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New solar module squeezes more power from every square foot, setting world record  Yahoo Tech
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European Energy inaugurates Latvia solar park  reNEWS.BIZ
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India added 4.6 GWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 939% quarter-on-quarter increase from the 442.7 MWh added in Q4 2025, according to Mercom India Research’s Q1 2026 India Energy Storage Landscape Report.
The nation’s cumulative installed battery energy storage capacity reached 5.9 GWh as of March 2026.
Standalone energy storage accounted for 73% of India’s cumulative BESS capacity, followed by 15% from solar-plus-wind with storage (round-the-clock RE power) projects, and 11% from solar-plus-energy storage projects. The remaining share was split among emerging configurations, including solar-plus-wind with storage and floating solar with storage, each contributing less than 1%.
The pumped storage project (PSP) pipeline remained strong, with 57.2 GW of projects in various stages of development. Out of 7.2 GW installed, 5.7 GW of PSPs were operational as of March 2026.
“The strong growth in Q1 2026, coupled with a rapidly expanding project pipeline, reflects how quickly energy storage is becoming a core part of India’s power infrastructure. Policy support, including the expansion of the viability gap funding (VGF) program and mandatory storage requirements for new solar projects, has accelerated market development and strengthened the sector’s long-term outlook,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group.
“The next challenge is ensuring sustainable growth through realistic bidding, regulatory certainty, and policies that recognize storage as a strategic grid asset,” Prabhu added. “As renewable energy penetration increases, storage will play a critical role in maintaining grid reliability and supporting the integration of large volumes of solar and wind.”
According to the report, in Q1 2026, India’s energy storage development pipeline reached 69 GWh, comprising 41 GWh of standalone storage, 11 GWh of solar-plus-wind with storage, 9 GWh of solar-plus-energy storage, and 1 GWh of solar-plus-wind with storage projects (RTC capabilities). Additionally, there were 6 GWh of renewable energy-plus-storage projects, with unspecified configurations for both renewable and storage.
Gujarat had the largest pipeline of standalone battery storage capacity at 10 GWh.
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PUBLISHED ON June 16, 2026
ONLINE — Penn State Extension is offering a free, one-hour webinar to help communities better understand the growing presence of large-scale solar development across Pennsylvania. The session, will take place on June 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (ET).
As energy demand continues to rise, utility-scale solar projects are gaining momentum in rural areas of the state. Penn State Extension educators will provide an overview of these trends and explain what they could mean for local communities, landowners, and decision-makers.
The webinar will explore:
Large-scale solar development is part of a broader shift in the energy landscape, with communities increasingly evaluating how these projects intersect with agriculture, infrastructure, and long-term planning.
The program is designed for a wide audience, including landowners, farmers, municipal officials, policymakers, and community members who want to better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with solar energy development.
Participation is free, but registration is required to receive the webinar access link. A recording will be made available to registrants after the event. Please register at:  www.bit.ly/solar618.
Penn State Extension has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Energy Systems Office for this project.
About the Integrated Energy Systems Office
The U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Energy Systems Office drives research and development of energy solutions that enhance grid reliability and resilience, foster U.S. technological leadership, and reduce the cost of energy for 4 U.S. Department of Energy | Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Americans. Learn more at energy.gov/cmei/systems/integrated-energy-systems-office.
—Penn State Extension
ONLINE — Join Stefan Streckfus, CTO of Renewell Energy, for a free, one-hour webinar exploring the untapped potential of inactive wells. The concept, known as gravity energy storage, has the potential to transform abandoned wells into valuable assets for renewable energy integration. The webinar hosted by Penn State Extension explores how decommissioned oil and gas […]
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar titled “Harvesting Innovation: Geospatial Intelligence and Precision Ag,” scheduled for 1pm EST on April 22, 2025. This virtual event will explore the transformative role of geospatial technologies in modern agriculture.​ Geospatial intelligence, encompassing tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote […]
PORTLAND, Tenn. — The American Society of Agricultural Consultants (ASAC) will host a “Shop Talk” on April 30th at 11:00 AM Central Time to discuss the increasing role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agricultural consulting. It’s open to members and prospective members interested in the topic who are willing to share what they’ve found beneficial with others. […]
NEW PRAGUE, Minn. — NMC: The Global Milk Quality Organization’s Oct. 30 webinar, led by and Doug Reinnemann, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Ian Ohnstad, The Dairy Group, features “The new DeLaval standard way of milking in VMS (voluntary milking system).” This free, one-hour educational offering starts at 10 a.m. Central time (Chicago time). DeLaval has […]
Penn State Guide to Urban Soil Management to Support Safe, Productive Land Use
Good Stewardship Reduces the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in Pennsylvania









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PARIS, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When was the last time you used your portable power station? For many owners, these powerful batteries spend most of the year tucked away in a closet after camping trips, road adventures, or outdoor events. As balcony solar systems continue to grow in popularity across Europe, BLUETTI has introduced an innovative solution that gives these devices a valuable second life.

Recently unveiled at a brand launch event in Paris, the BLUETTI Balco Transfer Hub is the world’s first grid-tied controller designed specifically for portable power stations. Combining plug-and-play simplicity with cross-brand compatibility, it enables users to transform a portable battery into a grid-connected balcony solar energy system without the complexity and cost of traditional installations.
The concept is simple. During the week, your portable power station can serve as part of your home energy setup. Solar panels charge the battery throughout the day, storing clean energy for later use. In the evening, when electricity demand and utility rates are typically at their highest, the Transfer Hub can feed up to 800W of stored solar power into the home grid. This helps power everyday household appliances such as refrigerators, Wi-Fi routers, lighting, and televisions while reducing reliance on expensive grid electricity.
To maximize savings, the system features intelligent energy management. By analyzing real-time electricity pricing and solar generation forecasts, it can automatically optimize charging and discharging schedules. Users can also charge batteries during low-cost off-peak hours and prioritize energy-intensive appliances when solar production is strongest.
Installation is remarkably straightforward. Users simply connect the Transfer Hub to a wall outlet, link it to a compatible portable power station, and connect solar panels. No drilling, complicated wiring, or professional installation is required, making it an ideal solution for renters and homeowners alike.
The Balco Transfer Hub also offers impressive flexibility. It supports selected BLUETTI products, including the Elite 300, while remaining compatible with many third-party portable power stations. Additional smart features, including app-based energy monitoring, wireless system expansion, and integration with popular smart home platforms, help users build a more connected and efficient energy ecosystem.
Available now in Germany and France for €349, the BLUETTI Balco Transfer Hub provides an affordable way to lower energy costs, maximize the value of existing portable power stations, and take a practical step toward a more sustainable future.
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It points to the possibility of “horizontal” recycling.
Photo Credit: iStock
As solar installations age, discarded panels are becoming a bigger waste problem worldwide. But a new recycling method suggests that even one of the toughest solar-panel materials to reclaim may be reused instead of sent to a landfill.
According to the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, glass manufacturer NSG Group said a trial in Japan successfully converted glass recovered from retired photovoltaic panels into float glass, a common base material for glass products.
NSG Group said it produced float glass in a trial at its plant in Ichihara City, Japan, using glass recovered from retired solar modules. 
Solar-panel cover glass has historically been difficult to recycle. The material is built to withstand years of outdoor exposure, and strong adhesives help keep the modules together, the report noted.
However, those same adhesives also make it hard to separate the glass cleanly enough for high-value reuse.
The new recycling method addressed that challenge with a low-temperature thermal decomposition that breaks apart the resin holding the module components together. This allows the glass, solar cells, and interconnectors to be sorted more precisely.
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NSG said the trial suggests the recovered material may, under certain conditions, work in float-glass production. That points to the possibility of “horizontal” recycling, meaning old solar-panel glass could be remade into a similar high-quality glass product rather than downcycled into something less useful.
Solar power helps cut electricity-related pollution, reduce household energy costs, and curb reliance on dirty fuels. But as more panels reach the end of their useful lives, the industry will need better ways to deal with the resulting waste.
NSG said the method may reduce the need for inputs such as silica sand and soda ash, increase the use of cullet, or recycled glass, and cut carbon dioxide pollution from glass production.
Less mining and lower industrial pollution can mean cleaner air and a healthier environment for nearby communities.
Using materials that are already in circulation can also make supply chains more resilient and lower manufacturing costs over time.
Because float glass is used in everyday products such as windows and other building materials, better recycling could eventually contribute to more affordable, lower-impact goods while keeping bulky solar waste out of landfills.
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California Solar Power Overtakes Natural Gas As Grid Transformation Accelerates In 2026  SolarQuarter
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Navitas Solar, an India-based PV module manufacturer, has announced plans to invest around INR 1,500 crore ($181.1 million)in a 3.6 GW solar cell manufacturing facility and a pilot wafer and ingot production line in Gujarat, as part of its backward integration strategy.
The project will be implemented in phases, with the first phase scheduled for commissioning in 2027. Further capacity additions are planned thereafter, subject to market conditions and project readiness.
Civil works covering more than 92,200 m2 are currently underway. The company said it has secured a technology tie-up for the planned manufacturing line and appointed senior leadership to oversee the new business vertical. It is also strengthening its project execution, manufacturing, technology and quality functions to support the expansion.
According to Navitas Solar, the cell manufacturing facility is being designed as a highly automated, future-ready production platform capable of supporting next-generation solar technologies. The line will be built with upgradeability and flexibility to accommodate evolving cell architectures, subject to technology and market readiness.
The company also plans to establish a pilot wafer and ingot manufacturing line in 2027 as part of its long-term backward integration roadmap. The initiative is expected to strengthen in-house capabilities, improve technology understanding and support future localisation requirements across the solar value chain.
Navitas Solar’s proposed 3.6 GW cell facility aligns with the Indian government’s implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II framework for solar PV cells, which is expected to significantly increase demand for domestically manufactured cells.
The company estimates the project will generate around 1,000 direct jobs across manufacturing, engineering, operations, project execution, quality assurance and R&D, along with additional indirect employment in logistics, ancillary industries and support services.
Navitas Solar currently has 3 GW of annual solar module manufacturing capacity and offers a portfolio of mono PERC and high-efficiency TOPCon modules ranging from 40 W to 720 W. It also has upstream integration through its subsidiary Navitas Alpha Renewables, which manufactures solar encapsulants.
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Interest-free loans of up to $15,000 (USD 10,600) are being offered by the New South Wales (NSW) government to encourage the uptake of renewable energy measures like solar panels and household batteries and boost the clean energy rollout.
NSW households with a combined taxable income of $210,000 or less can now apply for a 10-year loan of up to $15,000 at zero interest to install energy-saving and cost-cutting upgrades.
The $480 million commitment, that is expected to benefit at least 32,000 households, is part of a $557 million package to be included in next week’s NSW state budget.
In addition to loans, the program will later this year provide discounts of up to $4,000 to households with a combined annual income of up to $80,000, or eligible concession card holders, looking to upgrade with energy-saving measures. This is a $77 million commitment.
Renters will be able to access the payments provided that their landlord approves the upgrade.
In addition, eligible households will be able to use the state program on top of the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, that offers about a 30% discount on the upfront cost of installing typical small-scale battery systems alongside new or existing rooftop solar.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state program is a practical way to make energy efficiency upgrades significantly more affordable.
“For many households, the upfront cost of these upgrades has simply been too high,” he said. “We’re stepping in to help where we can, so more families can access technology … while making sure NSW has a more reliable and secure energy system for the future.”
Eligible home improvements include rooftop solar, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle chargers, switchboard upgrades and solar water heaters. The program also covers induction cooktops, DC ceiling fans, reverse cycle air conditioning, ceiling insulation, draught-proofing and double glazing.
Smart Energy Council Chief Executive Officer David McElrea labelled the program “a massive win for households.”
“Helping lower-income earners and renters to overcome the cost barrier to modernising their homes with smart solar, batteries, efficient cooling and heating is the fastest way to permanently drive down household expenses while building a more resilient grid,” he said.
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From pv magazine India
Vikram Solar is advancing the first phase of its planned 12 GW solar cell manufacturing facility and expects to commission 9 GW of cell production capacity by the end of December 2026.
The expansion comes as India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II took effect on June 1, 2026. Under the new requirement, solar PV modules deployed in projects covered by the ALMM framework, including government-supported schemes, net-metering installations, and open-access renewable energy projects, must use solar cells sourced from manufacturers listed under ALMM List-II.
“While certain under-construction projects have received transitional relief, the broader policy direction remains unchanged. With domestic cell capacity still trailing module capacity, access to ALMM-compliant cells and backward integration will increasingly differentiate manufacturers. As ALMM List-III for wafers and ingots remains under consultation for its proposed June 2028 implementation, the policy framework is expected to increasingly favour scaled, integrated players, accelerating industry consolidation over the medium term,” says Equirus Securities in its recent research note.
According to the research note, Vikram Solar is simultaneously expanding its module manufacturing capacity from 9.5 GW to 15.5 GW, with the additional capacity expected to be commissioned by the first quarter of fiscal year 2027.
The report notes that domestic cell capacity continues to lag module manufacturing capacity, making access to ALMM-compliant cells an increasingly important competitive factor for solar manufacturers.
Module-cell integration is expected to play an important role in Vikram Solar’s next phase of development. The report notes that the company has secured interim domestic cell availability through a 2 GW ALMM-compliant sourcing arrangement with Jupiter International, ensuring domestic cell availability ahead of its planned backward integration. However, Equirus Securities said this agreement is unlikely to materially alter Vikram Solar’s earnings, as DCR-linked pricing premiums are likely to remain with cell suppliers rather than flow through to module manufacturers.

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Thursday, July 9, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, June 18, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Be part of the high-level European conference on solar and energy storage, exploring bankable BESS projects, warranties, and energy management for residential and C&I sectors
The new pv magazine Global May issue is now available!
Mountains to climb
Available in print and digital formats.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
Showcase your brand across all our platforms: from 13 websites in 7 languages to our magazines, daily newsletters, industry events and more. Reach your audience the right way!
We are participating in Intersolar 2026 again this year! Visit us at our Booth Hall 2 A2.250 to discuss the latest trends within the photovoltaic industry with the pv magazine team.
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The change could make cheaper, cleaner power available to far more households.
Photo Credit: iStock
A proposal advancing in the California state legislature would let residents connect plug-in solar panels to the grid in apartments, on balconies, and in homes without facing permit delays or hiring an installer.
In a state known for high electricity prices and a large renter population, the change could make cheaper, cleaner power available to far more households.
State lawmakers moved SB 868 forward this week, with the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy voting 18-0 in favor of the measure that would make plug-in, or “balcony,” solar legal across California, according to CleanTechnica.
The technology is relatively simple. Residents can set up small solar panels and plug them into a standard outlet, helping offset household electricity use while avoiding much of the time, cost, and paperwork that often come with traditional rooftop systems.
Before it can become law, the proposal still has two more stops: the Assembly Committee on Appropriations and then the full Assembly.
After the committee vote, Sen. Scott Wiener, who introduced the bill, said, “SB 868 clears away the needless red tape that currently makes it infeasible for people to use this technology.”
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Electricity costs in California remain high, while many people who could benefit most from solar, especially renters, are often unable to install full rooftop systems.
Plug-in solar could offer a more affordable, practical entry point. Rather than taking on a major home project, residents may be able to buy a smaller setup, place it on a balcony, patio, or other sunny area, and begin lowering their utility bills more quickly.
The measure could also help restore momentum in a state that has long been a national leader in solar energy but has seen the industry struggle after cuts to net metering policies. Those changes badly hurt the market and even contributed to major job losses.
Expanding small-scale clean energy can also reduce reliance on polluting power sources, helping cut planet-warming emissions and the dirty air associated with fossil fuel use.
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Plug-in solar rules are already in place elsewhere. Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, and Virginia already allow the technology, while other states are considering similar policies.
If SB 868 becomes law, California could become one of the largest markets yet for the technology, given its abundant sunshine, massive population, high energy prices, and large share of renters.
There are still procedural hurdles ahead. The CPUC’s estimate of $200,000 to $500,000 in annual costs means the bill is expected to go to the Appropriations Committee’s suspense file before an August hearing.
If the measure clears its remaining hurdles, Californians could soon have a simpler path to lower power bills through clean energy. As Wiener put it, “SB 868 clears away the needless red tape that currently makes it infeasible for people to use this technology.”
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Developers of battery storage projects across Southeast Asia must heed lessons learned elsewhere and engage with key stakeholders as early as possible, Energy-Storage.news has heard.
With the Energy Storage Summit Asia 2026 conference coming up soon in Bangkok, Thailand (1-3 July), guest speaker Mahdi Behrengrad, head of energy storage at developer Pacifico Energy, spoke with the site for an exclusive interview.
Behrengrad, based in Japan, has led the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS) that could be considered pioneering in the emerging and rapidly growing Japanese market.
These include the first two projects to enter the wholesale electricity market as trading units back in 2023, and a fully self-funded merchant project that stacks revenues from participating in multiple market opportunities, which Behrengrad spoke to ESN Premium about in late 2025.
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Last year, ahead of the third edition of Energy Storage Summit Asia in 2025, the developer gave an interview on a similar theme of lessons learned in Japan that could be broadly applied in earlier-stage markets across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.    
At that time, in Q3 2025, Mahdi Behrengrad said that making money from energy storage in Japan could often be a difficult and “brutal” business, noting that high past revenues from opportunities like ancillary services were no indication of continued good fortune.
Speaking last week, the Pacifico Energy energy storage lead said the message is even clearer today.
“Japan has very interesting opportunities regarding the size [of the market], the inherent need for energy storage, the security stability it brings, while showing clear pitfalls that Southeast Asian nations should carefully watch,” Behrengrad said.
After an initial boom in development and a wave of excitement, “everything has become more strict, rather than more accommodating” in the space of about three or four years, beginning with the regulatory perception of storage.
“From the grid connection aspect, from the market participation aspect, from the environmental aspect, from the permitting aspect; everything got more strict in a matter of a few years,” he said.   
“That’s the pattern to be watched, and a lesson for Southeast Asia, that engaging this conversation with the regulators early on should be in the list, but it’s something that was not done in Japan, and Japan’s regulators and utilities got caught off guard by the immense amount of interest in energy storage, and instead of welcoming it, it backfired.”
One example is how the rules of the Long Term Decarbonisation Power Sources Auction (LTDA), Japan’s relatively new low-carbon capacity market mechanism open to batteries and pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), have already changed.
In the two previous years’ auctions, bids were open to energy storage projects in two duration categories, one for 3-hour to 6-hour assets, the other for 6-hour duration systems. In the most recent running, only 6-hour duration or more was eligible.
Along with regulators, utilities, inundated with grid connection requests and BESS project proposals, are also making adjustments to their processes that can create challenges for developers.
“[For example], utilities are seeing more and more proposals, so that when you start planning for a project, or even when you think you’ve secured the project, the utilities are using far more and more tiny clauses, written here and there, to come back with far more costs, far longer grid work or severe technical requests,” he said.
“I have seen projects where, around a year before grid connection work, they’re asking if the battery should not participate in the frequency regulation market because it’s going to destabilise the voltage. How should a project planner look into that?”
“It’s a very difficult thing to forecast in advance, because there are very tiny clauses in the grid connection that can be imposed, if they think that the operation is going to have an adverse effect on the utility.”
Securing a grid connections is getting harder and even grid connections that are secured in Japan have “far less value” than before because both charging and discharging are non-firm.
At the same time, Japan is heading in the same general direction of the world toward protectionism, or an approach to infrastructure assets that is more grounded in security-based concerns.
“While I’m not arguing it’s the right thing or the wrong thing, we all know that when you start having a security-based look at anything, the business gets denser and more difficult.”
In Japan, changes to cybersecurity standards can impact many aspects of a project, and the introduction of standards and the project development cycle are not synchronised, so to speak.    
Undoubtedly, there is a lot of activity in the market beyond the LTDA, with dozens of projects sized at around 2MW/8MWh announced or brought into operation across Japan’s 10 regional grid service areas, along with a smaller number of larger projects.
However, there is a mismatch between “hype and interest” and “actual hardcore cash or actual deals on the market,” Behrengrad said. Some of the 2MW projects could also be considered “speculative and opportunistic” assets designed to make money, rather than infrastructure that truly benefits the grid.
With many of the larger projects developed through the LTDA, in which developers win long-term contracts to underwrite revenue from OCCTA, Japan’s association of transmission operators, but have to give back 90% of the revenue they earn through merchant operation, Behrengrad said there is no real motive to optimise market operation.
“You just install it, you operate it, no matter how optimally you do so, you’re going to get almost the same amount of money. The difference between a terrible operation and super smart optimal operation is just 10% of revenue that you keep after deduction.”
It isn’t just regulators or utilities that developers must engage with. Communities that will host these BESS assets are arguably just as important, or even more so.
Between battery storage and data centre developments, there is a boom in real estate acquisitions, which again, Mahdi Behrengrad argues, is a speculative effort, a “land grab,” which is taking place even as communities become more “skittish” and reluctant to host projects.
Even the concept of gaining approval from a local community is largely an as-yet-undefined term.
“It pits companies against local communities that might not have a techno-economic look at these things. It’s going to start a source of friction. This is the story we’re seeing, but I’m not naïve enough to think this is just Japan [it applies to].”
Many Southeast Asian countries, much like Japan, have governments that have been openly supportive of the roles energy storage can play: in decarbonisation and integrating higher shares of renewable energy, in enhancing energy security and stability of the grid.
“It’s hard to argue against energy storage in the big scheme of things, if you are an energy specialist or even regulator, because it’s hard to find any asset like energy storage that is as fast to deploy, and the supply chain is very well shaped,” he said.
“It’s very hard to find any asset that is this versatile in energy infrastructure. So, it’s very hard to argue against it, but the devil is in the details. When you want to implement the projects, there are so many stakeholders with conflicting values, with different objective functions.”
Engagement with the full spectrum of stakeholders is essential, Behrengrad said, even before rapid deployment growth inevitably encounters deepening regulatory complexity, the concerns of local communities, and bottlenecks from a lack of a skilled workforce.    
“Developers, before jumping into business in developing countries, should see if they have that reach, lobbying power, or orchestration mechanism to prepare these diverse stakeholders: of utilities, of regulators, of local communities, to create a more supportive environment. It’s a team effort.”
Energy-Storage.news publisher Solar Media (part of the Informa Group) will host the Energy Storage Summit Asia 2026 on 1-3 July at QSNCC, Bangkok, Thailand. The conference takes place during ASIA Sustainable Energy Week 2026 (ASEW), the region’s most influential platform for driving clean energy. For more information, visit the official website.

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India’s Solar Capacity Reaches 157 GW as Renewable Energy Share Climbs to 42.55% of Total Power Capacity  SolarQuarter
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Naturgy, through its international generation subsidiary Global Power Generation (GPG), has finalised the commissioning of the 260 MW Glenellen and the 96 MW Bundaberg solar farms in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, respectively.
The 200 MW Glenellen Solar Farm is Naturgy’s largest PV plant to date in Australia and features about 375,000 modules installed across a 300-hectare site near Albury in southern NSW. The project also integrates sheep grazing to preserve agricultural land use.
The Bundaberg Solar Farm, near the town of the same name on the central Queensland coast, has an installed capacity of 96 MW and includes more than 162,000 solar modules.
The Bundaberg power plant is expected to generate about 200 GWh of renewable energy per year while the Glenellen Solar Farm is forecast to supply 450 GWh of energy annually.
Long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) have already been locked in for the output from both projects with Australian telecommunications giant Telstra having committed to purchasing 100% of the capacity from the Bundaberg plant and 50% of the electricity generated by the Glenellen facility.
Nuturgy said the PPAs “reinforce revenue visibility and business stability” while both projects strengthen its presence in the Australian energy market, one it rates as attractive market for the development of renewables at an international level thanks to its “regulatory stability, its high growth potential and its commitment to the energy transition.” 
The commissioning of the Glenellen and Bundaberg solar farms increases Naturgy’s combined capacity in operation in Australia to 1.3 GW, including the country’s first large-scale solar-hybrid power plant at Cunderdin in Western Australia.
The company also has a further 500 MW under construction and a 2 GW pipeline of projects in development across the country, including a 290 MW solar farm and 180 MW / 360 MWh battery energy storage project planned for Queensland’s Fraser Coast region.
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GEON, the future technologies division of Kabra Extrusiontechnik Ltd, has integrated and commissioned a 2.88 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Khavda within five months. The project, among the largest utility-scale BESS deployments in India, is now fully operational.
The installation is part of the growing renewable energy infrastructure at Khavda, which is emerging as one of India’s key clean energy hubs. Geon’s scope covered system integration, execution, testing, and commissioning — including the integration of power conditioning systems (PCS), transformers, and advanced energy management systems (EMS).
Anand Kabra, Chairman and Managing Director at Geon – Green Energy ON, said, “Battery storage is no longer a supporting technology — it is fast becoming central to how we manage and deliver clean power at grid scale. We are proud to have delivered this project on time and look forward to building on this momentum.”
Saurabh Jain, CEO – Energy Storage, Geon, added, “GEON successfully delivered the 2.88 GWh BESS Khavda project as nodal agency, completing the entire scope within an impressive timeline of just five months. The achievement reflects strong planning, efficient execution, and seamless coordination between the engineering and on-site project teams. This milestone highlights GEON’s capability in executing large-scale energy storage projects with speed, precision, and high standards of quality.”
Geon’s long-term strategy includes manufacturing BESS domestically, with plans underway for a gigafactory to support future demand and strengthen India’s energy storage ecosystem.
Founded in 2018, GEON (Green Energy ON) works across e-mobility, energy storage, and electronics, offering lithium-ion battery packs for two-, three-, and four-wheelers as well as off-road vehicles. Its product portfolio also includes storage solutions like BESS, inverter batteries, telecom backup, and commercial and industrial solutions.
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California moves a step closer to legalizing plug-in solar, with no permit required  Yahoo
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China Reclaims Solar Crown With Record-Breaking Perovskite Panel  Yahoo Tech
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Heschen Solar DC1500V PV Fuse, Photovoltaic Fuses, GPV Type Fuse Link, HSPV- 32L, 10 * 85mm  aviglianonews.it
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Furniture manufacturer invests in solar panels  Big Furniture Group
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Solar Power World
By Billy Ludt | June 16, 2026
Renewable energy infrastructure supplier Create Energy is acquiring solar racking manufacturer SOL Components from Kloeckner Metals. Create will offer SOL Components through its ONTRACK platform, a project design and management portal through which customers can also purchase packaged solar products.
Credit: Create Energy
“I am incredibly proud of this acquisition and excited to bring another powerful product and company into the Create Energy ‘Un-Evil Empire’ and our ONTRACK suite of solutions,” said Dean Solon, CEO of Create Energy. “We are building a unified power plant platform that simplifies and elevates how energy projects are designed, procured and deployed.”
SOL Components produces single-axis solar trackers, with models for one- and two-in-portrait applications, and a rail-based fixed-tilt ground mount racking. In 2023, SOL was acquired by Kloeckner Metals, a steel company headquartered in Roswell, Georgia.
“Create Energy promised to be a dominant force in the M&A market this year, and we are delivering,” said Joseph Fahrney, chief of staff at Create Energy. “In a consolidating industry, customers choose us because they trust Dean Solon and our ability to provide speed, certainty, unmatched performance and one of the best warranties in the industry. This acquisition amplifies our momentum and solidifies Create Energy as the premier long-term solutions provider for the energy sector.”
According to a press release, Create intends to continue acquiring solar product manufacturers.
 
Billy Ludt is managing editor of Solar Power World and currently covers topics on mounting, inverters, installation and operations.

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Natural Resources Council of Maine
Protecting the Nature of Maine
Posted on June 16, 2026 by Jack Shapiro, Climate & Clean Energy Director
Building more Maine-made clean energy can make electricity costs more affordable, create new good-paying jobs, and reduce our dependence on expensive out-of-state fossil fuels.
Photo courtesy ReVision Energy
But opponents of clean energy, backed by national funders and fossil fuel interests, frequently spread misinformation to confuse people and set us back, so they can continue to rake in huge profits at the expense of the health of people, communities, and the environment. Instead of cleaner air and more reliable electricity they want to keep us paying for oil, coal, and gas that are fueling destructive storms, making air quality worse, and threatening our heritage industries like farming and fishing.
One of the most common ways that these fossil fuel-backed interests try to block progress is by raising concerns about the energy use and materials needed to build clean energy technologies, like wind turbines or solar panels, or the impacts from disposal.
At the Natural Resources Council of Maine, we always welcome questions about emissions, energy use, and waste, because genuine questions represent a deep and shared value of making sure the Maine we know and love is passed on to future generations in better shape than we found it.
If you’ve got questions prompted by social media posts you’ve seen or stories you’ve read, here’s what you need to know about the real impacts of clean energy.
The first thing to acknowledge is that every energy system—whether its oil, gas, solar or wind—has impacts. This means we need to approach the development of any new sources of energy thoughtfully. We can do this by listening to the needs of local communities and acting based on science.
The best way to evaluate these issues is by asking: Which resources are the most damaging relative to the alternatives? The clear, unequivocable answer is that our reliance on fossil fuels is causing enormous damage. These impacts are wide ranging—from polluting our air and water, to harming vulnerable communities during extraction and production, and fueling climate change. Homegrown clean energy sources like solar and wind of course have some impacts, but they pale in comparison to those from coal, oil, and gas.

One question we often get is this: How much greenhouse gas emissions are associated with manufacturing and building clean energy? Is it even worth it? The way analysts think about this is by measuring what are called “lifecycle emissions,” or all of the emissions associated with a given technology, from resource extraction, construction or manufacturing, operation, and disposal.
When we look at lifecycle emissions—renewable energy has a clear leg up by an order of magnitudes:
(Source: https://docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/80580.pdf).
Another question we get is about the use of materials. For example: “Doesn’t renewable energy use a lot of lithium for EV batteries, concrete and steel for wind turbines, or ‘rare earth’ materials that go into electric motors and generators?” These are all great questions. While it’s true that building clean energy resources will need materials, clean energy has a big advantage here, too, compared to the system we have today.
Fossil fuels are single-use fuels. These older technologies are hungry for resources every single day, and once those resources are produced, they’re burned and gone forever, constantly leaving pollution behind. Clean energy technologies, on the other hand, use materials in construction or manufacturing once, but then produce energy, transportation, or heating for years and years without new major inputs. Plus, many of these materials are recyclable.

The last big set of questions we often hear about clean energy has to do with what happens at the end of a solar panel or wind turbine’s life? Are they recyclable? Do we need to worry about waste?
The answer is yes, always, but when we consider all of the ways we create waste, clean energy is a pretty small contributor. One recent study in the journal Nature evaluated the relative scales of several waste streams worldwide. They found that, worldwide, solar waste generated between 2016 and 2050 would result in between 54 and 160 million metric tons of waste. Wind turbine waste is in the same ballpark, estimated at around 42 million tons. While these are significant and important to try to reduce, they are far smaller than other waste streams including coal ash, plastic waste, and municipal waste.

If we’re truly concerned about addressing the waste crisis facing our cities and towns, we should focus on proven solutions like composting, reuse, and recycling, and ensuring waste and packaging producers are taking responsibility for the trash they create.
Photo courtesy of ReVision Energy
Fossil fuels also leave a toxic legacy that clean energy products don’t. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, coal ash contains a number of substances harmful to human health, including arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Fluid waste from hydraulic fracturing or fracking—which is the source of much of the natural gas Maine uses for electricity generation—can be radioactive, and is not currently regulated, leading to dangerous uses, like dust suppression or deicing roads.
With any waste stream, we need to do our best to recycle instead of sending materials to the landfill. By mass, the largest portions of wind turbines are iron and steel, both highly recyclable, and in practice, highly recycled. Solar panels are also made of highly recyclable materials, mostly glass, but also including other valuable materials. Here in Maine, our laws already require recycling of materials, to the maximum extent practicable, when a development is decommissioned. This means, when these projects reach end of life, the finite materials used to construct a solar array are recycled and used again for future projects.
Not every part of these energy technologies are currently being recycled. Wind turbine blades for example are composite materials that are difficult to recycle. Because most solar panels that have ever been installed are still operating and have not yet reached the end of their useful life, large-scale solar recycling operations are just starting to scale up around the country. More work in these areas is important to further reduce the waste impacts of clean energy technologies. But compared to the waste and pollution created by the fossil fuel industry, clean energy still comes out ahead.
Common Loon and baby, by Nathaniel Child
NRCM’s climate team is focused on advancing a clean, affordable energy future. This work is rooted in our decades-old mission to protect, conserve, and restore Maine’s woods, waters, and wildlife. It’s clearer all the time that climate change is the biggest threat to the wild places, plants and animals, and waterbodies that make Maine so special. This is why we work hard to move toward a healthier, more equitable energy system, and away from polluting fossil fuels. 
For those of us who care deeply about the future of Maine’s clean air and water, wildlife and healthy communities, we can confidently choose the pathway of American-made clean energy as the best path forward to not only address climate change, but significantly reduce the overall environmental burdens we create when we use energy.
—Jack Shapiro, NRCM Climate & Clean Energy Director
Filed Under: Clean Energy, Climate, Nature of Maine Blog Tagged With: Offshore Wind, renewable energy, solar, sustainability
Jack brings 15 years of advocacy, policy, and organizing experience to the NRCM climate and clean energy team. Prior to joining NRCM, Jack worked at Greenpeace USA and at Organizing for Action, pushing for ambitious federal climate policies. He served as an appointee in the Obama Administration working on issues ranging from clean energy and green buildings to community resilience and biodefense. Jack has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s degree in Ethics, History, and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.
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NRCM recognizes and honors the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, collectively the Wabanaki Nations. Wabanaki translates as “People of the Dawn.” The Wabanaki Nations have stewarded Maine for generations, stretching back to before colonial settlers forcibly occupied the area. NRCM’s office in Augusta is on the unceded territory of the Penobscot Nation, and all of us in Maine are on unceded lands once overseen by Wabanaki people. Let us remember this history and move forward with a commitment to justice and alignment with Wabanaki Nations in Maine. (Read full land acknowledgement.)

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Kansas county approves permit for 1,200-acre solar farm  KSN-TV
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A new study titled ‘Photovoltaic panel surface temperature retrieval from MODIS through accounting for directional effects,’ has demonstrated a more accurate way to monitor the surface temperature of photovoltaic panels from space, addressing a long-standing gap in managing performance and thermal risk at utility scale solar plants.
As global solar capacity continues its rapid rise toward a projected 8,519 GW by 2050, operators are under increasing pressure to optimise output and manage heat related losses. Panel surface temperatures can reach 45–65 °C in summer, significantly reducing conversion efficiency and increasing the risk of equipment stress. Yet reliable, large scale temperature monitoring has remained difficult, with most existing methods limited to on-site sensors or intermittent aerial surveys.
Researchers have now developed a method using MODIS thermal infrared satellite data that more accurately captures panel temperatures across entire solar farms. The approach accounts for the complex physical structure of PV arrays, including the mix of hot panels and cooler shaded ground, as well as the way panels emit heat differently depending on viewing angle.
Traditional satellite land surface temperature products tend to underestimate panel temperatures because they treat solar farms like natural terrain. This leads to systematic cold bias and unreliable inputs for performance modelling. The new method corrects this by separating the different components within each satellite pixel and applying PV specific emissivity values.
Validation at two test sites with contrasting climates showed strong improvements. Temperature error was reduced from 10.8–18.9 °C to 3.7–8.6 °C during key daytime observation periods. The method also reduced systematic bias from as much as −17 °C to around −2 to −3 °C.
These gains translate directly into better operational insights. More accurate temperature data can reduce errors in power output simulations by around 3–5%, supporting improved forecasting, maintenance planning, and risk management during peak heat conditions.
The study highlights that the relatively low emissivity of solar panels, about 0.87 compared to more than 0.94 for natural surfaces, is the main factor influencing accuracy. Viewing geometry and array structure provide additional refinements.
While performance is strong during warmer months, the method is less reliable in winter due to extended shadows and possible snow cover, which introduce larger uncertainties. The researchers note that improving how shaded ground between panel rows is modelled will be key to extending the approach year-round.
The findings point to a practical pathway for continuous, large scale thermal monitoring of solar assets using existing satellite systems, a capability that could become increasingly valuable as solar deployment accelerates across high temperature regions including parts of Africa.
Link to the full paper HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal






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Hours before PVModuleTech USA opens its doors, we spoke with Todd Heffner, a partner at law firm Smith Gambrell Russell, who specialises in construction litigation.
We talk about the most common issues he’s seen in the solar industry and how solar and energy storage can differentiate in litigation. We also discuss how the two technologies complement each other.
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Through his work, one of the recurring issues Heffner has witnessed on large-scale projects concerns site grading, and more particularly, how projects can often overlook their ability to withstand heavy rains and flooding.
“There’s a lot of grading and earthwork that is the first step of the process. Unfortunately, that’s an area where I see a lot of corners being cut. And they don’t grade the site right. They don’t take into account how differently the earth will react before they disturb it. Oftentimes, it’s farmland or forest or something like that,” explains Heffner, adding that when a flood happens after a heavy rain incident, a big part of the solar array will end up underwater and everyone will be pointing the finger at each other.
“I’ve dealt with that dispute multiple times, because everyone is trying to engineer it cheaper, get the cost down, get it installed quicker. If your job is just to develop a solar array and then sell it, it’s not in your best interest to hire the best engineers, the ones who are going to do it right. You’re going to hire the cheapest engineer.”
Heffner says that the drive to keep aiming to lower costs is a big problem for the industry, especially when compared to what owner, operator developers who will carry out the project from beginning to end, will have a bigger incentive to make things right.
“Because they’re going to own and operate it for years. They have better, better incentives on that front,” adds Heffner.
“There are a lot of developers and builders who build and develop to sell. They don’t build and develop to own and operate for the long term. And that creates bad incentives for doing things ‘the right way’.”
Heffner adds that this adds up to the fact that many solar and energy storage projects there is an “unfortunate race to the bottom to get the cost of the energy as installed as low as possible.”
This is why he emphasises the importance of identifying good subject matter experts. He gave the example of hiring the same expert again based on what he did on a previous stormwater runoff project. And this was due to the fact that the expert would do the “right thing even if it’s to his detriment.”
Heffner adds that: “I know when he tells me, this was designed right, this was designed wrong. Here’s your list of issues. I know he doesn’t have an ulterior motive or to just tell me what I want to hear.
“If you are going to buy solar farms that are already built by someone else, you would need to develop a team of people, like the expert I’m describing here, across all disciplines.”
Finding the right experts or team to go through this thorough vetting process might be hard, but it is a necessary step.
This ties to the fact that a project’s owner and developers need to ensure they find a good contractor who will be in it for the long-term. Heffner explains that the best contractor will never give the lowest price.
“It’s just not possible for them to give you the lowest price, because they’re going to do it right. And they’re not going to miss things in their cost estimate that a less good contractor then tries to ask for extra money later when they realise that they missed this component or whatever is necessary to get it right.”
Heffner’s view on that matter is that one would be better off going with a big contractor that has a solar division, rather than someone who specialises in solar. He adds that there will always be exceptions to the rule, but as a general rule, it is important to know that the contractor understands construction and is well-financed, too.
“Because oftentimes, if one thing we always have to deal with is the fact that if you might have someone who really messed up a project, and then you need to sue them, but if they’re going to go bankrupt in the process, it’s not worth suing them, because there’s not going to be any money to collect at the end of the day.”
The larger construction companies will more often than not own up to the problems that they’ll make and fix these issues and not end up bankrupt in the process. Heffner compares this to the classic customer-service issue, where a company will overpay to fix the issues, which would end leaving a positive impression of that company and making a customer for life.
“Even though you had an issue, you’re almost left with a better impression of that company. Because I think construction is very much the same way that the smart companies are in it, playing that long game, as opposed to, ‘how do I make a quick buck?’
“Everyone’s too enamoured with low price to the detriment of what they’re going to get for that.”
On top of the issue regarding solar sites not handling heavy rains properly, Heffner also highlights another common issue that he’s seen in his line of work: tracker systems and inverters.
He gave an example of how a client’s negative experience with inverters led them to decide to have enough spare parts to build an entirely new inverter if needed.
“Their solution to the fact that their inverters would go down so frequently was to maintain at a minimum an inverter’s worth of spare parts so they could go out there and fix anything they needed to.
“The newer players to the industry might be surprised by how much money they will inevitably spend on their O&M budget dealing with inverters.”
Moreover, another aspect that can be linked with inverters is the use of AI, for which Heffner says that its best use in the solar industry relates to its capabilities during the operations & maintenance (O&M) phase of a solar asset.
“The concept that if you’re measuring enough data, it will more quickly spot trends that might need to lead to proactive maintenance, then you would otherwise. I think inverters are a great example. And it gets easier the bigger your company, and the more solar farms you’re operating, and the more you can use your own data to help you.”
By collecting as much data as possible on the solar sites it owns, a company can improve its ability to spot hidden trends in the data through the use of AI that could be missed by humans or be too complicated to notice because you’re operating many sites at the same time.
Finally, Heffner will be speaking this week at PV ModuleTech USA on a panel about co-locating solar PV with battery energy storage systems (BESS). He explains that one of the differences between the two technologies is that storage issues are resolved “reasonably easily”. He explains that this is in part due to the fact that it is a younger industry compared to solar PV and that manufacturers are more willing to fix the problem rather than put the blame on the installation.
“In the cases I’ve been exposed to, the battery manufacturers are more willing to own it because they need a good reputation. They’re willing to exercise more goodwill.”
Heffner says it makes increasing sense to co-locate solar with battery storage.
“From my view, the more battery storage we have, the better; if we can afford it, get it installed and have it work.”
On a construction standpoint, and without trying to oversimplify the work that goes into it, Heffner says it is easy to build the battery storage part if the solar farm is already there, as it doesn’t take the same amount of land.
“It’s a very simple add-on, so to speak, from a construction standpoint. A big cost with any of this is connecting it to the grid. To me, it only makes sense that if you can afford it, then get financing for it, that you would do both all the time moving forward, just because you’ll save on some of those fixed costs and that they can share the resources.”

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As the global transition to renewable energy accelerates, solar installers and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies are constantly seeking safer, faster, and more reliable solar PV solutions.
Slocable，as a leading innovator in solar solutions, we proudly introduce our independently developed KUIQ X Crimp-Free Solar Connector (Snap in PV Connector). This product perfectly aligns with the industry’s “plug-and-play” trend, setting a new benchmark for modern solar installations.
Innovative Design: Zero Tools, Zero Crimping
Our tool-less connector features a one-piece, pre-tightened design with no loose parts. It requires zero tools and zero manual crimping during operation. The installation is incredibly simple:
Push: Insert the stripped cable into the connector until it stops.
Lock: The internal spring clip instantly secures the wire in place.
Tighten: Fasten the cap to complete the installation.
This streamlined process maximizes installation efficiency and completely eliminates the risk of system failures or hot spots caused by improper manual crimping.

Global Debut & Overwhelming Market Success
Slocable officially unveiled this crimpless connector at Solartech Indonesia 2026. The launch immediately captured industry-wide attention, sparking intense interest and technical discussions among peers and solar experts.
At the subsequent Highlights of Solar &Storage Live Philippines 2026 and Shanghai SNEC Shanghai 2026, the tool-less connector took center stage, translating into commercial success. We have already secured massive pre-orders from global partners who clearly recognize the potential of this plug-and-play technology.
Ready to Upgrade Your Solar Projects?
Say goodbye to tedious manual crimping. Contact Slocable today to get the latest quotes and efficient installation solutions for your next PV project!
Media Contact
Company Name: Dongguan Slocable Photovoltaic Technology Co.,LTD.
Email: Send Email
Phone: +86-769-22010201
Country: China
Website: https://www.slocable.com.cn/

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ProPublica: Unfounded Health Concerns in Michigan and Elsewhere Are Powering a Solar Backlash  Deadline Detroit
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European Energy Completes Sale Of Trinity Hall Solar Farm To Alpha Real Capital-Backed Elm Solar Holdings  SolarQuarter
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| India’s green manufacturing push: Solar farms to net zero  Fibre2Fashion
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Learn how we are working to transform how we use and produce energy.
Solar Best Practices for Policymakers and Two-Part Design Guidebook to Fuel Resilient Photovoltaic Systems for Small Island Developing States
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Following hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Dorian, RMI and Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) sent teams to the Caribbean to evaluate the root failures of solar PV systems and key success factors of systems that survived. The teams then developed a list of recommendations to increase system resilience. The research and analysis led to the publication of three reports.
Solar Under Storm Part I: Designing Hurricane Resilient PV Systems discusses the root causes of ground-mounted PV system failures from hurricanes and describes recommendations for building more resilient solar PV power plants.
Solar Under Storm Part II: Select Best Practices for Resilient Roof-Mount PV Systems with Hurricane Exposure, developed and written with the Clinton Climate Initiative and FCX Solar, does the same with roof-mounted PV systems. It proves that rooftop solar PV can be made resilient at little additional cost.
Solar Under Storm for Policymakers is a follow-up to the two technical reports and is specifically tailored for policymakers in Small Island Developing States. The report lays out guidelines for governments, regulators, and developers interested in improving solar PV system survivability to intense wind-loading events.
View Solar Under Storm: Designing Hurricane-Resilient PV Systems Parts I and II: Best Practices for Solar PV Installations Facing Hurricane-Force Winds along with Solar Under Storm for Policymakers by filling in the download form below.
Read our articles on storm survivability for rooftop solar and ground-mounted solar and on recommendations for policymakers.
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US Home Solar Takes Hit After Losing Key Tax Credit  Bloomberg.com
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A pilot project combining a 27 kW solar PV system with batteries and hydrogen fuel cells is under development at a Chilean scientific base on an Antarctic island.
The project is being developed at the Professor Julio Escudero Scientific Base, operated by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) on King George Island, which lies around 120 kilometres off the coast of Antarctica.
The initiative is being implemented by the German agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of the Team Europe Renewable Hydrogen Development (RH2) project, with co-financing from the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
The proposed project aims to test hybrid energy solutions in one of the world’s most demanding operating environments while reducing reliance on fossil fuels in Antarctic infrastructure.
According to the project’s pre-feasibility study, one option under consideration is a 27 kW solar PV plant using 500 W monocrystalline solar panels. This configuration would generate an estimated 66 kWh per day, 1,980 kWh per month, and 11,880 kWh per six-month season. Given the output of each module, the design would require approximately 54 solar panels. The report also compares this option with a 12 kW wind power plant and an 11 kW optoelectric solar panel system.
On the hydrogen side, the conceptual design envisions on-site hydrogen production using a small electrolyser with a capacity of approximately 0.5 Nm³/h, equivalent to 1 kg of hydrogen per day, and a nominal electricity consumption of 2.4–5 kW. The study allows for alkaline, PEM, or AEM electrolyser technologies, as all three meet the pilot project’s requirements.
The hydrogen would be stored as a gas in stationary tanks or cylinders with a minimum capacity of 5 kg and a maximum pressure of 30–40 bar. The stored hydrogen would feed PEM fuel cells designed to provide 30 kW of backup power to the base laboratory for up to two hours per month. Estimated hydrogen consumption for this purpose is 4.14 kg per month, 25 kg per operating season, and 50 kg per year.
The electricity generated by the fuel cells would require a 30 kW inverter and an automatic transfer switchboard to isolate and directly power the laboratory in the event of a power outage. The system design also includes hydrogen leak sensors, alarm systems, emergency shutdown mechanisms, thermal control, air renewal systems, water purification equipment, and stainless-steel piping for hydrogen, water, and oxygen venting.
The project emerged following studies conducted in 2022 and 2023, which assessed the technical and economic feasibility of using hydrogen as a source of electricity and heat under extreme conditions. The analyses concluded that it is feasible to develop a modular system capable of producing, storing, and utilizing renewable hydrogen on-site.
From pv magazine Global
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In Luweero, 70 kilometres north of Kampala, Uganda, coffee farmer Gaddafi Nassour has doubled his income in a few years. The change was simple: A diesel pump gave way to a solar one, and water became available throughout the dry season. Over its working life, the solar pump will cost him half as much as the diesel one, and ask for far less maintenance. Stories like Nassour’s are still an exception. Sub-Saharan Africa irrigates only 4% of its cropland; India irrigates 55%. The cost shows in failed harvests, food imports that strain household budgets and foreign exchange alike, and the paradox of a continent buying what its own soil and sunshine could grow.
The puzzle is not technology. Solar pumps work, and now, their economics do too. What is missing in much of Africa is the structure around the pump — policy that brings it within reach of farmers, financing that fits how they earn, and institutions that can take a pilot through to scale. India faced a similar puzzle a decade ago — an agricultural sector caught between costly diesel and an unreliable grid, and millions of households without proper power. Under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s response has been one of the most ambitious distributed solar programmes anywhere in the world. Through the International Solar Alliance — a coalition of more than 125 countries — that experience is now being shared. At its core is India’s PM-KUSUM scheme brought out by the Narendra Modi government which is the world’s largest distributed solar scheme for farms, with 2.7 million pumps already installed and a further 5 million targeted by 2030. Powering Agriculture in India has undergone a major revolution. In Maharashtra, through a 16,000 MW programme of dedicated solar feeders, the entire agricultural load is being shifted to daytime solar. Tendering competitively across thousands of small solar plants has brought the cost of irrigation power down from 7.5 US cents per unit to 3.2 cents — roughly $1 billion a year in subsidy saving potential. Those savings are being passed on to industrial users as lower tariffs, drawing in fresh investment and jobs. Farmers, for their part, now get reliable power during the day rather than the late-night supply they had learned to put up with. The rest follows: crop diversification, higher incomes, healthier families, and the food security that only energy security makes possible.
Also Read: Solar power is all about rural prosperity
Mission 300, the joint World Bank and African Development Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by the end of the decade, is the natural vehicle for this work. Electricity makes a real difference only when it powers something productive. Solar irrigation is the obvious place to start. A solar set-up for irrigation can equally light homes, power a clinic, charge a fleet of electric two-wheelers, or feed surplus into a regional distribution network. Africa’s transition will have to advance on five fronts in parallel: last-mile renewable access, solar for agriculture and value chains, utility-scale solar with regional integration, solar e-mobility, and the digital systems that tie them together.
Three things matter here the most.
The first is policy. African governments need clear technical standards for solar pumps, dedicated budget lines in their agriculture and energy ministries, and a legal route — through the National Energy Compacts being negotiated under Mission 300 — to make the KUSUM template part of their national laws in months rather than years.
The second is finance. It has to be designed for how farmers actually earn and spend — different products for large, small and marginal farmers, and for cooperative purchase models. The ISA’s Global Solar Facility can absorb some of the credit risk for the providers serving these segments.
The third factor is people. A solar pump installed 300 kilometres from the nearest workshop is only as useful as the local technician who can keep it running. That is what the ISA’s STAR Centres are there to build — a practical, on-ground skill base for distributed solar programmes.
India’s own numbers suggest what is achievable when these three move together — solar capacity rising from 2.8 GW in 2014 to over 157 GW today and total renewable capacity at more than 282 GW. The opportunity ahead is to make the link between energy security and food security the centre of what comes next in India–Africa cooperation: through solar irrigation, through decentralised energy, and through the skill base needed to keep both running.
Pralhad Joshi is president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly and minister of new and renewable energy, and Ashish Khanna is director general, ISA. The views expressed are personal

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Asda, Amazon and B&Q among retailers in talks to sell devices that feed into household sockets and can cut electricity bills by 30%
Spanish homes save €10 a month via renewables expansion
Bosses of some of Britain’s biggest retailers are discussing plans with the government to start selling plug-in solar panels as part of a drive to encourage more UK homes to generate their own electricity.
Executives from brands including Currys, B&Q and Amazon met Martin McCluskey, the minister for energy consumers, on Tuesday to discuss guidelines for selling “balcony solar panels” to the British public.
Asda, Screwfix and Wickes also attended the meeting to discuss how to help people living in flats or rented homes without rooftop access to benefit from the government’s solar power strategy and cut their energy bills.
Plug-in solar panels can be placed on a balcony, terrace, shed roof or any other outdoor space to generate electricity that flows directly into the electrical circuit of a house when plugged in through a standard three-prong plug. When an appliance is turned on it uses the solar power first.
This means households can run their electrical appliances without needing to buy as much power from the grid. Plug-in systems usually have a capacity of 800 watts, or one-fifth of the size of a typical residential rooftop solar system, so while they would be unable to power a house alone they could help to reduce bills.
Typically, a household could save up to £70-110 a year from installing plug-in solar, according to government research. The cost of plug-in systems are expected to start at about £400, meaning it would take between four to seven years to cover the initial outlay.
The government first set out plans to help households join the millions of people across Europe who generate their own electricity with “plug-in” panels in proposals last summer. It expects the devices to be available in stores in the coming months.
Plug-in panels can already be found on balconies across Spain and Germany where they are plugged directly into a power socket to generate solar electricity for the household without the need for professional installation. About 1.5m balconies in Germany have DIY panels, known as Balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant).
McCluskey said: “Plug-in panels can be transformative for renters or those on lower incomes, so I welcome the conversation today with household names such as B&Q and Currys showing a huge amount of support for getting the panels in people’s homes.
“This easy-to-install tech can cut people’s bills and help make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets.”
The plug-in solar panel drive comes amid a surge of interest in home energy technologies that can help households cut bills.
Last year, a record 269,000 solar installations were completed in the UK, over a third more than in the previous year and the equivalent of a new rooftop solar installation every two minutes.
During the war in Iran, British households have turned in record numbers to green home energy upgrades such as solar panels, EV chargers and heat pumps to try to keep costs down even as global oil and gas prices soar.
Graham Bell, the chief executive of B&Q, which sells portable solar devices that charge a battery, said the retailer was “working closely with government and suppliers to understand and help shape the guidance, ensuring any products we offer are safe, compliant and straightforward to install”.
Bell added that plug-in solar would be available to customers “as soon as possible”.
The introduction of plug-in solar is part of the government’s wider goal of increasing the UK’s renewable energy electricity to create a virtually carbon-free power system by the end of the decade. Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, hopes to grow the capacity of UK solar farms from 18GW at present to between 45GW and 47GW by the end of the decade, enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 12m typical UK homes.
Ministers are also working to increase Britain’s rooftop solar on the canopies of large outdoor car ports and the rooftops of warehouse and factory roofs. Using just 20% of the UK’s biggest warehouses for solar panels could provide up to 15GW of solar capacity – or half the planned growth by the end of the decade, according to the government’s clean power plan.

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The solar storm over a Pocahontas County planning document  Storm Lake Times Pilot
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Last year, South Korea’s Qcells set the world record for large-area silicon solar cell efficiency, a development that promised to dramatically shrink the size of solar projects and slash costs. Qcells, a subsidiary of South Korea’s giant conglomerate Hanwha Corp, set the world record after achieving 28.6% efficiency by combining a top light-absorbing layer of perovskite with a bottom silicon layer to capture a broader spectrum of sunlight. For some context, high-end commercial solar panels typically operate at 21% to 23% efficiency, meaning they convert about a fifth of the sunlight striking them into usable electricity. More importantly, unlike many high-efficiency records achieved only on lab-scale cells, Qcells’ efficiency was demonstrated on an industry-standard cell designed for mass manufacturing.
But China has now managed to wrestle back the title of the world’s most efficient solar panel maker: leading Chinese solar firm Trina Solar has officially shattered the world record for solar module efficiency, achieving a conversion efficiency of 29.2% and an unprecedented peak power output of 907 watts.
Trina’s solar cell isn’t just any solar cell. Its record was achieved using a perovskite-on-silicon tandem design, which stacks two different solar materials on top of each other to capture a broader range of sunlight. The perovskite layer absorbs higher-energy wavelengths while the silicon layer captures light that would otherwise pass through, allowing the cell to convert more of the sun’s energy into electricity. The company also developed a new interconnection structure between the two layers that reduces energy losses and improves the flow of electrical current through the cell, helping push efficiency to record levels.
Related: US Crude Oil Inventories Down Again, Losing 52 Million Barrels in 9 Weeks
Like Qcells’ earlier record, Trina achieved the breakthrough on industry-standard 210 mm wafers rather than small laboratory cells. The company reported efficiencies of 29.2% on full-size cells and 32.6% on half-cut cells, demonstrating that the technology can be manufactured at commercial dimensions. The resulting module produced 907 watts of power, up sharply from the company’s previous record of 808 watts and well above the output of conventional solar panels currently deployed in the field.
The result pushes perovskite technology further into commercial territory. Researchers have been posting impressive efficiency figures for years; the challenge has been reproducing them on modules large enough to manufacture at scale.
From Microscopic to Groundbreaking-Size
While individual lab cells have reached higher standalone efficiencies on a microscopic level, we are now talking about commercial scale applications. 
Conventional silicon panels are nearing the limits of what the technology can deliver. Perovskite-silicon tandem cells offer a way around that by capturing a broader range of sunlight and generating more electricity from the same panel area.
Now, the race is to manufacture them at scale and keep them operating reliably for decades in the field.
Perovskites are a class of materials that share a specific, diamond-like crystal structure. Perovskite solar cells can convert a wider spectrum of sunlight into electricity compared to traditional silicon. 
Indeed, perovskites can be layered directly on top of traditional silicon solar cells, with these “tandem” cells absorbing the colors of light that silicon misses and pushing theoretical maximum efficiencies to over 40%. They can be applied in extremely thin layers, allowing them to be sprayed or printed onto flexible films, windows or curved building surfaces. 
Further, unlike silicon, which requires high-temperature, energy-intensive manufacturing, perovskites can be processed into inks and printed at room temperature, dramatically lowering production costs. Whereas commercially available perovskite solar cells exist, they are currently not yet widely available for standard residential rooftop installations, in large part because pure perovskite cells degrade rapidly when exposed to outdoor elements like moisture, heat, and UV light.
However, several pioneering companies have started manufacturing and shipping them at scale. This includes California-based Caelux, whose “Active Glass” technology allows factories to build Hybrid-Tandem modules right on their existing assembly lines without redesigned silicon cells or complex overhauls, while UK-based Oxford PV has started shipping modules that boast efficiencies up to 24.5% to utility-scale customers in the U.S. and Europe.

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Igloo installs new solar array to create sustainability  Katy Times
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Moa Creek earmarked for next solar farm  The Central App
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Italy business lobby calls for emergency action to boost renewables roll out  Reuters
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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav was present during the signing of the MoU.
Statesman News Service | Bhopal | June 16, 2026 6:35 pm
Photo:X
In a major step towards promoting agro-solar energy generation in Madhya Pradesh, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed and exchanged between the Department of New and Renewable Energy, Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL), and the German Government-supported Indo-German Agrivoltaics Collaboration Project (IGCA).
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav was present during the signing of the MoU.
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Agrivoltaics is an integrated approach that promotes the combined use of agriculture and solar energy. Its objective is to enable solar power generation alongside farming activities on the same agricultural land, thereby reducing the need for additional land, ensuring food security, and minimising land-related disputes. The German agency GIZ will provide technical support to the State Government in this initiative.

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The partnership will help develop a dedicated agrivoltaics framework in Madhya Pradesh in alignment with various schemes, including PM-KUSUM 2.0. It is expected to enhance farmers’ incomes, improve land-use efficiency, strengthen energy security and promote climate-resilient rural development. The non-binding MoU will remain effective until May 2030.
Under the Agro Solar PV initiative, the government will provide subsidies to farmers. Farmers will retain ownership of their land and continue agricultural activities while simultaneously generating solar power by installing solar panels on the same fields. This will enable them to earn additional income from energy generation, offering a dual benefit of agricultural production and solar power generation.
Under the partnership between the State Government and the Indo-German Agrivoltaics Collaboration Project, the German agency will assist in the identification of agrivoltaics projects, technical and economic assessments, project design, financial viability studies and implementation support.
The initiative will also include capacity-building and awareness programmes for farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), energy developers, distribution companies (DISCOMs) and other stakeholders across the State.
In addition, the agency will support the development of an appropriate policy and regulatory framework to facilitate agrivoltaics projects while safeguarding agricultural productivity and food security in Madhya Pradesh.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav congratulated the state’s athletes on winning the overall championship at the 36th national junior and sub-junior Canoe Sprint Championship held in Chhattisgarh recently.
A man allegedly shot dead his female business partner over some dispute before committing suicide by shooting himself in the Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh on Monday afternoon.
Four passengers travelling in the Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity train were run over by another train near Morena in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday evening. The tragedy struck when the passengers got out of the train onto the railway tracks in panic over a rumour of a fire onboard.
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Drew Baglino spent nearly two decades building Tesla’s batteries, motors, and power electronics. Now the former Tesla SVP is quietly building the one home energy product Tesla talked up for years and never shipped: a residential heat pump.
His startup, Sadi Thermal Machines, is a direct bet on an idea Tesla floated openly in 2022 — before the company reoriented itself around humanoid robots and robotaxis.
On Tesla’s Q4 2021 earnings call in early 2022, Baglino and Elon Musk spent real time talking up a residential heat pump that would handle both home HVAC and water heating.
“From a mission perspective, it’s very aligned,” Baglino said at the time, adding that a home unit would actually be easier to build than a vehicle one because it isn’t “so constrained on mass and volume and energy.” Musk added his usual qualifier — “it is a thing we will do, but we’re not committing to a time frame at this point.”
Then Baglino said the line that looks prophetic now: “People should do it anyway.”
Tesla never shipped one. Baglino left, and with Sadi Thermal Machines, he’s the one making good on it.
This isn’t a random pivot. Baglino is a named inventor on the patent behind Tesla’s “octovalve” thermal system — the suitcase-sized unit in the Model Y that manages the cabin, battery, and motors at once, harvesting waste heat from the motor to pre-warm the battery for cold-weather fast charging. When it launched, it was more sophisticated than anything rivals were shipping.
Baglino rose to senior vice president overseeing Tesla’s powertrain and energy engineering before leaving the company in April 2024. His first move afterward was Heron Power, a solid-state transformer startup that raised $140 million in February.
Sadi is his second company, and according to TechCrunch, which broke the story, it has been operating largely in stealth. It was incorporated in June 2025, shares Heron Power’s Scotts Valley, California headquarters, and appears to be staffed with several Tesla alumni. The name is a nod to Sadi Carnot, the French physicist who laid the foundations of thermodynamics — and, by extension, the heat pump.
Tesla’s original stated mission is “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” Home heating is one of the largest sources of fossil fuel use left in the developed world, and Tesla executives once described electrifying it as some of the lowest-hanging fruit in the entire energy transition. A home heat pump fit the mission perfectly.
Instead, the company spent the years since pointing its engineering and capital somewhere else entirely. Musk now says roughly 80% of Tesla’s future value will come from its Optimus humanoid robot, a product that isn’t yet in meaningful production. He’s also asked shareholders for a pay package worth up to $1 trillion, tied in large part to building and controlling Tesla’s coming “robot army”, alongside the long-delayed robotaxi push.
Energy products that don’t involve robots or self-driving — like the home heat pump Baglino and Musk publicly mused about — simply never materialized.
Worse, Tesla’s existing heat pumps are now a liability rather than a selling point. The company was hit with a class action in Quebec this month over alleged heat pump defects in its vehicles that could cover more than 55,000 owners and up to $400 million in damages, after one Model 3 owner was stuck with a $4,477 repair bill.
The idea Tesla walked away from is now becoming a category. At Intersolar Europe in Munich next week, Differ Power will launch what it calls the world’s first “9-in-1” heat pump — the D1 Series, which folds space heating, cooling, hot water, solar inversion, battery management, backup power, and energy management into a single platform, positioning the heat pump as the home’s energy hub rather than just an appliance.
From my understanding this is a decent space to work it. Heat pumps are no where near the theoretical limit of performance. It’s ripe for a breakthrough, not just an optimization.
Samsung rolled out an all-in-one residential heat pump in January, and a wave of US and UK startups is racing to package heating, hot water, and storage into single, easier-to-install units. The home heat pump is quietly turning into one of the more contested corners of the energy transition — the kind of hardware fight Tesla used to lead.
Baglino deserves a lot of credit for leading many engineering efforts that helped Tesla succeed over the years. I am really curious to see apply the same approach to design home heat pumps from scratch.
He helped design Tesla’s vehicle thermal systems, he understands batteries and power electronics at the system level, and he was literally in the room when Tesla decided this was “aligned with the mission” and then did nothing about it. Sadi is still a stealth-mode startup with almost nothing public, so there’s no product to evaluate yet — but the founder-market fit is about as good as it gets.
If you’re electrifying your home heating with a heat pump, pairing it with rooftop solar is one of the smartest ways to keep your operating costs low for decades. With electricity rates climbing nearly 10% last year, home solar protects you against future rate increases. And with lease and PPA options, you can go solar with zero upfront cost and start saving immediately. If you want to find the best deal, check out EnergySage. It’s a free service with hundreds of pre-vetted installers competing for your business, so you save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. No sales calls until you pick an installer. Get your free quotes here.
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Tennessee-based solar equipment provider Create Energy has announced the acquisition of structural balance-of-system (sBOS) provider SOL Components from Kloeckner Metals. 
SOL Components products at the time of the acquisition included ground-mounted fixed-tilt solar racking as well as 1P and 2P single-axis trackers.
The components of the SOL Components tracker are slated to be integrated into Create Energy’s ONTRACK portfolio, which the company refers to as a “one-stop-shop” of renewable energy hardware that can reduce labor costs and improve system reliability through pre-wired and integrated components.
“I am incredibly proud of this acquisition and excited to bring another powerful product and company into the Create Energy Un-Evil Empire and our ONTRACK suite of solutions,” said Create Energy CEO Dean Solon in a statement. “We are building a unified power plant platform that simplifies and elevates how energy projects are designed, procured, and deployed.”
In March, Create announced a $78 million expansion of its operations that included an update to its Portland, Tennessee headquarters and the purchase of a 338,000 square-foot building to serve as its primary manufacturing hub. 
At the time, Solon spoke of “a wave of major initiatives” the company had underway, predicting there would be more news of mergers and acquisitions from the company in the near future. In a statement accompanying news of the SOL Component acquisition, Create Energy chief of staff Joseph Fahrney reiterated this prediction. 
“Create Energy promised to be a dominant force in the M&A market this year, and we are delivering,” Fahrney wrote. “We will continue to pursue strategic M&A opportunities, focusing on companies that align with our core values: innovative and disruptive technology, quality, reliability, and the expansion of American manufacturing in the USA.”
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Iberdrola has initiated work on distributed solar installations in Portugal under a community energy initiative. The Spanish company is building ten solar photovoltaic facilities intended to supply local networks of homes and enterprises within a four-kilometer radius of each site. Eight of these projects are in development, while two are already generating power.
This solar community concept relies on physical infrastructure situated in villages and towns rather than centralized generation. The approach places photovoltaic arrays in urban or semi-urban settings. Businesses and energy producers host the solar equipment on their premises without any capital outlay. The panels channel excess electricity to consumers within four kilometers through existing distribution networks.
The design enables participants to benefit from renewable generation without installing equipment on their own properties. This could address scenarios where cost, zoning restrictions, or building characteristics prevent individual solar adoption. The physical size of each installation varies based on the location and anticipated demand from the local network.
Producers receive the solar hardware at no upfront expense, and consumers join the network without connection fees. This arrangement redirects electricity that would otherwise go unused within the current grid infrastructure. The solar community projects represent a move from large-scale centralized renewable installations toward localized generation networks. The infrastructure brings production closer to consumption points rather than depending on transmission from distant sites.
Pedro Torres, Director of Smart Solutions at Iberdrola Clientes Portugal, characterizes the approach as transformative. He notes that solar communities are changing how energy reaches people, making it more accessible and collaborative. Through this initiative, Iberdrola seeks to accelerate that change by advancing innovative solutions that bring generation closer to consumption, enhance sustainability, and provide concrete advantages to local communities and the broader energy system.
Design factors include proximity constraints, load balancing within the four-kilometer radius, and integration with existing distribution infrastructure. Planning for these installations differs from conventional utility-scale solar farms because of their embedded placement within populated areas.
The solar community initiative is part of Iberdrola’s broader infrastructure portfolio in Portugal. The company has been active in the country since 2004 and is constructing what it describes as Portugal’s largest renewable energy project. The Sistema Eletroprodutor do Tâmega includes three hydroelectric plants: Alto Tâmega, Gouvães, and Daivões. These facilities form an integrated complex with 1,158 MW of installed capacity, including 880 MW of pumped storage capability. Iberdrola states that the hydroelectric scheme represents an investment exceeding US$1.85 billion.
Iberdrola also constructed seven photovoltaic projects awarded in Portugal’s 2019 solar capacity auction. All seven are now operational, with a combined installed capacity of roughly 186.3 MW. In 2024, the company received the highest rating from Fitch Sustainable after preventing 26.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions the prior year.
Whether the community solar model expands beyond Portugal remains uncertain. The infrastructure design is replicable, and demand for localized renewable generation continues to rise. Physical installation requirements include suitable host sites, distribution network capacity, and planning approval for embedded generation within residential or commercial areas.
Torres’s focus remains on completing the ten projects currently underway. The program tests whether decentralized energy infrastructure can deliver measurable benefits to the communities it serves. The construction and commissioning phase will determine if the model performs as intended across different site types and network configurations. Each site presents distinct planning considerations that affect the commissioning timeline. Variation in host property characteristics, local grid capacity, and community participation levels means the rollout proceeds at different speeds across the ten locations. This phased approach allows Iberdrola to refine the installation process as operational data comes in from the two functioning sites.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry in Portugal, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the solar cells and light-emitting diodes landscape in Portugal.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for Portugal. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Portugal. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links solar cells and light-emitting diodes demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in Portugal.
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of solar cells and light-emitting diodes dynamics in Portugal.
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Portugal.
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
How the Report Was Built
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Update 6/16: Bluetti has expanded its clearance sale section of this sale, while also adding the newly launched FridgePower Portable Power Station and bundle options. The list below has been updated.
Bluetti has switched over to its Early Prime Day power station sale, which is not only getting some special extra savings promotions but also benefits from our two ongoing exclusive codes for even lower prices. One solid option is the Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station taken down to $759.05 shipped after using our code 9TO5TOYS5OFF at checkout, beating out Amazon by $40. It’s down from its recent $899 full price (originally $1,699), which has been seeing regular discounts to $799 since April. While we have seen it go a bit lower in the past, you’re still getting an exclusive $140 markdown off the new going rate, landing it at the third-lowest price we have tracked. Head below to get the full rundown on extra savings and to browse the entire lineup of deals.
During this Early Prime Day Sale, you’ll have access to two of our exclusive bonus savings codes, with a sitewide 5% off available using the code 9TO5TOYS5OFF, while purchasing the Elite 400 or any of its bundles get 6% extra savings using the code 9TO5TOYS6OFF at checkout. What’s more, Bluetti is offering additional tiered savings: $100 off on orders over $2,000, $150 off on orders over $3,000, or $200 off on orders over $4,000. Plus, purchases score you 2x Bluetti Bucks that you can redeem (just sign up here for free) for coupons, gift cards, and lifestyle products.
The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 power station is a solid middle-ground option to cover your devices and appliances, with it providing a 2,073.6Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity. Through its nine output ports (4x AC, 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, 1x DC), it delivers up to 2,600W of steady power and can surge as high as 5,200W; not to mention, it operates at 16dB “whisper-quiet” levels, so it won’t disturb your sleep while camping or using it near your bed. There are a few different options to recharge the stations battery, including the usual AC outlet charging, using 12V or 24V car auxiliary ports, using either of the brand’s alternator chargers, connecting up to 1,000W of solar panel input, or by simultaneously using both AC and DC charging.
***Note: None of the prices in the lineup below have had any of the possible bonus savings factored in, so be sure to use either of the above exclusive bonus savings codes when you reach checkout, while the website automatically adds the up to $200 savings from the promotions. Following the last few posts since Bluetti permanently cut down its MSRPs, units that have been permanently given price cuts may have a “No additional price cut” reflected to show that the rate shown is the newest MSRP and not receiving further savings.
You can find add-on accessory deals on the main Early Prime Day Sale’s landing page here, while other power station sales from alternate brands can be found collected into our dedicated hub here.

EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale offers up to 62% power station discounts, bonus extra savings, free gifts, rewards, more from $149

EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale offers DELTA 3 Max power station + 20W GaN charger at $779, more from $1,249

Jackery Early Prime Day Sale offers up to 65% power station discounts + up to 10% bonus savings – all starting from $499

Jackery Early Prime Day flash sale drops 7,168Wh expanded HomePower 3600 Plus station + 500W solar panel to $3,134, more

Grab Jackery’s 3,584Wh HomePower 3600 Plus power station with/without a 500W solar panel starting from exclusive $1,399

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A group of researchers from Chinese PV manufacturer Longi and China’s Yangzhou University has developed a new manufacturing technique to mitigate laser shock waves in the production of heterojunction (HJT) back-contact (BC) solar cells in an effort to reduce potential damage.
“Our work not only addresses a major contradiction in laser-based manufacturing but also offers a practical, industry-ready route toward ultra-high-efficiency photovoltaics,” corresponding author Lvzhou Li told pv magazine. “Laser processing plays a central role in modern photovoltaic manufacturing, providing benefits in throughput, precision, and patterning flexibility. However, at high energy densities, the interaction between ultrafast laser pulses and silicon can trigger non-thermal processes that produce instantaneous, high-pressure shock waves.”
Laser-induced shock waves can damage solar cells by generating extremely rapid, localized pressure spikes within the silicon lattice. These stresses can exceed the material’s mechanical limits, leading to microcracks and defect formation. Such damage degrades carrier transport and reduces the overall efficiency and reliability of solar cells.
In the paper “Harnessing and mitigating laser shock waves for 27.27% efficiency back contact silicon solar cells,” published in Solar Energy, Li and his colleagues specifically addressed the degradation of front-side passivation and texture caused by rear-side laser patterning at high energy densities, focusing on how rear-side p-type region formation affects front-side passivation through laser-induced shock waves, rather than on contact or edge optimization.
The group identified the rear-side silicon nitride (SiNx) layer as the primary source of damage and revealed the underlying picosecond laser–SiNx interaction mechanism, which is described as a non-thermal ablation process driven by ultrafast energy deposition. It is triggered when the laser pulse excites electrons in the SiNx faster than heat can diffuse, causing rapid bond breaking and localized plasma formation. This leads to a sudden, explosive ejection of material rather than gradual melting or evaporation. The rapid expansion generates shock waves that can propagate into the underlying silicon and induce mechanical stress or damage.
The researchers also investigated the relationship between laser-induced shock waves and device architecture using two sample groups: G1 with a backside SiNx layer and G2 without it. After identical laser ablation and wet etching, G1 was found to exhibit distinct stripe-like damage on the front surface, while G2 showed no morphological abnormalities, indicating the critical role of the backside SiNx layer in amplifying shock-wave effects even at relatively low laser fluence.
In paralle, surface analysis reveals periodic high-reflectivity defects in G1 that match simulated shock-wave intensity distributions, whereas G2 remains defect-free. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed complete loss of pyramidal texture in affected G1 regions, leading to collapse of the passivation stack and failure of light-trapping functionality.
The scientists attributed the damage to shock-wave reflection at the backside SiNx interface, which concentrates stress at pyramid tips, generates microcracks, and promotes preferential silicon etching during subsequent wet processing. This ultimately causes structural collapse of the passivation layer.
To mitigate this issue, they tested three front-side textures: standard pyramids (E1), submicron pyramids (E2), and rounded-top pyramids (E3). Further analysis showed that, while E1 suffers severe degradation after laser processing, E2 and E3 significantly improve passivation stability by reducing stress concentration, with electrical measurements confirming this trend. Photoluminescence imaging further validates improved uniformity for E2 and E3 compared to E1.
The champion solar cell among all devices tested by the team achieved a power conversion efficiency of 27.27%. By way of comparison, the world’s most efficient heterojunction cell developed by Longi itself achieved an efficiency of 28.13%, which means the reported device is only slightly lower in performance and remains very close to the state-of-the-art level.
The result was confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). The cell also achieved an open-circuit voltage of 745.0 mV, a short-circuit current 7,439 mA, and a fill factor of 86.19%.
“We engineered a novel front-side texture consisting of submicron, rounded-top pyramids that effectively disperse stress waves and preserve passivation quality,” Li said. “By strategically harnessing shock waves on the rear while mitigating their impact on the front, we achieved improved device stability and performance.”
From pv magazine Global

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Sunny to partly cloudy. High 76F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph..
Mostly cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Updated: June 16, 2026 @ 11:04 am
FILE – A motorcyclist drives past the South Luzon Thermal Energy Power Plant in Calaca, Batangas, in the Philippines on Oct. 4, 2025.
FILE – A boy fishes in front of the Bangchak Oil Refinery, home to Thailand’s newest sustainable aviation fuel facility, in Bangkok on Jan. 3, 2026.
FILE – A pair of solar installers haul a solar panel onto the roof of a home in Manila, Philippines, on April 30, 2026.
FILE – A group of workers installs solar panels on the roof of a warehouse near Jurong Island in Singapore on Oct. 6, 2025.
FILE – This aerial view on Jan. 19, 2025, shows the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines, which has never produced a single watt of energy.

FILE – A motorcyclist drives past the South Luzon Thermal Energy Power Plant in Calaca, Batangas, in the Philippines on Oct. 4, 2025.
FILE – A boy fishes in front of the Bangchak Oil Refinery, home to Thailand’s newest sustainable aviation fuel facility, in Bangkok on Jan. 3, 2026.
FILE – A pair of solar installers haul a solar panel onto the roof of a home in Manila, Philippines, on April 30, 2026.
FILE – A group of workers installs solar panels on the roof of a warehouse near Jurong Island in Singapore on Oct. 6, 2025.
FILE – This aerial view on Jan. 19, 2025, shows the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines, which has never produced a single watt of energy.
BANGKOK (AP) — The Iran war has exposed major risks for Southeast Asia that could cost the region billions of dollars, if it doesn’t diversify sources of energy more quickly, according to an International Energy Agency report released Tuesday.
An overreliance on oil and gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz left the region particularly vulnerable to shocks from the Iran war, a “stark wake-up call” for its energy security, the report says.
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Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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