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Kalyon PV has launched a new 1 GW solar cell factory in Ankara, raising its total cell production capacity to 2.1 GW
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Turkish solar module manufacturer Kalyon PV announced it started manufacturing activities at its new solar cell factory in Ankara, Turkey.
In a filing with the Turkish stock exchange, the company said the manufacturing facility has a capacity of 1 GW. “With the implementation of this investment, our cell production capacity has now reached 2.1 GW per year,” the statement reads. 
The company currently operates in Ankara another 1.9 GW module factory including a 1.1 GW cell production. It also operates 1 GW of ingot and wafer production capacity, respectively.
More details about the new manufacturing facility were not revealed.
The module manufacturing facility was commissioned with an initial capacity of 500 MW in August 2020. It was part of a wider project involving the construction of a 1 GW solar plant 260 km south of the Turkish capital, in Konya.
The project was tendered by the Turkish government in 2017. A consortium formed by Konya Solar and Hanhwa Q Cells was the winner, but the South Korea-based solar manufacturer walked away from the deal a few months later.
Chinese state-owned conglomerate China Electronics Technology Group Corp. (CETC) replaced Hanhwa Q Cells as a new project partner in October 2019. The Turkish government decided to subsidize the facility in September 2019, with a TRL 1.99 billion ($51 million) “super incentive.”
 
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CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – On Friday, several organizations as well as U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, gathered as the state’s first floating solar project went online. The project aims to deliver affordable, renewable energy while also conserving water.
1,700 solar panels have been mounted on water-safe floating platforms on Medford Irrigation District’s reservoir in Central Point. These panels will be able to supply energy to families and businesses in Jackson County, lowering energy costs and creating revenue for the irrigation district.
Not only that, but the panels also shade the reservoir which can preserve water in the warmer months. It can also improve water quality by slowing algae and weed growth. Being the first of its kind here, it will be studied for other communities facing similar issues of high energy bills and drought. Julie O’Shea, executive director for Farmers Conservation Alliance said,
“This project benefits Medford Irrigation District and their strategies and plans to be able to modernize their irrigation infrastructure which is so critical when we’re facing the drought we’re facing this year. And we’re hoping [to] save water from preventing evaporation and so many other benefits. There’s many other irrigation communities in the state and across the west working on floating solar projects right now.”
Many organizations are behind the project, including the Medford Irrigation District, Energy Trust of Oregon, Farmers Conservation Alliance, Imagine Energy and more. More general and subscription information can be found online.
 
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The UK’s transition to renewable energy is accelerating, with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems playing a central role. For the construction sector, this represents a significant opportunity to deliver sustainable energy at scale, but one that demands careful risk management.
Data collected by global business insurer QBE from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to UK fire services shows they attended 171 solar panel fires in 2024, equivalent to almost one fire every two days, a 60% increase since 2022. Over the same period, installations grew by 29.6%, meaning fire incidents rose almost twice as fast, signalling incorrect installation or maintenance.
It is essential that solar panel battery units are installed in well-ventilated, unobstructed locations and are accessible for inspection and emergency response.
The vast majority of systems operate safely but managing the risk of solar panel fires starts at installation. Using MCS-accredited installers and certified components is essential and systems must be designed to suit the specific building and its risk profile.
QBE’s FOI data shows most solar panel fires attended by the Fire Brigade involve key system components such as the inverter or the solar panels themselves. Industry evidence suggests the majority of faults and fires start in the various types of DC connectors found in a typical solar panel system and spread the fire into the key components. QBE’s FOI data for 2024 indicated that 21 fires were linked to inverters, 20 to the panels themselves, 16 to DC cabling and 12 to battery banks.
The inverter is the hardest working component in a solar panel system and a leading cause of fire when incorrectly installed or poorly maintained. It generates significant heat, so good ventilation, regular cleaning and timely replacement are essential. Faults and damage can occur readily on or inside solar panels so scheduled inspections and cleaning is needed.
The decision to allow ‘balcony’ PV solar panel systems that will be located within the living space occupied by people only serves to emphasise the need for close attention to the key components. Maintaining good ventilation is a ‘must-do’ along with regular inspections and proper cleaning despite ‘balcony’ systems being promoted to the general public as ‘fit and forget’.
Roofing materials also require careful consideration. Installers should avoid mounting solar panels on combustible roofs and ensure proper separation and fire-resistant barriers.
Most new solar panels use lithium-ion battery storage, introducing additional risk. If damaged, overcharged or exposed to excessive heat, lithium-ion batteries can enter “thermal runaway”, a chemical reaction process where cells overheat uncontrollably, resulting in fast-developing and difficult-to-extinguish fires involving all flammable materials on and around the battery.
QBE’s own research into lithium-ion battery fires found that incidents almost doubled between 2022 and 2024, reaching 1,330 lithium-ion fires in 2024 alone.
Risk increases further when units are installed in lofts, airing cupboards or upper-floor spaces that are difficult to access in an emergency, particularly where inspection and maintenance are limited.
Systems are typically designed to withstand speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, yet recent storms, such as Storm Eunice in 2025, have exceeded this threshold.
QBE recommends applying one-in-100-year weather criteria at design stage and treating post-storm inspection as standard. Roofs and panels should be checked after significant wind events, hail or flooding, with attention to displacement, exposed cabling or surface damage.
Annual inspections and cleaning are recommended to prevent overheating or debris build-up. Fireman’s switches and arc-fault detection systems should also be correctly installed, clearly labelled and easily accessible.
Under the Clean Power Action Plan, the UK aims to increase solar capacity from 18 GW to 45-47 GW by 2030, with a particular focus on commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial sites.
The UK’s 20% largest warehouses alone can provide 75m sq m of roof space, which is estimated to support around 15GW of rooftop solar capacity.
Large and complex buildings bring greater risk management responsibilities, making robust design, careful cabling and effective isolation systems fundamental to preventing fires and protecting both property and the businesses that depend on it.
Ensuring solar deployment is underpinned by strong risk management practices is essential not only to prevent fires, but to protect long-term viability of these commercial
assets. Certified specification, accredited installation, careful battery storage planning and ongoing maintenance will underpin a safe transition to solar.
QBE’s solar panel installation guidance, published in November 2025, provides detailed recommendations for construction professionals and property owners.
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Adani Green Energy Incorporates Two New Renewable Energy Subsidiaries in India  SolarQuarter
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Solar PV installations in India reached a record 14.4GW in the first quarter of 2026, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Installations nearly doubled year-on-year from the 7.7GW PV additions in Q1 2025, as shown in the chart below. Last year was already a record year for solar PV in India, with around 37GW of new installations, according to data from analysts JMK Research and Mercom India released earlier this year.
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Solar PV’s growth over the past couple of years was driven by an increase in rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana programme, which aims to install rooftop solar systems in ten million households across India. Since its launch in 2024, the programme has added nearly 10GW of rooftop PV capacity between Q1 2024 and Q1 2026.
Solar PV remains the driving technology for new capacity additions, accounting for 76% of all new power generation capacity in Q1 2026. With the record PV capacity additions in Q1 2026, India also surpassed a cumulative installed capacity of 150GW during the first three months of the year and is now the third largest in installed PV capacity.
According to IEEFA, the ongoing momentum for the technology reflects a sustained build-out driven by improved project execution and supported by a growing pipeline of hybrid solar-wind projects.
However, the rapid build-out of renewables has begun to test grid integration capabilities, added IEEFA.
Despite continued growth in solar PV, investments in renewables in Q1 2026 fell sharply from US$9.8 billion to US$3.3 billion, a 65.8% year-on-year decline.
According to IEEFA, the decline is “likely a reflection of increasing caution amid grid integration challenges, curtailment risks and transmission constraints.”
The rapid growth of renewables is outpacing transmission and grid integration infrastructure.
Among the most notable investments in Q1 2026 are Premier Energies’ US$1.17 billion to add 7.4GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity in Andhra Pradesh and 6GW module manufacturing capacity in Telangana, and Inox Clean Energy’s equity financing in January 2026 to expand its independent power production portfolio and expand its manufacturing capacity.

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This photograph features the 132-panel rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system installed by the Milwaukee Public Library. The array was installed during an upgrade to the 120-year-old building’s roof. The system is expected to produce 40,000 kilowatt hours per year, nearly 10% of the library’s electricity needs. The library’s newly-installed green roof also includes a garden of hardy perennial plants. The plants, which include two varieties of a flowering species called sedum, Karl Foerster Feather Reed grass, and chives, were selected for their abilities to absorb rainwater and withstand the variable Wisconsin climate. The roof garden will help control runoff, remove pollutants, and regulate the building’s temperature. Users of the library’s Web site can view a Fat Spaniel system monitoring the amount of electricity being produced by the solar array.
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Turkish solar manufacturer Kalyon PV opens 1.1-GW cell line  Renewables Now
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Despite softening demand momentum, premium solar module prices across Europe continued to rise in April, according to a module price report from solar trading platform sun.store.   
The report showed the PV Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 66 in April, down from 68 in March, indicating a moderation in demand growth following what the sun.store described as an “exceptionally strong” first quarter. 
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However, prices continued to increase across almost all monitored module categories, particularly among premium and high-efficiency technologies. 
Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) bifacial modules rose 9% month-on-month to €0.117/Wp in April, while TOPCon monofacial modules increased 6% to €0.121/Wp. The report said TOPCon remained the dominant technology in the European PV market, with prices now “significantly above late-2025 levels.” 
Premium residential-oriented products also posted strong gains. Full Black modules increased 9% month-on-month to €0.124/Wp, while Back Contact modules climbed 9% to €0.129/Wp, remaining the highest-priced segment tracked in the index. 
According to the report, the strongest pricing increases were concentrated in modules below 500Wp, reflecting sustained residential demand and continued buyer preference for premium and high-performance products. 
The report also highlighted a continued decline in the relevance of passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) technology within the European market. Among module suppliers, Trina Solar retained the leading position by power sold in April, followed by JA Solar, LONGi, Jinko Solar and Canadian Solar.  
The inverter market remained largely stable during the month, with price changes across major segments limited to around 1-2%.  
Hybrid inverter prices for systems between 1-15kW rose 2% month-on-month to €95.58/kW, while systems above 15kW fell 1% to €82.10/kW. In the string and on-grid inverter segment, prices for 1-15kW systems declined 1% to €44.05/kW, while systems above 15kW increased 1% to €27.04/kW. 
The report said the inverter market had entered a period of “relative equilibrium,” contrasting with the stronger price volatility seen in modules. In hybrid inverter rankings, Deye retained the leading position ahead of Huawei, GoodWe, Sungrow and Fronius. 
In the string inverter category, Sungrow moved into the top position ahead of Huawei, marking what the report described as one of the first major leadership changes after a prolonged period of Huawei dominance. Fronius, SMA and SolarEdge completed the top five rankings. 
Survey data from 1,157 sun.store users showed 47% expected to increase purchases, while 39% anticipated no change and 14% expected reduced purchasing activity. 
According to the report, the European PV market is entering a “more balanced phase,” with continued module price growth alongside moderating demand momentum. 

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The proposed solar project in Oakland would be 35 acres on Kornstedt Farms west of Hope Lake Road. 
The proposed solar project in Oakland would be 35 acres on Kornstedt Farms west of Hope Lake Road. 
The Town of Oakland’s planning committee heard a pitch for a new solar farm west of Hope Lake Road, and recommended the town board support the project with a few conditions.
Kornstedt Farms LLC agreed to lease 35 acres of its 350 acre farm to OneEnergy Renewables to operate a six megawatt solar farm in the Town of Oakland.
Peter Murphy from OneEnergy Renewables said at the May 5 planning committee meeting that their office is based out of Madison, and the project will bring local workers to Oakland. He added the project will generate $30,000 in annual revenue: $17,000 to the county and $13,000 to the town.
The energy from the solar panels will also go towards powering local homes and businesses.
“We’re producing electricity locally that can be consumed locally,” Murphy said.
Plan commissioner Courtney Reed Jenkins said, at this point, the town doesn’t have the power to fight a solar proposal that’s approved by the state, “so our job is to figure out the conditions” that make it better for the town.
Town board chair and plan commissioner Laura Payne agreed.
“We really cannot have ordinances that restrict solar from coming in; we can’t really just ban it, so yes our best course of action as the town and the county is to find ways to protect our citizens and the town itself,” Payne said.
The planning committee shared five conditions that they recommended to the town board that the town could then share with the county for the project.
These included regulating hours of operation to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and no work on Sundays.
The town also requested the project be complete by Dec. 31, 2027, or paused so the town could reconstruct Hope Lake Road.
Payne said Oakland received a grant from the Department of Transportation for 70% of the reconstruction project, but decided to wait until 2028 when they’d want the solar project to be completed.
Additionally, the town requested OneEnergy Renewables provide training to the appropriate fire department for potential emergencies.
Fourth, the planning committee noted concerns about the look of the project, and whether it was visible from nearby highways.
Murphy said initially he wasn’t planning a vegetative screen around the project as the nearest neighbor was 200 feet away, and neighbors hadn’t requested one.
But plan commission chair Jim Rowe asked if Murphy could consider more bushes or trees around the project to help it blend into the community.
“It would make a big difference driving down the road,” Rowe said.
Murphy said they did take aesthetics into consideration in the original design, and set the project back from the road.
Still, the planning committee added vegetation and visibility as the fourth condition.
Some residents noted some concerns with the project during public comment.
Town board member Joy Graffin said she didn’t believe the project would actually bring much benefit to Oakland. She said that $13,000 is a small amount of revenue, and not all energy customers will get service from the farm as it will only serve We Energies customers.
“I can’t think of any other business that would benefit from this,” Graffin said.
Linda Dieckhoff, who lives adjacent to the property, said she wasn’t against the project, she was just surprised she wasn’t notified of the project.
“We’re not against solar. This sounds like a good project more than something bigger, but maybe down the road you could extend the radius for notifying people of something like this,” Dieckhoff said.
Reed Jenkins said it was “disconcerting” to hear that Dieckhoff wasn’t notified and asked if she wanted to request any particular hours or screening within the conditions.
Dieckhoff said she wasn’t worried about that.
Jerry Kuhl, who lives in Oakland, said he supports the project. Like Dieckhoff, he was also pleased that the project is not large.
Kuhl said he’s “just really here to support a neighbor that I think is doing the right thing,” adding that he’s known the farmers who own the land for years.
Next, Payne said the town could work with an attorney to put together conditions to submit to the county. The town board would also need to consider the project, which Payne said would likely happen at the June meeting.
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GoodWe has presented its ‘Warm Home All-in-One’ solution at a launch event in London, welcoming nearly 150 industry leaders and market experts for an evening of insights and exchange. The solution integrates solar, storage, EV charging, heating and smart energy management into one unified system, helping homeowners to access clean energy more easily, while reducing energy costs.
Company founder and CEO Daniel Huang addressed attendees in a keynote speech, commenting: “The UK Warm Homes plan sets a clear direction: to transform households into active energy units. This means homes are no longer just consuming energy but also producing and managing it. This is what we call ‘Energy Prosumers’.”
During the event, GoodWe also strengthened its ecosystem through partnerships with leading energy platforms, including Kraken, with the two parties sharing a signing ceremony.
The UK government announced the £15 billion Warm Homes plan in January, targeting upgrades to up to 5 million homes by 2030. Approximately £5 billion is to be allocated to fully funded upgrade packages for low-income households, while a combination of subsidised zero- and low-interest loans and investment mechanisms will support broader household adoption of solar PV, batteries and heat pumps.
With its Warm Home All-in-One solution, including Photovoltaic Building Materials (PVBM), inverter and storage system the ESA series, EV charger, heat pump and smart management, GoodWe addresses the key needs of the UK residential solar market, the system allowing for a 70% self-consumption rate, substantially reducing  energy bills as well as emissions.
To adapt to different local housing conditions, the company also offers a compact micro-storage solution for social housing and houses with limited space, enabling them to access clean energy with minimal effort.
UK country manager Neil Evans introduced the GoodWe “One System, One Supplier, One Service” approach. With one brand behind the entire solution, this means a simpler installation process and fewer compatibility concerns for installers. For homeowners, it means a smoother experience and a more reliable system, with service becoming clear and standardised.
The core of this solution is the ESA Series All-in-One, combining a solar PV inverter with modular batteries and an intelligent energy management system. Designed under GoodWe’s “4S System” concept of silent, smart, secure and simple, the ESA series is designed to deliver both performance and a user-centric experience.
With noise as a major concern for the integration of technology in residential spaces, it was pointed out that even its 3-phase ESA models manage to run as low as 30dB* (*5~8kW｜at 25°C ambient) operating noise. This is achieved through custom low-noise fans, real-time adaptation to operating conditions and an ultra silent mode that can be activated by the user.
During the event, the company, in collaboration with TÜV Rheinland, released a white paper on PV and ESS acoustic performance, which provides technical insights into noise optimisation in residential adoption and beyond. As the industry’s first white paper dedicated to noise reduction in PV and energy storage systems, it aims to advance low-noise standards across the sector and improve the user experience.
Key account manager at TÜV Rheinland, Aditya Lyer, explained: “Clearer industry standards around noise are needed for residential energy storage systems. This would help define acceptable noise thresholds and ensure that systems are designed to minimise disturbances in densely populated areas.”
As previously mentioned, GoodWe and Kraken held a signing ceremony at the London event to announce their new partnership. The smart features of the ESA Series devices also include Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and Energy Management System (EMS) compatibility. In the UK market, GoodWe has successfully completed system compatibility and integration with Kraken, the technology platform behind Octopus Energy’s smart tariffs.
GoodWe has over the years built a steadily expanding footprint in the UK, positioning itself as a dependable and innovative leader in solar inverter and energy storage solutions. By collaborating with local distributors, installers and key industry partners, the company demonstrates its ability to meet local market demands while delivering tailored products for residential, commercial and large-scale utility projects.
Jie Zhang, GoodWe Europe MD, concluded: “As GoodWe enters its sixteenth year, we remain committed to delivering long-term reliable energy solutions to our customers in the UK and beyond.”

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Despite recent tensions in the Middle East and the subsequent cease-fire, the Strait of Hormuz remains partially closed, continuing to disrupt the balance in energy markets. This situation serves as yet another reminder of a critical reality for global energy markets: the world’s energy system remains highly vulnerable to geopolitical uncertainties. Even though the hostilities have ceased, disruptions on one of the most critical routes for oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply indicate that the crisis is far from over for the markets. Moreover, it is not just trade flows; the fact that restoring the damaged energy infrastructure will take time is emerging as a key factor delaying the normalization process.
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Energy Review 2026 report, however, allows for a broader perspective on this situation. While global energy demand is projected to increase by 1.3% in 2025, this rate remains below that of the previous year, signaling a slowdown in the pace of demand growth. This situation is attributed to weakening global economic growth, energy-intensive industries operating at lower capacities, reduced cooling demand, and, most importantly, improvements in energy efficiency. In other words, while energy demand continues to rise, the increase is lower than in 2024.

The developments in the demand growth segment, however, point to a more striking transformation. In 2025, over 25% of the increase in global energy demand came from solar energy, 17% from natural gas and only 15% from oil. Thus, for the first time, a renewable energy source has become the primary driver of global energy demand growth. This development demonstrates that the energy transition is no longer merely a goal but a tangible process with concrete results on the ground.

On the electricity side, the transformation is even more pronounced. In 2025, global electricity demand grew at nearly twice the rate of total energy demand. This growth was driven by the rise in electric vehicle sales, the rapid expansion of data centers and the electrification process in industry. Data centers in the U.S., in particular, accounted for roughly half of the increase in electricity demand on their own. These developments also point to an increasingly evident “age of electricity” in the global energy system.

A similar increase is observed on the renewable energy supply side. According to the IEA report, global renewable energy capacity increased by approximately 800 GW in 2025 to reach a record level, with solar energy accounting for 75% of this growth. Solar energy production increased by 600 TWh in a single year, marking one of the largest annual production increases ever seen for any energy source and single-handedly accounted for approximately 70% of the global increase in electricity generation. Additionally, there was an increase of approximately 110 GW in battery storage capacity, while new construction investments of 12 GW were initiated in the nuclear energy sector. In contrast, the report reveals that by 2025, oil demand is projected to rise by 0.7%, natural gas demand by 1%, and coal demand by 0.4%, indicating a significant slowdown in growth for fossil fuels.
However, it is not enough to view this improvement in renewable energy merely as a growth story. What truly matters is the context in which this transition is accelerating. Nearly every crisis in energy markets in recent years has given momentum to renewable energy investments. This is because crises make the fragility of fossil fuel-dependent systems more apparent. This is driving countries to shift toward energy sources that are not only cleaner but also faster to deploy, more cost-effective and capable of reducing external dependence. In this sense, the energy transition is no longer merely an environmental choice but has become an economic and strategic necessity.
However, this transition is not proceeding in a single direction. The energy sector is currently navigating a system where two distinct dynamics coexist, moving from consumer to producer. While the use of renewable sources is growing rapidly, fossil fuels continue to maintain their dominance in the system due to existing industrial infrastructure. The limited availability of alternatives to replace oil and natural gas in the short term, particularly in sectors such as transportation, aviation and petrochemicals, makes it necessary for the system to move forward on two fronts.
The on-the-ground implications of this multi-layered transition are particularly evident in Europe. Europe’s energy strategy is not merely about a rapid transition to renewable sources. The current crisis demonstrates that a more balanced and multi-source approach is being adopted. While investments in solar and wind power are gaining momentum, nuclear energy is back on the agenda and in some countries, Germany in particular, coal remains part of the system, at least in the short term.

Developments in the LNG sector also show that this vulnerability is not limited to oil alone. IEA data supports this picture. While the increase in global natural gas demand in 2025 is expected to be limited to just 1%, high LNG prices and weakening industrial demand emerge as the two key factors suppressing gas consumption. The fact that tensions in the Middle East are affecting global LNG supply and that Europe is forced to compete with Asia for LNG supplies is creating upward pressure on prices. Europe’s entry into the winter months with low storage levels is also making the process more challenging. This situation not only increases costs but also brings about a period where access to energy becomes more difficult – particularly for countries dependent on imports – thereby heightening the risk of energy poverty.
A similar transformation is clearly gaining momentum in Türkiye as well. According to data from the World Energy Council Türkiye, the share of renewable energy in electricity production has increased significantly in Türkiye. By 2025, electricity generated from solar and wind sources is expected to approach approximately 30% of total production, while natural gas’s share drops below 20% and coal’s share remains around 35%. In particular, the recent historical levels of electricity generation from renewable sources offer a promising perspective for reducing external dependence. Türkiye, which does not rely solely on renewable growth for energy supply security, continues to integrate sources such as coal and natural gas into the system to safeguard supply security.
In conclusion, IEA data highlights that the energy transition is accelerating but also reminds us that this transition is not yet complete. The key question in the coming period will not be how much renewable energy will grow, but rather how the risks emerging during this transition will be managed. This is because the current landscape in energy markets signifies not merely a transformation, but a transition process that encompasses both the new balances and vulnerabilities created by this transformation. Finally, the extent to which this energy transition will be further influenced by geopolitical tensions remains a significant question mark.

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By Gabriel Falzon

The PN has doubled down on its criticism of the government over photovoltaic panels installed on public schools, accusing ministers of not understanding the figures they themselves published.
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the government’s response to concerns raised by PN spokesperson Mark Anthony Sammut exposed “confusion” and a lack of technical understanding within the ministries involved.
The PN was reacting to a government statement which claimed that schools in Gozo and the Siġġiewi Primary School generate “more than 31,940.6 kWp” of solar energy annually.
According to the PN, this figure “makes no sense”, arguing that kWp measures the maximum generating capacity of solar panels rather than the amount of energy produced.
The party said that a capacity of 31,940.6 kWp would represent the total capacity of panels across the whole of Gozo and “certainly would not fit on the roofs of those schools”.
The PN added that if the government had instead intended to refer to 31,940.6 kWh generated annually, then the situation would be “even worse”, claiming the amount would be significantly lower than figures previously published in a parliamentary reply by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.
The opposition accused the government of incompetence and deception in the energy sector, insisting that ministers should have addressed the issues when they were first flagged rather than issuing what it described as misleading statements.
The statement concluded with the PN saying that only a Nationalist government could address what it called years of neglect and mismanagement in the energy sector, while pledging to give the sector and the Maltese and Gozitan people a “Fresh Start”.
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Xinhua
08 May 2026, 17:45 GMT+10
SYDNEY, May 8 (Xinhua) — China’s photovoltaic (PV) industry has achieved many innovative breakthroughs, and its development experience is worth studying by other countries, said a leading Australian expert on PV.
Ned Ekins-Daukes, head of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday at the 64th Smart Energy Council Conference and Exhibition (Smart Energy 2026) in Sydney.
Even for someone who has visited China many times to tour PV facilities, Ekins-Daukes said he is still astonished by the speed of innovation, adding that he is impressed by China’s strides in the production of silicon photovoltaics feedstock, the automation of manufacturing, and the consolidation of the supply chain.
“The first thing Western countries can learn from China’s approach to scaling clean energy technologies is stability of policy,” he said. “The second thing is the clustering of capability. When they decide to build a factory, it’s not just one building, it’s a whole ecosystem, a whole supply chain built at scale.”
“From outside of China, we should pay more attention to how innovation and technical development take place. We should learn from what is happening inside China rather than just standing outside saying ‘somehow it’s really hard to make solar panels.’ We need to understand why,” he said.
The professor also noted that Chinese PV companies are heading in a new direction under the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which emphasizes high-quality development. “For photovoltaics, that means thinking about how we can get more value from the solar panel,” he said.
The energy market volatility triggered by the current Middle East conflict will further promote Australia-China cooperation in the photovoltaic sector, he added.
During the event, Ekins-Daukes also joined industry leaders from Australia and China at the Australia-China Smart Energy Partnership Forum, where discussions focused on the future of bilateral cooperation in photovoltaics.

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Bondada Engineering Ltd has received a Notification of Award (NOA) from NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd for the execution of Balance of System (BOS) works for a 600 MW solar PV project at Fatehgarh, Rajasthan. The order value stands at around INR 816 crore.
Bondada Engineering
Bondada Engineering Ltd has received a Notification of Award (NOA) from NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd for the execution of Balance of System (BOS) works for a 600 MW solar PV project at Fatehgarh, Rajasthan. The order value stands at around INR 816 crore.
The project will be executed under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model and includes operations & maintenance (O&M) services for a period of three years. The scope of work includes design, engineering, site development, manufacturing, supply, erection, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar power project.
This marks the second major order received from the NTPC Group, taking Bondada Engineering’s cumulative order inflow from the group to approximately INR 1,207 crore, with a total cumulative capacity nearing 1 GW.
With this latest addition, the company’s total solar EPC order book has increased to approximately 5.3 GWp.
 
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PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KOAA) — Pueblo County officials cut the ribbon on a new detention center Thursday, a project designed to address overcrowding and aging infrastructure at the old jail.
The new facility has 672 beds, 150 more than the previous jail, and includes additional space for administration and evidence storage. The facility sits on a 33-acre site, which Sheriff David Lucero said provides room to grow if needed.
“We do have the ability out here if we come close to capacity at 680, that we can then expand on this 33 acres to bring another cell block in and connect it if we needed to,” said Sheriff Lucero.
The new building also gives its team the tools to modernize how corrections are handled.
“We can do more things that we were not able to do it or accomplish in our old structure. So this really gives us those capabilities of what modern corrections are,” said Sheriff Lucero.
Voters approved a tax on marijuana revenue to fund the jail.
The facility is also designed to be zero-net energy, using solar panels to generate as much power as it uses, a move officials say will save taxpayers money for years to come.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Deborah Nicholls a Colorado woman convicted of killing here three children following a house fire in 2003, could get a new trial after the Innocence Project discovered new evidence in her case.

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State lawmakers want more of Pennsylvania’s schools to go solar.
This week at the state capitol, advocates pushed for more schools to sign up for the state’s Solar for Schools program, which is heading into its second year in existence.
74 K-12 schools received grants last year, with Shapiro administration officials saying that on average, those schools saved more than $5 million a year on electricity.
Carlisle and Steel High are among those districts.
“We feel the Industrial Revolution, and today we are feeling a new era of classroom innovation thanks to the Solar for Schools program. Let’s not leave our school districts in the dark. While energy prices rise, let’s give them the tools to harvest the sun, slash their overhead and reinvest those millions of dollars where they belong,” said Shannon Crooker, the Pennsylvania Director for Generation 180.
“Let’s continue working together to bring solar energy to more schools across Pennsylvania and to show our students that their future is worth our investment of time and resources,” said Mike Statler, the director of business operations at Carlisle Area School District.
The program is not cost-free.
The state would cover half of the cost of installing solar panels, but schools would own the systems themselves.
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SEG Solar is expanding its US manufacturing footprint again, this time with a new 4-gigawatt solar module factory planned for Houston, Texas.
The company said today that the new facility will add nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space and increase SEG’s total US solar module production capacity to around 6 GW annually. Commercial operations are expected to begin in Q3 2026.
SEG says the Houston project represents more than $200 million in investment and will create up to 800 jobs.
The expansion comes as US solar manufacturers continue to build more production capacity amid growing demand for domestically made clean energy equipment and tighter scrutiny around solar supply chains.
SEG’s first US factory was a 2 GW solar module plant. With the new Houston facility, the company says it expects to become one of the largest fully US-owned solar module manufacturers.
The company says the factory is being designed to support future solar technologies, including heterojunction (HJT) solar cells.
“It will further strengthen our US manufacturing capabilities while supporting ongoing technology innovation,” said Timothy Johnson, SEG Solar’s VP of operations.
SEG’s Houston announcement follows its previously announced plan to build a 5 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in Indonesia. Construction on that facility is expected to start in Q2 2026.
If completed, the Indonesia project would give SEG a more vertically integrated solar supply chain spanning ingots, wafers, cells, and modules.
That’s becoming increasingly important as the US solar industry faces ongoing trade disputes, tariff pressure, and stricter rules around foreign entities of concern (FEOC).
SEG said multiple independent third parties have validated the company as a non-PFE for FEOC compliance purposes and that it currently supplies modules using non-PFE solar cells.
Read more: This solar farm lets cattle roam under moving panels
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India’s State-Owned Energy Firms Can Accelerate Clean Energy Shift Through Strategic Capital Reallocation: Report  SolarQuarter
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A massive solar project promising a greener future has hit a tiny, feathered wall.
This isn’t about fossils. It’s about an ancient survivor that outlasted ice ages for ten million years.
It’s now facing a high-tech threat evolution never anticipated.
With only 40 adults remaining, the stakes aren’t just environmental—they are existential.
Can 280,000 mirrors coexist with a species on the brink?
Which bird is causing such tension? And what happened in the end?
This standoff has a massive $300 million, 292-hectare development in Glorit, North Auckland, at its heart.
This isn’t just another power plant. It’s a high-stakes bid by Contact Energy and Lightsource bp to install 280,000 tilting solar panels.
Power for 40,000 Kiwi homes is at stake.
The promise is to slash carbon emissions.
But the project sits a short distance from the Kaipara Harbour margin. For a creature on the edge, this place is a geographic treasure to protect.
It isn’t just land tension. It involves a conflict of ideologies.
Local advocates and Forest & Bird are determined to see this out in the High Court.
They’re adamant that a “fast-track” approval ignored a biological reality that could well be lethal.
From the energy giants’ point of view, Glorit is a strategic cornerstone near the national grid.
For the wildlife, it’s an irreplaceable ancestral sanctuary.
A terrifying question has to be considered: Is our path to a cleaner planet inadvertently paving over the forms of life we aim to protect?
Contact Energy viewed the Glorit flats as a solar goldmine.
But for the world’s rarest breeding bird, it may be a death trap.
Unlike solar farms that provide shade for desert species, this project sits just 50 meters from the Kaipara Harbor. This is the species’ primary winter sanctuary.
The fears revolve around the “Lake Effect.”
280,000 shimmering panels look like a body of water to a bird that forages for food.
Experts warn these birds may attempt to “contact dip” for fish.
This could cause fatal mid-air collisions.
A history of skepticism is heightening the tension.
In Kaitaia, locals don’t trust Glorit much. They claim that similar “green” promises never materialized.
Developers pledge that “robust monitoring” is enough to calm any fears about the impact on the world. Yet critics argue this would be too late.
The margin for error is zero, because there are only 10 breeding females left.
This isn’t just about land use. It’s a high-stakes gamble with a species that’s survived ten million years.
In some parts of the world, solar panels can provide shelter for wildlife. But that’s too much to hope for here.
The ancient traveler at the heart of this storm is the tara iti, also called the New Zealand fairy tern.
It weighs just 70 grams and has outlasted ten million years of evolution.
It is officially the rarest indigenous breeding bird in New Zealand.
Only 40 adults remain. Just 10 breeding females are holding the entire lineage together.
For the tara iti, the Kaipara Harbour isn’t just a scenic backdrop. It’s their primary winter sanctuary.
Dr. Antony Beauchamp’s evidence was the turning point.
Some solar plants have been found to be beneficial to birds. But that’s not likely here.
Population modeling revealed that losing just 5% of the adults could crash the species’ survival probability from 59% to under 20%.
Developers offered a massive $17 million conservation package and “robust monitoring.”
By the time a death is proven, the species could be past the point of no return.
The result? In a landmark win for biodiversity, the High Court appeal and environmental scrutiny forced a pivot.
The legal right of a 70-gram bird to its ancestral home took precedence over 280,000 solar panels.
It stands as a powerful reminder: even in the urgent race for a greener future, we cannot sacrifice the very life we are trying to save.
Which side do you fall on, if the cost of a cooler planet is the extinction of its oldest inhabitants?
Disclaimer: Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.
© 2026 by Ecoportal
© 2026 by Ecoportal

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Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) researchers developed a new system to monitor how clouds affect large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. By observing cloud shape, size and movement, the system provides a way for utility companies to predict and prepare for fluctuations in power output due to changes in weather. Josh Stein, a researcher with the project, stands with one of the photovoltaic systems at SNL.
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New £199-a-month Tesla energy bundle combines solar panels and the latest Powerwall home battery as the brand looks to expand into the UK energy market
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Tesla is trying to make owning an electric car a bit more like signing up to an entire energy ecosystem, with a new UK deal that bundles together solar panels and its latest Powerwall 3 home battery system for £199 a month. And with a Tesla Model 3 available from just £295 a month, Tesla will bundle the renewable energy package with a car for £494 a month.
The new renewable energy offer is currently aimed exclusively at Tesla car owners and includes an eight-panel solar installation plus a Powerwall 3 battery, all fitted and installed with fixed costs and zero per cent finance over four years.
Customers will need to put down a £1,747 deposit, but Tesla says the package is designed to make renewable energy more affordable for households already driving electric cars.
The company says the move is part of its wider push to bring what it calls “sustainable abundance” to the UK, linking together electric cars, home batteries and solar energy under one roof.
Tesla owners can apply for the offer through installation partner BOXT, while non-Tesla drivers can still access alternative pricing through the same installer.
The idea is straightforward enough: solar panels generate electricity during the day, the Powerwall stores any unused energy, and that stored power can then be used later to run the home or charge the car.
Tesla says Powerwall owners paired with solar panels can save an average of £1,450 a year on energy bills.
While Tesla has spent the past decade establishing itself as one of the UK’s best-selling EV brands, its ambitions in energy appear to be growing fast too. The company recently received an Ofgem licence allowing it to become an energy retailer in Great Britain, opening the door to future services that could combine vehicle charging, home batteries, solar energy and AI-powered energy management.
Tesla already runs a retail energy business called Tesla Electric in the US state of Texas, and today’s announcement suggests the UK could eventually see something similar.
Beyond homes and cars, Tesla has also been expanding its role in large-scale battery storage projects across Europe – to such an extent that it now operates the three largest battery energy storage systems in Europe by capacity.
In the UK alone, Tesla says it has deployed more than 1GWh of Megapack battery storage systems across more than 15 sites. Those sites store electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, before feeding it back into the grid when demand rises.
Tesla says the total energy stored across those sites is roughly equivalent to the daily electricity needs of 100,000 homes.
The company claims these large-scale battery projects help electricity providers like National Grid manage increasing amounts of renewable energy more reliably, while also helping EV drivers charge using greener electricity.
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CARLTON — Carlton County could have the largest county-run solar field in the state if the County Board approves a new contract to secure $2 million in federal funding.
On Tuesday, May 6, representatives from McKinstry, a construction and energy services company overseeing the proposed solar field, urged the Carlton County Board of Commissioners to amend a contract to more than double the solar field’s size to secure pledged federal funds they say will result in $8.4 million in savings over 25 years.
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“It’s truly a multi-decade benefit and legacy for the community here in support of that new facility,” Adam Seidel, an account executive at McKinstry, told the board.
The May 6 meeting was a committee of the whole meeting, and the County Board was not allowed to take action to finalize the contact at that meeting. The board voted to review the amended contract at its May 12 meeting.
The board  previously approved a scaled-back version to construct a 601-kilowatt field outside the Carlton County Justice Center. The $3.6 million project, with about $1 million of that covered by federal incentives, would save the county $4.7 million over 25 years and offset electricity at the Justice Center by 39%, according to McKinstry.
The expanded proposal would double the size of the solar field to 1,258 kilowatts, and offset electricity by 68% at the Justice Center. The $5.7 million project would receive $2 million in extra federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy in addition to the $1 million in previously approved federal incentives. The updated contract would obligate the county to spend about an additional $141,000.
“You’re offsetting more of your own power; you make more money,” Seidel said.
The county must submit the amended contract to the U.S. Department of Energy by May 15 to lock in the price of roughly $1 million in building materials that are otherwise subject to market volatility, according to County Administrator Dennis Genereau.
“After the 15th of May, then we don’t have that, that same price guarantee, because right now this market is pretty volatile,” Genereau said.
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All the equipment for constructing the solar field is American-made, as required by the Department of Energy Contract, according to Seidel.
Seidel thanked Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Pete Stauber for their help in securing the funds.
“Both Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Stauber’s office were instrumental in helping us get through that and get those funds unsequestered,” he said.
If constructed by its current timeline, Seidel said it will be the largest county-owned solar field in Minnesota.
“There are a couple counties that are hot on your heels, maybe to catch up on that, but it would be at least for a little while the largest county-owned system in the state of Minnesota,” Seidel said.
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npj Clean Energy volume 2, Article number: 8 (2026) Cite this article
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Photovoltaic solar energy represents a highly promising solution for Morocco, benefiting from abundant and consistent sunlight, despite persistent challenges such as land scarcity and high temperatures that affect efficiency. Installing solar photovoltaics on existing dams offers an attractive and sustainable alternative, as they enhance overall renewable energy production, reduce evaporation, and benefit from existing electrical infrastructure. This approach contributes to the optimization of water and energy resources. This paper evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems on 58 Moroccan dams, considering water surface availability, evaporation rates, potential energy production, panel tilt angles, associated costs, and various floating platform configurations. This national-scale evaluation provides new insights into FPV deployment, offering essential data to support Morocco’s renewable energy transition. The results indicate that the total surface area of the monitored dams is approximately 433 square kilometers, with an estimated annual water loss of around 909.458 million cubic meters due to evaporation. The analysis of panel tilt angles suggests that 31° may be optimal for energy production, while lower angles, such as 11°, also remain viable, offering a better balance between energy generation and water conservation. It was concluded that covering just 1% of the total surface area of all monitored dams could make a substantial contribution to Morocco’s energy needs, providing a rapid return on investment.
The energy sector in Morocco is a key priority in the context of promoting sustainable development and achieving national energy sovereignty. The country has been making vigorous efforts to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, aiming to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and achieve the goals of the national energy strategy. In this context, the announcement of the ambitious target of reaching 52% renewable energy in the national energy mix by 2030 reflects the country’s determination to move towards a clean and sustainable energy future (Fig. 1)¹. Among the innovative solutions that Morocco is increasingly focusing on, floating solar energy systems stand out as one of the most modern technologies in the field of renewable energy.
This figure illustrates the energy generation composition in Morocco for the years 2015, 2020, and 2030, showing the shift towards renewable energy sources (RES). The pie charts highlight the increasing share of solar, wind, and hydropower energy, from 34% of renewable energy in 2015, reaching 42% in 2020, and projected at 52% by 2030. The graphs also emphasize the significant role that wind and solar energy are expected to play in Morocco’s energy mix, moving towards a more sustainable energy system.
The growing reliance on solar energy in Morocco occurs amid challenging environmental conditions, such as drought and harsh climates, which negatively affect water resources. Dams are a strategic infrastructure and an essential source of water in the country. Furthermore, Morocco has developed a robust water infrastructure, comprising around 152 large dams with a total capacity of 19.9 billion m³ in 2023, according to the Ministry of Equipment and Water. Despite their importance for water supply and irrigation, these dams face increasing evaporation due to rising temperatures and declining rainfall². This highlights the relevance of researching FPV systems, which offer an innovative solution to simultaneously address Morocco’s energy and water challenges.
The main advantage of FPV systems is that they do not require agricultural or usable land, making them an ideal choice, especially in densely populated areas or areas where land use is highly competitive³. This system involves installing floating solar panels on large water bodies, such as dams and lakes, enabling the generation of clean electricity without impacting terrestrial ecosystems⁴. Additionally, FPV systems offer higher efficiency compared to ground-based PV (GPV) systems due to the cooling effect provided by the water on the solar panels. Studies by El Hammoumi et al. (2021)^5,6 Skoplaki and Palyvos (2009)⁷, Rahman et al. (2015)⁸ and Liu et al. (2017)⁹ have demonstrated that the production efficiency of FPV systems can be up to 2% higher than that of GPV systems, which enhances energy production and improves the profitability of these floating solar systems. A recent study indicates that installing FPV systems on 15% of the area of four major dams in the Sebou basin could lead to an additional 1270 GWh of electricity produced annually and save up to 11.93 million cubic meters of water annually, along with achieving positive economic returns^10,11.
Furthermore, FPV systems contribute to water conservation by reducing evaporation from large water bodies on which they are installed. Several studies have estimated the extent of water loss due to evaporation, with many focusing on evaluating the reduction in evaporation in basins covered by FPV systems. For example, research conducted in Spain found that covering an irrigation reservoir with FPV panels led to a 25% reduction in water capacity^12,13 Similarly, a large-scale nine-month experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of using floating solar panels to reduce evaporation from open water bodies in the studied semi-arid region. An average evaporation reduction of 60% was observed over the entire period, with higher rates observed during specific periods. The tilt angle of the panels had an impact on the evaporation rate; generally, the flatter the panel, the less evaporation was observed. This is explained by the reduction in the exposure of water to solar radiation. However, this conclusion could not be statistically verified¹⁴. Another study, conducted on the Vaigai Reservoir in India, showed that covering 30% of the surface with FPV panels not only generated 1.9 GWh of energy but also resulted in a significant water saving of 42,731.56 m³ annually. This study highlights the potential of FPV systems to combat water loss due to evaporation, particularly in regions where water resources are limited^15,16.
Research such as that conducted by Rosa-Clot et al. (2017)¹⁷, Taboada et al. (2017)¹⁸, and Redon Santafe et al. (2014)¹² has shown that FPV systems can significantly reduce water evaporation, which is especially beneficial in dry climates where water is a limited resource. In some cases, studies have shown that FPV systems can save up to 90% of the water lost due to evaporation. Furthermore, research in Jordan confirms these findings, indicating that the amount of water saved corresponds to the coverage of FPV systems. However, it should be noted that both experiments conducted in Jordan used Class A coverage, which may not fully represent the true effect of FPV systems on large water basins, especially considering the typically low coverage of FPV panels¹⁹.
The adoption of FPV systems is rapidly expanding across the globe, demonstrating their considerable potential to meet growing energy needs while preserving the environment. These innovative facilities can now be found in many countries, including the United States, Spain, Italy, China, Singapore, and South Korea²⁰. In January 2022, China achieved a major milestone in the field of solar energy by inaugurating the world’s largest floating solar power plants. This plant has an impressive capacity of 320 MW, and is located in Lake Chengxi, Anhui Province. The scale of this installation was remarkable, with more than 140,000 solar panels covering an area of 150 ha. This large solar power plant is expected to produce approximately 550 million kWh of electricity annually. This colossal production is equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 180,000 Chinese homes, highlighting the immense potential of floating solar energy to provide clean and sustainable electricity on a large scale²¹.
In Singapore, the Sembcorp floating solar power plant located in the Tengeh Reservoir embodies energy innovation. With a capacity of 60 MW, it is equipped with 122,000 solar panels spread across 45 ha, equivalent to 63 football fields. Developed by Sembcorp Industries, this facility was inaugurated in 2021, which marked a significant milestone in Singapore’s transition to more sustainable energy sources.
The United States is positioning itself as a leader in the floating solar sector, benefiting from favorable conditions across several states. With its generous sunshine and vast expanses of water, the country offers considerable potential for this emerging technology²². Innovative projects are underway in California, such as the 5 MW floating solar power plant on Lake Perris and the SPARC project on the Castaic Reservoir. Nevada is also exploring this path with the 1.5 MW SolarBridge project on the Boulder Reservoir, which combines floating solar with battery energy storage. Arizona has already adopted this technology successfully, exemplified by the installation of a 1 MW power plant on Lake Roosevelt, even in arid regions. Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the U.S., presents an even more significant opportunity for floating solar energy, with pilot projects underway to fully exploit this potential.
José María de Toro Floating Solar Park, also known as the Zorgon Floating Solar Park, is an outstanding example of the successful application of floating solar power in Spain. Located in the José María de Toro Reservoir, this project illustrates the viability and efficiency of large-scale floating solar. Inaugurated in 2020, this park has a capacity of 27 MW and is, powered by 80,000 solar panels installed in an area of 10 ha. This achievement is a testament to Spain’s commitment to renewable energy and provides an inspiring example of other similar initiatives worldwide²³.
Italy is emerging as a leading player in the field of floating solar, capitalizing on its sunny climate and abundant water resources. With its recognized expertise in renewable energy, the country is actively exploring the potential of this technology to meet its energy needs while preserving its environment. Innovative projects are emerging across Italy, particularly in lakes and reservoirs, highlighting the advantages of floating solar technology. Notable examples include a 2.5 MW FPV installation on Lake Idro, a 1.7 MW floating solar power plant on the Bricciano reservoir, and another 1 MW installation on Lake Santa Giustina in Sardinia. These achievements demonstrate Italy’s commitment to sustainable energy transition and reinforce its emerging role as a leader in floating solar power in Europe²⁴.
South Korea is investing in floating solar energy to diversify its energy supply and to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. FPV projects are emerging in artificial reservoirs and lakes, highlighting the potential of this technology for energy transition²⁵. Notably, the 5.1 MW floating solar power plant in the Hapcheon Reservoir, inaugurated in 2019, plays a significant role in the production of clean energy in the region. Similarly, Soyang Lake hosts a 1 MW FPV systems facility that efficiently combines renewable energy production and water conservation. In addition, an ambitious 10 MW project is under development in the Gimcheon Reservoir, demonstrating South Korea’s growing commitment to floating solar.
In Morocco, the construction of FPV systems marks a significant advancement in the renewable energy sector and reflects the country’s commitment to addressing both energy and water challenges. Notable initiatives include the first FPV plant in Africa, installed in Sidi Slimane with a capacity of 360 kW, and a 13 MW FPV project on the Oued Rmel dam in Tangier, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development. The Tangier project is expected to supply 14% of the energy needs of the Tangier-Med port complex, representing a pioneering step in solar energy exploitation, particularly in space-constrained areas such as ports and industrial zones.
However, few studies have been conducted in Morocco on FPV systems. Existing research includes the first FPV prototype, designed to evaluate the performance of FPV compared to GPV systems⁵, as well as assessments of floating solar potential and water conservation through case studies on four hydroelectric dams¹⁰. Most previous studies have focused on limited regional areas; for instance, the analysis in the Sebou Basin¹⁰ examined only four major dams. In contrast, this paper presents a nationwide assessment covering 58 Moroccan dams. Its originality and main contribution lie in applying established models and techniques on a larger, national scale, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of the potential of FPV systems across the country.
A key challenge in this research was the lack of accessible and updated data on the water surface areas of the 58 dams. To address this issue, a specified approach was employed, combining image processing with cartographic data analysis using tools such as Viking software and the Color Summarizer program. This method is highly scalable, allowing for accurate surface area measurements suitable for a national assessment. Evaporation rates were estimated using the Stephen and Stewart model, which is well suited for monthly applications and requires less data than more complex models. This nationwide assessment has generated valuable new data to support Morocco’s energy and water management strategies. The study encompasses 58 dams distributed across the country, providing a comprehensive overview of the potential for FPV deployment at a national level. The total monitored water surface area of these dams is approximately 433 square kilometers, highlighting the significant available space for FPV installations. The analysis estimates an annual water loss of around 909.46 million cubic meters due to evaporation. Implementing FPV systems on these surfaces could help reduce evaporation, thereby contributing to more sustainable water resource management while simultaneously generating renewable energy.
This study significantly pushes forward previous work by providing a nationwide FPV assessment. Its main aim is to explore the energy and economic feasibility of installing FPV systems on these dams, assessing their technical potential to generate energy, reduce water evaporation, and evaluate the related costs and returns.
The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. Methods section outlines the materials and methods used in this study. It includes several subsections that detail the calculations and methodologies applied, such as evaporation rate calculation, irradiation on a horizontal plane, water surface area calculation, energy output calculation, and overall cost analysis. Results section presents and discusses the key results of the study, which are divided into key focus areas including evaporation, irradiation, surface data, and energy and cost analysis. Discussion section discusses the main findings and analyses of this study, including the effects of tilt angles on energy production and water evaporation, hydrological risks, FPV deployment challenges, platform safety, and future research directions, followed by a conclusion summarizing the key insights.
This section presents the results of the modeling of energy production potential, evaporation rates, and cost analysis for FPV systems on Moroccan dams. It is important to note that the figures presented are estimates based on theoretical models and aggregated data, and the study highlights a crucial need for validation by real data from operational FPV installations, along with a more detailed sensitivity analysis to reinforce the financial conclusions.
The evaporation data indicate a significant water loss from Moroccan dams, with a total annual loss estimated at 909.46 million cubic meters. This total monthly evaporated volume for Morocco is illustrated in Fig. 2. Water loss is most pronounced during the summer months, peaking at 108.76 ×10⁶m³ in July, followed by August and September. Figure 3 further details this by presenting the evaporation rates per month across Morocco. The study utilized the Stephen and Stewart model to evaluate these evaporation rates, a choice driven by its suitability for monthly applications and limited data availability.
The data shows that water loss peaks during the summer, specifically in July at 108.76 ×10⁶ m³, followed by August and September.
These rates were evaluated using the Stephen and Stewart model, chosen for its suitability for monthly applications and an average absolute error of 1.21 mm/day.
Table 1 ranks the five Moroccan dams with the highest annual evaporation values. Complementing this, Fig. 4 illustrates the volume of evaporated water for the top 18 dams in Morocco, a broader subset that includes those listed in Table 1.
This broader subset highlights the reservoirs with the most significant water loss, dominated by the Al Wahda dam. Note: For technical accuracy, the values represent volumes in 10³ m³ (thousands of cubic meters), resulting in a total annual evaporation magnitude of approximately 909 ×10⁶ m³ across all monitored dams.
The Al Wahda dam clearly dominates this ranking, with an annual evaporation of 183.88 ×10⁶ m³. This high evaporation from Al Wahda can be attributed to several factors, including its large reservoir surface area, arid local climatic conditions, and the presence of aquatic vegetation that promotes evapotranspiration. A comprehensive overview of the total yearlyevaporated volume from each of the 58 dams studied is provided in Fig. 5, offering a complete picture of individual dam contributions to water loss.
This provides a comprehensive overview of the individual contributions of all 58 studied dams to the total annual water loss of roughly 909.46 million cubic meters.
The Al Massira and Oued El Makhazine dams occupy the second and third positions respectively, with annual evaporation values of 131.35 ×10⁶ m³ and 76.86 ×10⁶ m³. Although these values are significant, they are lower than that of the Al Wahda dam, suggesting the presence of mitigating factors for evaporation in these cases.
The S.M. Ben Abdeellah and Idriss 1er dams show significantly lower annual evaporation compared to others in Table 1, with respective values of 47.10 m³ and 59.33 ×10⁶ m³. These notable differences may be attributed to specific characteristics of these dams, such as reservoir depth, water level management, or local microclimatic conditions.
Previous research in other regions has demonstrated the potential of FPV for water conservation:
• In Spain, research carried out on a Floating Photovoltaic Cover System (FPCS) installed on an irrigation tank showed that the total coverage of the tank allowed an annual water saving of 5000 m³. This saving represents 25% of the reservoir’s storage capacity, confirming the effectiveness of this technology in improving water balances in arid and semi-arid areas¹².
• A study conducted in a semi-arid region demonstrated the effectiveness of floating solar panels in reducing evaporation, with an average decrease of 60% over a nine-month period¹⁴.
• A study in Jordan showed that the use of FPV panels on water bodies could lead to a significant reduction in evaporation. Experimental results demonstrated that covering 30% of the water surface with floating panels saved 31.2% of water, while a 50% coverage led to a 54.5% water savings compared to an uncovered water body. These results highlight the potential of FPV systems to reduce water losses due to evaporation, offering a promising solution for water management in semi-arid regions¹⁹.
Our estimates for Moroccan dams, with nearly one million cubic meters lost annually, highlight a substantial water conservation potential, aligned with the benefits observed in these international studies. However, a direct quantification of water savings resulting specifically from different FPV coverage rates for Moroccan dams is not detailed here.
Morocco possesses substantial solar potential, benefiting from generous sunlight averaging 3000 hours per year and an estimated average daily solar radiation intensity of approximately 5.80 kWh/m²/day. This makes photovoltaic solar energy a sustainable and promising solution for the country.
An overview of the distribution of solar radiation across Morocco is a valuable tool for identifying areas with high solar potential, which can inform the initial selection of potential sites for solar energy installations. It is crucial, however, to emphasize that this overview requires more detailed site-level assessments for an accurate and rigorous estimate.
We used monthly horizontal irradiation data from 2020 from the PVgis platform for nine sampled dams. It is important to note that PVgis does not distinguish between day and night hours for temperature data, which may have limited the granularity of our subsequent efficiency estimation.
The monthly declination angle (δ) plays a crucial role in determining the optimal tilt angle of solar panels, as it represents the angular position of the sun relative to the equator throughout the year. Table 2 provides monthly declination angles for Fès-Meknès, Morocco, offering valuable insights into the sun’s position throughout the year. As observed from Table 2, the declination angle varies considerably throughout the year, ranging from a maximum of 23.086° in June to a minimum of −23.050° in December. This variation is primarily due to the Earth’s tilt axis and its orbit around the sun. Our analyses show that annual solar production increases until it reaches an optimal tilt angle of 31 degrees, with an overall annual global radiation on a horizontal surface of 2361.16 kWh/m²/year, as depicted in Fig. 6.
Analysis indicates that annual global radiation on a horizontal surface is 2361.16 kWh/m²/year, with production increasing until an optimal tilt angle of 31° is reached.
Figure 7 visually represents the variation of solar elevation angles over the 12 months for the 9 samples. This information is useful for understanding the monthly distribution of solar radiation and for assessing the performance of solar panels throughout the year. Figure 8 illustrates the monthly evolution of radiation on the plane for different tilts. It demonstrates how the tilt angle significantly impacts the amount of solar radiation received by the panels, underscoring the importance of selecting the optimal tilt angle to maximize energy production. However, for reasons of structural stability and cost-effectiveness, an inclination of 11 degrees was selected for the energy production calculations.
This visualization tracks solar elevation variations for representative dams (including Al Wahda and Al Massira).
This demonstrates how tilt angles significantly impact monthly energy collection.
The analysis of the surface area of the dams confirms the dominance of the five largest dams, as shown in Fig. 9. The total area of the 58 Moroccan dams monitored amounts to about 433 square kilometers. These surface results are strongly correlated with calculated evaporation results, reaffirming the importance of these five largest dams in the management of water and energy resources. The accurate calculation of these areas was made necessary by the lack of accessible and up-to-date data on the water bodies of the 58 dams.
The total monitored surface area is approximately 433 km², determined through processing cartographic images.
The results of this study indicate that covering approximately 40% of Morocco’s dam surfaces with FPV systems could generate sufficient energy to meet the country’s total electricity demand, which reached a total production of 42.38 TWh in 2023 according to the Ministry of Energy. This finding is illustrated in Fig. 10, which highlights the point at which energy production reaches 100% of national demand. The figure also compares the effects of different panel inclinations, specifically 11 degrees and 21 degrees, on energy generation. The comparison of tilt angles indicates that the difference in energy output between 11° and 21° is minimal, suggesting that lower tilt angles can be adopted without significantly affecting energy production while offering advantages in terms of stability and cost. Additionally, proximity to water enhances the cooling of PV panels, reducing their operating temperature and thereby improving overall efficiency.
Projections suggest that covering 40% of the dam surfaces could meet Morocco’s total energy demand.
Even with a low coverage rate, energy production from FPV systems remains considerable. With only 1% coverage, FPV installations could produce a significant amount of electricity. This is illustrated in Fig. 11, which shows the estimated annual production (in GWh) for 13 studied dams, highlighting the substantial contribution of even small-scale installations. To examine the versatility and impact of FPV systems across different generation targets, we also analyzed the coverage required for specific energy outputs. For instance, Fig. 12 presents the estimated coverage needed across at least 45 dams to collectively produce 100 MWh of energy annually. Similarly, Fig. 13 illustrates the percentage of coverage required for 11 dams to generate 1 GWh of energy per year. Together, these results underscore the efficiency and scalability of FPV systems as a robust renewable energy solution. They demonstrate that even modest coverage can significantly impact national electricity generation while meeting diverse energy targets.
Even at 1% coverage, production levels reach a satisfactory level, contributing significantly to the national grid.
This analysis highlights the feasibility of generating substantial power with minimal surface utilization.
This focuses on high-potential large-area dams such as Al Wahda, Al Massira, and Oued Al Makhazin.
The production analysis also showed a direct link between the efficiency of the solar panels, which are chosen primarily as polycrystalline cells with an efficiency of 16% for reasons of profitability and suitability for the large surfaces of the tanks, and the energy produced. Large-area dams, such as Al Wahda, Almassira, and Oued Al Makhazin, have a particularly high potential for energy production due to their favorable conditions.
Regarding technical optimization, the study examined the effect of the tilt angle of the panels, finding that angles ranging from 11° to 31° gave comparable irradiation results. Figure 11 details the variation of the irradiation on the plane as a function of these angles. However, while the angle of inclination has a significant impact on irradiation, its effect on annual energy production is relatively negligible for small percentages of coverage (such as 1% of the total dam area). Conversely, for greater surface coverage (e.g., 40% of the dam area), the angle of inclination becomes a crucial factor in optimizing energy production and improving overall energy efficiency.
In terms of cost analysis, Fig. 14 provides a comparative analysis of the costs of the two floating technologies C&T and Solaris. The analysis showed that the Solaris system has the best cost-effectiveness in terms of total cost of capital, making it more suitable for large-scale FPV projects.
This economic trend is driven by the cooling effect of the water, which can enhance FPV production efficiency by up to 2% compared to ground-mounted systems.
The results from Morocco’s 58 dams show that covering 40% of the total surface area could meet 100% of the country’s energy demand. This reflects a considerable potential for energy production. It highlights Morocco’s clear advantage regarding available surface area for FPV installations.
As shown in Table 3, when we compare these projections with FPV projects around the world, Morocco’s potential looks very competitive. For example, a project in Greece has a capacity of 3861 MW and covers 10% of the area, producing about 5212.35 GWh annually. This shows significant success in deploying FPV on a large scale. Similarly, China’s Lake Chengxi project has a capacity of 320 MW and covers 1.5 km² (150 ha), generating 550 GWh annually. This indicates that FPV can work well even in smaller installations. In contrast, Singapore’s Tengeh Reservoir and Spain’s José María de Toro projects, while smaller in size, still make important contributions to their energy mixes, proving that FPV can succeed at different scales.
FPV systems in Morocco could easily match or exceed the size of some of the biggest FPV projects worldwide. The vast surface area of 58 dams gives Morocco a clear advantage, providing great potential for renewable energy generation and helping the country meet its energy transition goals. In summary, the data suggests that Morocco’s FPV potential, backed by its large surface area and suitable conditions for floating solar technology, could play a vital role in meeting national energy needs and supporting global renewable energy targets.
The comparative cost analysis revealed that the Solaris Synergy structure offers the best economic ratio in terms of total capital cost compared to the Ciel & Terre technology. Initial cost components include PV module costs adjusted to 0.22 USD/Wp and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) costs at 0.31 USD/Wp.
The financial projections suggest a Return on Investment (ROI) of less than 10 years. However, these projections must be interpreted with caution. Data regarding the maintenance and monitoring costs of FPV systems are poorly documented in current literature. Consequently, maintenance costs were estimated as a lump sum of approximately 10% of the capital expenditures over the lifespan of the panels. This lump-sum estimate makes the ROI projections speculative and insufficiently substantiated.
To enhance the credibility of our financial conclusions and move beyond simplified assumptions, we have conducted a robust sensitivity analysis. This analysis systematically tests the impact of variations (e.g., ±10%) on the most critical parameters that influence the overall profitability of the project:
Initial investment costs: Testing fluctuations in the costs of components such as PV Modules, the Balance of Plant (BOP), and EPC.
Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs: Varying the generalized O&M estimate, which is currently 10% of capital expenditures, due to its inherent uncertainty.
Electricity selling price: Testing fluctuations in the revenue stream, which significantly impacts long-term profitability.
Technical parameters: Varying the efficiency (η) and the annual sum of solar irradiation (Y_irr), factoring in the degradation rate of photovoltaic modules and the potential cooling effect.
Macroeconomic factors: Including the influence of inflation and interest rates, which can alter the overall profitability of long-term investments.
The sensitivity analysis confirms that while the technical potential is robust, as demonstrated by the negligible effect of minor tilt changes and the efficiency gains from cooling, the financial profitability is highly sensitive to the O&M costs and the electricity selling price. Fluctuations in O&M costs, due to the poor documentation in the literature, are identified as the largest driver of uncertainty in the ROI model.
This analysis validates the conclusion that cost considerations must be tailored to each case to achieve more accurate and reliable results. The inclusion of this robust sensitivity analysis ensures that the financial projections are presented with the necessary rigor, affirming that asserting a rapid ROI based solely on simplified assumptions is insufficient.
The tilt angle of FPV panels plays a crucial role in both maximizing energy production and reducing water evaporation. The cooling effect of water is one of the key advantages of FPV systems, as it significantly improves panel efficiency, reducing heat-induced performance losses commonly observed in traditional land-based solar systems.
In our study, we observed that the tilt angle significantly affects irradiation and energy production. The optimal tilt angle for FPV panels varies depending on the geographical location and the specific characteristics of the site. For Morocco, we found that tilt angles ranging from 11° to 31° yielded comparable irradiation values (see Fig. 11), with an 11° tilt angle being the most cost-effective while still providing substantial energy output. This angle maximizes solar exposure, particularly in regions with high solar radiation throughout the year.
For larger-scale installations, such as 40% coverage, the tilt angle becomes more critical in optimizing solar energy capture. Panels tilted at optimal angles maximize the amount of solar radiation received, leading to increased energy output. In contrast, at smaller coverage (e.g., 1% of the surface area), the effect of tilt is negligible, as the total energy produced is too small to be significantly affected by slight variations in the angle of the panels.
In addition to its effect on energy production, the tilt angle of FPV panels also influences the cooling effect on the water beneath the panels, which reduces water evaporation. The cooling effect is particularly important in regions where water scarcity is a major concern. By shading the water surface, FPV systems help to maintain lower water temperatures, reducing the evaporation rate. As the tilt angle increases, the shading effect on the water surface decreases, allowing more solar radiation to reach the water, which may increase the evaporation rate.
Our study shows that an optimal tilt angle, such as 11°, achieves a balance between energy production and water conservation. While higher tilt angles may slightly increase energy yield, they reduce the shading effect on water and may increase evaporation. In contrast, lower tilt angles enhance shading and help limit water loss. Additionally, proximity to water improves PV efficiency through natural cooling, making FPV systems particularly suitable for water-scarce regions.
This study, which primarily focused on surface potential and evaporation rates, acknowledges a significant gap in hydrological design data. Specifically:
Hydrological Risks: An in-depth analysis of hydrological risks, including depth variations and drought conditions, is imperative for a comprehensive evaluation of FPV systems.
Depth Data: The study could not document the average and minimum depths of the studied dams. This data would be essential for understanding the impact of water level fluctuations on the stability and performance of FPV systems.
Drought Impact: Additionally, the study did not model the impact of prolonged droughts (a known challenge in Morocco) on the performance and safety of FPV systems. Such an analysis is critical to ensure that anchoring systems are designed to withstand significant fluctuations in water levels, ensuring the long-term resilience of the FPV installations.
These data are crucial for designing robust anchoring systems and ensuring the safety and performance of FPV installations, especially when dealing with hydrological risks such as droughts and fluctuations in water levels.
FPV systems, like other solar technologies, face challenges with inconsistent energy output, especially due to cloud cover and seasonal changes in solar energy availability. In Morocco, some regions have high cloud coverage during certain seasons, leading to notable variations in energy output. To address this issue, energy storage options like pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen are essential for stabilizing energy supply. Pumped hydro storage allows for storing excess energy generated during peak sunlight hours, which can then be released during periods of low sunlight, ensuring a steady energy supply. Green hydrogen offers a novel way to store surplus energy as hydrogen, which can be used in various sectors, including industry and transportation.
Moreover, integrating smart grid technologies is vital for managing these variations and maintaining grid stability. Smart grids allow for real-time energy management and demand-response systems, enabling more efficient energy distribution and balancing supply with demand. These systems will be key to effectively integrating FPV systems into Morocco’s national grid and ensuring the long-term sustainability of renewable energy sources.
In the event of a platform failure, safety protocols are in place to ensure the stability of the FPV system. These protocols include the use of redundant systems that allow for emergency shutdowns in case of unexpected events. Additionally, the floating platforms comply with international safety standards such as IEC, DNV, and ISO, ensuring that they can withstand harsh weather conditions and prevent large-scale disruptions. This guarantees that the FPV systems are both safe and resilient, capable of operating under challenging environmental conditions.
In terms of future perspectives and research, an in-depth assessment is needed to measure the gains in water resources resulting from FPV installations, considering different coverage configurations. It is also essential to address gaps in data regarding the efficiency of Moroccan dams to refine the understanding of their energy potential. Further research could also validate the Stephen and Stewart evaporation model used with in situ data specific to Moroccan dams, or explore more sophisticated models should additional data become available. Finally, dedicated studies on the optimal integration of FPV systems with storage solutions, such as green hydrogen and pumped storage, are necessary to maximize their contribution to Morocco’s energy security and energy transition.
In conclusion, this study delved into various aspects of FPV systems and revealed their substantial potential for power generation and water conservation in Morocco. Our findings highlight possible solutions to the storage challenge, such as pumped hydro-storage systems and promising green hydrogen technology. Addressing Morocco’s significant evaporation losses, this study quantifies nearly 1 billion (909.4 × 10⁶) cubic meters lost annually due to evaporation. The total water surface of the monitored dams in Morocco is approximately 433 km², with the optimal tilt angle for the floating platforms ranging from 11° to 21°, based on the country’s geographical location.
In terms of energy generation, covering only 40% of the dams could meet the entire energy demand, although this may change depending on varying storage system efficiencies. The cost per kWh significantly decreased when considering the additional efficiency from the cooling effect of water. Despite the substantial upfront investment, the study suggests a return on investment of less than 10 years, factoring in maintenance costs. However, cost considerations should be tailored to each specific case to obtain precise and accurate results.
Although this study explored various aspects of FPV systems, it acknowledges its non-exhaustive nature and emphasizes the need for continued research to fully understand the impact of FPV systems on Morocco’s energy and water management strategies. For Morocco to fully leverage the massive FPV potential and address the intermittency inherent in solar power production, large-scale storage solutions will be crucial. The study identifies pumped storage systems (potentially linked to existing dam infrastructures) and green hydrogen technology as pathways to address this storage challenge. It is important to emphasize that this study lays the groundwork for specific research into these solutions, which were not the primary focus of this study.
This study adopted a rigorous and multi-layered methodology to assess the potential of FPV systems on Moroccan dams. While drawing upon established models and techniques, the originality and major contribution of this research lie in the exhaustive application and contextualization of these approaches to the scale of Morocco’s 58 dams. This approach enabled the generation of unprecedented data and analyses, crucial for the country’s energy and water planning.
The key steps of the methodology include estimating evaporation rates, calculating solar irradiation, precisely determining the surface area of the dam water bodies, evaluating electrical energy production, and conducting a detailed cost analysis.
The FPV system consists of several key components, including solar panels, inverters, and transformers, as shown in Fig. 15. The solar panels are mounted on floating platforms that rest on the surface of the dams. Underwater cabling connects the floating panels to the onshore components, such as inverters and transformers, which convert the generated direct current into alternating current suitable for integration into the electrical grid. Installing the inverters and transformers onshore minimizes the risk of electrical faults due to water exposure, simplifies maintenance, and reduces system complexity compared to placing these components on floating platforms. This configuration adheres to industry standards for safety and operational efficiency, ensuring reliable performance in aquatic environments.
This diagram illustrates the key components and configuration of the FPV system.
Two FPV structural models, shown in Fig. 16, were selected for this study based on their cost-effectiveness, adaptability to Moroccan dam conditions, and compliance with international standards. The first model, developed by Ciel & Terre (C&T), was chosen for its proven performance in large-scale installations and its ability to adapt to various water depths and climatic conditions. The second model, developed by Solaris Synergy, was selected for its optimized design, which offers a favorable balance between capital cost and system performance. Both models comply with international standards such as IEC, DNV, and ISO, ensuring they meet the required safety, structural integrity, and performance criteria for long-term operation in harsh environmental conditions.
a Ciel & Terre (C&T) technology³⁶ and (b) Solaris Synergy technology³⁷. Solaris was found to have the best economic ratio for total capital cost.
To estimate evaporation rates, available data sources and various existing models were analyzed. The Stephen and Stewart model, represented by Eq. (1), was specifically applied²⁶. This model was chosen due to its suitability for monthly applications and, critically, due to limited data availability for more complex models²⁷. It is recognized for its average absolute error of 1.21 mm/day on small reservoirs.
Where:
e: Evaporation (mm/day)
Q_s: Solar radiation (W/m²)
T_a: Average Air Temperature (°F)
For data acquisition, temperature information was obtained from the PVGIS platform. For this study, monthly average temperatures were utilized to maintain methodological consistency with the Stephen and Stewart model, which is specifically optimized for monthly applications. Samples were collected from nine representative dams (ALWAHDA, AL MASSIRA, ABDELMOUMENE, MANSOUR DAHBI, NEUF AVRIL, NAKHLA, SMIR, HASSAN 2, MOULAY YOUSSEF) with total average temperatures ranging from 16 °C to 21 °C²⁸. Furthermore, the average daily value of solar radiation intensity in Morocco was estimated at approximately 5.80 kWh/m²/day. This value was converted into power by dividing it by the daylight hours of each month²⁹. This systematic application of the model to all Moroccan dams constitutes an advance for quantifying water losses specific to the national context, essential for evaluating the impact of FPV systems on water resource conservation in Morocco.
For irradiation data, we accessed monthly horizontal irradiance on a horizontal plane for the year 2020 from the PVGIS website. We used data from the nine previously mentioned dams along with associated temperature readings. From the calculated horizontal irradiance, we derived the inclined plane irradiance using Eq. (2):
Where:
I_module: The irradiation on the inclined surface (kWh/m²).
I_horizon: The horizontal irradiation (kWh/m²) on a flat surface.
α : The solar zenith angle, which represents the angle between the sun and the vertical. It depends on the latitude, time of year, and time of day.
β : The tilt angle of the solar panels (degrees).
To calculate the solar zenith angle (α), we used the following formula:
Where:
ϕ is the latitude of the location (in degrees),
δ is the declination angle, which is calculated using the formula:
Where:
d is the day of the year (ranging from 1 to 365).
For the choice of days of the months, we used the average days of each month suggested by Klein, as shown in Table 4³⁰.
Subsequently, an annual average of the inclined plane irradiation was obtained for each inclination studied by averaging the monthly values. These calculations allowed for the customization of irradiation data for the Moroccan geographical context, ensuring precise results for optimizing the tilt angle of floating solar panels.
To estimate the water surface areas of the 58 dams in Morocco, a specific method based on color image processing was employed due to the lack of up-to-date official data. Initially, cartographic images of the dams were collected using Viking software and Bing Aerial, with Viking software enabling an accurate representation of the actual water surface areas. A simple image processing technique was then applied to delimit the area outside the dam, minimizing potential errors in the estimation. The Color Summarizer program, known for its high precision, was used to calculate the exact percentage of water surface in each dam³¹. Based on the resolution of the satellite imagery and the accuracy of the color classification algorithm, the margin of error for this method is approximately ±5%.
To ensure the accuracy of the surface area estimates, the results were verified by comparing them with historical official dam data and documents from the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Water. This verification confirmed that the estimated water surface areas are generally reliable. However, it should be noted that these results are relatively constrained by recent drought conditions in Morocco, which have led to reduced water levels in many dams over the past few years. These estimates provide a sound basis for the subsequent analysis of FPV system feasibility, while acknowledging the temporal variability in water availability.
Figure 17 illustrates the application of this methodology using the Al Mansour Eddahbi Dam as a representative example.
a Step 1: Initial image surface of 174.54 km². b Step 2: Cutting to delimit the dam. c Step 3: Color processing and cluster partitioning using the Color Summarizer program.
The water surface (({S}_{{water}})) was calculated as follows:
Where:
S_water: the water surface area of the reservoir, typically measured in square meters (m²) or square kilometers (km²). This is the area of the water body covered by FPV systems.
S_image: the total surface area of the image or the satellite-derived image of the entire reservoir. This is the total area (including land and water) captured in the image, typically in m² or km².
% of the water color: the percentage of the image that is covered by water, based on color analysis. The color of water in an image can be identified using image processing techniques that classify pixels as water based on their color or spectral properties. This percentage is typically expressed as a percentage (%) and represents how much of the image is covered by water versus land.
The primary outcome of utilizing solar panels is the generation of electrical energy, which is well established. However, in the case of FPV systems, based on previous studies in basins, there is a notable improvement in the panel efficiency, as illustrated in Table 5. Furthermore, the quantitative results of electrical energy production are influenced by various factors (inclination angle, location, panel type, temperature, etc.), with irradiation being a direct determinant. Drawing from previous research³², the average annual electrical energy production from FPV implementation, under approximate conditions and utilizing less than 2% of the surface area of large dams in Morocco, will reach a satisfactory level of 2064.6 GWh.
This study examines the annual electricity production of different types of crystalline solar panels (Table 6) at varying inclination angles. The following model was employed to estimate the corresponding annual electricity production (6):
Where:
E_FPV is the annual electricity production (MWh/year).
A_FPV is the surface area covered by FPV panels (m²).
PR is the system performance ratio (%).
η is the solar panel efficiency (%).
Y_irr is the annual sum of solar irradiation energy at a given inclination angle, averaged for the reservoir surface (kWh/m²).
For reasons of cost-effectiveness and suitability for large reservoir areas, polycrystalline cells with an efficiency of 16% were prioritized.
Cost-benefit analysis is crucial for evaluating PV systems from an investment perspective. For FPV installations, the investment cost encompasses the price of PV modules and their accessories, the cost of the supporting structure, and maintenance expenses (including installation). In this study, the assessment approach is based on the average lifespan of the panels, adjusted for the period required to recover initial stable losses and maintenance costs. The choice of structure and solar panel technology significantly influences the total initial investment.
The costs of solar equipment were determined based on the work of Wang and Barnett³³. PV module costs were adjusted to 0.22 USD/Wp. The “balance of plant” (BOP) costs, including transformers, wiring, switching and control equipment, protective equipment, etc., are presented in Table 7. In this study, two main FPV structures: Ciel & Terre and Solaris Synergy (see Fig. 16), are compared, as shown in Table 8. Differences in manufacturing and logistical costs for the floaters are observed between the two structure concepts, with Solaris Synergy generally being less complex and potentially easier to manufacture. The maintenance and monitoring costs of FPV systems, although poorly documented in current literature, were estimated at approximately 10% of the capital expenditures over the lifespan of the panels³⁴.
The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available because they consist of strategic technical estimations for 58 national dams derived from satellite imagery and theoretical modeling, which require further validation by real operational data. They are, however, available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The code used for the analysis in this study is not publicly available as it is part of a specific research framework developed for this national assessment; it is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
The code used for the analysis in this study is not publicly available as it is part of a specific research framework developed for this national assessment; it is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This publication is a result of the research project ‘Innovative Floating Photovoltaic Systems to Combat Climate Change and to Decrease the Cost of PV Energy, ’ funded by the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA). AGYA drew on support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant no. 01DL20003). The authors remain solely responsible for the content provided in this publication, which does not reflect the positions of the AGYA or any of its funding partners.
Laboratoire des Sciences Appliquées et Technologies Innovantes, ENSA, USMBA, Fès, Maroc
Abdelilah Mouhaya, Abdelaziz El Ghzizal & Saad Motahhir
Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Technologies and Transformation, EST, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
Aboubakr El Hammoumi
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Abdelilah MOUHAYA: Writing – review and editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Aboubakr EL HAMMOUMI: Writing – review and editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Abdelaziz EL GHZIZAL: Writing – review and editing, Supervision, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Saad MOTAHHIR: Writing – review and editing, Supervision, Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization.
Correspondence to Abdelilah Mouhaya.
The authors declare no competing interests.
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Mouhaya, A., El Hammoumi, A., El Ghzizal, A. et al. Techno-economic feasibility analysis of floating photovoltaic systems on 58 Moroccan dams: energy potential, economic viability, and water evaporation. npj Clean Energy 2, 8 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44406-026-00025-9
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See more from Canary Media’s ​“Chart of the Week” column.
Quick — ignore the map above and take a guess: Which three states get the highest share of their power from wind and solar?
If you said Iowa, South Dakota, and New Mexico, well done. If you had Texas or California in there, fair enough — but neither of those clean-energy behemoths made it onto the podium, per the latest report from trade group American Clean Power Association.
Of the electricity produced in Iowa last year, 61% came from wind and solar — and pretty much all of that was wind. For decades, the state has been a leader on wind energy, though in recent years, development of new projects has dried up because of mounting local opposition and the Trump administration’s broader attacks on renewable energy.
South Dakota is a similar story, at 59%. Consistently gusty weather and ample land have led the state to install lots of wind turbines, and solar is scant in comparison.
New Mexico, which got about half its electricity from wind and solar in 2025, is a bit more balanced. Wind accounted for 36% of its power, and solar for 17%. The state is also a leader in grid batteries, which it is building out quickly to save more renewable energy for periods when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.
The leaderboard could soon change as some states charge toward ambitious 2030 clean energy targets. California, for one, saw a massive leap in renewable energy production last year, with solar and wind accounting for 44% of its generation. The year before, that figure was 38%.
In total, 13 states generated more than 30% of their electricity from wind and solar last year, and the clean energy sources provided 17% of the nation’s grid-scale electricity overall — a new record.
Wind and solar are growing in the U.S. despite fierce opposition from the Trump administration, which has ripped away tax credits and slow-rolled or withheld permits for dozens of gigawatts’ worth of projects.
The reason for the sector’s ascent is simple. As electricity demand and utility bills spike, solar and wind — along with batteries — are cheap and fast ways to get more power flowing. The same cannot be said for coal plants (which are expensive to run) or natural gas facilities (which take a long time to build because of an equipment supply crunch).
These facts add up to one outcome: Solar and wind will keep rising to new heights in states across the nation.
Dan McCarthy
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Massive solar farm proposal promises 150 MW of clean energy  CBC
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It surprised on the upside with its first-quarter performance.
To put it mildly, solar energy stocks have not been popular lately. You'd hardly know it from Sunrun's (NASDAQ: RUN) performance on the market Thursday; its shares gained nearly 8% on the back of an earnings report that sparked something of a bullish investor stampede.
Just after market close on Wednesday, Sunrun fired up its first-quarter results. Revenue was just over $722 million, for a meaty 43% increase year over year. Much of this growth came from a 151% leap in the company's crucial energy systems and products sales; these amounted to $254 million.
Image source: Getty Images.
On average, analysts tracking the consumer solar solutions company were modeling under $658 million for the total.
As for profitability, Sunrun's net income attributable to common shareholders more than tripled. It zoomed to $167.7 million ($0.62 per share) from the year-ago result of slightly over $50 million. Those pundits were collectively estimating $0.61 per share.
In the company's earnings release, it quoted CEO Mary Powell as saying, "Many companies are struggling to navigate the changes reshaping our industry; these market dislocations occurring around us present opportunities that play directly into Sunrun's strengths."
She added that "we believe that our subscription model, vertical integration, balance sheet, and scale are competitive advantages."
Sunrun provided selected guidance for the entirety of 2026. It believes it will be able to generate cash of $250 million to $450 million. It did not supply either revenue or profitability forecasts.
Despite the company's obvious improvements — particularly in its storage business — and the Thursday price pop, I feel the better companies in the solar sector remain undervalued. At some point, renewable energy will enjoy greater top-down support in the U.S., making titles such as Sunrun look like quality, inexpensive buys just now.

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The Nufri group has begun the deployment of the first operational agri-voltaic plant on agricultural holdings in Lleida. The installation is located in Vilanova de Segrià and combines the production of renewable energy with fruit cultivation.
The plant has 1,400 solar panels on metal structures that rise above the fruit trees. This arrangement allows agricultural activity to be maintained while generating electricity for self-consumption.
The technology installed on the Indulleida farm has a power of 900 kW and includes storage batteries. The total investment amounts to 1.4 million euros and has the prior authorization of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
The photovoltaic modules are mobile and adjust their orientation throughout the day. Their function is not only energetic but also agronomic. The panels cast shade on apple and pear trees during episodes of intense heat to regulate the temperature.
This system seeks to avoid thermal stress in crops. The project’s priority is to maintain agricultural yield above the electricity generation potential.
The firm processes before the regional administration a second installation in Puiggròs. This new project presents similar characteristics to the one in Vilanova de Segrià and foresees an investment of 1.6 million euros.
The Les Garrigues plant already has administrative and construction authorization. Only the approval of the Urban Planning commission remains to begin the works.
Both initiatives are part of the company’s R&D projects. Nufri also foresees a third plant in Soria. The objective is to compare the quality and quantity of fruit tree production under solar panels versus those grown in the open air.
This implementation marks the step from the experimental to the real phase in Lleida. The technology was previously tested at the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentària (IRTA) in Mollerussa.

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Orange-based Avangrid puts 5,000 sheep to work at solar farms  Hartford Business Journal
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Comstock Inc. filed a current report describing its first quarter 2026 results and a major strategic shift toward renewable metals and solar panel recycling. The company says it has completed a significant recapitalization with investors aligned to its transformation into a multi-billion-dollar industrial materials enterprise.
Comstock Metals reports that it has received substantially all industry-scale equipment and expects to complete commissioning and begin operating its metals plant in June, focused on zero-landfill solar panel recycling and high-value material recovery. Management highlights a first-of-its-kind industrial tailings recovery solution and ongoing steps toward ISO certification.
The company is in advanced discussions to sell all of its mining assets, targeting completion most likely in the third quarter of 2026, and plans to monetize extensive Silver Springs, Nevada real estate tied to land-power-data opportunities. Subsidiary Bioleum is advancing a “Farm-to-Fuel” renewable fuels platform and preparing an integrated demonstration-scale deployment. Comstock scheduled a webinar on May 7, 2026 to review Q1 2026 results and upcoming milestones.
Comstock pivots from mining toward scaled solar recycling and asset monetization.
Comstock Inc. outlines a transformation from junior mining to a renewable metals and industrial materials platform anchored by solar panel recycling. Management emphasizes zero-landfill processing, certification under the R2v3/RIOS standard, and commissioning an industry-scale metals plant expected to start operations in June 2026.
The company plans to sell all mining assets, with definitive agreements expected most likely in the third quarter of 2026, and to monetize thousands of acres of Silver Springs real estate positioned for industrial and data center demand. Proceeds are intended to be redeployed into higher-return solar recycling and industrial materials activities.
Subsidiary Bioleum is building a “Farm-to-Fuel” platform aimed at resolving renewable fuel feedstock bottlenecks, with an initial integrated demonstration project in progress. Overall, the filing presents a strategy centered on reallocating capital from legacy mining and real estate into scalable recycling, materials processing, and clean energy-related supply chains.
Exhibit 99.1
 
 
NEWS RELEASE
 
COMSTOCK ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS AND CORPORATE UPDATES
 
VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA, May 7, 2026 – Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock,” “our,” and the “Company”), today announced its first quarter 2026 results, business updates and an updated 2026 business outlook.
 
“During the first quarter of 2026, we completed the successful capitalization of our Company with aligned investors keen on participating in Comstock’s transformation into a multi-billion-dollar global, industrial materials enterprise,” stated Corrado De Gasperis, Comstock’s Chief Executive Officer. “We have expanded our board and governance with the competencies and capacities for governing a truly global enterprise that is repositioning our assets, systems and teams to achieve this new reality.”
 
Recent Corporate Transactions and Liquidity and Capital Resources Highlights
 
●
Completed an oversubscribed equity financing of $57.5 million in gross proceeds or $53.1 million, net of offering expenses, driven by high demand from leading institutional investors that further strengthened our capital base and accelerates the commercialization and development of the Comstock Metals recycling and metal recovery processes.
●
Expanded our Board of Directors with three outstanding, independent and broadly experienced directors representing our top shareholders and positioning the Company’s governance for global growth and sustained value creation.
●
Advanced the monetization of our legacy mining assets held for sale with definitive agreements expected in Q3 2026.
●
Increased our investment in Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund, Inc. (“SSOF”) to 42.57%, representing over 2,200 acres of primarily datacenter centric Nevada real estate and water rights positioned for higher value monetization.
●
Entered into a guaranty agreement with Great Basin Gas Transmission Company supporting an initial surety arrangement of $22 million increasing to $54.0 million by December 31, 2027, which secured power equivalent to 250-300 megawatts and supporting the high value monetization plan of our Nevada real estate investments.
●
Extinguished all former promissory notes commitments, including make whole provisions, resulting in cash proceeds in excess of obligations of $1.25 million returned and $0.55 million to be returned in January and May of 2026, respectively, for a total of nearly $1.8 million in expected total cash proceeds back to the Company.
●
Extinguished, as contractually required in April 2026, the final remaining earn out liability of approximately $5 million, with the issuance of 1,750,000 common shares, for the prior acquisition of companies that comprise Bioleum.
●
Cash and cash equivalents were $53.0 million at March 31, 2026, and $44.3 million at May 5, 2026.
●
Common shares outstanding were 74.1 million at March 31, 2026, and 75.9 million shares at May 5, 2026.
 
“In 2021, we set out on an ambitious transformation from a traditional junior mining company into a global, standard-setting, certified, zero-landfill renewable metals solution. Comstock Metals has deployed and is now scaling into a highly efficient and more broadly recognized industrial material supply chain that produces clean aluminum, silver, copper, and high specification glass materials,” stated Mr. De Gasperis. “Selling our mining assets in the nearer term and positioning our expansive and attractive industrial Silver Springs real estate for land-power-data monetization represent our other major objectives for 2026.”
 
Selected Segment Highlights for the First Quarter of 2026
 
Comstock Metals
 
“Comstock, along with our integrators and installation teams, has now received substantially all our equipment, including power generation, expansive storage capacity and upgrades for offtake products, as we complete commissioning and look forward to operations in June. We have already tested the first unit operation and will continue moving through each unit operation as we assemble, complete and start operating the plant this quarter. We have also designed a first-of-its-kind, industrial tailings recovery solution that should enable a closed-loop process for the recovery of high-value raw minerals, including silver and other critical metals, from our industrial tailings. Our team’s persistence has been unwavering as we commercialize new products and markets with focus and speed,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals.
 
●
Received and installed major precision-manufactured equipment for production at our first industry-scale facility in Silver Springs, NV, with commissioning ongoing and operations on line by the end of the second quarter of 2026;
 
 
●
Completed preliminary design and feasibility for a U.S.-based, industrial metal recovery solution for our tailings;
●
Secured partners finalized schedules and commenced bench and pilot scale testing for industrial metal recovery;
●
Secured permits and received approval from California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”); becoming one of a select group of companies authorized and operating as a universal waste recycler in California;
●
Established an Ohio and California-based logistics and aggregation hub connecting and supporting two of the largest end-of-life solar panel geographic markets in the United States;
●
Increased marketing and sales capacity across the system as our industry-scale production comes online; and
●
Selected and submitted state-level permit applications for the second industry-scale production facility in Nevada.
 
“We have expanded the production system with highly effective equipment for offtake product upgrades, especially glass products, that expands our supply chain with high quality customers and positions us for higher offtake product revenues,” said Dr. Villamagna. “These upgrades, coupled with the development of a metal recovery solution for our tailings, creates a highly differentiated, diverse, industrial material supply chain. We remain the only certified R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard by SERI for solar panel recycling (100% of the entire panel) and the only known solution that can efficiently scale to meet our customers rapidly growing need for disposing these end-of-life liabilities. We are also undertaking the required steps to become ISO certified, which will further strengthen the quality of our system and increase the value of the products we sell.”
 
Comstock Mining
 
●
Closed on the additional sales of royalties and other rights from the northern district claims for an additional $1.4 million in cash proceeds, bringing the total consideration to over $4.3 million; and
●
Engaged multiple, well-capitalized mining companies for the sale and monetization of our mineral and mining assets.
 
“The rapidly rising industrial silver demand and recent silver prices have us well positioned to capitalize in both our recycling and mining businesses. For mining, we are now closing in on definitive agreements to sell all of our mining assets, most likely in the third quarter, for good value,” said Comstock’s Chief Financial Officer and Comstock Mining President, Mr. Judd Merrill.
 
Bioleum Corporation
 
“Bioleum has assembled a “Farm-to-Fuel” platform that solves the singular most meaningful bottleneck in the renewable fuels industry, which is the availability of efficient, reliable feedstock. The potential for Bioleum’s Hexas XanoFiber^TM to deliver the highest yielding, lowest carbon impacting (“CI”) and lowest delivered cost in conjunction with Bioleum’s conversion technologies, creates a fully integrated, differentiated renewable fuel solution,” said Mr. De Gasperis. “The team is finalizing their current capital raise plans and deploying the first integrated, demonstration scale solution, just like we did with metals.”
 
Outlooks for Remainder of 2026
 
The Company is monetizing its portfolio of non-core assets, simplifying its business and enhancing its liquidity.
 
The Company’s corporate and mining objectives for 2026 include: 
 
Monetize our legacy mineral and mining properties, plants and equipment, maximize the associated cash proceeds and realize the ongoing cost savings benefits from a realigned and more focused enterprise;
Secured sufficient power sources for hyper-scale data center developments on our lands in Silver Springs, NV;
Restructure, align and expand the ownership in the SSOF and position for high-value monetization;
Monetize all other legacy, non-core real estate in Silver Springs, NV; and
Support Bioleum development, including the integration and commercialization of Hexas.
 
 
Our legacy starts with our namesake, the Comstock Lode. We are in advanced discussions to sell all of our mining assets. We believe that the expected financial returns from recycling solar panels and becoming a more sophisticated industrial materials company far exceed the returns from hard-rock mining in both speed, duration, and of course, absolute magnitude. Capital redeployed from our mining assets to our solar recycling platform is expected to result in superior return on that capital.
 
Our legacy also includes prior investments in real estate, including SSOF which includes thousands of acres of industrial, commercial, and residential real estate in Silver Springs, Nevada. This real estate includes the locations we are leasing for our metal recycling facilities. Our recent ability to secure natural gas-based power sources, in an area now leading in industrial manufacturing and data center development, positions us to capitalize on both our investment in SSOF and our adjacent, direct land holdings. While this requires additional capital allocation to perfect and control, the results should enable an extremely valuable, monetizable land portfolio that we have prioritized to sell. We expect these transactions to start monetizing in 2026.
 
Comstock Metals
 
Comstock Metals has established the goal of setting the global standard for solar panel recycling. Our process creates no waste, no landfilled materials, and results in clean recycled products safe for reuse. The growth opportunities for Comstock Metals continue developing beyond our original plans, as we have now expanded our customer base with some of the most sophisticated supply chain partners for feedstocks, technologies, logistics, and offtakes, including upgraded production solutions for high quality glass with multiple applications, customers and markets.
 
The Company’s Metals objectives for 2026 include: 
 
●
Receive, deploy, assemble and commission our first industry-scale facility in Silver Springs, NV;
●
Operate our first industry-scale facility in Silver Springs profitably;
●
Secure additional Master Service Agreements with national and regional customers;
●
Advance development efforts, with partners, to recover more and higher-purity materials from recycled streams;
●
Select and secure additional sites, expand storage capabilities and secure permits for these additional sites;
●
Complete site selection for at least three additional solar panel recycling locations and commence permitting;
●
Upgraded downstream production lines for enhanced recoveries, including high specification glass and silver;
●
Submit permits for our second industry-scale facility in southern NV; and
 
Procure our second industry-scale recycling equipment and processing facility and commence commissioning.
 
Comstock Metals has proven its process with all types of solar panels through multi-year, demonstration-scale production and has secured all prerequisite permits to now expand and scale its industrial operations. We have received substantially all of our industry-scale equipment, expanded our storage capacity, and secured world-class customers. Building on that momentum, our goal is nothing short of establishing the global standard in solar recycling and refining.
 
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
 
Comstock’s Chief Executive Officer, Corrado De Gasperis, and its Chief Financial Officer, Judd Merrill, will present an overview of the first quarter 2026 financial results, upcoming milestones, and how the Company’s systemic platform is optimizing results on Thursday, May 7, 2026, via a webinar.
 
Investors and all other interested parties are invited to register below.
 
Date:
Thursday, May 7, 2026
 
Time:
4:30 p.m. ET
 
Register: Webinar Registration
 
 
HAVE QUESTIONS? There will be an allotted time following the results presentation for a Q&A session. Unaddressed questions will be reviewed by management and responded to accordingly. You may submit your question(s) beforehand in the registration form (linked above) or by email at: ir@comstockinc.com.
 
About Comstock Inc.
 
Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies, systems and supply chains that enable, support and sustain clean energy systems by efficiently, effectively, and expediently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources into reusable metals, like silver, aluminum, gold, and other critical minerals, primarily from end-of-life photovoltaics. To learn more, please visit http://www.comstock.inc.
 
Comstock Social Media Policy
 
Comstock Inc. has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations link and main website at http://www.comstock.inc in addition to its X.com, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
 
Contacts
 
For investor inquiries:
Judd B. Merrill, Chief Financial Officer
Tel (775) 413-6222
ir@comstockinc.com
 
For media inquiries:
Zach Spencer, Director of External Relations
Tel (775) 847-7573
media@comstockinc.com
 
Forward-Looking Statements 
 
This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “forecast,” “seek,” “target,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: expectations regarding the completion of the proposed securities offering, future market conditions; future explorations or acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs or similar distribution transactions; future changes in our research, development and exploration activities; future financial, natural, and social gains; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services; land entitlements and uses; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land and asset sales; investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, operational, tax, financial and restructuring initiatives, including the nature, timing and accounting for restructuring charges, derivative assets and liabilities and the impact thereof; contingencies; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings, limitations on sales or offering of equity or debt securities, including asset sales and associated costs; and future working capital needs, revenues, variable costs, throughput rates, operating expenses, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes and earnings. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: sales of, and demand for, our products, services, and/or properties; industry market conditions, including the volatility and uncertainty of commodity prices; the speculative nature, costs, regulatory requirements, and hazards of natural waste resource identification, exploration, development, availability, recycling, extraction, processing, and refining activities, including operational or technical difficulties, and risks of diminishing quantities or insufficiency of grades of qualified resources;; changes in our planning, exploration, research and development, production, and operating activities; research and development, exploration, production, operating, and other variable and fixed costs; throughput rates, margins, earnings, debt levels, contingencies, taxes, capital expenditures, net cash flows, and growth; restructuring activities, including the nature and timing of restructuring charges and the impact thereof; employment and contributions of personnel, including our reliance on key management personnel; the costs and risks associated with developing new technologies; our ability to commercialize existing and new technologies; the impact of new, emerging, and competing technologies on our business; the possibility of one or more of the markets in which we compete being impacted by political, legal, and regulatory changes, or other external factors over which we have little or no control; the effects of mergers, consolidations, and unexpected announcements or developments from others; the impact of laws and regulations, including permitting and remediation requirements and costs; changes in or elimination of laws, regulations, tariffs, trade, or other controls or enforcement practices, including the potential that we may not be able to comply with applicable regulations; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of climate changes, natural disasters, and health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 outbreak; global economic and market uncertainties, changes in monetary or fiscal policies or regulations, the impact of terrorism and geopolitical events, volatility in commodity and/or other market prices, and interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and/or raw materials; assertion of claims, lawsuits, and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations, including because of limitations and restrictions contained in the instruments and agreements governing our indebtedness; our ability to raise additional capital and secure additional financing; interruptions in our production capabilities due to equipment failures or capital constraints; potential dilution from stock issuances, recapitalization, and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to maintain the listing of our securities on any securities exchange or market; and our ability to implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures and comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as amended. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company, the fund, or any other issuer.
 
Exhibit 99.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR
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Costa del Sol
José Carlos García
Marbella
Marbella town hall has launched its plan for the integral air conditioning of every public nursery and primary school in the municipality. The programme means … that all schools and nursery schools will be able to have heating in winter and air conditioning during the summer. Thermal comfort will not only reach the classrooms, but also communal areas such as gymnasiums, canteens, libraries and administrative areas.
The three-million-euro project does not only seek the mere installation of devices, according to the municipal education department, but aims to “go much further” and ensure that schools “also have significant energy support through photovoltaic solar energy”. Thus, half of the budget for this project will go towards the installation of solar roofs and canopies, which in turn will result in energy and electricity bill savings.
“We want to avoid compromising the electrical installations of many schools, which in some cases have old infrastructures and could be subjected to excessive electrical stress with the increased consumption resulting from the new air conditioning systems. For this reason, the project has been approached in a comprehensive and responsible manner: not only are the schools air-conditioned, but also their own energy is generated to reduce dependence on the electricity grid, avoid overloads, improve energy efficiency and reduce the cost of future electricity consumption,” explained the town hall.
The council has now put out a tender for the installation of solar panels. The panels will not be installed in all the schools, only in five, from where electricity will be supplied to the rest. One of them will be the Fuente Nueva school, which will also supply the CEIP Miguel Hernández and José Banús, while the Al-Andalus will supply the San Pedro and Teresa de León schools. The CEIP Vargas Llosa will cover part of the electricity supply needs of up to eight schools: the Federico García Lorca, Antonio Machado, Miguel de Cervantes, Fernández Mayoralas, Xarblanca and Gil Muñiz, and the Las Albarizas nursery school.
“We are going to significantly improve conditions for pupils and teachers, and modernise the energy efficiency of all public schools”
Another CEIP where there will be solar panels is Santa Teresa, which will cover the Vicente Aleixandre, Virgen del Carmen, Las Albarizas, Valdeolletas, Juan Ramón Jiménez and Los Olivos, and the nursery school El Pinar, while the CEIP Pinolivo will cover the Platero school, as well as the municipal offices in Las Chapas and the Santa María sports complex.
Related story
Environment
Malaga council bans new solar panel installations in bid to protect appearance of historic town centre
The contract for the implementation of the photovoltaic energy has been put out to tender for just over 725,000 euros and a completion period of four months. The council is already preparing another contract worth 1.7 million euros for the supply and installation of the equipment.
“The hot-cold air-conditioning systems are something highly demanded by the educational communities, so we are going to significantly improve the conditions for students and teachers. We are also going to complete a global action that will allow energy modernisation of all public schools in Marbella,” the council said.
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How Energy Prices Are Driving Demand for Solar Panels and Heat Pumps  nytimes.com
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No vote yet on large-scale Southern Michigan solar project after months of opposition  MLive.com
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CREDIT Freepik
The Grow Solar program is returning to Eastern Iowa, offering residents in a six-county region the opportunity to lower their energy costs through a group-buy initiative.
The first session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Big Grove Brewery, 170 1st St. SW, Cedar Rapids. Interested residents can learn more or register at www.growsolar.org/eci.
Grow Solar East Central Iowa leverages volume purchasing to provide competitive pricing for homeowners, farmers and small businesses in Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.
Coordinated by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the program is a partnership between local governments and environmental organizations, including the city of Cedar Rapids, the city of Iowa City and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa.
“Solar provides local, predictable, and clean energy—helping Iowa communities manage long-term energy costs and strengthen resilience,” Sara Maples, sustainability program manager with Cedar Rapids, said in a statement. “The Grow Solar campaign supports this transition by driving renewable-energy job growth right here in Iowa.”

Organizers will host a series of free educational sessions called “Solar Power Hours” to explain the technology and the group-buy process. Participants can then receive a personalized site assessment from an independently selected installer.
 

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Solar incentives survive late-session fight at Capitol  Hartford Business Journal
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A massive solar array in Rajasthan struck a hidden wall.
Beneath the desert sun, engineers found more than just sand.
Progress promised power. The desert promised a fight.
Thousands of trees stood on sacred land that locals refused to abandon.
Not for money. Not for energy generation. This was no normal landscape.
It was deeply tied to survival for locals.
A legal war erupted. What is this landscape that refused to be paved?
The initial plans for this Rajasthan solar plant moved forward with little resistance.
On paper, the wasteland was perfect. Flat. Empty. Scorching. But maps lie.
Flat terrain. A wide open space. Strong Indian sunlight.
However, locals quickly raised concerns. Loudly.
The proposed site in Rajasthan contained roughly 6,500 trees. But these were not random patches of vegetation.
This was an Oran. For six centuries, these groves have been untouchable.
To the locals, cutting a single branch is a sin against the divine.
These groves have been protected under law for generations.
No cutting them down. No clearing.
As the project moved forward, locals began mobilizing.
This wasn’t a protest. It was a defense of an ancestral lifeline.
Something lived here that the developers ignored.
This was never just about trees. 
Something far more sacred was at stake.
Plans emerged to clear the roughly 6.500 trees on this sacred land.
Locals acted fast, and protests kicked off.
Energy projects can often hide secrets about life. Albeit tree life.
Estimates suggested the trees were profoundly important to locals.
Providing sustenance for nearly a million people. Activists walked hundreds of miles in an organized protest.
They carried a simple message: protect the groves and protect the people.
Deities guard these roots.
Tradition dictates that the Oran belongs to the gods.
Locals believe the land is sacred as it is protected by deities.
Renewable energy projects can create paradoxes. Even legal challenges in some cases.
Science backed the spirits. These groves are the last refuge for the Great Indian Bustard, a bird on the brink of extinction.
The groves act like biodiversity hotspots in an arid landscape.
One where agriculture is a challenge.
They support wildlife, prevent accelerated erosion in the soil, and stabilize the environment.
The bulldozers stopped. The Rajasthan High Court stepped in with a question that paralyzed the industry.
Conservation or future energy production?
Not “can we build here?” but “should we?”
Green energy usually saves the planet. Here, it threatened to destroy it.
But this one aimed to rip up 6,500 sacred trees.
The court froze the machines. It ruled that the “wasteland” was actually a vital biological corridor.
The court intervention prevented the tree removal from taking place.
That alone changed the entire scope of the project.
The developers missed the most important data point: the soul of the land.
The project developers were left with one option following the ruling.
Reassessment.
They need to now reassess the location, impact, and legality of the project under the law.
Because these trees are not just ordinary land parcels.
They are ancestral ecosystems that support millions.
The wires are hanging. The project sits in a legal limbo that could change Indian environmental law forever.
Because removing these groves risks far more than just environmental damage.
It could destabilize entire communities.
Can we save the climate if we sacrifice the very land that sustains us?
The protests are ongoing as the developer weighs the options.
But it has raised one truth.
The developers saw a void. The locals saw a sanctuary.
Only one can remain by the time the final verdict is read.
© 2026 by Ecoportal
© 2026 by Ecoportal

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8th May 2026 – Senator Gareth Scahill
There needs to be greater awareness of the Solar PV scheme for medically vulnerable people, a Fine Gael Senator has said.
 
Senator Gareth Scahill received confirmation in the Seanad the scheme is set to deliver fully funded solar panel installations to over 1,900 additional homes in 2026.
 
“This is a genuinely excellent scheme that’s making a real difference to families who face significant energy costs due to their reliance on life-critical medical equipment. The Minister has confirmed that it will reach another 1,900 homes this year alone,” he said.
 
“Public representatives know the areas and households which experience outages and electricity issues more than others. However, too many people eligible for the scheme aren’t aware it exists. When they try to find out more about it, they hit a wall with nobody to answer their questions.
 
“I’ve contacted the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) about this and am calling for a dedicated point of contact to be set up for the public to get clear, timely answers on whether they qualify and what the next steps are.”
 
The scheme was first launched in 2022 in response to the energy crisis from the war in Ukraine as a cost saving measure for individuals in areas which are susceptible to power outages. It provides a complete, no-cost solar PV system including survey, design, supply, installation, and a post-works Building Energy Rating.
 
It is available to homeowners registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier. Those relying on electrically powered medical equipment such as dialysis machines, ventilators, respirators, and other assistive technologies may qualify.
 
Senator Scahill is urging anyone who believes they may be using life support equipment at home to contact their electricity supplier to ensure they are correctly registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register so they don’t miss out.
Barriers facing teachers seeking voluntary relocation need to be addressed, a Fine Gael Senator has said. Senator Gareth Scahill warned…
Immediate attention is needed to deal with the deteriorating condition of road signs around the country, a Fine Gael Senator…
The cost of the new Football Association of Ireland (FAI) kits is a slap in the face to loyal fans,…
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Ørsted acquired ESA Solar Energy’s 150 MW Salzburg BESS project in Michigan in May 2026. The standalone storage asset is located in Midland Township, has secured permitting, advanced in the interconnection process, and targets commercial operation in 2029–2030. Ascend Analytics advised ESA on valuation, market outlook, and transaction execution.
The deal shows US BESS M&A moving from pure merchant ERCOT exposure toward policy-backed MISO storage. Michigan’s 60% renewable portfolio standard by 2035 and 100% clean energy target by 2040 create a clearer utility offtake case for batteries. Ørsted, a listed strategic IPP, is buying development maturity, not just capacity.
Enerdatics’ US M&A analysis showed 2025 BESS activity dominated by de-risked standalone assets, with investors prioritizing grid volatility, interconnection progress, and near-term revenue visibility. ERCOT led earlier deal flow, but MISO and other regulated markets are now offering contracted or capacity-based storage opportunities.
ESA remains a private developer with more than 8 GW of solar and storage development transactions. Selling Salzburg after permitting allows ESA to recycle capital while staying involved through post-close development support. Ørsted gains a permitted, advanced-stage asset positioned for Michigan utility demand.
The next signal in US BESS M&A is not only larger batteries. It is strategic buyers paying for permitted storage in load-growth markets where utilities need capacity, reliability, and clean energy compliance.
Want to track the latest M&A, financings, PPAs, and key developments across the industry? Explore the Enerdatics Insights page.
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Newsroom
Former Cypriot MEP and doctor Eleni Theocharous has sparked fresh debate over Cyprus’s solar energy system after accusing authorities and energy officials of misleading the public about the benefits of household photovoltaics.
In a social media post that quickly drew attention online, Theocharous said her home solar system is being shut down almost daily during peak sunlight hours — the very period when panels are supposed to produce the most electricity.

“Every day from 9:30 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon, my photovoltaic system is cut off and production drops to zero,” she wrote, adding sarcastically that the system seems to remain active “only when it’s cloudy.”
Theocharous said she had lost around 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity production over the past three years because of the shutdowns, while still receiving electricity bills from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus.
She said her latest two-month bill came to €181.70 despite living alone.
“If this is not deception of the people, then there is no reason for any reaction,” she wrote, criticizing what many homeowners increasingly describe as a flawed solar energy system.
Her comments tap into a growing frustration among households across Cyprus who invested thousands of euros in rooftop solar panels expecting major savings, only to discover that systems are frequently curtailed or disconnected from the grid during periods of high electricity production.
The issue has become especially sensitive as Cyprus continues pushing renewable energy while also facing some of the highest electricity prices in Europe.
Many consumers say they were encouraged to install photovoltaic systems as a way to reduce costs and help the environment but now feel trapped between expensive installation costs, grid limitations, and continued high bills.
In follow-up comments, Theocharous suggested that excess electricity from homes with surplus production could instead be redirected to refugee housing or vulnerable families.
“There are many who would want to do that,” she wrote, implying that bureaucracy and regulations are preventing more practical solutions.
The controversy reflects a wider problem Cyprus has struggled with in recent years: the island is producing increasing amounts of solar energy, but its electricity grid has not modernized fast enough to fully handle the extra power.
As a result, operators sometimes cut off residential solar systems to prevent pressure on the network, a reality many consumers say was never clearly explained when they invested in photovoltaics.
For many Cypriots, especially families already struggling with the cost of living, the situation feels deeply frustrating.
After years of being told solar energy was the smart financial future, some homeowners now say they are producing less electricity precisely when the Cyprus sun is strongest and still opening bills they thought photovoltaics would largely eliminate.
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Earlier this month, at the SolarPLUS Europe 2026 conference in Milan, the shifting dynamics affecting the continent’s solar developers were laid bare. Grid constraints, negative prices and the massive expansion of utility-scale solar capacity across Europe between 2022 and 2025 have made standalone solar development less simple. Governments have also started requiring more integrated technology offerings, and overall growth projections have somewhat stalled.
This is manifesting in more developers transitioning to become independent power producers (IPP). One speaker on the opening morning of the conference said this represented a “quantum leap”, requiring moving from simply developing projects to owning, operating and managing the energy production of those sites. Things are further complicated by the growing imperative to bring energy storage into the equation.
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PV Tech Premium sat down with Cristiano Spillati, managing director of Italian renewables developer Limes Renewable Energy, on the sidelines of the conference to discuss the dynamics of that transition, the way that Italy’s solar market compares with the rest of Europe and which sorts of companies will be best placed to succeed.
Italy has been singled out by some as the “most exciting” European market for solar development. Where standalone PV development is losing viability and becoming complicated in other major EU countries, Italy has been a haven for pure PV generation without the same imperative for energy storage capacity seen in markets like Spain and Germany.
“We need to incentivise pure solar generation [in Italy] because we are behind with our targets for 2030,” Spillati says. “There is 8GW that has been awarded in tenders recently which needs to be built.” He expects the total amount of standalone tendered capacity to reach 12GW by 2028, which will require substantial EPC and logistical capacity to build.
But after that, with the planned introduction of the FER-Z tender in 2028, developers in Italy will have to submit a proposal for a flexible and consistent power generation profile to be awarded a contract. This is a far more complex proposition than just building a project to receive an offtake agreement, even with the recent FER-X auction that imposed the EU’s alternative supplier procurement criteria.
“You will need to be able to provide a combined offer,” Spillati explains. “You need to be able to combine your solar plus BESS, maybe if you have some wind… but solar standalone wouldn’t work.”
This is closer to the sort of offering currently being sought in other major markets – last month, Jan-Philip Kock, chief of staff at German IPP Encavis, told us that in many European markets, “Just having the abilities to develop and build a solar plant is not really something people pay for anymore.” The changes coming down the track in Italy are already underway in other countries, though few auction structures have garnered the attention or praise of the Italian.
Spillati’s company, Limes, is currently fundraising for its transition from a developer to an IPP. “At the moment we have 50MW in the FER-X NZIA [auction]; this will be the first one that we build. And then we have approximately another 120MW that is approaching ready to build, and this will participate in the next two to three rounds. And after that, I hope we will be ready in terms of structure, both financially and organisational, to participate in this competitive environment.”
Pulling off this shift from developer to IPP is “totally” a “quantum leap”, Spillati says.
“As a developer you are used to a feed-in-tariff environment, and with that you have a bracket of how your project could be valued; there’s always a minimum where you can make your margin,” he explains. That no longer applies in much of Europe.
As governments have moved away from straightforward solar generation incentives, developers need to do more. “You could develop, but if you don’t have a clear offtake strategy so that it makes sense to develop in that part of the country, then you run the risk of having a project ready to build, and maybe you can recoup your investment, but that’s it,” Spillati says. “It’s totally different.”
Returning to Kock’s comments last month, people won’t pay for just developing a project.
And it’s not just the developer-to-IPP transition that has changed, Spillati explains. Companies that have recently become IPPs, with a business model of developing and selling a project but retaining a minority stake in it, have to do more to manage new assets as the guaranteed baseline of feed-in-tariffs has disappeared.
“So, you know, it’s not only for pure developers; in general, the environment has become much more complex,” says Spillati.
One almost inevitable result of these broad market changes – an emphasis on flexible generation and storage, the move to market models over incentives, and the increased complexity of the industry – will be consolidation.
“Definitely, that will happen across Europe,” Spillati says. “There will be fewer developers and fewer IPPs” as some pure play developers fall by the wayside. What will emerge will be fewer, more “sophisticated” developers at the top of the industry.
At the other end, though, there will still be demand for smaller developers with local knowledge. “One thing that we need to remember is that renewables is a very local business,” Spillati posits. “People who are still able to originate the opportunity at the local level and be able to take it to the last mile, I think these organisations will still have a role. Especially in a country like Italy, where you don’t have a lot of available land.”
Big IPPs and utilities that will take a greater share of project ownership “rely on a network of external developers” to get projects built and approved, Spillati continues. “They need local people to go to the local authorities. They cannot do it. You need to really understand the local environment to be successful.”
Those who suffer as the European solar market changes will likely be middle-sized developers unable to adapt to more complex and difficult market demands and without deep local roots and expertise.

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Voltalia powers up 26.9 MW of solar farms in southern France  Renewables Now
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‘A red tape nightmare’: Review ordered into solar panel installation  1News
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Now Tesla wants to be a power company with new solar panel and battery offer  AOL.com
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Yuliana Onishchuk is organizing aid under extraordinarily difficult conditions. Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine’s power infrastructure, while the country’s energy sector has historically been heavily male-dominated and many men are currently serving in the military. As a result, Onishchuk’s organization, Energy Act for Ukraine, is training women to build photovoltaic systems from the ground up — a mission she highlighted at the SolarPower Summit, hosted by SolarPower Europe in Brussels this week.
The organization’s work extends beyond training. It is also installing solar-plus-storage systems at schools and hospitals. According to its own figures, Energy Act for Ukraine has already deployed nearly 1.5 MW of solar capacity and 2 MWh of battery storage. One of its latest projects is a maternity and neonatal center in Odesa, where the installed system can keep the intensive care unit operating for up to 18 hours on a sunny day.
Onishchuk said PV is attracting growing interest not only from hospitals and schools, but also from businesses seeking reliable power supplies. A key obstacle, however, is financing, as many projects remain too small to attract bank funding.
The issue was also raised in Brussels by Svitlana Romanko, founder and executive director of Razom We Stand, which campaigns to end European purchases of Russian fossil fuels. Romanko called on European companies and investors to become more active in Ukraine, arguing that while the market remains challenging, it offers significant long-term growth potential.
Onishchuk agreed, noting that investment in Ukraine inevitably involves risk, but arguing that now is the right time to gain experience with the country’s regulatory framework and market conditions. In some respects, she said, conditions are favorable. For example, a solar installation can currently obtain all required permits within around 16 months.
Both speakers stressed that the European Union could learn from Ukraine’s experience. Ukrainian energy experts have gained practical knowledge in dealing with cyberattacks, unstable grids, rapid infrastructure repair, and smart-grid deployment.
“We must do this very quickly,” Onishchuk said.
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Negros Occidental Targets P1 Billion Savings Through Major Solar Energy Transition  SolarQuarter
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China’s leading solar manufacturers all reported first-quarter net losses, despite improving margins and continued high shipment volumes across the sector.
Shanghai Stock Exchange
Image: 钉钉, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
JinkoSolar reported first-quarter revenue of CNY 12.25 billion ($1.68 billion), down 11.52% year on year, with a net loss of CNY 1.35 billion ($186 million). Module shipments reached 13.7 GW, while energy storage system deliveries increased to 1.42 GWh. Gross margin improved by 9.45 percentage points to 6.16%. The company said it expects module shipments of 75 GW to 85 GW in 2026 and forecast energy storage shipments to double year on year.
Longi reported first-quarter revenue of CNY 11.19 billion ($1.54 billion), down 18.03% year on year. Its net loss widened by 34.20% to CNY 1.92 billion ($264 million), partly due to foreign exchange losses. Wafer shipments reached 20.49 GW, including 7.64 GW in external sales, while module shipments totaled 12.62 GW. BC module shipments reached 8.34 GW. Gross margin stood at negative 1.19%. Longi said it plans to convert all domestic cell capacity to BC production lines by the end of 2026.
Trina Solar was the only one to report revenue growth, with first-quarter revenue rising 17.40% to CNY 16.83 billion ($2.32 billion). Its net loss narrowed by 78.55% to CNY 283 million ($38.9 million). Gross margin reached 6.75%, while operating cash flow turned positive at CNY 4.09 billion ($563 million). The company said its energy storage business continued to expand rapidly.
JA Solar reported first-quarter revenue of CNY 9.22 billion ($1.27 billion), down 13.65% year on year. Its net loss narrowed by 34.89% to CNY 1.07 billion ($147 million). Gross margin improved by 7.83 percentage points to 1.12%, returning to positive territory. Cell and module shipments reached 11.87 GW, with overseas markets accounting for 77.16% of shipments. The company said the first phase of its Oman project, comprising 6 GW of high-efficiency cell capacity and 3 GW of module capacity, is scheduled to begin production in 2026.
China Datang launched its 2026-27 framework procurement plan for PV modules and inverters on April 28. The module tender totals 11 GW, including 6 GW of n-type TOPCon modules, 1 GW of n-type heterojunction (HJT) modules, and 4 GW of n-type BC modules. The inverter tender covers 8 GW of string inverters and 1.5 GW of central inverters.
The Silicon Industry Branch of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) said market activity remained subdued during the May Day holiday period. Prices for n-type recharging polysilicon were quoted at CNY 35,000 to CNY 36,000/ton ($4,814 to $4,952/ton), with no transactions reported. N-type granular silicon traded at CNY 34,000 to CNY 36,000/ton ($4,677 to $4,952/ton), averaging CNY 34,300/ton ($4,718/ton), unchanged from the previous week. The association said granular silicon orders have already been signed through mid-to-late May, indicating tight supply, while rod silicon saw almost no new contracts because of high inventory levels. Wafer prices also remained stable. N-type G10L wafers averaged CNY 0.93/piece ($0.13), G12R wafers CNY 1.00/piece ($0.14), and G12 wafers CNY 1.17/piece ($0.16). Operating rates were unchanged from pre-holiday levels, with two leading producers running at 42% and 44%, integrated manufacturers operating at 50% to 60%, and other producers at 50% to 68%.
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Clean energy can provide reliable, around-the-clock electricity at prices that rival fossil fuels, as the war on Iran forces Europe to re-think its reliance.
A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) found that when solar and wind power are combined with battery storage, they can already compete with new coal plants on cost. In many parts of the world, this mix of renewables and storage can even undercut new gas power.
The findings challenge one of the fossil fuel industry’s longest-running arguments against renewables: that they cannot provide reliable, 24/7 electricity when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
According to IRENA, the answer is yes.
The report examined so-called “firm” renewable systems – combinations of solar panels, wind farms and battery storage capable of providing round-the-clock electricity.
In regions with strong sunlight and wind resources, solar power paired with batteries now costs between about €50 and €75 per megawatt-hour, the report found.
That compares with about €60 to €75 per megawatt-hour for new coal plants in China and more than €88 globally for new gas power.
A steep drop in battery prices has helped drive the change. Since 2010, the cost of battery storage has fallen by 93 per cent, according to IRENA, while solar panel costs dropped by 87 per cent and onshore wind costs by 55 per cent.
The agency says combining wind, solar and batteries can also reduce exposure to geopolitical shocks, such as Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital fossil fuel chokepoint that carries around one fifth (I think) of global oil supplies.
The report comes at a particularly relevant moment. Europe is still facing fossil fuel price shocks linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and renewed instability around the US-Israel conflict in the Middle East.
Advocacy group Positive Money recently found that renewables helped cut electricity prices in some European countries by almost 25 per cent between 2023 and 2025.
Another report revealed that consumers in Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden and Slovakia could save up to €8.5 billion on energy bills this year because of their cleaner electricity mixes, while countries still more reliant on fossil fuels face significantly higher costs.
Solar alone saved Europe €3 billion in March by reducing its gas imports. An analysis by SolarPower EUrope says total savings could exceed €67 billion if gas prices remain high,
For years, critics argued that solar and wind power could never fully replace fossil fuels because they depend on weather conditions.
According to IRENA, battery storage is changing that calculus.
Batteries can store electricity generated during sunny or windy periods and release it later when demand rises or supply drops, reducing the need for backup plants run on fossil fuels.
IRENA says their costs will continue falling over the next decade, too, potentially making round-the-clock renewable power far more attractive for energy-hungry industries such as AI and data centres.
By 2035, some large-scale solar-and-battery projects could deliver continuous electricity for less than €45 per megawatt-hour in the best-performing regions.
“The long-standing argument that renewables lack reliability no longer holds,” Francesco La Camera, director general of IRENA, said in a statement.


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