Argentina is consolidating its position as a solar market in the region based on its technical maturity and improved financial conditions compared to previous years, after surpassing 7,900 MW of installed renewable capacity, of which more than 2,500 MW correspond to solar PV. “Argentina has matured very quickly from a technical standpoint, to the point that today it is at the forefront technically. Meanwhile, on the financial and macroeconomic side, we went through difficult moments with the country in terms of payment structures and a series of complexities, but today it is much more stable,” acknowledged Miguel Covarrubias, Sales Director LATAM at Jinko Solar. “So the market is mature, there is technical know-how and service expertise, which makes projects in the country highly viable both technically and economically,” he said during an interview held within the framework of Future Energy Summit (FES) Argentina. This scenario is already reflected in the company’s strategy, having supplied nearly 30% of all solar panels currently operating in Argentina’s Wholesale Electricity Market (MEM), representing 36% of installed photovoltaic capacity, according to official CAMMESA data. “Moreover, the conditions are in place in the country, and it is a priority market for us in LATAM, accounting for around 25% of what we supplied in the region last year,” Covarrubias noted. Watch the full interview with Jinko Solar at FES Argentina: https://youtu.be/GHccKrwFUJ8 In this context, the bankability of solar projects is increasingly linked to the profile of the technology supplier. “It is key,” Covarrubias said, explaining that banks prioritise manufacturers with strong technical and financial backing. At the same time, technological evolution continues pushing the boundaries of the industry. “Our core is to compete through technology and efficiency,” he said, referring to the new Tiger Neo 3.0 line, which allows outputs of 660–670 Wp in modules that previously reached around 620 Wp, without increasing their surface area. However, part of the market is still seeking even higher power outputs, introducing new challenges. “There is a 10–15% segment still looking for larger modules,” he explained, referring to panels reaching 730–735 Wp, although these involve greater logistical and installation demands. Despite these complexities, the local market has demonstrated adaptation capacity. A concrete example is the El Quemado solar park, developed by Argentina’s state-controlled energy company YPF in Mendoza. The project, which will reach 305 MW of installed capacity, already has 200 MW in operation and includes more than 550,000 panels. “We expected there would be more failures and breakages during installation, which did not happen,” Covarrubias pointed out, validating the performance of larger-format modules. Looking ahead, market growth will be driven by new opportunities in energy storage and regulation. Initiatives such as the AlmaSADI tender, which foresees adding 700 MW of BESS, together with the continuation of the Mercado a Término, are shaping an expansion scenario. Nevertheless, there are still aspects to improve. “There is room for improvement linked to transmission and batteries,” the executive said, concluding that these developments will make it possible to “further expand the penetration of renewable energy, particularly solar energy.” by Emilia Lardizabal Keep reading New grid access capacity maps published by Spain’s CNMC reveal mounting constraints in both demand and generation connections. While the tool improves transparency, industry experts warn the congestion reflects stalled projects and structural bottlenecks that are already shaping investment decisions and threatening the pace of renewable energy deployment. by Strategic Energy Keep reading Thirteen utility-scale solar projects with final generation concessions—mainly in southern Peru—are set to more than triple the country’s installed solar capacity by 2028, reinforcing energy security and accelerating the shift towards renewable energy. by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading Executives from EGE Haina, AES Dominicana, InterEnergy and CMI agreed on the urgent need to address renewable curtailment, advance battery regulation and tackle challenges linked to transmission and system sustainability. With more than 120,000 MWh of renewable energy curtailed so far in 2026 and a project pipeline targeting nearly 2 GW of solar PV, the focus is shifting from expanding capacity to integrating flexibility, energy storage and market rules. by Emilia Lardizabal Keep reading New grid access capacity maps published by Spain’s CNMC reveal mounting constraints in both demand and generation connections. While the tool improves transparency, industry experts warn the congestion reflects stalled projects and structural bottlenecks that are already shaping investment decisions and threatening the pace of renewable energy deployment. by Strategic Energy Keep reading Thirteen utility-scale solar projects with final generation concessions—mainly in southern Peru—are set to more than triple the country’s installed solar capacity by 2028, reinforcing energy security and accelerating the shift towards renewable energy. by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading Executives from EGE Haina, AES Dominicana, InterEnergy and CMI agreed on the urgent need to address renewable curtailment, advance battery regulation and tackle challenges linked to transmission and system sustainability. With more than 120,000 MWh of renewable energy curtailed so far in 2026 and a project pipeline targeting nearly 2 GW of solar PV, the focus is shifting from expanding capacity to integrating flexibility, energy storage and market rules. A leading media group in digital marketing, strategic communication, and consultancy specialized in renewable energy and zero-emission mobility, with a presence in Latin America and Europe. We focus on helping companies position their brand in key markets, connecting with the main decision-makers in the energy transition.
SAVE $1,300.01: As of April 23, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale for $1,698.99 at Amazon. That’s a 43% discount on the list price. If you’re looking for whole-home backup, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is back on sale at Amazon. This portable power station can power pretty much anything, from your fridge to your laptop. As of April 23, the unit with solar panels is reduced by over $1,000, bringing the price down to $1,698.99 from $2,999. This Jackery device has a 3,600W output (7,200W surge) and 3,072Wh capacity, so it can keep essential household devices running during outages, often for many hours or even days. For seamless connection, it features a fast-switching UPS system that can take over within 20ms to help prevent interruptions to important equipment like security systems or medical devices. It includes a range of ports such as AC, USB-C, USB-A, and DC, plus an RV-ready output, so it can be used on the road, not just at home. It also supports multiple charging methods, including fast AC and hybrid charging, as well as solar, car, and generator options. And because it’s built with LiFePO4 battery technology, you know it’ll last for years. This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don’t miss out. TopicsAmazon Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time. Lois also holds a Master’s degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and obtained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen.
0 Powered by : Poland headquartered PAD RES has commenced construction of three photovoltaic farms in Poland with a combined capacity of 133 MW. The projects are located in Krapkowice, Strzelce Opolskie and Gromadka. The Krapkowice project accounts for 90 MW and about 95,000 MWh of annual output. Strzelce Opolskie adds 18 MW with around 19,000 MWh per year. Gromadka contributes 25 MW with estimated yearly generation of 26,000 MWh. Combined output is expected to match annual electricity demand of about 47,000 households. PAD RES said the projects support expansion of its renewable generation platform.
Solar Power World By Kelly Pickerel | The Dept. of Commerce has released its preliminary antidumping duty (AD) amounts in an investigation on solar cell imports from India, Indonesia and Laos. The preliminary AD margins are 123.04% for all Indian producers, 35.17% for all Indonesian producers, and 22.46% for all Laotian producers. Combined with the preliminary countervailing duty (CVD) determinations, India has the highest AD/CVD rates of the three countries. The Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, a group of domestic solar manufacturers, petitioned the government in July 2025 for an AD/CVD investigation, alleging that solar panel manufacturers had relocated their operations to India, Indonesia and Laos to avoid tariffs placed on imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determined in August that the U.S. industry has been materially injured by imports from the three countries, and Commerce has been performing its own investigation into the matter. With the preliminary tariff amounts out now, the next date to look toward is Sept. 3, 2026, for the final duty determination from Commerce. A final decision from the ITC is then scheduled to come Oct. 19. Issuance of the AD/CVD orders would be one week later on Oct. 26. The Alliance, which includes First Solar, Mission Solar, Qcells and Talon PV, also filed a “critical circumstances” allegation in January 2026 with the Secretary of Commerce. The document said that imports from India, Indonesia and Laos have surged, activity that “strongly indicates that these imports are being rushed into the United States in an effort to avoid the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties.” The Alliance requested an expedited critical-circumstances decision, which would impose duties retroactively on imports entered up to 90 days before the tariffs are announced. In its preliminary CVD determination, Commerce revealed varied critical circumstance decisions. In the preliminary AD decision, Commerce determined that critical circumstances did exist for Indian producers Mundra Solar, Kowa and Premier Energie, but not for all others. In Indonesia, Commerce determined that imports from Blue Sky and PT REC Solar Indonesia did not significantly increase but imports from all others did. Critical circumstances exist in Laos against all cell producers except Solarspace. Final determinations with the critical circumstances should be released alongside the final AD/CVD determinations. Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.
A church in Georgia has a new 70.11-kW solar system and a 41-kWh battery storage system which could generate and store enough electricity to save about $15,000 a year on its utility bills. There was no up-front cost to the congregation because of support from Hive Fund, Black Voters Matter, and Georgia BRIGHT. “New Bethel AME Church is demonstrating extraordinary leadership as the first Georgia BRIGHT Communities participant to integrate battery storage with their solar system, By embracing storage, they’re not only cutting costs and increasing resilience for their congregants and the surrounding community, but also showing how community organizations can play an important role in reducing costs and increasing resilience for the larger energy system,” said Alicia Brown, Director of Georgia BRIGHT. There is also a reference in the source to adding EV chargers to the solar power and energy storage mix. This is a potentially important benefit because during a power outage, gas pumps at gas stations that run on electricity generally do not operate. A church with a large solar power array, battery storage, and EV chargers could generate its own electricity to charge electric vehicles, provided there was adequate sunlight. Electric vehicles are ‘batteries on wheels’ and they can also be used for backup electricity if their batteries are sufficiently charged. A church with its own solar power, energy storage, and EV chargers could function as a resilience hub during a power outage and be able to run refrigerators and freezers to store medicines and food. These benefits are available, including the ability to save a considerable amount of money each year by not using very much local utility electricity and/or gas. Utility costs tend to rise gradually, and having a large solar array and battery storage allows the owner to avoid that increasing cost. Another benefit is moving away from a dependency mindset and taking positive action toward energy independence. Many of the church’s congregants can learn about the solar power, energy storage, and EVs at their church and may become more interested to the point they move toward their own energy independence. Solar power is clean renewable energy, but electricity provided by some local utilities comes from burning coal and/or natural gas which produces emissions which harm human health and contribute to climate change. Solar panels are much, much more affordable than they used to be and may be affordable to many people who still believe they cost too much, per MIT: “The cost of solar panels has dropped by more than 99 percent since the 1970s, enabling widespread adoption of photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity.” CleanTechnica’s Comment Policy Hello, I have been writing online for some time, and enjoy the outdoors. If you like, you can follow me on BlueSky. https://bsky.app/profile/jakersol.bsky.social Jake Richardson has 1372 posts and counting. See all posts by Jake Richardson
The Dept. of Commerce has released its preliminary antidumping duty (AD) amounts in an investigation on solar cell imports from India, Indonesia and Laos. The preliminary AD margins are 123.04% for all Indian producers, 35.17% for all Indonesian producers, and 22.46% for all Laotian producers. Combined with the preliminary countervailing duty (CVD) determinations, India has…
In 2025, solar and wind dominated global energy growth, delivering around six times more new capacity than all other power sources combined and supplying nearly all new electricity demand. With rapid expansion led by countries like Australia and several European nations, solar and wind are now the fastest-growing and central drivers of the global energy transition. Image: ISES In 2025, solar and wind provided about six times more new generation capacity (Gigawatts) than everything else combined, including coal, gas, nuclear, hydro and all other renewables. Annual electricity generation from solar and wind are approximately equal, although solar has considerably faster growth rate and is expected to pull ahead. The leading countries for combined per capita solar and wind generation are Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and the Netherlands, at 3-4 Megawatt-hours (MWh) per capita per year. Australia and the Netherlands lead for per capita solar generation, while Scandinavia and Ireland lead for per capita wind generation. Typical electricity demand in advanced economies is 5-12 MWh per capita per year. This will increase to 20-30 MWh per capita per year to accommodate electrification of vehicles, industrial heating, chemical and metal production, and synthetic aviation and shipping fuels. Almost all this additional electricity will come from solar and wind. Notably rapid per capita deployment of new solar and wind in 2025 occurred in Australia, China, Chile, Finland, Netherlands and Pakistan. The latest war in the Middle East may spark rapid uptake of solar and wind in many countries, coupled with rapid electrification of land transport and heating. Growth in net nuclear generation and capacity (after accounting for retirements) was approximately zero, as has been the case for the last 30 years. There is no sign of a significant nuclear renaissance. Solar and wind each generate as much electricity as nuclear and are each also rapidly catching hydroelectricity. In 2025, new solar and wind capacity provided nearly all the additional electricity required to meet global growth in electricity demand arising from rising population, rising affluence, and electrification of transport, heating and industry. New power plant construction is now heavily focused on solar and wind, together with development of financial arrangements, skilled people and supply chains. Further growth in solar and wind capacity comes from a very large construction industry compared with the fossil and nuclear industries, which allows for much faster growth at lower cost. The top solar and wind performers are in Europe, apart from Australia. European countries share electricity across national borders, which assists with the balancing of variable solar and wind. Australia is a global solar pathfinder because it is physically isolated and low-mid-latitude (where 80% of the global population lives). By 2030, Australia is expected to reach 82% renewable electricity (mostly solar and wind). The energy transition in Australia has been straightforward. Australian solar and wind is supported by about 18 kWh per person of pumped hydro and battery storage, which is very large by global standards. Because this rechargeable storage cycles many times per year, it is equivalent to once-through storage (in the form of hydroelectricity, biomass or hydrogen) that is 30-100 times larger. Total European premium-class pumped hydro storage potential outside national parks is about 1200 Terawatt-hours, which is vastly larger than required. It will not be necessary to deploy large-scale biomass, hydrogen or CAES storage. Solar and wind provide the cheapest, lowest emissions, most reliable and most resilient energy in history. At current growth rates, combined solar, wind and hydro generation will catch combined coal and gas generation in 2030. Authors: Prof. Ricardo Rüther (UFSC), Prof. Andrew Blakers /ANU Andrew.blakers@anu.edu.au rruther@gmail.com ISES, the International Solar Energy Society is a UN-accredited membership NGO founded in 1954 working towards a world with 100% renewable energy for all, used efficiently and wisely.
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Solx’s Aurora hybrid module with Caelux’s perovskite glass aims to compete on performance beyond federal tax sunsets. Image: Caelux The agreement between two U.S. solar technology companies to produce new generation photovoltaic modules will expand the output of products using domestic-sourced components, including cells, frames and glass. The principals said the partnership between solar manufacturer Solx and perovskite glass-maker Caelux will meet U.S demand for domestic content while producing more powerful modules that will compete internationally beyond the sunset of federal tax credits. Caelux, based in Baldwin Park, California, completed the transition from research to commercial production of perovskite glass last year. The company’s Active Glass product replaces conventional solar glass as the top layer of a module, generating electricity from wavelengths that would otherwise go unused. Solx will make the hybrid versions of its Aurora module at its new factory in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The cells for the new line will come from Georgia-based Suniva, the largest merchant provider of U.S.- produced silicon PV cells. Origami Solar supplies its U.S.-sourced steel frames. The Aurora hybrid modules are expected to operate with an efficiency of 28%, enabling up to 30% more power density than silicon-only modules. Solx’s new factory has a stated output capacity of 1 GW of modules annually. Early-production Solx Aurora modules incorporating Caelux’s Active Glass technology are scheduled for deployment at a U.S. project by an as yet unnamed developer. Solx says commercial volumes are expected by 2027, with a target output of more than a gigawatt per year. The Solx-Caelux deal specifies 3 GW of hybrid modules over five years. The company says it has plans to open new production facilities in the mainland U.S. If supplying domestic content requirements are a factor in the partnership, John Holmes, co-founder and CEO of Solx, told pv magazine USA that short-term market signals are not the primary driver. “We’re really thinking beyond tax credit generation,” Holmes said. “We’re built to win after the sunset of tax credits. Operating with the tech edge is really a way that we differentiate ourselves and support the long-term viability of both the Caelux and Solx businesses.” According to Holmes, key factors in the partnership’s future competitiveness are the modern automation in the Aguadilla factory to manufacture modules cost-effectively, as well as the electricity production advantage enabled by Solx Aurora paired with Caelux’s perovskite glass. Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, told pv magazine USA that producing perovskite glass on a large scale poses significant challenges, but the company has spent a lot of research and development effort overcoming those challenges. “There’s been a lot of good work that’s been done in research and development, a lot of great work that’s been done in the engineering of the product,” Graybeal said. “Now we’re building an organization that produces a product with 28% efficiency.” As with any hybrid technology, be they tandem PV modules or printer-scanners, the virtue of the integrated system is only as good as its major components. You don’t want a situation where the perovskite glass stops producing electricity before the silicon cells do. “The biggest challenge of producing perovskite at scale is its durability,” Graybeal said. “We’ve had a number of breakthroughs over the last 18 months that have enabled us to solve the durability problem to the point where we can support a module maker like Solx with technology that satisfies its requirements, specifically its own module warranty.” As pv magazine USAreported last year, Caelux has developed a four-terminal manufacturing process that sacrifices some conversion efficiency compared to other processes in exchange for improved durability. As an aside, Caelux was co-founded by Harry Atwater, a Caltech physics professor who as gone on to become a pioneer in space-based solar power. Holmes adds that Solx has a partner in Caelux that is a manufacturing company with a strong R&D organization, not a lab. “We’re partnering with a company that is already producing at meaningful scale,” he said. “Solx is truly a vector of giga-manufacturing capability at our Puerto Rico facility. What we are doing is integrating their mass-produced technology into our production process and optimizing it so that we can supply the market. We don’t view this as experimental in nature, or that Caelux technology is transitioning from a lab to a line. Caelux already operates a line at scale.” The Solx-Caelux deal comes at a busy time for U.S. solar technology companies. Suniva, supplier of Aurora’s silicon cells, recently announced that it is investing $350 million to build a new manufacturing plant in South Carolina expected to have an annual capacity of 4.5 GW when operational in 2027. Perovskite-silicon solar module maker Tandem PV recently opened a demonstration factory with a capacity of 40 MW in Freemont, California, that promises competition for the hybrid module market. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Michael Puttré Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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Q4 2025 in South Australia saw grid-connected loads with spot price exposure actually being paid to use electricity about half the time (46%) – and that electricity was overwhelmingly (80%) supplied by renewables. This demonstrates a shift from managing demand to quietly needing it. Particularly in regions like South Australia, there is growing demand for demand. Peak load vs. rooftop solar capacity Image: Synapse Technology From pv magazine Australia South Australia is about to reach parity between rooftop solar capacity and peak load – a globally unprecedented scenario. Moreover, other Australian states are on a similar trajectory, hurtling Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) towards new international territory. Australia’s rooftop solar has more than tripled in the past seven years, growing from approximately 7 GW in 2018 to 25 GW in 2025 across all NEM states. It is the single largest electricity source in Australia by installed capacity, with the nation steadily leading the world in solar per capita. Meanwhile, peak demand in the main grid has remained relatively even, bar a modest jump in Queensland. In New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, rooftop solar capacity now represents roughly 60–70% of peak load. In South Australia (SA), it is closer to ~90%. Of course, peak rooftop generation and peak demand occur at different times of the day, which is highly consequential for flexibility needs but more on that later. Nonetheless, at this scale, rooftop solar is no longer simply contributing energy – it is actively reshaping demand; dictating dispatch, pricing, and investment decisions; and creating ever-deeper ramp dynamics. The structural changes effected by rooftop solar are clear when we look at how demand has shifted throughout the day. Figure 2 charts the difference in intraday demand (average) between 2018 and 2025, showing a pattern of hollowed out demand during daylight followed by a steep swing into the evening peak across all mainland states. Midday demand has fallen by ~0.3 GW in South Australia and as much as 2 GW in NSW. This energy has not disappeared, it is still being consumed, but it is now generated behind-the-meter and therefore invisible to the market. This withdrawal does not smooth the demand curve but sharpens it. As the sun sets and rooftop output declines, demand returns, often within a compressed window (5pm – 8pm). Evening peaks have only increased by ~0.12 GW (SA) to 0.6 GW (Queensland) but, importantly, the ramp has grown by up to 2 GW, particularly in NSW and Queensland where the scale of both demand and rooftop penetration is largest. For context, this means that, on average, the ramp in Queensland is equivalent to turning on its largest coal generator (1.6 GW) from zero generation to full production during a five- to six-hour period, only to be turned down again as the sun rises. To offset this ramping rollercoaster and add flexibility, the Australian government introduced the popular Cheaper Home Batteries Program in 2025. The home battery subsidy enables households to store excess solar and meet part, or all, of their own evening demand. As covered in our previous analysis this policy is already reshaping grid dynamics. It may even shift the Australian grid (NEM) into a different operating regime in which the system no longer just manages peak demand, but balances midday surplus and progressively self-supplied peaks, pushing flexibility onto the demand-side. This creates space. There is now growing capacity in the system for new, sizable loads – particularly those that can align with periods of excess renewable generation or operate flexibly. In this context, parts of the NEM – especially South Australia – are increasingly well suited to support new demand-side investments. Not because demand is needed everywhere, but because at the right times, the system is starting to quietly need it. For a long time, the current demand profile and behaviour was viewed as a South Australian phenomenon – a function of its smaller system size and high rooftop uptake. But this is no longer the case. NSW, Victoria and Queensland are increasingly exhibiting the same characteristics of suppressed midday demand, sharper evening rebounds, and greater intraday volatility. South Australia, however, retains the clearest signal of where this trajectory leads. Rooftop solar alone contributes between 15% and 30% (and growing) of total quarterly generation in South Australia today, with spring and summer seasons (Q1 and Q4) unsurprisingly the highest. And as midday demand has decreased, the number of negative price intervals has increased – significantly. In fact, in Q4 2025, over-supply led to almost half (46%) of all dispatch intervals in the state returning negative prices, a NEM quarterly record. While rooftop solar is a key contributor to these negative price trends, South Australia also has the highest grid-scale renewable, predominantly wind, penetration (energy mix %) of all NEM mainland states. So much so that the same Q4 saw grid-scale renewables meet 80% of operational demand in the state. In other words, in Q4 2025 NEM-connected loads (with spot price exposure) not only got paid to use electricity about half the time, but the electricity they used was overwhelmingly supplied by renewables. Historically, the central grid challenge has been ensuring enough generation to meet peak demand. That challenge remains, but it is now accompanied by another: managing periods where there is too much generation relative to demand. This is not to imply demand itself is declining. Underlying consumption across the NEM has remained relatively stable, with some growth in regions driven by population increases and early electrification trends. What has changed is the visibility and timing of that demand to the NEM. Rooftop solar effectively removes a portion of load during daylight hours. With the rapid uptake of household batteries, it remains to be seen when – or if – that load reappears in the evenings. In short, there is a growing demand for demand itself.
This is especially so with South Australia just last week opening 11,000 km2 in Whyalla West and Gawler Ranges East to new renewable proposals as it strives towards its target of sourcing 100% net electricity from renewable generation by 2027. This further opens the field for new loads – and it is encouraging to see South Australia’s transmission planner, Electranet, preparing for such a future. It is planning for peak demand in South Australia to double over the next 15 years, with CEO Simon Emms saying it has already seen significant growth in industries including data centres, magnetite mining (a feedstock for green steel) and copper mining in the region. “If electricity is a proxy for economic growth, increased electricity consumption means we’ve got a really exciting future ahead for the state,” Emms said. Certainly, the state is making itself attractive for demand-side investment. Such an approach may become increasingly necessary for grids with high solar penetrations. Author: Lumi Adisa, Managing Partner, Synapse Technologies The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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VPP experts share insight on how to design a program to benefit all, regardless of income. Image: Clean Energy States Alliance Virtual power plants (VPPs) ae advantageous to all ratepayers, but especially to low- to middle-income households who stand to benefit from dependable energy, lower electric bills and a healthier environment. VPPs are aggregations of small-scale distributed energy resources including solar energy systems, electric vehicles (EVs), EV chargers and demand response devices such as water heaters, thermostats, appliances and more. A recent webinar moderated by Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). The Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) VPP Acceleration Initiative conducted a webinar that explored the reciprocal relationship between VPPs and energy justice . Participating in VPPs may be out of reach of lower-income ratepayers because of the costs of purchasing energy-saving components. However, many states such as Vermont, have programs that offer batteries at low or no cost Lisa Morris, energy services planner at Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), described the utility’s recent Vermont Income Qualified Residential Battery Storage Program, which aims to help low-income customers as part of a VPP program. The Vermont program has funded the installation of 45 Tesla Powerwalls for low- to moderate-income members, and those members agree to allow VEC to use their home battery as part of its VPP program. VEC basically accesses the storage in the batteries a limited number of times a year when it is anticipating peak demand. Morris emphasized that both parties benefit: the members receive battery backup when they need it and VEC gets about 450 kW of peak shaving capacity. She said key to the energy justice aspect of the program is the targeted outreach to lower income members as well as those on a medical alert list or those in areas with less reliable service. Adam Warren, former Director of the Accelerated Deployment and Decision Support Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said in the webinar that it’s important that VPPs not create “a new energy elite,” and the importance of informed consent. He noted that “energy poor” households often have less ability to absorb bill volatility, so it’s important that VPPs are designed with transparency. Warren presented five design principles that ensure that VPPs help accelerate the energy transition while addressing energy justice. Another reciprocal benefit to VPPs is that, not only do they offer battery backup to ratepayers and help utilities and electric co-ops manage peak energy use periods, but they can also reduce use of peaker plants; thus, improving the health of the communities they serve. Once programs are implemented that serve lower income populations, equity outcomes must be measured, Warren said. Enrollment and retention must be tracked, along with bill impacts and “comfort outcomes” across demographic groups. Comfort outcomes can include keeping the heat on during ice storms, the power on for needed medical devices, water pumps operating for cooking and sanitization and air conditioning during hot spells. Read more about the 50 states report here. In the CESA webinar, Warren mentioned other states with successful programs with energy justice components. Puerto Rico’s battery energy demand response, for example, is meeting the needs of lower-income residents by keeping the lights on during storms. According to 50 States of Virtual Power Plants and Supporting Distributed Energy Resources: 2025 State Policy Snapshot,35 states and the District of Columbia advanced VPP and distributed energy resource (DER) aggregation policies in 2025. The report cites regulatory and utility actions taken over the last year that established formal VPP programs, demand response initiatives and active managed charging for EVs. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2023 “liftoff” study found that scaling VPPs three to five times by 2030 to reach 80 to 100 GW of enrolled capacity could serve 10% to 20% of peak load and save power systems $10 billion per year. Jigar Shah, former director of the DOE’s Loan Programs office, said in a recent report that scaling VPPs is the quickest way for state leaders to stabilize electric rates. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Anne Fischer Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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An existing solar farm in Louisiana. An existing solar farm in Louisiana. The Louisiana Public Service Commission greenlit plans last week for a near-$300 million solar farm that would be owned and operated by Entergy in Iberville Parish. The site, named Cypress Harvest Solar, would sit on roughly 1600 acres of former sugarcane fields about 5 miles southwest of Plaquemine, between Milly Plantation and Derick Road, near Belleview Drive. It has the capacity to generate 200 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power about 30,000 Louisiana homes a year. That electricity would be spread out across Entergy ratepayers statewide, and is part of the company’s goal to improve grid resiliency and diversify into renewable energy. “Solar is one of the largest ways that Entergy is making clean energy accessible in our region,” Entergy representative Kristin Zatta told Iberville’s Parish Council during a meeting on Tuesday. The project comes on the heels of another major energy infrastructure investment in the area. Magnolia Power Station, a $750 million power plant in Iberville, came online in February. “All this is going to allow the region to continue to have investment,” said Parish President Chris Daigle. If additional permitting, contracting and engineering procedures go according to plan, Entergy says it will break ground on the Cypress Harvest site in September of 2026, and plans to have it fully operational by September 2028. It would be the first and only solar farm in the parish. The project will cost around $297 million, bring 201 jobs at the peak of construction, and four full-time jobs, according to Entergy. It is also estimated to bring in $7.8 million in sales tax revenue during construction and $2.9 million in annual property tax revenue. Natural gas currently powers about 73% of Louisiana, according to District 3 Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis. Although the 200 megawatt facility won’t exactly move the needle for Louisiana’s energy portfolio, he said it is still a significant upgrade to the grid. “It’s moving Louisiana forward in its diversification,” he said. “Bringing energy that could help us in times of natural disaster or peak demand.” Just last year, plans for a 2,000 acre solar farm in White Castle were nixed after facing fierce opposition from local residents over fears the solar panels would undermine property values and tarnish the rural appeal of the community. Florida-based NextEra Energy was behind the development of that project, and Entergy was expected to sign a 20-year contract to purchase power generated by the farm. Another solar farm in neighboring West Baton Rouge faced similar pushback years earlier. District 12 Council member Matthew Jewell said the Cypress Harvest Solar project is different because the site is not easily visible from any major roads or communities. Because Entergy would own and operate the solar farm, he’s also confident representatives will be able to relay local concerns more easily. “It’s a better fit for Iberville Parish,” he said. “It’s off the road a bit, and it’s not gonna affect the people in that area. We also felt like we could get a hold of Entergy much better than a third-party company.” Jewell added the land Entergy purchased was owned by a pair of aging families — EJ Gay Planting and A. Wilbert’s Sons — who had farmed the acreage themselves, and did not lease to tenants. “No leases were being terminated, no one was losing their jobs,” Zatta added. Entergy’s lease from the private landowners has terms for up to 40 years. There is already a high-voltage substation on the property, and Entergy plans to build a battery storage system there. “All Entergy Louisiana customers are going to benefit from this type of generation. It’s not something that can be directly benefited from those residents right there,” said Zatta. Project Manager David Wilcox said construction will mostly be funded through contracts with larger industrial or commercial customers, who agree to purchase the power generated in exchange for the ability to claim credit for renewable power use. Those contracts theoretically help defray the cost of construction being passed onto ratepayers, Wilcox said, though by how much is unclear. Jewell thinks customers might see a few extra cents on their energy bills in the near future. “If I had to bet my right arm, they are going to add something to that bill,” he said. Entergy will hold a public meeting to educate and receive feedback from Iberville residents about the project on Tuesday, April 28 at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center in Plaquemine from 5 to 6:30 p.m. News Tips: newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions: subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Need help? Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
A decision to refuse plans for a new countryside solar farm has been overturned by the Planning Inspectorate. Durham County Council (DCC) turned down the application for land near Burnhope, County Durham, after hundreds of objections and a High Court appeal in July last year. Councillors voted against the plan by Lightsource bp for the 92-hectare (227-acre) site, due to the size and scale of the proposed solar farm and the loss of landscape. Overruling that vote, the inspectorate said the need to tackle climate change and achieve Net Zero targets outweighed the concerns. The plans were initially approved by DCC in 2023, but a campaign group won a judicial review of the decision, which was quashed by a high court judge. Lightsource bp resubmitted its application in 2024 and said it had improved landscaping to minimise visual impacts, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Up to 14 fields near Burnhope would be overlaid with panels, including areas near a nature reserve, the plans said. Lightsource bp said the project would provide £500,000 in community benefits and millions in business rates. The inspectorate report said: "The adverse landscape impacts identified would be temporary, reversible and highly localised. "There would be major adverse landscape character changes within the site boundary, which would endure for the life of the development. "However, given the high degree of physical containment this site displays, harm to landscape character beyond the site would be limited." Villagers previously warned the development would harm the future of Burnhope. The inspectorate said it understood residents' frustrations and despite concerns being "eloquently and passionately expressed", it said it had to operate objectively. The report said: "The imperative to tackle climate change, achieve net zero targets and contribute to energy security as recognised in legislation and energy policy, and the other benefits of the scheme clearly outweigh those harms." Follow BBC Tees on X,Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Police say Sweet Trap, in Shotton Colliery, became a "focal point" for large groups of youths. Hamsterley residents believe Durham County Council does not consider fixing the road "a priority". Internal works at The Light in Durham can now begin ahead of its reopening in the summer. Durham County Council is due to review the licence of the Sweet Trap, after it was shut by police. Tourism bosses are told more needs to be done to promote the "beautiful county" so visitors will stay longer. Copyright 2026 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
The Dominican Republic is preparing a new series of tenders for operating solar photovoltaic parks and new developments with energy storage, in a package of opportunities that could exceed 800 MWh of additional capacity in the short term. Edward Veras, Executive Director of the National Energy Commission (CNE), and Andrés Astacio, Superintendent of Electricity, detailed the scope of upcoming tenders and regulatory definitions during an exclusive networking breakfast at Future Energy Summit (FES) Caribbean. “Following the success of the 600 MW tender, the Unified Council of Distribution Companies (CUED) will launch a tender for arbitrage involving existing solar projects as a way to foster greater competition,” Veras said. “What does this represent for the sector? From the perspective of arbitrage for existing contracts alone, it will surpass the installation of 800 MWh. And if we put figures to what we are seeing from transmission for system security, we are talking about around 1,200 MWh,” Astacio added, revealing further details of the call. The definition also reinforces a signal previously given by Deputy Minister Ricardo Guerrero during the opening of FES Caribe, when he indicated the Government was working on a new process to add battery energy storage systems (BESS) to existing projects. Officials from the National Energy Commission and the Superintendency of Electricity also agreed that upcoming renewable energy projects will be hybrid developments with storage, or alternatively stand-alone BESS, with regulators continuing to “generate incentives to mobilise the market”. “What lies ahead is an aggressive policy to create incentives for installing storage infrastructure that will allow continued development of the energy system,” Andrés Astacio stated. As a reference for scale, Veras added that 238 MW of four-hour storage is already in the pipeline and projected that by 2027 the country could have between 300 and 400 MW of operational BESS, a figure that could rise further if both the new arbitrage tender and transmission investments advance. Meanwhile, in the short term, the main regulatory milestone will be the approval of regulations for electrical works and battery installations (currently under public consultation), which is expected “within the next 30 days”. It is worth recalling that these technical criteria are essentially the same as those required from participants in the recent 600 MW tender. As background, the International Public Tender EDES-LP-NGR-01-2025 with BESS reportedly left eight projects preliminarily awarded for 605.1 MW, among bids exceeding 1,500 MWp and nearly 1,300 MWh, with average prices around USD 0.108/kWh. The possible expansion beyond the initial threshold explains why the process has yet to be formalised. Regarding that process, the Superintendent said that “the efficiency achieved through investor appetite has exceeded expectations”, while Veras left open the possibility of announcements linked both to contracts arising from that call and private storage investments for transmission before the end of the half-year. But authorities made clear that expansion does not depend solely on new tenders, but also on resolving structural constraints in the system. At this point, Veras introduced one of the most sensitive topics of the meeting: bottlenecks. “The electricity system is a funnel; we are a small system,” Veras warned, explaining that expansion is already reaching limits in certain parts of the grid. As an example, he noted that the north-west transmission line is operating at 100% capacity, which is why the CNE is analysing a reconfiguration of the expansion plan, prioritising projects below 20 MW, which currently would have greater integration prospects. by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading The mechanism incorporates four products, refines guarantees and for the first time creates dedicated space for storage and hybrid projects, while the award process scheduled for July reactivates renewable contracting in the country. by Emilia Lardizabal Keep reading The Government of Mexico has issued three regulatory instruments that reshape power generation, energy storage and the migration of electricity contracts. The new provisions establish criteria for cogeneration based on thermal demand, enable the integration and participation of energy storage systems with dedicated services to the power grid, and define a voluntary scheme for migrating permits into the new market under contracts with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the state-owned utility. by Emilia Lardizabal Keep reading New grid access capacity maps published by Spain’s CNMC reveal mounting constraints in both demand and generation connections. While the tool improves transparency, industry experts warn the congestion reflects stalled projects and structural bottlenecks that are already shaping investment decisions and threatening the pace of renewable energy deployment. by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading The mechanism incorporates four products, refines guarantees and for the first time creates dedicated space for storage and hybrid projects, while the award process scheduled for July reactivates renewable contracting in the country. by Emilia Lardizabal Keep reading The Government of Mexico has issued three regulatory instruments that reshape power generation, energy storage and the migration of electricity contracts. The new provisions establish criteria for cogeneration based on thermal demand, enable the integration and participation of energy storage systems with dedicated services to the power grid, and define a voluntary scheme for migrating permits into the new market under contracts with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the state-owned utility. by Emilia Lardizabal Keep reading New grid access capacity maps published by Spain’s CNMC reveal mounting constraints in both demand and generation connections. While the tool improves transparency, industry experts warn the congestion reflects stalled projects and structural bottlenecks that are already shaping investment decisions and threatening the pace of renewable energy deployment. A leading media group in digital marketing, strategic communication, and consultancy specialized in renewable energy and zero-emission mobility, with a presence in Latin America and Europe. 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Business Business FILE PHOTO: Workers clean photovoltaic panels inside a solar power plant in Gujarat, India, July 2, 2015. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo April 23 : The U.S. Commerce Department on Thursday announced preliminary antidumping duties on solar cells and panels imported from India, Indonesia and Laos, the latest in a string of tariffs imposed over a decade on cheap solar imports from Asia. According to a fact sheet posted on the Commerce Department’s website, the agency calculated preliminary duty rates, known as dumping margins, of 123.04 per cent for imports from India, 35.17 per cent for imports from Indonesia, and 22.46 per cent for imports from Laos.
U.S. scientists have developed a method to forecast solar irradiance at any location using a single high-resolution hemispherical image captured on-site. By extracting sky, sun, and surrounding scene information from visual cues, the approach enables accurate long-term energy prediction without relying on detailed 3D city models. Image: Nayar Lab/Columbia Engineering From pv magazine Global Researchers at Columbia University in the United States have create a new technique to measure solar irradiance at any location by using a single equirectangular image. The method uses a single hemispherical image taken at the panel location to infer scene geometry, sky visibility, and illumination conditions, which are then used to forecast future solar irradiance over time. “Our method can be used in two settings,” corresponding author Shree K.Nayar told pv magazine. “First, prior to installing a panel at a specific location on a rooftop or a vertical wall, the method can be used to determine the annual energy the panel would produce. Second, in the case of a panel that is pole-mounted in an urban canyon, we can determine what the best orientation of the panel would be.” Nayar explained that the only other way to obtain energy forecasts for solar panels is by using 3D city models. In this case, graphics simulations are used to estimate the energy received by a panel. “Unfortunately, these 3D models are simply not accurate enough to provide precise energy estimates,” he went on to say. “This is because the reflections and shadows cast on a panel are not just affected by large buildings but also small objects such as signs, HVAC vents, parapets, and window sills, which are often missing in 3D scans of cities. A small vent close to a panel could have the same effect as a large building across the street. The novel approach uses a 360° high resolution, high dynamic range image captured on-site, which reportedly enables to capture details of the surrounding structures, small and big, while also providing useful cues related to the reflectances of the structures around the panel. Since inertial sensors (IMUs) are unreliable in urban environments due to magnetic disturbances, this method instead relies on visual cues. These are observable features in an image—such as shadows, edges, textures, lighting patterns, and structural lines—that provide information about a scene’s geometry, orientation, and illumination. The proposed technique relies on a neural network that is trained to predict both sun and gravity directions from the image. Training is performed on large-scale synthetic hemispherical images and fine-tuned on real urban datasets. Once sun and gravity vectors are estimated in camera space, they are matched to their Earth-frame counterparts computed from time, date, and GPS. The method forecasts solar panel irradiance by modeling both sky and scene illumination over time. This allows prediction of how sky contribution changes with future sun positions and weather conditions. The sun’s contribution is computed geometrically based on whether it falls within the visible sky aperture. In parallel, irradiance from surrounding buildings is modeled separately, leveraging the insight that scene illumination varies smoothly and is scale-invariant. Finally, the total irradiance is obtained by summing sun, sky, and scene components across time. “One of the interesting aspects of our algorithm for estimating the irradiance incident on a panel is that it not only computes the contribution of the sky, but also the contribution of the structures around the panel,” Nayar emphasized. “We refer to the latter as the scene irradiance component and have found that, on average, it represents about 12% of the energy received by the panel.” The method was validated in four urban environments using a single hemispherical image per site and ground-truth measurements from a pyranometer. Across rooftops and deep urban canyons, the model was found to “accurately” track daily irradiance under clear, partly cloudy, and overcast conditions. It “correctly” captured sharp changes caused by the sun entering or leaving the sky aperture, especially when the sky is unobstructed, with errors remaining low overall, though they increase slightly in more complex lighting conditions. “This technology is inexpensive and portable, making it usable by both homeowners as well as large companies during the planning stage of a solar project to maximize the return on their investment,” Nayar said. “Right now, that process is slow, expensive, and approximate at best.” “Our approach can also be used to assess panels mounted on vertical walls. Facades of tall buildings represent a major opportunity as they have far larger surface areas than rooftops. The sides of tall buildings often receive more direct sunlight than the roof,” he concluded. The new methodology was presented in “Forecasting solar energy using a single image,” published in Solar Energy. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Emiliano Bellini Sounds just like the Solar Pathfinder that has been around for some 20 years. Just a different way of doing the same thing. Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox.
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Tackle the city, with our help. Manage your settings. Tackle the city, with our help. Manage your settings. The Mamdani administration is celebrating a sweeping effort to install solar panels across New York City’s public school system on Thursday with the completion of the city’s 130th installation at Marie Curie High School in the Bronx. The project builds on the city’s ongoing NYC Solar Schools Program, which to date has helped generate 27.5 megawatts of renewable energy capacity atop the city’s educational institutions, but Mamdani said it’s not done yet. “Expanding clean energy is about building a city where every New Yorker can actually live, breathe, and thrive,” Mamdani told amNewYork in a statement. “Across our neighborhoods, we’re pushing for creative, community-driven ways to cut emissions while bringing down the cost of energy. With 130 solar installations already completed and many more on the way, the NYC Solar Schools Program shows what’s possible when we commit, unapologetically, to a just and sustainable future for all of us.” At an April 23 ribbon-cutting ceremony on the roof of the high school, officials announced that 86 more public school solar panel projects are in the pipeline to be completed over the next few years, adding another 17.2 megawatts of solar power capacity to the city’s portfolio. “As we power ahead with these efforts alongside climate education, we’re empowering our young learners to see themselves as responsible stewards of their generation while equipping our schools with the tools to lead the way,” Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. “Today, we’re not only reducing our environmental impact but driving lasting change.” The huge undertaking to transform the city’s schools into hubs of clean energy stemmed from a partnership between NYC Public Schools and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), which is tasked with leading the city’s charge to reduce its carbon footprint. The New York Power Authority also collaborated on some 40 of the completed projects and promises more. DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei, called the milestone a “major step forward” toward meeting the city’s ambitious climate goals. “Expanding solar across our public schools is an impactful way to reduce emissions and a direct investment into our communities,” said Kitasei. Once they’re up and running, the solar panels will help advance the city’s 2024 mandate to generate 100 megawatts of solar energy on city-owned property by 2030 and 150 megawatts by 2035. The public school system represents a massive portion, around 80% of the city’s solar energy, according to NYC Public Schools. But not all aspects of New York’s sustainability goals are going as well. At the state level, Governor Hochul last month pushed to stall the 2019 Climate Law that mandated the state reduce its carbon emissions by 70% from 1990s levels. Hochul argued that due to geopolitical realities and a White House that is “hostile” to green initiatives, the cost of achieving the law’s emission goals would be detrimental to everyday New Yorkers. Regardless of decisions coming out of Albany, the city and the state were not on track to meet their 2030 emissions-reduction targets anyway. Reports and analyses from the comptroller’s office, along with warnings of rising energy demand from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), a grid-monitoring not-for-profit, indicated that the state’s environmentally conscious efforts have been set back in a big way. But the city is still making progress, and the Solar Schools Program, the largest of its kind in the U.S. is aimed at informing and mobilizing young New Yorkers to think of sustainability, not as a goal, but as an imperative. The program emphasizes climate education and generates interest in green jobs and careers focused on climate justice. Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson said that the investment will have ripple effects beyond the classroom and the public school system. “The ‘Solar in Schools’ program helps put every inch of our city to work in advancing our green future,” Kerson said. “This is a major milestone toward modernizing our energy sources and investing in our public schools, and we’re only just getting started. We are committed to improving the everyday lives of New Yorkers, from our city streets to the very air we breathe.” Sadie Brown is a general assignment reporter at amNY, joining the newsroom after covering the city’s northernmost borough for the Bronx Times starting in 2024. She graduated from the CUNY Craig Newmark School of Journalism in 2022. After a stint in international—then national news—Sadie found her calling in local journalism. Originally from Texas, she’s a proud barbecue snob and Topo Chico evangelist. Post an Event View All Events… Find a pro
Scientists at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have created a film-based system that applies color patterns and cutouts to PV modules using the institute’s MorphoColor technology, enabling modules to imitate roof tiles, masonry, and facades with around 5% efficiency loss. Image: Marco Ernst, Fraunhofer ISE Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a technique for applying colored films with transparent cutouts to solar modules, enabling complex visual patterns while retaining approximately 95% of the power output of an uncoated module. The ShadeCut technology uses laser or CAD-controlled processes to cut patterns into films carrying MorphoColor coating – a structural color system developed at Fraunhofer ISE that produces color through low-loss optical interference rather than pigmentation, inspired by the microstructure of Morpho butterfly wings. The coating is applied to the back of the module’s cover glass via vacuum process, or to flexible encapsulation film or backsheet. “Through targeted structuring and cutouts on a color-producing film, we can integrate color effects and complex patterns directly into solar modules and facade elements,” said Marco Ernst, developer of ShadeCut and a researcher at Fraunhofer ISE. Additional film layers can be added to create further structural complexity or additional colors. The technology is applicable to standard PV and solar thermal modules. Dr. Martin Heinrich, group leader for encapsulation and integration at Fraunhofer ISE, said the system is particularly suited to building-integrated PV applications including facades, roof-integrated modules, and railings, including on historic buildings. “Modules with ShadeCut can look like masonry or roof tiles and blend in perfectly in terms of color,” he said. Independent measurements confirm the 95% power retention figure. Fraunhofer ISE will present modules equipped with ShadeCut film patterns in June 2026 at The Smarter E/Intersolar 2026, booth A1.440. In February, Fraunhofer ISE announced efficiency records for III-V tandem modules, including a 34.2% efficiency III-V germanium PV module. In January, the institute said solar module efficiency could exceed 35% by 2050 through tandem PV structures. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Brian Publicover Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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The system integrates a battery, hybrid inverter, and home energy management system into a single device. It supports the integration of additional appliances, including heat pumps via SG-Ready interfaces. A connection to Tesla’s proprietary wallbox is also planned. Image: Tesla Tesla is expanding its offering in the residential energy storage market with a new three-phase system. The Powerwall 3P system is now available and integrates a battery, hybrid inverter, and home energy management system in a single unit. The new product has a storage capacity of 13.4 kWh and delivers up to 15.4 kW of AC power, with peak output reaching 21 kW for one second. This makes it suitable for more demanding household applications, such as heat pumps or EV charging, the company said. Four MPPT trackers are integrated for connecting photovoltaic systems, enabling flexible system design for complex roof layouts. The connected PV array can reach a maximum capacity of 20.3 kW. Input voltage ranges from 60 V to 1,000 V, with a maximum input current of 16 A per MPPT and a short-circuit current of 21 A. Battery capacity can be expanded with additional units. According to the manufacturer, up to four systems can be combined to provide 61.6 kW of output and 94.5 kWh of storage, making the solution suitable for small commercial applications. The enclosure is rated IP67 for outdoor installation. A die-cast aluminum housing also functions as a heat sink, and integrated cell heaters enable operation in low-temperature environments. A home energy management system is included and does not require a subscription. The system uses local processing, with optimization functions running on the device rather than in the cloud. According to the manufacturer, it incorporates electricity price signals, weather data for PV yield forecasting, and user consumption patterns to optimize self-consumption. Artificial intelligence is also used in this process, with access to external data sources for weather and pricing. The system is designed to maintain operation during power outages, even without an internet connection. It provides full three-phase backup power and can compensate for unbalanced loads in backup mode. It supports integration of additional loads, including heat pumps via SG-Ready interfaces. Compatibility with Tesla’s wallbox is planned. Installation is limited to certified partners. The system is delivered pre-assembled and pre-wired. The 138 kg unit is wall-mounted, and Tesla offers a dedicated transport dolly as an installation aid, which must be purchased separately. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. More articles from Marian Willuhn Please be mindful of our community standards. Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
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Home – Energy – Solar energy breaks through a barrier that seemed impossible and opens the door to panels much more powerful than expected Solar panels keep getting cheaper and more common, but even great hardware still leaves a lot of sunlight unused. What if a cell could squeeze more charge out of the same photons, the tiny packets of light hitting your roof? On March 25, 2026, researchers from Kyushu University in Japan and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany reported a lab result that pulls more energy carriers out of light than the number of photons absorbed. Their setup reached about 130% quantum yield, meaning roughly one point three usable excited states were captured for every photon taken in. Associate Professor Yoichi Sasaki said, “We therefore needed an energy acceptor that selectively captures the multiplied triplet excitons after fission,” describing the bottleneck that has slowed this field for years. The collaboration began when exchange student Adrian Sauer brought in materials long studied in his home lab, a reminder that science can move forward through unexpected connections. A classic solar cell is built around a single junction inside a semiconductor, which is the part that separates charges so electricity can flow. In 1961, William Shockley and Hans Queisser laid out a theoretical ceiling for that kind of design, showing how fundamental losses keep an ideal single junction from turning all sunlight into power. Under their assumptions, the best possible efficiency worked out to about 30%, even before you add real-world imperfections. The reason is simple once you picture sunlight as a mix of energy packets. Low-energy infrared photons usually cannot push an electron into motion, while higher-energy photons shed their extra energy as heat after the useful part is taken. That waste helps explain why a roof needs a lot of panel area to make a serious dent in an electric bill. When light lands on certain materials, it can create an exciton, a temporary bundle of energy shared by an electron and the “hole” it leaves behind. In singlet fission, one high-energy exciton splits into two lower-energy triplet excitons, which can potentially become two charge carriers. If both carriers are collected, one photon can do more than one unit of electrical work. This idea is not brand new, and earlier devices have already hinted at what is possible. A 2013 report showed external quantum efficiency above 100%, meaning the device produced more than one charge carrier for some photons that hit it, and later work paired singlet fission layers with silicon in tandem setups that also crossed 100% at specific colors of light. The hard part is that triplet excitons can be slippery. They often do not emit light easily, and they can vanish before a device can guide their energy into an electrical circuit. In many experiments, the energy takes a shortcut that ruins the payoff. Instead of splitting cleanly and being harvested, excitation can hop between molecules in a competing pathway, cutting multiplication short. Chemists call this shortcut Förster resonance energy transfer, or FRET, which is a non-radiative handoff of excitation between nearby molecules. It can happen without emitting light, so it quietly drains energy away from the process you actually want. The new work centers on a metal complex, a molecule built around a metal atom that can be tuned like a custom tool. In this case, molybdenum helps create a “spin-flip” emitter that can absorb and emit near-infrared light, the kind just beyond red that our eyes cannot see, after an electron flips a quantum property called spin. In plain language, it is designed to accept energy stored in triplet states that other materials struggle to use. By matching energy levels across the system, the researchers steered energy toward triplet capture instead of the unwanted handoff that steals it. That tuning is what let the multiplied excitons move into a usable excited state, rather than fading away as wasted heat. The tests were done with tetracene-based materials dissolved in a liquid, which makes it easier to mix molecules and watch energy move between them. It is a controlled environment, more like a chemistry beaker than a rooftop panel. A number above 100% can sound like a free lunch. It is not, and the key is that quantum yield counts events, not total watts. Here, about 130% quantum yield means the system ended up exciting about one point three of the molybdenum complexes per photon absorbed. Energy is still conserved because one higher-energy photon can be converted into two lower-energy excitations, so you are splitting one packet into two. Think of it like breaking a bigger bill into two smaller ones. The theoretical ceiling for this style of multiplication can reach 200%, but real devices will be limited by imperfect transfer and material losses. The result is still early-stage, and the team describes it as a proof of concept rather than a finished solar cell. Right now the measurements come from solution experiments, and the next step is solid-state versions where the materials sit together in stable layers. That shift matters because real devices must survive years of sun, heat, and weather without falling apart. For now, no one should expect 130% efficient panels at the store. But the work is a reminder that solar progress is not only about better manufacturing – it is also about rewriting how light energy is handled. If that eventually translates to more watts per square foot, your electric bill could feel it. The main study has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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MANILA, Philippines — FDC Utilities Inc. (FDCUI), the utility arm of the Gotianun family, has received the green light to start selling electricity from its 20.7-megawatt-peak solar power plant in Misamis Oriental. The Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a certificate of compliance for the ground-mounted solar facility, confirming its readiness to operate and supply power to the Mindanao grid. “The ongoing energy crisis has underscored the need for reliable and sustainable power solutions,” said Juan Eugenio Roxas, president and CEO of FDCUI and subsidiaries. Developed by FDCUI unit FDC Green, the project is projected to generate around 30.2 million kilowatt-hours of clean power annually. This comes at a crucial time as the Philippines faces an energy emergency triggered by ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have once again heightened pressure on the power supply. “In an environment where global fuel markets are increasingly unpredictable, projects like this highlight the importance of investing in indigenous and renewable energy sources,” Roxas said. The Misamis project is a strategic investment aligned with the Filinvest Group’s target of tripling its power generating capacity by 2033, with renewables at the forefront of the expansion. Currently, FDCUI’s capacity stands at over 400 megawatts. Upon its commercial operation, the solar facility is poised to boost the stability and reliability of the Mindanao grid. Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now! Signup for the News Round now
DAEGU, South Korea, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Amid growing demand in Korea for efficient, reliable, and advanced cell technologies, Tongwei Solar appeared at Green Energy Expo 2026. On April 23, the company held an on-site presentation on advanced cell technologies, highlighting its TNC series high-efficiency cells and the latest progress of the TNC 3.0 multi-cut cell in product performance, technology advancement, and value delivery. Tongwei Solar Highlights Advanced Cell Technologies and TNC Product Value at Green Energy Expo 2026 in Korea Responding to the Korean market’s focus on high-efficiency generation, stable mass production, and application value, Tongwei Solar delivered an "Advanced Cell Technology Overview" presentation at the exhibition venue, sharing the technology pathway, product capabilities, and application potential of its TNC series high-efficiency cells. As a key focus of the exchange, Tongwei Solar introduced the product evolution of its TNC 3.0 multi-cut cell. Integrating TPE, multi-cut, and Poly Tech technologies, and moving relevant optimization steps forward to the cell side, the product further reduces loss and enhances performance to support downstream value delivery. Through this coordinated approach, the TNC 3.0 multi-cut cell delivers module power gain of 10W+, bifaciality boost of 5%, and conversion efficiency of over 26.3%, creating greater value for high-efficiency modules. Tongwei Solar, a core subsidiary of Tongwei Co., Ltd., focuses on the R&D and manufacturing of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells. The company has over 150GW of cell production capacity, more than 400GW in cumulative shipments, and has ranked No. 1 globally in cell shipments for nine consecutive years, according to InfoLink Consulting. Backed by the Tongwei Global Innovation R&D Center, Tongwei continues to advance solar cell technology and drive PV innovation. In September 2025, Tongwei Solar’s Meishan company was recognized as the world’s first Lighthouse Factory in the photovoltaic cell industry. Supported by lighthouse-level intelligent manufacturing, cell-level traceability, and full-process quality control, Tongwei Solar continues to strengthen product stability and reliability while providing rapid response, technical exchange, and application support to overseas customers. With strengths in products, R&D, manufacturing, and quality, Tongwei Solar is bringing the Korean and global markets a more efficient, reliable, and long-term solar choice. For more information, please visit: https://en.tongwei.cn/ Tanker with 2 million barrels of crude clears Strait of Hormuz on way to Taiwan Taiwan's Eva Air considers new destinations as aircraft fleet expands Taiwan documentary 'Invisible Nation' to air on PBS Taiwan says China flouted rules-based order after Eswatini trip postponed TPP says China's interference 'tramples on Taiwan sovereignty' Taiwan actor Darren Wang gets 6 months for illegally accessing personal data Journalist warns democracies not doing enough to protect Taiwan's sovereignty Taiwan export orders beat forecasts on strong AI demand Legislative Yuan committee condemns Chinese interference in Lai Eswatini trip Taiwan approves 7 investment cases
From daily news and career tips to monthly insights on AI, sustainability, software, and more—pick what matters and get it in your inbox. Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience. All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc. Follow Us On Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience. All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc. The modules will be showcased at Intersolar 2026 in Munich. German researchers have developed a technique for applying realistic designs to photovoltaic (PV) modules that allow them to imitate roof tiles, and blend more seamlessly into buildings. The new method, called ShadeCut, was invented by a research team at Freiburg’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), one of the largest solar energy research institutes in the world. It enables complex visual patterns while also retaining approximately 95 percent of the power output of an uncoated module. The novel approach builds on the institute’s MorphoColor technology, a bio-inspired coating for solar panels. It produces color through microscopic structures rather than traditional pigments, and uses specially colored films with transparent cutouts to build designs that can resemble roof tiles, masonry or even custom graphics. “The technology is particularly interesting for modules intended for integration into facades, roof-integrated PV, or even railings, especially on historic buildings,” Martin Heinrich, PhD, a researcher at Fraunhofer ISE, as well as group leader for encapsulation and integration of photovoltaics, said. Driven by the iridescent wings of the Morpho butterfly, the MorphoColor method uses 3D photonic structures that manipulate light to generate vivid, angle-stable colors with minimal energy loss. Marco Ernst, PhD, a researcher at Fraunhofer ISE and developer of the ShadeCut concept, emphasized that by structuring and cutting a color-producing film, the team can embed color effects and complex patterns directly into solar modules and facades. “Additionally, there is the option to add further layers with cutouts to create structures or additional colors,” Ernst continued. Following this biological model, scientists at the institute have also succeeded in applying a similar surface structure to the back of the cover glass of photovoltaic modules using a vacuum process. Elaborating on the technology, Heinrich noted that ShadeCut uses laser or CAD-controlled processes to cut patterns into films carrying MorphoColor coating Heinrich explained that ShadeCut modules can mimic masonry or roof tiles and match surrounding colors seamlessly. “It also allows for the customization of PV systems, for example with logo lettering or patterns,” he added. According to the team, the MorphoColor technology has surpassed its biological model in performance. Independent tests have shown that such coatings retain about 95 percent uncoated panels’ power. This makes the technology superior to comparable solutions on the market. It moreover makes it attractive for applications where aesthetics have traditionally limited the adoption of solar panels. The scientists can apply the films to standard photovoltaics and solar thermal modules. “Depending on the microstructure, cover glasses can thus be produced in various colors,” the researchers revealed in a press release. Such adaptability could help expand the role of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), where solar panels are used directly into the structure of a building rather than just mounted on top. In addition, traditional black or blue panels often face resistance in historic areas or design-conscious projects. Color-matched or patterned modules could make solar installations more acceptable, and even desirable. The ShadeCut modules will be showcased at The Smarter E / Intersolar Europe 2026 in Munich, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry. It will be held between June 23 and 25. Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine. Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits. Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits. Premium Follow
Solar project developer-operator Headwater Energy today announced it has completed the acquisition of Arena Renewables, a distributed generation solar and battery energy storage system developer. Arena’s leadership team will continue to operate the business, supported by Headwater’s capital resources and institutional infrastructure. “Arena has built an exceptional platform: disciplined development, a talented team, and a…
April 23, 2026 By EB Staff The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has awarded two 20-year co-ownership contracts to global renewable energy developer and operator Neoen, in partnership with local First Nations communities, for two solar farm projects in Northern Ontario. Neoen’s first partnership is with Garden River First Nation, with the co-owned solar farm be located east of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Upon completion, it is set to be the largest solar farm in Ontario at 253 MWp. The second contract will see Neoen partner with the Matachewan First Nation for a 65 MWp solar farm project located in Northeastern Ontario’s District of Temiskaming. Both Neoen and each First Nation partner will share a 50 per cent equity partnership through these co-ownership agreements, with both including a 20-year solar contract awarded to Neoen and the respective First Nations stakeholder by the IESO through its Long-Term 2 Energy Supply procurement process. The Garden River First Nation project is expected to begin construction in 2028, with a target in-service date of 2030. When operational, it will provide 380,000 MWh of annual emissions-free energy to the provincial power grid. The farm will be located 55 km east of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The Nation has pursued solar projects since the first iteration of its Indigenous Community Energy Plan in 2017, with this solar farm marking its first utility-scale renewable energy project. Garden River First Nation’s 50 per cent ownership stake is also anticipated to bring increases in employment opportunities and local spending to the area, a press release said. “For Garden River First Nation, this project represents more than energy production. It reflects our responsibility as Anishinaabe people to care for the land while creating meaningful opportunities for our community and future generations,” said Garden River First Nation Chief Karen Bell. “We enter this work with a clear vision grounded in respect for our lands, our people, and the generations yet to come.” Construction on the Matachewan First Nation solar farm is expected to begin in 2028, with a target in-service date of 2029. The farm will be located approximately 20km southeast from the City of Temiskaming Shores, and when complete will provide nearly 100,000 MWh of annual emission-free energy to Ontario’s power grid. This project also marks the Nation’s foray into the utility-scale renewable energy space. “As President of the Matachewan Limited Partnership, I am pleased to have worked with Neoen to achieve this contract award with Ontario through IESO,” said Jason Batise, President, Matachewan First Nation Limited Partnership. “We realize we are in the beginning stages of our solar energy project journey with our partners, and we look forward to the opportunities this initiative will provide for Matachewan First Nation.”
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Solar Power World By Billy Ludt | Pisgah Energy, a commercial solar contractor, completed rooftop solar PV systems built across six buildings for AAR’s Airframe facility at Piedmont Triad International International Airport in Guilford County, North Carolina. Credit: Pisgah Energy “It was an honor supporting AAR’s efforts to make a significant and positive impact on their carbon footprint. The Greensboro staff was highly engaged throughout the process and made building our largest project to date feel relatively easy,’ notes Evan Becka, senior project developer and president of Pisgah Energy. “What’s more, collectively, these systems represent Guilford County’s largest rooftop solar installation. As a Greensboro native, it’s a real point of pride for my company to have played a part in that achievement.” These systems, totaling 4.6 MWDC and composed of 7,770 QCells 590-W panels and 25 SolarEdge inverters, will serve as on-site electrical generation and produce over 5,900 MWh of renewable energy annually. This is Pisgah’s largest completed solar project yet. “Completing a large commercial solar project at a busy airport is no easy feat. The Pisgah Energy team met this challenge with innovative ideas that maximized solar production while remaining on schedule and under budget. The solar panel system enables AAR to offset carbon emissions, power our facility, and return excess energy to the grid. We are grateful for Pisgah Energy’s expertise and collaboration on this sustainability-driven project,” said Brett Houser, director of EHS at AAR’s Airframe MRO – Greensboro location. News item from Pisgah Energy Billy Ludt is managing editor of Solar Power World and currently covers topics on mounting, inverters, installation and operations.
A solar project powered by carbon-free Microsoft contractors completed in Anson County. On April 21, Ever.green announced the completion of Baron, a 5-megawatt solar project in Anson County developed by Headwater Energy, which will own and operate the site. Ever.green is a clean energy marketplace that enables businesses of all sizes to engage in energy transition. Ever.green serves as a single point of contact for the project, so the developer doesn’t have to work with five or six different companies or legal groups, Cris Eugster, co-founder and CEO of Ever.green, told the Carolina Journal. “We make that all easy for the developer,” said Eugster. “We are the one optic, then what we do is we fractionalize that to the Microsoft supplier community, and whatever they want, if they want to have five RECs [renewable energy credits], or they want to have 500, or 5000, we can size it to whatever they need. And so we make it easy on both sides to do that, credit is obviously another. These are long-term contracts.” This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. According to Microsoft’s Supplier Code of Conduct, large-scale Microsoft contractors are expected to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity (CFE) for goods and services provided to Microsoft by 2030. Microsoft suppliers, including Slalom Consulting, Centific Technologies, ImagiCorps, BDA, Eleven 11 Solutions, TASA Analytics, and Visionet Systems, signed long-term contracts for renewable energy certificates to support Baron, the Anson County solar project, in reaching its financial close and delivering on Microsoft’s CFE expectations. With the recent cancellation of offshore wind development by the Trump administration and significant momentum behind moving towards nuclear energy in North Carolina, some energy experts see the concept of renewable energy credits as outdated. “This project exists to sell power to the Pee Dee Electric cooperative and, more lucratively, to sell what are called renewable energy credits (RECs) to companies doing business with Microsoft,” Jon Sanders, director of the Center for Food, Power and Life at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “Microsoft wants to be able to boast of doing business only with suppliers powered with ‘carbon-free’ electricity (meaning free of carbon dioxide emissions). As everyone knows, that is practically impossible without using nuclear, which doesn’t count for some reason.” But Eugster thinks the future of solar is bright. “I think solar is in a good state,” he said. “The technology is relatively readily deployable, unlike some other technologies, such as wind or offshore wind. You know, solar can be done much more as part of the fabric of the community. It can be done in small quantities; you can put it on your rooftop. You can’t put a wind turbine on your roof. You can, you can do community solar. You can build large utility-scale solar farms. I think solar is unique in that it can really match the load at different volumes. The other thing is, solar coincides with a lot of the Southwest and the South in general. You know, usage is highest when the sun is out, and things are hot, and air conditioners are running. So, there’s a nice match. And the profile there with solar. Solar can be combined with storage to extend that profile to the evening hours.” While Microsoft has definitely taken the lead on this, there are other collaborative energy operations similar to this across the country, according to Eugster. He said Microsoft has effectively put together a playbook for its suppliers on how to go carbon-free. But Sanders says the entire paradigm is misguided. “Here’s how the RECs scheme works,” said Sanders. “The short answer is, not unlike the medieval practice of buying indulgences on the belief it frees a loved one from purgatory. The suppliers obtain electricity as usual, but then they ‘offset’ it by buying the RECs. They get ‘credit’ for the production of renewable energy sold elsewhere, the solar facility profits, the companies’ regular consumption of electricity continues (emissions and all), they and Microsoft say it counts as ‘carbon-free,’ and media dutifully report it as such.” According to Eugster, if a supplier ceases to be in business, they are still contractually obligated to procure from that solar farm for the duration of the contract. Microsoft requires these suppliers to sign long-term contracts. Ever.green helps facilitate this process by thinking through credit issues and mitigating the risks of a long-term, complex financial agreement for both the developer and the Microsoft supplier. “Microsoft contractors power opening of Anson County solar project” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.
India's clean energy ministry is reviewing a June mandate for domestic solar cells, facing warnings of a major supply shortage. Current domestic capacity (25.6 GW) is less than half of the 50 GW annual demand, meaning imports are still crucial. Developers fear higher module costs and project delays, highlighting a clash between self-sufficiency goals and current market needs. Used by 10,000+ active investors Select the stocks you want to track in real time. Receive instant updates directly to WhatsApp. India's clean energy ministry is reviewing petitions regarding a June mandate that requires solar power projects to use only domestically manufactured solar cells. This policy, aimed at strengthening India's clean energy supply chain, risks causing a significant shortage and could delay renewable energy targets while driving up costs. The nation's domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity is currently around 25.6 GW, far below the estimated annual demand of roughly 50 GW. This shortfall has traditionally required heavy reliance on imports, with China supplying over 90% of India's solar cells. The upcoming mandate, intended to boost local production, could create a scarcity of compliant cells. Industry groups warn that immediate enforcement could disrupt India's 170 GW solar module manufacturing capacity and delay renewable projects. They also note that about 55% of locally produced solar cells use older technologies. India's push for local sourcing is central to its strategy for building strong domestic clean energy supply chains and meeting its 2070 net-zero emissions goal. Schemes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) have helped expand solar manufacturing capacity. India's module manufacturing capacity is set to reach about 210 GW by December 2025, but cell production capacity is projected to lag at around 27 GW by the same period. Global solar panel prices are also expected to rise in 2026 due to factors like geopolitical tensions, higher energy and logistics costs, and China's tighter supply control. Additionally, China's decision to cut its VAT export refund on solar PV modules from 9% to 0% starting April 1, 2026, will impact global pricing. India's domestic mandate could worsen these price pressures for developers. Previous attempts to require local content in India have drawn criticism. Studies show these policies can increase solar PV power costs by approximately 6% per kWh and have made Indian solar panels pricier than global options, without necessarily boosting exports or technology. The current mandate for solar cells, though driven by energy security and growth goals, carries similar risks of higher costs and trade issues. Developers are asking for a phased rollout or a delay of about nine months. This would allow around 50 GW of new domestic solar cell capacity, currently under construction, to come online, potentially easing immediate supply issues. The ministry's decision will significantly affect the pace and cost of India's green energy transition. India is set to become a major player in the global solar market, projected as the world's second-largest by annual installations in 2026. The industry's request for a reprieve or staggered implementation highlights the challenge of matching manufacturing growth with policy deadlines. The government's decision will determine if India can overcome this hurdle and maintain its rapid deployment towards its 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target by 2030. Quarterly results, bulk deals, concall updates and major announcements delivered in real time. Used by 10,000+ active investors Select the stocks you want to track in real time. Receive instant updates directly to WhatsApp.
Firefighters from at least three area companies were called to a residential fire in Warrington Township just after noon Thursday after flames broke out on the roof of a home equipped with solar panels. The incident was reported at 12:01 p.m. in the 100 block of Equestrian Court, where crews arrived to find visible flames coming from the roof of a two-story Colonial-style home.
Reports from the scene noted the fire was confined to the solar panel system and the ridgeline of the roof, with reports of no immediate extension into the interior of the house. According to initial reports, the home has 22 solar panels installed across three rows, with the top row of eight panels involved in the fire. Warrington Fire Company responded to the scene and worked to contain the blaze, assisted by Doylestown Fire and Horsham Fire companies. No injuries were immediately reported, and further details on the cause of the fire were not available. Tony Di Domizio is the Managing Editor of NorthPennNow, PerkValleyNow, and CentralBucksNow. Email him at [email protected]. No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Pisgah Energy, a commercial solar contractor, completed rooftop solar PV systems built across six buildings for AAR’s Airframe facility at Piedmont Triad International International Airport in Guilford County, North Carolina. “It was an honor supporting AAR’s efforts to make a significant and positive impact on their carbon footprint. The Greensboro staff was highly engaged throughout…
Walt Disney World’s solar footprint just got bigger. A new 74,500-kilowatt facility spanning 484 acres in Levy County, Florida, is now supplying clean electricity to the resort. Built and operated by Bronson Solar in collaboration with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the site adds another source of renewable power to the resort’s energy mix.
If you’ve heard of the Hidden Mickey solar array near EPCOT, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a 5,000-kilowatt solar installation shaped like Mickey Mouse. It’s one of the most recognizable renewable energy projects at any theme park in the world, and it’s been generating clean power for years.
Four solar projects combined can now generate enough power to run the entire Walt Disney World resort – four theme parks, two water parks, and dozens of hotels – during daylight hours. Over the course of a year, that output translates to some significant numbers:
Walt Disney World isn’t alone. Solar energy is now a fixture across multiple Disney destinations. At Disneyland Resort in California, 60% of the resort’s electricity now comes from renewable energy through the Anaheim Public Utilities Green Power Program. Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure is powered by 1,400 solar panels. The resort has also built out EV charging infrastructure, and one in six fleet vehicles is now electric — saving roughly 50,000 gallons of gasoline per year.
In December 2023, Disneyland Paris completed Europe’s largest solar canopy plant – a multi-year project covering more than 11,200 guest parking spaces with over 80,000 panels across 20 hectares. It produces 36 GWh of electricity annually, enough to power a town of more than 17,400 people.
Hong Kong Disneyland recently finished phase two of Hong Kong’s largest solar car park canopy. Nearly 400 bifacial solar panels – which capture sunlight from both sides – now cover 80 parking spaces in a backstage area, generating more than 200,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.
As of late 2025, solar panels cover all applicable backstage rooftops and facades at Shanghai Disney Resort. Combined output has reached approximately 5.2 GWh of green electricity, cutting carbon emissions by more than 2,500 metric tons. Tokyo Disney Resort has installed solar panels at 10 rooftop locations, with a combined capacity exceeding 1,500 kW, and plans to keep expanding year by year.
Commercial solar contractor Solect Energy opened its new headquarters in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, this week. The company built the facility to house its expanding operations. “Our new headquarters reflects an important milestone for Solect and the continued growth of our team,” said John Bodt, CEO of Solect Energy. “Our best work happens when our people are…
A photo of Huawei’s smart photovoltaic (PV) controller, SUN2000-150K-MG0 / Courtesy of Huawei Huawei is showcasing its latest smart solar inverters at the 23rd International Green Energy Expo, which opened Wednesday and runs through Friday in Daegu. At the event, the company unveiled a new model from its SUN2000 series — a 160-kilowatt smart photovoltaic (PV) controller, SUN2000-150K-MG0. The inverter features a suite of advanced safety technologies, including an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) to cut off circuits to prevent fires when sparking is detected in the power lines. The inverter automatically isolates a string when it detects electrical faults in the circuit and smart connector-level detection (SCLD) monitors connector temperatures and prevents failures. The company noted that the SUN2000 series is built for reliability, backed by rigorous quality controls. Products undergo aging tests under simulations of extreme conditions to prove durability during the manufacturing process, ensuring stable performance even in harsh environments such as coastal or desert regions. The utility‑scale SUN2000‑330KTL‑H1 model offers an expanded maximum power point tracking (MPPT) range to improve site flexibility and incorporates smart I‑V curve diagnosis to streamline maintenance. The company is offering a hands-on demo kit at its booth, allowing visitors to experience the inverter’s autonomous detection and mitigation of electrical risks in real time. They are also offering daily technical seminars to share insights on the latest energy technology trends. Sessions cover the key features of the company’s inverters and discussions on solutions for grid saturation challenges, such as grid‑forming technology that stabilizes renewable power in networks, as well as the latest energy storage system (ESS) trends. “In step with the global shift toward renewable energy, we aim to contribute to higher-quality industry growth by delivering solutions that fuse advanced digital technologies with power electronics,” Huawei Korea CEO Balian Wang said. “We hope this exhibition provides a valuable opportunity to explore our utility and commercial solutions firsthand and exchange insights on industry trends.” Huawei Korea’s digital power business focuses on advancing energy digitalization by integrating digital and power electronics technologies. The unit delivers intelligent low-carbon solutions across clean power generation, electrified mobility and green ICT power infrastructure in more than 170 countries and regions worldwide, supporting global carbon neutrality goals.
Booth No: K-450 DAEGU, South Korea, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL Solar is currently exhibiting its latest photovoltaic solutions at the Korea Green Energy Expo, reinforcing its commitment to advancing South Korea's renewable energy market. As South Korea is poised to become a key global player in the solar energy sector, the country is on track to achieve a cumulative installed solar capacity of 55.7GW by 2030, with over 5GW set to be installed annually. Among the growing demand, distributed and floating photovoltaic systems are driving significant market expansion.
The TCL Solar booth was bustling with visitors throughout the event.
TCL Solar is showcasing its T5 Pro TOPCon Multi-Cut Product, which utilizes advanced TOPCon technology with overlapping cell architecture, offering a maximum power output of up to 670W、755W. This cutting-edge solution represents the pinnacle of high-efficiency solar energy. Additionally, the C2 BC Module, powered by Back Contact technology, delivers significantly higher energy yields, making it perfect for complex applications with high BOS costs, low ground reflectivity, limited land availability, partial shadow scenarios, or aesthetic requirements. The BC module with its no busbar design and no front metal lines present a more visually appealing aesthetic, meeting Korean architectural requirements. Offering a power output 20W higher than TOPCon modules, it also maintains significantly better hot spot resistance and a degradation rate of just 0.35%. Additionally, the company introduced the lightweight modules (5.4kg/m², reducing weight by 49%) that are particularly suitable for low-load rooftops of aging factories in Korea. Besides, the company proudly congratulate Prana Solution Co., Ltd. on winning the 2025 TCL Solar Top Sales Award on site. This remarkable achievement highlights the strong partnership between Prana Solution and TCL Solar, built on a shared commitment to innovation and sustainable energy. Backed by TCL Zhonghuan's (TCL Solar parent company) advanced manufacturing capabilities including the launch of the industry's first 4.0 silicon wafer factory in 2020, TCL Solar guarantees excellent quality and technical support. TCL Solar will continue to collaborate with local partners to help South Korea achieve its renewable energy goals, while advancing its global expansion through partnership with the Korean market for mutual growth.
April 22, 202611 Views By Mark Reaman After several months of sitting idle while waiting for some final parts after most of the construction was completed, the Oh Be Joyful solar farm located south of Crested Butte started producing power last week. Employees of the Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA), Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and the Paradise Power Company were there last week to do final testing and commissioning. The switch was then flipped to the on position. “The OBJ array was energized and commissioned last Wednesday (April 15) and is now generating as the sun shines!” reported GCEA strategy, execution, technology and member experience manager Matt Feier. “The longer than anticipated delay in energizing came from a supply chain delay for the metering equipment. You may still see some GCEA line workers and Paradise Power Company staff around the array this week making a few fine-tuning adjustments, but the array is on and operating as planned. We are very excited for this to start producing electricity. We initiated planning for this project in 2020.” The solar farm will generate 2,609 megawatt hours per year on average. Feier said that equates to roughly enough electricity to power 334 average GCEA served homes per year. The towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte, Vail Resorts, the Adaptive Sports Center, the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and Crested Butte South POA are all purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from the array’s production. Feier explained that will offset their electricity use with the local, renewable, non-carbon emitting energy produced from the array. “These RECs commitments have allowed the array to be developed without needing a rate increase (for the GCEA membership as a whole) to pay for the array’s development,” he said. “GCEA is also seeking a 40% federal credit through the Inflation Reduction Act for the array’s construction.” Paradise Power Company is the Engineering, Procurement and Construction that GCEA worked with to develop the OBJ array. As an FYI aside, when asked who will shovel off the solar panels in a real winter with real snowfall, Feier said no one. “We have budgeted for power production loss due to snow coverage,” he explained. “There will be a longer article that addresses this in the upcoming Colorado Country Life. The panels are bifacial, so even when they are covered by snow, there will be some production from light reflected off the ground and snow.” Feier relayed that the, “GCEA is also planning to energize the Gunnison River Solar array soon, pending the delivery and installation of the solar switchboard…which has been subject to the solar industry’s current supply chain challenges. “Further, GCEA is working to partner with other cooperatives on a larger regional solar project located in another part of Colorado through Tri-State’s Bring Your Own Resource program,” Feir continued. “If achieved, this solar development will save money and lower the carbon intensity of the energy GCEA supplies.” April 22, 2026 April 22, 2026 April 22, 2026 How can town help keep mobile homes affordable? By Mark Reaman As part of the …
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Investigate Midwest This story was originally published by Grist in partnership with the Associated Press. Over the past few years, Kentucky sheep farmer Daniel Bell has been expanding his flock. Eventually, that meant he needed to build a new barn. His land is far from the power lines he’d need to heat it, so he figured rooftop solar would be ideal. To help pay for it, he wanted to apply for a renewable energy grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP — only to find that the Trump administration had effectively halted grants through the program. Bell said that made it impossible to proceed with the idea on his land. “For me, it’s just been about freedom. Freedom to lower bills, freedom to control my own assets,” he said. Many farmers work on the thinnest margins, fighting to stay profitable. Some, looking to cut costs on electricity, turn to the federal government for a little extra cash to help them install solar panels on top of barns, grain elevators, or offices. Others turn to commercial renewable energy leases as both an alternative income stream and a way to put fallow land to work. Within the first year of President Trump’s second term, two federal programs critical to the growth of solar energy production — REAP and the clean energy tax credit — have been rolled back. To document how those policy changes are affecting farmers, The Associated Press and Grist analyzed data on both commercial-scale solar projects and small-scale rural energy development across the country. They found that, so far this fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn’t awarded a dollar in rural energy grants or loan guarantees. Reporters contacted roughly a quarter of the nearly 300 developers that have proposed projects on agricultural land in the last two years, and found that they are either preparing their businesses to do future projects without federal support, or have already lost millions in investment because of the administration’s new tax credit policies. Bell, for his part, decided to go a different route: Instead of building on his own property, he asked to build two new temporary barns on land owned by a commercial solar operation where he’s paid to graze his sheep beneath solar panels to keep the grass down. If the business approves his request, the barns could draw cheaper power from their operation. But not every farmer has that opportunity. We’re hosting virtual listening sessions this spring and summer to hear what’s missing, what matters, and where we should dig deeper. We’re hosting virtual listening sessions this spring and summer to hear what’s missing, what matters, and where we should dig deeper. The effects of these policy shifts are uneven. Some solar projects are stalled because of permitting hangups. Some are right on schedule. And some are moving faster than anticipated, as developers race to break ground before tax credits expire. But, taken together, the findings reveal how the collapse of federal support for solar has spread across American agriculture from major corporations to family farms. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed by President George W. Bush, enacted a 30 percent investment tax credit for large-scale clean energy projects, boosting the solar industry. The tax credit was extended for eight years under President Obama and later extended under President Trump in 2020. When President Joe Biden signed the 2022 landmark climate bill, the tax credit was extended again through 2032 or when specific emissions targets were reached. Last July, when Congress passed President Trump’s tax bill, the timeline for the clean energy tax credits was again reset — in reverse. Now, commercial solar projects must be under construction by July 2026 or placed in service by the end of 2027 to remain eligible for the credit. At least 126 solar projects proposed since the beginning of 2024 are awaiting regulatory approval, according to a Grist and Associated Press analysis of the latest information developers supplied to the Energy Information Administration. Each is located near or on agricultural land, with at least one-fifth of the surrounding area used for grazing fields or crops, and would together supply about 20 gigawatts of electricity if built. That’s enough renewable energy to power about 4.5 million homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The new timeline, though, has prompted some developers to abandon projects after concluding they couldn’t move fast enough to meet the new tax credit cutoff. Bogdan Micu, CEO of the German solar developer Alpin Sun, said it had to abandon projects representing about $6 million in investments in about 1,000 megawatts in the U.S. Northeast. “Well. We lost our projects,” Micu said. “There was no way for us to speed up that process” to meet deadlines, he said. Through REAP, the USDA issues grants and loans to farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses interested in renewable energy — like installing solar to lower utility costs. According to Richa Patel, a policy specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, REAP has funded more than 19,000 grants totalling more than $1.8 billion since its inception nearly two decades ago, and backed tens of thousands of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the country in that time. The program was supercharged by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, and up until then, when some congressional Republicans began to question the grant structure of the program, was largely supported by both parties. But for many of the farmers whose awards or applications were affected as Trump took office again, the past year has made farm country’s already-dire economic landscape even more difficult to weather. Elisa Lane, a flower and fruit farmer in Hampstead, Maryland, will never forget the anxiety she felt last February when she heard the Trump administration had frozen the $30,576 REAP grant she’d been awarded in 2024 to install solar panels — with no explanation. “Man, was that so stressful,” said Lane, who spent months worried she’d be “on the hook” for the amount that she’d already contracted a solar company to install. It was supposed to alleviate the stress of her energy bills, which she said ran around $500 a month before getting solar. Read Next In March 2025, the agency announced it would release already-awarded grants and loans — but there appeared to be some fine print. The USDA invited recipients to voluntarily revise their proposals to align with Trump’s executive order by “eliminating Biden-era DEIA and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals.” Although she was anxiously waiting on the funds, Lane decided not to revise her proposal after a local USDA representative advised her to proceed with her project without revising. (The representative assured her she would receive the payment, according to emails seen by Grist and the AP.) Later that spring, she heard from the USDA that the payment would be released and she could move forward with construction. So she did, putting up the full $70,000 it cost to install the panels. By August, they were up and running on her land. By September, she received her reimbursement check covering about half of the project fee from USDA — more than half a year after the funding was first frozen. In the span of roughly seven months, the USDA froze the program’s grant funding, invited grantees to reapply without climate and DEI language, imposed sweeping new restrictions on solar on farmland, and closed future application cycles. “It was so disruptive,” she said. “I just want to have a farm and be able to focus on my business.” Now, she’s doing just that. The panels, to Lane, represent a long-term investment into bringing down her farm’s enormous energy bill. Although things eventually worked out for Lane and other recent REAP grantees, the Grist and Associated Press analysis of USDA Rural Development data found the program has not committed a single dollar in renewable energy development since September. Even though the agency said it anticipated it would do so last October, USDA never reopened REAP’s grant application cycle. Its loan guarantee program — geared toward larger farm and rural business projects — has remained open, though the analysis found that the agency has awarded no new agreements this fiscal year. Then, on March 31, the USDA announced a suspension of all REAP grant awards so the agency may update regulations within the program to comply with an executive order issued by the president last July. The agency noted that it “will not be making further grant awards until the new regulations are in effect,” but added that REAP guaranteed loans “will continue to be awarded in this time.” In response to a request for comment, a USDA spokesperson said the “suspension of REAP grant awards is temporary,” but did not provide further details on how long grants will be paused. When asked why the USDA has not yet issued any loans this fiscal year through the program, the spokesperson said the agency “continues to administer REAP in accordance with current guidance” and is “prioritizing program integrity and alignment with Administration direction as it conducts its review.” Robert Bonnie, the former undersecretary for farm production and conservation at the USDA under the Biden administration, said any loss in the program’s funding is going to be felt throughout rural America. Part of the USDA’s role over the long term, he said, has been to channel investment into rural parts of the country while making rural prosperity part of the climate agenda. “In places like Iowa and Texas, renewables matter — not just for additional power and lower power bills and clean energy, but also matters for farmers’ pocketbooks,” said Bonnie. “Anything you do to pull back on that is hugely problematic.” For RIC Energy North America, a renewable energy developer based in New York City, the changes to the solar tax credits triggered an all-out sprint to advance every project in the pipeline, said CEO Jon Rappe. But new projects after that will essentially stop, he said. The company has about 150 solar projects in its North American portfolio, with the bulk of those developments on fallow land, hayfields, and former farmland. “Now, some companies are probably going to go out and continue to sign sites, and take some risks, in case there’s an extension of tax credits or something like that,” Rappe said. “But the next generation of projects is not going to happen unless there’s some change at the federal level.” One of RIC Energy’s projects is to develop 15 acres of solar on Tim Covert’s land in the primarily agricultural town of Sheridan, New York. The community solar project, where small-scale arrays would allow low-income residents to subscribe to get monthly credits on their utility bill, offers a new source of steady revenue for Covert, a former dairy farmer who has been battling cancer over the last year and struggled to work as a result. “I’m 100 percent cancer-free, but with the treatments, there’s some side effects that take a little while to get rid of,” he said, which include brain fog, muscle soreness, and depleted energy. ”So it would be great if they did have it done by fall, and I started getting money.” Under the agreement, the bigger payout, which Covert said equals roughly a quarter of his income as an electrical contractor, won’t start until the project is completed and online — and Covert isn’t sure when that will happen amid the shifting federal landscape. At the moment, he’s getting a small stipend simply for leasing his land. He’s been told that construction could start as soon as the end of May, though “it seems to be changing a lot.” RIC Energy, for its part, told Grist and the AP that the construction is slated to begin late summer to early fall. “I don’t think they’re going to stop now, because they have quite a bit of time and money invested in this thing already,” he said. “So I don’t see them pulling the plug.” Even amid the shifting policies, some clean energy developers say they are winning out. Solar energy is still one of the cheapest forms of energy out there, and energy is in higher demand than ever, partly due to AI data center construction. What’s more, tax equity sometimes made financing projects more complicated, so in some ways losing the tax credit also broke down a barrier to getting things done, said Nick Cohen, president and CEO of Doral LLC, a large-scale solar energy and battery storage developer with about 450 megawatts in operation and about 16,000 more planned or in construction. It’s “a very exciting time if you’re a large enough developer that was in the right place at the right time doing large projects,” he said. “All the new rules really favor the big guys like us.”
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Now 61° Fri 80° Sat 63° by GOOD MORNING WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC (7News) — As Earth Day arrives, many homeowners across the D.C. region are looking for simple ways to reduce their environmental impact while also cutting costs. One solution gaining momentum is solar energy, which continues to grow in popularity for both its financial and environmental benefits. According to Wyatt Everhart, Meteorologist and Advisor with Solar Energy World, the biggest driver for homeowners considering solar is often the long-term savings. With utility costs continuing to rise, generating power at home can provide significant financial relief over time. But beyond the savings, Everhart emphasizes that solar energy also plays an important role in improving local air quality. In the D.C. area, warmer months often bring concerns about smog and ozone alert days. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, solar energy helps decrease emissions that contribute to poor air quality. “If we can produce more of our energy locally with solar, it can make a real difference in the air we breathe,” Everhart explains. In addition to environmental benefits, companies like Solar Energy World are also expanding their impact through partnerships. Initiatives with organizations such as GivePower help provide clean, solar-powered water systems to communities in need, while partnerships with Veritree support reforestation efforts by planting trees for every new solar customer. As Earth Day highlights the importance of sustainability, solar energy offers a practical way for homeowners to make a meaningful difference. By combining cost savings with cleaner energy production, it’s a solution that benefits both households and the planet. For those interested in learning whether solar is the right fit for their home, consultants are available at 877-SOLAR-TV, or homeowners can visit solarenergyworld.com to schedule a consultation. As energy costs continue to rise, planning ahead today could mean significant savings tomorrow. 2026 Sinclair, Inc.
The best of R&I and around the web, handpicked by our editors. White papers, service directory and conferences for the R&I community. Web replica of the print magazine. The global expansion of solar photovoltaic farms is on a collision course with severe convective storm risk, as many of the regions best suited for solar development are also among the most exposed to damaging hail, according to a new white paper from Gallagher Re and AXIS. Severe convective storms accounted for at least 47% of global insured catastrophe losses in 2025, totaling $60 billion, and hail damage to solar infrastructure is a fast-growing segment of that exposure. When analyzing closed solar PV claims reported between 2019 and 2025, AXIS found that hail accounted for 27% of natural catastrophe and extreme weather losses globally by total claim amount, with more than a million PV modules damaged and $342 million in accumulated gross claims. Global renewable power capacity is expected to double between now and 2030, with solar PV accounting for about 80% of that growth, according to the International Energy Agency. Yet many of the areas where solar farms are being built — Texas, parts of South America, Australia and South Africa — sit squarely in hail-prone corridors, the report said. Texas illustrates the tension clearly. The state is the fastest-growing in the U.S. for solar generation and second only to California in total installed capacity, but its open landscapes and proximity to mountain ranges create ideal conditions for hail-producing storms, the report said. AXIS found that Texas has the highest total gross claim amount for solar PV hail losses in the U.S., an order of magnitude greater than Nebraska, the second-highest state. Recent advancements in PV module technology have inadvertently increased vulnerability, according to the report. Most projects now use larger modules with thinner, heat-strengthened glass for weight and cost savings. However, claims involving heat-strengthened glass modules are $50,000 per megawatt higher on average than those with thicker, fully tempered glass, AXIS found. To address the underwriting challenge, Gallagher Re has developed a proprietary probabilistic hail model for South Africa — one of the most hail-exposed regions globally — that quantifies risk at two-kilometer resolution across more than 390,000 cells. The model uses NASA satellite observations of “overshooting tops,” a meteorological feature most likely to produce damaging hail, to map exceedance probabilities and return periods for a range of hail sizes, the report said. The firm has also created hail risk score maps that classify locations from very low to extreme exposure, combining hazard intensity and vulnerability to estimate relative financial risk. On the mitigation side, AXIS identified three pillars of risk reduction for solar PV farms: accurate weather forecasts, appropriate hail-resistant technology and a well-informed operational strategy, the report said. One of the most effective protective measures is high-tilt stow — rotating panels to 60 degrees or above during hailstorms so that hailstones glance off at an angle rather than striking directly. Testing cited in the report found that breakage probability could be reduced by 83% by moving from a 30-degree angle to a 75-degree stow angle. AXIS claims data showed that the average cost of a solar PV hail claim is roughly halved when panels successfully stow compared to claims where stow failed or was not attempted. Looking ahead, changing weather patterns are expected to increase both the frequency and intensity of severe convective storms globally, the report said. Research suggests that warmer near-surface temperatures and higher humidity will create more days with conditions favorable for SCS formation. In regions like South Africa, stronger convective updrafts in an environment of enhanced moisture may produce larger hailstones that resist melting, according to the report. While significant uncertainty remains in modeling future SCS risk, scientists generally agree that the potential for more frequent large hail reaching the ground is increasing worldwide. Obtain the full report here. & At National Comp 2025, experts shared their experience in breaking down the silos within workers’ comp in order to collaborate and innovate solutions that can match the booming growth and introduction of new technology. The latest people news in the industry today. With rising complexity and evolving technologies, equipment breakdown risks are growing — Travelers VP, Pete Schulz, delivers expert insight to help businesses stay ahead. As private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) firms navigate increasingly complex portfolios under heightened regulatory oversight and evolving fiduciary responsibilities, they face exposures that traditional professional liability coverage alone may not fully address. The insurance claims landscape is rapidly transforming. Artificial intelligence is automating processes, plaintiff attorneys are deploying sophisticated data analytics to gain an advantage, and expectations around responsiveness and insight have never been higher. Yet amid these technological shifts, a crucial question remains: How do insurance professionals maintain the human relationships that build trust and deliver genuine value? Ron Morrison, Chief Claims Officer at MSIG USA, has spent his career navigating this balance. His approach reflects a clear philosophy: technology may change how claims are handled, but it does not replace the need for thoughtful decision-making, strong relationships, and consistent execution. Ron Morrison, Chief Claims Officer, MSIG USA Every insurance carrier promises exceptional claims service. What separates the exceptional from the ordinary is how consistently that service is delivered and how well it integrates with the client’s broader risk management strategy. “My whole philosophy centers on integrating our culture with our insureds and providing next-level service,” Morrison said. “Every carrier says that, but how we differentiate is through our execution.” Morrison’s vision is for MSIG USA’s claims team to operate as a natural extension of the client’s organization, aligned not only to the claim itself, but to the client’s broader objectives and operating environment. This integration starts internally. “It begins with creating a positive culture for our people so that the exuberance to provide customer service comes through in every interaction,” Morrison explained. That servant-based approach translates directly to how insureds experience the relationship. This approach emphasizes alignment, communication, and pacing. Morrison noted that his team works with clients to ensure decisions are made deliberately and in line with their priorities. “We want to match your efforts to move this at the pace you want to control,” he said. Brokers and carriers consistently report that this approach resonates. “We hear consistently from brokers and carriers that clients feel we’re an extension of their team — integrated so thoroughly that we function as if we’re in-house,” Morrison said. MSIG USA’s approach to claims is becoming even more critical as the operating environment continues to evolve, particularly as technology reshapes how claims are initiated and managed. In Casualty claims, for example, plaintiff attorneys are leveraging AI-enabled tools to generate large volumes of demand packages, increasing pressure on insurers and insureds alike. “The plaintiff bar is using AI tremendously effectively,” Morrison noted. “There are tech companies generating close to 10,000 demand packages a week from the plaintiff bar, which can overpower the insurance industry.” For insurers to remain competitive, investment in AI infrastructure is no longer optional. However, Morrison cautions against viewing technology as a singular solution. “The key for AI integration and utilization is to enhance how we operate and how we form relationships,” Morrison said. “AI will help drive efficiency and enable claims professionals to build more dimensional relationships in their claim handling than before.” MSIG USA has invested in AI tools that generate offer packages proactively, matching the plaintiff bar’s technological sophistication. But Morrison stresses that this technology only levels the playing field — it doesn’t guarantee victory. “AI can get you to a level playing field,” he explained. “But if my adjusters aren’t great negotiators, I’m still losing the edge.” The real competitive advantage lies in combining technology with talent development. “The reinforcement has to be this: Invest enough in AI to keep up and be modern, but don’t forget to invest in technical and fundamental skills,” Morrison said. “That way, your people are as sharp as anyone in the industry, you get ROI, and you’re ahead of the game in terms of ultimate economic outcome.” As technology levels the playing field, differentiation increasingly comes from how carriers approach complexity itself. Claims are becoming more visible and more consequential for clients. In parallel, the broader litigation environment continues to evolve, particularly as the plaintiff bar becomes more sophisticated in how cases are developed and advanced. “Plaintiff attorneys are highly informed and very deliberate in how they approach litigation,” Morrison said. “They understand how cases develop and where pressure points exist.” In this environment, Morrison believes success depends less on any single tactic, and more on how consistently carriers apply judgment, alignment, and perspective throughout the lifecycle of a claim. “At the highest level, complex claims are not just about reacting to litigation,” Morrison said. “They are about understanding how a situation is likely to evolve, how it may be perceived, and how to position our insured accordingly from the outset.” This perspective shapes how claims are approached from day one. Rather than viewing claims as a linear process, MSIG USA emphasizes continuous evaluation, alignment, and communication across all stakeholders involved. “It’s about being deliberate early,” Morrison explained. “Ensuring you are evaluating the full picture and aligning on a strategy that supports both the legal outcome and the client’s broader objectives.” This approach places a premium on judgment. It means moving beyond standard processes and considering the specific dynamics of each claims, including how early decisions may influence outcomes over time. It also reinforces the importance of coordination. Close alignment between claims professionals, counsel, brokers, and insureds supports more informed decisions and a more cohesive path forward. “Ultimately, our role is to bring clarity and confidence into what can be a very uncertain process,” Morrison said. “Because we combine experience, strong relationships, and a disciplined and strategic approach, we are better positioned to navigate complex claims. Looking ahead, Morrison expects continued acceleration in how claims are managed, driven by technology, data, and rising client expectations. But at the center of that evolution is not automation alone, it is how effectively carriers translate speed and insight into better outcomes for their clients. “Technology is changing how quickly we can process information and move a claim forward,” Morrison said. “But what matters most is how that speed translates into clarity, confidence, and better decision-making.” As clients become more informed and engaged in the claims process, the role of the carrier continues to evolve. Clients expect a partner who can help them navigate complex and often high-stakes situations. For MSIG USA that means maintaining a data-driven, consistent approach while staying closely aligned with client priorities throughout the lifecycle of a claim. “Our clients are looking for more than an outcome. They want to understand the path we are taking to get there,” Morrison said. The balance of responsiveness and judgment is what Morrison believes will define leading claims organizations in the years ahead. The path forward requires organizational nimbleness, ongoing investment in both talent and technology, and an unwavering commitment to the relationships that define great claims service. “At the end of the day, this business is built on trust,” he said. “If we are delivering insight and consistently acting in a way that reflects our clients’ priorities, that’s what strengthens relationships and defines long-term success.” To learn more, visit https://www.msigusa.com/. This article was produced by the R&I Brand Studio, a unit of the advertising department of Risk & Insurance, in collaboration with MSIG USA. The editorial staff of Risk & Insurance had no role in its preparation.
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