FORT FRANCES — The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has announced contracts with proponents to build 14 solar- and wind-power generating stations across Ontario, three of which are in the Rainy River District.
The three solar projects are proposed to be built in Fort Frances, Chapple, and unincorporated Rainy River territory, generating a total of 284.40 megawatts. There are also two wind projects in the Northwest that will generate a collective 400 MW, located in Nipigon and the unorganized Thunder Bay area.
“The energy task force has identified, for a number of years, that we are short in terms of the energy we have on a regular basis in the region, so this is really, really good news” said co-chair of NOMA’s Northwest Energy Task Force, Iain Angus.
Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas said that the projects are huge for the town, which he hopes will eventually be known as a green energy centre.
The construction of the Fort Frances solar farm will create about 120 jobs for the community, and its 57.2 MW output will power 8,000 homes in the province, according to Hallikas.
Fort Frances already has a hydro-electric dam, and in the next year expects construction to commence on a bio-refinery that refine waste fibre from the forest into de-carbonized fuel.
Hallikas said that the Fort Frances Power Corp. will need higher voltage power lines and upgraded transformers in the transformer station in light of the upcoming power generation.
The town is also in the process of creating a micro-grid that will allow them to be self-sustaining in energy.
Combined with the 60.00 MW coming from the project in Chapples near Barwick and the 167.20 megawatts from the Rainy River unorganized project, the three solar farms will create considerable amounts of energy that will be especially useful to the mines in Northwest.
“Right now, in terms of hydro-electric, we’re putting out in the range of 600 to 700 megawatts of power on a continuous basis. But we’ve had droughts […] that reduces it down to about 230 MW as all we can guarantee, so we need other forms of ongoing power,” Angus said.
Angus confirmed that, as of now, there are no approved battery storage plant projects, although Mayor Hallikas suggests that a battery storage group in conjunction with the new solar farm would further help the town in becoming energy independent.
While the cities do not have ownership stakes in the projects, Hallikas points out that every project is at least 50 per cent First Nation owned.
“The province of Ontario has made a conscious decision that any project that has First Nation partnership will get an advantage over those that are strictly non-Indigenous,” said Angus.
“[This] enables them to be a real partner in the projects, and that creates employment for First Nations residents as well as a revenue stream for the communities themselves.”
Angus called it a win-win situation for all.
© 2026 Dougall Media
A new report from Metal Focus reveals that global silver market remains structurally tight, with elevated prices, a fifth consecutive annual supply deficit in 2025, and ongoing mine and recycling constraints despite modest production growth. At the same time, PV-driven silver demand is falling sharply due to cost pressure and thrifting.
Image: Heraeus
From pv magazine Global
The global silver market remains structurally tight despite weakening demand from the photovoltaic sector, with elevated prices and constrained supply continuing to shape the PV manufacturing landscape.
According to the latest World Silver Survey 2026 by independent research consultancy Metals Focus, silver prices rose sharply through 2025, averaging just over $40 per ounce, a 42% year-on-year increase, before climbing to even higher levels in early 2026. The rally was driven by a combination of strong investment demand, tightening physical supply, and ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.
At the same time, the solar sector, long a key driver of industrial silver demand, is entering a period of adjustment. Silver demand from PV producers declined by 6% in 2025 to 186.6 million ounces and is now forecast to fall by a further 19% in 2026 to around 151 million ounces.
“Industrial offtake slipped by 3% to 657.4 million ounces, marking the first post-pandemic decline, as a contraction in PV demand and thrifting elsewhere outweighed gains linked to AI-related data-centers, high-speed transmission hardware, EV penetration and charging infrastructure,” the report reads.
The decline in PV-related silver consumption reflects a combination of technological change and cost pressure. As silver prices increased, module manufacturers accelerated efforts to reduce silver loadings per cell by adopting thrifting strategies and alternative metallization approaches.
The analysts explained that intense competition and rising raw material costs have pushed producers to cut silver usage, even as global solar installations continue to grow, noting that this growing decoupling between PV capacity expansion and silver demand marks a significant shift for the industry.
On the supply side, global silver mine production rose significantly last year, supported by mining project ramp-ups in Latin America. Recycling also increased modestly, reaching a 13-year high of 197.6 million ounces.
Despite these positive results, the silver sector recorded its fifth consecutive annual deficit in 2025, totaling 40.3 million ounces, with another shortfall expected in 2026. Structural constraints, including declining ore grades, operational disruptions, and a limited pipeline of new projects, are expected to continue limiting supply growth. Recycling volumes are rising but remain constrained by refinery bottlenecks and capacity challenges.
The report also reveals that, while PV demand weakened, other segments such as AI-driven data centers, electric vehicles, and power infrastructure continued to support consumption.
Looking ahead, total industrial demand is expected to decline again in 2026, with further weakness in PV outweighing gains in emerging applications. Silver, however, is expected to remain a strategic material risk for PV manufacturers, even as technological innovation continues to reduce dependence on the metal.
According to recent analysis by the Silver Institute, the photovoltaic industry is expected to use less silver in 2026. Silver paste currenly accounts for around 10-20% of total solar cell costs, creating a difficult environment for manufacturers already facing overcapacity, falling module prices and squeezed margins.
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(The Center Square) – Atlanta-based Sunniva announced Tuesday it will invest $350 million in a manufacturing plant in South Carolina in a move that would make the company the only large-scale, American-owned and operated maker of solar cells.When completed, the plant will more than double U.S. solar cell manufacturing capacity, now at 3.2 gigawatts. These cells, along with silicon wafers and finished modules, are core components in the solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity.The plant will be capable of manufacturing solar cells with 4.5 gigawatts of capacity annually, Sunniva said in a statement. The company expects 564 full-time workers will be employed at the plant at the Hunter Industrial Park in Laurens County with production beginning in early 2027.“Solar energy is the fastest and most economical way to grow our nation’s energy supply,” said Sunniva CEO Tony Etnyre. “Our expansion means that domestically produced renewable energy will do more than ever to secure America’s energy future.”Sunniva and another South Carolina-based company, ES Foundry, together possess 2 gigawatts of annual solar cell manufacturing capacity, while Canadian firm Silfab Solar operates a 1-gigawatt plant just south of the state’s border with North Carolina.U.S. producers have the capacity to assemble 50 gigawatts of panels, but a shortage of domestic solar cells means most manufacturers must still import these core components from countries like Indonesia, Laos and India.“This investment strengthens our commitment to innovative energy solutions, and we are proud to welcome Sunniva to Laurens County,” said Gov. Henry McMaster.South Carolina Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey called Suniva’s decision to build the plant in Laurens County a “significant win for rural economic development.”The Sunniva plant will sell the solar cells to U.S.-based solar panel assemblers, providing them with the American-made components needed to unlock a 10% domestic content bonus tax credit established under the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.Sunniva began in 2007 as a spin-off from Georgia Tech’s University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics, a research hub funded by the Department of Energy.“At this moment in history, the question of where our energy comes from – and who controls the supply chain that delivers it – is among the most consequential questions America faces,” said Sunniva president and COO Matt Card. “Suniva’s answer is straightforward: we build it here.”
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Analysis of longitudinal survey data has explored the link between intended and actual solar panel adoption in UK households. It finds that while most households that had intention of installing solar in 2012-13 were yet to do so by 2021-22, serious intention to install solar still increases the likelihood of adoption more than other factors such as income and environmental perceptions.
Image: Lara John/Unsplash
Intention to install household solar in the U.K. has not often translated to actual adoption, new research suggests.
The research paper “Do intentions matter in household solar panel adoption? New evidence,” available in the journal Energy Economics, analyzes the link between stated intentions and actual adoption of UK household solar installations by using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study. The survey is considered one of the world’s largest panel surveys, with a sample size of 40,000 households and approximately 100,000 individuals.
The research team, from Sydney’s Macquarie University, Charles Darwin University, and Queen Mary University of London, used survey data from 2012-13, 2018-2019 and 2021-22, analyzing data on intention to install household solar and actual solar adoption against factors including age, income, material wealth, whether someone rents their property and environmental perceptions.
Rohan Best, from Macquarie University and corresponding author of the report, told pv magazine that a key finding of the research was that while intentions do matter for household solar adoption, the link between intentions and actual adoption remains nuanced.
Figures available in the paper state that nearly 90% of households who had said they were seriously considering adopting solar panels in the 2012-13 survey had not yet installed solar by the 2021-22 survey. Despite this finding, the paper says that solar intentions, proxied by serious consideration, still exerts a robust positive effect on actual adoption, increasing the likelihood by three to seven percentage points. For comparison, variables such as income contributed zero to two percentage points on the likelihood of adoption.
Additional analysis found households that had rejected the idea of installing solar panels after consideration in 2012-13 were more likely to have adopted solar by 2021-22 compared to those who stated they had not thought about adopting solar. “Having considered but rejected solar panels appears to make subsequent adoption more likely compared to those who had not given consideration to solar panels earlier,” Best said.
The researchers also found the link to environmental perceptions is stronger towards solar intentions than solar adoption. Elsewhere, income was found to have a minor influence on solar adaption, with income’s influence mostly explained by related factors such as wealth and renting. Best told pv magazine this finding points towards the need to broaden policy considerations around solar adoption beyond income, before suggesting that a separate solar adoption scheme could be implemented for renters. “Renters make up a substantial fraction of households in every country, so policies specifically targeting renters could have potential everywhere,” he added.
Best also said the research findings highlight that there would be value in governments eliciting information on household willingness and ability to pay for solar panels, through mechanisms such as an equitable reverse auctions trial.
“Reverse auctions have been used in other related contexts like utility-scale energy to pursue cost-effectiveness such that the lowest cost bid is successful,” Best explained. “In a household context, fairness can be pursued with sub-auctions for sub-groups of households based on economic characteristics of a household like their wealth or income to ensure that households could compete with others in a similar economic position.”
Best also told pv magazine he believes the research findings can be applied to influence policy design in national markets other than the UK, as a lack of information on household willingness or ability to pay for solar is ubiquitous across national governments.
“If one government can take novel actions to make improvements for some of these challenges, then other governments can benefit by following successful trials,” he continued. “If governments lack information at the household level, then subsidy schemes would naturally continue to be provide more than is necessary for some households but less than required for others. Instead, better targeting of subsidies can help more people for a given cost to the government.”
Best added that the results are also relevant to markets linked to solar adoption, such as the uptake of home battery systems. “This is because of the widespread issues for any technology investment including upfront cost constraints, split incentives for renters/landlords, and information shortfalls for governments considering subsidy schemes,” he said.
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Intentions mean nothing when installers mark materials up 100-150% so that repayment term stays just under 20 years. When it should be 6-10 years. MCS scheme that was supposed to protect consumers is actually hurting them. Actually requirement for MCA certified installation in order to get export tariff is. Without MCS certified money grabbing installers i coud DIY install the same hardware at 30-40% of the cost, get it electrically connected and tested by sparky and be done with it. Huge part of MCS is ensuring solar is not missile to people who won’t benefit from it and making sure there is insurance for 25 years of repayment term. Electrical safety is 25% if not less of MCS related costs, so why should DIY installations be penalised for not lining pockets MSC certified installers? Every NicEic qualified electrician can connect rooftop solar PV, if homeowners did their research on suitability and affordability, understands warranty periods and is working with qualified electrician then let them install the freaking solar PV and pay them for the damn electricity they export. Where is the harm in that! Ah wait, the 80% of MCS installers will have to sell their Porsches…
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A massive solar tower in the Moroccan desert is the beacon of an ambitious push for a clean energy future. But fossil fuels and grid constraints stand in the way.
The Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Marrakech, lies on the edge of the Sahara and is known as the “door to the desert.”
Ouarzazate is probably best known for the Atlas Film Studios, where blockbusters from “The Mummy” to “Gladiator” and “Game of Thrones” have been filmed. But a new industry is taking shape.
Near the city, lying on a high plateau hemmed by the Atlas Mountains, one of the world’s largest solar power plants is being built. It is named Noor, meaning light in Arabic.
Stretching over nearly 500 hectares (some 1,200 acres), the solar facility produces enough energy to power more than a million homes. But this is not a typical solar farm.
Instead of commonly seen black PV panels, Noor uses concentrated solar power. A field of 2 million giant mirrors reflects the sun’s rays onto a central receiver that sits at the top of a 247-meter (810-foot) tower. The concentrated sunlight melts molten salt to 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit). That makes steam, which spins turbines, generating electricity even hours after sunset.
In Ouarzazate, however, electricity remains expensive. Most households are not dependent on solar, but on butane gas. So why hasn’t clean energy arrived for the local community?
One reason is that Morocco’s energy grid is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, and especially coal-fired power generation. Intissar Fakir, a senior fellow and founding director of the North Africa and the Sahel program at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. said this has slowed the nation’s clean energy transition.
“Fossil fuel-generated electricity contributes about 48% of the country’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
Moroccans spend around $110 (€94) of their $550 average monthly income on electricity. This is in a hot and dry country, where residents rely on air conditioning or a fan to stay cool. It’s regularly over 40 degrees Celsius in Ouarzazate during the summer, and the number of hot days and nights has roughly doubled in the region since the 1970s.
This expense is partly down to the fact that Morocco does not produce any fossil fuels domestically, and imports about 90% of its coal, oil and gas, Fakir explained. Energy market and price fluctuations mean fossil fuel imports consume a major portion of the national budget, making the switch away from planet-heating coal, oil and gas increasingly urgent.
That said, Morocco has made more progress on renewables than most North African countries.
“Even by global standards, Morocco’s transition plan is pretty ambitious,” said Fakir. By 2030, the country plans to be able to power its economy with 52% of renewable electricity. By 2050, it’s aiming for 70% clean power capacity. And considering that the country has ample sun and coastal wind, the conditions seem right.
The Noor solar plant might be the star of Morocco’s shift to renewables, but it’s just one of around two dozen solar, wind and hydro megaprojects already built. Another several dozen are in the pipeline.
The country has also recently pledged to phase out coal power entirely by 2040 as part of its clean energy transition.
But it has some catching up to do. While it currently has enough renewable technology to generate 46% of its electricity, in 2023 the nation only achieved a little over half of that.
“The actual output in the country’s ability to integrate what Noor produces remains quite limited,” said Fakir. “Morocco still needs to invest in its grid capacity so they can integrate more of these renewable energies into daily use.” This includes investment in ways to store energy.
She said more investment is also needed if the country is to realize its goal of selling its clean power abroad — especially to Europe.
“Even as solar panels and wind turbines get cheaper, building large-scale, clean energy systems like Noor still takes serious upfront investment for low income countries,” she explained.
Researchers and civil society organizations have also been critical of the government’s focus on megaprojects like Noor instead of more decentralized, small-scale clean energy schemes, including rooftop PV panels for homes, businesses and farms.
One critique is that concentrated solar power is very water intensive. Its millions of mirrors need to be cleaned with water to remove sand and dust that get in the way of their ability to reflect light. In addition, a lot of grazing land was appropriated from local farmers to host Noor, with little consultation.
The project has divided locals, many of whom have seen few benefits. Imrane, an 83-year old resident, said electricity is still very expensive for villagers, adding that the solar tower’s mirrors and concentrated sunlight has driven up temperatures in their villages.
Fakir said that, despite the expense, the Noor solar project was an experiment.
“These are great flagship projects that prove the extent of Morocco’s technical capabilities,” she said. “But they also again highlight the challenge that even with these massive investments, renewables are still struggling to displace the entrenched coal and fossil fuel generation.”
Edited by: Stuart Braun
This article was adapted from a DW Living Planet radio series on solar energy. Click here to listen.
Solarport has launched the modular PowerPark PRO PV carport series, designed to meet UK/EU parking standards and adapt to various site layouts with multiple configurations and orientations.
Image: Solarport
UK-based Solarport has unveiled this week a new PV carport line with modular design.
“Solarport designed the PowerPark PRO Series to exceed the UK and EU parking space requirements, including disabled and parent-and-child bays, and to fully comply with the spacing standards outlined by the BRE National Solar Centre,” Thea O’Brien, Innovation Project Lead at Solarport, told pv magazine. “Its modular design allows the structure to scale from small installations to large car parks, providing businesses with a flexible solution that meets their unique project needs.”
The series includes four different models, which the manufacturer said suit different site layouts and orientations.
The M model is designed for sites with limited space and is available in two configurations: M2, 2-in-portrait, supporting modules up to 2,465 mm, and M3, 3-in-portrait, supporting modules up to 1,762 mm. Both are designed for south-facing systems with a tilt angle over 10°.
The R variant is engineered to suit more complex or restricted site layouts and is available in the same two configurations as the M variants. The difference consists in allowing the deployment of solar modules with a tilt angle of less than 10°.
The G model is claimed to be an ideal solution for east-west oriented car parks. It is is available in two configurations: G4, 4-in-portrait, and G6, 6-in-portrait, for a tilt angle of over 10°. The G4 variant supports module sizes up to 2,465 mm, while the G6 accommodates modules up to 1,762 mm.
Moreover, Solarport offers the R2, 2-in-portrait, variant and and the R3 (3-in-portrait)—optimized for south-facing orientation with a structure angle of less than 10°. The R2 variant supports module sizes up to 2,465 mm, while the R3 accommodates modules up to 1,762 mm.
All models are constructed using S275 hot-dip galvanized steel for primary components and S450 steel with ZM310 coating for sheet elements, ensuring durability and corrosion resistance. They also feature clamps and a back-to-back purlin rail configuration with three pairs per bay for secure module mounting.
The design also supports installations on ground inclinations of up to 5°, offering flexibility for a wide range of site conditions, according to the manufacturer. Each structure accommodates bays up to 7.9 m, three standard car spaces, and extends to a maximum length of 63.75 m.
The systems are also certified to withstand wind speeds up to 30 m/s and a snow load of 1 kN. The design also complies with multiple British and European standards, including BS EN 1991 and BS EN 1993 series.
“This hasn’t been a product developed in isolation. Our innovation team has worked closely with clients throughout the process, making sure we’ve built something that reflects what the market is asking for. As with every Solarport product, it’s been shaped by real feedback, real projects, and real challenges,” the company said in a statement.
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As of April 15, 2026, the global energy landscape is caught between two converging forces: a desperate, AI-driven surge in electricity demand and a volatile geopolitical struggle over the supply chains that power the renewable transition. At the epicenter of this conflict sits First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), a company that has transformed from a niche technology player into the undisputed industrial champion of the American solar industry.
While its competitors in the crystalline silicon space struggle with a massive global oversupply and razor-thin margins, First Solar has built a defensive moat reinforced by unique thin-film chemistry and an unprecedented level of U.S. government policy support. However, as the company navigates the middle of 2026, it faces a new set of challenges: a maturing tax-credit market, shifting political winds, and a technological race to maintain its efficiency edge against advanced silicon alternatives.
First Solar’s journey began in 1999, but its roots trace back to the experimentation of Harold McMaster, a glass industry pioneer who saw the potential in Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) as a photovoltaic material. Unlike the crystalline silicon (c-Si) used by 95% of the industry, CdTe offered the promise of a continuous manufacturing process.
The company’s early trajectory was fueled by the backing of the Walton family (of Walmart fame), through their investment vehicle, JTW Trust. This patient capital allowed First Solar to survive the “solar winters” of the early 2000s and go public in 2006. For years, the company operated as a dual-threat entity, both manufacturing modules and developing massive utility-scale power plants.
The most significant transformation occurred under current leadership, which successfully pivoted the company away from project development to focus exclusively on being a “pure-play” module manufacturer. By shedding its engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) business, First Solar de-risked its balance sheet and prepared itself for the massive manufacturing scale-up triggered by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
First Solar’s business model is defined by vertical integration and technological differentiation. The company manufactures thin-film solar modules that do not require polysilicon, the key raw material for most solar panels, which is largely controlled by Chinese supply chains.
Revenue Streams:
The “Glass-to-Module” Process:
First Solar’s manufacturing is unique in its speed. It can transform a sheet of glass into a finished, functional solar panel in roughly four hours within a single facility. This “integrated” model contrasts with silicon competitors, who often move products through four or five different factories across different countries (ingot, wafer, cell, and module stages).
Over the last decade, First Solar has been a barometer for the solar industry’s booms and busts.
As of today, April 15, 2026, the stock trades at $203.47, reflecting a market that is balancing First Solar’s massive backlog against broader macroeconomic uncertainty.
First Solar’s recent financials showcase a company enjoying record profitability, though 2026 represents a year of intensive reinvestment.
Mark Widmar (CEO): Widmar has been the architect of First Solar’s current “discipline-first” strategy. Known for his conservative guidance and focus on the balance sheet, he has resisted the urge to engage in price wars with Chinese manufacturers. His strategy focuses on “booking to fill”—securing a backlog that stretches several years into the future to ensure manufacturing stability.
The Management Philosophy: The leadership team is praised for its “U.S.-first” manufacturing approach, which has aligned the company’s corporate goals with U.S. national security and energy independence goals. This has given First Solar a seat at the table in Washington D.C., influencing trade policy that protects its market share.
The flagship product in 2026 is the Series 7 module. Manufactured in Ohio, Alabama, and Louisiana, the Series 7 is designed specifically for the U.S. utility-scale market. It features a larger form factor and a galvanized steel back-rail that significantly reduces installation time—a major selling point for developers facing labor shortages.
The Innovation Pipeline:
To stay ahead of high-efficiency silicon competitors (like TOPCon cells), First Solar is betting on Tandem Cell technology. By layering its traditional CdTe with a material called Perovskite, the company aims to break the 25% efficiency barrier. The company’s R&D hub in Ohio is currently scaling this technology for commercial release in the 2027-2028 timeframe.
The primary competition comes from Chinese silicon giants such as JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS), LONGi, and Trina Solar.
The most significant trend of 2026 is the AI Power Crunch. Data centers for companies like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) require massive amounts of 24/7 carbon-free energy. This has led to a shift where big tech companies are signing multi-gigawatt deals directly with developers who use First Solar modules, viewing them as the most “bankable” and “geopolitically safe” choice.
Additionally, “reshoring” remains a dominant macro theme. The U.S. is increasingly treating solar manufacturing as a strategic industry, similar to semiconductors, which provides a long-term tailwind for domestic producers.
Wall Street remains “cautiously bullish.” As of April 2026, there are 22 “Buy” ratings, 8 “Hold” ratings, and 1 “Sell” rating on the stock.
Institutional ownership remains high, with Vanguard and BlackRock holding significant stakes. Hedge funds have recently used the February 2026 price dip to add to positions, betting that the AI-driven demand for solar is still in its early innings. Retail sentiment is more mixed, often reacting to the volatile swings caused by political headlines regarding green energy subsidies.
First Solar is perhaps the most “policy-leveraged” stock in the S&P 500.
First Solar in 2026 is a company that has successfully traded the volatility of the global commodity market for the stability of a policy-protected domestic powerhouse. With a backlog that covers production through the end of the decade and a net cash position that is the envy of the industry, the company is fundamentally stronger than it has ever been.
However, for investors, the story is now about execution and policy durability. Can First Solar successfully bridge the gap to next-generation tandem cells before its tax credits begin to phase out in the 2030s? And can it survive the cyclicality of American politics? For now, First Solar remains the indispensable player in the American energy transition, standing as a rare example of a U.S. manufacturing success story in the high-tech renewable space.
This content is intended for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
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“These are very popular over here in Europe.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Residential solar panels are one of the best investments for homeowners looking to avoid rising energy costs and save money on utility bills.
That’s why one homeowner asked Reddit for advice after seeing an ad for a balcony solar panel.
“Is this safe and does it actually offset and save money?” the original poster asked in the forum r/solar.
Balcony solar panels, like the unit the original poster is referring to, are designed to plug directly into a standard outlet, with no complicated installation or rewiring required. They have been a popular way to lower energy bills in Europe for years, but regulations have largely prevented U.S. homeowners from taking advantage of these plug-and-play systems.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
However, that is quickly changing. After Utah became the first state to allow homeowners to install balcony panels in 2025, other legislators followed suit.
Now, the majority of U.S. state governments have bills in progress to cut the red tape on balcony solar panels.
Although it may take time for small-sized units to reach store shelves near you, you can still start saving with solar by installing a rooftop system.
Rooftop solar is a proven way to lower utility bills, and companies like EnergySage can help you get started with quick installation quotes and competitive pricing estimates.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Luckily, commenters were happy to share their thoughts regarding plug-and-play panels to put the OP’s mind at ease.
“These are very popular over here in Europe and follow national standards for safety,” one wrote. “With 3 modules, I’ve seen about a 15% drop in my bill, and the system will pay for itself in about 3 to 4 years.”
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“The U.S. needs to hop on board with this,” another added. “It’s a no brainer”
Another homeowner recommended the OP wait until the laws in their state catch up to the demand for small-scale solar.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
“What state are you in? That would affect how soon you can legally do this,” they wrote. “I’d wait until it’s sorted out.”
Luckily, the OP lives in Pennsylvania, which is one of the states considering reducing requirements for plug-in solar. They might not have to wait that long before snagging a balcony solar panel system.
While balcony panels can help reduce some of your power bills, you can fully take control of your energy generation or even cut ties with your utility company by installing rooftop solar, and EnergySage can help. The average homeowner who consults with EnergySage experts can save up to $10,000 on installation and purchase costs.
EnergySage also offers a helpful mapping tool that shows the average cost of solar panels in your area, along with the available incentives. Using it can help ensure you’re getting the best possible deal on your solar upgrade.
If you’re looking to go off-grid or just protect yourself from frustrating outages, pairing a battery with your solar panels may be a good idea. EnergySage can help you here, too.
Its free resources can help you understand the best battery backup solutions for your home and budget. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing your lights and vital appliances will stay on in the event of a blackout.
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Droplets of rain are seen scattered on the brand new solar panels Monday, April 12, 2021 outside the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Greensburg maintenance facility in Hempfield. (Shane Dunlap | TribLive)
Westmoreland County Airport Authority members on Tuesday authorized an Arizona-based energy company to proceed with plans for a scaled-back project to install a solar farm at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity.
It’s a project officials said will provide power for an expanded passenger terminal and potentially could generate additional revenue over the next two decades.
The $4.4 million proposal is a significant departure from an initial project unveiled in February to install solar panels at both the Palmer airport and the county’s smaller airport in Rostraver. That $30 million project also included installation of solar panel canopies covering more than 600 paid parking spots at the Palmer airport.
A smaller proposal was pitched in March that limited the solar panel canopy installation for just the 138 parking spots at Palmer airport. That option was tabled after board members learned the authority could incur nonrefundable costs, up to $10,000 annually, associated with borrowing of money to pay for the $4 million project.
Veregy senior account manager Mitch Dexter on Tuesday proposed another revised $4.4 million plan to install traditional ground-based solar panels on airport property that he said would provide up to 95% of the current airport terminal’s power needs.
“We anticipate this will generate about $1.5 million in additional revenue (for the authority) over 20 years,” Dexter said. The project, he said, could produce 150% more power than envisioned by the installation of solar canopies.
That plan was unanimously approved Tuesday by the nine-member authority board.
Veregy’s initial pitches required the authority to pay for initial engineering and planning.
No outlay of funds will be needed to pay for the early planning of the scaled-back proposed solar farm, Dexter said.
The authority will need to come up with the money, likely through borrowing, to install the solar panels once the final project plans are completed and permitting is approved.
As part of the plan, the authority will seek about $1.6 million in federal subsidies for the proposed solar farm, officials said.
Authority board chairman Paul Whittaker declined to discuss the project following Tuesday’s public meeting, saying only, “I voted for it.”
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The nation’s latest call for long-term power purchase agreements focuses on supplying the national grid with wind and solar projects, specifically mandating integrated battery storage systems to ensure grid resilience.
Image: CUED
From pv magazine Latam
The Dominican Republic and its Unified Council of Distribution Companies (CUED) has unsealed the financial bids for a major public tender aimed at integrating up to 600 MW of new renewable generation into its national grid. The procurement process stands out by demanding firm capacity and grid stability through mandatory energy storage.
Officials reviewed 20 proposals from qualified developers seeking to build utility-scale wind and solar photovoltaic farms ranging from 20 MW to 300 MW. The process aims to integrate new renewable capacity to meet the energy demands of the North, South, and East regional distribution networks. The tender had the mandate that all participating projects must incorporate four-hour duration battery energy storage systems (BESS).
According to the tender’s specifications, each awarded long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) must become operational within 24 months of signing. The contracted energy will be allocated among the regional grids as follows: North 30%, South 35%, East 35%.
During the bid unsealing, Dominican energy officials emphasized the broader strategy of diversifying the national energy mix. The country has already achieved a 25% renewable energy share within its national interconnected grid, with a targeted milestone of 30% by 2030. They also stressed the importance of keeping the bidding process highly competitive to drive down costs.
Initially launched last August, the tender has attracted significant global interest, with 32 international and regional companies presenting credentials late last year. To attract foreign investment, the long-term PPAs will be settled in US dollars and backed by end-user tariffs, offering a secure, bankable revenue model for developers willing to meet the rigorous energy storage requirements.
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A decision by a Cornwall Council planning committee to refuse a controversial application to build a solar farm across 22 fields has been overturned at appeal.
Councillors deliberated in February 2025 on a plan by Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy to site a 40MW solar farm on almost 200 acres of farmland at Gwinear, near Hayle.
Speedwell Solar Farm Ltd, owned by energy giant Statkraft, wants to put a solar park on 22 agricultural fields at the site. The development would be operational for 40 years and have the potential to power the equivalent of 12,000 homes.
Cornwall Council planning officers recommended approval despite concerns about the loss of very best Grade 3 agricultural land and harm to the setting of Grade II listed Lanyon Farmhouse and other buildings, among other worries.
However, after a long debate about the proposal, which also includes a 50-space car park and wildlife area for Gwinear Community Primary School, the application was refused on a vote of ten in favour with none against and one abstention.
Harm to nearby heritage buildings and the change from post-medieval farmland to an industrial landscape were cited as reasons.
You can read more about the proposals here: Plan for solar farm across 22 fields next to primary school
Speedwell Solar Farm Ltd appealed the decision and following a hearing in January this year, planning inspector R E Jones overturned the refusal last month.
The government inspector found that the solar farm would not have a significant adverse impact “with regard to cumulative landscape and visual effects”, and wouldn’t result in significant harm or loss of “best and most versatile agricultural land”.
The inspector judged that the proposal would cause harm to the designated heritage assets at the site, but the benefits of the renewable energy project outweighed that harm.
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Speaking at last year’s committee meeting, Serena Eustice, who runs the popular neighbouring Trevaskis Farm restaurant, farm shop and fruit picking business with her brother Giles, said: “Meeting our energy goals cannot be used to justify the wrong development in the wrong location.
“This is the wrong location because it’s best and most versatile land, because of the cumulative effects of another solar farm application in this area and because of the heritage impact.
“There is nothing about this application which is of benefit to the Gwinear parish or indeed Cornwall. This electricity is going up the line. In fact, everything about this application is to the detriment to the region.”
Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council objected to the plan. Representatives from St Erth Parish Council, Hayle Town Council and the then divisional member at Cornwall Council also spoke against the proposal.
Planning agent Ed Salter spoke on behalf of the applicant. He said Speedwell Solar would deliver multiple benefits including providing renewable energy to the equivalent of 12,000 homes, a 71 per cent biodiversity net gain and a car park and wildlife area for Gwinear Primary School.
He added that a search for land of a similar size in an eight kilometre radius from the network connection did not find any other suitable locations with poorer quality agricultural land. He stressed the solar farm would be temporary and reversible.
The landowners, Albertine and Geoffrey Leggo, are fourth generation farmers who bought their first farm in 1967 and purchased Lanyon Farm 1990.
Mrs Leggo said she supported the proposal on her land because “it allows the land to rest and regenerate, and it enhances biodiversity. It provides sustainable renewable energy for our community.”
She added: “It is suggested that a significant amount of land is being taken out of food production. This is simply not the case. It is important to understand that we don’t have to think of solar energy and farming as a choice of either/or. There is more than enough land to achieve both energy and food security, allowing us to become self-sufficient as a nation.
“Renewable energy projects like Speedwell Solar Farm are vital for the livelihood and prosperity of future generations in Cornwall and the UK. A solar farm today does not mean we cannot have food production tomorrow.”
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Link Securities | Iberdrola (IBE) has reached an agreement to acquire a solar photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 42 MW, located in Lazio (Italy), from the local developer CCE Holding, an international renewable energy company based in Austria, according to Bolsamanía.
The facility, which came online less than six months ago, has long-term power purchase agreements that guarantee stable cash flows.
The plant will form part of the company’s Etrusco Complex, which will reach a total capacity of 174 MW thanks to this new facility, alongside Montalto di Castro (23 MW), Tarquinia (33 MW), Montefiascone (7 MW), Limes 15 (33 MW), Limes 10 (18 MW) and Tuscania (18 MW). This facility also joins Fenix, a 243 MW solar project, the largest to date in Italy, which brings Iberdrola’s generation capacity in the country to 400 MW.
The transaction, which remains subject to the usual closing conditions, reinforces Iberdrola’s commitment to the expansion of renewable energy generation in Italy. The acquisition is fully in line with the group’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, which envisages total investments of up to €58 billion, of which €21 billion will be allocated to generation projects with long-term contracts in countries with a solid credit rating and stable, predictable and attractive regulatory frameworks.
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Oman’s Naqaa Sustainable Energy LLC is set to design, finance, construct and operate a 500 MW solar project in northwestern Botswana. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place later this week.
Image: Duma Gideon Boko/Facebook
Botswana’s President, Duma Boko, has announced he entered into an agreement with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, for the development of a 500 MW solar project with battery storage.
Reports from Reuters state that Oman’s NAQAA Sustainable Energy LLC, a subsidiary of state-owned renewable energy company O-Green, has been selected to design, finance, construct and operate the solar project.
Set to be located in the town of Maun within Botswana’s northwestern region, the project is expected to have a minimum operational life of 25 years.
President Boko has posted on social media that a groundbreaking ceremony will take place for the project on April 16. He added that the solar project will allow the country to secure its energy future and unlock long-term economic value.
Botswana currently has 181.5 MW of operational solar, according to the Africa Solar Industry Association’s (AFSIA) project database.
The country is targeting a 50% contribution from renewable sources to its national energy mix by 2030, up from around 8% today.
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The “Strategic Intelligence: Renewable Energy (2026)” report projects a significant expansion in global renewable energy capacity, anticipated to more than double from 4,107GW in 2025 to 8,430GW by 2031. The rapid growth is largely driven by solar photovoltaic (PV) becoming the largest source of renewable electricity globally, with notable dominance in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China. This development underscores a major shift in the global power mix, highlighting considerable growth opportunities within the renewable energy sector as it experiences unprecedented expansion.
Jinko Solar last closed at CN¥6.63 down 0.6%.
JA Solar Technology last closed at CN¥11.03 down 1.3%.
In other market news, Chandra Daya Investasi was trading firmly up 13.8% and ending trading at IDR1,280.00. Meanwhile, L&K Engineering (Suzhou)Ltd trailed, down 10% to close at CN¥190.35.
Equinor’s projected revenue growth is flat amid concerns of overvaluation and market optimism. Click through to explore the intricate dynamics affecting Equinor’s future performance.
Additionally, you might want to revisit our Market Insights article, where we discussed the dynamic shifts and investment opportunities in renewables and EVs amid fluctuating market conditions and geopolitical influences; don’t miss the evolving energy landscape.
Equinor closed at NOK376.00 up 2.3%.
Chevron finished trading at $191.78 up 1.7%.
Tesla ended the day at $352.42 up 1%.
Click through to start exploring the rest of the 182 Energy Transition Stocks including Empresas Copec, Origin Energy and Pampa Energía now.
Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles? Rare earth metals are the new gold rush. Find out which 29 stocks are leading the charge.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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“Renewable Energy Industry Strategic Intelligence Report 2026: Capacity is Expected to More Than Double, Rising by About 4,323GW by 2031 to Reach 8,430GW” from Research and Markets on GlobeNewswire (published 09 April 2026)
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GAIL (India) Ltd, India’s leading natural gas company, has approved the setting up of 700 MW of solar power projects for captive consumption, with an investment of INR 3,800 crore, in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
GAIL
GAIL (India) Ltd, India’s leading natural gas company, has approved the setting up of 700 MW of solar power projects for captive consumption, with an investment of INR 3,800 crore, in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
As part of this initiative, it will develop a 600 MW solar power project along with a 550 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at TUSCO Solar Park Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. The project will primarily cater to the captive energy requirements of GAIL’s Petrochemical Plant at Pata in Auraiya district.
In addition, the company will set up a 100 MW solar power project with a 22 MWh BESS in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district (formerly Aurangabad) in Maharashtra. This facility will mainly serve the captive requirements of GAIL’s PDH-PP Plant at Usar in Raigad district.
Deepak Gupta, chairman & managing director, GAIL, said, “GAIL’s installed renewable energy capacity shall increase substantially to over 1,000 MW from the current 147 MW upon commissioning of these projects.”
He added that this expansion underscores GAIL’s strategic vision of aligning its growth trajectory with environmental responsibility while ensuring long-term energy security.
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The world’s largest wind–solar co-located project is now operational on the Loess Plateau in northwest China, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of large-scale renewable energy systems.
With a total installed capacity of 6 GW, made up of 4.5 GW of wind and 1.5 GW of solar, the project delivers more than 12 TWh of green electricity annually. This clean power is transmitted via ultra-high-voltage (UHV) lines to key industrial regions along China’s eastern coast, helping to decarbonise some of the country’s most energy-intensive areas.
What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is not just its scale, but the complexity of its environment. The Loess Plateau, characterised by rugged valleys, desert fringes, and highly variable wind conditions, presents formidable logistical and engineering challenges. Limited construction windows and difficult terrain demanded a highly coordinated, efficient, and adaptive approach to execution.
Envision Energy, who supplied the turbines, addressed these challenges through three core capabilities:
Tailored turbine and technology solutions
The deployment of customised EN-200/5.56 MW turbines was central to the project’s success. Designed specifically for low-wind, mountainous environments, these turbines feature larger rotors and higher capacity, enabling greater energy capture while reducing the total number of turbines required. This not only streamlined installation but also accelerated overall project delivery.
Advanced supply chain and organisational execution
Executing a project of this scale in such terrain required seamless coordination across multiple manufacturing and logistics hubs. Envision Energy orchestrated the transport of massive 99-meter blades through narrow, winding mountain roads—an operation demanding precision planning and real-time coordination. This capability ensured that materials and components arrived on-site efficiently, minimizing delays.
Extreme-condition delivery capability
To meet tight construction timelines, the project implemented a 1:1 allocation of transport and lifting equipment per turbine. This allowed for continuous installation over an approximately 150-day window. Additionally, single-blade installation techniques enhanced flexibility and efficiency, particularly in constrained or uneven terrain.
Once considered a harsh and resource-limited region, the Loess Plateau is now being redefined as a cornerstone of China’s renewable energy future. This project not only demonstrates what is technically possible but also sets a new benchmark for integrated, large-scale clean energy deployment in challenging environments.
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A new report from Metal Focus reveals that global silver market remains structurally tight, with elevated prices, a fifth consecutive annual supply deficit in 2025, and ongoing mine and recycling constraints despite modest production growth. At the same time, PV-driven silver demand is falling sharply due to cost pressure and thrifting.
Silver metallization paste
Image: Heraeus
The global silver market remains structurally tight despite weakening demand from the photovoltaic sector, with elevated prices and constrained supply continuing to shape the PV manufacturing landscape.
According to the latest World Silver Survey 2026 by independent research consultancy Metals Focus, silver prices rose sharply through 2025, averaging just over $40 per ounce, a 42% year-on-year increase, before climbing to even higher levels in early 2026. The rally was driven by a combination of strong investment demand, tightening physical supply, and ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.
At the same time, the solar sector, long a key driver of industrial silver demand, is entering a period of adjustment. Silver demand from PV producers declined by 6% in 2025 to 186.6 million ounces and is now forecast to fall by a further 19% in 2026 to around 151 million ounces.
“Industrial offtake slipped by 3% to 657.4 million ounces, marking the first post-pandemic decline, as a contraction in PV demand and thrifting elsewhere outweighed gains linked to AI-related data-centers, high-speed transmission hardware, EV penetration and charging infrastructure,” the report reads.
The decline in PV-related silver consumption reflects a combination of technological change and cost pressure. As silver prices increased, module manufacturers accelerated efforts to reduce silver loadings per cell by adopting thrifting strategies and alternative metallization approaches.
The analysts explained that intense competition and rising raw material costs have pushed producers to cut silver usage, even as global solar installations continue to grow, noting that this growing decoupling between PV capacity expansion and silver demand marks a significant shift for the industry.
On the supply side, global silver mine production rose significantly last year, supported by mining project ramp-ups in Latin America. Recycling also increased modestly, reaching a 13-year high of 197.6 million ounces.
Despite these positive results, the silver sector recorded its fifth consecutive annual deficit in 2025, totaling 40.3 million ounces, with another shortfall expected in 2026. Structural constraints, including declining ore grades, operational disruptions, and a limited pipeline of new projects, are expected to continue limiting supply growth. Recycling volumes are rising but remain constrained by refinery bottlenecks and capacity challenges.
The report also reveals that, while PV demand weakened, other segments such as AI-driven data centers, electric vehicles, and power infrastructure continued to support consumption.
Looking ahead, total industrial demand is expected to decline again in 2026, with further weakness in PV outweighing gains in emerging applications. Silver, however, is expected to remain a strategic material risk for PV manufacturers, even as technological innovation continues to reduce dependence on the metal.
According to recent analysis by the Silver Institute, the photovoltaic industry is expected to use less silver in 2026. Silver paste currenly accounts for around 10-20% of total solar cell costs, creating a difficult environment for manufacturers already facing overcapacity, falling module prices and squeezed margins.
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The top five companies accounted for roughly 82% of the market share
April 15, 2026
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Langfang Sol-Bright New Energy Technology, Solabot Technologies, LEAPTING, Aegeus Technologies, and Vayu Solar were the top five robotic solar module cleaning equipment suppliers to the Indian solar market in 2025, according to Mercom India’s India Solar Market Leaderboard 2026 report.
The top five companies shipped approximately 82% of the cleaning equipment used in solar projects during the year.
In 2025, the robotic module cleaning equipment market recorded strong growth, driven by rising utility-scale solar installations and notable shifts among leading suppliers. Robotic cleaning has proven to be more effective than traditional manual water-based methods. Such equipment helps enhance module efficiency by ensuring consistent removal of dust and corrosive substances, thereby extending panel lifespan and improving energy generation.
The market is increasingly competitive and growth-oriented, with supplier rankings now shaped by their ability to scale across large utility projects. Adoption of robotic cleaning systems is accelerating, driven by the need to optimize operations and maintenance and the imperative to maximize project efficiency. Meanwhile, robotic dry-cleaning systems are gaining popularity due to growing concerns about water scarcity.
Robotic solar module cleaning equipment suppliers believe that automating module cleaning is six times more cost-effective than traditional methods.
In 2025, Sol-Bright led the country’s shipments of robotic module cleaning equipment, accounting for about 35% market share. In December 2025, the company signed a contract with Rays Power Infra to supply water-free robotic cleaning systems 250 MW solar project in Bikaner, Rajasthan. In November of the same year, Sol-Bright secured an order to supply its water-free robotic solar module cleaning systems to AMPIN Energy Transition’s 160 MW wind-solar hybrid projects in Rajasthan. In October 2025, Sol-Bright signed a contract with Azure Power to supply water-free robotic cleaning systems for its 300 MW Solar Project in Phalodi, Rajasthan.
Solabot accounted for roughly 12% of the 2025 market, ranking second overall. During the year, the company supplied module cleaning equipment to solar projects across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. In October 2025, the company signed a contract to supply dry-cleaning robots to BluPine Energy’s solar project in Tharad, Gujarat.
With around 12% market share, LEAPTING ranked third in the Indian market. Last December, the company signed an agreement with Adani Solar to supply Automatic G1 Cleaning Robots and intelligent cleaning systems for Adani Group’s 2 GW solar project. In the same month, it secured a supply order from ReNew Power for about 2,500 G1 robots. Earlier in November, LEAPTING won a contract to deliver 662 G1 2P robots for two 100 MW solar projects in Radhanpur, Gujarat.
Aegeus and Vayu Solar rounded out the top five, each accounting for over 11% of market share, with Aegeus supplying its robotic module-cleaning equipment for a 400-MW solar project in Barmer, Rajasthan.
Mercom’s India Solar Market Leaderboard report covers the market landscape across the entire supply chain. For the detailed and comprehensive report, click here.
The Market Share Tracker, offering quarterly data insights on your competitors’ growth rates, is also available.
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Scientists have created a residential-scale system for producing green hydrogen using end-of-life photovoltaic modules, according to a report from pv magazine. The approach pairs solar panels that retain most of their original capacity with a specific type of electrolyzer.
The system modifies a panel’s internal electrical connections to align its output more directly with the needs of the electrolyzer. This design eliminates the requirement for certain power electronics, reducing complexity. The method can be adapted to different standard panel architectures and can accommodate variations in the condition of used modules.
In operation, the system achieves a high percentage of the energy yield possible with more complex electronic optimization. Testing under real conditions indicated the setup can produce a daily volume of hydrogen that surpasses a baseline estimate for basic household needs. The process converts sunlight to hydrogen at a stated efficiency rate, capturing a significant portion of the theoretical maximum for such simplified designs.
Economically, the system achieves a specific cost per kilogram of hydrogen. This represents a notable cost reduction compared to reference systems, an advantage attributed to avoiding new power electronics and reusing existing photovoltaic materials. The concept aims to tackle both photovoltaic waste management and the expense of green hydrogen production by extending the useful life of solar panels.
The authors acknowledge the system operates at a lower efficiency than configurations using advanced electronic controls and is subject to variations in sunlight. They conclude that the simplicity, reduced cost, and ease of integrating the system present a promising path for decentralized applications. The research has been published in a scientific journal focused on energy conversion.
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Montreal – Hydro-Québec has opened the bids received in response to the call for tenders launched on May 6, 2025, for a maximum of 300 MW of solar energy. The 60 bids submitted add up to 481 MW spread across 14 of Québec’s administrative regions.
The solar farms must have a maximum installed capacity of 25 MW and be connected to the distribution system by 2029. The projects must also maximize the economic spinoffs for Québec, avoid agricultural zones, and ensure responsible equipment sourcing.
About 40% of the proposed projects involve the participation of a local municipality or an Indigenous community.
Over the coming months, Hydro-Québec will evaluate the bids, particularly based on their competitiveness, and determine how many projects will be selected for a maximum of 300 MW.
The results of the call for tenders will be announced during the first quarter of 2027.
Once the contracts are signed, the developers will be responsible for obtaining the necessary authorizations and permits. Electricity deliveries must begin no later than December 1, 2029.
Hydro-Québec is working with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton to ensure transparency in the tendering and award process for electricity purchases.
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SWELECT Launches Off-Grid Solar Cooking Solution Amid Rising LPG Costs Photograph: (SWELECT Energy)
SWELECT Energy Systems Ltd said on Wednesday it has launched an off-grid solar cooking solution that enables households to use induction stoves powered entirely by solar energy, without relying on grid electricity or cooking gas.
The product, unveiled on the occasion of Tamil New Year, comes as rising LPG prices and supply uncertainties push demand for alternative cooking solutions. The system uses solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to run standard induction stoves, allowing households to cook using solar power alone. The company said the solution is designed to offer energy independence and reduce reliance on conventional fuels.
“This Tamil New Year, we wanted to bring a solution that allows households to cook without worrying about gas cylinders or power cuts,” said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Arulkumar Shanmugasundaram.
SWELECT said the technology enables clean cooking with zero emissions at the point of use, while also lowering long-term household energy costs. The company is initially offering the product in limited quantities during the launch phase.
The offering targets households seeking to reduce exposure to volatile LPG prices and improve energy security, particularly in areas with unreliable electricity supply.
The launch marks an expansion of SWELECT’s portfolio of solar-based solutions as it looks to strengthen its presence in distributed and consumer-focused renewable energy applications.
Founded in 1984, SWELECT Energy Systems manufactures solar PV modules, mounting structures and power conditioning units, and also provides engineering, procurement and construction services. The company has transitioned from its earlier identity as Numeric, a UPS solutions provider, to focus on solar energy and power electronics.
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According to a report from Yahoo Finance, earlier this year, SpaceX submitted a government application to potentially launch a large number of data centers into orbit. This concept, which has not been achieved before, could theoretically reduce cooling expenses and utilize solar energy. The broader context is a significant expansion of data center infrastructure to support technological advancements, which is increasing energy demands.
Analysts note that substantial new energy supplies will be required to power the global buildout of data centers. This need has led to a positive outlook on nuclear energy from some experts. Analysts from one financial institution view the potential growth in nuclear power as a significant financial opportunity.
Firms such as Oklo and NuScale Power, which focus on small modular reactor technology, are seen as potential beneficiaries of this trend. This technology is characterized by potentially lower construction costs, shorter build times, enhanced safety, and easier scalability compared to traditional nuclear plants.
The two companies differ in their market focus. NuScale Power primarily concentrates on large-scale utility projects, including one with a public power agency. Oklo is more oriented toward providing smaller systems designed for specific energy users, such as data centers, and has an agreement with a social media company for a system with a planned operational date.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry in the United States, 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 the United States.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for the United States. 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 the United States. 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 the United States.
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 the United States.
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 the United States.
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
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The growing availability of financing options has had a visible impact on solar adoption. States with well-developed financing ecosystems and supportive policies have recorded significantly higher growth in rooftop installations. In some regions, adoption rates have increased multiple times within a short period.
A 4.8 kW rooftop plant in Bangalore running on AXITEC N-type TOPCon modules
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India’s clean energy transition is often discussed in terms of ambitious capacity targets and rapid solar deployment. However, an equally significant transformation is taking place in the background — the evolution of financing mechanisms that are making solar energy more accessible and economically viable across consumer segments.
Over the past decade, India’s installed solar capacity has grown to approximately 85–90 GW, positioning the country among the world’s leading solar markets. Within this, rooftop solar installations account for an estimated 11–13 GW. While this growth has been substantial, it represents only a fraction of the country’s long-term ambition.
India has set a target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with solar energy expected to contribute around 280–300 GW. Achieving this scale will require not only continued policy support and technological advancement but also a robust and inclusive financing ecosystem capable of supporting widespread adoption.
Historically, one of the primary barriers to solar adoption has been the high upfront cost. Residential rooftop systems typically require an investment ranging from INR 2 lakh to INR 5 lakh, making them inaccessible to a large section of households and small businesses.
As a result, adoption has been skewed toward the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment, which accounts for nearly 70–75% of rooftop installations. These consumers possess the financial capacity to make long-term investments and benefit from energy cost savings over time. However, this concentration has also highlighted the need for more inclusive financing solutions.
Government intervention has played an important role in improving affordability. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched to accelerate residential rooftop adoption, offers subsidies of up to 40% for eligible systems and aims to benefit nearly one crore households. The scheme has a total outlay of approximately ₹75,000 crore, reflecting the scale of policy commitment toward distributed solar.
While such initiatives reduce upfront costs, subsidies alone are insufficient to unlock mass adoption. The broader shift is being driven by innovative financing models that address the affordability challenge more directly.
In recent years, the Indian solar market has witnessed the rapid adoption of alternative financing structures:
OPEX and Pay-as-you-go Models: These allow consumers to avoid upfront investment by paying only for the electricity generated. Third-party developers own and operate the systems, making this model particularly effective for commercial users.
RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) Model: Under this framework, developers install and own the solar asset while selling power at a pre-agreed tariff. This provides consumers with predictable savings and minimal operational responsibility.
Solar Loans and EMI-Based Financing: Banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and fintech platforms are increasingly offering tailored loan products for solar installations. In many cases, monthly EMI payments are comparable to or lower than existing electricity bills.
Leasing and Subscription Models: These models enable users to access solar systems without ownership, reducing financial risk and simplifying adoption, particularly in urban markets.
Digital Financing Platforms: Technology-driven platforms are streamlining the financing process by integrating system design, loan approval, and installation services, thereby reducing timelines and improving transparency.
The growing availability of financing options has had a visible impact on solar adoption. States with well-developed financing ecosystems and supportive policies have recorded significantly higher growth in rooftop installations. In some regions, adoption rates have increased multiple times within a short period.
Moreover, solar energy is increasingly being perceived not merely as an expense but as a long-term investment. With payback periods typically ranging between four and six years, consumers are able to recover their initial investment relatively quickly, after which electricity generation effectively becomes cost-free.
Despite these advances, several challenges continue to constrain the full potential of solar financing in India. These include limited consumer awareness regarding available financing options, complex documentation processes, perceived credit risks — particularly in the MSME segment — and delays in subsidy disbursement. Additionally, a lack of standardization across states and financing institutions creates inconsistencies in implementation.
Addressing these issues will be critical to ensuring sustained growth, particularly in rural and semi-urban markets where adoption remains relatively low.
India’s solar financing landscape is expected to evolve further as the market matures. Emerging trends such as embedded finance, AI-driven credit assessment, and integrated financing solutions for solar-plus-storage systems are likely to shape the next phase of growth.
Industry estimates suggest that the solar financing opportunity in India could reach INR 8–10 trillion over time, underlining the scale of untapped demand.
Ultimately, the success of India’s solar transition will depend not only on how much capacity is installed but also on how easily consumers can access and finance that capacity. Financing, therefore, is no longer a supporting component of the solar ecosystem — it is becoming one of its central pillars.
As innovative financing models continue to lower entry barriers and expand access, solar energy is steadily moving from being an alternative energy source to becoming a mainstream solution for India’s power needs.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
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The company driving two of Australia’s largest renewable energy projects has announced key milestones for the system architecture that is to serve as the backbone for the proposed giga-scale green hydrogen projects.
Image: Intercontinental Energy
InterContinental Energy (ICE) announced it has secured up to $1.6 million (USD 1.14 million) in federal government funding to develop a digital twin for its P2(H2)Node (power to hydrogen node) that is designed to provide standardised architecture for large-scale green hydrogen production projects.
The Perth-based company said it has also signed the first licence for the modular system architecture, which will see the node deployed on an as-yet unidentified “large-scale renewable hydrogen project.”
While ICE did not identify the licence holder, the company’s head of engineering and innovation, Richard Colwell, said the agreement will provide an early reference case for the P2(H2)Node, paving the way for further agreements with developers globally.
“This first licence is a significant milestone, moving the node from concept to deployment,” he said. “We expect it to serve as a model for future licences, enabling developers to use a proven, optimised design rather than starting from scratch.”
The patented P2(H2)Node system is engineered to directly integrate giga-scale hydrogen production with large-scale solar and wind farms, eliminating long-distance transmission, cutting costs and boosting efficiency.
ICE has estimated that the modular architecture will cut capital expenditure by up to 10% and boost operational efficiency by as much as 10% compared to conventional hydrogen production models.
The company is now working to develop a standardised digital twin and licensable engineering design for the node after securing up to $1.6 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its Advancing Renewables Program.
ICE said ARENA’s support will help create a Digital Twin Optimisation Framework that developers can use to plan large-scale green fuel hubs.
Colwell said standardising and simulating the nodal architecture across varying technology and site parameters, the framework will help developers plan renewable hydrogen projects with greater certainty on cost, performance and delivery timelines.
“We are advancing digital and engineering design work that gives developers and investors more certainty on cost, performance and timing, at a time when fuel security and AI power needs are front of mind,” he said.
The P2(H2)Node architecture, now patented in more than 50 countries, is set to serve as the mainstay of the proposed 70 GW Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH), being developed in southwest Western Australia by ICE in collaboration with CWP Global and Mirning Green Energy.
Image: Western Green Energy Hub Pty Ltd
Spanning 15,000 square kilometres, the WGEH would include up to 70 GW of solar and wind generation developed in stages to power electrolysers to produce up to 3.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually for both domestic consumption and export, positioning it among the largest green hydrogen projects in the world.
ICE recently announced that it has secured enough green ammonia offtake interest from Japanese and Korean customers to support an initial stage that would deliver a minimum 1.4 million tonnes per year online in 2033, which would be followed by subsequent phases until the full planned capacity is reached by 2050.
The developers have also signed a feasibility phase agreement with Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer Sany International Development and South Korean entities to advance Stage 1 development of the project. The agreement enables full feasibility and pre-FEED studies for Stage 1, which targets approximately 6 GW of solar and wind capacity producing up to 330,000 tonnes per year of green hydrogen.
ICE is also developing the Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH), a 26 GW solar, wind, and green hydrogen project planned for Western Australia’s Pilbara region. At full scale, AREH could produce up to 1.6 million tonnes of green hydrogen.
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The Napa Napa Solar Farm project is the largest of its kind in Papua New Guinea. It was successfully commissioned on Tuesday April 14, 2026 which signified a major milestone and a new dawn in the PNG energy sector.
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Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
resilience
By Kollibri terre Sonnenblume, originally published by Macska Moksha Press
April 14, 2026
I recently saw someone online wax poetic about how solar panels are so benign because they don’t leak oil or emit air pollution or make noise like machinery running on fossil fuels. “They just sit there,” he said, doing their thing. While I agree that we must reduce fossil fuel use for the good of the planet, I must point out that solar panels are not benign.
Like any technological product manufactured by industrial processes from raw materials extracted from the earth, solar panels have an ecological footprint that negatively impacts the more-than-human world.
Currently, the subject of these impacts is most often ignored or when it’s not, is usually hand-waved away. After all, the carbon-centric narrative goes, with the climate crisis being such an existential threat, we must do anything we can to “decarbonize” and that means scaling up solar, wind, etc., as fast as possible. As regular readers will know, I have long advocated for cutting overall energy use and consumption rather than trying to sustain current levels with alternate means. To emphasize: my critique of “green” or “clean” energy is from an environmental perspective, and be assured I’m far from a climate denier.
I’ll also add that I personally appreciate solar power in my own life. As someone who doesn’t have a permanent home and who has regularly ended up in off-grid situations, I own portable solar equipment to keep my gear charged. It’s amazing technology that has allowed me to do my writing and photography in remote places and I’m grateful for that. Especially since I visit some of these locales because they are under threat from expanding development and I want to document them in the interest of their defense.
My main concern is with the utility-scale photovoltaic plants (colloquially known as solar farms) because of the large amount of wildlife habitat they wipe out. I love the western deserts and their flora and fauna, and I’m opposed to them being sacrificed. Rooftop, brownfield or parking lot installations are preferable in this way, though there is still the impact of manufacturing and disposing of the panels themselves, which is not trivial, and which I aim to highlight here.
The three main types of solar panels used in utility-scale plants are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. The crystalline types are by far more common. Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient, last the longest and have the highest cost. Polycrystalline panels are more affordable, but are no longer the standard in utility-scale operations. Thin-film is less efficient (and less expensive) than both but can tolerate higher temperatures, which is advantageous in desert regions. Currently, thin-film panels comprise only ~5% of those in use, so I’ll be skipping over them here.
Silicon is the key material needed for crystalline panels. (Thin-film panels may or may not use silicon, so more on those later.) Silicon is made from quartzite sand, which is in turn from quartzite ore. Quartzite ore is extracted from open-pit quarries or underground mines. As far as habitat degradation goes, mining is a nightmare. Besides the literal loss of land, there’s all the pollution including toxic dust and fumes, chemicals, emissions, noise, etc. Local water sources are often depleted or tainted. Restoration of such spaces to their original states is impossible. Yes, another mix of flora and fauna can thrive there in time—and I’m the last person to throw shade on novel ecosystems—but the loss of the original is permanent. The “green” and “clean” monikers applied to technology like solar panels ignore the mining step, even though it’s absolutely essential.
Transforming the quartzite ore into sand is a multi-step process involving specialized industrial equipment, high temperatures, lots of water and of course copious energy.
First the ore is crushed, screened, washed, and “calcined” (heated to 1800-2000°F to purify it).
Next steps include magnetic separation (to remove ferrous impurities), air classifying (which separates the particles by size), and surface treatment (to improve various properties like water repellency).
To finally get to pure silicon, the sand is mixed with a carbon source (like coal) and put in an arc furnace. As the oxide burns away, silicon is left behind, though still with some impurities, which are removed using hydrogen and hydrochloric acid. The final result must be greater than 99.9999% silicon to be solar grade.
For monocrystalline panels, this nearly 100% silicon is made into ingots through a fascinating process called the Czochralski Method. A “seed crystal” on a shaft is lowered until it just touches the surface of a vat of molten silicon, and then is slowly raised and rotated. A crystalline structure of silicon forms in a cylinder up to six feet long, vaguely like growing sugar crystals on a string. (For polycrystalline panels, molten silicon is cooled in molds.)
The ingot is sliced into thin wafers (180–300 micrometers thick) with a diamond-coated precision saw. The wafers are cleaned in baths of acidic and alkaline liquid and with ultrasound. Then they are treated with an alkaline solution that roughens the surface at the microscopic level, reducing reflectivity so more of the light hitting the wafers is absorbed. Next they are “doped” to maximize their conductivity. “Doping” uses phosphorus oxychloride to infuse the surface with minute impurities, which is what make the wafers functional as electrical components. Yes, after all that complicated refining, the wafers won’t function until purposefully made less pure in a very particular way. The doping step requires temperatures of 1475-1650°F.
A few more coatings are applied to the wafer: on the front, silicon nitride for anti-reflectivity and silver for conductivity, and on the back, aluminum to complete the electrical circuit. The front of the wafer is the positive side, and the back is the negative side. At this point, the wafers are finished solar cells, and are tested to ensure efficiency and output.
To manufacture a solar panel, individual cells are strung together with metallic “busbars” and “bus ribbons” to carry the current (lots of soldering at this step), and the resulting grid of cells is sandwiched between layers of encapsulation (usually an ethylene vinyl acetate film) with glass on top and a weatherproof plastic “backsheet” underneath. After being laminated with heat, the now joined layers are affixed in a frame with a junction box on back.
The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that by 2050, the world will have to deal with ~78 million metric tons of solar panel waste. There’s no coordinated plan or regulations to deal with this. Currently, the rate of recycling is around 10% but the number of solar panels reaching their end of service life now is much lower than it will be in the future due to the great number of panels being manufactured and installed. That is, if the current number of panels being recycled didn’t change, then in a couple decades the percentage would be lower than 10. So if we’re serious about recycling solar panels, we have a lot of work ahead of us.
The challenges might be primarily logistical and economical. Technically speaking, the glass panes and aluminum are fairly simple to sort out and the silicon wafers can be melted down and re-purified, though dealing with the encapsulation layer is “not straightforward.” Also, as with any industrial processes, recycling will itself require machines and energy and will generate waste.
Logistical challenges include building recycling facilities, setting up systems of collection, and legislating the policies to make it all happen. Economically, whether recycling “pencils out” or not will depend on a number of circumstances, such as whether profit motive is the deciding factor.
At the moment, though, solar panel recycling is barely a thing, and we can’t just count on the hope that “we’ll work that out later.” It really needs to be prioritized right now, if only to clean up the mess we’ve made so far.
It’s true that a solar panel does not leak oil or emit air pollution or generate noise. But its manufacture and disposal are not benign. Next time you see a utility-scaled photovoltaic plant in person or otherwise, try to picture the footprint it left elsewhere, from the gaping hole of the quartz-ore mine, to all the factories and industrial machines involved along the way, to the piles of old panels that may or may not be recycled.
I don’t know how big of a role solar energy will play in the years and decades ahead, but I hope it is small because our overall energy consumption ends up declining. My personal best-case scenario is no new energy infrastructure because we reduce that much that fast.
The author is a writer, photographer, tree hugger, animal lover and dissident, as well as being a former farmer who holds a writing degree. Kollibri’s work can be found Macska Moksha Press (http://www.macskamoksha.com).
Tags: recycling, Solar Energy
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Join us for the free, online event “Chokepoint: The New Urgency of Ending Fossil Fuel Addiction” on May 6, 2026 with panelists Nate Hagens and Kumi Naidoo, and guest moderator, Gaya Herrington.
April 14, 2026
By Chris Rhodes, Energy Balance Blog
Carrying about 20% of the world’s traded oil and gas, the Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint. Even if it remains open, restoring full energy and material flows will take time, with ongoing consequences to global supply systems.
April 13, 2026
By Nate Hagens, The Great Simplification
In this episode, Nate offers a personal reflection on the unfolding geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, beginning with an examination of how disruptions to fossil fuel flows propagate through the global economy, but with a time lag.
March 30, 2026
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Price Milestone and Market Context
The stock’s rally culminated in an intraday high of Rs 251.15, marking an impressive 5.46% gain on the day and outperforming its sector by 1.63%. This advance follows a four-day winning streak, during which Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd delivered a cumulative return of 10.51%. The stock also opened with a notable gap-up of 2.79%, signalling strong buying interest from the outset. Trading comfortably above all key moving averages—5-day, 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day—the price action reflects robust upward momentum. Meanwhile, the broader market, represented by the Sensex, advanced 1.74% to 78,182.78, despite trading below its 50-day moving average, indicating that Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd is outperforming the general market trend. How does this stock’s breakout compare with the broader market’s technical positioning?
Technical Indicators Reveal Broad-Based Strength
The technical landscape for Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd is marked by a compelling alignment of momentum indicators. On the weekly timeframe, Bollinger Bands signal bullishness, suggesting price volatility is expanding upwards with the stock pushing the upper band. Dow Theory on the weekly chart registers a mildly bullish stance, indicating that the primary trend remains positive despite some short-term fluctuations. The daily moving averages confirm the uptrend, with the stock price trading above all major averages, reinforcing the strength of the rally. However, some oscillators such as MACD and KST lack clear signals on both weekly and monthly charts, while RSI on weekly and monthly frames remains neutral, indicating the stock is not yet overbought and may have room to run. The On-Balance Volume (OBV) indicator shows no definitive trend on the weekly or monthly charts, suggesting volume has not yet decisively confirmed the price move but has not contradicted it either. What does the mixed oscillator picture imply for the sustainability of this momentum?
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Price Momentum and Moving Averages
The stock’s position above all major moving averages is a hallmark of sustained bullish momentum. The 5-day and 20-day averages have been trending upwards steadily, providing short-term support, while the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day averages confirm a longer-term uptrend. This configuration typically signals that the stock is in a healthy phase of price appreciation. The gap-up opening today further underscores strong demand, often interpreted as a sign of positive sentiment among traders and investors. Despite the Sensex trading below its 50-day moving average, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd has carved out its own upward trajectory, highlighting its relative strength. Could this divergence from the broader market signal a sector-specific or stock-specific momentum play?
Key Data at a Glance
Quarterly Results and Earnings Momentum
While the stock’s technical momentum is clear, the fundamental backdrop shows a more measured picture. The company has not reported significant net sales growth or consecutive quarters of earnings improvement in the data provided, which may explain the stock’s flat one-year return despite the recent price surge. This disconnect between price momentum and fundamental earnings growth is not uncommon in small-cap stocks where technical factors can dominate short-term price action. Is the current price rally supported by underlying earnings trends, or is it primarily driven by technical factors?
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Data Points and Valuation Insights
Despite the strong price momentum, the stock’s valuation metrics and risk profile remain moderate. The absence of a PEG ratio or detailed valuation ratios in the data limits a full assessment, but the flat one-year return against a 1.83% Sensex gain suggests the stock has not yet delivered market-beating returns over the longer term. This could imply that the recent breakout is more momentum-driven than fundamentally justified at this stage. At a fresh 52-week high with strong earnings growth but moderate return ratios, should you buy, sell, or hold Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd? The detailed multi-parameter analysis has the answer.
Momentum in Focus: What Lies Ahead?
The technical alignment here is striking, with the stock’s price comfortably above all major moving averages and bullish signals from Bollinger Bands and Dow Theory on weekly charts. The neutral RSI and mixed oscillator readings suggest the rally may still have room to extend before becoming overbought. However, the lack of volume confirmation from OBV and the absence of strong fundamental earnings growth warrant cautious observation. The stock’s outperformance relative to the Sensex and its sector indicates a strong momentum phase, but investors should monitor whether this technical strength translates into sustained gains or faces resistance. The technical alignment is strong, but does the full picture support holding Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd through this breakout?
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Solar equipment manufacturer Jupiter International and Indian independent power producer Ampin Energy Transition have commissioned a 1.3GW solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The facility has been developed through a joint venture between the two companies, established in 2023, and is being set up under tranche II of the Government of India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
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Modules produced at the plant will primarily be deployed across Ampin Energy Transition’s domestic portfolio, with additional volumes supplied to third-party developers in the Indian market.
“The inauguration of the manufacturing facility of AMPIN Solar One Private Limited is a significant step aimed towards building a stronger domestic manufacturing backbone for India’s energy transition,” Alok Garodia, chairman, Jupiter International Limited, said.
“This platform brings together scale, manufacturing depth and quality-focused execution, so as to enable the reliable supply of high-performance cells and modules from within the country. We are proud to partner with AMPIN and the Government of Odisha in advancing clean energy ambitions.”
Kolkata-based Jupiter has nearly doubled its solar cell manufacturing capacity in India to around 2GW following the commissioning of a 1GW mono passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) production line in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
The new line, developed by its subsidiary Jupiter Solartech, forms part of the company’s third manufacturing unit and increases total installed capacity from 959MW to close to 2GW of mono PERC solar cells as of February 2026.
As part of its next phase of expansion, the company is also developing a 1.25GW tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell production line at the same facility, signalling a shift towards higher-efficiency technologies.
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Proponents of community solar energy say the initiative is a solution to rising costs of electricity.
File – The Adams Solar Farm near Gettysburg, Pa. (Courtesy of Energix Renewables)
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Delaware residents continue to face soaring electricity bills — in some cases, doubling or tripling over the past two winters. Electricity provider Delmarva Power has proposed a rate hike.
Though freezing temperatures have contributed to high utility bills, rate hikes have also been driven by investments in grid infrastructure, demand for artificial intelligence–focused data centers and the rising cost of natural gas.
As a solution, Delaware lawmakers are encouraging residents to apply for community solar energy programs to reduce their bills.
Community solar programs allow homeowners and renters to receive energy from a shared solar farm and gain solar credits that automatically appear on their electricity bills.
Wilmington residents are now applying for community solar.
Developer-operator Dimension Energy has partnered with public benefit corporation Ampion to enroll customers who could save about $300 a year on their energy bills.
“These are projects that can come online quickly and help the grid operate better, but also provide immediate relief to customers — many of whom don’t really have options to cut their electric bills,” said Brandon Smithwood, vice president of policy for Dimension Energy.
The solar farms, built on underutilized farmland, will send renewable energy to the Delmarva grid. The projects operated by Dimension Energy in Delaware will generate 10 megawatts of generation capacity that could power about 2,500 homes.
Residents who sign up to become subscribers will receive a share of the solar energy produced. Each month, solar credits will appear on their Delmarva bill and reduce what they owe by 10–20% of the credit value. That could amount up to $336 per year in individual savings, according to Dimension Energy and Ampion.
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Nathan Owen, CEO of Ampion, said he believes community solar is the only solution to increased energy rates.
The price per unit of energy, as well as the price to deliver energy to households, has increased significantly. Prices for grid operator PJM Interconnection’s capacity auction, a complex pricing system that guarantees future electricity supply, increased significantly because of a supply-demand imbalance, increased power demand from AI data centers and slow construction for new energy generation.
“We have never seen these types of price increases,” Owen said. “The capacity auctions that we’ve seen recently in PJM are putting incredible upward pressure on prices.”
Unlike new natural gas power plants that could take up to seven years to complete, community solar projects can be built in two years or less. They reduce the amount of electricity the grid uses, which relieves the pressure to drive up costs, said Dimension Energy’s Smithwood.
“The grid can’t keep up, and it can’t keep up in part because we can’t build enough power generation fast,” he said. “These are small, community-scale projects that fit on 20 acres or on a warehouse roof and they can be built fast.”
Community solar also is an alternative to installing rooftop solar panels, which can be expensive and often aren’t an option for renters or low-income homeowners.
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Brice Shirbach, a Wilmington resident, signed up for community solar as his Delmarva bills more than doubled this winter to heat his 1,800-square-foot house. However, his primary interest in community solar was to reduce his individual carbon footprint and encourage large-scale solutions.
“Going to a hybrid car is great, or using energy-efficient light bulbs is great, but the steps we need to be taking as a society are of a much larger scale,” Shirbach said. “So, when something like this becomes available, it’s exciting and an opportunity to jump at the chance.”
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German tracker manufacturer Ideematec has executed an agreement with Parliament Energy to supply its Horizon L:TEC 1P trackers for 1.2 GWac of solar projects in Texas.
Image: Ideematec
Tracker manufacturer Ideematec announced it has signed an agreement to supply 1.2 GW of 1P solar trackers to Parliament Energy for solar projects in Texas. The supply deal covers three upcoming projects ranging in size from 285 MW to 505 MW.
Parliament Energy, an independent power producer sponsored by EnCap Investments and Mercuria Energy, is expanding its existing partnership with Ideematec following the 2025 commissioning of the 480 MW Parliament Solar project near Houston.
The tracker selection highlights a continued emphasis on hardware resilience in markets prone to extreme weather. Texas has seen significant solar asset damage in recent years, leading developers to prioritize systems with high wind and hail tolerances. Ideematec’s 1P tracker utilizes a patented decoupled drive technology and is rated to withstand wind speeds up to 224 mph.
“Our proven performance in hurricane-prone regions, combined with our advanced hail stow design, gives PEH confidence that our L:TEC 1P system can withstand both high winds and hail—even when occurring simultaneously,” said Philipp Klemm, CEO of Ideematec Inc.
Tracker installation is slated to begin first at the 505 MW Tehuacana Creek Solar project south of Dallas. The remaining two projects in the 1.2 GW portfolio are expected to begin installation in mid-2026.
The deal comes as global solar tracker shipments increased 20% in 2025, while U.S. supplier market share slipped slightly. While domestic manufacturers like Nextracker and Array Technologies maintain a lead in U.S. total volume, international suppliers are increasingly securing large-scale utility footprints by focusing on site-specific climate risks.
Parliament Energy currently manages a 2.1 GW portfolio. Its sponsors, EnCap and Mercuria, have shifted significant capital toward the energy transition, with Mercuria directing more than 50% of its new investments into renewables and grid optimization.
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First Solar shares gain on report China is holding talks on limiting solar panel tech exports to US Investing.com South Africa
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Advances in solar panel design have reduced the impact of microcracking on overall performance, according to Mike Perron, renewable energy market lead for FM. He says risk reduction plays an important role in the process of underwriting solar projects.
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Microcracking has historically contributed to notable solar PV losses, particularly during events back in 2016 and 2018. However, advancements in panel design – such as the use of more busbars and improved cell architecture – have significantly reduced the impact of microcracking on overall performance. Research from external sources, supported by FM’s own testing, indicates that while microcracks may occur, they typically result in minimal power loss and only modest long-term degradation.
FM’s coverage philosophy centers on restoring the client’s production capability to its pre-event level. In that context, microcracking represents a small component of the overall loss scenario and typically does not drive major recovery costs.
Risk reduction measures like thicker glass and early warning systems are certainly viewed favorably during FM’s underwriting process. While they may not lead to dramatic reductions in insurance premiums on their own, they can contribute to incremental improvements in rates, deductibles, and coverage terms, especially when part of a broader resilient design strategy.
FM assesses risk holistically, considering multiple factors including location-specific hazards, equipment durability, site access, and operational protocols. These measures help lower the overall risk profile, which can support more favorable insurance outcomes.
However, it’s important to recognize that the financial benefits from insurance may not always fully offset the increased CAPEX or OPEX associated with these technologies. That said, when these measures are integrated into a well-designed, resilient project, FM is more comfortable offering broader coverage and higher limits. We also work to help project stakeholders understand how thoughtful risk mitigation can justify lower coverage requirements.
The best way for engineering, procurement, and construction firms to work with FM is by engaging during the planning and design phase of a commercial solar project.
Importantly, FM only provides coverage for the construction phase of a solar project when it is also engaged to insure the operational risk post-construction. This ensures continuity in risk management and alignment of resilience standards throughout the asset’s lifecycle. EPCs working on projects where the client intends to maintain FM coverage after commissioning will find FM to be a proactive and supportive partner in building robust, insurable infrastructure.
In September 2025, pv magazine hosted a webinar with FM exploring common misconceptions in renewable energy. View the webinar here.
The questions in this article were submitted by attendees during FM’s webinar with pv magazine. FM experts provided the responses.
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Indian solar manufacturer Premier Energies is set to supply 1.6GW of solar cells and modules in the fourth quarter of 2026, under contracts valued at INR25.77 billion (US$276 million).
According to Premier, the orders have been placed by undisclosed independent power producers (IPPs) and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, with delivery scheduled between 2027 and 2028.
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The orders reflect the company’s changing product mix, with a shift from passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) technology to tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), the company told PV Tech.
“This robust order inflow underscores the trust placed by our customers in our manufacturing capabilities and technology roadmap. As India accelerates renewable energy deployment under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, we remain focused on delivering high-quality solar solutions at scale,” said Chiranjeev Saluja, managing director, Premier Energies.
The Hyderabad-based manufacturer is advancing towards fully integrated manufacturing across ingots, wafers, cells and modules, while expanding into battery storage and inverter production. Its growing order book reflects increasing scale, with module capacity recently expanded to 11.1GW and cell capacity set to reach 10.6GW by September 2026.
Recently, Premier commissioned a 5.6GW solar module manufacturing facility in Seetharampur, Telangana. Spread across 75 acres, the facility can produce four G12R zero busbar (0BB) TOPCon modules every 16 seconds, the company said.
Additionally, the firm launched India’s first 0BB TOPCon solar cell, marking a move away from the conventional 10BB and 16BB designs commonly used in the industry.
In October 2025, Premier bolstered its solar supply chain by acquiring a 51% stake in transformer manufacturer Transcon and inverter maker KSolare Energy. The company invested INR5 billion (US$57 million) in Transcon and INR1.7 billion (US$19 million) in KSolare alongside Syrma SGS Technology, reinforcing its footprint across the solar manufacturing and power electronics value chain.
Meanwhile, the company commissioned a 1.2GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing line at Fab City, Hyderabad, Telangana, in June 2025. The facility is designed to deliver over 25% cell efficiency using a 16BB design to enhance power output.
Intraday Price Action and Outperformance Context
Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd opened the session with a gap-up of 2.79%, setting the tone for a robust day of trading. The stock’s intraday high of Rs 255.2 marked a 7.16% rise from the previous close, underscoring strong buying interest throughout the session. Compared to the Sensex’s 1.60% gain and the sector’s more modest advance, this surge stands out as a clear sign of stock-specific strength. The four-day winning streak preceding today’s session, which delivered a cumulative 13.91% return, further emphasises the sustained buying momentum. Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd has rewritten its short-term narrative with this sharp rally, raising the question should investors be following the momentum or is this rally due for a pause?
Recent Performance Trajectory
Looking back over the past month, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd has surged 27.13%, a remarkable outperformance compared to the Sensex’s 4.72% gain in the same period. The three-month return of 16.43% contrasts with the Sensex’s decline of 6.36%, highlighting the stock’s resilience amid broader market weakness. Year-to-date, the stock has gained 32.32%, while the Sensex has fallen 8.38%, underscoring a strong relative performance. This trajectory suggests that today’s 7.01% gain is not an isolated bounce but part of a sustained rally that has been building over several weeks. The question remains whether this momentum can be maintained as the stock approaches key technical resistance levels.
Moving Average Configuration
The technical backdrop for Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd is notably strong. The stock is trading above all major moving averages — the 5-day, 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day — a configuration that typically signals robust underlying strength. This alignment indicates that the recent surge is occurring from a position of technical advantage rather than as a relief rally within a downtrend. The fact that the stock has now breached its previous 52-week high reinforces the breakout narrative. However, the 50-day moving average, often a key resistance level, has already been surpassed, which may now act as support. This setup suggests that the current rally is more than a short-term bounce — is this a breakout that will lead to further gains or will profit-taking emerge near these levels?
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Technical Indicators
The technical signals present a nuanced picture. Weekly Bollinger Bands are bullish, suggesting upward price momentum in the near term, while the Dow Theory indicator is mildly bullish on the weekly timeframe and also on the monthly, indicating a generally positive trend. However, the weekly RSI and MACD readings are either neutral or not signalling a clear trend, and the On-Balance Volume (OBV) shows no definitive trend, which may imply that volume support for the rally is moderate rather than overwhelming. This mixed technical landscape means that while the surge is supported by momentum indicators, some caution is warranted as the stock approaches new highs. The divergence between weekly and monthly indicators raises the question of which timeframe will dominate the stock’s near-term direction.
Market Context
On 15 Apr 2026, the Sensex opened with a strong gap up of 1,133.53 points and was trading at 78,051.56, up 1.57%. Despite this positive market environment, the Sensex remains below its 50-day moving average, which itself is below the 200-day moving average, indicating a bearish configuration at the index level. Mega-cap stocks led the market rally, but Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd’s outperformance in a small-cap segment of the Other Electrical Equipment sector stands out. Several sector indices, including S&P Bse Capital Goods and NIFTY METAL, hit new 52-week highs, reflecting strength in capital goods and metals, which may have indirectly supported sentiment in related electrical equipment stocks. The stock’s 7.01% gain in this context is a strong signal of sector-specific and stock-specific buying interest.
Fundamental Snapshot
Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd operates within the Other Electrical Equipment industry, classified as a small-cap company. While the company’s year-to-date return of 32.32% significantly outpaces the Sensex’s negative 8.38%, the stock’s one-year and three-year returns are flat, indicating that the recent rally is a relatively new development rather than a continuation of a long-term uptrend. This suggests that the current surge is driven more by short-term technical and market factors than by a sustained fundamental uptrend over multiple years.
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Conclusion: Bounce, Breakout, or Continuation?
The 7.01% surge in Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Ltd on 15 Apr 2026 is best characterised as a continuation of an existing momentum rather than a mere technical bounce or a relief rally. The stock’s position above all major moving averages and the breach of its previous 52-week high support a breakout narrative. The sustained four-day rally and strong monthly and quarterly returns reinforce this interpretation. However, the mixed signals from volume and momentum indicators suggest that some caution is warranted as the stock approaches potential resistance levels. The broader market’s positive but cautious tone adds to this complexity. Investors may find it prudent to consider whether the current momentum can be sustained or if profit-taking will temper gains in the near term.
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HUNDREDS of solar panels could be installed at Haddington’s Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW).
Scottish Water has applied to install the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at the facility to the east of the town.
The developer has included a supporting statement outlining the reasoning behind the proposals.
It identifies that the Scottish Government is aiming to move towards a low-carbon economy and Scottish Water is looking at all of its assets to identify those that can “accommodate renewable energy technologies”.
The document reads: “As part of Scottish Water Horizons’ renewable and sustainability energy strategy, it is proposed to install solar photovoltaic panels totalling 220kWp at Haddington WWTW.
“The proposed PV scheme at the Haddington WWTW will generate 186,038kWh of electricity per annum, contributing to Scottish Water’s target of meeting net zero by 2040.”
According to the plans, 480 ground-mounted PV panels would be installed alongside two inverters.
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Iberdrola Strengthens Italy Presence With 42 MW Lazio Solar Acquisition, Boosting Etruria Complex Capacity To 174 MW SolarQuarter
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Free midday electricity schemes aim to shift household demand into periods of high solar PV generation, reducing midday surplus and evening fossil-fuel ramp-up. Research on Australia’s Solar Sharer program suggests such incentives could significantly improve renewable utilization, but outcomes depend on consumer behaviour, load shifting, and rebound effects.
Image: pv magazine/AI generated
Free midday electricity is a key tool for encouraging consumers to use appliances and consume more power during hours of strong photovoltaic production, when electricity supply often exceeds demand, creating inefficiencies in the system. By lowering prices to zero or near zero, consumers are incentivized to shift their energy use to these periods, helping to align demand with renewable energy generation and reduce wasted solar power.
With this in mind, a researcher from Cambridge University, Ray Galvin, has investigated how the Solar Sharer program – set to launch on July in Australia – could pave the way for the adoption of similar incentives in other countries with high renewable energy shares.
Under this program, households with smart meters receive about three hours of free electricity during the middle of the day, when solar power is abundant. The time window starts between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm, depending on the state.
“The scheme could best be replicated in markets that have a substantial share of solar electricity,” Galvin told pv magazine. “This produces a wave of excess power around midday and a few hours either side, when the domestic electricity load is relatively low, but doesn’t produce in the evening, when most domestic electricity consumption occurs. This results in fossil-fueled electricity sources having to be ramped up in the evening. The Solar Sharer scheme aims to induce households to shift part of their loads away from the evening to the period when solar PV is producing excessively.”
Galvin explained that the length of the free midday free electricity period should be set to suit the average amount of excess solar power, which varies from country to country and from season to season within a country. “With Australia the seasonal difference isn’t that great, so they can set the period to suit the average time of excess solar generation,” he added. “With a European country it would need to be adjusted several times during the year. So, in my research, I’ve suggested a communication strategy between the electricity providers and the households, which could optimize the length of the free periods and keep households informed.”
In the paper “Free midday electricity in a Solar Sharer scheme: Should Germany follow Australia’s lead?” published in Renewable Energy, Galvin explained that two key behavioural-economic factors can shape the effectiveness of free midday electricity schemes: load shifting and rebound effects.
Load shifting refers to the extent to which households move electricity consumption from other times of the day into a free midday period. Rebound effects, by contrast, describe the tendency for total electricity consumption to increase when electricity is free or very low-cost, as users may run additional appliances or use energy less sparingly, partially offsetting the intended efficiency and grid-balancing benefits of the scheme.
Galvin’s analysis shows that Solar Sharer–type schemes could meaningfully increase renewable energy utilization, but their impact depends strongly on behavioural responses and system flexibility. The modelling suggests that a Solar Sharer scheme could already have been viable in Germany in 2025, provided it successfully shifts electricity use from periods of low renewable surplus to times when renewable generation exceeds demand.
A moderate rebound effect of around 20% does not significantly reduce the benefits in the model, which assumes that roughly half of available surplus electricity is shifted to peak-demand periods. Under these conditions, a substantial share of excess renewable energy can still be utilized. However, higher rebound levels above 40% begin to materially reduce the effectiveness of load shifting.
For 2035, the model estimates that load shifting could occur across thousands of time intervals, moving around 22.47 TWh of electricity, or roughly 7% of total half-year demand. This would reduce reliance on non-renewable generation during peak periods. However, these results remain highly sensitive to assumptions about consumer behaviour, including the share of demand that is actually shifted and how rebound effects evolve over time.
A key limitation is that real-world consumption patterns during free electricity periods remain unknown and may diverge significantly from model assumptions. “However, there may be some value in a modest free midday electricity scheme in a market that doesn’t have much solar power, if the load curve is very low around midday and very high in the evenings,” Galvin said. “We would need to look at load profiles of specific countries and assess how steep the curves are.”
Overall, the findings suggest that while Solar Sharer schemes could become increasingly effective, careful design and adaptive management will be required to ensure electricity shifting aligns with actual renewable surplus without triggering excessive or unintended demand increases.
“Based on a large number of informal discussions I’ve had in Germany, the UK and New Zealand, I do believe the scheme would be successful in changing a sufficient portion of consumers’ behaviour to make it work effectively. Retired people have told me they would do their clothes washing and dishwashing in the free period, charge their lawn mower batteries, charge their electric car if they have one. Others have said they would buy batteries to store as much free electricity as they can, and use it at other times of the day,” the researcher said.
“The idea of ‘free’ electricity is exciting and motivating, especially when it’s associated with helping reduce CO₂ emissions,” he concluded. “However, we need to get the scheme up and running, then conduct research on how people respond, to understand what would actually happen.”
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