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R.Power has completed construction works on site at its high-voltage 55 MWp (DC) Lazuri photovoltaic project in Romania.
R.Power has completed construction works on site at its high-voltage 55 MWp (DC) Lazuri photovoltaic (PV) project in Romania.
Lazuri is a high-voltage project located in Satu Mare County, North-Western Romania. The site consists of 88 708 PV modules and six medium-voltage stations and, once operational, is expected to generate around 70 GWh/y, equivalent to the consumption of more than 44 000 households. At 55 MWp, it is one of the largest solar farms in Romania by installed capacity. Energisation is planned by the end of 2026.
Lazuri has been awarded a 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) by the Romanian authorities, underpinning its long-term revenues. It was financed as part of the €44 million project finance facility R.Power signed in June 2026 with ING Bank NV and UniCredit Bank SA, on a club deal basis, for a portfolio of four PV projects in Romania totalling approximately 75 MWp.
The project forms part of R.Power’s growing solar, hybrid and energy storage pipeline in Romania, which amounts to 1.5 GW and supports the country’s decarbonisation and energy independence goals.
“Completing construction works at Lazuri is an important milestone for R.Power’s Romanian solar portfolio,” said Florin Federenciuc, R.Power Country Head for Romania. “The project has moved efficiently from development through financing and construction, and we are now preparing for energisation and the start of operations. Romania remains a key market in our CEE strategy, and we look forward to Lazuri contributing utility scale clean energy to the grid.”
 
 
The Autumn issue of 2026 is available now! The new issue begins with a regional report on Asia Pacific, looking at the region’s transition from building capacity to building systems. The issue also explores topics such as offshore wind foundations, solar maintenance, training the new workforce, inspection & maintenance, and more! With insights from experts such as Everllence, BW Ideol, EM&I, Watson Farley & Williams, and many more, make sure to check out this issue now.
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China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) and Ministry of Science and Technology have proposed prohibiting exports of selected high-efficiency perovskite and tandem solar manufacturing technologies, alongside new restrictions on advanced polysilicon, wafer and crystalline-silicon cell production know-how.
The proposals, published on Oct. 16 under Joint Announcement No. 48 of 2026, would add 12 photovoltaic technologies to China’s Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited or Restricted from Export. They are part of a broader consultation covering 40 technologies across sectors including solar energy, artificial intelligence and biomedicine. The public consultation runs until Nov. 15.
The proposed export bans cover production processes and related equipment manufacturing technologies for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells based on wafers measuring at least 182 mm and achieving conversion efficiencies of 30% or higher. They also include slot-die coating processes for perovskites with coating widths of at least 1.1 meters.
Additional thresholds apply to large-area modules, including single-junction perovskite modules measuring at least 1 square meter with conversion efficiencies of 18% or higher, and perovskite tandem modules of the same minimum area with efficiencies of at least 28%. The proposed controls target manufacturing technologies meeting these specifications rather than exports of finished modules.
Other technologies proposed for prohibition include cold-hydrogenation fluidized-bed processes for trichlorosilane production with annual single-line capacities of at least 250,000 metric tons, and silane-based fluidized-bed processes with annual capacities of at least 20,000 metric tons. The draft also covers processes for manufacturing silicon wafers no thicker than 70 micrometers and certain edge-passivation technologies for thin crystalline-silicon cells, along with related equipment manufacturing know-how.
The proposed restricted-export category includes polysilicon plant engineering technologies for production lines with annual capacities of at least 30,000 metric tons, as well as advanced crystal-pulling and wafer-cutting processes.
It also covers specified high-performance manufacturing processes for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), back-contact (BC) and heterojunction (HJT) solar cells, including deposition, passivation, diffusion and metallization technologies. The HJT provisions include certain p-type technologies evaluated under air mass zero (AM0) illumination conditions relevant to space applications.
Under China’s technology import and export regulations, prohibited technologies cannot be exported, while restricted technologies can be transferred overseas only with government approval and the necessary licenses.
The proposed export bans and licensing requirements have not yet taken effect. However, a separate interim registration requirement took effect on Oct. 16, when the announcement was issued.
Companies must register planned exports of the listed technologies, including qualifying key equipment, through the Mofcom’s online system before transfer. The requirement covers intellectual property transfers, overseas technology licensing, changes in ownership or control involving foreign entities, and transactions that are underway but have not yet been completed.
The Mofcom said the proposals address national security concerns as photovoltaic technologies increasingly find applications in aerospace, defense and other sensitive sectors. The ministry said technologies that fall below the specified thresholds, as well as finished products manufactured using controlled technologies, are outside the proposed scope. It added that the measures do not target any particular country, region or company.
If adopted, the controls could reinforce China’s position in advanced PV manufacturing by limiting overseas access to some of its most sophisticated production technologies.
Although exports of finished solar cells and modules would not be directly affected, transfers of controlled manufacturing know-how through technology licensing, overseas production-line installation and commissioning, equipment exports and on-site technical support could be prohibited or subject to government approval.
In the near term, the measures could delay overseas PV manufacturing projects, increase compliance costs and limit the deployment of advanced Chinese production technologies abroad. Over the longer term, the restrictions could strengthen China’s influence over the international diffusion of next-generation PV manufacturing technologies, potentially slowing efforts by overseas manufacturers to close the technological gap.
However, tighter controls could also complicate Chinese manufacturers’ international expansion plans and heighten trade tensions or prompt retaliatory measures.
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Norfund, Impact Fund Denmark acquire 49% stake in Vena solar project in the Philippines  PV Tech
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NTPC Partners with 247Solar For 1 MW Solar Thermal Hybrid Project At Rajasthan’s Bhadla Solar Park  SolarQuarter
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New Zealand solar developer Sunergise has partnered with the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) to establish a framework for installing rooftop solar systems on public buildings across the main island of Rarotonga.
Located approximately 5,000 kilometres northeast of Sydney in the South Pacific Ocean, Rarotonga has a population of approximately 11,000 people who are reliant on diesel generators as a primary power source, and like many Pacific islands is sensitive to global shipping delays, fuel price fluctuations and regional supply pressures.
Formalising a rooftop licence agreement is the first step for the solar systems to be progressively installed across existing public assets to generate renewable energy and aid in reducing the island’s dependence on imported fuels.
Beyond clean energy generation, the installations will support the Cook Islands’ sustainability and renewable energy objectives, which include transitioning all 12 inhabited islands from diesel-fuelled generators to clean solar and battery hybrid systems.
Sunergise will also collaborate on educational opportunities it already delivers elsewhere in the Pacific, to inspire the next generation in renewable energy and STEM.
As suitable sites are identified and assessed, the programme will progress in consultation with stakeholders, ensuring installations are practical, safe and aligned with operational requirements.

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Two Massachusetts cranberry bogs that had stopped making financial sense to farm are growing berries again – with solar panels overhead helping pay the bills.
The Black Cat project in Plymouth and the Ring Road project in Kingston combine cranberry farming, community solar, and battery storage. Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI), which built the projects, says income from leasing the land for solar has made it viable to cultivate the long-idle bogs again.
It’s a particularly challenging form of agrivoltaics because cranberry bogs have soft, peaty soil and established vines that need to survive construction. You can’t just roll in with heavy equipment and start installing panels.
So the solar had to fit the farming. In a September article in North American Clean Energy, DEI cofounder and executive vice president Prateek Tare described panels raised 10 feet above the ground, leaving room for farm machinery underneath. Rows have more than 18 feet of clear space between them, and solar panel angles let sunlight reach the cranberry bogs.
Farmer Iain Ward helped work out those details, along with how construction could proceed without damaging the bogs. Even the protective mats needed changing: Black ones absorbed too much heat, so crews used white ones instead.
That care added time. Tare said construction took around eight months – roughly twice as long as a comparable conventional solar project.
“The DEI team was phenomenal at understanding and adapting solar construction so that energy production could coexist without damage to the perennial cropping system,” Ward said.
Greenbacker Renewables owns both sites. Black Cat pairs 1 megawatt (MW) of solar with 2.7 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage, while Ring Road has 4.4 MW of solar and a 13.5 MWh battery.
The money reaches both sides of the farming arrangement, too. The landowner receives solar land lease income, and Ward is paid to manage the bogs, in addition to his earnings from selling the berries.
DEI’s October announcement celebrates what it calls the first-ever agrivoltaic cranberry harvests, which Tare’s earlier account dates to fall 2025.
Agrivoltaics is really catching on. I hope it gets more farmers to install a lot of solar and then….they start building and selling more electric farm equipment to replace diesel powered equipment! That would be real useful right now!
The announcement doesn’t say how many cranberries were picked or how yields compare with growing them without panels. Those numbers might help other farmers decide whether solar could help keep their own bogs in business.
Read more: Tesla’s next big clean energy source is rising in the Arizona desert
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For American buyers, near-term costs may hinge more on trade actions.
Photo Credit: iStock
Solar factory buildouts are heading well beyond what the market is expected to absorb.
The gap is especially large in 2026, when global installations are projected at 638 GW and module manufacturing capacity at 1,908 GW, PV Magazine reported.
For American customers, though, that imbalance doesn’t automatically mean lower prices — tariffs, trade disputes, and supply chain rules add costs and uncertainty.
One key takeaway from Intertek CEA’s PV Supply Technology and Policy Report is that overcapacity stretches across nearly the entire solar supply chain.
In 2026, polysilicon capacity alone is forecast to reach roughly 2,034 GW, leaving overall supply more than 1.2 terawatts above expected global installation demand.
That doesn’t make the U.S. market any simpler.
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The report’s outlook keeps annual U.S. solar installations essentially flat through 2030 while domestic buyers contend with policy and regulatory uncertainty.
Globally, much of the 2026 slowdown traces back to China. 
After grid subsidies ended and with no immediate replacement-demand catalyst, China’s monthly installation figures fell sharply versus 2025: 56% in March, 79% in April, and 91% in May.
India, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. 
Developers there rushed projects into service before the June 1, 2026, start of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers List II domestic cell mandate.
For American buyers, near-term costs may hinge more on trade actions than on how much equipment factories can turn out.
Preliminary Solar 4 findings put total duty rates above 100% for cells and modules imported from India, Indonesia, and Laos, with preliminary countervailing duties taking effect on July 12.
New anti-circumvention cases focused on exports from Ethiopia and South Korea could retroactively expose active supply chains to duties, and U.S. procurement teams also face possible forced labor Section 301 tariffs of 10.0% to 12.5% across 59 countries.
China added another layer of complexity on April 7 when the State Council released its first broad supply chain security regulation, signed by Premier Li Qiang.
The rule allows officials to respond to foreign trade barriers by restricting exports of everything from inputs and production tools to end products.
Solar remains one of the clearest ways to lower home energy bills and reduce pollution from fossil fuel-powered electricity.
But even in a world flooded with panels, trade friction can keep systems expensive or delay projects that depend on imported parts.
To distinguish themselves, manufacturers are leaning on technology.
With TOPCon still dominant, manufacturers are moving away from half-cut and triple-cut layouts toward quad-cut cells for G12, or 8.3-inch (210 millimeters), wafers.
The report says dividing a cell into four sections reduces internal electrical loss to one-sixteenth of a full cell, though it can increase micro-crack risk and requires more welding points, raising manufacturing costs.
High-power perovskite tandem modules appeared at trade events, though the timing of commercial mass production remains uncertain. At the 2026 Shanghai SNEC Expo, battery storage displays surpassed PV exhibits for the first time in the event’s history.
For households, careful shopping may matter more than ever while U.S. installations stay flat through 2030. If you’re considering solar, EnergySage curates competitive bids from local installers without them getting your contact information unless you decide to move forward.
If trade disputes intensify, China could invoke its April 7 supply chain security rule to curb exports of PV equipment or raw materials to India, potentially disrupting the non-China supply chains many American importers rely on.
For a clearer picture of that disconnect, these stories are a good place to start. They look at China’s manufacturing surge, new American factory deals, and policy pressures shaping panel supply and pricing.
• Heliene and Suniva locked in a multimillion-dollar domestic supply deal to expand American-made panels.
• First Solar’s Ohio manufacturing footprint is bringing prosperity to communities while scaling U.S. capacity.
• American solar manufacturers say policy disruptions are turning planning into a fear-inducing exercise.
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Solar photovoltaics (PVs) are a key technology for Europe’s clean energy transition, offering deployable renewable energy at low costs, as well as independence from foreign fossil fuels. However, the sector still faces critical challenges when it comes to sustainability, resilience and strategic autonomy.
In line with the 2022 EU Solar Energy Strategy, which aims to install almost 600 GW of solar PV capacity by 2030, installed solar capacity has grown exponentially in recent years. Inevitably, this growth will be mirrored in solar sector waste, with megatonnes of end-of-life solar panel waste already expected by 2030. The issue is that Europe is almost entirely dependent on third countries for solar PVs – from raw materials to modules. This puts control over key characteristics affecting end-of-life management such as hazardous material content, recyclability and repairability out of the hands of European industry.
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The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has issued a final affirmative injury determination in its Solar IV investigation targeting crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, imported from India, Indonesia, and Laos. 
The decision clears the final legal hurdle for federal trade protection, finding that dumped and subsidized imports from the three Asian nations cause material injury to domestic solar manufacturers. As a direct result of the ruling, the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue official antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders, establishing high tariff barriers and permanent cash deposit requirements across all three import corridors. 
The upcoming duty orders will impose combined tariff rates as high as 249% for India, 268% for Indonesia, and 219% for Laos. These case-specific remedies, governed by the Tariff Act of 1930, will stack directly on top of existing executive tariffs and Section 232 minimum import price floors rather than replacing them. 
Finalized duty rates 
The USITC vote locks in the final margins established by Commerce last month. For Indian suppliers, Commerce set final dumping margins at 123.04% for all producers alongside a countervailing subsidy rate of 126.09%. Indonesian exporters face final dumping margins set at 94.36% for all producers, with countervailing duty rates ranging between 73.2% and 173.7% depending on the specific supplier. For imports originating in Laos, Commerce established final dumping margins at 65.43% for all exporters, accompanied by countervailing subsidy rates ranging between 82.03% and 153.67%. 
The trade cases were originally brought by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, a coalition represented by lead petitioners First Solar, Hanwha Qcells USA, and Mission Solar Energy. The litigation follows earlier Solar III duty orders targeting Southeast Asian manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. 
Next steps 
Following the USITC’s final injury determination, Commerce is scheduled to issue its official AD and CVD orders in early November 2026. Upon publication, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be instructed to require final duty cash deposits on all incoming entries of cells and modules from India, Indonesia, and Laos. 
The Commission’s full public report, Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, from India, Indonesia, and Laos (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-772-774 and 731-TA-1756-1758, USITC Publication 5804) detailing its factual findings and legal analysis, will be published on the USITC website by November 23, 2026.
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China proposed export controls on 40 technologies in artificial intelligence, biomedicine and solar manufacturing on Friday, including outright bans on 14.
The Commerce Ministry and Ministry of Science and Technology published the draft changes for public comment on Oct. 16. The remaining 26 technologies would require export licenses.
The proposal would tighten oversight of technology transfers underpinning Chinese companies’ overseas expansion, while preserving exemptions and streamlined approvals for much international AI collaboration.
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US policy, workforce challenges and space-based solar lead PV CellTech USA discussions  PV Tech
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The process could make large-scale production both eco-friendly and cost-effective.
A new, greener, lower-toxicity method could help manufacture flexible perovskite solar panels at an industrial scale using a roll-to-roll printing.
The University of Surrey has proposed this safer method for producing high-efficiency perovskite solar modules. It uses a low-toxicity, bio-derived solvent formulation that operates at room temperature and reduces the use of hazardous industrial chemicals. 
The process uses continuous printing techniques similar to newspaper printing, which could make large-scale production both eco-friendly and cost-effective. 
“The potential impact of our innovation extends beyond simply replacing a hazardous solvent. A process based on easy-to-use, non-toxic solvents and simpler coating steps reduces the need for solvent handling, waste treatment and the safety infrastructure that goes with them,” said Professor Ravi Silva, Distinguished Professor, Director – Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) and Head of NanoElectronics Center. 
Lightweight, flexible perovskite solar cells have long promised to replace silicon panels. But hazardous production processes have hindered their commercial potential. Typically, creating printable perovskite inks requires large quantities of toxic solvents, including dimethylformamide and acetonitrile.
These chemicals endanger factory workers and create severe environmental burdens. Surprisingly, just a single gigawatt-scale manufacturing line can consume over 90,000 liters of toxic solvent.
Now, that chemical barrier is crumbling. The researchers discarded the hazardous legacy chemicals. And formulated a “Significantly Reduced-Toxicity” (SRT) ink system built on bio-derived ingredients. 
The team created a quick-drying formulation using a combination of ethanol and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, a eco-friendly solvent derived from agricultural and forestry waste. This bio-derived mixture eliminates the need for anti-solvent processing steps. Skipping those harsh steps saves energy and conserves raw materials during manufacturing.
Going green did not mean sacrificing performance.
Using a roll-to-roll compatible bar-coating method, the team printed solar mini-modules with an active area of 11.5 square centimeters. 
Coated at room temperature and dried with a quick gas jet, these flexible panels reached power conversion efficiencies over 18.2 percent while maintaining rock-solid stability under continuous illumination.
The mini-modules feature an inverted architecture with bar-coated, self-assembled monolayers as hole-transport layers. This structure cuts the need for additional interlayers. 
According to the study, the team used a laser-based P1-to-P4 scribing process to monolithically link individual solar cells for industrial module patterning. The scientific paper further added that the development tested the eco-friendly solvent using a gas-blown bar-coating method. But the team also made sure it works with standard slot-die coating machines used in factories.
As a result, the process could be integrated into high-throughput factory floors in the future. It would ensure that the eco-friendly manufacturing technique is ready for large-scale industrial deployment.
“We want to help make clean energy available across the world, and if we can support decarbonization at scale in the same step, that is a double win for society,” Silva added. 
Integrating green chemistry into high-speed printing techniques makes the large-scale production of flexible solar cells a practical near-term reality. Flexible perovskites could soon power everything from portable consumer electronics and building-integrated windows to ultra-lightweight solar arrays launched into space. 
The study findings were published in the journal Nano Energy.

Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
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Decentralised Energy Solutions Transforming Chad’s Electricity Access  SolarQuarter
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Qcells has unveiled plans to introduce updated models of its home solar modules equipped with aluminum frames that undergo extrusion, anodizing and fabrication processes in Tennessee.
The company will make domestic-frame choices available for its Q.TRON AC and Q.PEAK DUO AC panels across the United States. These frames are intended to assist in satisfying minimum domestic content thresholds for specific third-party owned solar installations.
Il Hyeong No, who heads Qcells North Americas Residential Business, stated that the firm remains dedicated to backing American-produced clean energy goods and the domestic supply chain supporting them. He noted that through this collaboration to manufacture modules using domestically made frames, the company is advancing its dedication to U.S. manufacturing, promoting clean and reasonably priced energy, and providing customers with the assurance required to secure the domestic content bonus for their projects.
The frames come from a partnership with ALUKO Group, which handles extrusion, anodizing and fabrication at its production site in Halls, Tennessee. That facility is anticipated to reach full production by the close of 2026, with an intended yearly capacity sufficient to supply frames for 4 GW of solar panels. ALUKO intends to generate 285 new full-time positions and put over $107 million into Tennessee over a five-year period.
Jinwoo Park, President of ALUKO Group, expressed pride in assisting Qcells with strengthening the U.S. solar manufacturing supply chain. He explained that by conducting extrusion, anodizing and fabrication within the United States, the company provides a product delivering clarity and assurance throughout every stage of the process, and that this partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when manufacturers commit across the entire domestic supply chain.
This news item originated from Qcells and was reported by Kelly Pickerel on October 16, 2026.
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Global solar PV installations are forecast to decline for the first time in 2026 to 584 GW, forecasts BloombergNEF 
China is expected to play a major role in the market slowdown this year, before the pace accelerates next year onward 
It expects battery storage growth over the next five years, but sees challenges in integrating variable renewable generation 
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BloombergNEF) forecasts global solar PV installations to reach 584 GW DC in 2026, marking the first annual decline in PV deployment. Installations are expected to recover to 618 GW DC in 2027.  
The 2026 forecast represents a 10.8% year-on-year (YoY) decline from the 655 GW DC BloombergNEF estimated for 2025 (see Solar To Become World’s Largest Power Source By 2032). 
At a China Photovoltaic Industry Association seminar in the first quarter of 2025, analyst Youru Tan presented a forecast of 753 GW DC for 2026. Later, in December 2025, BloombergNEF lowered the projection to 649 GW DC of solar installations (see BloombergNEF Raises 2025 Solar Installation Forecast To Around 700 GW DC).  
China, the world’s largest solar market, is expected to drive the decline in global installations. BloombergNEF previously projected 310 GW DC of additions in China in 2026. This compares with a record 315 GW AC of solar capacity installed in 2025, according to the country’s National Energy Administration. The figures are measured on different bases (see China Sets New Annual Solar PV Installation Record In 2025). 
SolarPower Europe’s Global Solar Market Outlook 2026–2030 estimated that global solar PV installations reached a record 664 GW in 2025. Under its Medium Scenario, installations are forecast to decline by 8% to 612 GW in 2026, primarily due to an expected 24% drop in China following changes to the country’s solar market policies (see Global Solar PV Installs Hit 664 GW In 2025; 8% Drop Ahead). 
In a Substack thread, BloombergNEF clean power analyst Jenny Chase described 2026 as ‘the end of the beginning of the age of cheap solar’, noting that it is likely to be the first year of declining PV deployment. She said module prices in normal markets remain at around $0.11–$0.12/W, only slightly above the record low of $0.09/W in 2025, before China canceled its export tax rebate (see China To Remove Solar Export Tax Rebates From April 1, 2026). 
Chase attributed the slowdown partly to solar saturation in major markets, where abundant generation during sunny hours depresses electricity prices. Adding more solar capacity can exacerbate this effect because generation peaks at the same time. In markets with more room to grow, grid access and permitting remain key constraints, according to Chase. 
She expects battery storage deployment to accelerate over the next five years, which should help integrate solar generation and shift electricity supply to periods of higher demand. However, storage alone cannot address all the challenges posed by variable renewable generation, making complementary sources such as wind and longer-duration storage important.
TaiyangNews 2024

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Boosting Zambia’s Renewable Energy with Sineng’s Inverters  SolarQuarter
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Solar panel plan at Nashville Fairgrounds  WKRN News 2
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The UN Climate Change Conference COP31 will take place in Türkiye in November 2026. A flagship target is to raise the share of final energy demand met by electricity from 20% today to 35% by 2035.
Rising electricity demand signals rising affluence in developing countries, and progress towards “electrification of everything” via solar and wind. Dramatically cheaper, cleaner and more reliable domestic energy is a result.
Most industrial economies (including USA, China, the European Union, Japan and Australia) have annual per capita electricity consumption in the range 6-12 MWh compared with the global average of 4 MWh. For Latin America, India and ASEAN the figure is 1-3 MWh.
In an affluent advanced economy, about 20 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity per person per year is required for decarbonisation of land transport, heating & cooling in buildings, water heating, and industrial process heat. This is relatively straightforward using off-the-shelf technology.
Another 5-25 MWh per person per year is required for decarbonization of the chemical industry, which includes metals, plastics, cement, precursor chemicals, and synthetic shipping & aviation fuels. This needs substantial technology development over the next decade.
The “Final energy” mentioned in the COP31 target refers to energy products delivered to the consumer, including vehicle fuel, natural gas and electricity. This is a silly measure of energy because it conflates chemical energy with electrical energy. The electricity used in a heat pump or electric vehicle is 3-5 times smaller than fossil fuel energy delivering the same service.
COP31 is led jointly by Türkiye and Australia. Australia has a good electrification story to tell.
Australia is the global n. 1 for per capita solar generation, and n. 8 for wind. The Government target for 2030 is 82% of electricity from renewables (mostly solar and wind), up from 50% today.
The state of South Australia is tracking towards 100% net supply of electricity from solar and wind in 2028. South Australia has become an attractive destination for companies wishing to manufacture using clean energy.
More than 40% of Australian dwellings have rooftop solar (global n. 1 per capita), tracking towards 50% by 2030. The average size of new systems is 10 kW with turnkey cost of $10,000. This low cost arises from very smooth Government approvals, an experienced workforce, and absence of tariffs.
About 7% of Australian dwellings have home batteries, which is expected to triple by 2030, making Australia the global n. 1 per capita. The typical size of new home batteries is 25 kWh. Home battery uptake is driven by Government support, which is gradually reducing as it does its job of kick-starting the industry.
A revolution in domestic energy is underway. Home batteries coupled with rooftop solar, heat pumps and an EV allows families to enjoy abundant, clean, reliable and permanently cheap domestic energy: below $800 per year for electricity (and zero natural gas and vehicle fuel bills).
Completion of the 350 GWh Snowy 2.0 system around 2029 will deliver 13 kWh of long duration rechargeable pumped hydro energy storage per person (global n. 1).
EV uptake is rising rapidly, driven by the war on Iran. It’s currently at one quarter of new car sales (similar to the global average), although well behind the global leader Norway at 98%.
The rise of solar and batteries is having a remarkable effect on wholesale electricity prices. The graph shows inflation-adjusted average wholesale spot market prices in Australia’s national electricity market since 2012 (blue bars) and the renewable energy fraction of generation (red line). Expensive fossil gas is being pushed out of the market for both ancillary services and peak period power – gas dropped from 13% of generation a decade ago to 3% today.
Authors: Prof. Ricardo Rüther (UFSC), Prof. Andrew Blakers (ANU)
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Concord New Energy closes US$400 million financing for Texas solar-plus-storage project  PV Tech
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Qatar has announced its intention to build a large solar power plant in Lebanon, which is expected to help the country ease its energy crisis. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani made the statement in Beirut after a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
As Al Jazeera reports, QatarEnergy has agreed with the French company TotalEnergies to jointly develop a solar project in Lebanon. Sheikh Mohammed said that the parties had agreed on a comprehensive framework for cooperation in the energy sector and must present viable solutions.
Nawaf Salam said that he would soon present plans for the electricity sector to the Lebanese government. According to him, the Qatari side will finance, implement and launch the project at no cost to the Lebanese state.
Lebanon’s state electricity company is one of the largest sources of public debt: over recent decades, its losses have amounted to about $40 billion. The enterprise is overstaffed and has outdated infrastructure, providing electricity for only a few hours per day.
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During his visit to Beirut, Qatar’s prime minister also met with Lebanon’s president and parliamentary speaker. According to him, a significant part of the talks was devoted to Israeli violations on Lebanese territory and the situation in the south of the country.
Sheikh Mohammed called on Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and halt its attacks. He also said that Qatar is coordinating with the United States to prepare for the future reconstruction of southern areas of Lebanon so that displaced residents can return home.
Lebanese authorities say that more than 4,300 people have been killed in the country as a result of Israeli attacks since March. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 300,000 people remain displaced after the June ceasefire.
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PV module manufacturer Yingli Solar has begun bulk shipments of its zinc-aluminum-magnesium steel-frame modules for a 180 MW ecological remediation PV project in Shizuishan, Ningxia. Located in the Gobi desert and wasteland zone in northwestern China, the project will use large-format bifacial dual-glass modules with Yingli’s steel-frame solution.
Yingli said the zinc-aluminum-magnesium steel frame has a thermal expansion coefficient closer to that of PV glass than conventional aluminum frames, helping reduce interfacial stress and the risk of glass microcracks and debonding under large temperature swings. Its coating provides self-healing protection at scratches and cut edges, improving resistance to wind-blown sand and salt-spray corrosion. The steel’s high yield strength also improves resistance to wind and snow loads. The company says the frames are compatible with mainstream mounting systems and can reduce the carbon footprint associated with raw material production.
Integrated solar manufacturer Tongwei Solar plans to invest RMB 200 million to upgrade and integrate existing TOPCon cell production lines at its Meishan manufacturing base in Sichuan province. According to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) filing submitted to local authorities, the project will cover workshops S2, S3, and S4, with upgraded lines expected to achieve average conversion efficiencies of up to 27.50%.
In workshop S2, Tongwei Solar will add lithography printing, resist stripping, and cleaning processes, increasing capacity from 8.35 GW to 11.90 GW and raising average conversion efficiency from about 24.5% to 27.45%-27.50%. In S4, lithography printing will replace the existing rear laser selective-emitter process, lifting average efficiency from 25.78%-26.15% to 27.30%-27.50%. The company will cancel its plans for a 12.5 GW full-cell line in S3 and repurpose the workshop for multi-slicing, passivation, and other supporting processes for S2 and S4.
The upgrade is scheduled to be completed in January 2028. Afterward, the Meishan base’s overall designed capacity will be adjusted slightly from 52.50 GW to 52.05 GW.
Tongwei is currently listed at 7^th in the TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES listing, featuring a TOPCon module rated at 23.7% efficiency.
GD Power, a subsidiary of CHN Energy, has launched a tender for the overall implementation plan and feasibility studies for a planned 15.14 GW power base in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, supporting the Inner Mongolia-to-Anhui electricity transmission project. The complex is planned to comprise 8 GW of solar, 4.5 GW of wind, and 2.64 GW of coal-fired power, alongside 4.25 GW/8.5 GWh of electrochemical energy storage.
Electricity from the base will be transmitted to Anhui through a ±800 kV ultra-high-voltage direct-current (UHVDC) transmission project. The tender covers integrated renewable energy design; optimization of PV module and mounting-system configurations; collector-line design for large-scale wind farms; selection of energy storage technology and synchronous condenser configuration; and feasibility studies and related technical research. The planned service period runs from November 2026 to December 2030.
Longyuan Power, another CHN Energy subsidiary, recently launched a 6 GW framework tender for PV modules (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Fujian province has launched its 2026 mechanism price auction for incremental renewable energy projects, with an eligible electricity volume of 8.36 billion kWh. Wind and PV projects will compete in a unified process, with bids ranging from RMB 0.16/kWh to RMB 0.39/kWh. The resulting mechanism price will apply for 12 years. Both the lower and upper ends of the range are below those recently announced by Guangdong (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
The bidding uses a 125% bid-coverage ratio, while the declared electricity volume for each project is capped at 90% of its projected grid-fed generation. Eligible projects must have entered, or be scheduled to enter, full-capacity grid-connected operation between June 1, 2025, and December 31, 2027, and must not have previously been covered by the mechanism price.
Fujian’s calculation parameters set the average annual utilization hours over the past 3 years at 1,229 hours for utility-scale PV and 1,010 hours for distributed PV.
TaiyangNews 2024

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Published: Friday 16 Oct 2026
Coventry College welcomed Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, to unveil a plaque celebrating the successful completion of a major renewable energy project.
1,643 solar panels have been installed across four buildings at Coventry College and neighbouring Sidney Stringer Academy thanks to investment from Mayoral Renewables Fund and their own match funding.
The benefits are already being seen with direct electricity savings of more than £95,000 in just six months.
As well as reducing operating costs and reliance on grid electricity, they are creating opportunities for Coventry College students to see renewable technologies working in a real educational environment.
The project has already supported an industry masterclass for the college’s Level 2 electrical students, providing an interactive session and real-world experience of renewable energy technology.
The college has also previously secured funding to deliver solar photovoltaic skills bootcamps, supporting local residents and businesses to develop the skills needed to meet growing demand for solar installation and other areas of the green economy.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The results we’re seeing from the solar panels at Coventry College and Sidney Stringer School show the real-world benefits of switching to renewable energy. Thousands of pounds have been freed up for teaching and support for these young people, which will help give them a better start in life and contribute to making Hillfields a better place to live.
“But we’re not stopping in Coventry. We’re rolling out a major programme to modernise thousands more public buildings, from schools and libraries to leisure centres, as well as homes and businesses across our region.
“This is how we can help soften the impact of this year’s energy price hikes and support families with the rising cost of living.”
Carol Thomas, Principal and CEO at Coventry College, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mayor Richard Parker to Coventry College to celebrate the completion of this important project.
“The solar installation is already making a tangible difference, helping us reduce our energy costs and allowing us to focus more of our resources on what matters most: providing high-quality education, training and opportunities for our students.
“It also means our students can see renewable energy technology in action on their own campus, complementing the skills and knowledge we are developing to support employers and the workforce of the future.”
 
The solar panels were funded by central government with £700,000 from the Mayor Renewables Fund and £125k in match funding from Coventry College and Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust, and delivered by the Strategic Energy Partnership between E.ON and Coventry City Council.
The project has also supported small businesses in the city, with Coventry’s Strategic Energy Partnership working with local suppliers and several Coventry-based workers on the installation.
The plaque unveiled by the Mayor recognises the partnership behind the project and its contribution to creating more resilient educational facilities in Hillfields.
The investment also forms part of wider plans for the Hillfields area, with opportunities for further low-carbon infrastructure and future decarbonisation projects.
Vijay Tank, Chief Commercial Officer for E.ON Energy Infrastructure Services, said: “Making new energy work for everyone means cutting bills and delivering benefits that people can see. Working with our partners at Coventry City Council we’ve delivered this rooftop solar project at pace, cutting bills for the schools that frees up money for education while at the same time creating opportunities for local businesses that keeps much of the original investment within the community. It’s a clear example of how affordable, sustainable energy can improve everyone’s lives.”
Cllr Lynnette Kelly, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “By powering these educational buildings with clean, renewable energy, we’re not only cutting carbon emissions we are also saving vital resources that can be reinvested elsewhere. Projects like this demonstrate how innovation and partnership can drive the green economy and create a healthier, more sustainable city for all.
“Our partnership with E.ON has enabled us to move quickly. But we are far from done. Solar on roofs is a big priority for us – there are already more than people think, on the Council house roof, at Coombe and the library for example. Now we are looking at where next – and schools are likely to be at the heart of that.”
The Strategic Energy Partnership between E.ON and Coventry City Council is accelerating the city’s transition to a more affordable, secure and low-carbon future.
It is delivering practical measures to improve energy efficiency across Coventry’s homes, buildings and transport systems, helping to create a cleaner, more resilient city while supporting economic growth and improving quality of life.
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© West Midlands Combined Authority 2026

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A study of five utility scale solar photovoltaic plants in Spain and the UK has found that the real world performance of bifacial solar modules can differ significantly from their nominal ratings, raising questions about the assumptions used in project design and regulatory assessments.
The study is titled ‘The bifacial gain gap: Nominal and regulatory vs. effective performance across five utility-scale PV sites.’
The research, published in the journal Renewable Energy, analyses two years of operational data from a 50 MWp solar plant in Spain, with results validated against four additional plants covering different mounting configurations and climatic conditions.
Bifacial photovoltaic modules generate electricity from both their front and rear surfaces. Their ability to capture additional sunlight can increase energy production compared with conventional monofacial modules, making them a widely adopted technology for large scale solar installations.
However, the study found that the amount of additional electricity generated depends on site conditions, mounting structures, irradiance levels and the electrical and thermal behaviour of the modules in operation.
At the reference plant in Spain, the time weighted bifacial power gain was 49.5%, with the 90th percentile reaching 80.4%. These figures describe the study’s calculated power gain relative to temperature and irradiance corrected front side nominal power and should not be interpreted as a direct percentage increase in total plant energy production.
Effective bifaciality, which measures the contribution of rear side irradiance relative to front side irradiance, averaged 0.610 on a time weighted basis and 0.599 when weighted by irradiance. Both results were below the modules’ nominal bifaciality rating of 0.70.
The researchers found that the difference was greatest under irradiance conditions that contribute most to energy production, highlighting the limitations of relying on manufacturer ratings alone when estimating operational performance.
Across all five plants, irradiance weighted effective bifaciality ranged from 0.464 to 0.722, equivalent to 66% to 103% of the nominal rating. Median bifacial power gain varied from 22.9% to 53.5%, reflecting differences in site conditions and system configurations.
The study also identified a seasonal relationship between bifacial power gain and effective bifaciality, with the two indicators showing an inverse pattern. This suggests that the factors determining additional power generation do not remain constant throughout the year.
Rear side irradiance also affected the electrical and thermal operating conditions of the systems. Direct current string current increased by up to 110%, while string voltage fell by 8% to 9%. Module temperatures increased by as much as 3.5°C.
These effects have implications for direct current system design, including string sizing, cable selection and protective equipment. They also reinforce the importance of incorporating measured operating conditions into energy yield assessments and long term performance evaluations.
The findings are particularly relevant to Spain’s Royal Decree 997/2025, which introduces a factor of 1.15 for calculating the installed capacity of bifacial photovoltaic systems based on their front side standard test condition power.
The regulation effectively treats installed capacity as 115% of the front side rated capacity for administrative purposes. However, the researchers emphasise that the factor is an administrative capacity conversion rule rather than a guarantee of a 15% operational performance increase.
The distinction matters for project developers, engineering companies and system operators because capacity calculations can influence permitting, grid connection agreements, equipment sizing and the technical and financial assumptions underpinning a project.
The study’s findings suggest that a single fixed factor cannot fully represent the operating behaviour of bifacial solar plants across different sites and mounting configurations. While the regulatory approach simplifies administrative procedures, project level assessments still require realistic performance assumptions based on local conditions.
The research compared three Spanish plants with relatively high direct irradiance resources against two UK plants with more diffuse irradiance and average irradiance levels between 35% and 45% lower. All five installations used monocrystalline silicon half cell bifacial modules, allowing the researchers to examine the effects of mounting geometry and climate on performance.
The authors conclude that field derived effective bifaciality and bifacial power gain provide useful indicators for solar yield modelling, direct current design and performance assessment. Applying these metrics across different sites could help developers better account for the contribution of rear side generation and reduce the risk of discrepancies between expected and measured performance.
As bifacial technology continues to play a major role in utility scale solar development, the study underscores the importance of using operational evidence alongside nominal module specifications to improve project design and performance forecasting.
Link to the full paper HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal






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The latest Clean Energy Regulator (CER) data shows investment in solar is setting a new annual record with final investment decisions (FID) for the September quarter sitting at 1 GW, following 2 GW in Q2, adding to the year’s already tallied 3.5 GW, and is approximately 30% above the previous annual solar FID record.
2.1 GW of total large-scale renewable capacity reached FID in the September quarter, which is an equal highest quarterly result, and brings total renewable FID to October 2026 to 5 GW.
That is higher than the previous full-year record of 4.9 GW and brings large-scale FID totals to almost 17 GW since 2022. 
Rooftop solar added 90,042 installations and 894 MW of capacity in the September quarter, which is 35% higher than in Q3 2025, and year-to-date rooftop solar capacity is 45% higher than at the same point in October 2025.
Rooftop solar installations in Q3 were 39% higher than Q3 2025, and has so far added 2.8 GW in 2026, which almost matches the whole of 2025, with three months to go.
Q2 2026 was the biggest rooftop solar capacity quarter on record at 1 GW, and over 13 GW of small-scale solar has been installed since 2022.
Approved capacity under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP) reached 15.3 GWh by the end of September, up 1.9 GWh in Q3, and up from less than 2 GWh at the same time in 2025, with total home battery capacity in Australia now more than 5 times greater than when the scheme began on 1 July 2025.  
Cheaper Home Batteries approved capacity has more than tripled during 2026, growing from 5 GWh at the end of 2025 to 15.3 GWh at the end of Q3. With total home battery capacity, including that installed before the scheme, around 19 GWh, it is more than 5 times greater than when the scheme began. 
New South Wales (NSW) has 5.6 GWh of approved home battery capacity, followed by Victoria and Queensland at about 3.2 GWh each.
The data shows about half of approved battery installations are retrofits to existing solar, while about half are going in with new or upgraded rooftop solar.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said more renewable energy reaching final investment decision is “what progress looks like”.
“Renewable investment has already broken the annual record with three months still to go. And it isn’t just investment; last month renewable energy generated more electricity in the national grid than fossil fuels,” Bowen said.
“Investors, as well as Australian households and small businesses, are backing Australian renewable energy because they see a government with a clear policy that is working and we’ll continue to get on with the job.”
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Recurrent Energy begins commercial operations at 200MW Villameca solar project in Spain  PV Tech
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Trina Solar said on Oct. 15 that it plans to acquire a 1.6% stake in Chinese PV encapsulation film manufacturer Changzhou Betterial Film Technologies for CNY 40 million ($5.88 million). The deal covers 3.27 million shares held by Jiangsu Baixing Industrial Investment Group and will be funded with Trina Solar’s own capital. Trina Solar said the investment aims to deepen cooperation with upstream suppliers and strengthen supply chain stability, citing the close links between Betterial’s encapsulation film business and its own solar manufacturing operations. Betterial is headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, and operates eight manufacturing bases across China, Vietnam and Turkey.
Longi Energy Storage has started operations at a new 4.4-hectare manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China. The plant includes production lines for containerized utility-scale battery energy storage systems, commercial and industrial (C&I) storage systems, and control cabinets. Its utility-scale storage system integration line is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 31 GWh by the end of October, increasing to 50 GWh in 2027. The C&I storage production line is expected to reach an annual capacity of more than 10,000 units by the end of October.
China Datang announced on Oct. 14 the shortlisted bidders for a tender to supply inverters for its 500 MW Nam Mo solar project in Laos. CRRC Zhuzhou National Engineering Research Center of Converters ranked first with a bid of CNY 41.95 million ($6.17 million), followed by TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis at CNY 45.48 million. The tender covers string inverters rated at 300 kW or higher for delivery to the project site in Nam Mo district, Oudomxay province. The selected supplier must be ready to deliver the first batch within 30 days of receiving a purchase order or written notice, with all deliveries completed within three months of the purchase order taking effect.
TCL Zhonghuan has secured a contract to supply approximately 16 MWp of double-glass solar modules for the fourth phase of Baowu Clean Energy’s Baoshan solar project in Shanghai, according to an Oct. 16 contract award announcement. The modules will have a rated power output of at least 645 W, with a winning bid of CNY 0.755/W ($0.111/W). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in batches on Oct. 20, 2026.
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pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.
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GES secures US$252 million EPC contracts for four Spanish solar PV projects  PV Tech
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | October 16, 2026
Qcells announced it will offer new versions of its residential solar panels that feature aluminum frames extruded, anodized and fabricated in Tennessee.
Qcells will offer domestic-frame options for its Q.TRON AC and Q.PEAK DUO AC panels in the United States. The frames will help meet minimum domestic content requirements for certain third-party owned solar projects.
“Qcells is committed to investing in American-made clean energy products and in the domestic supply chain behind them,” said Il Hyeong No, Head of Qcells North America’s Residential Business. “Through this partnership to produce modules with domestic frames, we are furthering our commitment to U.S. manufacturing, supporting clean, affordable energy and giving our customers the certainty they need to qualify projects for the domestic content bonus.”
The frames are produced in partnership with ALUKO Group which performs extrusion, anodizing and fabrication at its manufacturing facility in Halls, Tennessee. The facility is expected to begin full production by the end of 2026, with a planned annual capacity to produce enough frames to support 4 GW of solar panels. ALUKO plans to create 285 new full-time jobs and invest more than $107 million in Tennessee within five years.
“We are proud to support Qcells in building a stronger U.S. solar manufacturing supply chain. By carrying out extrusion, anodizing and fabrication here in the United States, we are delivering a product that offers transparency and confidence at every step of the process,” said Jinwoo Park, President of ALUKO Group. “This partnership shows what is possible when manufacturers invest across the full domestic supply chain.”
News item from Qcells
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.

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The Grundy County Board this week acted on a special use petition for a new solar farm that would be located in the 5700 block of Whitetie Road. The board heard from the farmer who owns the land during public comment. 
Grundy County Development Director Alec Macdonald said the solar farm would be located within one and half miles of the city limits of Carbon Hill and Coal City. 
He said the Zoning Board of Appeals first heard about the project in August and tabled it. 
The special use was recommended at a meeting last month. 
Josh Harris, Joe Plese, James Riley, Harold Vota, Georgette Vota, Doug Ferro and Matt Cosenza voted yes, while Joe and Laura Schiavnone, Debra Warning, Nathaniel Greene and Jeff Wynn voted no. Laura Schiavone and Harold Vota had this conversation during the meeting. 
Six Grundy County board members were not at the meeting. For more reaction from the meeting, click link below: 
https://grundycountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=4221&Format=Agenda
https://grundycountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx
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Recurrent Energy, a Canada-based solar and energy storage developer, has started commercial operation at its 200 MW Villameca solar PV plant in Castilla y León, Spain. The plant is expected to generate approximately 359,172 MWh of electricity a year, which is enough to power more than 100,000 homes. With Villameca in operation, Recurrent Energy expects its operating solar capacity in Spain to reach approximately 1 GW by the end of the year. That total will include the 426 MW Rey Solar Project in Andalucía, which has recently been inaugurated. The 315 MW Tordesillas Project in Castilla y León will complete that total when it is connected to the grid later this year. Recurrent Energy, which is a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, also expects to add battery energy storage systems to Villameca.
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Western Australia names Clean Energy Link – East contractors to unlock 2.3GW of solar and wind  PV Tech
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The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has issued a final affirmative injury determination in its Solar IV investigation targeting crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, imported from India, Indonesia, and Laos. 
The decision clears the final legal hurdle for federal trade protection, finding that dumped and subsidized imports from the three Asian nations cause material injury to domestic solar manufacturers. As a direct result of the ruling, the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue official antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders, establishing high tariff barriers and permanent cash deposit requirements across all three import corridors. 
The upcoming duty orders will impose combined tariff rates as high as 249% for India, 268% for Indonesia, and 219% for Laos. These case-specific remedies, governed by the Tariff Act of 1930, will stack directly on top of existing executive tariffs and Section 232 minimum import price floors rather than replacing them. 
Finalized duty rates 
The USITC vote locks in the final margins established by Commerce last month. For Indian suppliers, Commerce set final dumping margins at 123.04% for all producers alongside a countervailing subsidy rate of 126.09%. Indonesian exporters face final dumping margins set at 94.36% for all producers, with countervailing duty rates ranging between 73.2% and 173.7% depending on the specific supplier. For imports originating in Laos, Commerce established final dumping margins at 65.43% for all exporters, accompanied by countervailing subsidy rates ranging between 82.03% and 153.67%. 
The trade cases were originally brought by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, a coalition represented by lead petitioners First Solar, Hanwha Qcells USA, and Mission Solar Energy. The litigation follows earlier Solar III duty orders targeting Southeast Asian manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. 
Next steps 
Following the USITC’s final injury determination, Commerce is scheduled to issue its official AD and CVD orders in early November 2026. Upon publication, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be instructed to require final duty cash deposits on all incoming entries of cells and modules from India, Indonesia, and Laos. 
The Commission’s full public report, Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, from India, Indonesia, and Laos (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-772-774 and 731-TA-1756-1758, USITC Publication 5804) detailing its factual findings and legal analysis, will be published on the USITC website by November 23, 2026.
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The Kōwhai Park solar farm is forecast to produce 275GWh of renewable electricity annually.
New Zealand (NZ) has expanded its renewable energy portfolio with the official opening of the Kōwhai Park solar farm at Christchurch Airport.
The $153m (NZ$273m) project, which was opened by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, introduces 150MW-alternating current/168MW-direct current of generation capacity to the country’s electricity system.
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Developed through a partnership between Contact Energy and Lightsource bp, the Kōwhai Park solar farm is forecast to produce 275GW-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity annually.
According to the project’s developers, this output is estimated to be equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 36,000 households.
Electricity from the facility is already under contract to support both Christchurch Airport and dairy processor Synlait as part of long-term power purchase agreements.
Synlait is set to acquire 25% of the generated power for its operations at Dunsandel and Dairyworks.
The solar farm uses nearly 300,000 solar panels, which cover a 230-hectare site at Christchurch International Airport.
Lightsource bp Asia-Pacific chief operating officer Adam Pegg said: “Kōwhai Park is an important milestone for Lightsource bp as our first completed project in New Zealand.
“Working alongside Contact Energy, Christchurch Airport, local businesses and the wider community, we have combined international capability with local knowledge to deliver a project that will provide renewable energy for decades to come.
“We see significant opportunity for large-scale renewables to support New Zealand’s growing electricity needs, industrial electrification and long-term energy security.”
Construction of the Kōwhai Park solar farm involved 66 Canterbury businesses and peaked at 235 workers on-site.
Kōwhai Park is positioned by its partners as an important development towards meeting NZ’s future electricity demand and supporting industrial electrification.
Christchurch Airport CEO Justin Watson said: “Our vision for Kōwhai Park is to create a renewable energy precinct that can support new opportunities and deliver long-term value for our region.”
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Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd. (KOSPO) has arranged a meeting with 12 specialized institutions to discuss the commercialization of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems and policy improvements.
KOSPO said it held the first regular meeting of the Next-Generation BIPV Forum at the Seoul Chamber of Commerce on the 16th. The forum comprises a group of industry, academic and research experts from 12 institutions.
The Next-Generation BIPV Forum, a consultative body of industry, academic and research experts in the BIPV field, officially launched on July 3. Its four subcommittees—policy, construction and operations, business, and R&D—have continued to discuss policy improvements and practical cooperation measures to commercialize next-generation BIPV.
At the regular meeting, the status of activities under existing action items in each subcommittee was reviewed. KOSPO also shared its “Basic Plan for Promoting Next-Generation BIPV Projects.”
In expert presentations that followed, Kim Hyo-jung, team leader at Junglim Architecture, presented “Realizing Zero-Energy Buildings and the Role of BIPV in Achieving Carbon Neutrality,” while Jeon Hyeon-u, an executive director at EnergyNet, presented “A Strategy for Implementing ZEB through BIM-Based BIPV Design.”
Participants then held an in-depth discussion on how to apply carbon-neutral building technologies in practice and on specific implementation strategies.
Yun Sangok, KOSPO’s executive director for renewable energy, said, “The diverse expert opinions and action plans at the Next-Generation BIPV Forum are essential to realizing the commercialization of BIPV,” adding, “We will do our utmost to make urban solar power a reality.”
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“Might need to check if someone’s stealing your electricity then for a 100% increase.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A homeowner whose electric use more than doubled after a utility-reported meter problem looked into solar panels to lower their utility bill.
But when they got a quote, they were stunned to receive an estimate over $70,000. The homeowner then asked Reddit’s r/SolarEnergy community, “Is this cost normal?”
In the Reddit thread, the original poster wanted to know whether the $70,145 quote for a 26.8kW solar-only system was too high or standard. They said their power bill had been “getting increasingly higher” even though they had been “not doing anything different than we have the last 18 years,” and that the surge started after the utility said “there was a problem at my meter.”
OP compared their year-over-year usage, writing: “Last September I used 1,031 kWh. This September they are saying I used 2,267. More than doubled and we haven’t done anything different for it to go up like that.”
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The top comment read: “That is a ton of solar for a home. A typical home has 5.6 or 8kw, maybe 10 or 12kw.” The same commenter argued that “consuming less power is always more cost effective than producing that demand with solar.” 
Another wrote that “sounds like you need to figure out your actual consumption first… No change in use in 18 years but ‘soaring usage’ doesn’t make sense.”
One commenter estimated that a DIY setup producing about 2,300 kWh per month should be “around 30k,” with a professional installation potentially costing far more once labor was added. Separately, someone else said that even when using “2k+ kWh on a monthly basis you do not need 26.8kW of panels.”
Commenters also suggested the spike in consumption was bad data or an external issue rather than a real change in household demand. One wrote: “Might need to check if someone’s stealing your electricity then for a 100% increase. Heck, [the] power company might even be lying or made an error.”
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A few replies focused on devices that might be failing or stuck on. Suggestions included an “AC breaking and running all of the time” or “a pool heater or hot tub” or another appliance “not shutting off like it should.”
Overall, commenters said the spike needed to be diagnosed before the homeowner bought panels sized around it.
That included practical troubleshooting steps. One commenter suggested using a kill-a-watt device to measure what each appliance draws and “chase it down with a little patience.” Their bottom line was: “Fix the problem, then decide if you want to make a solar purchase.”
Still, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, but only when the system is sized to your real usage. 
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
For homeowners who do move forward after verifying their actual usage, shopping around can make a huge financial difference. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
Plus, EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, as well as details on solar panel incentives for each state.
If you’re trying to make sense of a big solar quote after a puzzling power bill, these stories show how billing rules, meter data, and system sizing can affect the numbers. 
• After installing solar, a homeowner got a surprise energy bill and wanted answers.
• In Ohio, a homeowner discovered net metering may leave nearly half the monthly bill untouched.
• In Australia, a homeowner said a 20kW solar setup made blackouts disappear and earned credits.
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Once operational, is expected to generate around 70 GWh a year, equivalent to the consumption of more than 44,000 households.
At 55MWp, it is one of the largest solar farms in Romania by installed capacity. Energisation is planned by the end of 2026.
Lazuri has been awarded a 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) by the Romanian authorities, underpinning its long-term revenues. It was financed as part of the 44 million euro project finance facility R.Power signed in June 2026 with ING Bank NV and UniCredit Bank SA, on a club deal basis, for a portfolio of four PV projects in Romania totalling approximately 75 MWp.
The project forms part of R.Power’s growing solar, hybrid and energy storage pipeline in Romania, which amounts to 1.5 GW and supports the country’s decarbonisation and energy independence goals.
“Completing construction works at Lazuri is an important milestone for R.Power’s Romanian solar portfolio” said Florin Federenciuc, R.Power Country Head for Romania. “The project has moved efficiently from development through financing and construction, and we are now preparing for energisation and the start of operations. Romania remains a key market in our CEE strategy, and we look forward to Lazuri contributing utility-scale clean energy to the grid.”
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China’s Ministry of Commerce and its Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed new export controls on October 16, 2026, that target the manufacturing technology behind perovskite and tandem solar cells, according to pv magazine and other outlets tracking the filing. The draft does not block shipments of finished solar panels. It targets the production know-how, equipment designs, and technical support that let factories outside China build the next generation of high-efficiency solar cells.
The timing lands the proposal squarely inside a broader pattern. Beijing has spent 2026 tightening its grip on technologies it considers strategically important, and this latest move follows a separate, wider catalogue revision covering artificial intelligence and biomedicine that Tech Insider reported on the same day. Solar manufacturing technology is the third leg of that stool, and it may be the one with the most direct bearing on how fast the rest of the world can build competing supply chains for advanced photovoltaics.
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The proposal would add perovskite and tandem solar manufacturing technologies to China’s catalogue of technologies prohibited or restricted from export. Four specific categories of manufacturing know-how appear in the draft, each defined by a size or efficiency threshold rather than a blanket product ban. The first covers perovskite-crystalline silicon tandem cell technology built on mass-produced silicon wafers measuring at least 182 millimeters and reaching at least 30% conversion efficiency. The second covers perovskite-specific slot-die coating technology with a processing width of at least 1.1 meters, the machinery used to lay down the thin perovskite layer at commercial scale.
The third and fourth categories apply to finished module production rather than cell manufacturing. Large-area single-junction perovskite cell module technology is covered when modules measure at least 1 square meter and achieve at least 18% efficiency. Large-area tandem perovskite cell module technology is covered at the same 1-square-meter size threshold but a higher 28% efficiency bar. The draft also names related equipment-manufacturing technologies, though the public version of the filing does not spell out separate thresholds for that category.
One detail separates this announcement from a routine policy draft: part of it is already live. A temporary requirement to register planned exports of the listed technologies through the Ministry of Commerce’s Technology Trade Management Information System took effect on October 16, 2026, the same day the broader proposal was published. Companies that want to export any of the covered manufacturing processes or equipment now have to log that intent with Beijing before the final rules are even settled.
The prohibition and licensing requirements themselves had not taken effect as of the announcement. That distinction matters for any company currently negotiating a technology-transfer deal or an overseas production line. The registration system creates a paper trail starting immediately, while the actual bans and license requirements wait on the outcome of a public comment process.
Public consultation on the proposed catalogue changes runs from October 16 to November 15, 2026, a month-long window in which companies, trade associations, and foreign governments can submit feedback before Beijing finalizes the list. That is a tight runway for an industry that spans continents and multiple regulatory jurisdictions. Equipment makers and cell manufacturers with existing licensing deals now have roughly four weeks to argue for carve-outs or threshold adjustments before the rules harden.
Thirty days is also short relative to how long it typically takes multinational solar manufacturers to assess technology-transfer exposure across a global supply chain. Legal and trade-compliance teams at firms with Chinese manufacturing partnerships or licensing agreements are likely to spend much of that window simply mapping which of their contracts touch the specific efficiency and size thresholds named in the draft.
China’s export-control catalogue system splits technologies into two tiers. Prohibited technologies cannot leave the country under any licensing arrangement. Restricted technologies can be exported, but only after the exporter obtains government approval. Reporting on the broader catalogue revision that includes the solar provisions puts the number of technologies proposed for full prohibition at 14 overall, spanning multiple sectors, with 12 photovoltaic technologies identified as covered by the proposed measures. Where the specific perovskite and tandem items fall within that prohibited-versus-restricted split has not been confirmed in the available reporting, and companies should not assume either tier until Beijing publishes the finalized catalogue.
The structure echoes an approach Beijing has already used for other strategically sensitive sectors. A technology-transfer license requirement lets the state control who gets access to a manufacturing process without stopping the sale of the physical product that process produces. For solar, that means a Chinese-made panel can still ship overseas even if the recipe for building the factory that made it cannot.
The distinction between a product ban and a technology-transfer ban is the single most important detail in this story, and it is easy to miss on a quick read of the headline. The proposal concerns technology transfers and specified manufacturing equipment, not a blanket prohibition on exporting finished polysilicon, wafers, cells, or modules made using those technologies. A factory in Europe or India that already runs the covered tandem process today is not retroactively shut down. A factory that wants to license that same process from a Chinese technology provider tomorrow faces a much higher bar.
That framing puts the policy in the same conceptual bucket as chip-equipment export controls rather than tariffs or trade sanctions on finished goods. It is a lever aimed at slowing the diffusion of production capability, not at shrinking current trade flows of physical panels.
This is not China’s first move to restrict outbound flows of technology it views as strategically valuable. The country has already applied export licensing requirements to gallium and germanium, two materials critical to semiconductor and defense manufacturing, and separately imposed permit requirements on certain graphite products, both steps that reshaped global sourcing for electronics and battery supply chains. Tech Insider has covered how those rare-earth curbs rippled through hardware markets, and the pattern holds a lesson for solar: material-level controls restrict what leaves the country physically, while technology-level controls like this one restrict who can replicate the manufacturing capability abroad.
China built its dominant position in conventional solar manufacturing over roughly two decades, accumulating the overwhelming majority of global polysilicon, wafer, cell, and module capacity along the way. The perovskite and tandem proposal suggests Beijing wants to protect its lead in the next generation of the technology the same way it protected its lead in the current one, by controlling not just output but the ability of rivals to build equivalent factories elsewhere.
The solar provisions arrived as part of a larger draft catalogue revision that also covers artificial intelligence and biomedical technologies, according to coverage from Global Times, which put the total count of newly added technologies across all three sectors in the dozens. The AI-specific portion of that filing, which separately proposes export curbs on large language models, autonomous agents, and chip-design methodologies, was significant enough to warrant its own coverage, detailed in Tech Insider’s report on the AI export curbs published the same day.
Seeing AI, biomedicine, and solar technology bundled into one regulatory action signals that Beijing is not treating this as a sector-specific response to a single trade dispute. It reads more like a general policy upgrade, one that extends the same technology-transfer control logic China has applied to hardware and rare earths into software, biotech, and clean-energy manufacturing simultaneously. The pattern is visible elsewhere too, including in how the European Union has been lining up alternative mineral suppliers to cut its dependence on Chinese-controlled inputs.
The near-term market effect should be limited for companies that only buy finished panels, since the proposal does not touch module shipments directly. The bigger exposure sits with overseas manufacturers and project developers that depend on Chinese-origin process recipes, equipment lines, installation support, or commissioning services to build or expand tandem production outside China. Those relationships are exactly what the registration requirement now puts on the record starting this week.
Coverage from Bloomberg Law frames the move as part of a broader effort by Beijing to preserve its renewable-energy technology advantage as the United States, India, and parts of Europe expand their own domestic manufacturing ambitions. If the rules finalize close to their current draft form, the practical effect is likely to raise the cost and stretch the timeline for any non-Chinese company trying to stand up advanced tandem production from scratch, even as existing Chinese panel exports continue largely unaffected.
Perovskite-silicon tandem cells sit at the frontier of commercial solar efficiency, and the race to scale that technology outside China has drawn growing interest from manufacturers and research groups across Europe, the United States, and South and Southeast Asia. Coverage from The Hindu BusinessLine notes that the proposed curbs land at a moment when several governments outside China are actively courting investment in domestic solar-cell manufacturing, viewing tandem technology specifically as a chance to leapfrog rather than simply replicate China’s existing crystalline-silicon capacity.
Whether that leapfrogging happens on schedule now depends heavily on how the finalized export rules treat equipment sales, licensing, and technical-support arrangements. A government or company that has already secured a technology-transfer agreement before the rules take final effect is in a very different position than one still negotiating. The next 30 days are likely to see a wave of accelerated dealmaking from parties trying to lock in access before any license requirement applies.
The structure of China’s proposal, controlling technology transfer and equipment rather than finished-good trade, mirrors the logic Washington has used for years to restrict Chinese access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing tools. The United States has spent several years tightening controls on EDA software, lithography equipment, and other chipmaking technology headed to China. Beijing’s solar proposal applies a similar playbook in the opposite direction, protecting the manufacturing capability behind a product category where China currently holds the global lead.
That symmetry is worth sitting with. Both regimes now rely on technical thresholds, wafer size, efficiency percentage, processing width, node dimension, rather than country-of-origin bans, to decide what can move across borders. It is a sign that technology-transfer control via specification threshold, not blanket embargo, has become the preferred regulatory tool on both sides of the US-China technology relationship. A similar calculus is already playing out in heavy manufacturing, where Toyota’s decision to bring gigacasting technology into a Chinese plant shows how manufacturers weigh the benefits of China’s production scale against the risk that the underlying process technology becomes harder to move in or out of the country later.
Industry attention over the next month is likely to center on three questions: which companies currently hold technology-transfer or licensing agreements that would fall inside the new thresholds, whether the final rules include any grandfather clause for contracts signed before October 16, and how strictly Beijing enforces the registration requirement that is already in effect. Detailed annex language describing the full scope of the draft catalogue, including the specific wording used for the artificial-intelligence and biomedicine provisions bundled alongside the solar rules, is laid out in the filing documented by Geopolitechs.
Equipment manufacturers that sell slot-die coating systems and tandem-cell production lines are in a particularly sensitive spot, since their core business is exactly the kind of technology transfer the proposal targets. Expect lobbying groups representing both Chinese exporters and foreign importers to submit detailed comments before the November 15 deadline, each pushing for threshold adjustments that favor their existing contracts.
Several outcomes look more likely than others based on how the proposal is structured and how similar Chinese export-control actions have played out in the past.
The next concrete milestone is November 15, 2026, when the public comment window closes and China’s regulators begin incorporating feedback into a final catalogue. Until then, the registration requirement already in effect gives Beijing real-time visibility into who is planning to export the covered technologies, even before any license requirement applies. Companies with exposure to the named thresholds, whether through existing licensing deals, planned overseas production lines, or equipment sales, have roughly four weeks to make their case.
For an industry already navigating chip-tool restrictions, tariff disputes, and critical-minerals curbs, as seen in how chipmakers have had to adjust to China tool restrictions this year, the solar proposal is one more signal that technology-transfer control, rather than trade volume control, is becoming the default regulatory instrument on both sides of the Pacific.
No. The proposal concerns technology transfers and specified manufacturing equipment, not a blanket prohibition on exporting finished polysilicon, wafers, cells, or modules made using those technologies, according to reporting on the draft catalogue.
No. The proposed bans and licensing requirements had not yet taken effect as of the October 16, 2026 announcement. Only a temporary requirement to register planned exports of the listed technologies took effect that day.
The draft covers large-area tandem perovskite cell module technology for modules measuring at least 1 square meter and achieving at least 28% efficiency.
Public consultation on the proposed catalogue changes runs from October 16 to November 15, 2026, a 30-day window.
Reporting on the draft catalogue identifies 12 photovoltaic technologies as covered by the proposed measures, part of a wider total of 14 technologies proposed for complete export prohibition across all sectors named in the filing.
Yes. The solar provisions are part of the same broader draft catalogue revision that also proposes export curbs on artificial intelligence and biomedical technologies, which Tech Insider covered separately the same day.
China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed the export controls covering the perovskite and tandem solar manufacturing technologies.
Through the Ministry of Commerce’s Technology Trade Management Information System, where the temporary registration requirement took effect on October 16, 2026.
Elias Virtanen is the Cybersecurity Analyst at Tech Insider, bringing hands-on expertise from his background in penetration testing and security consulting. He previously worked as a security researcher at F-Secure in Helsinki, where he focused on threat intelligence and vulnerability disclosure. Elias covers ransomware trends, zero-trust architecture, and the evolving regulatory landscape including NIS2 and the EU Cyber Resilience Act. He holds a CISSP certification and an MSc in Information Security from Aalto University.
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Emmvee Shifts Over 50% Of Cell Capacity To G12R, Eyes Full Conversion Photograph: (AI)
Indian solar module and cell manufacturer, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Limited, has converted more than 50% of its solar cell manufacturing capacity from M10R to G12R-based cells. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru-based company has plans to complete the transition after fulfilling its existing M10R orders. G12R is currently being built as a golden standard for developing solar capacity outside China, balancing cost, comfort, and installation.  This comes at a time when the majority of the Indian solar module and cell makers are transitioning to the G12R-wafer-based cells. 
Speaking during the company’s latest investor call, the management discussed the company’s manufacturing transition, cost efficiencies, market demand and the expected implementation of the ALMM requirements.
Emmvee said that the remaining M10R capacity would be converted to G12R once the company completes its existing orders.
“The remaining, we have some orders in hand to complete the M10R, after which we will convert everything,” the management said.
The company indicated that the transition would be relatively straightforward because its manufacturing lines are already designed to accommodate G12-format cells, referred to during the call as 220 mm. This manufacturing flexibility is expected to allow Emmvee to respond to changing customer demand without requiring a significant transition period.
“It’s a quick transition for us. So any line, every line can form a G12,” the management said.
The company added that incoming orders reflect a mix of cell formats in the domestic content requirement (DCR) segment, while demand in the non-DCR segment is entirely for G12R cells.
Emmvee also highlighted the cost benefits associated with the transition from M10R to G12R. According to the management, silver consumption has declined from approximately 220 mg to around 60–65 mg per cell. The company also highlighted an increase in cell power output, from approximately 8 W in the earlier format to around 9.5 W with the newer format.
The management expects further improvements in the coming year through value addition and other manufacturing enhancements. Although selling prices may decline slightly, the company believes it can maintain its margins through manufacturing cost efficiencies. Some of these cost benefits may be passed on to customers.
Emmvee does not expect a widespread transition to the larger G12 format in the immediate future. According to the management, G12R remains the preferred format in India and across much of the global market outside China, partly because it offers greater convenience during installation and can provide advantages in structural requirements and overall costs.
The management noted that improvements in cell efficiency and other technological developments are continuing, with further announcements expected from the company.
During the investor call, Emmvee said that DCR products accounted for more than 50% of its sales. The company also indicated that the DCR component would remain higher in the following half of the financial year.
The management’s comments on the mix of cell formats suggest that demand varies across the two segments. While non-DCR orders are currently for G12R cells, the DCR segment continues to include a mix of formats.
Addressing a question on the possibility of further deferment of the ALMM implementation beyond December 2026, Emmvee’s management said such an extension appeared extremely unlikely.
The management noted that the industry had already been given a significant amount of time to realign its manufacturing and supply chains. It also pointed to activity in the open-access segment and the government’s emphasis on implementing the relevant ALMM requirements.
The company added that module manufacturing capacity alone may not be the appropriate measure for assessing readiness for implementation. Instead, the phased nature of the requirements and the timelines applicable to different project categories need to be considered.
According to Emmvee, utility-scale projects bid out up to August 2025 still have time before the relevant requirements apply to them. This means some demand for non-DCR products is expected to continue during the transition period.
The company said approximately 30% of its order book comprised non-DCR orders, with many of these projects scheduled for delivery in the following year. This provides continued visibility for non-DCR products during the transition.
However, the management reiterated that a further extension of the implementation timeline beyond December 2026 was unlikely.

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Nearly 370 feet of conduit runs between the house and a tractor shed.
Photo Credit: Reddit
On five acres in Southern California, one homeowner designed and built an off-grid solar system sized for more than basic household use. 
After completing the installation, the off-gridder shared their setup on Reddit’s r/SolarDIY forum.
In the Reddit thread, the homeowner described the installation built around 52 Aptos 440-watt bifacial panels, two EG4 Flexboss 21 inverters, and six EG4 280Ah batteries. The system has produced about 18 megawatt-hours, with average daily generation near 120 kilowatt-hours.
In addition to giving a “rundown” of the build, the original poster also included 16 photos of the array.
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According to the OP, tying the system together required substantial wiring and trenching. Nearly 370 feet of conduit runs between the house and a tractor shed, while six 2/0 wires and two No. 6 wires connect the inverters to the panel. The array is organized into four 13-panel series strings, with two strings feeding each inverter through direct PV inputs.
Commenters were impressed by both the build’s ambition and the work required to pull it off. One commenter wrote, “You’re living my dream, friend,” while others focused on the system’s scale and the planning needed to live fully off-grid.
Another commenter reacted to the amount of foundation work by writing, “THIRTY TWO 12″ x 5′ piers?! You’re a madman,” before adding that the setup “exemplifies the best of this sub.”
County requirements also influenced how the project had to be built. The OP said the 2-inch GRC rack structure had to be “floated off the dirt per RIVCO permit,” and the slab in the old horse shed needed a 6-inch base, rebar, and another 6 inches of concrete.
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The layout also emphasizes redundancy. Each inverter was matched with three batteries, and the system was configured in parallel so that “if something were to happen to one inverter or anything else the house can run on the other inverter.” 
For readers inspired by the project, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy. Trying EnergySage can help you get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. 
Meanwhile, EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. 
And adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Readers interested in storage can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
For more real-world examples, these articles show how homeowners are using solar and batteries to lower bills and stay powered through outages. 
• An off-grid homeowner showed snow-covered solar panels still generate usable power when conditions line up.
• Across the U.S., homeowners are finding that battery storage with solar adds resilience and savings.
• Researchers found rooftop solar can ease household energy burdens for families facing high bills.
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Qcells announced plans to launch new versions of its residential solar panel series featuring U.S.-made aluminum frames by the end of 2026. 
The updated residential product offerings, which include the company’s Q.TRON AC and Q.PEAK DUO AC lines, will incorporate aluminum frames extruded, anodized, and fabricated at supplier ALUKO Group’s integrated facility in Halls, Tennessee. The initiative is aimed at helping residential installers and third-party ownership TPO providers qualify for the Investment Tax Credit ITC domestic content bonus adder. 
Under the Treasury Department’s domestic content guidance, solar hardware must meet specific domestic manufacturing thresholds to qualify for the 10% tax credit bonus. Qcells noted that keeping all three core stages of frame manufacturing, including extrusion, anodization, and fabrication, within the United States provides greater clarity for installers and financing partners when evaluating compliance. 
The domestic frame offering comes as the statutory domestic content threshold for clean energy projects begins stepping up toward 55% for projects commencing construction in 2027. 
“Through this partnership to produce modules with domestic frames, we are furthering our commitment to U.S. manufacturing, supporting clean, affordable energy and giving our customers the certainty they need to qualify projects for the domestic content bonus,” said Il Hyeong No, head of Qcells North America’s residential business. 
Supply chain localized in Tennessee 
ALUKO Group’s manufacturing plant in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, is expected to reach full commercial production by the end of 2026. Once operational, the plant will have a planned annual capacity to manufacture enough frames to support 4 GW of solar modules. 
ALUKO plans to invest more than $107 million into the facility over five years, creating 285 full-time jobs. The company operates what it describes as the only facility in the U.S. performing all three major frame production steps under one roof. 
“By carrying out extrusion, anodizing, and fabrication here in the United States, we are delivering a product that offers transparency and confidence at every step of the process,” said Jinwoo Park, president of ALUKO Group. 
The move expands Qcells’ broader domestic manufacturing push across its vertically integrated operations in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia, where the company operates large-scale module and component assembly operations.
Want to learn more about the scaling of U.S. solar supply chains and domestic content rules? Join us for pv magazine USA Week to attend the session Scaling Solar Production in the U.S. This panel addresses the real-world execution of policy-driven announcements, scaling domestic production, and navigating complex domestic content thresholds. 
The session will feature Qcells Global Chief Technology Officer Danielle W. Merfeld alongside fellow expert panelists Finlay Colville, Founder of Terawatt PV Research; Jim Wood, CEO of SEG Solar; and Zennia Villanueva, Vice President of Quality at RETC, part of the VDE Group. Register for pv magazine USA Week today to reserve your spot.
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Henri Poupart-Lafarge joins HoloSolis as it bids to boost Europe’s solar manufacturing capacity by building a gigafactory in France
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The former boss of French rail and energy company Alstom has been appointed chief executive of solar panel manufacturer HoloSolis.
Henri Poupart-Lafarge was CEO of Alstom – one of the world’s most established makers of trains and also a pioneer of steam and gas turbines – from 2016 to March of this year.
Paris-headquartered HoloSolis is building a gigafactory in the Grand Est region of northeast France to manufacture cells and modules. The company claims that when complete, the facility will be able to produce 5GW of solar panels – equivalent to 10 million panels – and create 2,000 jobs.
Poupart-Lafarge said that the “reindustrialisation of green technologies in France is key to making the green transition possible”.  
He added that the gigafactory was being built “at a time when Europe is becoming acutely aware of how far behind it is and of the urgency to act on solar energy issues”.
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It was this need to address Europe’s industrial competitiveness and reclaim a chunk of the global solar that drove the formation of HoloSolis in 2022 by , which then brought in two French partners, real estate developer IDEC Group and agrivoltaic company TSE.
China currently produces 80% of the world’s installed photovoltaic modules, with the EU lagging at 3%. Poupart-Lafarge said: “Photovoltaics has accounted for two-thirds of new electricity generation capacity worldwide by 2025, driven both by the competitiveness of this technology and its environmental performance.
“All the major economic powers, such as China, the United States and India, have built up a sector in this strategic field to ensure their energy sovereignty. But not Europe. I firmly believe that this can still be rectified.”
Poupart-Lafarge is a graduate of École Polytechnique, École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He started his career at the World Bank in Washington before joining France’s Ministry of Economy and Finance in 1994, and subsequently Alstom in 1998 as head of investor relations.
In his time at Alstom, he was senior vice-president of finance at its transmission and distribution, president of the grid division and president of the transport division before becoming chief executive in 2016.
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China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have proposed prohibiting exports of selected high-efficiency perovskite and tandem solar manufacturing technologies, alongside new restrictions on advanced polysilicon, wafer and crystalline-silicon cell production know-how.
The proposals, published on Oct. 16 under Joint Announcement No. 48 of 2026, would add 12 photovoltaic technologies to China’s Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited or Restricted from Export. They are part of a broader consultation covering 40 technologies across sectors including solar energy, artificial intelligence and biomedicine. The public consultation runs until Nov. 15.
The proposed export bans cover production processes and related equipment manufacturing technologies for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells based on wafers measuring at least 182 mm and achieving conversion efficiencies of 30% or higher. They also include slot-die coating processes for perovskites with coating widths of at least 1.1 meters.
Additional thresholds apply to large-area modules, including single-junction perovskite modules measuring at least 1 square meter with conversion efficiencies of 18% or higher, and perovskite tandem modules of the same minimum area with efficiencies of at least 28%. The proposed controls target manufacturing technologies meeting these specifications rather than exports of finished modules.
Other technologies proposed for prohibition include cold-hydrogenation fluidized-bed processes for trichlorosilane production with annual single-line capacities of at least 250,000 metric tons, and silane-based fluidized-bed processes with annual capacities of at least 20,000 metric tons. The draft also covers processes for manufacturing silicon wafers no thicker than 70 micrometers and certain edge-passivation technologies for thin crystalline-silicon cells, along with related equipment manufacturing know-how.
The proposed restricted-export category includes polysilicon plant engineering technologies for production lines with annual capacities of at least 30,000 metric tons, as well as advanced crystal-pulling and wafer-cutting processes.
It also covers specified high-performance manufacturing processes for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), back-contact (BC) and heterojunction (HJT) solar cells, including deposition, passivation, diffusion and metallization technologies. The HJT provisions include certain p-type technologies evaluated under air mass zero (AM0) illumination conditions relevant to space applications.
Under China’s technology import and export regulations, prohibited technologies cannot be exported, while restricted technologies can be transferred overseas only with government approval and the necessary licenses.
The proposed export bans and licensing requirements have not yet taken effect. However, a separate interim registration requirement took effect on Oct. 16, when the announcement was issued.
Companies must register planned exports of the listed technologies, including qualifying key equipment, through the Mofcom’s online system before transfer. The requirement covers intellectual property transfers, overseas technology licensing, changes in ownership or control involving foreign entities, and transactions that are underway but have not yet been completed.
The Mofcom said the proposals address national security concerns as photovoltaic technologies increasingly find applications in aerospace, defense and other sensitive sectors. The ministry said technologies that fall below the specified thresholds, as well as finished products manufactured using controlled technologies, are outside the proposed scope. It added that the measures do not target any particular country, region or company.
If adopted, the controls could reinforce China’s position in advanced PV manufacturing by limiting overseas access to some of its most sophisticated production technologies.
Although exports of finished solar cells and modules would not be directly affected, transfers of controlled manufacturing know-how through technology licensing, overseas production-line installation and commissioning, equipment exports and on-site technical support could be prohibited or subject to government approval.
In the near term, the measures could delay overseas PV manufacturing projects, increase compliance costs and limit the deployment of advanced Chinese production technologies abroad. Over the longer term, the restrictions could strengthen China’s influence over the international diffusion of next-generation PV manufacturing technologies, potentially slowing efforts by overseas manufacturers to close the technological gap.
However, tighter controls could also complicate Chinese manufacturers’ international expansion plans and heighten trade tensions or prompt retaliatory measures.
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Vikram Solar subsidiary to build 7.5GWh BESS assembly plant in Tamil Nadu, India  Energy-Storage.News
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An international research team developed an open-access image dataset to support visual navigation for autonomous PV cleaning robots under different soiling conditions. The dataset comprises 6,200 annotated images of solar panels, including clean images, synthetically generated contamination at five severity levels, and laboratory images of physically soiled modules.
“The novelty of our research lies in developing a photovoltaic image dataset specifically for the visual navigation of cleaning robots, rather than conventional panel defect inspection,” corresponding author Kumeresan A. Danapalasingam told pv magazine. “By preserving the same reference-line geometry across different levels of simulated soiling, we provide researchers with a systematic way to evaluate whether robotic vision algorithms can reliably identify navigation cues even when the panel surface is contaminated.”
To construct the dataset, the researchers captured top-down images of PV panels using an HF868-2 camera mounted at the front of a solar panel cleaning robot, approximately 15 cm above the module surface. The camera featured a 2.7 mm wide-angle lens with a 135-degree field of view and recorded video at 320 × 240 pixels and 60 frames per second. The images were geometrically calibrated and resized to 160 × 120 pixels to accommodate the computational constraints of onboard robotic vision systems.
The team manually annotated 800 clean images, identifying three types of structural reference lines used for robot navigation: white cell-gap lines, horizontal frame-cell border lines, and vertical frame-cell border lines. We then processed each image using a synthetic augmentation pipeline that generated five additional versions with increasing soiling, from very light to extreme. The simulated effects included bird droppings, water stains, puddles, glare, water accumulation along module frames, and frame dust, with targeted reference-line coverage ranging from 1% to 50% depending on the severity level.
“One particularly interesting aspect of our research is that different forms of contamination can systematically obscure the same photovoltaic reference lines while their underlying geometry remains unchanged,” co-author Xin Li said. “This allows us to isolate the effects of visual degradation from changes in the robot’s viewing geometry. We believe this provides a useful foundation for understanding how visual navigation algorithms fail under challenging conditions and how their robustness can be improved.”
This process produced 4,800 images for training and validation, divided into 3,846 training images and 954 validation images. For testing, the researchers assembled 1,200 images across six clean and synthetic soiling conditions, supplemented by 200 additional images captured on two separate PV panels physically contaminated with pigment droplets, sand, wastewater, and clean water, as well as exposed to high-intensity lighting to simulate glare. The resulting dataset comprises 6,200 images with corresponding annotation files containing reference-line positions, orientations, endpoints, and class identifiers.
“Our next objective is to move beyond dataset development towards reliable autonomous navigation of photovoltaic cleaning robots,” the academics concluded. “We are investigating lightweight artificial intelligence models for estimating the robot’s heading relative to panel reference lines, as well as localization methods that combine visual information with inertial and wheel-encoder measurements. Ultimately, we aim to validate these approaches on physical robotic platforms under realistic operating conditions.”
The paper “A robot-view image dataset of photovoltaic panel reference lines with paired synthetic soiling for cleaning robot navigation” has appeared in Data in Brief. Researchers from the University of Technology Malaysia, Canada’s University of Prince Edward Island, Belgium’s Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Western Norway University, and the Indian university Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham have participated in the study.
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ARENA is offering up to AUD 250 million in its third Solar Sunshot funding round 
This round targets technologies that can improve the cost and speed of utility-scale solar deployment 
Expressions of interest will open on November 2, 2026, following an information webinar on October 26, 2026 
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is offering up to AUD 250 million to support Australia’s domestic solar PV industry under the third round of its flagship Solar Sunshot program. 
This round focuses on technologies that can make large-scale solar projects cheaper and faster to build. It is open to Australian and international companies incorporated in the country and looking to establish or expand manufacturing there.  
Under the latest call, ARENA will accept proposals for technologies such as solar tracking systems, robotics, advanced automation and prefabrication. Other eligible technologies include those that can reduce the cost of constructing and operating a PV facility.  
It will accept applications for technologies that involve the commercial-scale manufacturing of solar PV technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 and Commercial Readiness Index (CRI) 3 when manufacturing begins. The idea is to bring commercially mature technologies into local manufacturing.  
“Australia is already a world leader in deploying solar. The next challenge is to reduce the cost and complexity of building projects at much greater scale,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller. He said the call is open to companies with commercially mature technologies that can manufacture at scale in Australia. 
ARENA issued the call for Round 3 on October 15, 2026. Expressions of interest will open on November 2, 2026. Applicants will then be invited by the agency to submit a full application. Details are available on its website.  
It will hold an information webinar on October 26, 2026, to help prospective applicants understand the funding round. 
Recently, ARENA announced up to AUD 31.3 million in funding to support two solar robotics manufacturing facilities under Solar Sunshot round 2 (see Australia Funds Solar Robotics Manufacturing With AUD 31.3M). 
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