EWEC and Masdar sign framework to accelerate large-scale renewable deployment, targeting 30 GW solar and 8 GW storage by 2035, supporting UAE’s clean energy goals and net-zero ambitions.
May 06, 2026. By EI News Network
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has signed a strategic Collaboration Framework Agreement (CFA) with Masdar to fast-track the development of large-scale renewable energy projects across the UAE, marking a significant step in the country’s clean energy transition.
The agreement establishes a structured roadmap to accelerate deployment of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects, aimed at diversifying the UAE’s energy mix, strengthening supply security, and supporting industrial growth. A key focus of the framework is to maximise in-country value while fostering local talent and technical expertise.
Signed by EWEC CEO Ahmed Ali Alshamsi and Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, the CFA is designed to streamline Masdar’s participation across the entire project lifecycle—from early-stage development to financial close—while maintaining the transparency of EWEC’s competitive procurement processes.
The partnership builds on a series of landmark projects jointly delivered by EWEC and Masdar, including Al Dhafra Solar PV, Al Ajban Solar PV, and Khazna Solar PV, as well as a gigascale round-the-clock solar-plus-storage initiative. The new framework is expected to enhance execution efficiency and accelerate capacity additions.
EWEC aims to scale its solar photovoltaic capacity to over 30 GW by 2035, alongside integrating more than 8 GW of battery energy storage systems. These efforts are central to achieving Abu Dhabi’s target of meeting 60% of its total energy demand through renewable and clean sources by 2035.
Officials highlighted that the agreement aligns with the UAE’s broader clean energy ambitions, including the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035. The collaboration is also expected to support near emissions-free water production by 2030 through integrated planning of power and desalination systems.
The CFA underscores the UAE’s continued push toward building large-scale, cost-efficient renewable infrastructure while reinforcing its position as a global leader in clean energy deployment.
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Oswal Pumps has secured an order from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) for the supply and installation of 6,869 off-grid solar PV water pumping systems in Maharashtra. The solar pumps will be deployed under Component B of the PM-KUSUM scheme, also known as the Magel Tyala Saur Krishi Pump Yojana.
Oswal Pumps
Oswal Pumps has secured an order from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) for the supply and installation of 6,869 off-grid solar PV water pumping systems in Maharashtra. The solar pumps will be deployed under Component B of the PM-KUSUM scheme, also known as the Magel Tyala Saur Krishi Pump Yojana.
The total order value stands at INR 162.06 crore (inclusive of GST).
Oswal Pumps’ scope of work includes the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of solar water pumping systems in 3 HP, 5 HP, and 7.5 HP capacities. It also covers a comprehensive system warranty, along with repair and maintenance services for a period of five years.
These systems will be installed at identified farmers’ locations across Maharashtra, supporting sustainable irrigation and promoting the adoption of renewable energy in the agricultural sector.
Vivek Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Oswal Pumps Limited, said that by directly benefiting nearly 6,869 farming households across the state of Maharashtra, this project will reduce their dependence on grid power and diesel-based irrigation, lowering both input costs and carbon footprints.
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Perovskite–silicon triple-junction photovoltaics offer efficiency gains beyond dual-junction devices but at the expense of added complexity1. Here we address two key bottlenecks in perovskite–silicon-based triple-junction solar cells: reduced open-circuit voltage (VOC) in the wide-bandgap (WBG) top cell and limited photocurrent generation in the middle cell1,2. A non-volatile additive, 4-hydroxybenzylamine (HBA), regulates WBG perovskite crystallization and passivates defects, promoting oriented growth and suppressing non-radiative recombination. Together with improved energy-level alignment, this yields VOCs of up to 1.405 V and enhanced stability. To overcome the current limitations in the middle cell, a three-step deposition strategy enables the formation of thick, low-bandgap perovskite absorbers while preserving microstructural integrity and enhancing electron extraction. Also, low-refractive-index SiOx-nanoparticles (SiOx-np) that accumulate in the front valleys of the textured silicon bottom cell act as an optical middle reflector, enhancing light absorption in the middle cell. These advances are then combined in 1-cm2 perovskite–perovskite–silicon devices, achieving a certified efficiency of 30.02%.
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Source data are provided with this paper. All other data of this work are available from the corresponding authors on request.
The custom LabVIEW code used for data acquisition and three-point MPP tracking, as well as the MATLAB code used for numerical calculations of the equivalent circuit model, are available from the corresponding authors on request.
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We thank F. Toniolo, F. Sahli, and Y. Liu for their support in cell development, P. Chen from Scenergy and Patrick Wyss for the wet chemical processing of the Si wafers, A. Descoeudres, V. Gainche, Philippe Wyss, B. Paviet-Salomon, S. Dunand for Si bottom-cell fabrications, J. Geissbuhler for support in cell measurement, J. Decoppet and A. Theytaz for atomic layer deposition and screen printing, J. Gay for the SiOx-np supply, A. Bonet for NMR measurements and analysis and L. Klimmek for measurement support in iVOC imaging. GIWAXS experiments were performed at the NCD-SWEET beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff. The authors acknowledge funding from the European Union’s Horizon programme (VIPERLAB, 101006715, TRIUMPH, 101075725), the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (TRIUMPH, 101075725), the Swiss National Science Foundation (Radicals, CRSII5_216647), the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (PERSISTARS, BESTOBOT, COMET, 502791-01), the ‘Fonds Électricité Vitale Vert des Services Industriels de Genève’ and the ETH Domain through an AM grant (AMYS). M.O., D.T. and A.K. acknowledge funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under a Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant (945363 and 101034260). D.T. acknowledges the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for an FCS/ESKAS Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship. This project has received funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) under the NanoMatFutur Call, project number 03XP0625, COMET PV, and the European Union’s Framework Program for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe (2021–2027) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowships (European Fellowship) 101061809 HyPerGreen. DFT calculations were performed at the Swiss National Computing Centre (CSCS) under project ID lp60. J.A.S. acknowledges financial support from the Australian Research Council (DE230100173) and travel funding provided by the International Synchrotron Access Programme (ISAP) managed by the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO, and financed by the Australian Government. Fracture energy measurements are based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number 2339233.
Photovoltaics and Thin Film Electronics Laboratory (PV-lab), Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering (IEM), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Kerem Artuk, Deniz Turkay, Austin Kuba, Julien Hurni, Joël Spitznagel, Hugo Quest, Jonas Diekmann, Chiara Ongaro, Mostafa Othman, Hilal Aybike Can, Mohammad Reza Golobostanfard, Umang Desai, Paul Remondeau, Antonin Faes, Aïcha Hessler-Wyser, Christophe Ballif & Christian M. Wolff
Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM), Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Kerem Artuk, Michele De Bastiani, Jun Zhao, Felipe Saenz, Lisa Champault, Antonin Faes, Quentin Jeangros & Christophe Ballif
Chaire de Simulation à l′Echelle Atomique (CSEA), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
Stefan Riemelmoser & Alfredo Pasquarello
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Julian A. Steele
School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Julian A. Steele
3S Swiss Solar Solutions AG, Gwatt (Thun), Switzerland
Hugo Quest
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Freiburg, Germany
Maryamsadat Heydarian, Oliver Fischer, Martin C. Schubert & Florian Schindler
Chair for Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Oliver Fischer
Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa—Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
Huagui Lai, Jonathan S. Austin & Fan Fu
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Stefan Zeiske, Rafael López-Arteaga, Cheng Liu, Bin Chen & Edward H. Sargent
Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Sion, Switzerland
Mounir D. Mensi
Physik und Optoelektronik weicher Materie, Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Andrés-Felipe Castro-Méndez & Felix Lang
Materials Science and Engineering, Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Muzhi Li & Nicholas Rolston
Young Investigator Group, Robotized Material and Photovoltaic Engineering, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB), Berlin, Germany
Thomas W. Gries, Siddha Hill & Artem Musiienko
NCD-SWEET beamline at ALBA Synchrotron Light Source, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Eduardo Solano
Photophysics and OptoElectronics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Giuseppe Portale
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Edward H. Sargent
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Conceptualization of the idea: K.A., A.K. and C.M.W. Three-step absorber development: K.A. and A.K. Single-junction fabrication: K.A. and A.K. Tandem and triple-junction fabrication: K.A. Bottom-cell fabrication: J.S., M.D.B. and J.H. Middle-reflector development: K.A. and D.T. Encapsulation and damp-heat testing: L.C. GIWAXS measurements: J.A.S., E.S. and G.P. Analysis: J.A.S. DFT calculations: S.R. Analysis: S.R. and A.P. COMSOL simulations: J.D. Cross-section SEM: D.T., J.H. and M.O. ToF-SIMS measurement analysis: H.L. and F.F. XPS/UPS measurements: M.D.M. Analysis: M.D.M. and K.A. Transient absorption and high-dynamic-range EQE measurements: S.Z. and R.L.-A. Fracture energy measurements: M.L. and N.R. Transient surface photovoltage measurements: T.W.G., S.H. and A.M. Bias-assisted charge extraction measurements: A.-C.F.-M. and F.L. Outdoor monitoring: A.F., P.R. and U.D. Data analysis: H.Q. In situ iVOC imaging: O.F. EQE and J–V measurements at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems: M.H. Writing: review and editing: K.A., Q.J. and C.M.W. Supervision and funding acquisition: A.H.-W., A.P., E.H.S., F. Schindler, A.F., M.C.S., Q.J., C.B. and C.M.W. Manuscript revision: all authors.
Correspondence to Kerem Artuk or Christian M. Wolff.
The authors declare no competing interests.
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The solar-energy revolution has been powered by silicon for decades, but conventional ‘single junction’ solar cells made from crystalline silicon are approaching their practical limits. The best laboratory-scale devices can convert about 28% of sunlight into electricity, close to the maximum efficiency of about 29% that is thought to be possible for cells of this type1. Writing in Nature, Artuk et al.2 report innovations that enable a different solar-cell design — a ‘triple junction’ device in which materials called perovskites are used in combination with silicon — to achieve greater than 30% efficiency. Their work brings such devices closer to fulfilling their long-anticipated potential of reaching efficiencies well beyond those that can be achieved using silicon alone.
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Escalating Middle East tensions and global energy supply risks are accelerating Europe’s shift toward solar and storage, particularly in commercial, industrial, and utility-scale segments where energy security, resilience, and price stability are becoming central investment drivers. At the same time, expanding manufacturing capacity in China and India is redirecting surplus solar and storage supply toward Europe, creating a highly competitive and increasingly selective market where long-term success depends on quality, reliability, ESG alignment, and strategic market positioning.
Image: EUPD Research
The escalation of conflict in the Middle East is once again exposing the fragility of global energy systems, where disruptions in key transit routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for nearly 20% of global oil and gas trade, are driving volatility in oil and LNG markets. For Europe, which remains structurally dependent on imported gas and LNG, this translates directly into renewed exposure to price shocks and supply uncertainty especially in more dependant European markets. These developments reinforce a broader structural shift already underway: energy security is becoming a central driver of investment decisions, particularly within the commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility segments, accelerating the adoption of solar and storage as reliable, domestically controlled energy solutions.
At the same time, this demand-side acceleration is coinciding with a rapid expansion of global manufacturing capacity, particularly in China and gradually in India, where supply is far exceeding domestic absorption. With access to the United States constrained by tariffs, origin requirements, and regulatory frameworks, Europe is emerging as the primary export destination for this growing surplus. As a result, the region sits at the intersection of strong renewable demand and rising global supply, setting the stage for a more competitive and increasingly selective market environment.
From Crisis Response to Europe-Centric Energy Transition
This trajectory follows a familiar pattern. After the disruption of Russian gas supplies, Europe accelerated renewable deployment through initiatives such as REPowerEU, with solar and storage installations rising sharply, particularly in the residential segment. The current geopolitical environment is reinforcing this transition, but with a shift in structure. What began as a policy-driven and consumer-led response is evolving into a system-level transformation, where energy security, price stability, and resilience are central to investment strategies.
Across regions exposed to fossil fuel imports, solar and storage are viewed as immediate and scalable solutions, offering faster deployment and more predictable costs than conventional energy infrastructure. Within this shift, Europe stands out due to its sustained demand, policy alignment, and continued exposure to external energy risks, reinforcing its role as the primary market where global demand dynamics are taking shape.
Europe at the Center: From Residential Surge to System-Driven Growth
Europe’s solar and storage markets continue to expand, with growth being shaped by energy security priorities. Following the disruption of Russian gas supplies, the EU-27 along with the UK and Switzerland saw a sharp rise in residential solar installations, with annual PV additions increasing from around 31 GWdc in 2021 to nearly 68 GWdc in 2023 as households responded to price volatility and supply concerns.
At the same time, a structural shift toward commercial, industrial, and utility-scale deployments has already been underway across the European markets (read more). The current geopolitical environment is reinforcing this transition, as businesses and energy-intensive industries accelerate investments in solar and storage to hedge against price volatility, secure long-term energy supply, and meet decarbonization targets. According to the EUPD Global Energy Transition (GET) Matrix©, annual PV installations are expected to stabilise at around 70 GWdc in 2025–2026 before gradually rising toward nearly 78 GWdc by 2028, with a growing contribution from larger-scale systems.
This shift is even more pronounced in the storage market, where total capacity is projected to grow from approximately 31 GWh in 2025 to over 50 GWh in 2026, reaching around 85 GWh by 2028. While residential storage expanded alongside rooftop solar in the earlier phase, current growth is increasingly driven by commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale applications. In particular, C&I storage is emerging as a critical enabler for energy cost optimisation, peak shaving, and operational resilience, reinforcing its role as a key growth segment within Europe’s evolving energy system. Survey responses from the new EUPD PV & Storage C&I EPCMonitor© 2026 indicate that electric mobility is already a standard component of C&I offerings, with around 59% of active EPCs already deploying EV charging infrastructure.
As a result, the European market is becoming more value-driven and system-focused, where performance, reliability, and integration are now as important as cost considerations.
Europe as the Primary Destination for Global Solar & Storage Supply
As Europe strengthens its position as a leading demand center for solar and storage, it is also becoming the primary destination for expanding global supply. While China already plays a dominant role in supplying the European market, rapid manufacturing expansion in India is expected to follow, positioning it as the next major export contributor. This dynamic increasingly links global production capacity with European market demand.
In China, PV manufacturing capacity reached approximately 1,180 GW in 2025, translating to around 708 GW assuming a 60% capacity utilization factor (CUF). Output is projected to rise further to approximately 750 GW annually (with a 60% CUF) in the next five years, significantly exceeding domestic installation levels of about 320 GWdc. As domestic installations stabilise under China’s evolving energy planning frameworks and long-term capacity alignment under the 15th Five-Year Plan, this imbalance is expected to sustain a structural export surplus.
India is moving in a similar direction, although at an earlier stage. Supported by production-linked incentives and import duties, domestic manufacturing capacity is expanding rapidly and has exceeded the local demand in 2025. By 2027, export potential is estimated to be around 188 GW, with a CUF of 60%, reinforcing its role as an emerging global supplier.
At the same time, access to the United States remains constrained by tariffs, Foreign Entity of Concern rules, and strict origin requirements, limiting the ability of many Asian manufacturers to compete freely in that market. As a result, a growing share of global solar and storage supply is being redirected toward Europe, further increasing competitive intensity.
This convergence of strong demand and expanding supply is transforming Europe into a filtering market, particularly as demand from C&I applications continues to scale. While the region remains highly attractive, its capacity to absorb excess supply is not unlimited. Instead, intensifying competition is driving greater selectivity, where success depends on meeting evolving buyer expectations around quality, reliability, and long-term performance.
From Volume Growth to Risk-Aware Procurement
As supply intensifies and competition increases, procurement in Europe’s C&I segment is becoming more selective and risk-driven. Insights from EUPD Research’s InstallerMonitor© and C&I EPCMonitor© across leading European markets indicate that purchasing decisions are no longer based on upfront cost alone, but on long-term performance and supplier credibility.
This is reflected in EPC responses, where 53% prioritise premium-quality equipment as a proxy for reliability, 51% emphasise extended manufacturer warranties, and 41% highlight ESG-compliant suppliers as key risk mitigation measures. Notably, over 70% of EPCs indicate a willingness to pay a 10–15% premium for solutions that offer these safeguards. Buyers are therefore prioritising premium-quality equipment alongside suppliers that demonstrate strong ESG compliance and consistent product performance, with extended warranties reflecting the importance of financial resilience and long-term bankability in ensuring system stability.
What It Takes to Win in Europe: A Three-Pillar Approach
As Europe becomes the focal point of both global demand and supply, succeeding in this selective market requires a more structured and adaptive strategy. The convergence of geopolitical volatility, supply pressure, and risk-aware procurement is redefining how suppliers approach market entry and expansion. Three strategic pillars are emerging as critical for long-term success.
Together, these three pillars define a more strategic approach to navigating Europe’s solar and storage market. In an environment shaped by volatility and increasing selectivity, companies that combine precise market prioritisation, continuous intelligence, and strong downstream alignment will be best positioned to convert opportunity into sustainable growth.
Conclusion
The current geopolitical tensions reinforce a structural shift already underway in global energy markets, where volatility, supply insecurity, and price uncertainty are accelerating the transition toward solar and storage.
Within this global context, Europe is emerging as the most competitive global destination for solar and storage supply. As manufacturing capacities in China and India continue to expand beyond domestic absorption, and access to alternative markets remains constrained, a growing share of global solar and storage supply is being directed toward Europe. However, the region’s ability to absorb this surplus is not unlimited. Instead, intensifying competition is creating a more selective market environment, where only suppliers aligned with evolving buyer expectations can secure long-term positions.
This shift reinforces the need for a more structured approach to market engagement. As conditions vary across countries and continue to evolve under geopolitical pressure, success depends on prioritising the right markets, adapting to dynamic developments, and aligning with risk-aware procurement strategies.
Ultimately, Europe’s solar and storage market is not only expanding, but becoming more complex and competitive. In this environment, companies that combine targeted market selection, continuous intelligence, and strong downstream alignment will be best positioned to navigate uncertainty and capture sustainable growth.
Authors: Daniel Fuchs and Ali Arfa
Daniel Fuchs is the Chief Customer Officer of EUPD Group. He has extensive international experience in sales, marketing, customer engagement, and strategic event management within the renewable energy and cleantech industries. His work focuses on building customer-centric growth strategies, strengthening global partnerships, and supporting market development across the solar, energy storage, and sustainability sectors. He can be reached at d.fuchs@eupd-research.com.
Ali Arfa is the Head of Data Management at EUPD Research. He is a graduate of the University of Bonn and with a background in European and North American politics. His expertise encompasses market research, policy development, and stakeholder analysis. His particular focus is on solar energy, energy storage, and strategic consultation. He can be reached at a.arfa@eupd-research.com.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
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Last month, state regulators passed an unusual order that put a pause on Duke Energy’s new solar energy development in North Carolina.
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a motion with the North Carolina Utility Commission to reconsider the order, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”
The order was unusual for a few reasons: only Utilities Commission Chair William Brawley issued it, and the commission didn’t hold a public hearing before making a decision.
It also paused solar procurements that the commission greenlit during the last Carbon Plan, which the commission approved in 2024.
The SELC argued that an expedited review of the order is in the public interest, as these solar “missing megawatts” risk the reliability and affordability of Duke Energy’s service.
JAPAN Forward
At a press briefing, a demonstration showed a perovskite solar cell powering a light when illuminated from above, February, Ebetsu, Hokkaido. (©Sankei/Takahiro Sakamoto)
Pilot projects aimed at bringing perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to market are gaining momentum across Japan. Unlike conventional solar panels, these next-generation devices are thin, lightweight, and flexible, allowing for a much wider range of installation options.
PSCs use materials with a crystal structure similar to that of the mineral perovskite. The technology is closely associated with Japanese engineer Dr. Tsutomu Miyasaka, who is widely regarded as a key figure in their development.
Because they are thin and flexible, PSCs can be installed on walls, windows, and other surfaces where traditional panels are difficult to use. However, improving long-term stability and durability remains a major challenge to their widespread adoption.
From an energy security perspective, PSCs are also strategically important for Japan. Iodine, one of the key materials used in their production, is a resource for which the country is one of the world’s leading suppliers.
One such pilot project began last August, led by Hokkaido Electric Power in partnership with Mitsubishi HC Capital and Enecoat Technologies. At a press briefing in February, a representative said the cells continued to generate electricity even at temperatures as low as −22°C—a notable milestone for solar use in cold climates.
In the trial, the cells were installed on the exterior walls and interior window surfaces of a model house at the utility’s research institute. By comparing daily weather data with power output, the team confirmed that the cells can generate electricity even in extreme cold, including from sunlight reflected off snow.
This is significant because conventional silicon panels often struggle in winter. Snow can block sunlight, reduce output, and place additional weight on structures. PSCs avoid many of these issues, and the institute says this was the first time such a test had been carried out in a snowy environment.
“They are flexible and lightweight, which opens up more installation options,” a project representative said, holding up a thin film used in the trial. “There are still challenges to address, but we plan to continue our research.”
Sapporo City is also testing perovskite solar cells as part of its push to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from fiscal 2016 levels by fiscal 2030, and to reach net zero by 2050. The city is exploring new technologies to help meet these goals.
As part of that effort, a pilot project began in March at the city hall, where PSCs have been embedded into windows on the top floor. Over the coming year, the city will monitor how effectively the cells generate electricity in a real urban environment.
Running the demonstration at a highly visible public building is also meant to raise awareness of solar power and decarbonization. By making the technology easy to see, officials hope to encourage broader public interest.
Since last fiscal year, Sapporo has also been installing conventional solar panels at 10 elementary and junior high schools, gradually expanding the use of solar energy in public facilities. This existing setup could help smooth the transition to PSCs once the technology becomes commercially viable.
With more flexible installation options, perovskite cells could be especially well suited to dense urban areas. A city official said they hope the initiative will encourage more residents to think about decarbonization.
At the national level, Japan’s Seventh Strategic Energy Plan aims for renewables, including solar, to account for around 40–50% of total energy supply by fiscal 2040. PSCs are expected to play an important role in reaching that target, although challenges remain. Improving long-term durability and addressing the safe handling of lead used in some types of cells are key issues still to be resolved, and both the public and private sectors are continuing research to tackle them.
(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Takahiro Sakamoto, The Sankei Shimbun
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Angola has commissioned what is currently described as Africa’s largest off grid solar and storage installation, following the completion of the Luau Photovoltaic Park in Moxico Province. The project combines 31.85 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 75.26 MWh battery energy storage system to deliver fully autonomous electricity to the village of Luau.
Developed by Portugal based MCA Group, the installation operates independently of the national grid and has fully displaced diesel generation in the area. The system provides continuous 24-hour power supply, enabling a complete transition from fossil fuel-based electricity to a renewable energy solution in a remote region.
The commissioning of the Luau project represents a significant milestone in Angola’s energy transition agenda, particularly in expanding access to electricity in rural and isolated communities. By replacing diesel generators entirely, the project is expected to reduce fuel dependency, improve energy reliability and lower operating costs for local power supply.
The initiative also reflects a broader trend across Africa, where governments and developers are increasingly prioritising decentralised energy systems to accelerate electrification. Off grid solar and storage solutions are gaining traction as a practical alternative to traditional grid expansion, particularly in areas where infrastructure development is challenging or costly.
In Angola, the Luau project forms part of a wider national effort to increase electricity access and support regional development through renewable energy deployment.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
April 18, 2026
April 23, 2026
April 22, 2026
April 27, 2026
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The project is in line with Edita’s sustainability strategy and is consistent with Egypt’s Vision 2030 sustainability agenda, including the government’s target of sourcing at least 42% of national electricity from renewable energy by 2035.
Through this project, Edita aims to reduce its carbon footprint by lowering conventional electricity consumption and increasing reliance on cleaner energy sources. The initiative reflects the Company’s broader commitment to fostering a greener operating environment and embedding more sustainable practices across its facilities and day-to-day operations.
Project execution was supported by a three-party technical collaboration. Advanced Engineering Consultants (ADVEC) served as the independent engineering consultant, validating all design specifications against international safety standards and ensuring alignment with Edita’s operational requirements. Integrated Renewable & Sustainable Communities (IRSC), a specialized renewable energy developer with expertise in EPC and IPP solutions across solar, hybrid, and micro-grid systems, worked closely with ADVEC and Edita’s internal Environmental Sustainability team to conduct comprehensive site-specific solar audits across the three buildings prior to installation.
The selection of the Sheikh Zayed headquarters followed a structured assessment of six of the Company’s facilities across Egypt. Each site was evaluated against a defined set of financial and environmental criteria, including energy consumption profiles, roof load capacity, grid connectivity, and projected return on investment. Sheikh Zayed was identified as the prioritized site based on this analysis, offering the most favourable combination of technical viability and long-term impact.
Commenting on the agreement, Eng. Hani Berzi, Group Chairman of Edita Food Industries, said: “Sustainability is a core pillar of Edita’s long-term strategy, and this project is a tangible expression of that commitment. It comes at a time when domestic energy security has become a key priority for both the public and private sectors, while also supporting the government’s efforts to reduce Egypt’s reliance on conventional fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of renewable alternatives. As Egypt advances its Vision 2030 agenda, this initiative reflects Edita’s direct contribution to the country’s broader goals of energy conservation and transition toward cleaner, more sustainable sources.”
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani industrial salt producer HubSalt has signed what it described as a “landmark” agreement with China’s LIVOLTEK to install a hybrid solar and battery storage system aimed at reducing diesel consumption, lowering carbon emissions and easing pressure on Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves through lower fuel imports.
LIVOLTEK is a Chinese renewable energy manufacturer that delivers tailored energy solutions in over 110 countries worldwide. HubSalt, established in 1986, is a leading salt manufacturing company in Pakistan.
The deal involves the installation of a 1.44 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system integrated with a 2.35 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at HubSalt’s facility, the salt manufacturer said in a press release. The deal was signed in the presence of LIVOLTEK’s Asia Pacific Director Max Ma and HubSalt CEO Ismail Suttar.
“Previously operating entirely off-grid on diesel generators, HubSalt will transition to a hybrid energy model,” the salt manufacturer said.
“The company estimates the project will displace approximately 360,000 liters of diesel annually, contributing to import substitution and easing pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.”
It said the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the system has been awarded to Optimizen Pvt Ltd, which is spearheading the project in collaboration with its Chinese technology partner, LIVOLTEK.
Suttar termed the project a “transformative step” for the company and a benchmark for the wider industrial sector.
“By integrating advanced renewable technologies, we are not only improving our operational resilience but also setting a benchmark for clean energy adoption in Pakistan’s industrial sector,” Suttar said at the ceremony.
The company said that the environmental impact of the system is also significant, with the project expected to offset more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. It said this was equivalent to planting over 90,000 trees each year.
“The initiative may also enable HubSalt to participate in global carbon markets through the generation of verified carbon credits under internationally recognized standards such as Verra and Gold Standard,” it added.
Last month, state regulators passed an unusual order that put a pause on Duke Energy’s new solar energy development in North Carolina.
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a motion with the North Carolina Utility Commission to reconsider the order, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”
The order was unusual for a few reasons: only Utilities Commission Chair William Brawley issued it, and the commission didn’t hold a public hearing before making a decision.
It also paused solar procurements that the commission greenlit during the last Carbon Plan, which the commission approved in 2024.
The SELC argued that an expedited review of the order is in the public interest, as these solar “missing megawatts” risk the reliability and affordability of Duke Energy’s service.
Gujarat-based PIXON today announced the inclusion of over 1.64 GW of its n-type TOPCon solar module capacity, covering M10R and G12R formats, in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Pixon
Gujarat-based PIXON today announced the inclusion of over 1.64 GW of its n-type TOPCon module capacity, covering M10R and G12R formats, in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
With this addition, the company’s total ALMM-approved solar module manufacturing capacity now stands at around 2.4 GW. This includes 745 MW of mono PERC module capacity that was part of a previous ALMM list published in 2025.
Inclusion in the ALMM makes PIXON’s TOPCon modules eligible for government-supported, open access, and net metering solar projects in India.
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A new report has found measurable improvements in PV module recycling performance, based on updated data drawn from commercial and pilot-scale recycling operations in the US and Europe.
The report, published by International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) Task 12 shows higher material recovery rates, improved process yields and increased output purity across crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin-film PV recycling.
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The analysis is led by IEA-PVPS Task 12, with contributions from industry and research partners including US-based recyclers Solarcycle and SPR, Italian pilot-scale operator 9-Tech, EU-funded Photorama project, and thin-film manufacturer First Solar.
The report highlighted mechanical recycling as the dominant commercial method for c-Si modules due to its scalability and cost-effectiveness, while combined thermal and chemical processes are increasingly delivering higher recovery rates and purities for silicon, silver and other metals.
Furthermore, it finds that SPR reported up to 98 weight (wt.) % silicon recovery using mechanical processes, while 9-Tech achieved 95 wt.% silicon recovery through a hybrid mechanical, thermal and chemical system. Silver recovery reaches nearly 92 wt.% at Solarcycle, while SPR reported around 99% copper recovery. First Solar reported more than 90 wt.% recovery of semiconductor materials and other metals in its thin-film systems.
The improvements are driven by the need to increase circularity in PV supply chains, reduce dependence on virgin raw materials and enhance the economic viability of end-of-life solar assets as global PV waste volumes rise.
Advances are being achieved through optimised mechanical separation, thermal processing and chemical refinement, alongside emerging technologies such as flash lamp separation and water jet cleaning. These approaches also improve material purity, with Photorama reporting 5N-grade silicon and over 2N silver purity.
Despite progress, the report flags persistent gaps in electricity consumption data, material quality reporting and system boundary harmonisation, calling for greater transparency and collaboration across the recycling value chain to inform future circular-economy decisions.
“Updated life cycle inventory data reveal measurable advancements in PV recycling processes while also highlighting where improved data transparency is still needed,” said Cara Libby of the Electric Power Research Institute in the US, author of the report.
Effective end-of-life management and recycling are becoming increasingly important for the PV industry as global deployments grow, driving the need to recover valuable materials, reduce waste, and support a circular economy for solar energy materials.
In a recent interview with PV Tech Premium, Fortunato Villamagna, president of Comstock Metals Corporation in the US, highlighted the scale of value embedded in PV waste streams, noting: “Today 12–13% of the world’s mined silver goes into solar panels, a figure that sounds alarming given how much value it embeds in PV waste. Extracting such metals at scale can reduce dependence on mining and imported raw materials.”
Not only has Bluetti launched a Hurricane Prep Sale with tons of low prices, thanks to our three tiers of exclusive bonus savings codes (which we provide below). We also noticed that the brand seems to have introduced massive sitewide permanent MSRP price cuts to most, if not all, its power stations and solar bundles to better align with honest market rates. One such low price is on Bluetti’s popular Apex 300 Versatile Portable Power Station that is back down at $1,425.05 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5TOYS5OFF at checkout, beating Amazon’s pricing by $74. This power station launched at $2,399 back in 2025, which we saw cut down to $2,199 by 2026’s start, but now that MSRP has dropped lower to $1,699, which is also the highest price we’ve seen it climb recently at Amazon. With our exclusive code plugged in, you’re getting another shot at the all-time lowest price we have tracked, giving you $274 off the new official going rate (and $574 off the former going rate). Head below to get all the exclusive bonus code info and their uses, as well as browse the full lineup of deals.
Before we get into why the Apex 300 power station is a top pick among Bluetti’s lineup, let’s go over the varying exclusive bonus savings codes you can use for the absolute best prices right now. First, there’s the code 9TO5TOYS5OFF that can be used sitewide to score an additional 5% savings. Next, we have the code 9TO5TOYS6OFF that you can specifically use for the Elite 400 and its bundles for an extra 6% off the tag, while the code 9TO5TOYS8OFF can be used on the newest Elite 300 and its bundles for an extra 8% savings.
Now, getting back to our main focus, the Bluetti Apex 300 power station has been sitting at the top of the hill when it comes to the brand’s most popular power solutions, and for good reason. Not only does it start from a nice 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4 capacity that is rated by the brand to last for up to 17 years, but that capacity can expand up to a massive 58kWh with added-on gear. What’s more, its starting 3,840W of steady power output (and 7,680W surging potential) can also expand with the station up to 11.52kW.
As the name implies, this is a more versatile power station that brings along a wide array of 13 output port connections (4x AC, 2x 100W USB-Cs, 2x 15W USB-As, 2x DCs, 2x car ports, and an Anderson port), but also plenty more recharging options, too, including its pass-through charging ability when connected to a generator. Other methods include the usual AC outlet charging (with a turbo mode to speed things up), using up to 2,400W of solar panel input, or by plugging into a car’s auxiliary port.
***Note: We have not added in any of the exclusive bonus savings to the prices you see below, so be sure to use the above three codes wherever applicable to score the best deals during this sale.
You can also find all of Bluetti’s add-on accessory offers for individual solar panels, extra batteries, and more by heading to the Hurricane Prep Sale’s main page here and scrolling all the way to the bottom. We have even more sales from alternate brands waiting for you in our dedicated power stations hub here.
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24/7 Renewables Outcompete Fossil Fuels on Costs IRENA – International Renewable Energy Agency
source
Norway’s Flex2Future has begun testing a scaled-down model of its offshore energy system in collaboration with research firm SINTEF. The startup’s CEO says the system, integrating solar, wave and wind energy, can deliver power at a relatively low cost per kWh.
Flex2Future’s scaled-down model
Image: SINTEF
Norwegian startup Flex2Future has started testing its offshore energy system integrating solar, wave and wind energy. The company has utilized a test ocean basin belonging to Norway-based research firm SINTEF to trial a scaled-down model of its structure.
George Katsikogiannis, project manager and Ships and Ocean Structures Scientist at SINTEF, told pv magazine the research has involved laboratory tests focused primarily on the hydrodynamic behavior of the structure, as well as the power take-off performance of the wave energy modules.
“We connect numerical models based on both weather data and decades of hydrodynamic expertise to the motors that pull and push the structure. This allows us to recreate realistic offshore conditions in the ocean basin,” Katsikogiannis explained. “At the same time as the wave makers operate according to predefined patterns to generate realistic sea conditions, we use wires attached to the structure at one end and sensors and motors at the other.”
Flex2Future CEO Erik Svanes explained that the system delivers power at a relatively low cost per kWh because it utilizes three energy sources within a relatively small area.“What SINTEF has managed to achieve with the power take-off and energy extraction from the cube tested in the Towing tank was absolutely outstanding,” Svanes said.
Flex2Future is working towards completing a 19.2 MW pilot demonstration of its system, comprising 5 MW of wind turbine capacity, 14 MW of multi-motion wave energy converter capacity and 0.2 MW of PV capacity within a 136.6 m x 136.6 m x 52.8 m footprint by 2030. It then plans to begin delivering the system afterward.
Another concept system theorized by the startup encompasses a 40 MW wind turbine array, 59 MW of wave capacity and 1 MW of PV, for a total 100 MW of power capacity within a 500 m x 500 m x 52.8 m system.
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An artist's image of what the solar farm will look like when completed. Photo / Todd Corporation
Construction has begun on New Zealand’s largest approved solar farm, being built between Taupō and Napier.
Te Rahui solar farm is set to become a landmark alongside State Highway 5 and is a joint project between Nova Energy (owned by Todd Corporation) and Meridian Energy.
It is being built across
A “golden row” event was held on Wednesday to mark the installation of the first rows of panels.
The project will be completed in two stages and, when finished, will boast more than 700,000 solar panels, enough to power about 100,000 homes (producing about 400MW).
Work on stage one will continue into 2027, and the second stage could be completed by 2030.
However, the second stage is still subject to “commercial decisions” to get the official go-ahead.
The entire project will cost an estimated $660 million, making it a larger investment than Meridian Energy’s Harapaki wind farm, which cost about $450m and is located next to the same highway.
Nova Energy chief executive Rob Foster said the golden row event marked a milestone for the project.
“Every panel installed moves Te Rahui closer to delivering more renewable electricity for New Zealanders, while creating jobs and lasting benefits here in the region.”
Te Rahui is New Zealand’s largest solar farm to have gained consent to date, according to the organisations behind the project.
The project received consent in late 2022, and an appeal in the Environment Court was dismissed in 2024, paving the way for the project to proceed.
Solar panels typically have a lifespan of between 25 and 30 years.
The project’s consent includes a condition “that the components and infrastructure are disposed of in a way that maximises reuse and recycling”.
“For any parts that cannot be reused or recycled, [the consent holder is to ensure] that they are disposed of in an environmentally responsible way in accordance with industry best practice,” the consent reads.
Construction of a substation, a piece of infrastructure that connects the solar farm to the electrical grid, is also underway at the site.
The site was selected for its good exposure to sunlight, suitable landscape, proximity to existing grid infrastructure, and ability to accommodate a large-scale solar project.
Art Deco Festival in February had almost 23,000 unique attendees, some of them on trains.
Sinovoltaics has launched its PV Lab Test Advisor v1.0, a web-based tool that generates project-specific reliability testing scopes for utility-scale solar PV projects. The tool is currently available free of charge for developers, independent power producers (IPPs), and EPCs involved in utility-scale solar projects.
May 06, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey
From Innovation to Execution, BESS is Now Central to Power Planning: Savek Dubey, Sungrow
Mufin Green Finance's Gunjan Jain Bets on Premium Financing as India’s Next Credit Opportunity
Grid Modernisation, Storage, and Hydrogen to Shape India’s Energy Future: Advait's Rutvi Sheth
Energy Security Has Evolved into a Strategic Imperative for India: Hartek Singh
Geopolitics Reshaping Solar Strategy, Says Hindustan Power's Chairman Ratul Puri
A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finds that round‑the‑clock solar and wind paired with battery storage deliver power at lower cost than new fossil fuel generation in high‑quality resource regions.
Image: pv magazine
Firm levelized costs of electricity for solar-plus-storage range from $54/MWh to $82/MWh in high-irradiance regions, IRENA said in its new report, “24/7 Renewables: The Economics of Firm Solar and Wind.” That compares with $70/MWh to $85/MWh for new coal in China and more than $100/MWh for new gas globally.
Since 2010, total installed costs declined by 87% for solar and 55% for onshore wind, while battery storage costs fell 93%. IRENA’s analysis shows firm solar-plus-storage costs dropped from above $100/MWh in 2020 to $54/MWh to $82/MWh by 2025 at high-quality resource sites. The agency projects further reductions of roughly 30% by 2030 and around 40% by 2035, bringing firm costs below $50/MWh at the best-performing sites.
Firm wind-plus-storage costs in 2025 ranged from around $59/MWh in Inner Mongolia to $88/MWh to $94/MWh across Brazil, Germany, and Australia, with costs projected to fall to roughly $49/MWh to $75/MWh across those markets by 2030. IRENA said costs decline further when wind is combined with solar PV, reducing storage requirements and overall system cost.
The United Arab Emirates’ Al Dhafra complex, which pairs PV with battery storage, delivers a firm 1 GW of clean electricity at around $70/MWh, said IRENA.
“24/7 renewable power is now cost-competitive with fossil fuels,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. “The long-standing argument that renewables lack reliability no longer holds. Today, renewables can deliver reliable, round-the-clock power. As oil and gas markets remain exposed to geopolitical shocks, including ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, we must insulate our economies with resilient renewable systems. The economics of the entire energy system have shifted: the battery revolution has driven down costs while accelerating advances in storage. The advantage of renewables is not only economic but strategic, strengthening resilience, stability, and energy security in times of crisis.”
IRENA said 24/7 renewable systems optimize the use of constrained grid connections, shift electricity production to higher-value hours, and reduce exposure to price volatility. It said hybrid solutions are well positioned to serve high-demand users including artificial intelligence and data centers that require uninterrupted supply, and said firm renewables can enable clean fuel production for hard-to-abate sectors where economic viability depends on high utilization rates.
Construction timelines are also shortening, with projects typically built within one to two years of securing permits and grid connection. The report provides a framework for evaluating and comparing the costs of round-the-clock renewable power across hybrid solar, wind, and storage systems, analyzing cost drivers and regional variations.
The IRENA report lands amid a period of historically low solar and storage costs, even though the pace of decline has slowed in many markets. IRENA’s own data put the global average solar levelized cost of electricity at $0.043/kWh in 2024, while a separate analysis found that declining battery capital costs have already made dispatchable “anytime” solar electricity commercially viable in regions with high PV potential.
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By TIM STAUFFER, REGISTER MANAGING EDITOR
Local News
May 6, 2026 – 3:31 PM
A Pete’s convenience store in Chanute has gone solar, and two Pete’s locations in Allen County will soon do the same.
SEK Solar of Chanute recently announced the completion of a 97-kilowatt system composed of 162 panels installed on the store’s roof and parking canopy. The store is located at 701 N. Santa Fe.
A slightly larger solar project is planned for the Pete’s location at 1700 East Street in Iola. That system is expected to supply nearly 100% of the store’s electric consumption. Panels will be installed on the store’s roof as well as the automotive and diesel canopies.
Daniel Zywietz, co-founder of SEK Solar, said crews will begin installation at the Iola Pete’s location in the next several weeks. “We should be finished in under three months,” he said.
And while Humboldt’s new Pete’s location at 218 N. 9th St. is still under construction, solar will also be included in the design, with an array designed to produce about 50% of the store’s electric use.
The solar panels at the Chanute store will produce about 118,000 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power about 10-11 Kansas homes. It’s expected to generate just under 40% of the convenience store’s electric demands.
GAREK PETERS, administrative director for Pete’s, said the company is just getting started, noting they have plans to incorporate solar into as many locations as they can.
“Like anything with Pete’s, our foot is on the pedal,” Peters said. “We’re pushing hard for growth and pushing for projects, so we’re looking to expand solar and grow aggressively.”
The finances were what swayed leadership, he said.
“From a capital standpoint, it’s an upfront investment, of course. But with our industry and the amount of energy we use, the internal conclusion we reached is that it truly makes sense to us,” Peters said.
“If it pays for itself within 7 years, and for 18 years instead of paying money to Evergy, we’re putting that money back into our business, that’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We really believe solar is and will play a huge part in the future of Pete’s.”
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The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has partly granted Apple’s opposition to a trademark application from a Chinese company called Yichun Qinningmeng Electronics, due to concerns that its citrus-shaped logo could benefit from Apple’s reputation in the EU. Here are the details.
As spotted by MacRumors, the EUIPO has rejected Yichun Qinningmeng Electronics’ request to register its citrus-shaped logo for keyboards and other computer-related products, but upheld the company’s application for solar panels.
This case started last July, when Apple opposed Yichun Qinningmeng Electronics’ EU trademark application, arguing that the company’s citrus-shaped logo was too similar to Apple’s own logo.
The logo depicts a round citrus fruit with a left-pointing leaf, a missing section on its right side, lower segments that look like keyboard keys, and upper segments reminiscent of sunbeams. Apple argued that most of those elements evoked its own logo, especially for products related to computers and electronics.
As the EUIPO explains it, “the grounds for refusal of Article 8(5) EUTMR are only applicable when the following conditions are met:”
The EUIPO adds that these requirements ”are cumulative and, therefore, the absence of any one of them will lead to the rejection of the opposition (…).”
With that in mind, in its decision, the EUIPO said:
However, the fulfilment of all the abovementioned conditions may not be sufficient. The opposition may still fail if the applicant establishes due cause for the use of the contested trade mark.
In the present case, the applicant did not claim to have due cause for using the contested mark. Therefore, in the absence of any indications to the contrary, it must be assumed that no due cause exists.
The EUIPO goes on to explain that while Apple “enjoys a high degree of reputation among the relevant public in the European Union” for computer-related goods, that was not the case “for all of the goods for which a reputation is claimed.”:
Therefore, although the signs are only visually similar to a very low degree, the Opposition Division concludes that, when encountering the contested sign in relation to the above-mentioned goods in Class 9 – which have, or may have, a close connection with the goods for which the earlier mark enjoys a high degree of reputation – the relevant consumers are likely to associate it with the earlier mark, that is to say, to establish a mental ‘link’ between the signs.
On the other hand, the contested solar panels for the production of electricity are devices designed to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. […] The contested goods at stake do not target the same relevant consumers, since they satisfy completely different needs and have different distribution channels. […] Therefore, and because these contested goods and the opponent’s relevant goods for which a reputation has been proved belong to distinct industries and commercial sectors that have nothing clearly relevant in common, the Opposition Division finds it highly unlikely that the relevant public, when encountering the contested sign in relation to such services, would recall the earlier mark, even if it enjoys a high degree of reputation.
As a result, the office granted Apple’s opposition to computer-related goods due to the possibility that consumers could mentally link the two signs, but allowed Yichun Qinningmeng Electronics to proceed with the trademark for solar panels.
You can read the EUIPO’s decision below:
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He began covering Apple news in Brazilian media in 2012 and later broadened his focus to the wider tech industry, hosting a daily podcast for seven years.
SAVE 64%: Between May 6 and May 17, you can score up to 64% off at EcoFlow and snag free solar panels with your purchase.
I live in an apartment, so I don’t exactly have a “whole home” to back up. But if there’s one thing I hate, it’s losing power. There goes the AC, the internet, the food in the fridge — it’s a total nightmare. If you actually own a house and have been putting off buying a backup power system because it’s pricey, I have some good news.
Right now, EcoFlow is running a Mother’s Day Sale through May 17 with discounts as high as 64%. They’re also throwing in free hardware to sweeten the deal: All single orders between $600 and $3,000 come with a free 45W solar panel, and orders over $3,000 come with two free 160W solar panels. If you’re looking for something more portable, their RAPID Power Banks are also up to 53% off right now.
Just keep an eye on the countdown clock — it’s for the Flash Sale items that have even better, limited-time price cuts. If you miss the flash window, the standard Mother’s Day and Home Improvement deals (including a $700 installation discount for larger systems) are still valid through mid-May.
Here are a few of the best deals I’ve spotted so far:
DELTA 3 Max Plus Portable Power Station (2048Wh) — $1,099 $3,798 (save $1,899)
DELTA 3 Ultra Series Portable Power Station (3072Wh) — $1,899 $1,899 (save $800)
DELTA Pro + 2 x 220W Portable Solar Panel — $2,149 $4,997 (save $2,848)
Tabitha Britt is an award-winning freelance journalist, editor, and SEO/AEO strategist. Aside from reviewing dating apps and sex toys for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School for Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online publications, including National Geographic, Glamour, Better Homes & Gardens, and Everyday Health.
| Source: Skycorp Solar Group Limited
NINGBO, China, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (“Skycorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar cables and solar connectors, today announced that it has entered into Securities Purchase Agreements (the “Agreements”) for a second round of private placement (PIPE) financing. Pursuant to the Agreements dated May 6, 2026, the Company will issue a total of 1,685,000 Class A Ordinary Shares to raise $3.6 million. Building upon the Company’s previously announced $3.0 million PIPE financing on May 1, 2026, this second round brings the total capital raised across the two recent placements to $6.6 million.
The purchase price for this second round of financing is set at USD2.1365 per share. This price represents a 30.19% discount to the arithmetic average of the Company’s official daily closing prices on the Nasdaq Capital Market over the 15-consecutive-trading-day period from April 15, 2026, through May 5, 2026, which was calculated to be USD3.0603 per share.
The $3.6 million private placement is being subscribed to by four unaffiliated institutional investors. Demonstrating continued confidence in the Company, three institutional investors from the first PIPE round have expanded their positions: Hoping Group Limited, Matrix Sea Limited, and Hoping AI Machine Pte Ltd. In addition, the Company welcomes Helios Tech Limited as a new investor in this round, which subscribed for 1,295,500 shares for an amount of USD2,767,834. None of the investors are affiliates of the Company, and no executive or controlling person of the investors currently serves as a director or officer of Skycorp.
To ensure market stability, all newly issued Class A Ordinary Shares under this transaction are subject to a six-month lock-up period commencing on May 6, 2026. During this period, the investors may not sell, transfer, pledge, or hedge the shares without the Company’s prior written consent.
Following the successful completion of both the May 1 and May 6 PIPE transactions, the Company will have issued an aggregate of 3,379,000 new Class A Ordinary Shares across the two rounds, thereby increasing its total outstanding share capital to 13,900,025 shares.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, business development, and potential strategic transactions.
“This financing will also be used for the exploration, feasibility study, project application and other related expenses for a potential 200MW wind farm project located in Chengde, Hebei Province, China,” Mr. Huang Weiqi, Chief Executive Officer of Skycorp added.
About Skycorp Solar Group Limited
Skycorp Solar Group Limited is a solar photovoltaic (PV) product provider focused on manufacturing and selling solar cables and connectors. Our operations are managed through our subsidiaries, including Ningbo Skycorp Solar Co., Ltd., in China.
The Company’s mission is to become a green energy solutions provider by utilizing solar power and delivering eco-friendly solar PV products. By leveraging the Company’s expertise in solar technologies and relationships with worldwide clients, it aims to expand offerings of solar PV products and energy solutions for enterprise customers. For more information, please visit: https://ir.pnrenewables.com/.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
For more information, please contact:
Skycorp Solar Group Limited
Cathy Li
Investor Relations
Email: pr@pnrenewables.com
Tel: +86 185 0252 9641 (CN)
WFS Investor Relations Inc.
Connie Kang
Partner
Email: ckang@wealthfsllc.com
Tel: +86 1381 185 7742 (CN)
NINGBO, China, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (“Skycorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar cables…
NINGBO, China, April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (“Skycorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar…
Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2026
By Don Jenkins
Ex-Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has defended approving the Horse Heaven wind and solar project, arguing in a court brief that governors need to push through renewable energy development.
The state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments June 11 on whether Inslee overreached in permitting 222 windmills and 5,500 acres of solar panels on hills near the Tri-Cities.
Although Inslee is a party to the lawsuit, he and another former governor, Gary Locke, submitted a friend-of-the-court brief asking the court to give governors a free hand in approving power projects.
“Without it, clean energy projects likely will not be built timely, or at all,” the ex-governors stated. “Time is of the essence in dealing with our climate and energy crises.”
Tri-Cities CARES, a citizens group suing to overturn Inslee’s approval, filed a response May 4, asking the court to ignore Inslee’s brief.
A person being sued shouldn’t try to sway the court with partisan statements, the group averred. “The filing of an amicus curiae brief by a party to a case is inappropriate,” the response reads.
The Yakama Nation and Benton County also sued to block the project. The three lawsuits were merged into one case to present to the Supreme Court.
At issue is whether Inslee and the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council failed to balance the need for more energy with other public interests, such as protecting farmland, views, wildlife and tribal culture.
EFSEC originally recommended eliminating some windmills to reduce impacts, but Inslee said the project was vital and ordered the council to restore the windmills.
Inslee painstakingly reviewed the project, according to the Inslee-Locke brief. “Aware of the specific objections raised by project opponents, Governor Inslee did not take his decision lightly,” the brief reads.
Inslee and the project’s owner, Scout Clean Energy, maintain the windmills, solar panels and batteries will help the state meet its clean-energy goals and shore up the electric grid.
Tri-Cities CARES is asking the Supreme Court to at least send the project back to EFSEC to examine Inslee and Scout’s claims.
At full capacity, the project would generate 1,150 megawatts, according to Scout. An administrative law judge, however, barred Tri-Cities CARES from probing the anticipated average output of the intermittent wind and solar project.
The Inslee-Locke brief argues the state must speed-up energy development and cites a study by the consulting firm Energy and Environmental Economics that projects power shortages will occur, most likely during prolonged spells.
The Inslee-Lock brief didn’t mention that the study found windmills, solar panels and batteries make only a small contribution to grid reliability during cold snaps.
Renewable Northwest, an advocacy group, and the Northwest and Intermountain Power Producers Coalition, a trade association, urged the court to let the project go ahead.
Washington’s renewable energy industry is already struggling and pulling the Horse Heaven permit could be the “final blow,” according to the groups.
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France-headquartered grid-scale solar and battery storage system developer Neoen Australia has begun operation of its 350 MW Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales, one of numerous assets adding to its goal of 10 GW capacity in Australia by 2030.
Culcairn Solar Farm
Image: Neoen Australia
Australian arm of French-owned solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) developer Neoen, which is owned by Canada-headquartered asset management company Brookfield, has begun operation of its 350 MW (440 MWp) Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales (NSW), located 9 kilometres south of the Riverina regional town of Culcairn, and 535 km southwest of Sydney.
Featuring 760,000 bifacial, single-axis tracker solar panels, Culcairn is Neoen’s second largest solar asset globally that can produce enough energy to power 160,000 homes per year.
Half of its annual output however, was secured in 2024 with the signing of a four-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with independent energy retailer SmartestEnergy, to be used for supplying renewable energy to its commercial and industrial clients across the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Built in two years, in collaboration with Bouygues Construction Australia, Equans Solar & Storage, Lumea, Transgrid, and local contractors, the 1,000 hectare site aims to maintain agricultural production through sheep grazing.
Culcairn Solar Farm was included in a Neoen portfolio of clean energy assets as part of a $100 million Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) investment in 2024.
Neoen’s other key grid-scale solar projects in operation or under construction include in Queensland, it’s largest solar development globally, the 460 MW Western Downs Green Power Hub, Victoria, the 128 MW Numurka Solar Farm, and Western Australia (WA), the 10.6 MW DeGrussa Solar Farm.
In NSW, five Neoen developed solar farms include the 189 MW Coleambally, 65.9 MW Parkes, 35.9 MW Griffith, and 28.85 MW Dubbo Solar Farm.
Battery storage
A 963 MWh BESS is also proposed for the site occupying an approximately four hectare footprint in the heart of the solar farm, and adjacent to an existing Transgrid switching station and 330 kV transmission line.
Construction is expected to take 24 months and begin in mid-2026.
Neoen has five grid-scale batteries operational or in development in Australia, including in South Australia (SA), the 150 MW / 193.5 MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve (Australia’s first grid-scale battery development), and 200 MW / 400 MWh Blyth Battery.
In WA, the 341 MW / 1,363 MWh Collie Battery Stage 2, Queensland, the 200 MW / 400 MWh Western Downs Battery, Victoria, the 300 MW / 450 MWh Victorian Big Battery, and the Australian Capital Territory 100 MW / 200 MWh Capital Battery.
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March 2026 saw a return to installation volumes not seen since 2012 as rooftop and large-scale deployment drove UK solar to a new milestone. Even greater monthly installation volumes are expected as further government support kicks in.
UK rooftop solar installations are forecast to grow as grant and loan support kicks in.
Image: MCS
Millions of solar installations now power UK homes and the grid, according to the latest government deployment data, with installation volumes hitting a rate not seen for more than a decade.
Total solar capacity reached 22.1 GW at the end of March 2026, according to provisional data from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and while large-scale projects count for the lion’s share of generating capacity, growth in rooftop demand pushed the total number of installations to 2,003,000.
There were 27,607 installations recorded during March 2026 accounting for 121 MW of capacity: the most installations recorded in any calendar month since 2012. Total deployed capacity of 2.3 GW was added since March 2025, representing growth of 11.7% for UK solar over the 12-month period.
Roughly 16% of the solar capacity added in the 12-months to the end of March came from one site: The 373 MW Cleve Hill plant commissioned in July 2025 – the largest UK solar plant to date.
Source: UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ)
That share is on course to grow significantly, with the UK government targeting at least 45 GW solar capacity by 2030. The latest CfD auction round which closed in February 2026 secured a record 4.9 GW of solar capacity across 157 plants.
Solar arrays with capacity below 50 kW are also increasingly backed by the subsidy support. Arrays of this size accounted for 99% of the total number of installations at the end of March 2026, and 37% of total deployed capacity. Demand for this segment has taken a positive turn since early 2024.
Source: MCS Data Dashboard
The latest data from certification body MCS reveals small-scale installations have returned to volumes not seen since the feed-in tariff closed for applications. Residential installations accounted for 66% of the total in volume terms in March 2026, adding a total of 85 MW.
MCS certification is not mandatory for UK rooftop solar installations, but it does give households access to the Smart Export Guarantee – which ensures consumers are paid for exporting surplus electricity to the grid.
Higher monthly installation rates for residential solar are anticipated. The UK government has committed to spending GBP 15 billion ($20 billion) on a home energy efficiency investment program, which includes grants and loans to support millions of new rooftop installations by 2030.
The grant support will be available for new solar, battery energy storage, heat pump installations and other energy efficiency technologies. The UK government also recently committed to legalizing plug-in “balcony solar” devices in time for summer 2026.
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CleanMax to Supply Hybrid Solar-Wind Power to Iron Mountain Data Centres in India Photograph: (Archive)
Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd (CleanMax) has signed a long-term agreement with Iron Mountain to supply hybrid renewable energy to the company’s data centres in Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, as rising AI and cloud demand drives electricity consumption in India’s data centre sector.
Under the group captive arrangement, CleanMax will supply around 32 million units of renewable power annually through a hybrid solar and wind project, helping raise the renewable energy share across Iron Mountain’s Indian data centre portfolio to as much as 75%.
The project will combine solar and wind generation assets across Maharashtra and Karnataka to support round-the-clock clean power supply for high-density data centre operations.
CleanMax said the partnership reflects growing demand from data centre operators for long-term renewable energy solutions as companies pursue decarbonisation and sustainability targets. “Data centers are becoming a key driver of electricity demand, and powering this growth with renewable energy is essential for a sustainable digital economy,” said Kuldeep Jain, Managing Director of CleanMax.
Iron Mountain said the agreement supports its target of achieving 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2040 and will also allow customers to claim renewable energy usage through the company’s Green Power Pass programme. The deal comes amid rapid growth in India’s data centre market, fuelled by expansion in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure, which is increasing focus on renewable energy procurement and hybrid power solutions.
CleanMax currently has 5.7 GW of operational and contracted renewable energy capacity across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, spanning rooftop solar, utility-scale solar, wind and hybrid renewable projects. The company said data centres and AI-related customers accounted for 42% of its contracted volumes as of the third quarter of FY26.
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What’s in a word?
Labeling some solar setups as “guerrilla” installations creates a false dichotomy. If not qualified, such a statement frames independent efforts to access clean energy as illegal and even risky, while installations sanctioned by power companies and government entities are considered proper, aboveboard, and safe.
Early this month, the Senate heard proposals to simplify net metering rules by amending the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 as part of ongoing efforts to lower the country’s electricity rates, which are the second-highest in Southeast Asia (after Singapore). Such a move is good for our energy security amid the Philippines’ high dependence on imported crude oil (98 percent sourced from the Middle East).
Net metering allows households and private businesses to receive monthly bill credits for excess energy generated by their solar panels and fed into the power grid. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has around 20,000 net metering installations in its franchise area, which covers 39 cities and 72 municipalities.
While the net metering program is limited to a combined capacity of just over 170 megawatts (MW), a Meralco official informed the Senate that large commercial establishments independently added another 370 MW of solar capacity—pushing the total past 500 MW.
Meralco then advocated adopting international standards, such as the use of inverters, while expressing concern over so-called “guerrilla” solar setups (see “PH has plenty of sun—so why isn’t solar booming yet?” Nation, 5/5/26). These unregistered rooftop installations may account for roughly a third of all solar installations in Meralco’s franchise area in Luzon.
‘Insensitive’ framing. Calls for regulating unregistered or informal solar installers seem sound, especially when safety is at stake.
But the term “guerrilla” carries a negative connotation. It may suggest impropriety, illegality, and risky behavior, though not necessarily reckless. Applying this label to our pursuit of access to abundant clean energy, such as solar power, unmistakably reflects the perspective of monopolies and those who see themselves as self-appointed guardians of the nation’s energy security.
This framing is not only insensitive but also misguided—especially at a time of surging oil prices driven by Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. With a fifth of global oil and gas supply constrained, markets are upended, and pump prices remain elevated, threatening a potential global recession.
This narrative, especially if it emanates from the establishment, downplays, if not belittles, smaller voices trying to take part in a wider conversation over energy security that benefits all. Rather than encouraging households to embrace renewables and foster the behavioral change needed to build a critical mass for lifestyle-altering clean energy adoption, this narrative will have the opposite effect.
University of the Philippines Diliman professor and Inquirer data scientist Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao summed up what proponents of tighter regulations are up to. “Recent calls for Congress to investigate ‘guerrilla’ solar installers highlight the friction between monopoly control and energy democratization,” said Panao, adding, “While framed as a safety concern, the ‘guerrilla’ label not only unfairly stigmatizes citizens seeking relief from some of Asia’s highest electricity rates, but also casts doubt on the motive since monopolies stand to gain the most when decentralized competition is strictly curtailed.”
Consumer safety is a valid concern. However, when “regulatory compliance concerns”—often a euphemism for tighter oversight—are raised, it raises questions about whether electric distributors fear net metering might eventually impact their profits.
Low-carbon future. Ironically, despite the Philippines’ impressive photovoltaic (PV) potential of 3.93 kWh/kWp per day—among the highest in Southeast Asia—the barriers to solar power adoption for Filipino households remain high.
The primary barrier for households and small businesses remains the prohibitive upfront cost—even though prices have generally declined over the past decade. For instance, one solar company offers a residential 1kW solar PV system package for P90,000, sufficient for consumers with a monthly electric bill of P4,000 or less (and promises annual savings of P16,800); a 5kW package costs up to P365,000, ideal for those paying P12,000 to 16,000 a month (with an estimated annual savings of P84,000).
Solar power, as with other renewable resources, can also help lower fuel costs for car owners who opt to shift to energy-efficient electric vehicles (EVs), whether pure EVs, plug-in hybrid EVs, or battery EVs.
Thus, any government-mandated regulation should favor consumers this time around, ensuring that the new policies help the country immediately transition to a low-carbon future that is also insulated from global fossil fuel market volatility.
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Initiative will save 360,000 litres of diesel imports annually, ease pressure on forex
In a move towards industrial energy self-reliance, Pakistan's HubSalt has signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with Chinese firm Livoltec to install a hybrid solar and battery storage system. The agreement was signed in Karachi by Hub Salt CEO Ismail Sattar and Livoltec's Asia-Pacific Director Max Ma.
Under the agreement, the project will be executed on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis, with responsibility assigned to Optimizen, which will work in collaboration with its Chinese technology partner Livoltec.
The project involves installation of a 1.44-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system integrated with a 2.35MW-hour battery energy storage system (BESS). This initiative will significantly reduce the company's reliance on imported diesel.
Speaking on the occasion, Ismail Sattar termed the project a transformative development that would serve as a model for the local industrial sector. He said that the integration of advanced renewable technologies would not only improve operational efficiency but also set a benchmark for promoting green energy in Pakistan's industrial landscape.
He added that the project is part of the company's long-term strategy to contribute to sustainable industrial growth and national energy goals. Sattar noted that the company previously relied on diesel generators for its operations but is now transitioning to a modern hybrid energy system. He said the project would enable annual savings of around 360,000 litres of diesel, reducing import costs and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
From an environmental perspective, the project is also significant, as it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes annually; equivalent to planting around 90,000 trees. Sattar added that the initiative would also allow HubSalt to participate in global carbon markets, where carbon credits can be earned under international standards such as Verra and Gold Standard.
The hybrid system has been designed to maximise the use of renewable energy, improve efficiency, and ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Livoltec's Asia-Pacific Director Max Ma and Optimizen's CEO also highlighted the importance of the green energy project, reaffirming their commitment to completing it ahead of schedule. They expressed confidence that the collaboration would further strengthen Livoltec's presence in Pakistan and showcase its expertise in executing large-scale projects in partnership with Optimizen.
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Australia’s Energy Market Commission says introducing a new distribution planning framework and undertaking enhanced data reporting will help to reduce rooftop solar curtailment.
Aerial view of a suburb in Sydney
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is proposing to modernize its distribution network planning, which it says will help to lower curtailment of rooftop solar.
A draft rule released earlier this week proposes to replace the existing distribution annual planning report with a distribution network plan. The plan would be published every five years covering a 20-year timeframe, with distribution network service providers also required to provide concise annual updates.
The commission is also planning to establish a new framework for distribution network data reporting. It says that with rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles transforming the distribution networks, in turn creating both opportunities for consumers and challenges for the grid, planning needs to be backed by clearer, more accessible data on how and where these technologies are being used.
Chair of the commission, Anna Collyer, said the reform will give decision-makers across the energy system better information to act earlier.
“With detailed visibility of where solar, batteries and electric vehicles are emerging, distributed network service providers and investors can plan ahead through targeted upgrades or non-network solutions,” Collyer said. “That means fewer constraints, less curtailment of rooftop solar, and ultimately more efficient investment decisions that flow onto everyone’s power bills.”
The draft rule also proposes to boost visibility of the low-voltage network, which the commission says will help identify the best stops to install electric vehicle chargers and community batteries.
AEMC is now seeking stakeholder feedback, with submissions due by 4 June, before publishing a final determination and rule later this year.
The planned reform comes as the rollout of rooftop solar in Australia accelerates, with recent analysis finding Australia’s rooftop solar market surged 19% last month as consumers race to take advantage of battery subsidies.
A report by the Clean Energy Council found the capacity of Australia’s rooftop solar fleet reached 28.3 GW by the end of last year, with approximately 4.3 million installations across the country. Rooftop solar’s contribution to Australia’s total electricity generation reached 14.2% in the second half of the year of 2025, up from 13.4% in the same period the previous year.
In January, AEMC permitted virtual power plants to compete directly with large-scale generators in Australia’s energy market from 2027.
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US independent power producer (IPP) Longroad Energy has started commercial operations at its Sun Pond solar-plus-storage project in the US state of Arizona.
Announced 5 May, Sun Pond combines 111MW of solar PV generation with a 85MW/340MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), and has long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with California community choice aggregators (CCA) Ava Community Energy and San José Clean Energy (SJCE).
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In December 2024, Longroad announced financial close of Sun Pond, noting that construction company McCarthy Building Companies would act as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor on the project.
Additionally, the BESS cells would be provided by Japan-headquartered lithium-ion battery manufacturer Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), which is majority owne by Chinese firm Envision Energy.
Longroad has specified that Fluence’s Gridstack BESS solution was used at Sun Pond. PV modules from First Solar, smart trackers from Nextpower, and solar inverters from Sungrow were also used in the project.
Sun Pond is part of Longroad’s Sun Streams Complex, which is made up of three additional projects, and brings the Complex’s total capacity to 973MW solar PV and 600MW/2,400MWh BESS.
Read the full version of this story on our sister site, Energy-Storage.news.
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CONWAY — About 50 residents packed Town Hall on Tuesday night to discuss developer BlueWave Solar’s plans for a 20-acre solar array on farmland along Roaring Brook Road that residents fear will put the town at risk of fires, cause property values to drop and negatively impact the pristine landscape.
The application for the project on Ronald Boyden’s property describes solar panels set 10 feet above the ground, along with a battery energy storage system, a 20-foot-wide gravel access road and a stormwater basin. BlueWave would be responsible for decommissioning and removing the solar farm after 20 to 35 years based on the lease agreement, according to Melinda Costello, a civil engineer with Weston & Sampson.
The solar farm would be a dual-use system, allowing landowners to continue using the site for farming. According to Costello, the height of the solar panels would allow cattle to graze under them, and they would be spaced with enough room for sunshine to reach the field. Instead of fixed panels, the solar panels would move to follow the sun throughout the day.
Planning Board Chair George Forcier explained that the board will “[chew] on all the information” residents raise during the site plan review and special permit process, and will hold future hearings to answer more questions.
“We may not have all the information tonight,” Forcier said, “but we will get there.”
On the web or with our app, the Greenfield Recorder provides award-winning, essential local coverage from arts and sports to breaking news and opinion. You get unlimited access to it all, including archives and our popular e-Edition.
Fire Chief Christopher Herrmann asked for further details about the battery energy storage system, claiming “there really wasn’t much detail at all” in the project application.
In response, Costello said she plans to pass along his questions to the fire protection engineer who is working with BlueWave.
Resident Mary McClintock voiced concern about potential fires at the battery energy storage system and asked if BlueWave plans to donate to the Conway Fire Department to compensate it for handling the potential new risk.
She and other residents claimed the proposed array could also lead to erosion caused by the flow of stormwater.
“I know that land. I tilled and farmed that land for many years. It is not erosion-resistant,” said Howard Boyden, property owner Ronald Boyden’s brother. “There’s no way that this should be planted on agricultural land until every roof and parking lot is.”
“It’s going to be a big flat table where water is going to be pouring on these panels. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Devlin Selman, an abutter to the only solar array in town on North Poland Road. “As Howard said, solar belongs on already developed land to be considered green energy. We need our pastures, we need our fields, we need farms that aren’t going to be ruined.”
While answering questions at the end of Tuesday’s hearing, Costello said the solar panels will allow rain to fall off throughout the day as the panels move while following the sun, instead of collecting on a fixed flat surface.
Selman and Gerry LeBlanc, whose home also neighbors the existing solar array, claim they have shouldered the upkeep of the North Poland Road development themselves, from picking up litter during construction to calling the phone number on the fence when an alarm rang. They called for oversight of the proposed development to ensure BlueWave and any subcontractors stick to set conditions.
“It’s an absolute nightmare across the board,” LeBlanc said of the existing solar array. “It’s an ecological disaster. That land will never be the same again.”
Former Planning Board Chair Beth Girshman told residents that the board listened to problems residents raised with the existing solar array to craft the town’s solar bylaw — the standards that are now guiding the Planning Board’s review of BlueWave’s application.
“It’s going to be a whole lot of equipment and a whole lot of technology installed into something that’s now really beautiful and pristine. It’s never going to be the same,” LeBlanc continued, with the crowd applauding after he spoke. “The state isn’t protecting us and the rural community and the beauty of the town — this board is and we are.”
Tim Luce, an abutter of the proposed solar array, said he expects the development will cause the value of his property to drop.
“You can’t tell me looking out my living room window at this instead of that beautiful field that we look at is not going to affect our property value,” Luce said. “The adverse effect to this community is pretty obvious.”
Resident William Cote requested that information on the proposed project be more accessible and comprehensive on the town website. In response, Forcier said he plans to work with Adam Reed, assistant to the town administrator, to better share information on the proposed solar development.
Resident Michael Kurkulonis described his longtime friend Ronald Boyden as a “good steward of the land,” and said the concerns and questions attendees raised “would apply perfectly to public land or town-owned land, but that’s not what this is; it’s private land.”
“I have a real problem with telling people what to do with their own land. … We can’t be buying out private land and private businesses. It’s not what the town is for [and] that’s not what we should be doing,” Kurkulonis said. “I don’t like the look of solar fields, but I’m willing to bet that 99.9% of everyone in this room is in favor of solar, and I hate to say it this way and people probably won’t like it, but I’m getting the perception just listening to this stuff, that ‘Yes, we want solar, we want wind power, but we don’t want it in our backyard.’”
The public hearing will continue on Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Aalianna Marietta is the South County reporter. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst and was a journalism intern at the Recorder while in school. She can be reached at amarietta@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. More by Aalianna Marietta
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Harmony-F solar flooring can withstand uniformly distributed loads of at least 2 tons and has a hardness above 7 on the Mohs scale, indicating high resistance to wear and abrasion.
Image: Arctech
From pv magazine Spain
Chinese manufacturer Arctech has launched the photovoltaic paving system Harmony-F Solar Flooring in Europe.
The off-grid solution is designed to generate renewable energy on walkable surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, and building exteriors.
Harmony-F integrates solar modules with a reinforced surface layer in a structure capable of withstanding uniformly distributed loads of at least 2 tons. It also has a hardness above 7 on the Mohs scale, indicating high resistance to wear and abrasion.
The company says the paving system offers transmittance of more than 85% across a wavelength range of 380 nm to 1,100 nm. It uses TOPCon modules measuring 1,200 × 600 × 45 mm and weighing 28 kg.
Each module has a rated power of 110 W under standard test conditions (STC), with a maximum power point voltage of 19.20 V and a current of 5.73 A. The system supports a maximum DC voltage of 1,500 V, enabling integration into larger arrays or hybrid systems.
The pavement incorporates anti-slip treatment achieving a wet slip resistance value above 60 BPN, in accordance with JGJ/T 331-2014. According to the manufacturer, this makes it suitable for outdoor pedestrian areas where wet conditions may increase slip risk.
The system has an IP67 rating under IEC 60529 and an operating temperature range of -40 C to 85 C.
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