Developers have been shortlisted for the tenders to build two major solar PV and battery energy storage system IPPs in Côte d’Ivoire.
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One of the biggest obstacles, however, has been durability.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
An inverted perovskite solar cell from researchers at Hebei University of Technology, Jiaxing Nanhu University, and Tianjin University delivered 27.39% efficiency after the team introduced an additive that bolsters stability, pv magazine reported.
The study was published in Joule in August. Using an additive called ADA-DA, the researchers applied a steric-gated dual-site chelation strategy. This strategy allowed the resulting solar cell to have a 27.39% power conversion efficiency. A reference device made without the additive functioned at only 26.24%.
According to lead author Cong Chen, the work targeted a familiar weakness in perovskite devices.
“Rapid film crystallization can generate subtle defects that become concentrated at surfaces, grain boundaries, and buried interfaces,” Chen said. “Although molecular additives can effectively mitigate these imperfections, their design requires a careful balance.”
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The study said the approach led to a smoother, denser perovskite layer with larger grains and fewer grain boundaries. It reported lower densities of both electron and hole traps. An outside certification body not identified confirmed the 27.39% efficiency result.
For homeowners, going solar is already one of the best ways to save money on energy, and tools like EnergySage can help you get free installation estimates and compare quotes.
Perovskite solar cells may be able to deliver high performance at lower manufacturing costs than traditional silicon panels.
One of the biggest obstacles, however, has been durability. Tiny structural defects can lower efficiency and make the devices less stable over time.
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“Additive engineering offers a practical strategy to address these challenges by regulating crystallization while simultaneously passivating electronic defects. However, effective additives must balance strong defect binding with unhindered charge transport while ideally providing additional protection against environmental stress,” Chen explained.
Rather than allowing excessive crowding at the interface, ADA-DA is designed so its adamantane core helps control local packing.
Continued study on this subject could help create solar panels that are even more efficient and cost-effective.
Chen even said the technology could be used in real buildings.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
“The bifacial architecture combines high efficiency with transparency and illumination from either side, making it attractive for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV),” Chen stated.
With EnergySage’s help, you can save up to $10,000 on average on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. Together, these resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off grid. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
This breakthrough is part of a widespread effort to make solar cells more efficient with better materials and device designs.
• In Singapore, scientists achieved certified world-record efficiency with a new perovskite solar cell.
• At the Chinese Academy of Sciences, scientists built highly efficient and stable binary organic cells.
• At NREL, scientists found that molecules improve solar storage once they cross a key threshold.
• Researchers developed a tandem solar cell using antimony selenide that reached 20% efficiency.
• Scientists finally cracked the code on plastic-like organic solar cells for cleaner energy.
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The Rural Energy for America Program is being revised with stricter and longer requirements for renewable energy projects seeking grants, according to Solar Power World. The program has historically supported rural farmers and small business owners pursuing renewable energy projects, with grants covering a quarter of a qualifying project’s cost before the Inflation Reduction Act raised that share to half.
The USDA published an update to the program in the Federal Register on the morning of October 1, 2026, with the changes set to take effect on October 16. The revision bars ground-mounted solar projects built on farmland from grant eligibility, while rooftop solar is described as eligible.
Under the new structure, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects no longer apply for grants in advance. A solar project must already be constructed, and applicants must submit at least a year of pre-installation data along with a year of production data.
The document describes the shift as moving the program to a post-completion, performance-validated model, with awards based on documented output, energy savings, costs and system performance. Multi-site projects are excluded, as are systems using components from prohibited foreign entities.
Grants for renewable energy projects can range from $1,500 to $500,000, though a single grant may cover only a quarter of a project’s total cost. The funding can apply to both retrofits and new projects.
The change continues the current administration’s policy actions centered on American farmers, which have signaled an intent to discourage building renewable energy sources on farmland. Last year, the USDA cut funding for solar and wind project construction on rural land, including through its Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program, and set a 50-kW limit on ground-mounted solar projects under the program.
The grants have supported new solar output in rural regions of the United States, with some solar contractors relying on them to build new solar and to shorten payback periods for farmers and businesses operating on narrow margins.
The forthcoming update is accompanied by a public comment period, though it acknowledges that the changes can be made without public input.
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An EPC partner that gets the engineering right but is slow to respond when something breaks still loses the customer’s confidence. Faster service response and performance guarantees tied to plant availability are increasingly being described by industry voices as where the sector is headed next.
Keshav Kumar, Advisor, Greenshine Solar
There is an old trend in the solar industry of treating commissioning day as the finish line. The plant is switched on, a photograph is taken, the client signs off, and the EPC company moves to the next site. For a long time, that was simply how the business worked.
A solar plant, however, does not live for a day. It is expected to run for decades, through all weather conditions, grid fluctuations, and equipment that ages at different rates. Judging an EPC company by how well it handles the first day of a plant’s life, is only the tip of the iceberg. The real value is proven over the years.
That is the shift now underway across the solar EPC industry because it changes what customers should expect from the companies they put their trust in.
The more useful way to think about a solar plant is to consider this as a long-term asset that needs to be managed well across its entire lifecycle instead of a single installation day. And that reframing is quietly changing what a good EPC company is expected to deliver. It starts with the design. A layout built around the site’s actual shading patterns, seasonal load, and structural realities sets a plant up to perform close to its full potential, not just close to its spec sheet. Careful installation and thorough commissioning then carry that design through to the finished plant, ensuring what’s engineered on paper is what gets delivered on the roof.
Then the continuous monitoring gives an EPC company a live, ongoing picture of how a plant is actually performing, detecting a dip in generation or a change in inverter behaviour early enough to act on it. That visibility feeds directly into proactive maintenance, cleaning on schedule, replacing components ahead of failure, keeping a plant close to its designed output year after year instead of letting it drift slowly downward. And responsive customer support turns all of this into something a customer can feel — a plant that’s not just running, but being looked after by people who are easy to reach and quick to act.
When put together, these are not the separate services stitched into a checklist. They are one continuous commitment to a plant’s performance, made at the outset and carried through for as long as the plant runs. That is a considerably difficult promise to keep than simply building and switching on a plant, and this is exactly why it is becoming the real marker of a capable EPC company in a market where the hardware itself looks increasingly similar from one provider to the other.
Customer support ties all of this together. An EPC that gets the engineering right but is slow to respond when something breaks still loses the customer’s confidence. Faster service response and performance guarantees tied to plant availability are increasingly being described by industry voices as where the sector is headed next.
None of these pieces: design, installation, monitoring, maintenance, or support, is new on its own. What is changing is the expectation that one accountable partner delivers all of them together. Solar EPCs’ approach of treating a solar plant as a long-term asset rather than a closed project sits well within that direction, and it is likely to become the norm rather than the exception as India’s solar fleet matures.
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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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill legalizing balcony, or “plug-in,” solar Wednesday.
The device is a twist on rooftop solar: smaller, portable, and relatively inexpensive.
Balcony solar kits consist of just a few panels, an inverter that converts solar energy into the kind used in a home, and cables. In places where the technology is popular, like Germany, it can be plugged into a standard wall outlet.
The new law comes as Californians struggle to pay outsized electricity bills, which have risen substantially in recent years. Plug-in devices open the solar market to renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those without the money to invest in a rooftop system.
“These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need on our outrageous energy bills,” said state Senator Scott Wiener (D – San Francisco) in a press release. Wiener authored the legislation.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk.
Panels can hang from a balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard. Existing models range from $300 to $2200, depending on size.
One reason the technology is substantially less expensive than rooftop solar is that it cuts out the costs of installation. Customers themselves set it up, which some have said is straightforward and others have found more challenging than advertised.
California’s law comes with a wrinkle, however. Plug-in solar panels must be certified by an outside safety organization. Since the technology is new in the U.S., there is just one existing certification offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and roll out products, some may require an electrician’s help to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.”
Electrical experts and other advocates of California’s new law are still calling its passage a massive win, and expect the safety certification to evolve and eventually allow the plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.
“We are celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers that they need to develop a California system.”
The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the typical way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying upwards of a hundred dollars and waiting days to weeks, the new registration process will be free, straightforward, and immediate.
A handful of states have passed similar legislation within the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025.
Ten states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine.
Supporters of the technology include hundreds of environmental and community groups, who argue plug-in solar democratizes access to solar power. They believe adoption by the most populous state would be a boon for the nascent U.S. balcony solar market.
Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, including PG&E and SDG&E opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power in any form.
Labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees initially opposed the bill, but took a neutral stance once lawmakers included requirements that systems must comply with state and national electrical codes.
Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing state rules. If done through PG&E for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost between roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said.
Plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeated the plug-and-play goal of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.
Their hope is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco.
Proponents of the technology say it can meet up to 20% of a home’s electricity needs and save as much as $500 annually for a small apartment.
The new law outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must not generate more than 1,200 watts per home — enough energy to power a window air-conditioning unit — and offset a customer’s onsite electricity use. They must be certified by an outside safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage.
Plug-in solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register the available systems as though they are rooftop solar. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.
Groups that sponsored the bill said there are a few companies already developing systems meeting the specific California standards, and they expect these models to hit the market in the spring.
The legislation goes into effect in 2027, and sunsets Jan. 1, 2030, “making it a fight that continues,” said Stryker.
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Today’s paper
The Berkshire Eagle
Spanning nearly 18 acres, the solar panels generate electricity for both the airport and the city as a whole.
PITTSFIELD — Lights on.
Ten years after the project first went out to bid, local leaders are celebrating the completion of a solar panel installation at Pittsfield Municipal Airport intended to expand the city’s renewable energy sources and cut electricity costs.
Spanning nearly 18 acres in total, the solar panels generate electricity for both the airport and the city as a whole. The project has been spread out across three parcels of previously vacant land throughout the airport.
The grid has been up and running since the end of last year.
During a brief ceremony on Monday, Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti said the installation is projected to raise $3 million for the city over the next 20 years through taxes and lease payments.
“As we consistently assess city resources, examine the potential reuse of vacant municipal buildings, and implement new programs to save money, this project created a path for us to convert undeveloped land that was not providing any financial benefit to the city and the airport,” Marchetti said.
Now, he said, the property “will generate revenue for us through payments from ground leases, personal property and power generation.”
To install the panels, the city has leased vacant land around the airport to Navisun, a solar and energy storage company based in Hingham. In 2024, The Eagle reported that Navisun would pay the airport $2,229,052 to lease the land in a 40-year deal.
There was plenty of turbulence along the way. Construction, once expected to wrap up as early as 2019, was significantly delayed by changes to state solar programs, the pandemic and other issues.
At one point, Airport Commissioner Tom Hardy said, another commissioner informed then-Mayor Linda Tyer that the project “was probably dead.”
“However, through committed effort, we came back to life,” Hardy said. “There were further problems and delays, but we finally have our Earhart and Doolittle solar fields with battery storage.”
Airport manager Anita Akor said construction wrapped up in May 2025 and the panels have been generating electricity since December.
“Since we are moving towards solar, I think it’s a great opportunity to have an extra company to generate payment, to generate revenue for the airport and to the city,” she said.
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The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is being updated with new and longer stipulations for renewable energy projects to qualify for these grants.
Historically, REAP has provided grants to rural farmers and small business owners for renewable energy projects. The program gave grants valued at 25% of a qualifying project’s cost, and the Inflation Reduction Act boosted that to 50%.
The USDA published an update to REAP in the Federal Register this morning that will take effect on Oct. 16. The update outright prohibits ground-mounted solar projects built on farmland from being eligible for REAP grants. Rooftop solar is allegedly eligible.
Additionally, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects applying for REAP grants no longer do so ahead of time. A solar project must already be built, and at least 12 months of “pre-installation data” and 12 months of production data must be submitted to apply.
“This new approach changes the program to a post-completion, performance-validated model,” the document reads. “All [renewable energy system] … awards will now be based on actual documented output, energy savings, costs and system performance.”
Multi-site projects cannot qualify, and neither can systems using components from prohibited foreign entities.
The document states that REAP grants for renewable energy projects can range from $1,500 to $500,000. However, a single grant can only cover 25% of a project’s total cost. This can apply to both retrofits and new projects.
This alteration to REAP continues the Trump administration’s policy actions centered on American farmers, which expressed the intent to disincentivize building renewable energy sources on farmland.
Last year, the USDA cut funding to solar and wind project construction on rural land. That included the department’s Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program, and for REAP, it set a 50-kW limit on ground-mounted solar projects.
REAP grants have been a boon to new solar output in rural regions of the United States. Some solar contractors have relied on these grants to not only build new solar, but make the payback period on PV projects significantly shorter for farmers and businesses working within narrow operating margins.
This forthcoming REAP update is accompanied by a public comment period, however, it acknowledges that these changes can be made without public input.
Billy Ludt is managing editor of Solar Power World and currently covers topics on mounting, inverters, installation and operations.
There is some real irony in this USDA REAP change.
For years, the program has helped farms, agricultural producers and rural businesses reduce energy costs and improve operating margins. In many cases, that has meant investing in productive assets that lower overhead for decades. That matters even more in today’s environment.
Electricity costs are rising sharply, inflation has increased the cost of doing business, and farmers are being asked to absorb higher expenses across nearly every part of their operation. Those increased energy costs are ultimately felt throughout the entire supply chain.
The new REAP grant rules make on-site energy investment harder.
Most behind-the-meter farm solar projects are ground-mounted for practical reasons. They are typically placed on relatively small areas that are suitable for interconnection and often represent some of the least productive ground on the property. Hog and poultry barns, in many cases, are simply not structurally suitable for rooftop solar.
The new funding structure creates another hurdle. Requiring a business to fully finance and complete a project, operate it long enough to establish performance, and then compete for a grant afterward is a very different program from the one many rural businesses have relied on to help make these investments possible in the first place.
There may be a case for tighter qualification standards, proper system sizing and performance verification. Those are reasonable goals.
However, there is a big difference between improving a program and making it materially less useful to the businesses it was designed to help.
At a time when energy affordability is becoming a larger issue for rural America, I am not convinced this is the right direction.
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Testing the Next Generation of Solar Panels AZoCleantech
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As solar development continues to expand across Pennsylvania, understanding the factors shaping these projects is increasingly important for communities, landowners, and local officials.
This event explores current market trends, siting considerations, and local zoning authorities, along with potential impacts on farmland and municipal infrastructure.
Participants will gain practical information to help them better understand and navigate solar proposals in their communities.
Who is this for?
— Farmers; Energy professionals; Landowners; Local government officials; Members of the public.
What will you learn?
— Solar siting considerations
— Local zoning
— Relevant legislation
— Concerns for landowners and communities
The October 29 workshop will be held at the Penn State Extension Lehigh County Office, 4184 Dorney Park Road in Allentown from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The October 30 workshop will be held at the Penn State Extension Northampton County Office, 14 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Click Here to register for either event and for more information.
Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.
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— Sustainable Pittsburgh Hosts Nov. 5 Webinar – The Affordability Crisis Is A Sustainability Crisis – Need For Action To Reduce Barriers To Sustainability, Strengthening Communities In SW PA [PaEN]
NewsClips:
— WESA – Rachel McDevitt: Green Advocates Organize Group Buy Of Solar Panels For Pittsburghers To Save On Energy Bills
— TribLive Guest Essay: Pittsburgh Faces A Climate And Power Challenge, Clean Energy Can Help – By Dana Siler, Cynthia Kirsch, Rob Kahn, Pittsburgh Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby
[Posted: October 1, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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Today’s paper
The Berkshire Eagle
Spanning nearly 18 acres, the solar panels generate electricity for both the airport and the city as a whole.
PITTSFIELD — Lights on.
Ten years after the project first went out to bid, local leaders are celebrating the completion of a solar panel installation at Pittsfield Municipal Airport intended to expand the city’s renewable energy sources and cut electricity costs.
Spanning nearly 18 acres in total, the solar panels generate electricity for both the airport and the city as a whole. The project has been spread out across three parcels of previously vacant land throughout the airport.
The grid has been up and running since the end of last year.
During a brief ceremony on Monday, Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti said the installation is projected to raise $3 million for the city over the next 20 years through taxes and lease payments.
“As we consistently assess city resources, examine the potential reuse of vacant municipal buildings, and implement new programs to save money, this project created a path for us to convert undeveloped land that was not providing any financial benefit to the city and the airport,” Marchetti said.
Now, he said, the property “will generate revenue for us through payments from ground leases, personal property and power generation.”
To install the panels, the city has leased vacant land around the airport to Navisun, a solar and energy storage company based in Hingham. In 2024, The Eagle reported that Navisun would pay the airport $2,229,052 to lease the land in a 40-year deal.
There was plenty of turbulence along the way. Construction, once expected to wrap up as early as 2019, was significantly delayed by changes to state solar programs, the pandemic and other issues.
At one point, Airport Commissioner Tom Hardy said, another commissioner informed then-Mayor Linda Tyer that the project “was probably dead.”
“However, through committed effort, we came back to life,” Hardy said. “There were further problems and delays, but we finally have our Earhart and Doolittle solar fields with battery storage.”
Airport manager Anita Akor said construction wrapped up in May 2025 and the panels have been generating electricity since December.
“Since we are moving towards solar, I think it’s a great opportunity to have an extra company to generate payment, to generate revenue for the airport and to the city,” she said.
New episode of The Eagle’s Huddle Up high school football podcast
Co-founders Patrick Kennedy and Kyle Danforth made their case to Special Town Meeting members Wednesday night for the temporary tax relief, saying it would help the company make substantial investments, expand its operations and grow its local workforce.
The festival returns to Lenox Oct. 9-11 with staged readings, Israeli theater discussion, klezmer music and poetry.
The partnership adds to the affordable housing stock as well as the county’s workforce of skilled laborers.
Spanning nearly 18 acres, the solar panels generate electricity for both the airport and the city as a whole.
This striking purple autumn wildflower supports bees and butterflies across Northeastern meadows.
Mount Greylock, Lenox teams go 2-0 in visit to Monument Mountain
Cohen Zahn, Margaret Hall victorious for Generals
Thunder take home milestone win in marathon match
Mount Greylock defeated Wahconah 152-175 at Wahconah Country Club
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Most solar installers steer clear of multi-tenant properties unless their state has a special program for multi-family buildings. It’s not difficult to see why: Malls, warehouses and apartment complexes have a reputation for eating up time and falling apart in the pipeline. Most contractors have one shelved multi-tenant project they’d rather not talk about.
But things are changing, and more companies are tackling these complications from different angles. It’s time to re-examine the multi-tenant solar market.
A Sunrun apartment installation. Credit: Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing – SOMAH
Two things seem to trip up multi-tenant solar. The first is the split incentive between the property owner who controls the roof and the tenants who pay the electricity bills. The property owner usually pays only for electricity used in common areas, while each tenant is responsible for the utility costs in their own space. That means the tenants, who would see the most savings from rooftop solar, have little say over whether a project gets approved on a shared roof. The property owner has less financial incentive to bother.
That disconnect becomes more consequential as electricity prices rise. The average U.S. commercial electricity rate increased nearly 5% from June 2025 to June 2026, making the potential savings from onsite solar increasingly valuable to tenants. Balcony solar, which lawmakers in more than two dozen states have introduced legislation to support, can help the occasional apartment-dweller with a sunny patio. However, it barely dents a building’s actual tenant load and does not resolve the underlying split incentive.
The second problem is managing how solar production is allocated and billed as tenants come and go. Differing lease terms and uneven tenant interest make it difficult to split that production across dozens of separately metered spaces. A solar system may operate for decades, but the tenant mix can change constantly, making long-term planning shaky. Even if a landlord agrees to be the energy provider, someone still has to send bills, track rate changes and answer tenant calls.
None of this is really about equipment or installation. It’s about who owns what, who bills whom and who’s still answering the phone five years from now.
Due to these issues, few multi-tenant solar projects were developed for years. Now, some solar companies are finding success with approaches that address different parts of the problem.
A solar install on community housing in Minnesota. Credit: All Energy Solar
For example, Allume Energy’s technology allows one rooftop system to serve multiple individually metered apartments. Solar developer Catalyze uses an integrated model in which it finances, owns and operates the solar installation, while the property owner earns rent without paying for or managing the solar project. King Energy uses a similar approach but combines the property lease with tenant enrollment and billing. It rents roof or parking lot space from the property owner, then finances, owns and operates the solar and battery system. The landlord collects rent without spending a dime, while tenants can choose to buy solar power at roughly 10% below utility rates.
King Energy has also developed a unique billing process. Instead of sending tenants a second potentially confusing invoice, it folds the utility and solar charges into a single bill. Both line items are shown so the discount is obvious. A small business owner could compare last year’s bill with this year’s and see only the logo and total have changed.
The company also does not perform construction itself, instead partnering with regional EPCs. Individual projects can be as small as 100 kW when part of a larger portfolio, although the sweet spot is above 500 kW. King Energy is not trying to compete with EPCs for installation or O&M work. It aims to serve as the financing and billing partner working quietly in the background, with its services white-labeled or co-branded as needed.
These are just a few ways companies are making multi-tenant solar more workable. With new technologies and business models, these projects deserve renewed consideration.
A solar installation on a multifamily complex in Loma Linda, California. Credit: Marissa Leshnov/Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing
Before dusting off an old opportunity, one should consider a few questions.
A project is worth another look when there’s an engaged owner or REIT behind it, and it’s in a portfolio of properties rather than set as a single building. Strong candidates also have roofs with plenty of life left, reliable access to meter data and utility rules that support a workable billing model. It’s still worth walking away when ownership is murky, load data doesn’t exist, the roof needs replacing soon or nobody on the team is willing to manage billing and tenant turnover for the next two decades.
Multi-tenant solar still demands careful qualifying, and plenty of projects will stay too tangled to bother with. But maybe it’s worth re-examining shelved opportunities.
The hardware was never really the problem. What matters is whether the property, the utility market and the install team can support a long-term structure for ownership, billing and tenant management. The right team of players can make it happen.
Tim Montague is President of Clean Power Consulting Group, host of the Clean Power Hour podcast, and author of the forthcoming book Wired for Resilience: The Battery & Microgrid Playbook. With more than 1.8 million podcast views, he is a leading voice in the clean energy transition. A NABCEP PV Technical Sales Professional Tim brings more than 10 years of experience developing over 150 MW of commercial solar. He helps solar companies grow and improve profitability by combining deep industry expertise with practical business strategy. Tim serves on the Advisory Board of Luminous Robotics.
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What is it? Balcony solar kits consist of just a few panels, an inverter that converts solar energy into the kind used in a home and cables. In places where the technology is popular, like Germany, it can be plugged into a standard wall outlet.
Why it matters: The new law comes as Californians struggle to pay outsized electricity bills, which have risen substantially in recent years. Plug-in devices open the solar market to renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those without the money to invest in a rooftop system.
Read on… for more on what this means for the new tech.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill legalizing balcony, or “plug-in,” solar Wednesday.
The device is a twist on rooftop solar: smaller, portable, and relatively inexpensive.
Balcony solar kits consist of just a few panels, an inverter that converts solar energy into the kind used in a home, and cables. In places where the technology is popular, like Germany, it can be plugged into a standard wall outlet.
The new law comes as Californians struggle to pay outsized electricity bills, which have risen substantially in recent years. Plug-in devices open the solar market to renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those without the money to invest in a rooftop system.
“These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need on our outrageous energy bills,” said state Senator Scott Wiener (D – San Francisco) in a press release. Wiener authored the legislation.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk.
Panels can hang from a balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard. Existing models range from $300 to $2200, depending on size.
One reason the technology is substantially less expensive than rooftop solar is that it cuts out the costs of installation. Customers themselves set it up, which some have said is straightforward and others have found more challenging than advertised.
California’s law comes with a wrinkle, however. Plug-in solar panels must be certified by an outside safety organization. Since the technology is new in the U.S., there is just one existing certification offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and roll out products, some may require an electrician’s help to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.”
Electrical experts and other advocates of California’s new law are still calling its passage a massive win, and expect the safety certification to evolve and eventually allow the plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.
“We are celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers that they need to develop a California system.”
The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the typical way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying upwards of a hundred dollars and waiting days to weeks, the new registration process will be free, straightforward, and immediate.
A handful of states have passed similar legislation within the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025.
Ten states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine.
Supporters of the technology include hundreds of environmental and community groups, who argue plug-in solar democratizes access to solar power. They believe adoption by the most populous state would be a boon for the nascent U.S. balcony solar market.
Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, including PG&E and SDG&E opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power in any form.
Labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees initially opposed the bill, but took a neutral stance once lawmakers included requirements that systems must comply with state and national electrical codes.
Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing state rules. If done through PG&E for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost between roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said.
Plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeated the plug-and-play goal of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.
Their hope is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco.
Proponents of the technology say it can meet up to 20% of a home’s electricity needs and save as much as $500 annually for a small apartment.
The new law outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must not generate more than 1,200 watts per home — enough energy to power a window air-conditioning unit — and offset a customer’s onsite electricity use. They must be certified by an outside safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage.
Plug-in solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register the available systems as though they are rooftop solar. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.
Groups that sponsored the bill said there are a few companies already developing systems meeting the specific California standards, and they expect these models to hit the market in the spring.
The legislation goes into effect in 2027, and sunsets Jan. 1, 2030, “making it a fight that continues,” said Stryker.
Topline:
Why it matters: Currently, food benefits are covered entirely by federal dollars. But starting in October 2027, states may have to pay for a portion of the food aid if their error rate — a measure of overpayments and underpayments to SNAP recipients — is at or above 6%. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank, estimates that nearly half of states could each pay $100 million or more if they do not lower their error rates. California and New York could each be on the hook for over $1 billion if they are unable to do so, according to the think tank.
The backstory: The funding changes were triggered by President Trump’s signature domestic policy law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was enacted in July 2025. The White House said the legislation preserves and strengthens the food assistance program, adding that it was “so bloated that it is leaving fewer resources for those who truly need help.” Since Trump’s second term began, the number of people receiving SNAP benefits dropped from 42 million to 36 million, as of June. Most of that decline happened after the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is undergoing a drastic restructuring of its funding model — one that will reduce federal support and require states to shoulder a larger share of the bill.
Historically, the federal government and states have evenly split the food aid program’s operational costs, such as paying for state workers and training staff. But starting on Thursday, states will need to cover 75% of that tab while federal funding shrinks by half.
By the federal government’s own calculations, the new rule will lead to a $16.9 billion reduction in federal spending for SNAP over the next five years, or $3.4 billion annually.
The Food Research & Action Center, an anti-hunger advocacy group, estimates that states would need to shore up anywhere between $3 million and $670 million to fully offset the loss in federal funding for administrative costs. California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan are expected to be especially hard hit.
Over the past year, states have been rebalancing their budgets to account for the new costs. But they will likely need to tighten their belts even further as more funding changes are on the horizon.
Currently, food benefits are covered entirely by federal dollars. But starting in October 2027, states may have to pay for a portion of the food aid if their error rate — a measure of overpayments and underpayments to SNAP recipients — is at or above 6%.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank, estimates that nearly half of states could each pay $100 million or more if they do not lower their error rates. California and New York could each be on the hook for over $1 billion if they are unable to do so, according to the think tank.
In a report published last year, the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality estimated that these changes together will force states to spend two to three times more to keep the food assistance program running.
These mounting costs will put states in a bind, where they will likely have to find new sources of revenue, cut funding from other programs or further restrict access to SNAP, according to Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
“And we may see some states decide that they need to withdraw from the program entirely,” Bergh says.
The funding changes were triggered by President Trump’s signature domestic policy law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was enacted in July 2025. The White House said the legislation preserves and strengthens the food assistance program, adding that it was “so bloated that it is leaving fewer resources for those who truly need help.”
But Bergh says SNAP’s previous funding structure served a purpose.
“That essentially ensured that eligible families who were seeking benefits could get them even if they lived in a state that had much higher rates of poverty or a smaller tax base,” she says.
The Agriculture Department, which administers SNAP, has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also introduced other sweeping changes, adding stricter work requirements and ending food aid eligibility for the small pool of noncitizens who previously qualified.
Since Trump’s second term began, the number of people receiving SNAP benefits dropped from 42 million to 36 million, as of June. Most of that decline happened after the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law.
Copyright 2026 NPR
Topline:
Why it matters: Administration officials argue the new requirement will help the federal government stop immigrants lacking permanent legal status from collecting federal benefits they are not eligible for, potentially saving taxpayers up to $2 billion. But taxpayer and privacy advocates say the data could be used to help find and deport those people.
What it would mean: Most Americans will see it as a new checkbox that gives the government even more information on taxpayers. But those living in the country illegally face a more complicated choice: Declare on a tax return that they are not authorized to live in the U.S. or lie on the return, which is a felony. Some may stop filing their taxes altogether.
Read on… for more on the proposal
The Trump administration would require U.S. taxpayers to disclose their citizenship and work authorization status to the IRS as part of a proposed change to the annual tax form that nearly all workers file each year.
Administration officials argue the new requirement will help the federal government stop immigrants lacking permanent legal status from collecting federal benefits they are not eligible for, potentially saving taxpayers up to $2 billion. But taxpayer and privacy advocates say the data could be used to help find and deport those people.
“It could be used as an immigration enforcement tool and that is probably the reason why they are doing this,” said David Bier, director of immigration studies at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute.
Most Americans will see it as a new checkbox that gives the government even more information on taxpayers. But those living in the country illegally face a more complicated choice: Declare on a tax return that they are not authorized to live in the U.S. or lie on the return, which is a felony. Some may stop filing their taxes altogether.
“It’s dragging the IRS into this administration’s immigration policies,” said Nina Olson, executive director for the Center for Taxpayer Rights.
The IRS posted its draft 1040 form for 2026 in late August. It includes the question, “At the time you file your return, are you, and your spouse if filing jointly, a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or an alien lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.?” There are “Yes” or “No” checkboxes for both the filer and their spouse. A draft of a second form, known as Schedule 3-A used to claim refundable tax credits, asks a similar question.
The questions are not optional. Every tax filer must certify under penalty of law their immigration or citizenship status to the IRS to file their return.
The Treasury Department says the new question is meant to keep immigrants lacking permanent legal status from taking advantage of refundable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. These are credits for which low- and middle income workers and families may qualify that often result in a refund back to the taxpayer.
In a statement, a Treasury Department official said the information will be “subject to a variety of privacy, disclosure and other legal protections.” The statement did not say whether the information will be shared with immigration enforcement agencies.
Despite not being authorized to live and work in the U.S., immigrants that do not have permanent legal status do pay taxes. A 2024 report by the National Taxpayer Advocate found 3.8 million tax returns where a taxpayer used an Individual Tax Identification Number, or ITIN. While an ITIN can be issued for a variety of purposes, undocumented workers who cannot obtain a Social Security number are among those who use them.
IRS data show that taxpayers who filed those nearly 4 million returns paid $14.4 billion in income taxes and $6.5 billion in Social Security and Medicare taxes.
A valid Social Security Number, not an ITIN, is required to qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS checks Social Security Numbers against Social Security Administration records for each claim of the EITC.
Because of this process, Olson said she believes the new proposal is unnecessary.
“Your citizenship or residency status is not information the IRS needs to process a return. It’s not even information the IRS needs to process these tax credits,” she said. “The IRS already has Social Security data on taxpayers, as well as ITIN information. It already has what it needs to process a return.”
Immigrants lacking permanent legal status are generally not eligible for federal benefits after Congress overhauled federal welfare programs in the mid-1990s. A tax filer needs to be a U.S. citizen or a green card holder to claim the EITC or CTC, with some limited exceptions.
But some immigrants in the U.S. who presently qualify for some of these credits would not under the new policy. This would include people covered under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, those with temporary protected status and temporary workers in the country under H1-B visas.
The Trump administration argues in its proposal that the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, the law that governs who is eligible for benefit programs, should be applied to refundable tax credits as well. The research paper published this week estimates that 671,000 people, including 309,000 children, will lose the Earned Income Tax Credit under this policy. Another roughly 1.1 million people, including 574,000 children, will lose the Additional Child Tax Credit.
Most of the children that would lose eligibility to these credits are U.S. citizens, according to these researchers at Boston University, Columbia University and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, because one or more of their parents’ citizenship or immigration status.
The Trump administration has tried to use the IRS to implement its immigration policies before. Last year, the Treasury Department agreed to share confidential taxpayer information of immigrants with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people.
The data-sharing agreement was halted by a federal judge, which found that it violated federal taxpayer privacy laws, and the halt remains in effect as the case works its way through the courts. However, before it was stopped, it was found that the IRS had already turned over the addresses of 47,000 people to ICE.
Topline:
When is it? The block party will be held Nov. 7 outside its building on 1st and Anderson streets, and will feature live performances by Los Lobos and La Santa Cecilia.
Why now: Self Help Graphics has been under renovation for years, with its Día de los Muertos celebration often held at the East LA Civic Center. The building is expected to reopen in 2027.
Read on… for more on the block party.
This story first appeared on The LA Local.
The annual Día de los Muertos celebration by Self Help Graphics & Art is coming home to Boyle Heights this year.
The block party will be held Nov. 7 outside its building on 1st and Anderson streets, and will feature live performances by Los Lobos and La Santa Cecilia.
Self Help Graphics has been under renovation for years, with its Día de los Muertos celebration often held at the East LA Civic Center. The building is expected to reopen in 2027.
“Día de los Muertos at Self Help Graphics has always been a homecoming — a day when our community gathers to remember our loved ones through art, music, and ceremony,” said Self Help Graphics executive director Paulina Flores in a statement. “This year, that word carries even more meaning as we celebrate block-party style on Anderson Street and begin our return to our Boyle Heights home.”
The 12,000-square-foot building is being transformed into a cultural center that meets museum standards, featuring seismic retrofitting, an expanded printmaking studio, upgraded gallery lighting and a larger multipurpose room for community gatherings.
A key player in the Chicano movement of the 1970s, Self Help Graphics & Art was founded in the East LA garage of Sister Karen Boccalero, a Franciscan nun and printmaker. It started with a small group of young Latino artists who used their medium to spread social justice messages.
From the onset, these artists involved members of the community in the process of making art and organizing programs, such as a 1972 Día de los Muertos event considered to be the first public commemoration in the United States of a tradition rooted in Mexico’s Indigenous origins. Community art workshops will also be offered this year.
Here’s what to know:
Attendees will have an opportunity to record interviews with community members at an oral history station hosted by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Self Help Graphics teaching artists will help attendees create miniature altars.
2 p.m. — A ceremonial procession featuring Aztec dancers will guide attendees from Mariachi Plaza to Self Help Graphics & Art
Self Help Graphics & Art is offering a series of Día de los Muertos community art workshops from 12 to 3 p.m. beginning this Saturday.
Topline:
Why it matters: The proposal to impose a one-time asset tax on the net worth of the state’s approximately 200 billionaires has divided Democrats, galvanized progressives and sparked fierce pushback from business groups and the state’s wealthy tech sector. Google co-founder Sergey Brin has poured more than $138 million into the campaign against the measure — including two countermeasures, Propositions 41 and 42 — and is among a handful of billionaires who have moved residences or business assets out of the state in an attempt to avoid the proposed tax. In total, opponents have raised more than $205 million to stop Prop. 40, according to campaign finance records.
How would the state assess the tax? Prop. 40 would require the state, within six months, to create a way to assess the value of a wide range of holdings: billionaires’ stock, investment accounts and business interests, but also their art collections, wine vaults, cars and anything else that stores wealth.
Read on… for more on Prop. 40.
Proposition 40, also known as the billionaire tax, is the most contentious fight on Californians’ ballots this November.
The proposal to impose a one-time asset tax on the net worth of the state’s approximately 200 billionaires has divided Democrats, galvanized progressives and sparked fierce pushback from business groups and the state’s wealthy tech sector. Google co-founder Sergey Brin has poured more than $138 million into the campaign against the measure — including two countermeasures, Propositions 41 and 42 — and is among a handful of billionaires who have moved residences or business assets out of the state in an attempt to avoid the proposed tax. In total, opponents have raised more than $205 million to stop Prop. 40, according to campaign finance records.
It would also set up an entirely new system of taxes in a state that doesn’t traditionally tax wealth. That would be challenging to implement and experts say is sure to invite litigation. Here are some common questions and answers about how the measure would work.
Aside from local taxes on real estate and some business equipment, California isn’t in the business of valuing and taxing personal property.
Prop. 40 would require the state, within six months, to create a way to assess the value of a wide range of holdings: billionaires’ stock, investment accounts and business interests, but also their art collections, wine vaults, cars and anything else that stores wealth.
“I have a client who has a machine gun collection,” said Jon Feldhammer, a San Francisco tax attorney who said he is advising several clients who would be or believe they could be subject to the billionaire tax.
The definition of wealth and property has to be broad to close possible loopholes, said Kirk Stark, a UCLA tax law professor.
“Otherwise there would be a very simple workaround, which is, if there’s something that’s exempt then you know there would be an incentive to just shift wealth from one form to another,” Stark said.
Ensuring those subject to the tax aren’t underreporting their assets would require the state’s Franchise Tax Board to hire more people for appraisals and auditing, Stark said.
“It can be done,” he said. “But it’s going to take a huge investment of resources to actually pull it off.”
Franchise Tax Board spokesperson Andrew LePage declined to say how many staff the agency would need to implement Prop. 40. Currently, the board doesn’t appraise property but sometimes auditors “examine asset values reported by taxpayers to ensure accuracy,” he said.
Chris Parker, a former attorney for the tax board who now works as a tax attorney with the firm Baker Tilly, said the board has “no way of knowing anyone’s net wealth.”
Ariel Jurow Kleiman, a tax policy professor at the University of Southern California, doesn’t think the state would have a hard time putting the tax into effect. Stocks, which make up a substantial part of billionaires’ wealth, are easily valued, she said. For more “bespoke” property like art and jewelry, California could look to the Internal Revenue Service’s federal tax on inherited property.
“There are commonsense methods like looking at comparable assets or looking to available markets to see how comps are valued,” she said. “We wouldn’t be asking people to reinvent the wheel here.”
Experts do expect disputes over the value of privately held businesses.
Feldhammer said many startup founders have raised money for their companies but haven’t yet sold any products. He criticized the ballot measure for defining a company’s worth as the most recent amount of investment money it raised, which diverges from how the IRS calculates an asset’s fair market value for the estate tax.
“How do you value a company that is not on the public market? It doesn’t even have a product yet. It’s not making any money,” he said.
He said he expects clients to mount lengthy legal challenges arguing the law overvalues their business holdings.
“These are people who have oftentimes plenty of wealth to spend on legal fees to put up the best defense money can buy,” he said.
The campaign against the measure warns that billionaires will flee California, depriving the state of billions of dollars in income tax revenue that helps fund the state budget. Experts say there’s no way to know whether the tax will spark a large-scale exodus.
Joel Slemrod, a University of Michigan economics professor who studies tax policy, said there’s very little evidence to gauge how billionaires could react to California’s tax, partly because the proposal is unique.
California experts considering the tax have looked at wealth taxes in European countries to try to discern the impact of Prop. 40. In 1990, 12 countries had wealth taxes. Today, only four remain. Many countries abandoned them because they were difficult and expensive to implement, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. But Slemrod said those examples are “not immediately applicable” to Prop. 40 because they differed significantly in design: Tax rates were much lower, they were intended to be permanent and the money was not earmarked for special interests.
“I wouldn’t jump from the evidence we have to California,” Slemrod said.
But one issue that could matter significantly for California, Slemrod said, is that it is much easier to move assets between states than between countries, as sometimes happened in Europe. Spain allowed its provinces to enact wealth taxes and research suggests that rich people changed residences based on tax rates.
Researchers at the Hoover Institution, a conservative policy think tank, conducted an analysis suggesting Californians need not look at history to figure out Prop. 40’s impact. Tax flight has already happened. They estimate that billionaires representing 30% of the tax base have publicly said they have left, lowering state revenue estimates by $60 billion and permanently altering California’s income tax collection.
Feldhammer, the tax lawyer, said “a third to half” of his clients have left the state over the proposed tax. He declined to say how many clients that is. Other tax lawyers told CalMatters that clients who are worth less than $1 billion are also considering moving to avoid limiting their earning potential.
Billionaires who didn’t leave before Jan. 1 would face taxes on their assets anyway; the measure would apply to anyone who was a California resident on that date.
But Feldhammer said he expects people to sue over the measure’s retroactive nature, pointing to two U.S. Supreme Court decisions from the 1920s that held it was unconstitutional to apply the federal estate and gift taxes to assets transferred before those laws were enacted. In 1994, the court ruled that retroactive taxes could be constitutional in certain limited circumstances.
Asked how he’s advising clients who are considering leaving California, Feldhammer said there’s a “reasonable argument that the law may be unconstitutionally retroactive — but to take advantage of that, you’re going to have to leave.”
If you’re not a billionaire, no.
Even for billionaires, Prop. 40 exempts pensions and individual retirement accounts from the asset tax. There are some exceptions, most notably for Roth IRAs that contain more than $10 million.
Misleading advertisements from opponents claim the tax would allow California soon to eat into retirement savings for average Californians. They’re supporting Prop. 42, which would block the proposed billionaire tax by broadly banning any new taxes on personal property such as investment, retirement and pension accounts. Brin’s political spending group, Building a Better California, put it on the ballot, and unions representing firefighters, police and construction workers support it. (If both measures pass, whichever receives more “yes” votes becomes law.)
Proponents of Prop. 42 say their measure would protect the pensions and retirement accounts of teachers, firefighters and middle-class workers from being taxed before they withdraw the money.
“A new tax on Californians’ retirement and life savings would be devastating,” Robert Gutierrez, president of the California Taxpayers Association, said in a press release.
There are no active proposals to tax those accounts on the ballot or in the Legislature. Lawmakers who have floated such wealth taxes in the past have gotten nowhere.
Still, Brian Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, which supports Prop. 42, denied being deceptive and said it’s “within the realm of realization” for California to tax middle-class workers’ retirement accounts.
“I think it’s more important to be proactive in this area,” he said.
Proponents say the billionaire tax is intended to backfill federal cuts to the state’s expansive Medi-Cal health program for low-income residents. State officials project the cuts, enacted as part of President Donald Trump’s 2025 budget bill known as H.R. 1, could amount to $30 billion a year.
The initiative gives the Legislature broad authority to decide how to spend the money. Of the revenue, 90% percent would be put in a special fund for healthcare; the other 10% would be put in a special fund to pay for schools and food assistance like CalFresh, which was also targeted by federal cuts.
If the money is used to keep Californians on Medi-Cal, that could mean spending it on the private health insurance companies that the state contracts with to administer low-income residents’ coverage.
There is some debate over whether the money would actually offset the cuts to Medi-Cal and how strictly the language bars lawmakers from using the money for anything else.
Opponents such as the California Medical Association and Planned Parenthood recently circulated a memo arguing there’s no guarantee the money would replace the federal funding cuts, because the proposition also allows the money to offset state cuts to Medi-Cal. They warn that would allow lawmakers and the governor to use the new tax money to maintain state funding levels for Medi-Cal and free up the state’s general fund to pay for other things.
Lawmakers and governors have in the past used special new funds to simply replace existing funding. Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, did it with mental health funding created by a voter-approved tax on millionaires, and then-Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, did it with health funding created by the state tobacco tax. More recently, doctors and hospitals accused Newsom of using a different healthcare tax to backfill the general fund. They placed Proposition 35 on the ballot in 2024 to earmark the money. Voters approved it, but the groups say some funding was still diverted.
But proponents of Prop. 40 said that concern doesn’t make sense: Those budget maneuvers, they said, are usually done to address state budget shortfalls, while Prop. 40 was already written to create funding for a shortfall.
This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 868 on Wednesday, making California the 10th state to allow plug-in solar systems without utility approval
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law that lets residents set up small plug-in solar panels on balconies or in backyards without obtaining utility approval or paying interconnection fees.
The bill, SB 868, was authored by state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and received broad bipartisan support in the legislature. California is the 10th state to enact such a law since Utah became the first in March 2025, according to KQED.
A typical plug-in solar kit includes a handful of panels, an inverter, and the necessary cables; units can be mounted on a balcony railing, positioned outside a window, or laid out in a yard. Models currently on the market range in price from $300 to $2,200. Supporters argue the technology can cover up to 20% of a household's power consumption and cut bills by as much as $500 a year for a small apartment, according to KQED.
The law sets a 1,200-watt generation limit per household and requires that systems include a safeguard preventing electricity from flowing back to the grid when power goes out. Devices must carry certification from a recognized national testing organization, and the only step required of residents is informing their utility at the time of installation. The law takes effect in 2027 and sunsets January 1, 2030.
The U.S. market for plug-in solar is still nascent, and at present only Underwriters Laboratories offers a qualifying certification, which could mean certain products need a licensed electrician for installation rather than simply plugging into a wall outlet, according to KQED. Compliant solar kits should be available in California by early 2027, according to Bloomberg.
"These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need on our outrageous energy bills," Wiener said in a statement.
Major investor-owned utilities in the state, among them Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and SDG&E, came out against the bill, arguing it raised safety issues and could burden ratepayers who lack any form of solar power, according to KQED. Unions for firefighters and PG&E workers had also lined up against the measure early on, stepping back to a neutral stance only after the legislature added provisions mandating adherence to state and national electrical codes.
Adoption of the technology will also depend partly on whether landlords and homeowner associations permit installations. Cora Stryker $SYK, co-founder of Bright Saver, a Bay Area nonprofit dealing in plug-in solar systems, told Bloomberg she anticipates that future state legislation will take up those restrictions.
A similar bill is awaiting the signature of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and nearly two dozen other states are considering comparable measures, according to Bloomberg.
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Q: We are selling our home and thought we were days away from closing. Then the title company found a “UCC” filing for the solar panels we leased a few years ago, and now the buyer’s lender is refusing to move forward until it is cleared up. We had no idea this was a problem. What is going on, and how do we save our sale?
A: Do not panic. This is a common problem with a well-known solution, and it rarely kills a sale outright.
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A solar farm owned by a group of community investors has secured a 10-year deal with one of Australia’s biggest technology companies to help power its headquarters.
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Atlassian announced its virtual power purchase agreement with the Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative on Friday, in a deal that will fund almost 70 per cent of the project’s output over the next decade.
Electricity generated by the project in NSW’s Southern Tablelands will help to meet the renewable energy needs of the tech firm’s 39-storey Sydney base when it opens in 2028.
The announcement comes amid heated debate over whether technology companies should be required to invest in renewable energy generation to meet growing demands from data centres and artificial intelligence operations in Australia.
The solar and battery farm, located on 2.2 hectares of industrial land in Goulburn, features 2300 solar panels and a four megawatt-hour battery.
Owned by a group of about 288 local investors, who contributed a minimum of $400, the farm connected to the electricity grid in March 2026, 12 years after it was proposed.
The agreement follows a $2.3 million NSW government grant and would support local workers and suppliers, Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative chair Andrew Bray said.
“Our active volunteers and investor community worked patiently and diligently across a number of years to see this project come to fruition,” he said.
“To have a blue-chip Australian company like Atlassian come on board as a commercial partner is a huge vote of confidence in what we have built.”
While the company did not disclose the value of the agreement, Atlassian chief sustainability officer Jessica Hyman said it would help the firm meet its commitment to power its Sydney headquarters with 100 per cent renewable energy.
“Reaching net zero takes a team effort across the entire energy system,” she said.
“It’s an investment that adds clean power to the shared grid that everyone benefits from, while ensuring Atlassian Central HQ is backed by local renewables from day one.”
Atlassian’s building, which was estimated to cost $1.4 billion, could be the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower at launch, and is designed to anchor Sydney’s Tech Central precinct.
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Solarworld has commissioned a 3.6 GWh BESS manufacturing facility at Roorkee, Uttarakhand
October 1, 2026
Follow Mercom India on WhatsApp for exclusive updates on clean energy news and insights
As energy storage becomes increasingly important to renewable energy integration, solar companies are positioning themselves for the next phase of growth by building battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing capabilities.
In an exclusive interview with Mercom India, Kartik Teltia, Managing Director at Solarworld Energy Solutions, discussed the growing role of energy storage, the dominance of TOPCon solar module technology, and the need for upstream manufacturing capabilities.
What is Solarworld’s current solar module manufacturing capacity, and what are the company’s expansion plans for solar cell and module production?
Our ALMM-listed module manufacturing facility in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, has a capacity of 1.55 GW and uses N-Type TOPCon technology. This gives us a strong base to serve both our own EPC pipeline and the wider market as India scales solar manufacturing.
We have entered into a joint venture with Rays Power Infra to set up a 2.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh, with commercial production targeted for June 2027.
Once operational, this will allow us to supply modules with domestically manufactured cells rather than relying on imports.
Which solar module technologies is Solarworld prioritizing? How do you expect the TOPCon, HJT, and larger wafer format technologies to evolve in India?
At Solarworld, our modules are built on N-Type TOPCon, currently the technology of choice across the industry. Recent industry data shows TOPCon accounted for close to 40 GW of the roughly 44 GW of new module capacity India added in the first half of this year. In contrast, HJT capacity was added for the first time at a much smaller scale, at around 1 GW.
I expect that gap to persist for the next few years. TOPCon has reached a point where the supply chain, equipment, and cost curve are all mature, whereas HJT still carries higher capital costs and a thinner domestic ecosystem.
On wafer formats, the industry has largely settled on the larger M10R and G12R formats, which we also use, since they improve output per module and reduce balance-of-system costs for developers.
HJT will likely find its place in premium or space-constrained applications rather than replacing TOPCon at utility scale in the near term. Our own investment plans, including the upcoming cell facility, are built around this TOPCon-led trajectory.
Project developers often raise concerns about module reliability, including micro-cracks and long-term degradation. What manufacturing and quality-control measures does Solarworld use to address these concerns?
At Solarworld, we build reliability into the manufacturing process itself, rather than checking for it only at the end of the line. Our facility uses automated production processes, reducing manual handling and inconsistent thermal exposure that can contribute to micro-cracks and soldering-related defects in solar modules.
Every module we manufacture goes through extended reliability testing and compliance checks against the requirements of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the ALMM before it leaves our Roorkee facility.
This layered testing approach is designed to identify defects, whether cosmetic or structural, well before a module reaches a project site. Our experience with large-scale EPC projects also shapes how we manufacture and test our modules.
Energy storage is becoming increasingly important for grid stability. Solarworld has commissioned an automated 3.6 GW BESS manufacturing line. What is the engineering architecture of this facility, and how is the company positioning its storage solutions in the market?
Energy storage is becoming a critical part of the renewable energy ecosystem. India’s storage requirement is projected to grow several times over by the early 2030s as renewable capacity scales and grid stability needs increase. We see BESS manufacturing as a natural extension of our solar manufacturing base and existing utility relationships.
We have commissioned a fully automated 3.6 GWh BESS manufacturing facility at Roorkee, built with KUKA robotics across the production line to ensure consistency at scale. The facility is designed around a liquid-cooled architecture for both our commercial and industrial units and larger containerized systems, as thermal management is critical to battery life and safety at grid scale.
India is rapidly expanding domestic solar manufacturing, but upstream segments such as wafers and ingots are heavily import-dependent. How should the industry prepare for the possibility of ALMM requirements extending further upstream?
MNRE has extended the ALMM framework to cells from June 2026, and further upstream to ingots and wafers under a new List III from June 2028, with conditions requiring at least three independent manufacturers with a combined manufacturing capacity of 15 GW before the list can be issued.
The policy direction is clear, and companies need to plan their investment cycles accordingly rather than wait. Wafers and ingots are capital-intensive and still almost entirely import-dependent in India, so the runway before 2028 needs to be used effectively.
At Solarworld, we will evaluate wafer and ingot integration as the domestic ecosystem matures.
The industry must prioritize building a domestic wafer and ingot supply base with meaningful operating scale rather than relying solely on announced capacity.
How does the current inverted duty structure and GST framework affect domestic manufacturers and EPC companies? What policy changes would help create a more competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem?
The inverted duty structure remains a working-capital challenge for both domestic manufacturers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies.
The accumulated input tax credit locks up capital that could otherwise support capacity expansion, technology adoption, and faster project execution.
Rationalizing GST rates on key inputs to bring them closer to those applicable to finished systems would improve cash-flow efficiency and reduce friction for domestic manufacturers and EPC companies.
Solarworld has a portfolio of more than 1.5 GW of solar EPC projects across India. What are the key operational challenges in developing and executing large-scale utility projects today, and how does backward integration give the company an advantage?
Land acquisition and aggregation remain recurring hurdles, especially for large utility-scale sites involving multiple parcels and approvals. Grid evacuation and transmission readiness are other challenges, as project timelines are increasingly tied to how quickly connectivity infrastructure catches up with generation capacity.
By developing our upstream supply chain, we have gained greater control over the quality and availability of the components going into our projects, rather than depending entirely on external suppliers during periods of tight supply or price volatility.
What is your outlook for 2030 in India’s clean energy transition?
By 2030, we expect Solarworld to be a fully integrated renewable energy company across solar modules, solar cells, EPC, and battery storage systems manufacturing.
India is expected to add close to 345 GW of renewable capacity between 2025 and 2030, with utility-scale solar accounting for the largest share of that growth, while storage will increasingly complement renewable energy as the grid absorbs more variable generation.
We want to be positioned at multiple points along that value chain. Our cell manufacturing facility is targeted to begin commercial production soon, and our BESS manufacturing business is built with that horizon in mind.
This interview was sponsored by Solarworld Energy Solutions.
Melvin Mathew
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Pradeep Kumar Madhur has been appointed Chief Business Officer (CBO) at Swelect Energy. In a regulatory filing, Swelect Energy said Madhur role as as Senior Management Personnel, is effective from October 1, 2026. He has over 17 years of experience in the energy and power infrastructure sector across India and the Asia-Pacific region.
He most recently served as Senior Director and Country Business Leader at Lerri Solar Technology (India) Private Limited (LONGi Solar), where he was responsible for the P&L of the Indian business, which generated annual revenues exceeding USD 1 billion.
His responsibilities included business strategy, market expansion, cross-border governance, and regulatory matters. During his tenure, the Indian business moved from the 17th position to the leading market-share position within approximately 12 months and retained market leadership from 2020 to 2022.
He also oversaw the company’s income tax and regulatory proceedings in 2023, including the structuring of arrangements to address Permanent Establishment considerations.
Madhur holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology and an MBA in International Business from Sikkim Manipal University.
Prior to this, Madhur was part of the founding team of Sungrow India, where he contributed to establishing the company’s Indian operations and the deployment of over 4 GW of solar inverters over three years.
Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles in the power systems divisions of Raychem RPG and Crompton Greaves, managing key accounts for large-scale thermal power and high-voltage grid projects.
His areas of expertise include cross-border subsidiary governance and joint venture structuring, P&L management, regulatory and tax risk management, statutory audit oversight, and the energy transition across solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid integration.
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Europe’s intense heat waves are drawing fresh attention to a longstanding problem: Abundant sunlight can also push PV modules beyond their most efficient operating temperatures. Crystalline-silicon modules typically lose around 0.4% to 0.65% of their performance for every 1 C increase in temperature above 25 C. “Based on the operational data we reviewed from solar …
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An official publication of Michigan Farm Bureau
USDA said a new rule will simplify and streamline requirements and processes for Michigan farmers and small businesses seeking Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) grants for renewable energy systems and energy-efficient upgrades.
On Thursday, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service published the REAP final rule with a 30-day comment period, noting the new approach changes the program to a “post-completion, performance-validated model.”
That means REAP projects must be built and operational for a year before a producer or business can apply. Applicants must also submit energy production or savings data for the previous 12 months, and 12 months of pre-installation data.
The rule also states that solar panels installed on cropland are not eligible for the program.
REAP projects include purchasing, installing, and/or constructing solar energy systems, wind turbines, and anaerobic digesters for farms and rural businesses. Producers can also use funds to update heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and energy-inefficient equipment. The program currently provides guaranteed loan financing, including on loans up to 75% of total eligible project costs, grants for up to 50% of total eligible costs, and combined grant and loan guarantees funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs.
Michigan led the nation in REAP grant funding for fiscal year 2025 at $47.6 million, according to Dom Restuccia, state director for Rural Development in Michigan, and “it is our goal to be No. 1 in fiscal year 2027.”
READ NEXT: ‘NOT SOLAR FARMS’ — HARVEST SOLAR TALKS MISCONCEPTIONS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS
“It was a priority of the administration to make sure that the program was in alignment with our national security considerations,” Restuccia told Michigan Farm News.
“We’re in a great power struggle with the Chinese Communist Party. It’s important that we make sure that the components we subsidize through the REAP program are not Chinese components. … We are also looking to preserve prime American farmland and incentivize ensuring that land use remains aligned with core production priorities.”
According to USDA, the final rule is streamlined to reduce risk to the program, simplify administration and prioritize results.
“The result of these changes, combined with the release of a planned online application portal, will significantly decrease burden for applicants by shortening application length and review times across the program,” USDA wrote.
Restuccia said REAP supports infrastructure for businesses and housing, noting “they’re critical to ensure that the communities we serve continue to thrive and grow.”
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“After 3.5 years, it’s paid for and presumably making money at that point.”
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One Tennessee homeowner is testing a portable solar-and-battery setup to see whether it can do more than provide emergency backup power.
By pairing Anker’s Solix F3000 with solar panels, the DIYer hopes the roughly $1,400 purchase could trim $50 to $100 from a monthly electric bill that usually sits around $300.
Writing in Reddit’s r/SolarDIY forum, the original poster said, “Not sponsored, I bought everything with my own money with the goal to save on the power bill. How much of an offset? We will see, $100 would be incredible, but I will settle for $50 in temperate months or just say the cars charge for free.”
According to the OP, charging their cars still uses roughly 25 kilowatt-hours a day. Total household demand, they added, is about 60 kWh per day with air conditioning and 35 kWh without it.
At the center of their project is Anker’s Solix F3000 along with the company’s Power Saver Kit. The OP said the system delivers solar power to devices around the home without sending electricity back to the grid.
Anker lists the F3000 with a 3-kWh battery, up to 2,400 watts of solar input, and 1,800 watts of bidirectional output. From that, the OP estimated the setup could offset about a quarter of the home’s power bill in temperate weather.
People in the thread pointed out that the actual savings will depend on details such as panel orientation, battery constraints, and whether the home can use the electricity as it is being produced. Not everyone supported the project.
One comment wrote that the project would “take 40 months (3.5 years) to break even.” The OP responded, “The goal of this project is to learn and share knowledge for those that may not know, or have issues with picky power companies with zero export grid-tied projects.”
FROM OUR PARTNER
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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.
Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
Another commenter came to the OP’s defense: “…and? After 3.5 years, it’s paid for and presumably making money at that point.”
The OP added that they had already reduced their electricity demand with upgrades including a heat pump water heater, LED lighting, and smaller devices.
As electricity costs rise, even a relatively modest solar array paired with battery storage can help households chip away at utility bills by covering part of their daily energy use and saving extra power for later.
For readers considering a larger home setup, EnergySage can help you find information on home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
Pila is another company offering excellent battery backup options, and its plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of a whole-home backup system.
To see what solar savings can look like in practice, these articles offer real-world examples.
• For some households, solar panels can shave over $100 off a monthly power bill.
• In many cases, homeowners can save over $1,500 every year with rooftop solar.
• Across the U.S., solar can save homeowners $700/year, with some states doing better.
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Vishakha Renewables Limited, a manufacturer of critical solar module components, has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its proposed initial public offering (IPO).
The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to INR 1,250 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 1.82 crore equity shares by the selling shareholders. The company is jointly promoted by the Vishakha Group and the Adani Group, with Adani Properties being a promoter and a promoter selling shareholder in the offer.
Vishakha Renewables said it may also consider a pre-IPO placement of up to INR 250 crore, which, if undertaken, will reduce the size of the fresh issue.
The company proposes to utilise INR 900 crore of the net proceeds towards repayment and/or pre-payment of certain borrowings, with the balance towards general corporate purposes. As of June 30, 2026, the company had consolidated outstanding borrowings of INR 2,700.57 crore.
According to a CRISIL report, as of March 31, 2026, Vishakha Renewables was the second largest solar glass manufacturer in India, with an installed capacity of 660 tonnes per day (tpd), the second largest EVA/EPE encapsulant manufacturer, with capacity of 23.20 million linear metres, and the largest aluminium frame manufacturer in India, with an installed capacity of 14,508.75 tonnes per annum (tpa). It was also among the top 10 backsheet manufacturers in India.
The company produces four of the six key components used in solar modules and, according to the CRISIL report, is the largest solar component manufacturer (non-cell) in India in terms of combined installed production capacity as of March 31, 2026. Its four product categories collectively represent approximately 40–45% of the average cost of a bifacial solar module.
Vishakha Renewables is also expanding its solar glass manufacturing capacity from 660 tpd (equivalent to 4.4 GW of solar module capacity) to 1,920 tpd (12.80 GW), while also ramping up aluminium frame and encapsulant production. Upon completion of the solar glass expansion, the company’s facilities are expected to house the largest operational solar glass furnace in India, as stated in the DRHP.
Vishakha Renewables has entered into long-term offtake arrangements with Mundra Solar PV Ltd and Mundra Solar Energy Ltd. These include a 15-year take-or-pay arrangement for solar glass from its Phase I facility, an 8.5-year arrangement for aluminium frames and a 17-year arrangement for solar glass from its Phase II facility. The arrangements provide for minimum offtake commitments and are intended to provide demand visibility for the company’s products.
The company operates its manufacturing facilities in Mundra, Gujarat, in close proximity to the facilities of its key offtakers and the Mundra Ports and Special Economic Zone. It had 99 customers as of March 31, 2026.
SBI Capital Markets, ICICI Securities and IIFL Capital Services are the book running lead managers to the offer, while MUFG Intime India is the registrar to the offer.
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During the Sept. 23, 2026, Big Lake Township Board Meeting, Chair Bruce Aubol made a motion to recommend the approval of an Interim Use Permit and Comprehensive Land Use Map Amendment for an expansion of the existing solar project on resident Jim Sanford’s property. However, the motion failed as none of the other three supervisors who were present seconded it. Supervisor Larry Alfords was absent.
The Proposal
Though the recommendation would not have allowed the proposal to be built, comments from the supervisors will be forwarded to Sherburne Co., which will ultimately decide if the project will move forward.
The project, if approved, will allow Nokomis Energy to build a 34-acre solar farm on an 80-acre parcel, producing five megawatts of power. Vice President Dan Rogers and Senior Project Developer Mike Braun from Nokomis Energy were on hand to answer questions. Braun noted that the project will produce 10,060 megawatt-hours annually and generate $300,000 in tax revenue over a 25-year period that will be split between the county and township, with the township receiving 20% of that revenue.
Owners Request
A letter to the Township from James and Susan Sanford was included in the agenda packet. In that letter, the Sanfords explained how the solar field would help his family retain the farm they purchased in 1976, writing, “As you know, traditional grain farming has become increasingly competitive and less profitable. We’ve continually looked for ways to maintain the viability of our farm while being good stewards of the land and good neighbors. Partnering with Nokomis Energy would provide a sustainable and responsible way to diversify our income while preserving the property’s agricultural value for the future.”
The letter also noted the residential development that began in the 1980’s and 1990’s to the west of their property. “We supported that growth and never opposed it.”
Impact on Residents
The impact on those residents was the topic of much of the discussion. Braun explained that the solar field would be built as far east on the property as possible and that a vegetative screen would separate it from the existing homes in the area.
Supervisor Mark Hedstrom asked why the property where the solar field will be located won’t be surrounded by trees, as required. Braun responded by explaining that the county had changed that requirement and that the land surrounding three sides of the parcel was agricultural.
Supervisor Dean Brentesen asked what would happen in 5-10 years if housing were expanded in that area? Braun responded that it’s hard to predict what will happen over the next 5-10 years, and Rogers added that developers would be able to address any problems through their application process. Brentesen stated that he would still like to see the entire array surrounded by trees.
Aubol wrapped up the discussion by asking for final comments. Hedstrom stated that his stance on solar has never changed. He objects to taking farmland that could be used for future development and using it for solar.
A motion was called to allow the supervisors to submit their comments to the county separately. The motion passed unanimously.
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On September 27, two new 3-megawatt (MW) Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants, each paired with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) — one in Rozh Village, Shughnan District, Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB), located at an elevation of 2,665 metres above sea level, and one in Shurob, Isfara City, Sughd Region — have been […]
On September 27, two new 3-megawatt (MW) Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants, each paired with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) — one in Rozh Village, Shughnan District, Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB), located at an elevation of 2,665 metres above sea level, and one in Shurob, Isfara City, Sughd Region — have been formally inaugurated online, marking an important step towards strengthening the reliability and resilience of Tajikistan’s electricity supply. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation , President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.
3 MW Rozh Photovoltaic Power Plant, with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
The plant delivers additional generation capacity to the region’s electricity networks, strengthening the reliability and quality of electricity supply.
3 MW Shurob Photovoltaic Power Plant, Isfara City, with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
The plant provides the Shurob Industrial Town in Isfara City with a reliable electricity supply.
The Rozh and Shurob Solar Power Plants were developed with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), which financed the supply of the solar power plant equipment and associated civil works. Pamir Energy was responsible for the overall implementation and delivery of both projects in close coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The new solar facility will contribute to addressing one of VMKB’s most persistent energy challenges: the seasonal mismatch between electricity demand and hydropower generation. During winter, electricity demand rises significantly, particularly for heating, while water availability for hydropower generation declines. This creates additional pressure on the region’s power system precisely when electricity is most needed.
The Rozh Solar Power Plant will provide additional generation during daylight hours, enabling Pamir Energy to supplement hydropower generation with solar energy and optimise the use of available water resources.
Solar generation during the day can reduce the need to rely exclusively on hydropower at those hours, allowing available water resources to be managed more efficiently during periods of higher demand, particularly in the evening.
In Sughd Region, the Shurob Photovoltaic Power Plant will strengthen the reliability of the electricity supply serving the Shurob Industrial Town in Isfara City, supporting the continued operation and growth of local industrial and economic activity.
Mr. Daler Juma, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, highlighted the importance of diversifying VMKB’s energy mix:
“Every winter, as demand for heating pushes the power system to its limits, VMKB faces the challenge of meeting increased electricity demand while hydropower generation is constrained by lower water availability. Both solar plants provide an important additional source of renewable energy for their particular regions. By generating electricity from solar power during the day, they will help us use our water resources more efficiently and strengthen the reliability of electricity supply for the people of VMKB and Sughd.”
Mr. Jon Song Shik, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Tajikistan, remarked:
On September 16, the first Korea-Central Asia Summit and the Korea-Tajikistan Summit were held in Seoul. To attend these two Summits, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon made his first visit to Seoul in 11 years. On this occasion, the bilateral relationship between Tajikistan and Korea was, for the first time, elevated to a “Comprehensive Partnership” since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in trade and investment, railway and transport infrastructure, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, climate action, and people-to-people exchanges.
In this regard, the completion of the solar power plants in the VMKB and Sughd Regions holds profound significance. The new solar plants will provide the VMKB and Sughd Regions with more reliable electricity, further improve the quality of life for the people of Rozh Village and Shurob Industrial Town, and contribute to expanding the use of renewable energy and diversifying energy sources.
Building on these solar power plants, it is highly anticipated that the bilateral relationship between Tajikistan and Korea in the energy and infrastructure sectors will deepen further.
Mr. Raim Amrikhon, General Director of Pamir Energy, said the project forms part of the company’s broader efforts to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of VMKB’s power system:
“The Rozh Solar Power Plant is an important addition to Pamir Energy’s generation portfolio and to our efforts to strengthen energy security in VMKB. We are proud that, together with KIAT and OJSC ‘Shabakahoi taqsimoti barq’, we completed this project beyond our traditional concession area, particularly in Isfara. By adding solar generation during daylight hours, we can optimise the use of our hydropower resources and improve the resilience of the system during the challenging winter period. The project also demonstrates the potential of high-altitude renewable energy resources to contribute to the region’s long-term energy needs.”
The commissioning of the Rozh and Shurob Solar Power Plants, represents an important investment in both energy infrastructure and community well-being across VMKB and Sughd Region. As Tajikistan continues to face the combined challenges of growing electricity demand, seasonal hydrological variability and the need for greater energy resilience, the Rozh and Shurob Solar Power Plants add a new source of clean generation to the country’s energy system and contribute to a more diversified and sustainable electricity supply.
About the Construction of Solar Power Plants and Energy Storage Devices in Sughd Region and VMKB
The Construction of Solar Power Plants and Energy Storage Devices in Sughd Region and the VMKB is carried out under a Protocol signed between the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT). The main objective of the project is to improve the reliability of electricity supply for residents of Sughd Region and VMKB, through the construction of solar power plants with a combined capacity of 6 MW and battery energy storage systems with a combined capacity of 1 MWh.
About KIAT
The Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) is a public agency under the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, supporting international cooperation projects in industrial technology, energy, and infrastructure. Through this partnership, KIAT financed the supply of the solar power plant equipment and associated civil works for the Solar Power Plants.
About Pamir Energy
Pamir Energy Company (PEC) was established in 2002 through a Concession Agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and OJSC “Pamir Energy”, as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) — the first of its kind in Central Asia. The company’s initial capitalization of USD 37.4 million was structured through a combination of loan, equity, and grant financing provided by international development partners. PEC is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across the Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB) of Tajikistan, and works in close coordination with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and international development partners. Since its establishment, Pamir Energy’s cumulative investment has grown to approximately USD 278 million across more than 35 projects, and installed generation capacity has increased threefold — from 24 MW to 72 MW. Before the company’s establishment, only 13 percent of VMKB had access to electricity; today, that figure stands at 100 percent.
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India’s solar manufacturing industry is expanding rapidly, but new US tariffs are creating a fresh challenge for Indian manufacturers. In this episode of Green Shift, we examine what is changing and why the US market matters.
M Ramesh joins the discussion to unpack the pressures facing India’s solar manufacturing sector and the questions now emerging for companies looking to expand.
How much of an impact could the US restrictions have? Can India’s growing domestic solar market absorb the pressure? And where could manufacturers look next?
Watch the full conversation for a closer look at the opportunities, risks and shifting dynamics shaping India’s solar manufacturing industry.
Published on October 1, 2026
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Harris County leaders broke ground on the first of seven community solar program sites during a ceremony Sept. 30.
The program is designed to expand clean energy access and affordability for low-income residents countywide, the leaders said during a press conference.
The groundbreaking ceremony — held at the Reliant Center — marks the start of the county’s Affordable Community Energy Program, aimed at funding clean energy initiatives to relieve the cost burden on low-income households, according to a press release. ACE is the region’s first county-led community solar program, per the release.
The program is designed to combat “rising energy costs for low-income communities” and address the need for “enhanced grid resilience during extreme weather events and power outages,” according to Harris County Commissioners Court meeting documents. The court approved an $88.3 million investment in the program during the March meeting.
ACE will generate up to 45 megawatts of solar energy and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage on publicly owned land, per the release.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the program is a “win for affordability.”
“This is public land being put to work for the public,” Briones said. “This is Harris County creating solar energy to make sure that those who are most vulnerable, at or below 80% of the area median income, will be able to get direct savings on their energy bills.”
The county is expected to deliver about 20% in energy bill cuts for 9,500 to 10,000 income-qualifying households, according to the release. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said it could save households $930 annually.
“Energy is not a luxury,” Garcia said. “It is something every family needs every day.”
The groundbreaking comes less than a week after a federal judge ruled the Environmental Protection Agency unlawfully canceled $7 billion in Solar For All grants across the country, according to a Sept. 23 news release from the Harris County Attorney’s Office. Harris County received $54 million through the program, per the release.
As the county begins its work on the program, Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin said her office is “committed to continuing the fight for those federal dollars.”
“The people of Harris County cannot afford to wait,” Kamin said.
Construction on the Reliant Center site is expected to be completed in 2027, according to the release, with construction on the other six sites continuing through 2029.
Participating residents receive credits on their monthly electricity bills instead of having solar panels installed on their homes or apartments, according to the Sept. 30 release.
Power generated from the county’s panels will be sold in the retail electric market, with savings credited to households, according to the ACE website.
The county will install solar panels at its seven sites, offering energy cost breaks without disturbing households.
The program is expected to begin resident enrollment in 2027, per the website. Renters and homeowners will be eligible to enroll.
This brings the cumulative installed solar capacity in the UK to 23.2GW across 2,131,000 installations.
October 1, 2026
The UK has added 291,000 new solar PV installations in the 12 months to August 2026, the most in any 12-month period since 2012.
This is according to the latest data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which highlighted that in August alone, there were 24,154 new installations for a combined 124MW of PV capacity.
This brings the cumulative installed solar in the UK to 23.2GW across 2,131,000 installations. It is also a 9% increase from August 2025, with 1.9GW of new capacity.
“This is clear progress showing households and businesses are willing to invest in net zero tech that helps them take control of their energy bills and reduces their exposure to gas price shocks,” said Jess Ralston, analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), regarding the 12-month period record of solar installations.
As shown in the chart below, nearly half of the cumulative installed solar capacity comes from PV systems above 5MW, totalling 10.3GW, despite the fact that the bulk of solar PV installations are domestic, which account for only about a third of the total cumulative installed capacity (30%).
UK solar installations approach 172,000 in 2026, government data shows
“Domestic's share of capacity dropped rapidly after the first years of FiT and remained around 24% since 2017. It has crept back up over the last four years, driven by a surge in new installations. In August 2026, 17,285 of the new schemes were installed on a residential building, adding a total of 98 MW. Over the last 12 months, over 1 GW of domestic solar has been installed, across more than 195,000 homes,” explained DESNZ.
In the first eight months of 2026, 1 GW of new PV capacity has been installed across all system sizes. Projects between 4kW and 10kW have had the most growth this year, with 404.4MW of new additions, followed by projects up to 4kW with 224.8MW.
Moreover, between 2025 and 2026, 39 solar farms accredited under Contracts for Difference (CfDs) entered commercial operation and accounted for more than 1GW of capacity.
Region-wise, the South West continues to have the most cumulative installed solar across the UK, with nearly 4.6GW. It is followed by the South East and East of England with 3.8GW and 3.7GW, respectively.
On top of releasing the latest data for solar PV installations across the UK in the month of August, DESNZ also published key metrics for the second quarter of 2026.
One of the highlights for Q2 2026 is that UK production of solar, wind and hydro was up year-on-year by 7.9%, while the rest of the technologies all experienced a decrease. The increase in production from renewables was due to increased capacity and higher wind for the quarter, which accounted for 11% of the total production in the quarter.
Summer sun boosted UK’s solar generation record in July
Moreover, renewables generation was up by 5% year-on-year, with 38.3TWh in Q2 2026. As mentioned above, the increase was due to the rise in wind generation, with both onshore and offshore wind reaching the highest Q2 values in the recorded time series. Overall, renewables’ share of electricity generation reached a record high of 55.8% in Q2 2026.
Although the generation increase was driven by wind capacity, when looking at installed renewable energy capacity between Q2 2025 and Q2 2026, solar PV has been leading the charge. Three-quarters of the 2.7GW of new renewable energy installed during that period came from solar PV, with 2.1GW.
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The Black Hollow Sun solar installation close to Severance, Colorado, has finished its second phase, ContourGlobal announced. The company built the entire 324-MW facility on behalf of the Platte River Power Authority.
Jason Frisbie, who serves as general manager and chief executive of Platte River, called the effort the product of sustained dedication, resilience and collaboration. He pointed out that work stretched from the 2019 project selection through worldwide supply chain turmoil, cost pressures and building difficulties, with teams keeping their attention on a resource that furthers shared energy objectives while upholding dependability and affordability for the communities that own the utility.
After being purchased in December 2024, the Black Hollow Sun complex moved ahead swiftly. Its first phase, a 185-MW system, started commercial operation in September 2025, and its second phase broke ground in April 2025.
Javier Alvarez Canedo, ContourGlobal‘s General Manager USA, described Black Hollow Sun as a milestone for the firm within the United States and its biggest operating solar complex across the entire company. He said it demonstrates how domestic manufacturing, partnerships on the ground and sustained engagement with the community can merge to supply dependable, reasonably priced clean power on a large scale.
Qcells solar panels are used at the single-axis tracking site.
At the busiest point of construction, the project backed over 700 direct positions, and more than 70% of those workers came from within the United States, among them numerous people from the Denver and Fort Collins regions.
ContourGlobal supplied this news item.
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Perovskite solar cells have spent more than a decade dazzling the photovoltaics community. Their crystal lattices can be tuned to absorb precisely the wavelengths of light that silicon wastes, their films can be printed or evaporated at temperatures low enough to coat flexible plastics, and laboratory efficiencies have climbed at a pace no other solar technology has matched. Yet for all that promise, halide perovskites have struggled to escape the laboratory and the pilot line at scale. A new review published in Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering argues that the reason is not a single stubborn parameter but a web of tightly coupled dependencies, and that artificial intelligence, for all its celebrated successes in the field, has so far been chipping away at the edges of the problem rather than solving its core.
The review, led by Yifan Li and Guixiang Li of Southeast University in Nanjing, together with Wei Liu and Shimin Di of Southeast University’s School of Computer Science and Engineering, Qing Cao of the University of Notre Dame, and Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin of EPFL, takes an unusually candid look at how machine learning has been deployed across the perovskite research cycle. The authors’ verdict is nuanced. AI has genuinely accelerated local optimization, the authors find, reliably identifying correlations and speeding up experimentation in data-rich regimes. What it has not done is extract mechanism-anchored insights that transfer across compositions, fabrication environments or device architectures. A model trained to predict efficiency for one perovskite recipe in one laboratory typically says nothing useful about a different recipe processed in open air across town.
The root of the difficulty, the authors argue, lies in the physics of the material itself. In a perovskite solar cell, composition governs processing dynamics: change the ratio of formamidinium to methylammonium cations, or swap one halide for another, and the crystallization pathway of the film shifts, altering nucleation rates, intermediate-phase formation and grain growth. Processing in turn determines microstructure, the grain sizes, orientations and defect densities that set how efficiently charge carriers are extracted and how quickly the film degrades. Microstructure then sets device performance and stability. Because these links are causal and cross-scale, an improvement identified at one level rarely survives translation to another. The review frames this as the central obstacle to industrial deployment: not that any single dependency is unknowable, but that optimizing them in isolation produces gains that evaporate when the system is perturbed.
Against this backdrop, the authors survey AI applications across four domains of perovskite research. In materials discovery, machine learning models now predict bandgaps, screen passivation molecules and even design organic ligands; AI-generated ammonium ligands have been used to build high-efficiency and stable two-dimensional/three-dimensional heterojunction cells, and inverse-design workflows have discovered hole-transport materials tailored for perovskite devices. In device engineering, machine vision tools quantify microstructure disorder and AI-assisted performance analysis predicts processing parameters rapidly. In process optimization, machine learning with knowledge constraints has guided open-air manufacturing, robotic platforms have explored thin-film parameter spaces, and high-throughput robotic learning has uncovered phenomena such as temperature-induced stability reversal. In stability analysis, big-data approaches have mined ageing datasets, and wavelet-aided models have predicted long-term outdoor performance. Each of these is a genuine advance, the review stresses, but each is also a local one.
From this survey the authors distil four structural bottlenecks that recur across the field. The first is fragmented data. Perovskite results are scattered across papers and laboratories in formats that cannot be merged, with inconsistent reporting of processing conditions, device architectures and measurement protocols. Efforts to build interoperable descriptions, capable of tracking the hundreds of ions that appear across the perovskite family, remain in their infancy. The second is weak generalization. Models excel within the distribution of their training data but fail when asked to extrapolate to new compositions or architectures, precisely the regime where discovery happens. Few-shot learning methods, which aim to extract maximum insight from minimal experiments, are emerging as a partial remedy, but the underlying data scarcity remains acute.
The third bottleneck is limited interpretability. Many high-performing models behave as black boxes, offering predictions without physical grounding, which makes it hard for researchers to distinguish a genuine materials insight from a statistical artifact of the dataset. Explainable AI techniques and physics-informed models, which embed known constraints such as thermodynamic limits on synthesizability or the geometric tolerance factor that predicts structural stability, are proposed as ways to anchor predictions in mechanism. The fourth bottleneck is misaligned design objectives. AI models are typically trained to maximize a single metric, most often power conversion efficiency, whereas practical deployment demands simultaneous optimization of efficiency, stability, cost, manufacturability and environmental safety, including the management of lead content. Multi-objective frameworks that map Pareto fronts, in which no objective can be improved without worsening another, are needed to align machine optimization with real engineering trade-offs.
The review’s most consequential argument is that addressing these bottlenecks requires integrated infrastructures rather than more accurate individual models. Multimodal and multilevel datasets, combining composition, processing logs, microscopic imagery and device telemetry, would attack fragmentation. Physics-informed and explainable models would attack the interpretability and generalization gaps. Closed-loop coupling between AI predictions and experimental feedback, in which a model proposes experiments, a robotic platform executes them and the results update the model, would attack the misalignment between prediction and practice. The authors point to autonomous laboratories as evidence that this vision is technically feasible: closed-loop frameworks have already demonstrated reproducible perovskite solar cell fabrication, and self-driving research workflows are unlocking end-to-end experimentation in the field.
Looking forward, the authors sketch what they call system-level AI integration: a shift from task-specific predictive tools towards frameworks in which knowledge is continuously propagated, updated and reused across the entire perovskite research cycle. In such a framework, an insight about ligand design discovered during materials synthesis would inform process optimization, which would inform stability modelling, which would feed back into materials selection, without the knowledge being lost at each hand-off. Emerging technologies, including large-language-model-based multi-agent systems in which specialized AI agents cooperate on materials tasks, and physical neural networks with self-learning capabilities, are identified as candidate building blocks. The ambition is to reframe AI from a predictive tool into a participant in materials discovery, device optimization and reliability engineering, a collaborator that carries context across the pipeline rather than solving each stage in isolation.
The stakes are considerable. Perovskite-silicon tandem cells are widely seen as the next major efficiency leap for commercial photovoltaics, and methylammonium-free wide-bandgap perovskites are central to that prospect. But the same coupling that makes perovskites scientifically fascinating makes them industrially treacherous: a composition optimized for efficiency in a nitrogen glovebox may fail within months under the temperature cycling, humidity and illumination of a rooftop. Recent work on strain regulation, oriented nucleation and interfacial contact engineering has extended device lifetimes substantially, and large ageing datasets have revealed that stability tends to follow efficiency, but translating those findings into certified, bankable modules requires exactly the kind of cross-scale, cross-lab knowledge transfer that current AI tools cannot yet deliver.
The review’s message to the field is ultimately one of redirection rather than discouragement. The past several years have produced an impressive arsenal of machine learning methods for perovskite research, from generative models for molecular screening to robotic platforms for high-throughput synthesis. What is missing is the connective tissue: shared data standards, physics-anchored models, and closed loops that turn predictions into experiments and experiments into transferable knowledge. If the field can build that infrastructure, the authors conclude, AI could become the system-level engine that finally carries perovskite photovoltaics from record-breaking laboratory cells to durable, manufacturable technology. If it cannot, the field risks another decade of locally optimal, globally stagnant progress, with each laboratory perfecting a device that no other laboratory can reproduce.
Subject of Research: Artificial intelligence applications and structural limitations in halide perovskite solar cell research and development
Article Title: Towards system-level artificial intelligence in perovskite photovoltaics
Article References: Li, Y., Liu, W., Cao, Q., Di, S., Nazeeruddin, M. K., & Li, G. (2026). Towards system-level artificial intelligence in perovskite photovoltaics. Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44287-026-00332-4
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1038/s44287-026-00332-4
Keywords: perovskite solar cells, artificial intelligence, machine learning, photovoltaics, materials discovery, closed-loop automation, data fragmentation, explainable AI, device stability, self-driving laboratories, process optimization, tandem solar cells
Cite Scienmag News
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Blake Davidson. (October 1, 2026). AI Alone Won’t Fix Perovskite Solar Cells, Landmark Review Warns. Scienmag. https://scienmag.com/ai-alone-wont-fix-perovskite-solar-cells-landmark-review-warns/
Blake Davidson. “AI Alone Won’t Fix Perovskite Solar Cells, Landmark Review Warns.” Scienmag, 1 October 2026, https://scienmag.com/ai-alone-wont-fix-perovskite-solar-cells-landmark-review-warns/. Accessed 1 October 2026.
Blake Davidson. “AI Alone Won’t Fix Perovskite Solar Cells, Landmark Review Warns.” Scienmag. October 1, 2026. https://scienmag.com/ai-alone-wont-fix-perovskite-solar-cells-landmark-review-warns/
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Tags: advancements in flexible perovskite solar panelsArtificial Intelligenceclosed-loop automationcoupled dependencies in perovskite material propertiescrystal lattice tuning for improved solar absorptiondata fragmentationdevice stabilityexplainable AIinterdisciplinary research in perovskite photovoltaicsissues in commercialization of perovskite solar cellslimitations of artificial intelligence in solar cell developmentlow-temperature fabrication of perovskite filmsMachine learningmaterials discoveryPerovskite solar cell efficiency challengesPerovskite Solar CellsPhotovoltaicsprocess optimizationreview of AIrole of machine learning in photovoltaic researchscaling perovskite solar technology from lab to industryself-driving laboratoriestandem solar cells
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On September 27, two new 3-megawatt (MW) Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants, each paired with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) — one in Rozh Village, Shughnan District, Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB), located at an elevation of 2,665 metres above sea level, and one in Shurob, Isfara City, Sughd Region — have been […]
On September 27, two new 3-megawatt (MW) Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants, each paired with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) — one in Rozh Village, Shughnan District, Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB), located at an elevation of 2,665 metres above sea level, and one in Shurob, Isfara City, Sughd Region — have been formally inaugurated online, marking an important step towards strengthening the reliability and resilience of Tajikistan’s electricity supply. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation , President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.
3 MW Rozh Photovoltaic Power Plant, with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
The plant delivers additional generation capacity to the region’s electricity networks, strengthening the reliability and quality of electricity supply.
3 MW Shurob Photovoltaic Power Plant, Isfara City, with a 0.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
The plant provides the Shurob Industrial Town in Isfara City with a reliable electricity supply.
The Rozh and Shurob Solar Power Plants were developed with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), which financed the supply of the solar power plant equipment and associated civil works. Pamir Energy was responsible for the overall implementation and delivery of both projects in close coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The new solar facility will contribute to addressing one of VMKB’s most persistent energy challenges: the seasonal mismatch between electricity demand and hydropower generation. During winter, electricity demand rises significantly, particularly for heating, while water availability for hydropower generation declines. This creates additional pressure on the region’s power system precisely when electricity is most needed.
The Rozh Solar Power Plant will provide additional generation during daylight hours, enabling Pamir Energy to supplement hydropower generation with solar energy and optimise the use of available water resources.
Solar generation during the day can reduce the need to rely exclusively on hydropower at those hours, allowing available water resources to be managed more efficiently during periods of higher demand, particularly in the evening.
In Sughd Region, the Shurob Photovoltaic Power Plant will strengthen the reliability of the electricity supply serving the Shurob Industrial Town in Isfara City, supporting the continued operation and growth of local industrial and economic activity.
Mr. Daler Juma, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, highlighted the importance of diversifying VMKB’s energy mix:
“Every winter, as demand for heating pushes the power system to its limits, VMKB faces the challenge of meeting increased electricity demand while hydropower generation is constrained by lower water availability. Both solar plants provide an important additional source of renewable energy for their particular regions. By generating electricity from solar power during the day, they will help us use our water resources more efficiently and strengthen the reliability of electricity supply for the people of VMKB and Sughd.”
Mr. Jon Song Shik, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Tajikistan, remarked:
On September 16, the first Korea-Central Asia Summit and the Korea-Tajikistan Summit were held in Seoul. To attend these two Summits, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon made his first visit to Seoul in 11 years. On this occasion, the bilateral relationship between Tajikistan and Korea was, for the first time, elevated to a “Comprehensive Partnership” since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in trade and investment, railway and transport infrastructure, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, climate action, and people-to-people exchanges.
In this regard, the completion of the solar power plants in the VMKB and Sughd Regions holds profound significance. The new solar plants will provide the VMKB and Sughd Regions with more reliable electricity, further improve the quality of life for the people of Rozh Village and Shurob Industrial Town, and contribute to expanding the use of renewable energy and diversifying energy sources.
Building on these solar power plants, it is highly anticipated that the bilateral relationship between Tajikistan and Korea in the energy and infrastructure sectors will deepen further.
Mr. Raim Amrikhon, General Director of Pamir Energy, said the project forms part of the company’s broader efforts to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of VMKB’s power system:
“The Rozh Solar Power Plant is an important addition to Pamir Energy’s generation portfolio and to our efforts to strengthen energy security in VMKB. We are proud that, together with KIAT and OJSC ‘Shabakahoi taqsimoti barq’, we completed this project beyond our traditional concession area, particularly in Isfara. By adding solar generation during daylight hours, we can optimise the use of our hydropower resources and improve the resilience of the system during the challenging winter period. The project also demonstrates the potential of high-altitude renewable energy resources to contribute to the region’s long-term energy needs.”
The commissioning of the Rozh and Shurob Solar Power Plants, represents an important investment in both energy infrastructure and community well-being across VMKB and Sughd Region. As Tajikistan continues to face the combined challenges of growing electricity demand, seasonal hydrological variability and the need for greater energy resilience, the Rozh and Shurob Solar Power Plants add a new source of clean generation to the country’s energy system and contribute to a more diversified and sustainable electricity supply.
About the Construction of Solar Power Plants and Energy Storage Devices in Sughd Region and VMKB
The Construction of Solar Power Plants and Energy Storage Devices in Sughd Region and the VMKB is carried out under a Protocol signed between the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT). The main objective of the project is to improve the reliability of electricity supply for residents of Sughd Region and VMKB, through the construction of solar power plants with a combined capacity of 6 MW and battery energy storage systems with a combined capacity of 1 MWh.
About KIAT
The Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) is a public agency under the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, supporting international cooperation projects in industrial technology, energy, and infrastructure. Through this partnership, KIAT financed the supply of the solar power plant equipment and associated civil works for the Solar Power Plants.
About Pamir Energy
Pamir Energy Company (PEC) was established in 2002 through a Concession Agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and OJSC “Pamir Energy”, as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) — the first of its kind in Central Asia. The company’s initial capitalization of USD 37.4 million was structured through a combination of loan, equity, and grant financing provided by international development partners. PEC is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across the Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB) of Tajikistan, and works in close coordination with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and international development partners. Since its establishment, Pamir Energy’s cumulative investment has grown to approximately USD 278 million across more than 35 projects, and installed generation capacity has increased threefold — from 24 MW to 72 MW. Before the company’s establishment, only 13 percent of VMKB had access to electricity; today, that figure stands at 100 percent.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several solar-related bills into law, including legislation that authorizes balcony solar systems in the state, according to Solar Power World. The measure, SB 868, also called the Plug and Play Solar Act, removes regulatory hurdles that had prevented use of these systems in apartments, condominiums and single-family homes.
California becomes the tenth state to legalize balcony solar, which lets homeowners and renters purchase qualified plug-in solar panels from retailers without obtaining an interconnection agreement from their utility. The cost and time required to secure such an agreement had been a barrier to wider deployment.
The California Assembly added a provision, using language sought by utilities, that ends the interconnection exemption on January 1, 2030. The law provides the market four years to develop while giving the Legislature a chance to remove the sunset provision.
SB 868 also requires plug-and-play systems to meet strict safety standards. All systems must be certified by the independent safety science company UL or an equivalent national testing lab. To protect utility workers, systems must automatically shut off within seconds if the grid goes down. System size is capped at 1,200 W.
Bernadette Del Chiaro, the Environmental Working Group’s senior vice president for California, said the law would deliver cleaner power, greater energy independence and real savings for consumers. Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and the bill’s author, said the small, easy-to-use panels would give everyone, including renters, relief on high energy bills, adding that electricity costs in California have reached excessive levels and that the law provides a needed tool for relief.
Stephan Scherer, chief executive and co-founder of the balcony solar company CraftStrom, said plug-in solar is clean energy that can be plugged directly into a wall, making it quick and easy for anyone to lower energy bills. He said California already accounts for a large share of CraftStrom’s business and that the law represents a significant victory for energy independence as the company prepares to roll out its next generation of products nationwide this month.
Bill details were provided by the Environmental Working Group.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
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The market data is classified and analyzed according to international trade codes, primarily under the Harmonized System (HS) headings for photovoltaic cells and electric generating sets. This ensures consistent tracking of trade flows for assembled solar modules and relevant apparatus across global markets.
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A new photovoltaic module plant has been opened in Kardzhali, creating nearly 200 jobs. At the opening ceremony, it was noted that the facility operated by VESS Modules is the first fully automated photovoltaic module plant in the European Union, with an annual production capacity of 1 gigawatt. According to investor Tsvetelina Borislavova, a single panel can be produced in less than 18 seconds, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported.
The plant will serve the European market as well as customers outside the EU, with the company reporting interest from Turkey, African countries and the United States.
Edited by Miglena Ivanova
This publication was created by: Rositsa Petkova
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Arizona-based renewable energy developer TurningPoint Energy (TPE) has energised a 2.1MWac community solar project in Georgetown, Delaware.
This is the third facility to come online under a six-project, 30MWdc portfolio being developed in partnership with community solar developer Nautilus Solar Energy.
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The project, located near Sandhill Fields, comprises more than 5,600 solar panels across approximately 17 acres. It is expected to generate around 5.6 million kWh of electricity annually for the Delmarva Power grid.
TPE developed the project, while Nautilus owns and operates the facility. The companies brought the first project in the portfolio online in Georgetown in June 2025, followed by a second project in Dover in July 2026.
“Delaware’s commitment to reliable and diverse energy sources requires bold investments in our generation capacity, and that’s why community solar projects like this are so important to our energy future,” said Delaware Senator Stephanie Hansen.
“This project will serve hundreds of our neighbours in Georgetown and its surrounding communities, including those with low- or limited-incomes. As we continue to address energy demand in our State, projects like this will help lower energy costs for Delawareans and deliver clean energy to our grid.”
The six-project portfolio totals 30MWdc and, once fully operational, is expected to deliver nearly US$ 35 million in energy savings to Delaware residents and businesses, according to the companies.
The Georgetown project forms part of Delaware’s expansion of in-state renewable generation and community solar capacity. The state has set a target of reaching 40% renewable energy by 2035.
TPE and Nautilus said the project generated work for local engineering, electrical, civil construction and other skilled trades during development and construction.
The remaining projects in the portfolio are expected to bring the companies closer to completion of what they describe as one of the larger community solar investments in Delaware.
TPE said it has more than 1.5GW of large-scale solar, community solar and energy storage projects operating or under development across the US. Its Delaware pipeline includes 34MW expected to come online this year or early next year, alongside a further 51MW in development through 2030.
Spanish energy and water infrastructure group Cox has secured financing for a 75.2MWp solar PV project in Guatemala.
The Chiquimulilla solar project, located in the municipality of Chiquimulilla in Guatemala’s Santa Rosa department, will be among the largest photovoltaic plants in the country.
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The project will be developed in two phases and is backed by 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Guatemalan utilities Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala (EEGSA) and Distribuidora de Electricidad de Occidente (DEOCSA).
The PPAs were awarded through Guatemala’s PEG-4 procurement process, providing long-term revenue certainty and supporting renewable power integration.
PEG-4 is Guatemala’s fourth long-term power procurement tender under the country’s Generation Expansion Plan. Managed by the National Electric Energy Commission (CNEE), the 2022 tender awards long-term PPAs of up to 15 years to supply the country’s main electricity distributors, including EEGSA and Energuate.
The procurement prioritises new renewable generation, with at least 50% of the contracted guaranteed capacity required to come from renewable sources.
“The Chiquimulilla project reflects our ability to identify, develop and execute strategic infrastructure projects that respond to the energy needs of the markets in which we operate. Guatemala has significant potential for renewable generation, and this photovoltaic project will help accelerate the country’s energy transition while further strengthening our position in Central America,” said Luis Manresa, director of business development – energy for Cox’s Central Arc (Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia and Ecuador).
The project is being financed by a consortium of financial institutions led by CIFI, which is acting as arranger and lead syndication agent and is also providing financing from its own resources.
Other lenders include the Sustainable Infrastructure Debt Fund (SIDF), managed by CIFI Asset Management, as well as BICSA and Banco Aliado. Banco Aliado is also acting as facility agent and administrative agent for payments under the financing facility.
The project is in an area of Guatemala with high solar irradiation levels, which Cox said would support the development of competitive renewable power generation.
The Chiquimulilla project forms part of Cox’s wider expansion strategy in Latin America, where the company is developing infrastructure projects across the energy and water sectors.
Recently, the firm finalised its US$4 billion acquisition of Iberdrola’s Mexican subsidiary, adding a 12GW renewable energy pipeline to its portfolio. The deal, first announced last August, included Iberdrola Mexico’s operational portfolio of 1.4GW of gas and cogeneration, 642MW of solar and 590MW of onshore wind capacity.
| Source: CleanChoice Energy
WASHINGTON, Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CleanChoice Energy (“CleanChoice”), a leading clean energy company, announced it secured over $166M in financing for two solar projects that will expand its operating portfolio by over 50MWdc in combined total module capacity. The solar project portfolio includes the Dolan solar project in New York (~27MWdc) and the Kylertown project in Pennsylvania (~28MWdc). These projects will have the estimated capacity to power approximately 10,000 homes upon completion. The projects are expected to achieve commercial operation in 2027.
“Closing this project financing brings CleanChoice Energy one step closer to constructing these critically-needed solar projects in the Northeast,” said Zoë Gamble, President of CleanChoice. “We are focused on developing and operating sustainable generation that helps lower consumer cost, better the environment and deliver for our customers. I want to thank our business partners, including the financiers, builders and the US manufacturers who are working with us to make these solar projects a reality.”
Investec Bank, plc. served as lead arranger, green loan structuring agent, administrative agent, and collateral agent for a $105 million construction loan facility, with BHI, the U.S. branch of Bank Hapoalim, B.M., and Stifel Bank serving as coordinating lead arrangers in the financing.
“Investec is proud to partner with CleanChoice on this financing, which marks an important milestone for the company as it continues to grow its portfolio of renewable generation assets,” said Frederic Petit, Co-Head of Investec’s North American Energy & Infrastructure Finance group. “This transaction highlights Investec’s commitment to supporting the development of high-quality renewable infrastructure assets across North America while demonstrating our continued expertise in providing tailored financing solutions for our clients.”
Advantage Capital provided a capital commitment of $61 million in tax equity for the portfolio. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Husch Blackwell advised Advantage Capital on the tax equity investment. Norton Rose Fulbright and Husch Blackwell advised lenders on the debt financing.
Project and tax equity financing was advised by Sidley Austin LLP, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC, and Young/Sommer LLC.
ABOUT CLEANCHOICE ENERGY
CleanChoice Energy is one of the leading renewable energy suppliers in the U.S. providing ‘farm-to-table’ clean energy, connecting consumers with alternative ways to access clean energy. CleanChoice owns, operates and develops solar projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Founded in 2012, CleanChoice has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing businesses in America, having been ranked on the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™. CleanChoice Energy is majority-owned by funds managed by True Green Capital Management LLC. For more information or to become a clean energy customer, visit CleanChoiceEnergy.com.
Media Contact:
Debbie Ehrman
FINN Partners
CleanChoiceEnergy@finnpartners.com
Maia Parthasarathy
CleanChoice Energy
maia.parthasarathy@cleanchoice.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed7f1f64-72c4-4d98-8102-bbfa079b2520
MCLEAN COUNTY (25News Now) – A new community solar farm is now operating in McLean County, with developers saying the project will expand access to solar energy for income-eligible households.
PureSky Energy and Ecology Action Center announced their McLean 1 Community Solar project has reached full operation. The 1.98-megawatt direct current solar farm is PureSky’s first project to launch in Illinois.
The project, located along Interstate 74 near Downs, was developed through the Illinois Solar for All program, a statewide initiative aimed at expanding access to solar energy for income-eligible households, nonprofits and public facilities.
Unlike traditional rooftop solar, community solar allows people to subscribe to a solar project without installing panels on their own property.
“It allows people who don’t have the ability, the interest, the finances or perhaps the right kind of house to put on regular solar,” Ecology Action Center Executive Director Michael Brown said.
“It allows people to subscribe to solar instead and get a lot of the benefits, as well as some discounted electricity rates.”
Through Illinois Solar for All, participating subscribers receive guaranteed savings equal to 50% of the value of their solar credits. Those credits are applied monthly to help reduce participants’ electricity costs.
The solar farm includes approximately 3,364 panels and is expected to generate about 3.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. PureSky mentioned in a press release that they estimate that the power is equivalent to the annual electricity use of about 439 households.
Over the project’s expected 30-year lifespan, the teams estimate customers will collectively save about $5.4 million. The company says the estimate is based on projected annual production and the estimated value of solar credits.
Residents under the income-based plan will receive 50% off on their bills, while residents not on the plan will save 10% on their bill.
“We’re all for promoting these things, we want to see more clean and renewable energy for our community. And, where we can help local residents save money on their utility bills ofcourse that’s a no brainer,” said Brown.
PureSky and Ecology Action Center said the project will also contribute to McLean County’s tax base and use pollinator-friendly land management practices.
Illinois residents who meet the program’s income requirements, which is 80% of the state’s median income, and have Ameren as a provider, can enroll by either contacting PureSky Energy or visiting pureskyenergy.com. Subscribers receive monthly solar bill credits that automatically reduce their electricity costs.
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A Florida Power and Light solar-farm
A Florida Power and Light solar-farm
Utility-scale solar capacity in the United States has increased 33% since 2025, according to information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration cited by the SUN DAY Campaign, which tracks renewable energy nationally.
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025 removed solar power tax credits, a move Florida industry groups warned could hurt the state’s solar industry.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds said last week he is not a fan of solar power and questioned its ability to provide consistent energy for Florida.
“We are in the middle of the solar fad, and I’m going to call it a fad,” Donalds said during a campaign event in Daytona Beach Shores.
Donalds said solar arrays take land out of production and argued that solar power is inconsistent because generation declines at night.
His Democratic opponent, David Jolly, has a different view.
“Solar should be a part of Florida’s future,” Jolly told the Florida Phoenix following an appearance before the Tampa Tiger Bay Club.
Jolly said he supports getting more people off the traditional electric grid through solar panels, potentially through incentives or changes involving the Florida Public Service Commission.
He also said Florida’s largest investor-owned utilities are moving toward greater use of solar energy.
About 8% of the electricity generated in Florida comes from renewable sources, mostly solar, according to a 2026 report from the Florida Public Service Commission. Nearly 75% comes from natural gas, 11% from nuclear power, 3% from coal, 2% from purchased power and less than 1% from oil.
Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest electric utility, generated 11% of its energy from solar in 2025. Its 2026 10-year site plan calls for solar to account for 26% of its generation by 2035.
That projection is about 30% lower than in FPL’s 2025 plan. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy attributes the reduction to expiring federal solar tax credits.
Duke Energy Florida plans to add 12 solar sites to its electric grid, increasing solar capacity by 900 megawatts by 2027, spokesperson Ana Gibbs said. Duke expects solar to provide about 30% of the electricity it sells by 2035.
Tampa Electric Co. generated 12% of its energy from solar during the 12 months ending in June 2026, spokesperson Cherie Jacobs said. About 17% of its energy is expected to come from solar next year.
Solar costs also have fallen substantially in recent decades. Solar panels that sold for $5 to $6 per watt around 2000 now cost about 12 cents per watt, according to Dave Ember, chief analyst and co-founder of global energy think tank Ember.
Donalds has promoted small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, as another potential source of electricity for Florida.
“I believe that we need to be investing in small, modular nuclear reactors in Florida,” he said. “We have to have a consistent power base.”
Supporters of SMRs say they could offer greater safety, faster deployment and lower costs than traditional nuclear power plants.
The Florida Legislature approved a bill in 2024 requiring the Public Service Commission to conduct a feasibility study on advanced nuclear reactors.
The resulting report, issued in 2025, recommended a more comprehensive study, possibly by a major university, to better define the potential benefits of nuclear development.
Further legislative action stalled when HB 1461, which would have authorized the PSC to regulate advanced nuclear reactors, passed the House 108-0 but did not advance through the Senate.
For now, Florida’s major investor-owned utilities say small modular reactors are not part of their near-term generation plans.
“Regarding SMRs, at this point, they are not yet commercially available at scale or cost effective,” FPL spokesperson Andrew Sutton said.
Sutton said the company has a team evaluating the technology so it could be deployed if it becomes cost effective.
Duke Energy Florida’s 10-year site plan calls for new solar generation and upgrades to existing generation units, but no nuclear deployment. Gibbs said advanced nuclear power remains a longer-term option.
Tampa Electric also is examining small modular reactors, but Jacobs said the technology is not yet commercially viable.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news organization covering state government and politics. This story is republished under a Creative Commons license.
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During the Sept. 23, 2026, Big Lake Township Board Meeting, Chair Bruce Aubol made a motion to recommend the approval of an Interim Use Permit and Comprehensive Land Use Map Amendment for an expansion of the existing solar project on resident Jim Sanford’s property. However, the motion failed as none of the other three supervisors who were present seconded it. Supervisor Larry Alfords was absent.
The Proposal
Though the recommendation would not have allowed the proposal to be built, comments from the supervisors will be forwarded to Sherburne Co., which will ultimately decide if the project will move forward.
The project, if approved, will allow Nokomis Energy to build a 34-acre solar farm on an 80-acre parcel, producing five megawatts of power. Vice President Dan Rogers and Senior Project Developer Mike Braun from Nokomis Energy were on hand to answer questions. Braun noted that the project will produce 10,060 megawatt-hours annually and generate $300,000 in tax revenue over a 25-year period that will be split between the county and township, with the township receiving 20% of that revenue.
Owners Request
A letter to the Township from James and Susan Sanford was included in the agenda packet. In that letter, the Sanfords explained how the solar field would help his family retain the farm they purchased in 1976, writing, “As you know, traditional grain farming has become increasingly competitive and less profitable. We’ve continually looked for ways to maintain the viability of our farm while being good stewards of the land and good neighbors. Partnering with Nokomis Energy would provide a sustainable and responsible way to diversify our income while preserving the property’s agricultural value for the future.”
The letter also noted the residential development that began in the 1980’s and 1990’s to the west of their property. “We supported that growth and never opposed it.”
Impact on Residents
The impact on those residents was the topic of much of the discussion. Braun explained that the solar field would be built as far east on the property as possible and that a vegetative screen would separate it from the existing homes in the area.
Supervisor Mark Hedstrom asked why the property where the solar field will be located won’t be surrounded by trees, as required. Braun responded by explaining that the county had changed that requirement and that the land surrounding three sides of the parcel was agricultural.
Supervisor Dean Brentesen asked what would happen in 5-10 years if housing were expanded in that area? Braun responded that it’s hard to predict what will happen over the next 5-10 years, and Rogers added that developers would be able to address any problems through their application process. Brentesen stated that he would still like to see the entire array surrounded by trees.
Aubol wrapped up the discussion by asking for final comments. Hedstrom stated that his stance on solar has never changed. He objects to taking farmland that could be used for future development and using it for solar.
A motion was called to allow the supervisors to submit their comments to the county separately. The motion passed unanimously.
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“I’ve earned around [$226] since march on it with my 10kWh battery.”
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For United Kingdom homeowners with solar panels and battery storage, selling extra electricity back to the grid may not be the only way to make money from a clean energy setup.
In a discussion on the r/SolarUK subreddit, several battery owners said joining virtual power plants through Axle added roughly £150 ($200) or more to their export income.
The Reddit thread began with a homeowner who wrote that they installed solar in March. Recently, a friend brought up the idea of virtual power plants as a way to sell energy “for a much higher rate on a more infrequent basis.”
That piqued their interest: “I don’t think I’ve ever read a post on this subject and wondered why, if it is as good as it sounds. So, good people, does anyone have any experience of VPPs?”
Replies were largely favorable. One commenter wrote, “So far 0 downsides, I’ve made £150 in extra export.” Another said, “They work well, I have done £150 on Axle since Feb,” while a third added, “I’ve earned around £170 since March on it with my 10kWh battery.”
Several commenters also said these programs generally require battery storage, rather than solar panels alone.
To that end, adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save on energy costs, and go off-grid.
For homeowners weighing that step, exploring EnergySage can help with home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
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Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
A virtual power plant links many home batteries so they can supply electricity to the grid when demand rises or available power gets tight.
Participants can be paid for that service in addition to their usual solar export earnings.
For some households, that added income can make battery storage more appealing financially. Batteries also help people use more of their own solar generation after dark, keep important devices running during outages, reduce reliance on the grid, and avoid more expensive electricity during certain hours.
Axle appeared most often in the discussion, though commenters pointed out some drawbacks and limits. Not every battery, inverter, or electricity contract will be eligible.
Anyone interested in joining a VPP should start by checking compatibility before assuming the extra income will be available. That includes making sure your setup is supported and reviewing the export terms carefully.
If you do not yet have backup storage, comparison shopping can make a big difference. Another company offering strong battery-backup options is Pila, whose plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of a whole-home backup system.
Homeowners who already have batteries may also want to find out how much control they retain during export events.
As one commenter explained, people can either let Axle handle exports automatically or set up each event themselves, which could matter if you want to keep some backup power available for overnight use or emergencies.
After reading the responses, the original poster updated, “It seems Axle is the front-runner; however it doesn’t support my system (I’m EP Cube) so i’ll need to do a little research to see what’s compatible.”
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The acquisition of the Wormald Green Solar Farm is part of the IPP’s growth strategy set out by its parent company, Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm, to expand Forsa Energy’s renewable energy generation portfolio.
October 1, 2026
Independent power producer (IPP) Forsa Energy has acquired a ready-to-build (RTB) 59.3MWp solar PV project in North Yorkshire.
The Wormald Green Solar Farm is being developed by solar PV and energy storage developer Harmony Energy, and the project is expected to reach financial close and enter construction in the fourth quarter of 2026. Commercial operations are targeted for Q4 2027.
The acquisition of the project is part of the IPP’s growth strategy set out by its parent company, Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm, to expand Forsa Energy’s renewable energy generation portfolio. Tiger Infrastructure Partners acquired Forsa Energy in 2020.
Currently, the company’s main portfolio consists of gas generation assets.
Stephen Milloy, construction and delivery director at Forsa Energy, said: “This transaction marks the first solar ready-to-build project to enter Forsa’s near-term construction pipeline and represents an important milestone in the company’s growth strategy.
Erova, Finlight sign 15-year PPA for 107MW UK solar portfolio
“Together with the wind assets acquisition completed earlier this year, the project supports Forsa’s ongoing efforts to expand and diversify its generation portfolio.”
On top of expanding its solar PV portfolio, the company also has a 260MW development pipeline of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Forsa Energy’s acquisition of the 59.3MWp Wormald Green Solar Farm highlights an ongoing trend in the UK solar market, with mergers and acquisitions activity remaining robust. Data from Solar Media Market Research highlighted that more than 100 assets totalling 6.2GWp have changed hands since the beginning of the year.
“This sustained activity reflects continued investor confidence in UK solar fundamentals despite infrastructure challenges,” wrote Josh Cornes, senior market analyst at Solar Media Market Research on Solar Power Portal last month.
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