Solar Now

From daily news and career tips to monthly insights on AI, sustainability, software, and more—pick what matters and get it in your inbox.
Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience.
All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc.
Follow Us On
Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience.
All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc.
Hongqi has developed a prototype solar sunroof using perovskite photovoltaic technology.
Chinese automaker FAW Hongqi has unveiled a prototype solar sunroof that uses next-generation perovskite photovoltaic technology to turn part of an electric vehicle into a power generator.
The full-size prototype, installed on Hongqi’s EHS7 electric SUV, can reportedly produce up to 300 watts of power under sufficient sunlight and generate around 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
While solar roofs are not new, Hongqi’s approach replaces conventional crystalline silicon cells with thin and flexible perovskite photovoltaic materials. The company ultimately hopes to expand the technology beyond the sunroof and onto other parts of the vehicle, potentially allowing an EV to generate enough electricity for up to 80 km (50 miles) of driving range per day.
According to reports, Hongqi integrated the perovskite photovoltaic elements directly into the panoramic sunroof of the EHS7, which is sold in China as the Tiangong 08.
Unlike conventional crystalline silicon solar cells, perovskite-based photovoltaics can be thinner, lighter, and more flexible. Those characteristics could make them better suited to the curved surfaces and complex shapes found on modern vehicles. However, integrating the material into a car roof presents its own engineering challenges.
Hongqi’s researchers reportedly had to address the sensitivity of perovskite materials to water, oxygen, and ultraviolet radiation, while also adapting the photovoltaic layer to the curved glass surface of the panoramic roof. The prototype reportedly generates up to 300 W in sufficient sunlight, with annual energy production estimated at approximately 400 kWh.
That electricity would not necessarily be used solely to charge the vehicle’s main traction battery. Instead, Hongqi said the solar roof could help supply lower-voltage electrical loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators and the vehicle’s sentry or monitoring systems.
The bigger ambition lies beyond the roof. Hongqi plans to explore integrating perovskite photovoltaic elements into additional body panels, including the hood. If enough surface area can be covered with solar cells, the company estimates that a vehicle could generate as much as 10 kWh of electricity per day.
According to Hongqi, that could theoretically translate into up to 80 km (50 miles) of additional driving range under favorable conditions. The actual energy produced would depend on factors such as sunlight intensity, weather, parking location, and the total photovoltaic surface area available. Hongqi has also not provided a timeline for bringing the technology into production vehicles.
Still, the prototype highlights why automakers are increasingly interested in perovskite solar technology. Traditional silicon panels can be difficult to integrate into vehicle surfaces because of their rigidity and weight. Perovskites, meanwhile, offer the possibility of lightweight and potentially flexible solar layers that could conform to roofs, hoods and other body panels.
The solar sunroof is part of a broader technology push from Hongqi as the historic Chinese luxury brand expands its electric vehicle lineup. The EHS7 used for the prototype is a large electric SUV with a reported WLTP range of up to 475 km and peak power of 253 kW.
Hongqi is also exploring other advanced EV technologies, including high-power charging systems and solid-state battery development. The solar sunroof remains a prototype. But if the company can overcome the durability and manufacturing challenges associated with perovskite photovoltaics, future EVs may do more than simply consume electricity. They could generate a small but potentially useful portion of it themselves.
Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.
Premium
Follow

source

JinkoSolar Reports RMB 12.36 Billion Q2 2026 Revenue as Module Shipments Rise 16.7% Sequentially  SolarQuarter
source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
Renting remains expensive, but buying a home is even farther out of reach for many Americans.
Photo Credit: iStock
The average rent in Phoenix still sits below the U.S. average, yet that relative advantage can be diminished by heavy summer air conditioning expenses.
A new rental snapshot shows that even a relatively small increase in rent can still push the income needed to stay financially comfortable much higher for many households.
According to Zillow’s July rental data summarized by AZFamily, Phoenix’s average rent was $1,727 in July. That was 0.3% higher than in July 2025, although still below the national July average of $1,962.
A typical Phoenix-area renter would need about $69,094 in annual income to afford a standard rental.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Nationwide, the income needed for a typical rental was roughly $78,488 a year, and Zillow said rent growth reached 2.3% — the fastest pace in more than a year.
For homeowners who are feeling squeezed by bills, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy. It may be worth exploring EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
Renting remains expensive, but buying a home is even farther out of reach for many Americans.
Zillow estimated that affording a typical mortgage in the U.S. requires nearly $99,800 in yearly income, which is more than $21,000 above the amount needed for a typical rental — a gap that could keep more people in the rental market longer, adding pressure even in cities where rents are not rising as quickly as the national average.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
And in Phoenix, monthly housing costs extend beyond the lease payment, since summer air conditioning use can sharply increase household monthly spending.
On paper, Phoenix fares somewhat better than the country as a whole, but that does not necessarily translate into noticeable relief for local renters.
For renters, revisit monthly budgets, check whether there is room to negotiate at lease renewal, and compare neighborhoods or unit sizes before signing a new lease. Even small savings on utilities can make a difference when housing already takes up a large share of income.
For homeowners looking to cut another major recurring expense, EnergySage’s free services can be a useful tool. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with solar panel incentives available in each state. Together, these resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
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. For households worried about both rising bills and power disruptions, that extra backup can add resilience as well as long-term savings. Readers can also explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

CrossBoundary Energy’s solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system serving the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached commercial operation and is now supplying 30 MW of firm baseload power to Kamoa Copper. The facility entered commercial operation on August 12, 2026, around 16 months after the power purchase agreement was signed in April 2025. The system combines 233 MWp of solar PV capacity with 123 MVA/526 MWh of battery storage and is designed to provide continuous power at a 95% annual availability factor.
During early operations, the solar plant has already delivered more than 150 MW of output, with around 50 MW supplied directly to the mine network and the balance used to charge the battery system, according to CrossBoundary figures cited by Energy-Storage.news. The facility’s maximum expected solar output is around 180 MW, while the battery system enables renewable generation to be stored and dispatched outside daylight hours, supporting the 30 MW round-the-clock power guarantee.
The new facility adds another source of reliable electricity to Kamoa-Kakula, which is principally owned by Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining and the DRC government. The operation already relies on hydropower supplied through cooperation with state utility SNEL, while solar-plus-storage is intended to reduce reliance on diesel generation and strengthen the resilience of the mine’s power supply.
The start of commercial operation represents an important infrastructure milestone for Kamoa-Kakula, where power reliability remains critical to stable mining and processing. Although the 30 MW firm-power contribution is modest relative to the complex’s overall electricity requirements, the combination of large-scale solar generation and battery storage provides an additional layer of supply security and could reduce exposure to diesel costs and grid-related disruptions.
Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.
Notice: By accessing this site you agree that you will not copy or reproduce any part of its contents (including, but not limited to, single prices, graphs or news content) in any form or for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of the publisher.

source

Energy News Beat
The Intersection Between Energy and Finance
Commercial production is targeted for the first quarter of 2029 if Tesla picks the Texas site, wins incentives, and clears permits. Tesla has not disclosed annual gigawatt output, so any panel-count figure is an estimate, not an official number.
The internal name is Project Crystal Sun. The public paper trail is a Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) application, file J0050, with Lamar Consolidated ISD and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. It was signed July 22, 2026, posted August 6, and later supplemented on August 14 and August 20.
Tesla has not issued a standalone press release announcing the plant. A company spokesperson did not comment when asked. The closest official Tesla language is in the Q2 2026 shareholder update and Form 10-Q: site work and equipment procurement for solar manufacturing “progressed,” and the company is “developing our solar manufacturing.” CFO Vaibhav Taneja said on the earnings call that Tesla intends to multiply U.S. solar manufacturing “by an order of magnitude.”
The application describes a solar-cell manufacturing campus on portions of five parcels totaling about 3,050 acres near Richmond / Needville, along FM 762 and FM 1994 in Fort Bend County, southwest of Houston.
Planned investment: $10.116 billionAbout $1.5 billion real property
About $8.6 billion equipment and personal property
Spend is front-loaded in three years:2026: about $2.33 billion
2027: about $3.29 billion
2028: about $4.49 billion
Then commercial operations in Q1 2029. The requested JETI limitation would run 2029–2038.
The equipment list is the important part. Tesla is not describing a simple module-assembly line like Buffalo. The filing lists ingot manufacturing, wafer manufacturing, coating, metallization and printing, cell testing, cleanrooms, and automated material handling — an ingot-to-cell (and potentially module) stack. The NAICS code is 334413, semiconductor and related device manufacturing.
Kroll’s economic statement attached to the filing projects 9,712 permanent jobs at full buildout, a peak of about 1,147 construction jobs, roughly $107 billion in Texas GDP impact, and about $6.4 billion in state and local tax revenue over 38 years. Those are consultant projections used to support a tax deal, not audited results.
The filing is real. The factory is not locked.
Tesla’s own application says it is evaluating sites “across multiple U.S. states,” comparing Fort Bend with an unnamed out-of-state alternative, and that without the JETI limitation plus local abatements the Texas site’s economics are worse. If incentives fail, Tesla says it would further evaluate the investment outside Texas.
That is how large Texas incentive filings work: they put a maximum project on paper so the company can shop tax treatment. SpaceX used the same JETI process for its Texas chip plans. Crystal Sun should be treated as a site-selection and incentive bid, backed by real spending signals, not as a notice to proceed.
Those spending signals matter. Tesla’s Q2 2026 materials already listed solar manufacturing among multi-year infrastructure buildouts. Earlier in 2026, reporting pointed to large purchases of solar manufacturing equipment (including from Chinese toolmakers such as Suzhou Maxwell) and to a possible Houston-area solar build near Tesla’s Megapack Megafactory in Brookshire. Crystal Sun is a different Fort Bend greenfield, about 45 minutes southwest of Houston. It may replace, complement, or compete with that earlier site rumor. Tesla has not publicly reconciled the two.
Elon Musk’s January 2026 World Economic Forum remark is the strategic frame Tesla cited in the filing: SpaceX and Tesla teams are separately working toward 100 GW a year of manufactured solar power in the United States, “that’ll probably take us three years or something.” A Tesla solar-manufacturing job posting earlier in 2026 used similar language: a 100 GW facility from raw materials in the United States before the end of 2028. Crystal Sun is the first large public capital number attached to that goal. It is not proof the 100 GW target will be hit on that timetable.
On Tesla’s own calendar:
“This year” construction is possible only if Texas wins the site fight and local approvals move fast. As of late August 2026, the Comptroller page still shows the application in the posted / supplement phase, not an executed JETI agreement. After completeness review, the Comptroller has a statutory window to recommend the project to the Governor; the school district and Governor must then agree. Fort Bend County would still need to create the reinvestment zone.
A 2029 start is aggressive for a greenfield, vertically integrated cell fab, but it is consistent with buying turnkey Asian production tools and running Tesla as its own general contractor — something Taneja noted Tesla already does on most of its factories. It is not consistent with Musk’s “about three years” 100 GW comment if that clock started at Davos in January 2026. A plant that first ships in early 2029 cannot be at 100 GW in 2028. Investors should treat 100 GW by 2028 as an aspiration across Tesla’s whole solar program (Buffalo plus new sites), not as Crystal Sun’s opening rate.
Tesla did not disclose nameplate capacity. That is the most important capacity fact in the filing.
What is known:
Buffalo / Gigafactory New York currently assembles Tesla’s new TSP-420 residential panels at on the order of 300 MW per year — Tesla’s first in-house-designed conventional module, shipped starting Q1 2026. Crystal Sun would be a different order of magnitude if built as described.
Musk’s public target is 100 GW/year of U.S. manufactured solar for Tesla (and separately for SpaceX).
One industry read of the $10.1 billion capex is that this campus is a foundation stone toward that target, not the entire 100 GW by itself. Another estimate circulating in trade coverage suggested on the order of $16 billion might be needed to reach 100 GW of fully integrated U.S. capacity. Neither figure is Tesla guidance.
A simple illustration, not a forecast: 100 GW is 100 billion watts. At Tesla’s current 420 W residential module, that would be roughly 238 million panels a year. Utility modules in the 600–700 W class would mean fewer physical panels for the same watts. Crystal Sun’s actual annual output could be a slice of that, all of it, or something else entirely. Until Tesla names a GW rating, panel-count headlines are speculation.
Homeowners and edge-grid resilience, or solar farms and Megapacks?Both, according to the filing. Storage pairing is Tesla’s business model, not a stated exclusive offtake contract for this plant.
The application says the plant would make photovoltaic cells and/or assembled modules “for deployment in utility-scale, commercial, and distributed solar installations,” and discusses utility-scale plus on-site, behind-the-meter generation. That is the full market stack: rooftops, C&I, and solar farms.
Tesla’s current consumer product is already a resilience package. Official Tesla materials describe 420 W panels engineered in California, assembled in Buffalo, with 18 “power zones” for shade performance, a rail-less Panel Mount, and integration with Powerwall and the Tesla app. Tesla discontinued Solar Roof tiles in August 2026 and pointed customers to conventional panels. Energy revenue growth has been storage-led — Powerwall and Megapack — not rooftop generation. Megafactory Texas is scheduled to start Megapack production in 2026, which would sit in the same broader Houston-area energy cluster if Crystal Sun is built.
The strategic logic is obvious: domestic cells reduce tariff and supply-chain risk; Tesla can feed Buffalo residential assembly, third-party installers, its own storage-plus-solar packages, and utility projects that sit in front of Megapacks. Musk has also tied large-scale solar to AI electricity demand and, separately through SpaceX, to space-based power. The Fort Bend filing does not assign output to orbital arrays. SpaceX has its own solar-manufacturing track.
For Energy News Beat readers, the clean read is this: Crystal Sun is designed as a cell and module foundry, not a residential-only factory and not a captive solar-farm EPC shop. If Tesla executes, homeowners get a more secure domestic panel supply paired with Powerwall. Utilities and data-center offtakers get a potential U.S. cell source that can be coupled with Megapack. The mix will be set by price, 45X production credits, and which customer can absorb volume first.
Crystal Sun is the largest U.S. manufacturing investment Tesla has put on a Texas incentive form. It is also still a maybe. The factory becomes “real” when Tesla stops evaluating other states and starts pouring slabs.
Appendix: sources and links
Official/primary
Filing and project reporting
Musk 100 GW remarks and Tesla Energy context

Energy News Beat is your go-to source for global energy news, covering oil, gas, renewable energy, and market trends. We provide timely updates, expert insights, and in-depth analysis to keep you informed on the latest developments shaping the energy industry.

source

Silver’s Solar Demand Boom Starts to Fade as High Prices Bite  Bloomberg.com
source

China can catalyse local finance for home solar in the Global South  Dialogue Earth
source

By: Luis Reyes
Published: Aug 26, at 2:30pm ET
Every solar farm has to sit on something, and that something is usually a field that used to grow food. That fight gets tedious fast, which is why floating solar keeps coming up in countries that ran out of cheap flat land years ago. Reservoirs, gravel pits and flooded quarries are already dead water, and nobody is planting anything on them.
A cement plant in Belgium pushed that logic about as far as it goes.
Holcim and TotalEnergies covered a flooded chalk quarry at the Obourg site near Mons with 55,000 solar panels, 31 megawatts in total, floating on water the company created by eating its own raw material for a century. The array was inaugurated on March 20 and puts out around 30 gigawatt hours a year.
None of that electricity goes to the grid. It walks next door into the cement plant.
And the machine those panels were sized to run is the half that has stopped moving.
Cement has been made at Obourg for more than 110 years, and for most of that run the site fed two wet-process kilns on chalk quarried on the doorstep. Wet process means grinding the raw material into a slurry and then boiling the water back out of it inside the kiln, which is about as energy-efficient as it sounds.
That chalk is nearly gone. Holcim’s project documentation puts the exhaustion of the Obourg reserves at around 2034, which is why the replacement kiln is built for dry-process limestone hauled in by rail from the Tournaisis area instead.
What the old quarry left behind was a pit deep enough to fill with water and call a lake. The panels went on top of it.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in new window)
Floating arrays get moored one of two ways: cables down to the lakebed, or lines out to the shoreline. Obourg went entirely to the bottom.
Per Holcim’s own account of the project, the panels are anchored only to the floor of the pond and not to the banks, on the reasoning that the shallow edges are where most of the life in a quarry lake actually is. Trade publication Industrial Info Resources counted 128 anchors holding the island in position. Construction was also scheduled around nesting, with work suspended through breeding seasons, according to Stany Vaes, Holcim Belgium’s head of sustainability, corporate affairs and communication.
Getting the power ashore took more than 2,290 feet of horizontal directional drilling (over 700 meters), so the cable run to the substation goes under the landscape rather than across it.
Anchoring to the bed instead of the bank is quietly becoming the default on industrial water. A Dutch quarry lake at Bomhofsplas did the same under 73,000 modules and then hung shellfish cages underneath to see what moved in. Germany’s biggest floating plant, on a flooded lignite pit at Cottbus, is moored to the old mine floor and still sat finished for months without sending a kilowatt-hour anywhere, because the rising lake beat the grid connection to it.
Obourg does not have that problem, because Obourg does not need a grid connection.
All 30 gigawatt hours a year get consumed on site. TotalEnergies calls it the largest floating solar plant in Europe dedicated to self-consumption, and that qualifier is doing real work. The Sellingen array in the Netherlands is bigger in raw terms at 41.1 megawatts peak. What Obourg has that Sellingen does not is one industrial buyer standing on the same bank.
That is worth more than it sounds. No interconnection queue. No power purchase agreement. No transmission to build or pay for.
Holcim expects the array to cover up to 15 percent of the electricity used by its new plant by 2030, which the company equates to roughly 8,500 homes, and to avoid 110,000 metric tons of CO2 over its operating life. Vincent Michel, who runs the GO4ZERO program for Holcim Belgium, gave Industrial Info the practical version: “On sunny days, we will be self-sufficient.”
The same logic is turning up at a fraction of the size. A Bavarian gravel works stood 2,600 panels bolt upright on its own lake for exactly this reason: the crusher and the power plant share a shoreline.
GO4ZERO is a two-phase program worth more than 500 million euros, backed by an EU Innovation Fund grant awarded in 2023.
Phase one is the kiln. A dry line replaces the two wet ones, cutting CO2 by close to 30 percent per ton of clinker, with first clinker due in 2027.
Phase two is where the plant was supposed to get to net zero. The kiln is built air-oxyfuel switchable, meaning it can burn on oxygen rather than air so the exhaust comes out concentrated in CO2 instead of diluted with nitrogen. Air Liquide’s Cryocap OXY unit then purifies that stream past 99.5 percent, Fluxys pipes it to the Antwerp@C export hub, and it gets liquefied, loaded onto ships and stored under the North Sea. Design capacity is about 1.1 million tons of CO2 a year.
The final investment decision on that half was due in February. Holcim did not take it.
Michel told Belgian media the risk was too high and that signing then would be “pure suicide,” as reported by Global Cement. The blocker is not the capture hardware. It is that the CO2 has nowhere to go until the terminal and pipeline work at the Port of Antwerp is actually sanctioned, which leans in turn on BASF’s decisions there. Obourg’s net-zero date slipped from 2029 to late 2030 or early 2031.
Air Liquide and Holcim did sign an agreement in late February to develop the capture unit anyway, and both were explicit that the investment decision still depends on more partners across the chain plus public support, including regulatory clarity and de-risking mechanisms. The GO4ZERO page still lists 2029.
Some scale on what is parked. Obourg makes about a quarter of Belgium’s cement and emits roughly a million tons of CO2 a year. The solar array avoids 110,000 tons across its entire lifetime. The capture plant was the instrument that actually moved the number, and the instrument is sitting still.
This is not a European failure mode. It is a cement industry failure mode, and the freshest case is in Alberta.
On August 19, Heidelberg Materials confirmed it has delayed the full-scale carbon capture project at its Edmonton cement plant, the one marketed as the building sector’s first at that scale. It was meant to be running by the end of 2026, capturing more than a million tons of CO2 a year and sending it to Enbridge’s Wabamun hub.
David Perkins, vice president of sustainability and public affairs at Heidelberg Materials North America, told Edmonton outlet Taproot that carbon prices came in below what the business case assumed. Capital costs could now reach 2 billion Canadian dollars against the 1.36 billion the project was announced at in 2023, according to International Cement Review. A lessons-learned report on the project found the capture technically feasible and put the blame for delay on policy uncertainty.
The American version happened faster and harder. In 2025 the Department of Energy canceled 24 awards worth about $3.7 billion, and the largest were cement: $500 million apiece for Heidelberg’s plant in Mitchell, Indiana and National Cement’s plant in Lebec, California, plus $189 million for Brimstone.
The floating solar column of the US ledger looks nothing like that. NREL put the technical potential on federally controlled reservoirs alone at 861 to 1,042 gigawatts, enough to run something like 100 million homes. Wood Mackenzie expects the country to actually add less than one gigawatt by 2033, mostly because ground-mounted panels are cheaper and the water sites are awkward.
Obourg is the exception that shows why. It got built because it needed exactly one thing that already existed: a customer standing on the same shoreline with a meter and a kiln. No permit fight over farmland, no queue, no counterparty.
Everything else about pulling the carbon out of cement needs a pipeline nobody has built, a port terminal nobody has sanctioned and a carbon price nobody can forecast far enough out to underwrite a nine-figure bet. Holcim finished the easy half and got a very good aerial photograph out of it. The hard half is still somebody else’s investment decision.
Don’t bite your tongue. Speak up.
Olivia Richman · Aug 24, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 1, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 14, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 7, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 18, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 21, 2026
Olivia Richman · Aug 27, 2026
Chema Bonilla Díaz · Aug 27, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 27, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 27, 2026
Luis Reyes · Aug 27, 2026
Autonotion is the English-language automotive editorial by Autonocion.com — car news, reviews, and industry analysis for American readers.
Other links
Company
Subscribe
Get the latest car news in your inbox:
By submitting your email you allow autonocion.com to send you news or promotions. More info

source

Australians ‘going gangbusters’ on Chinese batteries in renewable energy shift  Financial Times
source

The future is bright for nurse practitioners and solar photovoltaic installers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published new job projections on Thursday, showing which roles are set to experience massive employment declines and which may flourish between 2025 and 2035.
The jobs projected to grow the fastest over the decade are a mix of healthcare, energy, and tech work.
Nurse practitioners, who typically earn six figures, had the highest percent increase at 41%, far faster than the overall projection of 3.5%. One reason for that projected demand is that in many states, they can perform duties that used to be reserved for physicians.
Two renewable energy-related jobs are also expected to quickly grow: Solar photovoltaic installers had the second-highest percent increase, and wind turbine service technicians had the fourth-highest.
“As the cost of PV systems continues to decrease, more households are expected to take advantage of these systems, resulting in greater demand for the workers who install and maintain them,” BLS said.
Employment of data scientists is projected to increase by about 35% because businesses will need to hire workers to handle the expected increase in data usage and collection. Computer and information research scientists are also among the projected fastest-growing jobs, partly to work on AI tools.
Typical educational requirements vary among the top 12 jobs. BLS said solar photovoltaic installers typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent for entry. Nurse practitioners, computer and information research scientists, and physician assistants need more schooling. BLS said those jobs typically need a master’s degree for entry.
Overall, US employment is projected to increase by 5.9 million over the decade, or by 3.5%, down from the 10.9% growth from 2015 to 2025. The private healthcare and social assistance sector could be a great place for job seekers to look, as it’s projected to add the most jobs, due to an aging population and a rise in chronic health conditions. The AI boom is expected to affect the utilities sector as data centers continue to demand more electricity. BLS said the relatively small sector is projected to surge by 10%, the fastest among major sectors.
Are you a nurse practitioner, solar photovoltaic installer, or working in any of the other fastest-growing jobs? Reach out to this reporter to share at mhoff@businessinsider.com.
Jump to

source

Scottsdale, Arizona-based SolarWindow Technologies Inc. has launched its newest product for the commercial market in the form of its ElectroFlex brand of bendable solar panel cells.
Formally announced Aug. 26, the new product aims to generate electricity on both flat and curved surfaces that more traditional solar products could never reach. The company says the new technology is thinner than a standard U.S. dime, making it less than 1.35 millimeters wide.
The bendable product extends SolarWindow’s current catalogue beyond its LiquidElectricity brand of window coatings. The company’s top brass say the ElectroFlex brand is just the beginning, and that SolarWindow has a fleet of new and innovative solar-related products in the works for the coming years.
“In my recent letter to shareholders, I shared plans to release a family of innovative energy products unlike anything available today,” says SolarWindow president and CEO Amit Singh. “ElectroFlex is the first, and I look forward to additional new-product releases as we grow our SolarWindow portfolio to span across the full energy value chain.”
Initially targeting transportation, marine, aerospace, architectural, and agricultural markets, SolarWindow is going after infrastructure with the new product. The firm claims the ElectroFlex could provide “transformative” growth for the solar industry, taking photovoltaic modules to places they previously never could have accessed.

Ease of use

Crucial to its bendable form factor, the ElectroFlex has no frame and no rigid glass of any kind. Rather than needing traditional bolting or mounting setups, officials say the new product works with peel and stick capabilities and is, in essence, “solar without the solar panel.”
“It is designed to generate electricity on irregular structures,” the company says, “and could be applied to data centers and buildings, rooftops of fleet vehicles and commercial trucks, contoured panels of trains, drones, and airplanes, and other curved surfaces that have previously never been able to carry solar.”
Along with making the ElectroFlex easier to use, the team engineered the product to combat a common customer complaint with more traditional solar panels: a lack of aesthetics. The new brand eliminates all bulky racking, mounting, structural reinforcements, and other engineering hassles that often make solar an “eyesore,” the company says.
SolarWindow’s ElectroFlex product is currently open to Tier-1 OEM manufacturers in the U.S., the company says. Representatives add that there are plans to expand the product’s geographical footprint to further American markets, as well as Asia, in the near future.

Tags: Arizona, products, PV Modules, Solarwindow


Δ
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Other Benjamin Media, Inc Brands:
Compact Equipment | Trenchless Technology | Tunnel Business Magazine | Utility Contractor | Water Finance & Management
©2026 Copyright Solar Builder Magazine   |   Privacy Policy  |   Terms of Serivce

source

A study by British energy think tank Ember suggests that the prospect of round-the-clock solar photovoltaic (PV) availability is drawing closer. Solar PV generated just over 10% of global electricity in the first half of 2026, up from 8.9% in the same period of 2025. Its share has nearly doubled from the 5.6% recorded in the first half of 2023.
Over the past three years, solar PV generation has grown seven times faster than total electricity generation. While global electricity generation rose by 12% between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2026, solar generation more than doubled, from 769 TWh to 1,564 TWh.
However, this growth remains heavily concentrated around midday. On an average day in the first half of 2026, solar met more than 25% of global electricity demand between 11:00 and 14:00, before falling to near-zero levels between 20:00 and 05:00.
In markets with higher levels of solar PV penetration, this concentration is even more pronounced. In Chile, where solar met 26% of electricity demand in the first half of 2026, its contribution reached 71% at midday but had virtually disappeared by 21:00. In the Netherlands, solar met 58% of demand at 13:00, while in Germany it covered 55% at midday. In both markets, however, solar’s contribution fell to zero a few hours later.
The expansion of solar PV is displacing fossil-fuel generation during the day, but hours without sunlight remain a key domain for conventional generation. Between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2026, average fossil-fuel generation between 11:00 and 14:00 fell from 86 GW to 69 GW. During the evening peak, between 19:00 and 21:00, however, the decline was much smaller, from 106 GW to 101 GW.
New battery storage installations in 2026 are projected to reach 459 GWh, up 50% from the 307 GWh added in 2025. According to Ember data, this capacity could theoretically shift 34% of new daily solar generation to non-solar hours.
This proportion is nearly double the 18% estimated for batteries installed in 2025 and compares with just 4% five years earlier, in 2021.
Falling battery installation costs have been a key driver of this progress. Average global costs fell by 95% between 2010 and 2025, from $2,634/kWh to $140/kWh.
While batteries installed globally in 2025 could shift the equivalent of 18% of new daily solar generation, some countries achieved significantly higher shares.
Bulgaria installed enough storage to shift 77% of its new daily solar generation, followed by Chile at 76% and Australia at 60%.
Bulgaria’s growth has been particularly rapid. The country went from virtually no battery storage capacity in 2023 to adding around 3 GWh in 2025. By May 2026, installed capacity had surpassed 8.6 GWh.
Chile followed a similar trajectory, adding 4 GWh of battery storage in 2025 and bringing its installed capacity to 7.6 GWh. Most of the new storage was installed alongside solar plants, helping to reduce curtailment and shift solar generation into the evening hours.
The United States added 58 GWh of storage in 2025, enough to shift approximately one-quarter of its new daily solar generation.
The European Union, meanwhile, added 27 GWh of battery storage in 2025, equivalent to shifting 16% of new daily solar generation and below the global average.
In California, the combination of solar and battery storage met more than a quarter of electricity demand during the evening peak, between 19:00 and 21:00, on an average day in the first half of 2026. In the first half of 2023, the figure stood at 6.8%.
In the first half of 2026, batteries enabled solar energy to meet more than 10% of evening electricity demand in Chile. In Bulgaria, solar and storage together covered nearly a quarter (24%) of electricity demand between 19:00 and 21:00 and supplied an average of 10% of demand between 19:00 and 07:00.
However, developing solar generation capable of supplying electricity beyond daylight hours will require more than additional battery capacity. Electricity markets must also enable batteries to participate effectively and operate where they provide the greatest value to the power system.
Ember concludes that batteries do not eliminate the need for a diversified electricity mix. Wind, hydropower, nuclear power, and long-duration energy storage will continue to play significant roles, particularly during extended periods of low solar or wind generation.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, September 10, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
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.

You have no items in your basket.

source

New At IIR
Connect your AI assistant to the human-verified industrial intelligence behind IIR’s Global Market Intelligence Platform. Complete the form to discuss IIR Envoy access, compatibility, and use cases with our team.
IIR Envoy can provide structured access to IIR’s capital project, plant, offline-event, unit and equipment, and LTSA intelligence through supported AI assistants and enterprise agents. Access is limited to the datasets included in your organization’s IIR subscription.
IIR is trusted by thousands of industry professionals worldwide.
By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted by Industrial Info Resources regarding IIR Envoy and related products and services. View our Privacy Policy.
A member of our team will contact you to discuss your AI environment, current IIR access and the industrial intelligence you would like to make available through your AI assistant.
Generation, transmission & distribution, microgrids & battery storage
Oil, gas, refined products & chemical storage
Oil, gas & refined products transmission
Offshore & onshore production & treating
Ethanol production, fuel pellets manufacturing & biogas products
Crude oil refineries & lube oil plants
Petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, plastics & more
Mines, mills & processing plants
Mills, forest products & converting plants
Processing & distribution/storage facilities
Durable & non-durable goods manufacturing
Manufacturing facilities & research laboratories
Power, cooling, connectivity & infrastructure support
Chip design, fabrication, testing & advanced packaging
Materials sourcing, cell production, assembly & logistics
Worldwide packaging project coverage
Nuclear power projects, facilities & equipment
LNG liquefaction, regasification, storage & pipelines
Renewable Diesel & SAF, Biodiesel, & Fuel Ethanol
Green & Blue Hydrogen and Advanced Plastics Recycling Projects
ICE Vehicles, EVs, Hybrids, and Automotive Supply Chain
Offshore Oil & Gas and Offshore Wind Projects
Supply & Demand Side Intelligence
Direct from source and verified by our global human network
Providing insights into the ever-changing landscape of the industrial marketplace
Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than US$10 billion worth of projects from Canadian Solar worldwide, including $3.6 billion worth in the U.S.
Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than US$78 billion worth of projects from Petrobras, including six renewable diesel and SAF projects
The global electric vehicle (EV) industry is at a pivotal inflection point, characterized by tension between a decelerating U.S. market and a resilient yet pressured European market.
A new era of policy-driven capital spending. The U.S. industrial and energy construction sectors are presently shaped by a confluence of macroeconomic and legislative forces.
The global pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector is entering a period of robust capital spending, driven by a structural shift toward outsourcing and an urgent need for advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Data center infrastructure is expanding at a remarkable rate, driven largely by advancements in artificial intelligence and automation.
Get your company’s message to key decision-makers
Promote your company to industry peers
Let us promote and run your webinar so you can focus on presenting
Push your company’s press release to multiple media outlets
Sponsor an outlook, webinar or other event with Industrial Info
Navigating the Currents of Change: View latest episodes
Stay informed and connected: discover events, replays, and where to meet us next
Discover how IIR delivers trusted industrial data to support confident decisions in the AI era.
Explore a data-backed look at supply disruption, decarbonization, and investment trends in European chemicals and transport fuels.
Join senior executives, business development leaders, and strategic planning professionals for the premier industrial forecast event of the year.
Wednesday, February 3, 2027
Hosted by Industrial Info Resources
Sugar Land, TX, USA
Houston Marriott Sugar Land
9/17/2026. Pasadena, TX, USA
9/21/2026 – 9/23/2026. Grapevine, TX, USA
Industrial Manufacturing
Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than US$10 billion worth of projects from Canadian Solar worldwide, including $3.6 billion worth in the U.S.
Released Friday, August 28, 2026
Reports related to this article:
Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search.
Please verify you are not a bot to enable forms.
Have a question for our staff?
Submit a question and one of our experts will be happy to assist you.
By submitting this form, you give Industrial Info permission to contact you by email in response to your inquiry.
Where global project and asset data meets advanced analytics for smarter market sizing and forecasting.
Identify opportunities, anticipate change, and execute with confidence. PECWeb connects the industrial intelligence you need, from projects and assets to operational events, all in one platform.
Contact Us
Company
Platform & Solutions
Events & Insights
Press
Get Started
Follow Us
Site-wide Scheduled Maintenance for September 27, 2025 from 12 P.M. to 6 P.M. CDT. Expect intermittent web site availability during this time period.
IIR News Intelligence
Create a free account to get the headlines that move industries — delivered straight to your inbox.
Trusted by thousands of industry professionals worldwide.
Free to join. Unsubscribe anytime.

Already have an account? Log in
Get notifications from IIR News Intelligence
Click ‘Sign Up’ then ‘Allow’

source

To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information.
Shopping | ES Best Home | Home & Garden | Home Accessories
The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Standard Shopping
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter for hot deals, best buys and expert reviews
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
A new era of home solar power has begun, as plug-in solar panels become legal in the UK for the first time. Argos is the first major retailer to start selling DIY kits that could help save on household energy bills.
From 27 August, households will be able to buy specially designed solar systems that generate electricity and feed it directly into a home through a standard three-pin socket – potentially giving renters, flat-dwellers and homeowners without suitable roofs a cheaper route into solar panels.
The government has described the change as a way to give households the chance to “significantly cut energy bills”, while Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said the technology could make solar “more accessible to households across the country”.
The legal change sets out the requirements products must meet – and this specification matters. The new rules do not mean consumers can simply buy any solar panel online and plug it into the wall. The government says the specification sets the minimum technical standards needed for a system to be “lawfully connected to the grid” and covers its electric design, British plug, mounting system and fire protection.
“The big advantage of plug-in solar is that it will fit almost any property and you can install it yourself without needing a professional fitter or electrician”, technology journalist Alastair Jennings explains. “Just buy the kit, plug it in, and you’ll start to generate instantly usable electricity, cutting your reliance on the grid and ultimately saving you money.”
The principle is surprisingly straightforward. Solar cells generate electricity from sunlight. A microinverter converts that electricity into the type of alternating current used in homes, and the system feeds it into the household electrical circuit through a standard socket. The plug-in solar panels can be placed in the garden, or on walls and balconies if rules permit.
The solar electricity is then available for appliances to use, reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid. This means households could save up to £110 a year, according to the government.
However, this depends on the size and position of panels, sunlight, shading and how much electricity is used during daylight hours. Unlike conventional solar installation, the initial plug-in systems do not include a plug-in battery, so excess electricity cannot simply be stored for use that evening.
The government has suggested that plug-in solar could cost around £400-£600, although the first approved products arriving on the market are considerably more. UKSOL’s systems cost up to £1,199, but insiders suggest budget supermarket Lidl will sell them for around £400 – we’ll just have to wait a little longer for its systems to launch.
As market competition increases, prices are expected to fall.
Argos is the first major retailer to launch plug-in solar today, with Amazon, Currys, B&Q and Screwfix set to follow. At Argos, you can buy UKSOL’s plug-in solar panels. UKSOL is the first manufacturer to sell plug-in solar panels in the UK, after becoming certified and compliant ahead of the government’s new ruling.
The cheapest 515W kit costs £599 (Argos.co.uk), while the most premium 1260W kit sets you back £989 (Argos.co.uk). There’s also a 460w plug-in solar pro ground mount bundle for £849 (Argos.co.uk), a duo 890w pro plug in solar kit with hybrid mount bundle for £849 (Argos.co.uk), and a 1030w pro plus plug in solar panel kit with hybrid mount bundle for £899 (Argos.co.uk).
Each UKSOL kit from Argos comes with a mount bundle – which includes the hardware needed to attach the solar panel to a roof, wall, balcony, railing, or another fixed structure – or a ground mount bundle, which includes a freestanding frame that lets you install the panel on the ground, rather than attaching it to your house.
Direct from UKSOL, the compact 460W kit costs £849, while the duo 890W kit costs £1,199, but the systems are slighty cheaper through retailer City Plumbing (£670.80, Cityplumbing.com, £951, Cityplumbing.com).
Lidl was among the first big names to announce it was manufacturing plug-in solar panels, but it’s not yet confirmed when they’ll be available. The supermarket is working with the government to produce compliant, tested, lightweight DIY kits featuring two solar panels and a micro-inverter, designed for balconies, patios, or gardens that plug straight into a standard wall socket.
Anker solix has launched its solarbank 4 E5000 Pro in the UK (from £1,699, Ankersolix.com). The product is a solar battery, but you can add on up to 4kW of solar panels at an extra cost. The 5kWh battery stores electricity, but it also includes an inverter and control hardware to supply power to the home through a plug-in connection. Anker’s “plug-in-ready solar battery” is available to pre-order for delivery from 8 September.
Electrical Safety First urges shoppers to only buy from reputable high street retailers to ensure the device is safe and meets the new interim product specification.
“We advise households to avoid buying these devices from third-party sellers on online marketplaces, no matter how appealing this may be, as these platforms are currently not legally responsible for the safety of goods sold via their sites, exposing people to substandard versions that may put you and your home at risk,” the charity advises.
The government has emphasised the technology’s benefits to those who can’t install conventional rooftop solar panels. The plug-in panels are particularly useful for renters and those in flats with balconies. However, renters must have permission from the landlord, and planning or building restrictions can apply depending on where the panels are installed.
There are other things to be aware of, as Luke Osborne, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, explains. “Plug-in solar panels send electricity in the opposite direction in your property’s wiring. Whilst many modern homes may be able to enjoy this technology safely, we still have concerns plug-in solar panels may damage older devices in people’s homes which protect people from electric shock, known as RCDs.
“Because of this, it is our view that not every home will currently be suitable for plug-in solar. We urge households to ensure they have an RCD suitable for this technology and to consult a competent electrician if they are unsure if they have the right protections in place in their home.” 
The charity adds that you should never plug in solar panels through extension leads, travel adapters and multi-way adapters, and to have your electrics checked before you buy.
Read more: Plug-in solar panels go on sale in shops and online after legal barriers removed
MORE ABOUT

source

Politics often has a way of sneaking its way into the discourse surrounding various topics, renewable energy included. Then, as partisan agendas spread, misinformation can take the front seat, which is the case with green power sources being labeled as damaging or ineffective. In reality, both wind and solar power have come a long way in recent times. One could argue that they’re becoming a little bit too efficient, so much so that solar farms in Europe produced an energy surplus, turning energy prices negative.
This is why countries like Germany shut down or reduce the output of their renewable energy sources, including wind farms. This practice, referred to as curtailment, is generally necessary when producing extra electricity becomes fiscally unviable — as in locations like the Iberian Peninsula. Though this practice has decreased across Europe overall, Germany is the outlier where curtailment grew by 20% in 2026. It’s due to the Solar Peak Act from 2025, which postulates that renewable energy assets are no longer eligible for subsidies when prices fall below zero. Thus, it makes more commercial sense for wind farms and solar operators to pull the plug instead of producing a surplus of energy.
Opponents of renewable energy could point to this issue as a reason to stick with fossil fuels. However, the problem isn’t the energy generated by wind farms and solar plants. Rather, it’s the storage and transmission technology, which, if improved, would allow countries to stop wasting energy. So, demand response combined with better energy storage could fix this curtailment issue.
Renewable energy may get a bad rap, but there’s an outdated myth about solar power that it requires fossil fuel backup. The US Department of Energy says that storing electricity enables the use of surplus supply as needed. In turn, investing in storage facilities improves power quality and resilience, helps match supply and demand, and can limit curtailment by balancing energy loads more effectively.  The International Renewable Energy Agency also found that by combining different sources of green power and boosting battery storage, solar and wind farms can provide reliable power and compete with coal plants on cost.
If Germany follows the example set by other European countries, it might find that legislation can help with curtailment. France, for instance, has subsidies that incentivize renewable power plants to keep their facilities on. This worked when you consider that negative price hours increased 14% in 2025, but curtailment dropped 32%. Similar outcomes were seen in countries like Finland and the Netherlands, proving that local laws can fix the issue from the top down.
Along with improved storage and incentivizing power producers to continue running, countries can encourage citizens to play along. For example, smart meters allow households to track their energy expenditure with more precision. As prices decrease when demand is low, households could save money by running power-hungry appliances during these times. That helps soak up the surplus produced by wind and solar farms — a win-win on the renewable energy front.

source

Our core content has been translated to a number of languages.
We hope to add more languages in the future. But in the meantime, you can learn how to translate using Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers.
This report, produced by Ember in partnership with African Tech Futures Lab (ATFL), presents Ember’s estimates of solar power capacity installed in every African country from 2023 to 2026, built from Chinese customs data using a new calibrated methodology. It compares these estimates with official national and international statistics, examines the split between utility-scale and distributed solar, and reviews Africa’s emerging solar panel manufacturing. It follows Ember’s August 2025 report, “The first evidence of a take-off in solar in Africa.”
A year after Ember found the first evidence of a take-off in solar in Africa, a new methodology makes the boom measurable – and shows it running far ahead of the official record.
Chinese exports of solar panels to Africa surged in the 12 months to June 2026, to levels similar to each of the Middle East and Latin America. This report introduces a new methodology, showing around 73% of Chinese imports globally have been installed, with an average six-month delay. This makes it possible to estimate full-year 2026 installations already. This shows 17 GW of solar was installed in 2026, equal to around 100,000 solar panels every day. That is a 45% rise year-on-year; 2025 rose by 51% and 2024 by 25%.
19 countries have seen year-on-year growth of over 100%, including 544% in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 282% in Zimbabwe, 176% in Egypt and 117% in Zambia. Solar growth used to be dominated by South Africa, but its share of African installations in 2026 will be below 20% for the first time since 2019, as other countries surge. Solar is now the single biggest addition to grid capacity in many African countries – Senegal will add solar capacity from 2023 to 2026 equivalent to almost 80% of its entire 2023 grid capacity, with DRC and Kenya adding more than half.
2026’s installations will generate around 23 TWh a year – 2.3% of Africa’s electricity generation, above the 2.2% average annual demand growth of 2014 to 2024. There are ten countries where 2026’s new solar will add more than 10% to annual grid electricity generation – Sierra Leone (97%), Togo (24%), Somalia (21%), Djibouti (21%), DRC (14%), Comoros (14%), Namibia (12%), Liberia (12%), Chad (11%), Lesotho (10%). Together these countries are home to 190 million people.
Ember’s 2025 solar growth estimate is twice that of international statistics – 12.0 GW in 2025, compared with 6.2 GW from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and 4.6 GW from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Ember forecasts annual installations in 2026 will rise another 45%, potentially increasing this gap further. However, international reporting can only be as good as national reporting, and that barely exists in many countries. We could only find official reporting for national solar capacity for 36 out of 54 countries; only 14 of those were for 2025, and even those 14 countries seem to underestimate the rise in solar. Only three countries – South Africa, Tunisia and Tanzania – publish some solar data monthly or quarterly.
Distributed solar, which is small-scale, customer-side solar installed mostly on rooftops – makes up most of Africa’s solar growth, and it’s the hardest type to measure. Ember estimates that 75% (20 GW of 26 GW) of the total solar capacity added between 2023 and 2025 is distributed solar. That’s because only a quarter of new solar can be explained by utility-scale and off-grid solar – utility-scale solar is fairly well-documented and visible through government procurement projects, and although off-grid solar is growing fast, its scale would still be very small in context of the gap.
This is the case even in countries with large utility-scale solar projects – in Egypt, for example, still 43% of its solar growth is estimated to be distributed.
There are just 12 countries that report an official or semi-official distributed solar figure, yet those still underestimate the growth. The lack of visibility on distributed solar is not unique to Africa, but a combination of factors makes it worse. A surge in companies, registries and licences show the solar rise is real.
Output will reach around 3.5 GW in 2026, a fifth of what Africa installs, led by new plants in Egypt and Tanzania aimed at the US market. 94% of panels installed in Africa are still imported from China, and huge Chinese cell and wafer shipments to Africa point to re-shipment rather than use in African solar panel manufacturing. Overall, manufacturing data quality is very poor, and it’s hard to state these numbers accurately.
The rise in solar capacity is likely to meet much of Africa’s electricity demand growth, and the sheer scale of cheap new supply could spur more demand growth too, creating huge human benefits.
Some of the solar is undoubtedly up-ending Africa’s diesel economics. Batteries, paired with solar, are the new diesel generator. A year of Chinese panel imports cost $2.4 billion USD; generating the same electricity from diesel would cost around that every three months. Africa is now importing more dollars of batteries than solar panels from China, led by Nigeria and DRC.
The rapid spread of distributed solar in sub-Saharan Africa is an underreported success story. However, since African countries are running blind to this change, they are not reflecting this rise in distributed solar in their plans. This will impact grid and battery investments. Countries also need to make sure they don’t overinvest in fossil fuel power plants that will sit idle.
It’s incredible seeing so many businesses and individuals, across so many African countries, choosing to install solar. Solar panels have become so cheap, the economics are compelling. But so much of this growth is hidden from view – national governments need to get better at gathering solar data. Countries are already leapfrogging into faster, more secure, cleaner energy growth, and the governments that get ahead of it stand to gain all the benefits.
Across Africa, distributed energy resources are rapidly expanding, and in many cases, overtaking grid capacity. This transition is chaotic and disruptive, and far from the orderly model planned in national strategies. Policymakers need to start responding to this shift. The choice now is whether these distributed assets remain a parallel power system that compensates for grid failure or are integrated in ways that unleash a wider range of benefits.
Ember is an energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. Ember is the trading name of Ember Energy Research CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England & Wales #06714443. ‘Ember’ is a trademark held at the United Kingdom and European Union Intellectual Property Offices. All content is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC-BY-4.0). Website powered by 100% renewable electricity.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Please read our Privacy policy here.

source

Journalism that Gets Results ℠
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.
Pennsylvania was a pioneer on renewable energy before the fracking boom upended that trajectory, and environmental advocates think it’s past time for state leaders to once again prioritize clean forms of power.
The nonprofit PennFuture outlined ways for Pennsylvania to do so in a new report, accusing the state’s legislature of “policy inertia” for failing to pass bills that would increase adoption and reduce the cost of energy for consumers.
The advocacy group said a majority of state lawmakers favor a policy of “more gas now” rather than enabling the development of increasingly cheap renewable energy and battery storage that would cut climate pollution. Among the measures that PennFuture suggested legislators support: allowing community solar, a way for renters and others who can’t install their own panels to tap into local solar arrays.
“Thoughtful solar policies can also facilitate development of PV [photovoltaic] panels on the countless rooftops of warehouses and distribution centers that populate the landscape,” the report said.
The report called on lawmakers to increase the share of renewable energy required by the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, which currently mandate that some 18 percent of the electricity utilities distribute come from renewable sources. Neighboring New Jersey, by contrast, required utilities to source double that share last year and 50 percent by 2030.
David Hess, a former secretary of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, said the Pennsylvania House, which has a slim Democratic majority, has passed many bills that would enable programs such as community solar, warehouse solar and expanding energy-efficiency programs at utilities.
But the bills have not become law because of opposition from the Republican majority in the state Senate, he said.
“Senate Republicans are using the same talking points they’ve been given by the natural gas industry for the last 15 years to lock us into a ‘one-of-the-above’ energy strategy — natural gas — and the price spikes and instability that comes from a market tied to LNG exports and international markets,” Hess wrote in an email.
Some 60 percent of Pennsylvania’s electricity is generated by gas. The state has a large supply, but over-reliance on one source does not promote stable electricity prices and ignores renewables that are cheaper than natural gas, Hess said.
Stephanie Catarino Wissman, executive director of the American Petroleum Institute Pennsylvania, said the report failed to consider all possible energy sources. “Pennsylvania needs an all-of-the-above strategy, including its abundant natural gas resources, along with permitting reform that allows us to build the infrastructure every energy source depends on. Natural gas will remain critical to delivering reliable, affordable energy while supporting continued emissions reductions,” she said.
Gas, when burned, is less polluting than coal. But it still contributes to the climate pollution that’s worsening costly, dangerous extreme weather in the state.
Republican Sen. Gene Yaw, who as chair of the environmental resources and energy committee has outsized power over the fate of renewables legislation, did not respond to a request for comment.
The PennFuture report also called for deploying energy-storage projects more rapidly, incentivizing solar development on industrial brownfield sites and developing solar fields on Pennsylvania’s many shuttered coal mine sites and former coal-fired power stations.
The alternative to boosting natural gas is to create a “new energy economy powered by clean energy, energy efficiency strategies and decarbonization technology,” the report said. “Pennsylvania can shake free its over-reliance on fossil fuels, do right by coal communities left behind, and lead the nation in innovation and clean energy.”
Data centers—more than 50 of which are planned for Pennsylvania—are driving big new demand for electricity, much of which may end up generated by natural gas. Residential electric rates in the state have risen by around 12 percent in the last year in anticipation of the new demand and the high costs of upgraded transmission.
Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, issued an executive order directing data center developers to provide their own power and pay the full cost of transmission upgrades without shifting costs to ratepayers. The order, issued after growing community opposition to data center plans across the state, also requires the centers to buy an increasing amount of their power from renewable sources, including solar, advanced nuclear and battery storage, rising to 32 percent by 2035.
Donna Kohut, author of the PennFuture report, said Shapiro’s order for increasing renewable use was a step in the right direction but is no guarantee that the legislature will follow with measures that mandate greater use of renewables.
“Now that we’ve got this bit of momentum from the governor, it’s up to the state legislature to move forward,” she said in an interview.
David Masur, executive director of the nonprofit PennEnvironment, welcomed the report’s policy prescriptions.
“It’s been clear for a long time that the question isn’t one of technological capability or effectiveness of the policies but whether our elected officials have the political will and the intestinal fortitude to implement these much-needed energy policies,” Masur wrote in an email. “It’s time we take the policy steps necessary to move our energy systems out of the 19^th century and into … the 21^st century.”
Pennsylvania, he said, ranked 47th in the nation for renewable energy growth in the last 10 years.
“Red and blue states alike are rapidly pivoting to more renewable energy and stronger renewable-energy policies to stimulate that growth,” Masur said.
We grant elected officials extraordinary power when we give them our vote, which means we must demand extraordinary accountability once they are in office. But that’s impossible if “We the People” don’t have information about what decisions they’re making and how they spend our money.
That’s why Spotlight PA exists, but we can’t keep digging without your support.
We’re independent, we live here, and we don’t answer to shareholders or a big corporation. We’re unbiased in this polarized time, with no political agenda or opinion pieces. And we’re a nonprofit, which means we prioritize in-depth investigative and public-service reporting that puts you first.
Uncertain times call for decisive action. More than 11,000 readers just like you — friends and neighbors in your community who still give a damn about truth, accountability, and transparency — are standing behind the free and fearless reporting Spotlight PA provides. Join them now by making a gift that ensures this vital work can continue.
Thank you!
— Christopher Baxter, CEO/President
PS: If you prefer to mail a check, you can send it to:
Spotlight PA, PO Box 11728, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1728
Sign up for PA Post to understand what’s happening across PA – in less than five minutes a day.
© 2026 Spotlight PA. 
This site is powered by Netlify

 

source

Calendar Week 34 was a mixed bag for the TaiyangNews PV Price Index, with wafer and module prices recording increases, while cell prices fell by double digits week-on-week (WoW).
The polysilicon segment was unchanged for the fourth consecutive week.
The wafer segment recorded gains of 4.2% to 24.4% WoW, following increases of 9.1% to 12.5% in CW33.
After recording some of the largest WoW increases in recent weeks, cell prices fell by 11.8% to 19.7% in CW34. The category, however, remains up by double digits month-on-month (MoM).
Prices for the 4 TOPCon bifacial module types increased by 1.4% to 1.5% WoW.
The two solar glass variants have seen no price changes since CW17.
The TaiyangNews PV Price Index is now on a 4-week streak of relative stability, despite the sharp movements in wafer and cell prices over the past two weeks. While the polysilicon segment has lost more than a third of its value year-to-date (YtD), wafers and cells have significantly clawed back their earlier declines. Solar glass prices are down between 7.5% and 14.8%. Among modules, only one module type remains in the red YtD.
The data refers to average product prices in China. The data was collected by Chinese market research firm Gessey PV Consulting.
Disclaimer: TaiyangNews does not guarantee reliability, accuracy or completeness of this price index’ content. TaiyangNews does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors in this work.
TaiyangNews 2024

source

How to Become a Solar Installer: Don’t Skip These Steps  Miami Herald
source

Michigan approves first utility-scale renewable project under controversial siting law  Crain’s Detroit Business
source

Solar Boom Sweeps Across Africa as Rooftop Demand Takes Off  Bloomberg.com
source

First Michigan solar farm to seek state approval gets green light  MLive.com
source

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set us as preferred
To the editor: I was surprised to learn about the Demand Side Grid Support program (“Sacramento should save the program that is saving the grid,” Aug. 25). I’ve had solar panels with batteries for a few years now, currently under the NEM 2.0 program, and use my batteries to minimize my use of the grid at peak times (and to achieve a higher credit for solar produced at peak times). Nevertheless, I had never heard of the program either from my provider, Southern California Edison, or from my Enphase app.
But, to be honest, I wouldn’t participate anyway. I’ve tried letting Edison control my smart thermostat and my electric vehicle charger, and both impacted my quality of life enough that I unenrolled in the programs. Further, based on the Legislature’s lack of support for residential solar (through the disastrous policies of the Public Utilities Commission), I no longer trust it or the electricity providers to do anything that benefits users such as myself. Real-world solutions are what are needed and they won’t come from the electrical providers or the politicians in their pockets.
Allen Simmons, Long Beach
Subscribe for unlimited access
Site Map
Follow Us
MORE FROM THE L.A. TIMES

source

Aptera's will they/won't they flirtation with production has gone on two decades. It was first founded in 2006, but it was liquidated at one point and went radio silent for a few years. But for most of the last 20 years, it's promised a three-wheeled electric vehicle with solar panels for a roof, between 250-400 miles of range, and the ability to recoup about 40 miles of range from the sun. Yet, it hasn't delivered a single vehicle. So you'd be forgiven for any skepticism about its promises. However, independent German company TÜV Rheinland recently tested out Aptera's solar capabilities, and it seems to deliver.
TÜV Rheinland's team, including its solar expert Dr. Giorgio Bardizza, went to Aptera's Carslbad, California facility to measure just how much solar energy the electric three-wheeler can absorb. Aptera has consistently claimed that it can put about four kWh worth of juice back into its battery from the solar panels on its roof, tailgate, hood, and dashboard. That's only a fraction of the launch edition's 44 kWh battery, but it's said to be enough for around 40 miles of range in the ultra-light car, based on the brand's proposed efficiency.
Aptera solar electric vehicle production validation vehicle
Testing was done over three days, with a different test each day, each from sunrise to sunset in July in Southern California. For accuracy, TÜV Rheinland used its own instruments to measure the electricity actually put back in the battery, not just at the solar panels. You can even see TÜV Rheinland's detailed testing report, as well as watch a video on how it was done, so you don't just have to take Aptera's word for it. 
The first test had the car parked in Aptera's parking lot all day, in a fixed position, with its solar hatch closed, and it gained 4.23 kWh of energy, said to be worth 42 miles of range. The second test was repositioned once at noon, as if to simulate someone coming back from a lunch break and having to park in a different place. That gained 4.4 kWh, worth 44 miles. Finally, the team raised the solar hatch, positioning it toward the sun, and recouped 4.75 kWh, good for 47 miles of range. 
I'll be honest, I have my doubts about Aptera ever actually putting this three-wheeler on sale. But it's hard to argue with these test results. They were done by a trustworthy third party and all of the data is presented, so there's nowhere for Aptera to hide. 
Is anyone going to regularly park their car all day in the same spot from sunrise to sunset, with perfect sunny conditions? Probably not. But if someone has a short commute and parks their car in the sun for an eight hour workday, they might be able to recoup enough range to get home for free on a regular basis, saving them a ton of charging. So I'm rooting for this little guy, even if I'm still dubious of the company. 
Aptera Reveals The Secret To Building Its Solar EV: China
After Years Of Delays, Aptera Is Finally Preparing To Build Customer Cars
EV and future tech
Classic and collector
Deals and buying guides
Ownership
Safety and recalls
Policy and environment
New vehicles and reviews
Auto shows
General
People and culture
Help
About us
About our ads
Licensing
Sitemap
Follow us on
© 2026 Yahoo. All rights reserved.

source

The city of Niles is moving forward with plans to let a firm build a solar farm and battery storage facility at the airport. The mayor says the project will help the city meet Michigan’s renewable energy mandates for local communities.
The city council approved a series of agenda items related to the project this week. Mayor Nick Shelton says Michigan law requires municipal utilities like Niles to reach 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
Shelton says this project will get the city to about 15%.
The mayor declined our interview request but in a Facebook post he said, “In plain terms, this wasn’t the city deciding it simply wanted a solar farm. The state gave us a requirement and a deadline. Whether we like that mandate or not, ignoring it isn’t an option.”
A subsidiary of New York City-based Madison Energy Infrastructure will lease space at the airport to own and operate the facility. It will sell some electricity directly to the city before sending the rest out to the grid. Shelton says that will save the city money in the long run as increased demand from the mandate increases renewable energy costs for cities.

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
Officials said agreeing to the settlement was the least expensive practical choice.
Photo Credit: Atmos Energy
Households in Denton, Texas, are facing another utility cost bump: starting Oct. 1, the typical home gas bill is expected to be about $13 higher each month.
The Denton City Council voted 6-0 to accept a rate settlement with Atmos Energy.
Typical commercial gas bills in Denton are projected to rise by $44.82 a month, or 9.9%, while the average residential bill will increase by $13.37, a 14.15% jump, KERA News reported.
Atmos first sought a $291 million increase in its 2025 cost-of-service study, and the agreement that followed covers the utility’s system as a whole through the Atmos Cities Steering Committee, a 181-member coalition of cities representing more than 1 million customers.
According to Matt Hamilton, the city’s chief financial officer, the negotiated amount was $260.5 million, trimming about $30.6 million from the original request for member cities.
Council members voiced frustration with the size of the change. Council member George Ferrie described it as “incredibly high for gas,” and Mayor Chris Watts told staff, “That’s a large increase.”
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Starting at $50
Starting at $99
Starting at $60
Starting at $80
For Denton residents, the higher gas charge may land alongside possible increases in electric and water bills, putting more strain on household budgets.
These charges work differently from electricity plans that Texans can sometimes shop for: once a city council approves a settlement, most households cannot avoid the gas delivery increase except by using less gas.
Officials said agreeing to the settlement was the least expensive practical choice. Hamilton told the council that turning it down could expose Denton to legal costs and send the case to the Texas Railroad Commission, where the city would be unlikely to prevail.
Watts warned that leaving the settlement could end up putting residents in a worse spot.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Winnipeg
By Sofia Frolova
Posted August 27, 2026 5:32 pm.
The roof of a building in rural Manitoba has over 500 solar panels, making it the biggest solar project in the province.
De Jong Dairy Farm just outside of Winnipeg is paving the way in sustainable farming, taking another step to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
“To be emission-free. And this is our goal from the dairy farms of Canada in the future. But it has to include all the farms. We are not going to wait for them. We are going to be proactive. We want to be leaders in this,” said Peter De Jong, the owner of De Jong Dairy Farm.
De Jong moved to Canada from the Netherlands at the break of the century, bringing European farming traditions to Manitoba.
The farm just outside of La Broquerie started with 55 cows, but fast forward to 2026 and the farmers are milking over 900 cows.
The farm is paving the way in sustainable farming, now installing over 500 solar panels to power the new calf nursery.
“We visited the family back home, and we saw that over the past 25 years they went from 0 to 90 per cent solar panels on the roofs. And we were wondering why they never do it here in Canada,” said De Jong.
The project was installed by Evolve Energy, and it became fully operational in 18 months. The owners are expecting to see the investment paying back in the next six years, with the system saving $30,000 a year in hydro bills for the farm.
“We are going to be offsetting as much as 24 gas heat homes in the area, which really makes a huge impact. Most energy will be offset here on the farm. And it represents about 14 per cent of their total energy,” said Lorena Mitchell, the lead energy designer for Evolve Energy.
Previously, the farm upgraded lighting and ventilation systems to enhance its energy efficiency, but the owners are looking forward to new projects including the use of electric vehicles.
“We are looking forward to a next solar project as we continue this way as well. But you can never know where technology is going in the future. There are many ways in which you can harness the energy on the farm,” said De Jong.

Fresh data from Statistics Canada on Friday suggests the economy was growing at a healthy clip in the second quarter and rumblings of a recession earlier in the year might’ve been overblown. Real…
updated
35m ago
Connor Hellebuyck is ready to move on from Winnipeg. The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender has publicly submitted a trade request from the Jets, Hellebuyck’s agent Ray Petkau announced on…
15h ago
The intensifying tariff war between Canada and the United States could permanently alter cross-border trade, signalling the potential end of an era of expanding economic ties between the countries, experts say.
5h ago
Winnipeg police say a man who was wanted since April on three arrest warrants was found hiding in a tent within an encampment in South Point Douglas on Wednesday. The Winnipeg Police Service says officers…
16h ago
Fresh data from Statistics Canada on Friday suggests the economy was growing at a healthy clip in the second quarter and rumblings of a recession earlier in the year might’ve been overblown. Real…
updated
35m ago
Connor Hellebuyck is ready to move on from Winnipeg. The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender has publicly submitted a trade request from the Jets, Hellebuyck’s agent Ray Petkau announced on…
15h ago
The intensifying tariff war between Canada and the United States could permanently alter cross-border trade, signalling the potential end of an era of expanding economic ties between the countries, experts say.
5h ago
Winnipeg police say a man who was wanted since April on three arrest warrants was found hiding in a tent within an encampment in South Point Douglas on Wednesday. The Winnipeg Police Service says officers…
16h ago
Excitement is through the roof for Winnipeg Sports fans as the Blue Bombers officially clinched the West Division, and the Jets return home on an 8-game win streak. Neve Van Pelt reports.
October 27, 2024 7:26 pm CST CST
A partial lunar eclipse graced Canadian skies, prompting star gazers to gather to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
27m ago
The province has announced a new pilot to increase participation in physical and health education. Justin Hardy Reports
14h ago
Manitoba dairy farm completes the biggest solar project in the province to cut greenhouse gas emission. Sofia Frolova reports.
14h ago
A Winnipeg sporting good store is preparing for potential 50% counter tariffs on American baseball products. Koby Mitchell reports.
14h ago
Now New and Improved! Watch CityNews Winnipeg, and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts, traffic, weather and video from CityNews anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices.

source

Stuart Gourley explores how financial models are beginning to reflect the value that renewable assets can bring landowners.
August 28, 2026
In this contributed blog, Stuart Gourley, founder director and chief of product at renewable land leasing specialist RELA explores the growth in financial models that can unlock the value of renewable assets for landowners.
Across the UK, utility-scale solar, wind and battery energy storage projects are becoming an increasingly important part of the rural economy. For the landowners who host them, theycreate something less frequently discussed: a valuable, income-producing asset.
That matters at a time when farming businesses are under pressure from rising costs, changing markets, succession planning, taxation, and the need to invest for the future. Capital may be needed to acquire neighbouring land, invest in machinery or infrastructure, reduce debt, diversify into other assets or provide for the next generation.
For some landowners, hosting utility-scale renewable energy has already become part of that diversification.
Related:Government greenlights Low Carbon’s 400MW Beacon Fen solar-plus-storage, first DCO under new energy minister
The question increasingly being asked is what else can be done with the value these projects create, while retaining ownership of the land itself.
Much of the discussion around renewable energy and agricultural land understandably focuses on the development stage: whether a project should proceed, how much land it will require and how farming and energy production can coexist.
Those are important questions.
But once a utility-scale project is operating, or approaching operation, the landowner’s position changes. A long-term lease with an established renewable energy operator can create an income stream extending for several decades.
That income can provide considerable financial stability. It can also create a valuable asset in its own right.
The difficulty is timing.
Traditional renewable energy leases generally pay rent periodically over the life of the project. A landowner may therefore have a significant future income stream but limited ability to access its capital value today.
That can matter when farming businesses face decisions that cannot wait 20 or 30 years.
There is no single answer for a landowner considering how best to use their renewable energy income.
For many, retaining the lease exactly as it is and receiving regular rental payments will remain the right choice. It provides predictable income if the landowner is confident that the project will continue to operate for the long-term, and requires no further financial decision.
Where significant capital is required, borrowing against the asset may be an option. However, conventional lending will generally involve interest, repayments that must be made irrespective of whether the project continues to operate, personal guarantees and security over the underlying land.
Related:Triple Point acquires 49.2MW Hessay Solar project from Recurrent Energy
Selling land can also release capital, but comes with the obvious consequence that the landowner gives up ownership and potentially an asset that has been held by the family for generations. That means giving up more than the current value of the property. The landowner also forgoes future capital growth in the land and, importantly for farming families, the ability for that land to remain in family ownership after the renewable energy project is renewed, repowered or eventually decommissioned. Depending on the project, retaining ownership may also allow agricultural activity to continue alongside energy generation.
There has been a recent shift in thinking around these questions. Historically, accessing a large amount of capital from land has often meant either borrowing against it or selling it. For renewable energy landowners, that need not necessarily be the case.
Increasingly, there is another option: capitalising some or all of the future income from the renewable energy lease itself.
Related:Statkraft’s Cornish solar farm secures planning permission after appeal
It is an approach that reflects the growing maturity of the utility-scale renewable energy market. As projects become established long-term infrastructure assets, the leases sitting beneath them also have an identifiable financial value.
New structures entering the UK market allow qualifying renewable energy landowners to exchange an agreed proportion of future fixed lease payments for an upfront lump sum.
Importantly, this does not require the underlying land to be sold. Ownership remains with the landowner, together with the long-term value and optionality that ownership provides.
RELA, an Australian-founded specialist that entered the UK market in 2026, is just one business introducing this model. Its focus is on utility-scale renewable energy projects, typically 25MW and above, including solar, wind and battery energy storage.
Under such a structure, the landowner retains ownership of the land, their existing lease with the renewable energy operator, their rights under that lease and any revenue-linked payments. A concurrent lease is created through which RELA provides an upfront payment in exchange for an agreed proportion of the future fixed rental income.
There is flexibility in how much is capitalised and for how long. A landowner might choose to capitalise only part of the lease, retaining some annual rental income, rather than treating the decision as an all-or-nothing choice.
That distinction is important. The purpose is not simply to replace rental income with a lump sum. It is to give the landowner another way to structure an asset they already own around their particular circumstances, without having to relinquish the land that sits beneath it.
The answer will be different for every landowner.
For one farming family, accessing capital may provide the opportunity to acquire additional land or invest in the existing farming operation. For another it may enable diversification away from a single property asset. Others may be considering succession, gifts to the next generation or wider estate planning.
In each case, retaining the underlying land can be significant. The family continues to own the asset and participate in any long-term capital growth, while preserving the ability to farm the land where the project allows and ultimately pass it to the next generation. When the renewable energy project reaches the end of its life, the land remains theirs.
Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief have brought those questions into sharper focus for many UK farming families. From April 2026, changes to inheritance tax relief mean that some agricultural estates face potential liabilities that previously may not have arisen.
Renewable energy leases can further increase the value attached to agricultural property while the underlying asset remains relatively illiquid. A lease capitalisation transaction converts that into a liquid asset (cash) that can be gifted early and reduces the value of the land for IHT purposes.
Capitalising lease income will not provide the right answer in every circumstance and tax treatment needs careful professional advice. But having another source of capital available gives landowners more choices when considering those decisions.
The significance of this extends beyond individual farms.
RELA estimates that more than 3,000 UK landowners could potentially hold leases associated with utility-scale solar, wind and battery projects of sufficient scale to consider capitalisation. It estimates the current UK renewable energy lease market at approximately £4 billion.
As the UK continues to expand utility-scale renewable energy, that market will grow.
The renewable energy transition is therefore doing more than changing how electricity is generated. It is creating long-duration assets across rural Britain and new sources of wealth for some of the landowners hosting the infrastructure.
The financial market is beginning to evolve around those assets.
For landowners, the important point is not that one approach is inherently better than another. Some will value decades of regular rental income. Others will have a better use for some of that capital today.
What has been missing until now is the ability to make that choice without necessarily selling the land or borrowing against it.
As Britain’s utility-scale renewable energy sector matures, giving landowners greater flexibility over the value created on their land should be part of that evolution.
Read more about:
Stuart Gourley
Founder director & chief of product, RELA
Google Preferred Source
Google Preferred Source
Copyright © 2026 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

source

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
MANILA, Philippines — Renewable energy producers ACEN Corp. and Yanara secured a P2.3-billion loan from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. to develop a 75-megawatt solar farm in Pangasinan.tt solar farm in Pangasinan.
On Friday, the Ayala-led firm announced that it secured the loan facility through Renovable Earth Corp., a joint venture between ACEN and Yanara.
READ: Ayala’s ACEN eyes capital raising for more renewables
Additionally, the new funds would help both parties construct the Sual solar project, which is under the government’s green energy auction program round 4.
Once it starts generating power, the solar plant can produce about 112 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity per year, enough to energize around 69,000 homes.
READ: ACEN sees 2026 a better year despite Middle East war
“This financing is a strong vote of confidence in our partnership with Yanara and in the long-term growth of renewable energy in the Philippines,” said Patrice Clausse, group chief investment officer at ACEN.
“As demand for reliable and sustainable power continues to grow, investments such as Sual Solar help strengthen the country’s energy security, support local economic development, and advance the transition to a cleaner energy future,” he added. /pai
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

source

Nextnova Solar, a solar cell manufacturing company based in Oklahoma City, has announced plans to open a 2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in a 42,550 m2 building in nearby Yukon, Oklahoma.
The company plans to begin work on the facility in November 2026, with mass production starting in March 2027. Nextnova says the facility will initially require 300 workers, but notes that the facility has the potential to scale to 5 GW of annual capacity with demand, which may result in additional employment.
In public-facing materials on its website, the company touts its fully integrated Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and advanced process control laboratory. The company also promises “complete material traceability” and that it says will enable customers to verify product origin, demonstrate regulatory compliance, support ESG reporting and rapidly investigate quality-related issues.
“Nextnova is being built to deliver more than high-efficiency solar cells,” said Nextnova chief strategy officer Nathan Miller in a statement. “We are creating a manufacturing platform that gives customers greater confidence through advanced technology, rigorous quality systems and complete transparency across the supply chain.”
The Nextnova announcement comes at a time when domestic module manufacturers are facing new tariffs on imported solar cells under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which impose a price floor and 15% ad valorem tariffs on all imports of solar cells, which apply to the base cost of the imports and stack together, potentially raising the price of imported cells above the cost of similar cells from domestic suppliers. 
The U.S. does not currently have enough domestic solar cell production capacity to meet the needs of module assemblers. According to the latest numbers shared by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on its U.S. Solar Manufacturing Dashboard, the capacity of operational U.S. solar cell facilities is now around 10.6 GW, with another 23.1 GW announced or under construction, while operational module assembly capacity now tops 74.1 GW, with 26.7 GW planned or under construction. 
Nextnova to present at Solar Manufacturing USA 2026
Nextnova is among the sponsors of the Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 conference, presented by pv magazine USA, in partnership with Finlay Colville of Terawatt PV Research. 
“Nextnova’s inclusion at the inaugural Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 event forms a direct match with one of the major themes underpinning the conference — revealing the companies that are currently investing into new solar cell manufacturing sites in the United States,” said Colville, adding “The presentation by the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, Nathan Miller, promises to be one of the highlights of the opening sessions. Following the latest Section 232 action, the strategic imperative to invest in and build out the U.S. domestic solar supply chain has never been more critical.”
The conference takes place on September 22 and 23, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Registration is open now.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, September 10, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Our special edition for Intersolar South America 2026 is here!
Discover the latest insights into the Brazilian solar market – in Portuguese.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
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.
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid

You have no items in your basket.

source

Importing solar modules to the US will “no longer make any economic sense” under new Section 232 tariffs for polysilicon-based products, according to Intertek CEA.
Speaking on a webinar yesterday, Christian Roselund, research manager for policy at quality assurance, supply chain and technical services provider Intertek CEA, said he expects US module manufacturers to “dominate the market in 2027” due to the price increases for imported solar PV modules under Section 232.
Get Premium Subscription
The tariff introduces minimum import prices (MIP) for polysilicon, silicon ingots/wafers, solar cells and modules, as well as a 15% tariff rate on top of that. The MIP for modules is US$0.38/watt, and cells are US$0.22/watt.
Despite the expected dominance of US module producers from 2027, Roselund said he expects their profit margins to take a hit due to the increased cost of importing cells.
Currently, the US has a roughly 50GW disparity between its solar cell and module production capacities, with around 11GW of cells to match over 60GW of PV module capacity. This means most module-only manufacturers will continue to rely on imports, hitting their margins and increasing module prices.
A similar thing will affect cell-only producers like ES Foundry or Suniva, Roselund suggested, as they will have to pay for imported silicon wafers at the MIP of US$100/kg. Cell producers will raise their prices to sell to module factories, passing the costs down the supply chain.
“The big exception to this is vertically integrated companies,” he says, which stand to benefit most from the Section 232 levies. These are few and far between in the current US solar landscape. Hanwha Qcells produces solar PV cells and modules, as do T1 Energy, Toyo Solar and a selection of others, but the figures show that cell, and especially wafer, production lag significantly behind module assembly.
Those companies, either with US cell or captive cell overseas, benefit from the fact that the MIPs are lower further up the supply chain. There are more benefits to importing wafers at roughly US$0.12/watt, or cells at US$0.22/watt, and manufacturing the rest in the US.
Currently, Intertek CEA says that imported modules in the US are selling around US$0.46/watt and US modules with foreign cells between US$0.38 – US$0.44/watt. Modules with US cells are US$0.45-50/watt, due to US cell scarcity, and fully domestic supply chains (which is limited to production from Corning and Hemlock) are around US$0.50/watt due to their insulation from future tariffs.
Those prices are slight market overreaction to the shock of new costs, said Joseph C. Johnson, associate director for market intelligence at Intertek CEA. As such, they might change and lower over time, but the trend is clear: US module prices are going up, to the benefit of a small number of established companies.
The webinar did discuss the possibility of more “competitive” practises between manufacturers as the industry adapts to the new reality, with some finding ways to sell modules more cheaply.
This is especially true out into the 2030s, when CEA expects US module manufacturing capacity to massively exceed annual demand. Solar installations are expected to remain relatively flat through 2030, while module capacity could reach over 115GW, and even cell capacity could exceed deployments based on already existing “credible” expansion plans.
 Ultimately, there is too much uncertainty around the Section 232 policy and other factors in the US solar market to encourage investment in new upstream manufacturing, Roselund said.
First, “this policy is not static,” he said. There is scope for the Secretary of Commerce to adjust the MIPs over time, depending on market conditions, which could see them fluctuate up or down on an unpredictable schedule.
Moreover, the US is facing new bans on power equipment like inverters and transformers, various other tariffs which all stack on top of Section 232, and the expiry of tax credits to incentivise solar deployments.
New cell or wafer facilities can require investments of up to US$165 million per GW and years of construction before they become viable. Roselund points out that by the time new facilities came online, the 45X Advanced Manufacturing tax credit would be about to expire, removing a major incentive for domestic content and cell production in the US.
There are also technology concerns, with litigation ongoing over TOPCon technology, a lack of proven market appetite for HJT cells, and the looming obsolescence of PERC technology. PV Tech Premium looked in depth at the prospects for upstream US manufacturing capacity in a blog earlier this month.
The Section 232 update will have a significant impact on the US solar supply chain, which will be discussed in more detail at the PV CellTech USA conference on 13-14 October 2026. The event will address the policy and investment landscape for US solar manufacturing, across the supply chain, and include speakers such as Solar Energy Manufacturers for America (SEMA) Coalition executive director Mike Carr. Read the full agenda here and book tickets on the event website.

source

Renewables Now is a leading business news source for renewable energy professionals globally. Trust us for comprehensive coverage of major deals, projects and industry trends. We’ve done this since 2009.
Stay on top of sector news with with Renewables Now. Get access to extra articles and insights with our subscription plans and set up your own focused newsletters and alerts.

source

Published 5:43 am Friday, August 28, 2026
By Lia Portillo
JEFFERSON – Marion County residents heard details this week at community meet-and-greet events about a planned 2,000-acre solar farm, with some attendees saying their fears about the project being connected to a data center were put to rest.
Pathway Power, the company building the $200-million solar farm south of Avinger, held the events Tuesday and Wednesday at the Kellyville Community Center.
Poster boards depicting renderings of the project, pictures of the location and informational posters about the company and of the science behind solar farms were displayed across the room. Representatives of Pathway Power were scattered throughout the community center to answer residents’ questions. 
Shar Parr, who lives near Lake O’ the Pines, asked about the project’s possible impacts on the region’s water resources.
“I have been very involved in fighting to save the water for our region and for our future, for our growth,” she said. 
Parr also asked if the farm is a precursor to a data center. 
“And (the CEO of Pathway Power) said ‘No, absolutely not.’ And I’m quoting him when I say that. And so I was happy to hear that, although skeptical,” she said.
Parr also asked if the solar farm is connected at all with a data center being built in Blanchard, Louisiana, to which she was told no.
She said Pathway Power’s CEO told her the solar farm’s battery storage system would require some water, but that it was “an evaporative cooling system, and he referred to it as a system that would be closed.”
Closed-loop systems require significantly less water than traditional open-loop systems used in data centers.
Given the proximity of Johnson Creek Reservoir to Lake O’ the Pines, Parr asked if Pathway Power intends to place “catchment rows to be able to catch the siltation or runoff during heavy rainfall.” 
She said she was told yes and that the company plans to reseed the area.
Parr said she is still skeptical about this project but appreciated being able to ask questions.
“I think that that’s an important move forward, is being able to sit down at the table and say, ‘OK, here’s this, here’s this. We know it’s coming. Now how do we best work together?’” Parr said. “Because we’re not going to stop. I mean, I’m sure that my grandmother at some point told somebody, ‘Don’t ever go to the moon!’ And so I don’t want to be that person. But I also want to be responsible, because I owe it to the younger generation to do that.”
Jimmie Alford said he is interested in the project as the solar farm would be 30 feet from his daughter’s house.
He wanted to talk to Pathway Power representatives to ask what to do in case of an emergency.
“I was trying to find out what we needed to do as a fire department in case (of a fire from the battery system),” said Alford, who is Avinger’s assistant fire chief. “Well, do nothing. We’re not going in there and messing with it.”
Jean Noe, who moved to the Johnson Creek Reservoir area six years ago, said she attended the meet-and-greet to learn what is true and not from information she read online.
“There was so much information flying around that I didn’t know whether it was the truth or rumor,” she said. “(The event) put a lot of those concerns to rest because it’s not at this point in time what anybody thought it was going to be. (Pathway Power officials) insisted they have zero to do with any data centers. They’ve not built data centers or constructed solar for any data centers. They have never partnered with any data centers, and (there’s) nothing in the future plan.
“So, at this point in time, I will believe them. And I think that most everybody’s concern was these data centers coming in. And I mean they’ve kind of put my mind to rest for that to rest for that for right now. We’ll see what the future brings.” 
Hunter Bonner, the chair of the Marion County Republican Party, said this event was “much needed.” He said it was important for Pathway Power to meet its neighbors and learn more about the community.
One of his concerns about the solar farm and its battery system is safety. He said he was able to speak with an expert in batteries who told him that the technology to deal with containment of fires has increased over the years.
“(Pathway Power officials) were also able to answer questions about where the arrays were actually going to be,” Bonner said. “A lot of people think it’s just going to be this one continuous field of solar arrangement, (but) based upon the renderings that they showed, it’s going to be kind of in different areas.”
While he said Pathway Power representatives were very receptive, there is still more information that county commissioners should consider ahead of the company’s tax abatement hearing.
Pathway Power is seeking a tax abatement from Marion County that would reduce the amount of property taxes the company pays over a period of time. The project is expected to generate roughly $13 million in sales and use tax during construction and nearly $58 million in property taxes during the next 35 years. The project has an expected lifespan of 35 to 40 years.
The tax abatement process includes public hearings during Commissioners Court meetings and a vote by commissioners.
“One question I asked him was, ‘At what stage are you with engineering plans?’ And they’re about 30% done with that,” Bonner said. “We really need to see those engineering plans, and I would definitely say that those engineering plans need to be available before the Marion County commissioners even think about having an abatement hearing on this.”
Before attending the meeting, Bonner had tried reaching out to Pathway Power staff and had a hard time getting in touch with someone. It’s something he says he hopes the company works on.
“While I am glad that Pathway came out and did hold the event that they did, they need to be a little bit more visible and certainly more accessible than what they have been recently,” he said.
He also encouraged residents to make their voices heard and reach out to their local party officials and local representatives with concerns or questions. 
Jam Attari, managing partner and founder of Pathway Power, said when he and his team start a large-scale project such as the solar farm, they try to engage with the community.
“There is both short-term and long-term impact, both positive and negative, and we want to make sure the community is aware of what we’re doing on site, and to find different ways where we can support the community,” Attari said. 
Other than hearing about water concerns, Attari said he talked about road disruptions, economic impact to the area and more.
“Certainly, people are concerned with road use and what that impact will be. So we’ll certainly work with the community to make sure that they understand when trucks are moving on to the site and minimizing the disruption caused by construction traffic,” Attari said. “People are concerned about safety. So we want to make sure that we’re bringing the right kind of information to help have people understand at the end of the day, (a) fire is not a concern, any leaching chemicals … just doesn’t happen on power projects like this.”
Attari added that regional business owners have already approached him about being contractors for the solar farm’s construction.
“Part of this outreach is not just to local residents, but I’ve already met with three businesses that operate here locally that will engage in conversations,” he said.  “We’ll see where it goes, but there’s a concrete plant that is very conveniently local, (and) there’s a civil contractor that’s also local. Part of our requirement for folks that will contract to build our project is that they will use local labor and local contracting sources.” 
Construction is expected to start next year with operation slated for late 2028. 
“What we want to be able to do is to communicate (about this project), and what that means for the community,” Attari said. “Both in a real sort of physical way, what’s going to go on during construction and what’s going to go on during operation, and that at the end of the day, our intent is to minimize any disruption while adding a strong impact economically to what we’re doing.”
For information, go to pathway-power.com. 
Lia Portillo is a Report for America corps member covering the Hispanic community in the area and more. She graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana where she hosted a student podcast called “Latino Living” and led the student newspaper. She’s excited to tell the stories of Harrison County.
Email her at lia.portillo@marshallnewsmessenger.com.

source

Solar-Fit has finished installing solar power systems on Palm Coast’s new fire stations — No. 26 at 72 Airport Commerce Center Way and No. 22 on the northeast corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Colbert Lane.
The installations took about six weeks for each building, Solar-Fit CEO Bill Gallagher said.
“Each facility has 305- to 590-watt solar panels, totaling 179,950 watts of DC power. Each system is projected to produce over 250,000 kilowatt-hours of free energy per year, resulting in an estimated energy savings of $22,000 to $25,000 annually,” he said.
Solar-Fit also installed the solar power system on the roof of the Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast a few years ago.
“Palm Coast is leading the way for other municipalities to model regarding renewable energy utilization,” Gallahger said. “We salute our local leaders for the foresight to use the sun’s free energy to reduce the operating expenses of city facilities. These savings benefit all residents in our community.”
  
 
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.
Click here to Subscribe
Click here to Login

source

Following the BLM announcements about the projects, conservation group Basin and Range Watch raised concerns about desert tortoises in the area.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued the final environmental impact statement and resource management plan amendment for the proposed Copper Rays Solar Project in Nye County last week.
According to its description, the project is located southeast of Pahrump and 40 miles west of Las Vegas, on about 4,414 acres of public land in Nye County managed by BLM.
“The electricity generated from the project would be collected at the onsite substation and conveyed to the existing Gamebird substation located northwest of the project site via a generation gen-tie transmission line,” reads the project description. “Construction for the facilities is estimated to take approximately 54 months over two phases.”
If approved, Copper Rays Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leeward Renewable Energy LLC, could develop an energy facility with integrated battery storage and interconnection to the regional electric transmission system, states the Aug. 21 BLM announcement.

Bonanza Solar Project

BLM also issued the final environmental impact statement and the proposed resource management plan for the Bonanza Solar Project on Aug. 21.
Approximately 5,133 acres of public lands managed by BLM in both Nye and Clark counties, 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas and five miles west of Indian Springs are in the application area, the project description states.
The proposed development from applicant Bonanza Solar LLC, a subsidiary of EDF Power Solutions includes construction, operation and decommissioning of a proposed 300 MW solar energy project including battery energy storage and interconnection to the regional transmission system, according to the description.

Environmental concerns

Basin and Range Watch, a nonprofit conservation organization, also issued a press release on Aug. 21 critiquing both the Copper Rays Solar Project and the Bonanza Solar Project.
“Large-scale solar projects in Southern Nevada are effectively playing a role in pushing the imperiled desert tortoise toward extinction,” Basin and Range Watch Co-Founder Kevin Emmerich said in a statement. “Each project takes out a significant chunk of crucial habitat for the species. The solar projects are playing a significant role in turning our diverse deserts into sacrifice zones. We should be considering brownfields and old mine sites for solar panels before we lose more habitat.”
Basin and Range Watch says both projects will impact rare plants, fossil beds, archaeology sites and over 6,000 acres of vital Mojave Desert tortoise habitat.
The conservation organization further states in the press release that the Pahrump Valley, where the Copper Rays Solar Project will be built, is a habitat that holds viable breeding populations of desert tortoises.
Basin and Range Watch describes the Indian Springs Valley, where the Bonanza Solar Project will be constructed, as a crucial desert tortoise connectivity corridor in Nevada.
“Connectivity links populations in different locations and maintains genetic diversity and viability,” the release reads.
Basin and Range Watch also claims that both projects will be visible for miles and use up groundwater.

Public input

Last week’s BLM notices opened a 30-day protest period for both projects that will end on Sept. 21. Protest instructions can be found at tinyurl.com/3fpzmkw5.
For more information about the Copper Rays Solar Project, visit tinyurl.com/2p8yb8fv.
Additional details about the Bonanza Solar Project can be viewed at tinyurl.com/3236jnnm.
Contact reporter Elijah Dulay at edulay@pvtimes.com
Nye County deputies failed to seek medical care for Stevie Miller at the county jail as she vomited, seized and showed signs of a deadly drug overdose for hours inside the county jail before her death, according to arrest affidavits.
An uncorroborated weapon-related report in the area lead to the Wednesday morning lockdowns.
Sponsorships for this year’s event, benefitting Sleep in Heavenly Peace, are nearly filled
Lack of a reliable vehicle is putting a pinch on this nonprofit’s ability to rescue lost and abandoned animals.
Nevada Rural Counties RSVP CEO Molly Walt named to state board addressing dementia.
DHS says it has confirmed 185 possible noncitizens on Nevada’s voter rolls, far below its initial estimate of nearly 16,000.
What’s happening this week in Pahrump
Mental healthcare should be easier to access, easier to understand and, whenever possible, closer to home.
Over the last 250 years America has provided the world with innovators who have created products like cars that have transformed the world.
What’s on the menu this week
Copyright © 2018 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. | Privacy policy | Terms of Service | Cookie Preferences | Your Privacy Choices
Powered by WordPress.com VIP

source

A newly issued executive order by President Donald Trump restricts foreign-made electrical infrastructure across the United States bulk-power system, taking direct aim at equipment connected to entities in 24 embargoed nations. The action targets high-voltage hardware including transformers, utility-scale inverters, circuit breakers, energy storage systems, and industrial control electronics, citing concerns over potential remote access, cyber vulnerabilities, and grid disruption.
While the executive order technically applies to transactions initiated after Aug. 26, 2026, Norton Rose Fulbright noted in its analysis that equipment is not formally barred until the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) evaluates specific vendors and issues official risk determinations.
The DOE has 120 days (until Dec. 24, 2026) to publish formal rules implementing the policy. However, the agency is instructed to make recommendations to the National Security Council to isolate, monitor, or replace sensitive infrastructure as soon as practicable.
According to law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, the executive action applies broadly to foreign-produced equipment used in substations, power generation facilities, and control rooms tied to the bulk-power system. While transmission lines rated at 69 kV or higher are explicitly included, the order also covers generation assets necessary to maintain overall power system reliability.
Specific hardware covered includes:
The order excludes residential or commercial distributed energy assets that connect solely to local low-voltage distribution lines.
Restrictions apply to equipment designed, manufactured, or supplied by vendors tied to 24 designated sanction- and arms-embargoed countries under U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
While the list includes nations such as Iran, Russia, and Syria, China represents the primary commercial supplier affected across solar, battery, and electrical component supply chains.
Norton Rose Fulbright noted that the DOE may establish a pre-qualified vendor white-list or create a licensing framework for utilities seeking to deploy sensitive components. Regulatory mechanisms could also force asset owners to isolate, monitor, or remove previously installed gear, though any mandate would likely be phased in to maintain grid stability.
According to Norton Rose Fulbright, the executive order adds another layer of regulatory complexity for clean energy developers already navigating Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions, domestic content rules, Section 45X manufacturing credits, and import tariffs.

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Is the security risk real, or just Trump assaulting clean energy again to keep the fossil fuel riches flowing to his buddies and family?
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, September 10, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
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.

You have no items in your basket.

source

Solar cell and module manufacturer Canadian Solar has shipped 3.1GW of modules in the second quarter of 2026, a 60% year-on-year decrease.
The Q2 2026 shipment figure puts Canadian Solar’s module volumes in any Q2 at their lowest level since 2020, when the company shipped 2.9GW of modules in Q2 2020. As shown in the chart below, module shipments for the first half of 2026 are lower than Q1 2025 alone.
Get Premium Subscription
However, on a quarterly basis, the shipments are up 25%, as the company continues to navigate a weaker solar market while expanding its US manufacturing footprint.
Looking ahead, Canadian Solar expects solar module shipments to increase to between 3.5GW and 3.8GW in Q3 2026, pointing to a sequential recovery in volumes after the sharp YoY decline in Q2. The expected increase in Q3 module shipments would still leave volumes below the 7.9GW recorded in Q2 2025.
The company is simultaneously increasing its US manufacturing capacity, with its Texas module assembly plant expanding from 5GWp to 10GWp. The company expects this expansion to be completed in H2 2026, while its Jeffersonville, Indiana, HJT solar cell facility is being expanded to 6.3GWp. Phase I of the solar cell facility has a nameplate capacity of 2.1GWp and is the first commercial-scale HJT solar cell facility in the US.
Moreover, the company is installing and commissioning additional solar cell production lines through 2026 and increasing production capacity beyond 6GWp in response to customer demand.
Phase II is expected to begin trial production in the first quarter of 2027. The expansion will add 4.2GWp of solar cell annual nameplate capacity, bringing Canadian Solar’s total solar cell nameplate capacity in the US to 6.3GWp.
Colin Parkin, CEO of Canadian Solar, said: “We are executing on a multidimensional solar technology roadmap. In addition to ramping up the Phase I capacity of 2.1GWp, we will start installing equipment for Phase II before the end of the year, bringing total nameplate cell capacity to 6.3GWp in the first half of 2027. This will position CS PowerTech as the largest crystalline silicon cell manufacturer in North America. When combined with our 10GWp module facility in Texas, CS PowerTech solidifies its position as one of North America’s premier integrated PV manufacturers.”
“We delivered 3.1GW of solar modules, with nearly half shipped to our North American home base. In addition, we achieved 3.7GWh of energy storage shipments to internal and external projects under execution, serving utility-scale projects across North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific and Latin America. As we double down on our US manufacturing strategy, we continue to rebalance our global project development business and optimize capital allocation across our core growth engines,” Parkin added.
Canadian Solar has also launched its TOPCon 3.0 high-power-density module during Q2 2026, with power output of up to 670Wp and conversion efficiency of 24.8%, shipments are scheduled to begin in August 2026.
Canadian Solar reported a 12% sequential increase in net revenues to US$1.2 billion for the second quarter of 2026, as higher solar module and battery energy storage sales offset lower project sales.
Net revenues were down 29% YoY, with the decline reflecting lower solar module and project sales.
Canadian Solar’s gross profit fell to US$168 million in Q2 2026, from US$271 million in Q1 2026. Operating expenses increased to US$240 million from US$198 million sequentially, reflecting higher ramp-up and logistics costs. However, operating expenses were down from US$378 million in Q2 2025, mainly because of lower impairment charges related to certain solar and storage assets and manufacturing assets.
The company reiterated its 2026 US guidance of 6.5GW to 7GW of solar modules and 4.5GWh to 5.5GWh of battery energy storage solutions. Recurrent Energy is also expected to close delayed project sales from Q2, supporting a sequentially stronger Q3.
Canadian Solar’s Recurrent Energy business had a total solar project development pipeline of 21.7GWp as of June 30, 2026.
The pipeline included 1.7GWp under construction, 2.2GWp of backlog and 17.7GWp of projects in advanced and early-stage development.
By region, the pipeline comprised 5,650MWp in North America, 6,293MWp in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), 6,746MWp in Latin America and 2,978MWp in Asia Pacific. The figure includes 392MWp in backlog partially sold to third parties.
Recurrent Energy’s business model combines electricity revenue from its operating portfolio, asset sales and power services. Its O&M platform currently has 15GW of contracted projects.
Battery energy storage was a significant growth area during the quarter.
Total battery energy storage shipments recognised as revenue reached 3.7GWh, up 82% QoQ and 73% YoY. Of this total, 471MWh was shipped to internal projects under execution, with the associated revenue to be recognised in subsequent quarters.
The company’s e-STORAGE business had a contracted backlog, including contracted long-term service agreements, of US$3.5 billion as of June 30, 2026. Canadian Solar also reported an 84.1GWh battery energy storage project development pipeline at the end of the quarter, including 600MWh under construction, 4.4GWh in backlog and 79.1GWh in advanced and early-stage development.
Learn more about how the domestic solar supply chain is developing in the United States at our PV CellTech USA conference in San Francisco on 13-14 October. For full details and booking, click here.

source

Eurowind Energy Romania has obtained Technical Connection Approvals (ATR) for 2,307.4 MW of renewable energy capacity across seven projects combining wind, solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking a key step towards connecting the projects to Romania’s national electricity grid.
The approvals were obtained in June 2026 and cover projects planned in several Romanian counties. The portfolio includes the 900 MW Albesti wind project in Constanta County, the 49 MW Manesti solar-plus-BESS project in Prahova County, and a 1,188 MW wind portfolio in Botosani County.
The remaining projects are the 49.6 MW Stancuta wind project in Braila County, the 49.6 MW Liesti wind project in Galati County, the 49.6 MW Slobozia Conachi wind project in Galati County, and the 21.6 MW Pechea wind project, also in Galati County.
According to Eurowind Energy Romania, the Technical Connection Approvals represent an essential step towards connecting the future renewable energy facilities to the grid.
“We currently have a pipeline of approximately 7.5 GW at different stages of development and have already started construction works on the Frumusita and Vector wind farms in Galati County and Pecineaga Nord-Est in Constanta County – a total of 138 MW of clean energy to be connected to the grid,” Adrian Dobre, Country Manager of Eurowind Energy Romania, said.
Dobre added that obtaining connection approvals for a further 2,307.4 MW represents an important step in expanding the company’s project portfolio and contributing to Romania’s energy transition objectives. However, the projects are expected to be connected to the national energy system after 2030, with their grid connection and completion dependent on grid reinforcement and obtaining construction permits in due time.
“We are taking all the necessary steps and working closely with grid operators and authorities to deliver these projects,” Dobre said.
The largest project covered by the approvals is the 1,188 MW wind project in Botosani County. It is planned to be developed in phases and will comprise nine wind farms located within the county.
According to Eurowind Energy Romania, the project is expected to begin its execution schedule around 2031. The company says the development could contribute to Romania’s energy security and to the country’s potential role as an important exporter of renewable electricity in the region.
Eurowind Energy has been active in the Romanian market since 2011, where it develops and operates renewable energy projects through a local team.
The company currently operates four solar parks — Halchiu, Magurele, Pufesti and Teius — and one wind farm, Pecineaga. Its Romanian pipeline stands at approximately 7.5 GW across different stages of development.
Eurowind Energy currently has 184 MW in operation in Romania, including 60 MW of battery storage capacity at Teius.
Eurowind Energy A/S is a Danish company specialising in the development, construction and operation of renewable energy projects. Its portfolio covers wind, solar, hydrogen, biogas, power-to-heat and battery storage.
Founded in 2006, the company has more than 700 employees and operates across 16 markets in Europe and the United States.
Sé el primero en comentar…

source

In Africa, a Growing Underground Solar Boom  Yahoo
source

Around 50% of India’s energy is renewable, making it the largest renewable energy market in the world outside of China. The opportunity for India, Suzlon CEO Ajay Kapur feels, is the Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE). A combination of solar and wind energy can put India in a position to export more than 20% of the world’s green energy. ET World Leaders Forum 2026, offered glimpses into India’s next decade of growth and stability.
Listen to this article in summarized format
Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content

Behind the sugar price drop: Exports, imports and a non-factor called ethanol
As IndiGo, Air India scramble for pilots, fresh headwinds hit hard
When a CFO resigns, is ‘personal reasons’ explanation enough?
FCNR (B) scheme garners USD65 bn, but why isn’t the rupee gaining?
ET Prime special: Bigger, Better or Both? Understanding business to figure out the mystery: Power Grid Corp – Part 1
US bond yield: Will it become a new pain point?
Nepal police issues high alert after reports of fresh dam breach in Tibet
‘PM Modi has set goal for all of us, highest among them is for youth’: Amit Shah
Nepal flash floods: Death toll surpasses 350, over 1,000 still missing
Delhi race club demolition: Bulldozers bring down age-old structures
After massive destruction, China warns Nepal of fresh flood risk
‘We spy on China too’: Trump’s big revelation amid Xi Jinping’s US visit
‘India-Canada can bring more certainty…’: Sitharaman in Toronto
‘Tata’s flash-charging luxury E-Bus with bus Hostess’: Gadkari
MEA shares update on Nepal floods: 21 rescued, 200 seeking help in Tibet
‘I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity…’
Nepal police issues high alert after reports of fresh dam breach in Tibet
‘PM Modi has set goal for all of us, highest among them is for youth’: Amit Shah
Nepal flash floods: Death toll surpasses 350, over 1,000 still missing
Delhi race club demolition: Bulldozers bring down age-old structures
After massive destruction, China warns Nepal of fresh flood risk
‘We spy on China too’: Trump’s big revelation amid Xi Jinping’s US visit
‘India-Canada can bring more certainty…’: Sitharaman in Toronto
‘Tata’s flash-charging luxury E-Bus with bus Hostess’: Gadkari
MEA shares update on Nepal floods: 21 rescued, 200 seeking help in Tibet
‘I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity…’
Hot on Web
In Case you missed it
Top Searched Companies
Top Calculators
Top Definitions
Private Companies
Top Slideshow
Top Story Listing
Top Prime Articles
Top Commodities
Latest News
Follow us on:
Find this comment offensive?
Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action
Reason for reporting:
Your Reason has been Reported to the admin.
Log In/Connect with:
Will be displayed
Will not be displayed
Will be displayed
Stories you might be interested in

source

Sun-Ways Is Testing Out Train Track Solar Farms  The New York Times
source

Germany-headquartered inverter manufacturer SMA Solar is expanding its Large Scale and Project Solutions business to cater for the fast-growing data centre market.
The company has unveiled plans for a portfolio of data centre power infrastructure solutions designed for artificial intelligence and hyperscale applications.
Get Premium Subscription
SMA’s CEO Jurgen Reinert pointed to growth in the data centre and AI markets as a key business focus for the company in its first-half results earlier this month, which showed an uptick in SMA’s sales and earnings.
In the launch of the new data centre portfolio yesterday, SMA further highlighted the “unprecedented” growth in global demand for data centre capacity to keep pace with the boom in AI, cloud computing and digitalisation.
“As operators race to bring new facilities online, access to power has become a decisive factor for project success. In many regions, lengthy grid interconnection processes and increasing grid stability requirements are slowing the deployment of new data centre capacity,” SMA said in a statement on the launch. “This development is creating significant demand for advanced electrical infrastructure and grid integration solutions.
The company said its dedicated data centre portfolio would address the “critical challenges” of this market around time-to-power, reliability and scalability, drawing on its capabilities in areas such as grid stabilisation, grid-forming, battery energy storage integration, cybersecurity, power plant controls and the management of complex electrical infrastructure.
“For years, much of the data centre conversation has focused on accessing power,” said Jay Arghestani, managing director of sales, technology and marketing for large-scale solutions at SMA America. “Data centre developers either pursue a grid connection, or collocation of new generation assets with their data centre, or increasingly, both. And regardless of their decision, they must deliver reliable operation while facing complex compliance and stability challenges. These are the challenges SMA has been solving at scale for decades.”
The portfolio includes three solution architectures, which SMA said would give data centre developers a choice of options best suited to their specific operational, grid and business requirements:
SMA GridAssist is a battery-based architecture that supports grid-connected data centres through load smoothing, power quality stabilisation and grid code compliance
SMA GridLink AC is a medium-voltage uninterruptable power supply (UPS) architecture that decouples data centre loads from the grid, addressing interconnection challenges and maintaining stable operations, SMA said.
SMA GridLink DC supports the industry’s transition toward 800V DC-powered AI infrastructure. Planned for deployment in 2027, SMA said the solution is designed to improve efficiency, scalability and power availability “from grid to compute”, while reducing technology and execution risks.
Arghestani said: “Our approach is to bring proven power conversion technology and deep grid expertise into this market, then work alongside customers to determine the right architecture for the project. Whether that is AC today, DC tomorrow or a combination over time, the underlying requirement is the same: power must be reliable, scalable and ready to perform.”

source

How batteries are reshaping the solar power business model  Financial Times
source

Ireland has surpassed 3 GW of installed solar capacity for the first time, marking another milestone in the rapid expansion of solar power across the country’s electricity system, Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Darragh O’Brien announced on Thursday, August 27.
The figure includes the full range of solar installations deployed across Ireland, from rooftop systems on homes and businesses to large utility-scale solar farms connected to the grid.
The milestone comes just days after utility-scale solar generation reached a new record of 1.3 GW on the national grid. At certain points on Monday, solar farms supplied more than one third of the country’s total dispatchable electricity generation.
O’Brien said the two records highlight the pace at which solar power is becoming an increasingly important part of Ireland’s energy system.
“With continued investment in solar – across homes, farms, businesses and large grid-scale projects – Ireland is building a growing source of homegrown, clean electricity, and strengthening our energy security,” the minister said.
Ireland’s solar sector has expanded dramatically over the past decade. Just over ten years ago, the country had only 2 MW of solar capacity. Today, that figure has climbed above 3,000 MW.
Ireland’s first grid-scale solar farm was energised in April 2022. Since then, the development of large-scale projects has been accompanied by a rapid increase in rooftop installations.
According to government figures, more than 200,000 homes across Ireland have installed solar panels, while over 120,000 households have received Solar PV grants since the support scheme was introduced.
Demand for the programme continues to accelerate. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) received more than 31,000 Solar PV applications between January and the end of July 2026, representing a 76% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
In addition, free solar panels have been installed at 2,000 schools across Ireland. Households producing more electricity than they consume can also sell excess power back to the grid through the country’s microgeneration framework.
The expansion in installed capacity is increasingly translating into higher levels of solar generation.
EirGrid Chief Executive Cathal Marley noted that Ireland surpassed 1 GW of solar generation for the first time in April, before setting the new peak of 1.3 GW this week.
According to EirGrid, an estimated 1 GW of generation is enough to power around 500,000 customers.
The transmission system operator is also progressing what it describes as its most ambitious programme of grid works to date, aimed at enabling greater volumes of renewable electricity to connect to the system.
Meanwhile, ESB Networks is implementing a major investment programme under Price Review 6, designed to strengthen the electricity network, accommodate further renewable deployment and support Ireland’s transition towards a cleaner and increasingly electrified energy system.
The Irish Government said solar deployment has been supported by schemes including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), covering projects ranging from household installations to large renewable developments.
O’Brien also confirmed that the Government remains committed to funding the Solar PV grant until 2030.
Solar growth forms part of a broader expansion of renewable electricity in Ireland. The country now has more than 8 GW of renewable generation capacity connected to the network, after adding approximately 5 GW of new renewable capacity over the past decade.
During that period, Ireland has doubled its wind capacity while building a significant solar sector from an extremely low base. With installed solar capacity now exceeding 3 GW, the technology is becoming an increasingly important pillar of the country’s electricity supply.
Sé el primero en comentar…

source

At the recent Agrivoltaics Field Day, University of Illinois plant breeding, genetics and bioenergy crop agronomist DoKyoung “D.K.” Lee discusses how solar panel shade impacts crops. (Photo courtesy of April Wendling, University of Illinois)
By PHYLLIS COULTER
FarmWeek
Researchers at the University of Illinois brought to light lessons learned about growing crops in the shade of solar panels at the Agrivoltaics Field Day at the Illinois energy farm Aug. 5.
“There’s a lot of interest in agrivoltaics,” DoKyoung “D.K.” Lee, a U of I plant breeding, genetics and bioenergy crop agronomist, told FarmWeek of people wanting to know more about the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. “It’s not only about agronomic practices, but also economics.”
Sorting out shade impact
Some agrivoltaic research at the farm focuses on how shade affects crop yield. In three years of study, research shows shade caused by solar panels can reduce soybean yields by about half.
However, for grain sorghum, “the yield penalty was minimal as the greater kernel size compensated the lower grain numbers,” Lee said.
Based on the recent harvest of winter wheat, Lee said the grain yield was reduced by about 40% due to shading in the rows directly under the panel, compared with wheat in full sun. The impact of shade on crops also depends on the arrangement of the solar panels, he noted.
The research is part of the Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems project, which aims to blend agriculture and solar power in a way to boost U.S. farmers’ resilience and income while maintaining food production and ramping up renewable energy.
While modern commercial-sized equipment cannot be used in the trials with solar panels, small equipment can, “but you have to be careful,” Lee said. For the arrangement of 20 feet between the panels, a four-row planter can be used with 10 feet of plantable space, and for 40 feet arrangement, a 12-row planter can be used with 30 feet plantable space.
Some testing was done at the U of I energy farm and some at a utility-scale solar farm. The research also involves row crops including soybeans, grain sorghum, winter wheat and horticulture crops including tomatoes and greens, but not field corn because of its height.
In 2024, researchers added forage crops, including alfalfa, red clover, orchard grass, tall fescue and timothy grass. Forage may be one of the more practical options for larger-scale production on a solar farm, Lee said. When growing forages, some researchers and farmers include livestock, often sheep. “We aren’t able to accommodate livestock in research here,” he said, but noted the combination may be more profitable.
Other research focuses on the impact the solar panels have on soil quality, carbon intensity and potential for heavy metal contamination. “We haven’t seen any heavy metal in the soil,” Lee noted.
Current funding of the five-year project ends this year, but Lee hopes it will be extended because there is more work to be done.
“As we produce electricity on the farm, we need to know the consequences or benefits from the practice,” he added.
This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Privacy Policy

source

California lawmakers officially passed a bill allowing the use of plug-in solar panels, with great bipartisan support. Now, the bill awaits Governor Newsom’s signature.
Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, these panels can be plugged into standard electrical outlets, making them relatively inexpensive and easy to install. This would allow a wider range of individuals to have access to solar power, including renters and people whose homes don’t support traditional rooftop solar systems.
“We’re in an era of very high cost of living that is having huge political ramifications in this country, and that is causing people to lose faith in the system as a whole,” said Senator Scott Weiner, presenting the bill to the Senate in March. “This is a very straightforward way to help people lower their monthly electric bills in a tangible way that they will see every single month.”
If signed into law, California’s bill would allow plug-in solar devices up to 1,200 watts per residence. That’s powerful enough to run devices like refrigerators, Wi-Fi routers, microwaves and lights.
Additionally, the “Plug and Play” bill would allow for residents to install solar devices without the current interconnection procedure, which requires a utility company to assist in connecting an individual’s solar system to the local power grid.
However, even this has an expiration date. Starting in 2030, Californians will again need their utilities’ approval to install new plug-in solar systems.
Organizations like PG&E, California Professional Firefighters, the California State Association Of Electrical Workers and the California Municipal Utilities Association opposed the bill.
“We have concerns about prohibitions on publicly owned electric utilities […] not being able to do inspections or having interconnection agreements with customers,” said Derek Dolfie, Senior Director of Energy at the California Municipal Utilities Association. “Really, it just boils down to safety for us.”
Paul Doherty, the  Manager of Clean Energy and Innovation Communications at PG&E told KALW, “it’s our responsibility to ensure the safety of the electric system, then our coworkers, the linemen, the electricians that work on that system and the first responders that are involved in those responses when it comes to outages”
Senator Weiner noted that the plug-in solar technology is already widely used: “This is not some newfangled technology,” he said. “This is being deployed in other states, in other countries, and there are absolutely safety standards here.”
Governor Newsom has 30 days to sign or veto the bill.

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“If you are doing this for a house install, you probably want more like 500-600 watt panels.”
Photo Credit: iStock
After summer power bills climbed to about $600 a month, one family went to Reddit’s r/SolarDIY community looking for an inexpensive way to build a solar setup themselves.
The answers were less encouraging than they expected. Commenters said a plan built around a few 200-watt panels might be easy to picture, but it would barely make a dent in the electricity use of an entire house.
In their post, the homeowner said they wanted to lower their crushing utility costs, rely less on the grid, and avoid hiring an electrician. The original poster asked about using 200-watt panels with equipment that could plug into outlets they already had outside.
OP added: “We are tired. I am not handy but I am willing to do whatever it takes to be a little more self reliant to save ourselves money from these greedy corporations.”
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Replies in the thread stressed that a whole-home system usually starts at a very different scale. As one user put it, “If you are doing this for a house install, you probably want more like 500-600 watt panels.”
A second commenter made a similar point, writing: “Exactly. 200w ones are more expensive, somehow.” 
The discussion underscored a common problem: that compact solar kits can sound like a practical answer, even when they are too small to meaningfully reduce very large electric bills.
A few small panels may help power limited devices or serve as backup, but steep usage often points to a much larger need, either more power generation, reduced consumption, or both.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Still, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially for households hit hard by seasonal utility costs. If you’re comparing real rooftop options, EnergySage lets homeowners get free installation estimates and compare quotes in one place. Its free tools help people lower installation costs by up to $10,000.
A properly sized solar system can reduce electricity costs over time, provide some insulation from utility rate increases, and curb the pollution associated with fossil-fuel-powered electricity. On the other hand, undersized equipment can lead to frustration and unnecessary spending.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Norwegian behind-the-meter energy firm Otovo ASA has announced a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) to acquire Ewa Beach-based PV Hawaii.
The company has also agreed to acquire Norwegian firm Mr. Elektro, with the two deals coming at a combined price tag of $4.6 million.
Once complete, the acquisitions will further extend Otovo’s proprietary behind-the-meter service platform, the company says. Otovo representatives say the company will specifically bring its Endurance-brand AI platform to PV Hawaii. Not only will this add a 17th state to the Nordic firm’s reach in the U.S., but it brings a licensed and OSHA compliant field crew to Oahu, a region that was previously a blind spot for the company.
“PV Hawaii and Mr. Elektro bring licensed, experienced local teams that strengthen how we serve customers, and they extend our platform into Hawaii for the first time while deepening our reach across Norway and Sweden,” says John Berger, CEO of Otovo. “These acquisitions come with strong leaders that we can integrate into the management team.
Founded in 2016, PV Hawaii provides solar repair, as well as warranty and inspection services across Oahu. The company offers panel cleaning for residential and commercial customers, and is certified across a group of ten major solar equipment brands.
“Leveraging our powerful Endurance AI platform, we are continuing our successful plug-and-play acquisition strategy that has helped us create the world’s leading provider of behind-the-meter energy services for homes and businesses,” Berger adds.
PV Hawaii and Mr. Elektro are Otovo’s ninth and tenth announced transactions since the tail end of 2025, the company says. Both will see integration onto the Endurance platform through a six-member team over the course of approximately three weeks.
Otovo expects its integration of its Endurance platform into all of these transactions to not only provide faster customer service, but enable synergies across the firm’s footprint. The platform will automate intake, dispatch, scheduling and supply chain processes through a singular portal, officials say.
The company’s other recent acquisition, Mr. Elektro, will allow it to extend the platform further into solar. Additionally, the company’s EV charging focus will bring Otovo into a new market in its native Norway.
Otovo’s overall footprint now spans 17 U.S. states, as well as 15 different markets across Europe. The company’s platform compromises field services, as well as logistics warehouses, AI-based inventory management, and dispatch and technical capabilities available around the clock.


Δ
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Other Benjamin Media, Inc Brands:
Compact Equipment | Trenchless Technology | Tunnel Business Magazine | Utility Contractor | Water Finance & Management
©2026 Copyright Solar Builder Magazine   |   Privacy Policy  |   Terms of Serivce

source

Financing, projects sought for Guyana, Suriname solar build-out  BNamericas
source