantly as existing solar installations age. Handling millions of panels a year on a single production line, De Gasperis said, means finishing one every seven seconds. Much of a panel can be recovered, but separating those materials is difficult. By weight, a typical crystalline-silicon panel is roughly three-quarters glass and about 8% aluminum, with copper, silicon and traces of silver making up most of the rest. Plastic, adhesives and other materials must be removed from that glass and metal efficiently enough to make recycling economical, and fast enough to operate at scale. Handling millions of panels a year on a single production line, De Gasperis said, means finishing one every seven seconds. “Today we can feed a panel every six and a half seconds,” he said. According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme, international projections suggest U.S. panel waste could roughly double depending on whether panels last their full expected lifetime or fail early. The idea reaches beyond solar panels. De Gasperis said the Nevada Division of Minerals has approached Comstock about whether its technology could recover metals from old mine tailings around the state. The region’s advantages are also why Barile sees the University as the right home for the series. “The University of Nevada, Reno has been at the center of this lithium economy that we’re seeing,” he said, pointing to the region’s geothermal energy, its mining reserves and companies at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. University Executive Vice President and Provost and former Dean of the College of Science Jeff Thompson agrees. “Nevada is uniquely positioned to help lead these conversations,” Thompson said. “By connecting students with innovators and industry leaders, we are helping prepare the next generation of problem-solvers who will shape the future of energy and sustainability.” For De Gasperis, we must be looking beyond whether a technology carries a green label. “I think we have the ingredients, the raw materials to step up and become a leader, but it’s not automatic,” he said. “What’s the life cycle carbon impact, and what’s the true sustainability of the solution? If we hold ourselves to that standard, we will lead.” That complexity is part of the reason Barile wants students in the room.
“There’s no magic bullet,” Barile said. Solar and wind may reduce dependence on fossil fuels, he explained, but they raise questions about energy storage and other challenges that cross science, engineering, economics and social issues.
“We really need people from all sorts of different skill sets to help come together, and people who are willing and able to work with many different types of people,” he said. “Those are the people who will be the most valuable in solving this problem.” For students at the event interested in helping solve those problems, De Gasperis offered a challenge. “The difference between an operator and a leader is (that) an operator is a reliable, trustworthy executor,” he said. “A leader drives change.” “So the opportunity is to see a problem, to surface a blockage, a constraint, an obstacle, and shatter it.” Coming this fall: The Energy Solutions Forum continues Oct. 7 with Sabbie Miller of University of California, Davis on decarbonizing industrial manufacturing and Nov. 18 with Taylor Wilson, Applied Nuclear Physicist and Founder, Prometheus Industries and Talos Materials, on the future of nuclear energy technologies. The series is free and open to the public, and registration is open now via Eventbrite. Experiences of the pack: Vania Carter-Strauss, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC The University of Nevada, Reno honors Sept. 11 with a week of commemorative events 25 years after the tragedy Moving science out of silos: A conversation with biochemist and philanthropist Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D. Smoke and fire preparedness Subscribe to the Nevada Weekly newsletter
Perovskite PV manufacturer, GCL Perovskite, has completed an end-to-end production run on its GW-scale perovskite module manufacturing line, covering the entire process from raw-material intake to the production of large-area modules. The company said commercial module deliveries are gradually increasing as its focus shifts to production stabilization and yield ramp-up. Current priorities include improving equipment stability during continuous operation, overall line yield, and material utilization while reducing unit manufacturing costs. GCL Perovskite added that its 2 m² single-junction perovskite module has received third-party certification of IEC 61215, while its perovskite-crystalline silicon tandem module has received both IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certifications. In another development last year, GCL Perovskite led space PV module standard drafting (see China Solar PV News Snippets) In a technology upgrade, JinkoSolar plans to invest RMB1.792 billion in its Yuanhua base in Haining, Zhejiang province. The project will retire older equipment including texturing machines and tabber-stringers, and introduce advanced wet-processing and patterning equipment, and deploy digital systems including MES, SAP and AI-based tools. According to publicly disclosed environmental impact assessment materials, the project will retire the site’s existing 6 GW crystalline silicon cells and 6 GW modules, while retaining the cell R&D functions. Following the upgrade, the facility plans to have an annual production capacity of 2.7 GW of high-efficiency “new-structure” cells and 4 GW modules. The publicly disclosed EIA materials do not explicitly identify the technology that will be used for the new cells. Battery manufacturer, CBAK Energy, has disclosed internal test results for its 32140 NH-7Ah full-tab sodium-ion cell and outlined a conditional long-term plan for 12 GWh of annual sodium-ion battery production capacity. The planned lines will be designed to support both sodium-ion and lithium-ion cell production. The company said its NFPP cell reached 90% charge within 15 minutes, while capacity retention remained above 95% during continuous discharge at 15C. At -40°C, the cell retained 87.68% of its discharge capacity relative to its 25°C baseline. Based on internal cycle-life testing and trend analysis, CBAK Energy projects at least 10,000 life cycles under specified protocols. Customer testing of samples is underway in residential and portable energy storage systems, and two and three electric wheelers, while additional evaluations cover backup power and other applications. EVE Energy has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Railway Beijing Engineering Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Group, with the two companies agreeing on at least 5 GWh of energy storage project over the next three years. The partnership will focus on new energy projects, energy storage applications and coordination in infrastructure development, supported by a dedicated working mechanism. China Railway Beijing Engineering Group is active in infrastructure, power, solar and EPC projects, while EVE Energy supplies energy storage cells and integrated storage systems. The companies plan to combine their engineering and storage equipment capabilities to advance related projects. Energy China has launched its 2026 centralized procurement for PV modules, with an estimated volume of 15 GWp across 6 packages, covering EPC and self-invested projects. This year’s procurement is 2 GW smaller than its 17 GW procurement of 2025 with 8 packages. Covering TOPCon, HJT and BC module technologies, the bids are due by October 9, 2026. Here are more details: For the two TOPCon packages, bidders must have at least 2.5 GWp of cumulative sales over the previous three years from individual contracts of 10 MWp or more. Package 4 additionally requires at least four individual TOPCon contracts of 100 MWp or more. The HJT packages require at least 150 MWp of cumulative sales over the same period, while the BC packages require at least 1.5 GWp of cumulative module sales across all technology types. TaiyangNews 2024
Solar PV drove renewable energy capacity additions in India with a record 44.6 GW, representing 87.2% YoY growth, says MNRE Distributed solar surged, with 16.31 GW added last fiscal, led by the PMSGMBY scheme Wind installations rose 45.6% to 6.05 GW, supporting overall clean capacity growth India added a record 55.3 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity in FY 2026 (April 2025 to March 2026), driven by a record 44.6 GW of solar PV capacity expansion. Annual solar capacity additions expanded by 87.2% over the previous year’s 23.83 GW and exceeded the targeted 24 GW. Wind installations increased by 45.6% with 6.05 GW. Open access commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, including those for captive consumption, also pushed annual installations to a record high. The waiver of the inter-state transmission system (ISTS) deadline on June 30, 2025, was another responsible factor, adds JMK Research & Analytics. The market intelligence firm adds that ground-mounted PV additions during the last fiscal year improved by 106% to around 34.8 GW, thanks to the completion of projects tendered under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) 50 GW annual bidding trajectory, which started in 2023 (see India Releases Bidding Trajectory For RE). Distributed generation continues to expand under supportive policy frameworks. Close to 8.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity contributed to the annual total, along with 7.6 GW under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) scheme. In comparison, 3.66 GW was installed under PM KUSUM in FY 2024-25. The scheme has now been extended till March 31, 2027. A total of 16.31 GW of distributed solar installations recorded last fiscal is the largest annual addition in this segment to date. Rooftop solar accounted for almost 36% of the total installed capacity during the reporting year, says the ministry. MNRE data shows that India’s cumulative installed solar PV capacity at the end of March 2026 reached 150.26 GW – the leading contributor to non-fossil-fuel generation of 283.46 GW (including 274.68 GW of renewable energy). By 2030, the target is to expand the latter to 500 GW. Having achieved 50% of its non-fossil-fuel-based power capacity target for 2030 5 years ahead of schedule, India has now raised the target to 60% by 2035 under its Nationally Determined Contribution (see India Raises Non-Fossil Power Capacity Target To 60% By 2035). Yet, coal continues to be the primary source of electricity generation in the country, with a 67.7% share up to March 2026, followed by solar at 9.4%. Coal will continue to lead the generation mix even in FY 2035-36 (see CEA: Solar Set To Become India’s Largest Power Source By 2035-36). Going forward, JMK Research projects the country will add around 53 GW to 55 GW of solar and wind capacity in FY 2027. India’s cumulative solar PV module manufacturing capacity also expanded from 2.3 GW in 2014 to about 172 GW as of March 31, 2026, according to the ministry, with 8 out of the 12 Production Linked Incentive (PLI) winners having launched production in the value chain. Of this, 98 GW was added during the reporting year, compared to 74 GW in the previous year. India’s solar module imports decreased by 3 times from $2.15 billion in FY 2025 to $758 million by January 2026. The country is also boosting battery energy storage system (BESS) additions, as the ministry extended the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) exemption for lithium-ion cell manufacturing to March 31, 2028. It aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported battery packs, primarily from China. The government is also backing an Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee project to develop sodium-ion battery technology as a cost-effective alternative to lithium-based storage systems. TaiyangNews 2024
Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, has started operations at Kingstree West, a 74.9 MWac(101 MWdc) photovoltaic solar park in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. Kingstree West is Ingka Investments’ first solar park that is fully developed in-house, starting from own land ownership and ending with a utility scale solar park. The project includes 178,000 solar modules and is expected to produce around 186 GWh of electricity each year, equal to the annual electricity use of about 15,200 South Carolina households. Construction has been completed according to plan. With operations now started, the site has moved from development and construction into power generation. – Frederik de Jong, Head of Renewable Energy at Ingka Investments – Rob Olson, Chief Operating Officer at IKEA US The project has been fully funded by Ingka Investments, with no added cost for the local community or ratepayers. Williamsburg County is expected to receive about $7.6 million in additional property tax revenues over the project’s life. When developing a solar park, Ingka Investments considers a range of factors, including access to the electricity grid, land suitability, local planning requirements, safety, environmental studies and the relationship with nearby communities. These factors are assessed before and during construction to support responsible project development, and the Kingstree West site has been carefully planned to limit impact on the natural environment and nearby communities. Ingka Investments is pursuing South Carolina Solar Habitat Certification for Kingstree West, a voluntary program designed to support native vegetation, pollinator-friendly habitat and biodiversity at solar farms. The project will now begin the program’s habitat establishment and management process alongside its ongoing solar operations. Ingka Investments owns and operates 49 wind parks across 17 countries and 27 solar parks in nine countries, producing more than 5 TWh of electricity annually. Ingka Investments currently has six renewable energy assets in operation in the US: Wind: Cameron (165 MW), Hoopeston (98 MW); Solar: Misae (240 MW/326.8 MWdc), Sage (57.6 MW/76.3MWdc), Kingstree West (74.9 MW); Battery: Cameron (16.4 MW).
About Ingka Group With IKEA retail operations in 32 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 87% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com. For further information, journalists and media professionalscancontactus at [email protected] or by calling +46 70 993 6376. Facts, data points, and commitments are based on information at the time of issue and may have changed since that date. Kingstree West solar park Subscribe and receive news directly in your inbox. Hej! Thank you for your interest in Ingka Group and IKEA. By inserting my contact details and clicking the subscribe button I consent to receiving newsletters and other communication from Ingka Group to my email address as described in the privacy notice. If you do not receive an email shortly, please check your junk email folder. Link copied To secure that we focus on what matters the most, we regularly conduct a double materiality assessment which incorporates stakeholder input and research. In the list you find the material topics identified in our latest assessment for each of the four better movements that form the structure for our report. By filling in the form above and clicking ‘send’, I confirm that I have read and understood the Ingka.com privacy notice
LAmag Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles After months of investigation, the official cause of the Boyles Heights fire still remains undetermined according to the LAFD Payton Zagacki
After months of investigation, the cause of the Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse fire remains officially undetermined, but investigators found that the blaze started on the roof near a section of solar panels, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) announced Tuesday. The department’s Arson Counter-Terrorism Section completed its investigation into the June 17 fire at Lineage Logistics. The LAFD determined an “electrical event” occurred near the origin of the fire on the roof of the building, but the cause still remains undetermined. “Since the specific cause of that electrical event could not be conclusively established, the incident remains classified as having an undetermined cause,” the LAFD said. The full report stated, “Due to the complexity of the solar panel system, its associated electrical equipment, and the maintenance activities being performed at the time of the fire, I am not able to eliminate them as the potential cause of the fire.” City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said the investigation’s conclusion was unsatisfactory. “Determining what caused the Lineage fire matters — not only for accountability, but to help ensure a disaster like this does not happen again,” she said in a statement. “But LAFD’s finding that the cause remains undetermined does nothing to alleviate what Boyle Heights residents have endured and are still carrying: months of health concerns and disruption, along with unanswered questions about whether this site can safely operate again.” The cleanup of the food storage facility was completed earlier this month, over two months after the fire. Lineage Logistics, the owner of the storage facility, was unable to meet the city-mandated cleanup deadlines. Over the course of the cleanup, more than 4,900 complaints about rotten, sour and garbage-like scents were sent to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Air quality regulators issued 39 notices of violations from June 12 through Aug. 28, the agency said. Lineage Logistics filed a lawsuit against the operator of solar panels on the building’s rooftop in connection with the fire. In its lawsuit against Altus Power Inc. and contractor Pearce Services, which was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lineage claims the companies ignored safety warnings and caused the fire on the 500,000-square-foot warehouse rooftop. Scroll to continue reading fresh drops A representative of Los Palos Street Operating, a subsidiary of Altus, issued a statement saying the lawsuit was an attempt by Lineage to deflect responsibility for the blaze at the 500,000-square-foot facility that burned for eight days. “Lineage’s statement is riddled with misinformation in a blatant attempt to deflect blame for their role in this matter, including any damage caused by the release of substances from the warehouse, not the solar panel,” according to the statement. The LAFD’s completed investigation does not identify a specific party as responsible for the electrical event. “The Department’s thoughts remain with all those impacted by this deeply tragic incident,” Arson and Fire Investigation Chief Thomas Raymond said Tuesday. Don’t keep it to yourself…share the love! trending more buzz Amazon has announced it no longer allows the new AI assistant to shop at its online stores Subscribe + Follow
Pick the engineering stories that matter and get them in your inbox. Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience. All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc. Follow Us On Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience. All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc. Calibration turns infrared images into measurements of solar cell quality. A camera sold for infrared photography can also measure how well a solar cell works. Researchers in Germany have shown that, with a filter and careful calibration, a commercially available camera can capture the faint light solar cells emit under an applied voltage and turn it into data about their quality. The team from the University of Stuttgart, Research Center Jülich, and Solarzentrum Stuttgart conducted the research. They aimed to make a quantitative measurement usually performed with a costly industrial camera using more accessible equipment. When electricity is applied to a solar cell, it emits light in the infrared. This process, called electroluminescence, can reveal quality differences across a cell or module that would not be visible in an ordinary photograph. Researchers use a measure called electroluminescent quantum efficiency to assess that emission. It is directly related to the cell’s voltage. In general, a higher value indicates a better-performing solar cell. An image alone, however, does not provide a reliable efficiency measurement. The camera’s response to light must be understood and calibrated so that the brightness recorded in each part of the image can be translated into a quantitative result. “An electroluminescence image contains much more quantitative information than simply showing bright and dark regions,” said Werner. “With a suitable physical camera model and calibration, it can provide absolute luminescent quantum efficiency and, therefore, information about the local quality of a solar cell or module,” he added. The camera used in the study was already suited to infrared imaging because it lacked the internal infrared-blocking film found in most commercial cameras. Cameras modified this way are also used to photograph the night sky and produce artistic infrared images. The researchers placed a long-pass filter in front of the camera’s lens to reduce visible background light. This allowed the camera to record the solar cell’s infrared emission more clearly. They then used a physical model of the camera’s response and calibration to analyze the image’s brightness. “Our approach shows that even a relatively inexpensive consumer camera can provide quantitative results when its physical response is properly modeled and calibrated,” said author Jürgen Werner. The result suggests that the equipment needed to capture an image is only part of the measurement. Knowing how the camera responds to the light it receives is what makes it possible to extract a meaningful value from that image. The researchers now plan to use the calibrated camera on other solar cells and modules. They want to measure both their quantum efficiencies and open-circuit voltages, which have not yet been characterized. “Our next step is to use the calibrated camera to determine quantum efficiencies and open-circuit voltages of further, previously uncharacterized solar cells and modules,” Werner said. “The same model should also be applicable to photoluminescence measurements and potentially to measurements performed in daylight,” he added. Those applications remain future work. For now, the study shows how a modified commercial camera, paired with a filter and calibration, can produce quantitative information about solar cell quality. The study was published in The Journal of Applied Physics. Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives. Premium Follow
As the United States builds a more resilient solar supply chain, the industry’s attention and data collection has primarily focused on factory capacity: how many gigawatts have been announced, how quickly facilities can begin production and where new manufacturing operations are located. There is an often overlooked aspect of this process, however: What material enters the factory before the cells are produced? The answer can reveal whether a facility is performing the core processes, specifically P/N Junction, required to manufacture a solar cell or completing a limited number of steps on a product that has already undergone its most important transformation overseas. This distinction is at the center of the growing discussion surrounding “gray wafers” and “blue wafers.” While the terms may sound highly esoteric, the issue has significant implications for domestic manufacturing policy, tax-credit eligibility, trade compliance and the credibility of the U.S. solar supply chain. When does a wafer become a cell? A gray wafer is an unprocessed silicon wafer, meaning it cannot generate electricity on its own. Turning it into a functioning solar cell requires a series of highly controlled manufacturing processes that alter its surface, electrical properties and performance. Although specific production sequences vary by cell architecture, these processes typically include texturing and cleaning the wafer, junction formation, edge isolation, passivation, anti-reflective coating application, metallization and testing. Among these steps, formation of the photovoltaic junction is particularly significant. The starting crystalline-silicon wafer may be either p-type or n-type. During cell manufacturing, a layer of the opposite conductivity type is introduced to form the junction necessary for photovoltaic operation. Depending on the cell architecture, this may be achieved through high-temperature dopant diffusion or through deposition of doped semiconductor layers. The junction creates the electric field that allows the device to separate charge carriers and convert sunlight into electricity. It is one of the defining technical transformations in solar cell manufacturing. A blue wafer has its P/N junction already formed by the time it reaches the factory, and it has typically received the anti-reflective coating that gives it its blue appearance. While metallization and other finishing processes may still be required, the wafer already has the fundamental semiconductor structure that enables photovoltaic conversion. This is why describing both materials simply as “wafers” can obscure an important difference. A gray wafer is a raw input to solar-cell manufacturing. A blue wafer is much closer to a partially completed solar cell. Why process location matters The current debate is about identifying where substantive manufacturing occurred. A facility that imports gray wafers and performs the critical cell-making processes domestically is carrying out a different scope of manufacturing than a facility that imports blue wafers and completes only the remaining downstream steps. Both operations may require equipment, workers and quality controls. However, they do not necessarily represent the same level of technical transformation, manufacturing value or domestic capability. Policymakers have started evaluating whether federal incentives are supporting the development of an enduring U.S. solar manufacturing base. Incentives designed to encourage domestic solar cell production are most effective when they support the processes, equipment, engineering expertise and workforce required to transform a gray wafer into a functioning cell. If nearly completed cells can enter the country as wafers and receive the same treatment as cells manufactured domestically from their initial stage, the market may reward finishing operations the same way it rewards more comprehensive manufacturing. Over time, that could weaken the incentive to invest in the full range of capabilities the United States offers. Different rules may produce different answers One reason the issue is complex is that “domestic” can mean different things under different regulatory frameworks. Tax incentives, customs classifications, domestic content requirements, and antidumping and countervailing duty rules are governed by different statutes and administrative standards. A product’s treatment under one framework does not automatically determine its treatment under another. For example, domestic content calculations examine where specific manufactured products and components are produced and how their costs are accounted for. Customs and trade authorities may apply separate standards when determining a product’s country of origin or whether duties apply. In solar trade proceedings, the location where the P/N junction is formed has historically been an important factor in determining a solar cell’s origin. That reflects the technical significance of junction formation in creating a device capable of photovoltaic conversion. The industry should therefore be careful not to rely on a single broad claim, such as “U.S.-made,” as a substitute for a process-specific compliance analysis. The relevant question is which manufacturing steps occurred in each country and how those steps are treated under the particular rule being applied. Why this matters beyond the manufacturer Questions about wafer processing can create risk throughout the solar value chain. Module manufacturers rely on cell suppliers’ representations to determine product origin and calculate domestic content levels. Developers may use that information to model project economics and support eligibility for federal incentives. Tax-credit investors, lenders and insurers may evaluate the same documentation as part of project diligence. If the underlying manufacturing process has been inaccurately described, the consequences may extend beyond the original supplier. Domestic content calculations could be challenged, expected incentives could be reduced and contracts could become the subject of disputes over pricing, indemnification or responsibility for inaccurate representations. This does not mean every product involving imported blue wafers is necessarily noncompliant. The treatment will depend on the applicable law, the specific production process and the facts surrounding the transaction. It does mean that buyers and other stakeholders should understand precisely what they are purchasing and avoid treating all U.S.-finished cells as technically or legally equivalent. Documentation must follow the manufacturing process As the market matures, traceability will become as important as production capacity. A credible chain of documentation should identify the material entering the U.S. facility, where the P/N junction was formed, and which manufacturing processes were performed domestically. It should also connect those records to the finished cells and modules being supplied. Useful diligence questions include: These questions should become part of routine procurement rather than an exceptional audit exercise. Clear documentation protects responsible manufacturers while giving customers greater confidence in their sourcing and incentive calculations. The industry needs process-based definitions The blue wafer debate highlights a broader challenge for U.S. clean energy policy: Manufacturing cannot be measured solely by a factory’s address or the location of its final production step. Effective policy must recognize where meaningful technical transformations occur. For solar cells, that requires examining the manufacturing sequence and determining where a silicon wafer acquires the characteristics that make it a photovoltaic device. Clear, consistently applied definitions would benefit the entire market. Manufacturers would have greater certainty when making capital investments. Buyers would be better able to compare suppliers. Developers and investors could make more defensible incentive claims. Policymakers could more accurately evaluate whether public support is producing the domestic capabilities it was intended to create. The U.S. has an opportunity to build a solar manufacturing base grounded in technical depth, operational transparency and long-term credibility. Achieving that goal requires the industry to look beyond where a product is finished and ask a more fundamental question: Where did the wafer actually become a solar cell? By Sekhar Tatineni, Vice President of Technology, ES Foundry
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new ESS News magazine is here! Download your free digital copy today. The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today! Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy. pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand. Monday, October 26, 2026 10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026 14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma
India’s solar sector is confronting an unexpected shift: while photovoltaic modules are lasting longer than ever, they may be losing economic relevance much sooner. For years, a 25-year performance warranty has been central to solar project economics. Developers typically assumed that once installed, a module would deliver steady output with gradual degradation over decades. But rapid advances in technology are beginning to challenge that assumption. Industry experts now point to what is being described as a “solar shelf-life” problem where modules remain functional but are no longer the most efficient or cost-effective option for the same asset base. This shift comes at a time when India’s solar market is expanding aggressively. The country’s installed solar capacity has crossed 160 GW, supported by policy interventions such as the PM Surya Ghar rooftop scheme and domestic manufacturing mandates under ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers). However, a mismatch persists: module manufacturing capacity has scaled up rapidly, while domestic cell production remains limited, affecting supply chains and pricing. At the same time, technology cycles are accelerating. The industry has moved from multi-crystalline to mono-PERC and now toward n-type technologies such as TOPCon, with efficiencies reaching 22–24% globally. Bifacial modules, once considered premium, now dominate installations. “The pace of change means developers are no longer comparing a module only to its past performance, but to what’s available in the market today,” said a senior analyst at a renewable energy consultancy. “A plant built five years ago may still be operating well, but it could be significantly underperforming compared to new installations.” This has implications for both utility-scale and rooftop segments. In large solar parks, where land and grid infrastructure are already secured, replacing modules, a process known as repowering is becoming economically viable. With module prices having fallen by nearly 90–95% over the past decade, upgrading systems without rebuilding entire plants is increasingly feasible. However, the equation is different for residential consumers. Despite the push from schemes like PM Surya Ghar, rooftop adoption still faces barriers including high upfront costs, limited financing options, and low consumer awareness. For households, replacing modules prematurely may not be financially attractive due to installation and labour costs. Another emerging challenge is how developers assess long-term value. Traditionally, procurement decisions focused on cost per watt. But industry participants say the focus is shifting toward metrics such as levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), degradation rates, and energy yield. “There is a growing realisation that the cheapest module is not necessarily the best investment,” said an EPC contractor involved in utility-scale projects. “Performance over time and compatibility with future upgrades are becoming critical.” Yet, the rapid turnover of technology also introduces risks. Newer cell architectures, while more efficient, have limited long-term field data. Concerns around degradation, UV stability, and performance in India’s diverse climatic conditions remain areas of scrutiny. There is also a downstream implication. If modules are replaced earlier than expected, India could face a surge in solar waste. The country currently lacks a robust ecosystem for large-scale recycling and reuse, a gap that could widen as installations grow. Looking ahead, industry observers say solar projects may need to be designed not as static assets but as evolving platforms. Developers are beginning to consider “repowering readiness” ensuring that mounting structures, inverters, and grid connections can accommodate future upgrades. The shift marks a broader transition in how solar assets are valued. The question is no longer just how long a module will last, but whether it will remain economically optimal over its lifetime. As one analyst put it, “In today’s solar market, the risk is not that a module stops working, it’s that something better arrives much sooner.” The Author of this article is – Dushyant Kumar, PV Quality Manager, AXITEC Energy India Pvt. Ltd, leading solar module manufacturer The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This signup form requires necessary cookies. Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form. Next Upcoming
By Canary Media Canary Media
Supported by This is California Wire, a weekly newsletter from Jeff St. John on the state’s clean energy transition. Subscribe to get it every Wednesday via Substack. Hi, everyone! Let’s pick up a theme from last week’s newsletter: how California has yet to take full advantage of rooftop solar, backup batteries, and other home devices to create virtual power plants (VPPs) that can help its stressed-out grid — even though it has more of those distributed energy resources than any other state. Earlier this month, utility Pacific Gas & Electric launched its latest effort to improve on that poor record via an ambitious partnership with friendly neighborhood tech giant Google and pro-electrification nonprofit Rewiring America. PG&E will recruit more than 20,000 customers with Sunrun or Tesla solar-charged batteries or Renew Home smart thermostats who are willing to let the utility control those resources to help the grid for an as-yet-unspecified reward.
Google and Rewiring America, meanwhile, will work to get new smart devices into people’s homes, with discounts of $5,000 — or $10,000 for the first 25 customers — on Carrier’s new battery-equipped HVAC units. Importantly, the costs of the program, dubbed Smart Home Assets for Reliability and Efficiency (SHARE), won’t fall on PG&E customers. Instead, Google has pledged to pay for all of it, starting with about $14 million for the first phase, according to Rewiring America. That’s a big deal for the nonprofit, which has been pushing tech giants to finance VPPs to offset rising energy costs caused by data centers. It’s an approach that Google has taken a lead on in other parts of the country — so it would be logical to assume that Google is doing the same now with PG&E. Here’s the weird thing, though: Both Google and PG&E insist SHARE has nothing to do with offsetting data center costs, even as both face increasing scrutiny over a 250-megawatt “cloud research and testing facility” that Google plans to build in San Jose. In fact, Google insists it’s not a “data center” at all, although neighbors aren’t convinced. Google and PG&E have been tussling with the Sierra Club, The Utility Reform Network, and others over how to allocate the cost of connecting that 250-MW “large load” to the utility transmission grid. The big issue? How much of that cost should be borne by PG&E customers at large versus by Google itself. PG&E says SHARE is about “unlocking additional capacity on the regional electric transmission system.” So you’d think it might acknowledge that it could use this VPP to reduce costs that critics say are tied to Google’s 250-MW project. But maybe the utility would prefer to put those grid upgrades on its own books. That way, it can pass on the costs to customers and keep profiting from its grid-expansion investments. I don’t mean to sound cynical, but PG&E has a history of trotting out VPP pilot programs and then canceling them. It’s been enabled by the California Public Utilities Commission, which has failed to follow through on state mandates to make utilities do more with these customer-owned resources. That’s all while utilities in Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Utah, and Vermont have steadily built VPP networks from far more modest starting points. Jigar Shah, the clean energy investor, Biden-era Energy Department loan office czar, and VPP booster, is likewise skeptical, going so far as to say in a LinkedIn post that the SHARE program is “not a success story” but “an indictment.” This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This signup form requires necessary cookies. Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form. Shah explained to me that he’s not mad at Google, but rather at PG&E. “There are gigawatt-hours’ worth of behind-the-meter batteries in PG&E’s territory,” Shah said. But “none of those gigawatt-hours have a standard way to help their neighbors make the grid more efficient.” To be fair, PG&E has been upping its efforts lately to test how home batteries, smart electrical panels, EV chargers, and smart meters can defer costly grid investments. “SHARE adds a complementary, near-term pathway” to that work, Trevor Udwin, PG&E’s VPP and grid optimization manager, told Canary Media in an email. But there’s a big difference between launching another pilot project and building a VPP that actually takes concrete steps to ease grid costs. We’ll have to wait and see if the utility turns Google’s VPP money into something bigger and better than another one-off experiment. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed dozens of bills into law this week and last week. But as of this writing, he hasn’t yet touched the clean energy or utility affordability bills I covered in the first edition of California Wire. Newsom did sign a slew of bills that take aim at data centers, however — including several measures to set new requirements on large-scale computing facilities like the one Google is planning in San Jose. Senate Bill 886, from state Sen. Steve Padilla (D), and Assembly Bill 2383, from Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D), task the California Public Utilities Commission with imposing new cost-recovery rules on data centers of at least 25MW served by the state’s three major utilities. Data centers will have to pay a “reasonable share” of the grid upgrades and additional generation needs that they trigger, as well as a proportional share of the public services like wildfire mitigation and environmental programs that make up a part of everyday utility bills. PG&E and the trade group Data Center Coalition opposed these bills. But given the growing public backlash against data centers, most politicians wouldn’t dare take a stand against laws that aim to control their costs. And if data centers want to go above and beyond to make nice with their neighbors, SB887, also from Padilla, offers them a set of grid and environmental stretch goals that can win them expedited review and permitting. Like a recurring bad dream, the Moss Landing battery complex, which owner Vistra is in the midst of demolishing after a devastating 2025 fire, burst into flame once again, spurring shelter-in-place orders for the beleaguered nearby communities. Thankfully, as Canary Media’s Julian Spector has exhaustively explained, Moss Landing is obsolete in terms both of battery chemistry and site design — which means its propensity to catch fire isn’t a sound indicator of risk for the country’s rapidly growing grid battery fleet.
Let’s close this newsletter where we started, with more virtual power plant news — in fact, the biggest VPP news yet. Earlier this month, Tesla and Sunrun broke last year’s record for the largest home-battery VPP dispatch in California history: 580MW of peak power delivered from more than 110,000 home batteries. Unfortunately, one of the programs that has enrolled these batteries is set to be defunded next year — just in time for what’sexpected to be among the hottest summers on record. This map pulled from Tesla’s VPP site shows the scale of grid resources the state might be losing out on as a result — unless California can figure out a way to keep these resources in play.
Tesla’s map of California homes with Powerwall batteries available for VPP service I’m lucky to work from home, which means that I have as a constant companion my fierce guard dog. Behold Lily, the keeper of the front door. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This signup form requires necessary cookies. Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form. Jeff St. John is chief reporter and policy specialist at Canary Media. He covers innovative grid technologies, rooftop solar and batteries, clean hydrogen, EV charging, and more. Nuclear Electric vehicles Utilities Batteries U.S. regions This video requires marketing cookies. Update your cookie preferences to watch the video.
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -A debate over more solar panels on Richmond-owned buildings is heating up. The Office of Sustainability wants to enter a deal that would place the company, Secure Solar’s panels on nearly 40 city buildings. Some councilmembers are skeptical around contract costs and the timeline. Councilmembers Sarah Abubaker and Kenya Gibson fear the deal is risky, bringing up questions around the hefty fee to exit the contract in the first five years. The two also questioned the repair costs for panels, and want to ensure the buildings they are going on, are secure enough to handle the weight. Abubaker says her concerns are around the risk put on the city, and are no way indicative in her belief in green energy. “This is a 25-year contract. I want that to set with everybody because this is not something the city endeavors every day. And many of us will be old, gone, our children will be here, and so 25 years is a significant commitment. And to me, this is the same as entering into a marriage and we have to ask the question,” she said. Abubaker says the fee for terminating the contract would be $28 million. Secure Solar’s CEO Anthony Smith explained it is high in the first five years of the contract, because of the tax rules around the credits being used for the panels. He says the city does not have to pay if it does not produce any electricity. The Government Operations committee ultimately decided to move the deal forward to the full council, but gave no recommendation. “We’re at a crux moment where there’s a lot of concern and I would just hope that the council members place a lot of trust, word trust again, that the administration has done all the homework” Secure Solar CEO Anthony Smith said. “And yes, they have questions, but at the end of the day, you heard the CAO step up each time and say, yes, we have addressed those risk concerns.” Councilmembers asked for a full risk assessment. The deal will be put up to a vote on Monday, September 28. Copyright 2026 WWBT. All rights reserved.
E-Edition Sign up for email newsletters to submit an obituary Please email your obituary to obituary@chicoer.com or call 530-896-7718. Please include your name, mailing address, and phone number along with the copy and photo. We also need a copy of the death certificate or name and number of the funeral home to verify death.
Sign up for email newsletters E-Edition Copyright 2026 Chico Enterprise-Record. All rights reserved. The use of any content on this website for the purpose of training artificial intelligence systems, algorithms, machine learning models, text and data mining, or similar use is strictly prohibited without explicit written consent. Website E-edition Mobile App
Low-income Hoosiers may be getting back $117 million in grant funding for solar panels cancelled by the federal government. Rhode Island District Court Judge Mary McElroy ruled last week the EPA’s August 2025 termination of the $7 billion Biden-era Solar for All program was illegal and funds must be restored. A coalition of Indiana nonprofits and the cities of Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, and Columbus had been planning solar projects for income-qualified individuals for over a year before funding was cut. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin had characterized the program as fraudulent and wasteful, writing in a social media post, “the bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive.” Alison Becker is the program director for the Indiana Community Action Association’s Solar team, which led Indiana’s Solar for All program. She said the grant’s cancellation was unprecedented. “It is highly unusual for a grant to be funded and then have it taken away, unless there’s some type of malfeasance, which there obviously was not here because it was done for programs throughout the country,” Becker said. The coalition’s plans for the federal grant included community solar projects to benefit renters and homeowners unable to install panels, resilience hubs and libraries in southern Indiana, and a second phase of projects in additional cities, including Bloomington, Muncie, and South Bend. Becker said a recent example of potential benefits of the Solar for All program is the two-week loss of power in Gary. “If you have solar plus battery storage on a home, that home can continue to be solar powered even in the event of a long-term outage,” Becker said. “That would have provided opportunities for people to have neighbors where they could store their medicine, charge their phones, cool off, all of those types of things.” Becker describes the coalition as “cautiously optimistic” about the future of low-income and community solar in the state. “People are super excited for a win, excited about having the potential again, but recognizing that there could still be a long legal road ahead,” Becker said. The EPA said Friday it is reviewing the decision and considering options for appeal. WFIU/WTIU News is an independent newsroom rooted in public service. “Act Independently” is one of the basic creeds of journalism ethics, and we claim it proudly. The WFIU/WTIU News facilities are located on the campus of Indiana University, which does hold our broadcast license and contribute funding to our organization. However, our journalists and senior news leaders have full authority over journalistic decisions — what we decide to cover and how we tell our stories. We observe a clear boundary: Indiana University and RTVS administrators focus on running a strong and secure organization; WFIU/WTIU journalists focus on bringing you independent news you can trust.
Digital Twin Resolves Operation and Maintenance Pain Points of New Energy Stations, Yusuan Technology Seeks Financing With the continuous expansion of installed capacity of wind power and photovoltaic, a large number of new energy stations are transitioning from the construction period to the operation period of more than 25 years, and the efficiency and cost of the operation and maintenance link have begun to directly affect asset returns. The “Yusuan Xuanzhi Intelligent Operation and Maintenance” — a digital twin intelligent operation and maintenance platform for new energy stations, developed by Hebei Yusuan Technology Co., Ltd. for the long-term operation stage of new energy stations, has recently focused on serving scenarios of centralized photovoltaic power stations, step-up substations and new energy operation and maintenance service providers, and is proceeding with the next round of financing. Shifting from “Large-scale Construction” to “Long-term Operation”, Station Operation and Maintenance Has Become a New Challenge Data released by the National Energy Administration shows that in 2025, China’s new installed wind power capacity reached 120 million kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of 51%, and the cumulative grid-connected capacity reached 640 million kilowatts; the new installed photovoltaic capacity reached 317 million kilowatts, and the cumulative installed scale reached 1.2 billion kilowatts, of which centralized photovoltaic accounts for 670 million kilowatts. Along with the rapid growth of installed capacity, the industry growth logic is changing: after new energy fully enters the market, electricity price fluctuations are directly transmitted to the revenue of stations, and the focus of owners has shifted from “completion and grid connection” to power generation efficiency, equipment health, inspection quality and asset returns, making lean operation and maintenance a rigid demand. However, centralized photovoltaic power stations and step-up substations have a large number of equipment and a wide coverage, and generally have the problem of scattered construction of systems such as production monitoring, video, access control, fire protection and UAV. The efficiency of manual inspection is insufficient, a large number of images rely on manual interpretation, and it is difficult to connect abnormality detection, order dispatching, disposal and re-inspection. The growth of operation and maintenance demand is also opening up market space. Some industry research institutions predict that the scale of China’s photovoltaic operation and maintenance market will grow from about 260 billion yuan in 2023 to more than 1.2 trillion yuan in 2030, with an average annual compound growth rate of nearly 30%. Taking Business-oriented Digital Twin as the Entry Point to Build a Closed Loop of “Observation, Inspection, Diagnosis, Control and Training” for Operation and Maintenance The entry point of Yusuan Xuanzhi Intelligent Operation and Maintenance is not to build another 3D display system, but to take the business-oriented digital twin as a unified entry point, based on the digital objects of stations, regions and equipment, to uniformly organize operation data, alarm events, inspection tasks, image results, defect records, report work orders, auxiliary control resources and training contents, so as to build an intelligent operation and maintenance closed loop covering “observation, inspection, diagnosis, control and training”. Among them, “observation” uniformly displays station operation indicators, equipment status, PR value, performance loss and alarm situation; “inspection” organizes periodic, temporary, alarm-triggered and defect re-inspection tasks; “diagnosis” integrates visible light, infrared images and equipment operation data to carry out auxiliary identification; “control” is associated with auxiliary control resources such as video, access control, fire protection and environmental monitoring; “training” builds scenarios of equipment cognition, standard inspection, fault disposal and emergency drill based on UE5. In terms of technical mechanism, the platform associates the digital twin object model of business with the spatial position, coding, data, alarm, task, defect, work order and training materials of the digital equipment object, so that the 3D scenario can enter the daily operation and maintenance process; through heterogeneous resource task orchestration, it brings manpower, UAV, inspection robot, camera, sensor and special detection equipment into a unified task system; it drives inspection with PR and performance loss, and converts abnormal operation indicators into key area inspection, infrared inspection, cleaning inspection and special equipment verification tasks; finally, it forms a closed loop through AI primary screening, manual review, report work order, disposal re-inspection and result return, which improves efficiency while retaining professional judgment. It is worth noting that the platform is positioned as a supplement rather than a substitute — it does not intervene in the customer’s existing production control system, but complements the cross-system capabilities of spatial positioning, task organization, result management and disposal collaboration within the security boundary. According to the disclosure on the official website of Yusuan Technology, the accuracy of its AI defect identification algorithm reaches 98.5%, and the intelligent scheduling center can improve the operation and maintenance efficiency by more than 30%. The job recruitment information on BOSS Zhipin shows that the company is recruiting image recognition algorithm engineers, who are responsible for cleaning, denoising, enhancing and labeling image data such as photovoltaic panels and fan blades collected by UAV and cameras, which indirectly confirms the technical route of “AI image recognition + UAV inspection”. Based on Hebei’s Demonstration Projects, Promote Regional Replication through “Project Entry and Product Precipitation” In terms of business model, Yusuan Technology adopts the path of “project entry, product precipitation, module replication, partner expansion and continuous service”: through single-region, single-module or single-station projects, it generates revenue through platform software authorization, private deployment, digital twin modeling, data interface, implementation deployment and necessary customization; during the implementation process, it continuously precipitates equipment models, interface components, task templates, defect classification and acceptance methods, and then obtains continuous revenue through module additional purchase, station replication, multi-station upgrade, annual maintenance and professional value-added services. The target users cover new energy station owners and operation units, new energy operation and maintenance service providers, regional companies of power generation groups, power engineering enterprises and system integration units, which not only serve the digital construction of new stations, but also are applicable to the intelligent transformation of existing stations. In terms of regional strategy, the company is based in Shijiazhuang, taking Hebei as the first batch of demonstration markets. Hebei has a variety of application scenarios such as centralized photovoltaics, wind power, step-up substations and energy storage, and the local team can shorten the radius of on-site investigation, interface joint debugging, deployment training and after-sales response. Industrial and commercial information shows that Yusuan Technology was established in December 2024 with a registered capital of 3 million yuan, and its registered address is located in Hebei Normal University Science Park, Yuhua District, Shijiazhuang City. It is a technology-based micro-enterprise with less than 50 employees; in March 2026, the company carried out school-enterprise mutual visits with the School of Software of Hebei Normal University, and discussed cooperation around the direction of AI empowering industries. No external institutional financing records of the company have been shown in public channels, and its registered software copyrights are currently concentrated in the digital operation business line of scenic spots. For Yusuan Technology, new energy station operation and maintenance is a niche market that has not been completely occupied by giants. Manufacturers such as Sifang Co., Ltd. and Haiyi Software mostly cut in from the centralized control platform and simulation training, while the opportunity for startups lies in flexible delivery that is closer to the business process of a single station. It is reported that Yusuan Xuanzhi Intelligent Operation and Maintenance is proceeding with the next round of financing, and the funds of this round will provide support for the product polishing of the platform and the market expansion in regions outside Hebei. This article is originally produced by「cp15132531967」， For reprint or content cooperation, please click Reprint Instructions ；Unauthorized reprint will be held accountable.
LAmag Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles After months of investigation, the official cause of the Boyles Heights fire still remains undetermined according to the LAFD Payton Zagacki
After months of investigation, the cause of the Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse fire remains officially undetermined, but investigators found that the blaze started on the roof near a section of solar panels, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) announced Tuesday. The department’s Arson Counter-Terrorism Section completed its investigation into the June 17 fire at Lineage Logistics. The LAFD determined an “electrical event” occurred near the origin of the fire on the roof of the building, but the cause still remains undetermined. “Since the specific cause of that electrical event could not be conclusively established, the incident remains classified as having an undetermined cause,” the LAFD said. The full report stated, “Due to the complexity of the solar panel system, its associated electrical equipment, and the maintenance activities being performed at the time of the fire, I am not able to eliminate them as the potential cause of the fire.” City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said the investigation’s conclusion was unsatisfactory. “Determining what caused the Lineage fire matters — not only for accountability, but to help ensure a disaster like this does not happen again,” she said in a statement. “But LAFD’s finding that the cause remains undetermined does nothing to alleviate what Boyle Heights residents have endured and are still carrying: months of health concerns and disruption, along with unanswered questions about whether this site can safely operate again.” The cleanup of the food storage facility was completed earlier this month, over two months after the fire. Lineage Logistics, the owner of the storage facility, was unable to meet the city-mandated cleanup deadlines. Over the course of the cleanup, more than 4,900 complaints about rotten, sour and garbage-like scents were sent to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Air quality regulators issued 39 notices of violations from June 12 through Aug. 28, the agency said. Lineage Logistics filed a lawsuit against the operator of solar panels on the building’s rooftop in connection with the fire. In its lawsuit against Altus Power Inc. and contractor Pearce Services, which was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lineage claims the companies ignored safety warnings and caused the fire on the 500,000-square-foot warehouse rooftop. Scroll to continue reading fresh drops A representative of Los Palos Street Operating, a subsidiary of Altus, issued a statement saying the lawsuit was an attempt by Lineage to deflect responsibility for the blaze at the 500,000-square-foot facility that burned for eight days. “Lineage’s statement is riddled with misinformation in a blatant attempt to deflect blame for their role in this matter, including any damage caused by the release of substances from the warehouse, not the solar panel,” according to the statement. The LAFD’s completed investigation does not identify a specific party as responsible for the electrical event. “The Department’s thoughts remain with all those impacted by this deeply tragic incident,” Arson and Fire Investigation Chief Thomas Raymond said Tuesday. Don’t keep it to yourself…share the love! trending more buzz Construction leads to Santa Monica Pier Sign temporarily being taken down for refubrishing Subscribe + Follow
French startup Battwoo is developing stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS) using repurposed electric vehicle batteries. The company aims to extend battery lifetimes from 15 to 30 years by giving EV batteries a second life that would otherwise be sent for recycling, while providing an alternative to new batteries. “Every year, thousands of electric vehicle batteries reach the end of their first life while still retaining 70% to 80% of their capacity,” Melchior Martinache, commercial director at Battwoo, told pv magazine France. “At the same time, the growth of photovoltaics raises a major challenge: how can we make the best use of solar electricity when it is not consumed immediately?” The process involves sourcing batches of batteries from specialized partners and assessing their condition. Following an initial round of diagnostics and testing, conducted both in-house and by an accredited laboratory, batteries retaining more than 80% of their capacity are refurbished into stationary storage systems at a workshop in Madrid. “This industrial capability allows Battwoo to ensure full battery traceability, oversee every stage of the requalification process, and maintain high standards of safety, quality and performance,” said Melchior Martinache, commercial director at Battwoo. The batteries are sized according to the requirements of each project. “Is the customer looking to maximize self-consumption, shave peak demand to reduce costs, participate in grid flexibility mechanisms or engage in spot-market arbitrage? These parameters determine the required power output and number of daily cycles – and consequently the battery’s lifespan and return on investment,” Martinache said, adding that the batteries can handle up to four cycles per day. Battwoo’s first installations are enabling the company to test its model on an industrial scale. In France’s Hauts-de-France region, for example, a padel club selected the company’s storage system for a 250 kW photovoltaic installation. The 350 kWh storage system comprises 56 battery modules, equivalent to the capacity of five electric vehicles. It enables the club to store surplus solar power and discharge it in the evening to supply its illuminated courts. Another project, in the agri-food sector, involves the Les Fruits de Saint-Aubin cooperative. The apple producer uses a 350 kWh stationary battery system coupled with an existing photovoltaic installation. The system helps optimize the electricity supply to the site’s cold-storage facilities and its continuously operating pre-sorting line, while increasing solar self-consumption. Three other projects are currently under negotiation. “For now, we are still in a scale-up phase to ensure the reliability and safety of the solution. We have focused on projects below 500 kWh, but we will gradually be able to move up to 1 MWh and then to 2 MW or 3 MWh,” Martinache said. Cost is one of Battwoo’s main selling points. According to the company, a refurbished 500 kWh battery system currently costs around 30% less than an equivalent system using new batteries. The price difference could make stationary storage more accessible to some photovoltaic system operators and industrial sites. Battwoo also points to the potential environmental benefits of battery reuse. By extending battery service life by several decades, the company estimates that its approach can reduce the associated carbon footprint to one-quarter of that of a newly manufactured battery. Battwoo says the combination of lower costs and reduced environmental impact could appeal to companies seeking to increase solar self-consumption while incorporating sustainability considerations into their investment decisions.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new ESS News magazine is here! Download your free digital copy today. The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today! Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy. pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand. Monday, October 26, 2026 10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026 14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma
As the United States builds a more resilient solar supply chain, the industry’s attention and data collection has primarily focused on factory capacity: how many gigawatts have been announced, how quickly facilities can begin production and where new manufacturing operations are located. There is an often overlooked aspect of this process, however: What material enters the factory before the cells are produced? The answer can reveal whether a facility is performing the core processes, specifically P/N Junction, required to manufacture a solar cell or completing a limited number of steps on a product that has already undergone its most important transformation overseas. This distinction is at the center of the growing discussion surrounding “gray wafers” and “blue wafers.” While the terms may sound highly esoteric, the issue has significant implications for domestic manufacturing policy, tax-credit eligibility, trade compliance and the credibility of the U.S. solar supply chain. When does a wafer become a cell? A gray wafer is an unprocessed silicon wafer, meaning it cannot generate electricity on its own. Turning it into a functioning solar cell requires a series of highly controlled manufacturing processes that alter its surface, electrical properties and performance. Although specific production sequences vary by cell architecture, these processes typically include texturing and cleaning the wafer, junction formation, edge isolation, passivation, anti-reflective coating application, metallization and testing. Among these steps, formation of the photovoltaic junction is particularly significant. The starting crystalline-silicon wafer may be either p-type or n-type. During cell manufacturing, a layer of the opposite conductivity type is introduced to form the junction necessary for photovoltaic operation. Depending on the cell architecture, this may be achieved through high-temperature dopant diffusion or through deposition of doped semiconductor layers. The junction creates the electric field that allows the device to separate charge carriers and convert sunlight into electricity. It is one of the defining technical transformations in solar cell manufacturing. A blue wafer has its P/N junction already formed by the time it reaches the factory, and it has typically received the anti-reflective coating that gives it its blue appearance. While metallization and other finishing processes may still be required, the wafer already has the fundamental semiconductor structure that enables photovoltaic conversion. This is why describing both materials simply as “wafers” can obscure an important difference. A gray wafer is a raw input to solar-cell manufacturing. A blue wafer is much closer to a partially completed solar cell. Why process location matters The current debate is about identifying where substantive manufacturing occurred. A facility that imports gray wafers and performs the critical cell-making processes domestically is carrying out a different scope of manufacturing than a facility that imports blue wafers and completes only the remaining downstream steps. Both operations may require equipment, workers and quality controls. However, they do not necessarily represent the same level of technical transformation, manufacturing value or domestic capability. Policymakers have started evaluating whether federal incentives are supporting the development of an enduring U.S. solar manufacturing base. Incentives designed to encourage domestic solar cell production are most effective when they support the processes, equipment, engineering expertise and workforce required to transform a gray wafer into a functioning cell. If nearly completed cells can enter the country as wafers and receive the same treatment as cells manufactured domestically from their initial stage, the market may reward finishing operations the same way it rewards more comprehensive manufacturing. Over time, that could weaken the incentive to invest in the full range of capabilities the United States offers. Different rules may produce different answers One reason the issue is complex is that “domestic” can mean different things under different regulatory frameworks. Tax incentives, customs classifications, domestic content requirements, and antidumping and countervailing duty rules are governed by different statutes and administrative standards. A product’s treatment under one framework does not automatically determine its treatment under another. For example, domestic content calculations examine where specific manufactured products and components are produced and how their costs are accounted for. Customs and trade authorities may apply separate standards when determining a product’s country of origin or whether duties apply. In solar trade proceedings, the location where the P/N junction is formed has historically been an important factor in determining a solar cell’s origin. That reflects the technical significance of junction formation in creating a device capable of photovoltaic conversion. The industry should therefore be careful not to rely on a single broad claim, such as “U.S.-made,” as a substitute for a process-specific compliance analysis. The relevant question is which manufacturing steps occurred in each country and how those steps are treated under the particular rule being applied. Why this matters beyond the manufacturer Questions about wafer processing can create risk throughout the solar value chain. Module manufacturers rely on cell suppliers’ representations to determine product origin and calculate domestic content levels. Developers may use that information to model project economics and support eligibility for federal incentives. Tax-credit investors, lenders and insurers may evaluate the same documentation as part of project diligence. If the underlying manufacturing process has been inaccurately described, the consequences may extend beyond the original supplier. Domestic content calculations could be challenged, expected incentives could be reduced and contracts could become the subject of disputes over pricing, indemnification or responsibility for inaccurate representations. This does not mean every product involving imported blue wafers is necessarily noncompliant. The treatment will depend on the applicable law, the specific production process and the facts surrounding the transaction. It does mean that buyers and other stakeholders should understand precisely what they are purchasing and avoid treating all U.S.-finished cells as technically or legally equivalent. Documentation must follow the manufacturing process As the market matures, traceability will become as important as production capacity. A credible chain of documentation should identify the material entering the U.S. facility, where the P/N junction was formed, and which manufacturing processes were performed domestically. It should also connect those records to the finished cells and modules being supplied. Useful diligence questions include: These questions should become part of routine procurement rather than an exceptional audit exercise. Clear documentation protects responsible manufacturers while giving customers greater confidence in their sourcing and incentive calculations. The industry needs process-based definitions The blue wafer debate highlights a broader challenge for U.S. clean energy policy: Manufacturing cannot be measured solely by a factory’s address or the location of its final production step. Effective policy must recognize where meaningful technical transformations occur. For solar cells, that requires examining the manufacturing sequence and determining where a silicon wafer acquires the characteristics that make it a photovoltaic device. Clear, consistently applied definitions would benefit the entire market. Manufacturers would have greater certainty when making capital investments. Buyers would be better able to compare suppliers. Developers and investors could make more defensible incentive claims. Policymakers could more accurately evaluate whether public support is producing the domestic capabilities it was intended to create. The U.S. has an opportunity to build a solar manufacturing base grounded in technical depth, operational transparency and long-term credibility. Achieving that goal requires the industry to look beyond where a product is finished and ask a more fundamental question: Where did the wafer actually become a solar cell? By Sekhar Tatineni, Vice President of Technology, ES Foundry
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new ESS News magazine is here! Download your free digital copy today. The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today! Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy. pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand. Monday, October 26, 2026 10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026 14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma
By commenting, you agree to the Prohibited Content Policy By commenting, you agree to the Prohibited Content Policy News See whats happening in Energy sector right now Exclusive Read and get insights from specially curated unique stories from editorial Leaders Speak Business leaders sharing their insights Events Explore and discuss challenges & trends in India’s leading B2B events Awards Recognise work that not only stood out but was also purposeful Webinars Join leaders & experts for roundtables, conferences, panels and discussions Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms & Conditions Advertise With Us We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc. Download ETEnergyworld App Save your favourite articles with seamless reading experience Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. About Us Contact Us Newsletters
News Sheep under solar panels: how one northern Minnesota farm fits into the green energy push By Mark DorenkampFiled Under: Livestock, Minnesota, News, Renewable Energy A livestock producer in northern Minnesota plans to incorporate solar grazing into the operation. Ellie Trout is a fourth-generation farmer on her family’s diversified cow-calf and sheep farm in Itasca County and says the goal is to promote green energy while keeping agricultural land in production. “Running sheep underneath solar panels. As our state pushes for green energy and solar farms are popping up everywhere, especially my area. So with the hopes of combining agriculture and energy.” She tells Brownfield many farms in her area have been sold or leased to solar projects. “So the infrastructure started on that this summer and is supposed to be done this winter, so hopefully within the next year or two as these solar farms continue to pop up we can continue to try to work with them on grazing.” Solar grazing is the practice of using sheep and occasionally other livestock to manage vegetation underneath and around utility-scale solar panels. Your email address will not be published.
Solar Power World By Kelly Pickerel | To prevent stockpiling polysilicon and its derivatives ahead of Sec. 232 tariff initiation, the Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a temporary final rule explaining how it will monitor imports. In August, the Trump administration announced tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives under Sec. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, deeming the imports a threat to national security. Starting Dec. 4, 2026, polysilicon derivatives (wafers, cells, finished solar panels) will have a 15% tariff, and minimum import prices are set on polysilicon and each following step in the solar panel manufacturing process. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation authorizing the Dept. of Commerce, through BIS and in coordination with Customs and Border Control (CBP), to restrict imports and prevent stockpiling of polysilicon products before Dec. 4. Commerce has been monitoring imports to identify importers of record (IOR) that may be stockpiling and importing polysilicon products in volumes greater than their historic averages. The department is comparing post-Aug. 6 imports with the IOR’s prior weekly averages and use of affiliates. BIS has set weekly import limits for new IORs without historical import records: Absent Commerce approval, new IORs that exceed these import quantities will be prohibited by CBP from importing any further polysilicon products into the United States prior to Dec. 4. There have been mixed feelings on the Sec. 232 polysilicon tariffs, but a vocal group of domestic manufacturers has welcomed the policy effort, including Qcells. “Flooding the U.S. market with large volumes of imported products is a strategy that companies abroad have long used to undermine American manufacturers. We have repeatedly seen import volumes surge ahead of the implementation of significant U.S. trade or industrial policies, as companies seek to exploit loopholes and gain an unfair advantage before new measures take effect,” said Andy Park, Global CEO at Hanwha Qcells. “The administration is clearly aware of this pattern of imports, which is why it is taking strong and decisive action to hold importers accountable and prevent the circumvention of U.S. trade policy. These actions send an important message that attempts to exploit loopholes and circumvent the intent of U.S. policy will not be tolerated.” Solar Power World has collected import data for the year that shows from which countries the United States is importing solar cells and panels. It does not show company names or IORs.
The Solar Energy Manufacturers For America (SEMA) Coalition, which is led by Corning, Hemlock, Wacker, Qcells and First Solar, released a statement: “The SEMA Coalition applauds Commerce and CBP’s efforts to deter the stockpiling of solar products ahead of the December effective date for its Section 232 action on polysilicon. There has been evidence of stockpiling since the proclamation was issued. Today’s action signals that Commerce intends to strictly police these practices by evaluating imports against historical levels over the past year and preventing ‘fly-by-night importers’ from establishing operations solely to stockpile products.” 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.
Your complete guide to the emerging economies of Southeast Europe. From latest news to bespoke research – the big picture at the tip of your fingers. SeeNews is your complete guide to the emerging economies of Southeast Europe. Latest news, market intelligence, industry analyses, on-demand research – the big picture at the tip of your fingers. Get ahead of the competition with SeeNews Premium Access. Unlimited news and objective analysis you can trust, company data and more. Subscribe now and start making agile business decisions.
Advanced materials company Lava Blue has commissioned a 250 kW / 1.45 MWh sodium-sulphur (NAS) battery energy storage system at its Centre for Predictive Research into Specialty Materials (PRiSM) facility in Brisbane’s southeast, marking the first time the technology has been connected to the National Electricity Market (NEM). The battery, manufactured by Japan’s NGK, has been integrated with 200 kW of existing solar generation at the site and plugged into Energex’s local distribution grid. Lava Blue said the solar and battery system can supply up to 100% of PRiSM’s peak operating load, supporting the processing of critical minerals into high-purity materials used across battery, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing supply chains. The project was delivered through the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Queensland Energy Storage Technology (QUEST) Hub, a state government-funded initiative focused on accelerating the development and commercialisation of battery materials, chemistries and systems. Lava Blue Managing Director Michael McCann said the project provides a real-world demonstration of NAS battery technology, showcasing its potential to support long-duration energy storage for powering commercial and industrial applications as well as supporting grid reliability. “PRiSM was established to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale materials processing, so it is an ideal environment in which to demonstrate a long-duration battery technology under genuine operating conditions,” he said. “Our advanced materials processes include high-temperature and other energy-intensive operations. Integrating solar generation with long-duration storage gives us the ability to supply those loads with renewable energy for extended periods and better understand how advanced manufacturing can operate alongside future energy systems.” Lithium-ion technology currently dominates the battery market but it has limits, typically offering short-duration energy storage of just two to four hours. NAS batteries are capable of discharging for six hours or more at rated capacity, making the technology suited to applications including renewable energy firming, peak demand management and grid stability. Lava Blue said the technology has more than 20 years of commercial operating experience internationally, with approximately 5 GWh deployed across more than 250 applications. Australia’s first NAS battery system was rolled out in 2023 as part of a microgrid at a Western Australian mining site while Queensland electricity generator CleanCo has previously announced plans to pilot the technology. QUEST Hub Director Joshua Watts said the PRiSM installation extends that work into a grid-connected industrial setting, providing further operating experience to inform potential future deployment of NAS technology in Australia. “The successful commissioning of Australia’s first grid-connected NAS battery energy storage system marks an important milestone,” he said. “The project has brought together researchers, industry and government to demonstrate an alternative long-duration energy storage technology under real industrial operating conditions.” Victoria-based Allset Energy provided the electrical engineering, installation and system integration for the project, including development of the interface between the NAS battery, PRiSM’s solar generation, the facility and the grid. Queensland manufacturer Advanced Converter Solutions (ACS) designed and supplied the bidirectional DC-DC converter platform that enabled the battery system to integrate with the project’s high-voltage DC infrastructure. More than 80% of the purpose-built control unit was manufactured using Australian content. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Ukraine added up to 1.1 GW of new solar capacity during the first half of 2026, according to preliminary assessments undertaken by the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU). SEAU estimates Ukraine’s total installed solar capacity reached 9.4 GW to 9.7 GW by mid-2026. The association is expecting this year’s additions to reach around 2 GW by the year’s end, growing on the approximately 800 MW in 2024 and 1.5 GW in 2025. The association explains that much of this year’s growth comes from smaller projects. “We estimate that installations of up to 1 MW, primarily intended for self-consumption, will account for around 80% of new installations in 2026 by number, rather than by capacity,” SEAU’s analysis explains. SEAU Chairman of the Board Vladyslav Sokolovskyi told pv magazine that distributed generation and energy storage have become essential to Ukraine’s energy security and resilience. “Their development supports the energy transition while addressing an immediate need: keeping businesses, households and critical infrastructure supplied with electricity during wartime,” he explained. Sokolovskyi explained that storage systems offer a reliable source of backup power for households and businesses. He added that for businesses, the economic value of a battery also includes the losses avoided by maintaining essential operations. Lower equipment costs have also made solar-plus-storage systems more accessible, Sokolovskyi continued, while batteries can increase solar self-consumption and reduce electricity costs for users. Ukrainian market data supplied by SEAU put Ukraine’s new battery storage capacity at 2.9 GWh in 2025, making it the fourth largest European market last year. Sokolovskyi noted the figure covers multiple market segments, including portable battery systems widely used for backup power in Ukraine. SEAU’s preliminary estimate for storage additions in the first half of 2026 is between 1.6 GWh and 1.9 GWh. Its indicative full-year outlook is around 3.2 GWh. “Our 2026 outlook for both solar and storage remains conditional on security, access to financing and grid connections,” Sokolovskyi told pv magazine. “Forecasting deployment through the end of 2027 is particularly difficult under current conditions.” Sokolovskyi added that restoring capacity lost at the hands of Russian attacks and occupation must go hand in hand with developing distributed generation closer to consumers and enabling critical facilities to operate during interruptions to the external power supply. “Ukrainian energy experts estimate that the power system needs around 10 GW of new and restored generating capacity across different technologies,” he said. “Generation shortages and damage to electricity networks have contributed to recurring outages and increased reliance on electricity imports from neighbouring EU countries.” Sokolovskyi pointed to seven priorities that should guide the next stage of development in Ukraine’s solar and storage markets. His list of priorities includes rapid restoration and protection of energy infrastructure, continued support for distributed generation, effective insurance and guarantee mechanisms to reduce war-related investment risks and simpler, more predictable grid connection procedures. The list is rounded out by deeper integration with the EU electricity market, more accessible concessional financing for energy projects and the development of microgrids combining solar and storage with other energy sources where needed. “Ukraine’s private sector is already investing in new energy capacity despite the war. The next task is to make it easier for that investment to scale through predictable procedures, accessible finance and practical risk-sharing mechanisms,” Sokolovskyi concluded. “Solar generation and battery storage can play a central role in this effort, helping build a more resilient and flexible power system while meeting consumers’ immediate energy needs.” Ukraine updated its solar feed-in tariffs earlier this year and more recently, introduced time windows for eligiblity. Later this week, Ukraine’s state-owned JSC Guaranteed Buyer, the offtaker and intermediary in the country’s electricity market, is running two solar auctions offering a combined 150 MW. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new ESS News magazine is here! Download your free digital copy today. The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today! Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy. pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand. Monday, October 26, 2026 10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026 14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma
Advanced materials company Lava Blue has commissioned a 250 kW / 1.45 MWh sodium-sulphur (NAS) battery energy storage system at its Centre for Predictive Research into Specialty Materials (PRiSM) facility in Brisbane’s southeast, marking the first time the technology has been connected to the National Electricity Market (NEM). The battery, manufactured by Japan’s NGK, has been integrated with 200 kW of existing solar generation at the site and plugged into Energex’s local distribution grid. Lava Blue said the solar and battery system can supply up to 100% of PRiSM’s peak operating load, supporting the processing of critical minerals into high-purity materials used across battery, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing supply chains. The project was delivered through the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Queensland Energy Storage Technology (QUEST) Hub, a state government-funded initiative focused on accelerating the development and commercialisation of battery materials, chemistries and systems. Lava Blue Managing Director Michael McCann said the project provides a real-world demonstration of NAS battery technology, showcasing its potential to support long-duration energy storage for powering commercial and industrial applications as well as supporting grid reliability. “PRiSM was established to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale materials processing, so it is an ideal environment in which to demonstrate a long-duration battery technology under genuine operating conditions,” he said. “Our advanced materials processes include high-temperature and other energy-intensive operations. Integrating solar generation with long-duration storage gives us the ability to supply those loads with renewable energy for extended periods and better understand how advanced manufacturing can operate alongside future energy systems.” Lithium-ion technology currently dominates the battery market but it has limits, typically offering short-duration energy storage of just two to four hours. NAS batteries are capable of discharging for six hours or more at rated capacity, making the technology suited to applications including renewable energy firming, peak demand management and grid stability. Lava Blue said the technology has more than 20 years of commercial operating experience internationally, with approximately 5 GWh deployed across more than 250 applications. Australia’s first NAS battery system was rolled out in 2023 as part of a microgrid at a Western Australian mining site while Queensland electricity generator CleanCo has previously announced plans to pilot the technology. QUEST Hub Director Joshua Watts said the PRiSM installation extends that work into a grid-connected industrial setting, providing further operating experience to inform potential future deployment of NAS technology in Australia. “The successful commissioning of Australia’s first grid-connected NAS battery energy storage system marks an important milestone,” he said. “The project has brought together researchers, industry and government to demonstrate an alternative long-duration energy storage technology under real industrial operating conditions.” Victoria-based Allset Energy provided the electrical engineering, installation and system integration for the project, including development of the interface between the NAS battery, PRiSM’s solar generation, the facility and the grid. Queensland manufacturer Advanced Converter Solutions (ACS) designed and supplied the bidirectional DC-DC converter platform that enabled the battery system to integrate with the project’s high-voltage DC infrastructure. More than 80% of the purpose-built control unit was manufactured using Australian content. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Workers monitor operations in the control room of a photovoltaic power station operated by Huadian (Beijing) New Energy Development Co. Ltd. in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. To view our latest eEdition, click the image on the left. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
Go Solar Columbia University researchers address false claims about solar, wind, electric vehicles, and battery storage Solar power
Despite the growth in renewable energy adoption, misinformation and disinformation about these technologies persist. That prompted the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University to release a report debunking 38 false claims about solar, wind, electric vehicles, and battery storage. Notably for farmers and rural areas, this report highlights the multitude of ways in which solar energy will be beneficial to these communities. Agrivoltaics, for example, has been shown to enhance agricultural production and can increase the economic value of the average farm by over 30%. Additionally, farmland could be used more efficiently, as tens of millions of acres of farmland are currently being used to produce corn ethanol. Utility-scale solar produces approximately 31 times more energy than corn-ethanol crops. The report continues to disprove notions that solar energy is harmful to the environment and biodiversity. Through careful implementation of solar development, negative impacts on biodiversity can be mitigated, and in some instances, can produce benefits to local biodiversity. Furthermore, there is a surplus of evidence showing that the lifecycle emissions of solar energy generation are far lower than fossil fuel generation. “The positive environmental impacts of solar energy are invaluable,” said Johanna Neumann, Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy at Environment America Research & Policy Center. “Investing in clean energy to improve public health and combat climate change is worth it.” Solar power Walmart can go big on solar. Its flat, often-sunny rooftops are a great place to accelerate solar energy. Add Your Name Clean Energy Associate Solar power
Oswal Pumps Ltd has secured an order from the Telangana Renewable Energy Development Corp. Ltd (TGREDCO) for the deployment of an aggregate rooftop solar capacity of 46.7 MW across 9,937 government schools in 33 districts of Telangana. The order covers the design, supply, installation and commissioning of 2 kW, 5 kW and 10 kW on-grid solar rooftop PV power plants across the government schools. Oswal will deploy mono PERC/TOPCon solar modules, along with normal structures and RMS, and provide comprehensive maintenance for a period of five years. The total quoted value stands at INR 273.19 crore, excluding GST. The project is expected to support the adoption of renewable energy infrastructure across educational institutions in Telangana while contributing to the state’s broader clean energy objectives. “This marks our first major order from Telangana and an important milestone in expanding Oswal Pumps’ presence into new markets. Being selected as the successful bidder for a programme of this scale underscores the strength of our technical and execution capabilities,” said Vivek Gupta, chairman and managing director, Oswal Pumps Ltd. “We remain committed to delivering this project with a strong focus on quality, timely delivery and long[1]term performance, and look forward to establishing a presence in Telangana while contributing to the State’s clean energy goals.” This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Buckrail – Jackson Hole, news JACKSON, Wyo. — The Town of Jackson has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a single provider to install a Specified Grid-Interactive Solar Electric Power System at Jackson’s Core Maintenance facility on Karns Meadow Drive. Completing the project will take the Town one step closer to its goal of net-zero emissions by 2030. The Town shared that they are looking to work with a single-entity firm with “the proven experience and capability to achieve the highest quality, lowest cost, and best practices in solar construction services relating to design, labor, and materials,” which will be required to install the system at the facility. According to a press release the system will include, but not be limited to: “photovoltaic modules, mounting support systems, inverter(s), wiring, conduit, disconnects, and web-based monitoring equipment to be installed at the site location.” Proposals will be accepted starting Thursday, Oct. 8. Town Council will choose an entity on Monday, Nov. 16, and will announce its selection publicly the following day: Tuesday, Nov. 17. The projected completion date for the solar project is Oct. 27, 2027. For further information regarding the RFP project information, interested parties should contact Ecosystem Stewardship Administrator Tanya Anderson at tanderson@jacksonwy.gov. Hannah is a Buckrail Staff Reporter and freelance web developer and designer who has called Jackson home since 2015. When she’s not outside, you can probably find her eating a good meal, playing cribbage, or at one of the local yoga studios. She’s interested in what makes this community tick, both from the individual and collective perspective. 2 days ago Full time 2 days ago Full time 2 days ago Full time $25.00 – $27.00 hourly 2 days ago Full time $26.00 – $28.00 hourly 13 days ago Part time $25.00 – $30.00 hourly
Lawyer Coffee Shop Sushi Asian Cuisine, Overall Restaurant Nonprofit
Buckrail is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Jackson, Wyoming and the surrounding communities with Breaking Local News & Community Updates. tips@buckrail.com(307) 222-8609 Made in Jackson, Wyoming Serving Teton County Wyoming and Idaho and the surrounding communities.
The facility, located in the Gobi Desert, stores energy using molten salt rather than lithium-ion batteries. China has commissioned one of the world’s largest hybrid solar power plants, a facility in the Gobi Desert that can continue generating electricity for several hours after sunset. The project combines conventional photovoltaic panels with concentrated solar power (CSP) technology and uses molten salt to store the heat produced during periods of peak solar radiation. The plant is located in Xinjiang, northwestern China, near the Tian Shan Mountains, in an area of the Gobi Desert with abundant solar radiation. The project is being developed by China Three Gorges Corporation, a state-owned Chinese company specializing in renewable energy generation and known for its involvement in the development of the massive Three Gorges hydroelectric power plant. The facility has a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW). Of that capacity, 900 MW comes from conventional photovoltaic panels, which generate electricity directly during daylight hours. The remaining 100 MW comes from a concentrated solar thermal generation system designed to store energy as heat and continue producing electricity after direct sunlight is no longer available. The plant is expected to generate approximately 2.07 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year, enough to cover the consumption of hundreds of thousands of households. Combining photovoltaic generation with thermal energy storage also allows the plant to adjust its output to meet grid demand and reduce reliance on solar generation exclusively during daylight hours. One of the system’s key features is that it does not use lithium-ion batteries to store energy. Instead, it relies on thermal energy storage using molten salt. This technology eliminates the need for materials such as lithium and cobalt and also experiences less degradation in the storage system over time. During the day, the system operates using two different technologies. On one side, photovoltaic panels directly convert sunlight into electricity that can be sent to the grid. On the other, an area of approximately 8.6 million square feet is covered by about 260,000 mirrors that track the sun’s path and concentrate solar radiation onto specialized receivers. The concentrated solar energy heats a molten-salt system, typically made from a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. These salts can reach temperatures of several hundred degrees and allow the captured energy to be stored for hours while sunlight is available. Instead of storing electricity in batteries, the system retains the heat and uses it later to generate electricity. Once night falls, the hot molten salt stored in large insulated tanks passes through a heat exchanger. There, it transfers its thermal energy to water,turning it into high-pressure steam. The steam drives a turbine connected to an electric generator, using a process similar to that found in conventional thermal power plants. As a result, the facility can continue generating electricity even after the photovoltaic panels stop receiving sunlight. After releasing some of its thermal energy, the molten salt cools and is transferred to another tank. The system keeps the salt in liquid form so it can be heated again the following day and the process can be repeated. Its storage capacity allows electricity generation to continue through the night, although nighttime output is lower than the level the facility can reach during periods of peak solar radiation. Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere. And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights. Complete your personal details to comment
ACEN Corp. said in a Sept. 18 disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that its subsidiaries have given up solar energy operating contracts for projects in Quezon and Zambales provinces. Abagat Energy Corp. relinquished its contract for a site in Pagbilao, Quezon, on Sept. 11 because of “significant land acquisition challenges affecting the project site.” SolarAce2 Energy Corp. relinquished its contract for Botolan, Zambales, on Sept. 17, citing site-access constraints. The Philippine Department of Energy awarded the Pagbilao contract in August 2024 and the Botolan contract in June 2021. Its list of awarded solar projects, current to Dec. 31, 2025, puts their potential capacity at 336 MW and 120.30 MW, respectively, with both still in development. ACEN said the cancellations have no material effect on its operations, as neither project had reached a final investment decision or begun commercial operations. The department terminated 84 renewable energy contracts in 2025, representing about 5,372 MW of potential capacity, over failures to meet work-program requirements, auction terms, and other department standards. It said in December 2025 that a further 42 projects were under review and warned that noncompliant developers could face blacklisting and forfeiture of performance bonds. ACEN reported about 7.5 GW of attributable renewable capacity, including capacity under construction, in its August investor presentation, and CEO John Eric Francia said in April the company was on track to exceed 8 GW by the end of 2026, according to Philippine daily BusinessWorld. Land acquisition problems have delayed other Philippine solar projects. In October 2024, at least 53 of 105 renewable energy projects under department review faced termination, and failure to secure possessory rights was among the reasons cited for delays. Earlier this month, the departments of energy and agriculture said they plan to separate land suitable for solar development from areas reserved for food production, under an agreement targeted for signing in October. The Philippines installed 899 MW of solar in 2025, bringing cumulative capacity to 3,892 MW. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Comments Please login to comment The new ESS News magazine is here! Download your free digital copy today. The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now! Available in print and digital – get your copy today! Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy. pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand. Monday, October 26, 2026 10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026 14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma
Made in Jackson, Wyoming
You must be logged in to post a comment.