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This startup just raised $32 million to build solar farms using robots—and much less land Fast Company
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China tests first practical submarine solar farm at 10 metres depth in open sea South China Morning Post
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Public hearings over the future of a huge proposed solar farm are due to get under way.
Developer Island Green Power (IGP) has said the East Pye scheme will be on land near Long Stratton, in Norfolk, and will generate enough power for 115,000 homes.
Six months of hearings, starting on Tuesday at Dunston Hall, near Norwich, will examine the scheme spanning 2,700 acres (1,090 hectares).
Once this examination process has ended, inspector David Cliff will have three months to submit a recommendation to the energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, who will have a further three months to make a decision.
The project will stretch across a number of villages including Hempnall, Great Moulton and Saxlingham Nethergate.
However, the plans have previously been strongly opposed by residents and campaign groups concerned about the loss of agricultural land and impact on the countryside.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said almost 2,000 people had made representations during the consultation phase, with many vehemently opposed to the project.
In documents submitted to the government, IGP estimated the solar farm would cost £1bn to build.
This figure includes land acquisition, construction and installation costs.
Due to its size, the solar farm project is considered nationally significant and is one of three major solar farms planned for Norfolk.
Hearings for The Droves solar farm near Swaffham are already under way, while the High Grove solar farm, proposed near Dereham, is in the pre-application phase.
East Pye's first hearing on Tuesday will set out the examination process and will include an open hearing where people registered to speak can make representations.
Another open floor hearing will take place on Wednesday, with more than 60 people including MPs and councillors registered to speak.
Further hearings have been pencilled in for November and December and the examination is expected to end in February.
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Villagers are exploring ways to produce their own electricity in a bid to reduce costs.
Developer Island Green Power says the project will generate enough power for 115,000 homes.
A group launches to connect North Yorkshire businesses and colleges with offshore energy projects.
Developers say the changes to the Scout Moor II scheme follow feedback from residents and consultees.
More than 5,000 people have objected to plans for the 500-megawatt solar farm in North Wiltshire.
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Solar power has undergone a staggering price transformation over the past 25 years. Panels that cost roughly $5 to $6 per watt around 2000 now sell for approximately 12 cents per watt, according to data cited by TechSpot from Ember co-founder Dave Jones. The collapse has helped turn rooftop and commercial solar from a niche technology into a mainstream source of electricity.
The decline has been driven largely by manufacturing scale, technological improvements, and China’s enormous expansion of solar production. Wood Mackenzie estimates that China’s solar manufacturing capacity has reached roughly 1.36 terawatts, creating an enormous supply base for panels deployed worldwide.
The result is visible far beyond traditional solar markets. Global solar generation continues to expand rapidly, with the Energy Institute reporting that solar generation grew by 30% worldwide in 2025. Renewables were also the largest contributor to growth in total energy supply during the year, with solar accounting for 71% of the increase in renewable energy.
Businesses have particularly strong incentives to install panels because their electricity consumption often peaks during daylight hours, when solar production is highest. In Pakistan, for example, Bestway Cement’s plant in Chakwal already gets more than a quarter of its electricity from a 26MW solar installation and plans to add another 6.34MW.
Rooftop solar is also spreading rapidly among households. India has installed panels on more than five million homes through its national rooftop-solar subsidy program, while rooftop capacity in the Philippines has reportedly nearly doubled over 12 months.
But cheap solar creates an awkward problem for electricity utilities. Customers with rooftop panels and batteries can buy far less electricity from the grid while still relying on it at night, during cloudy weather, and whenever their batteries run out. Utilities therefore face falling electricity sales without being able to eliminate the infrastructure needed to keep those customers connected. The technical challenge is just as significant. Solar output can change rapidly as weather conditions shift, while large amounts of rooftop generation can push electricity back into local distribution networks. In regions with high solar penetration, daytime demand can drop sharply, making it harder to balance conventional generators and maintain grid stability.
That does not mean solar is becoming less useful. Instead, falling hardware costs are shifting the industry’s biggest challenges elsewhere. Batteries, improved forecasting, flexible electricity pricing, and upgraded distribution networks are increasingly important as more generation moves from centralized power plants to homes and businesses.
The economics have already changed dramatically. The next phase of the solar revolution may be less about making panels cheaper and more about rebuilding electrical systems to accommodate cheap solar everywhere.
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TechSpot | Financial Times (paywalled)
By 2026-09-20T09:24:00+01:00
Source: Sharma Garages
Energy savings at BP Ward End in Birmingham are ahead of predictions
Sharma Garages is fitting solar panels and battery energy storage across its five sites after reporting savings of more than £12,000 in six months at its first forecourt to install the technology.
The operator says the £12,285 reduction in electricity costs at the pilot BP Ward End site in Birmingham is way ahead of its predictions.
Now, Sharma is encouraging other operators to consider following suit to tackle the high energy costs the industry faces.
When it installed the equipment in March, Sharma estimated it would save around £16,000 in the first year. The actual savings mean the business is already more than three-quarters of the way to its target.
The project, carried out by Leamington Spa-based 3A’S Consultants, combines a 63.6kWp (kilowatt peak) solar PV system on the shop and fuel canopies, with a 200kWh (kilowatt hour) battery energy storage system. It allows Sharma Garages to produce its own power and buy and store cheaper nighttime energy from the grid.
A split-rate energy deal allows the business to download electricity from the grid at a cheaper rate from 12am to 7am, and use that stored power alongside the solar panel electricity to power the sites when electricity is more expensive.
In fact, the battery allows Sharma Garages to operate without drawing electricity from the grid between 4pm and 7pm, demonstrating, it says, “the practical impact of integrating solar generation, battery storage and intelligent energy management”.
The results have given the business confidence to introduce the solar panel/battery storage combination at its other sites: Stourbridge and Sutton Coldfield are live now and Wolverhampton will follow. Also, it says that in 2027 it will introduce battery storage at Stoke, which had solar panels fitted two years ago during a knockdown rebuild.
At a cost of around £100,000 per site, the company expects to get payback within four or five years. Sharma urges other operators of forecourts – which tend to be energy-intensive – to consider tapping into “the commercial potential of combining on-site renewable generation with intelligent battery storage”.
By reducing reliance on grid electricity, it says, operators will be taking greater control over their energy consumption at a time when the industry faces further energy cost increases.
Installing a substantial energy system at live forecourts requires careful planning. Customer access, vehicle movements, staff activity, and the day-to-day operation of the site all needed to continue safely throughout the works.
Managing director Kumar Sharma says: “The wider rollout represents an important investment in the future of the business, with the potential to deliver substantial energy savings across the Sharma Garages estate while further reducing dependence on grid electricity.”
“Solar PV and battery storage are no longer simply technologies for the future. At Sharma Garages, the success of BP Ward End has demonstrated their commercial value today — and provided the confidence to extend those benefits across the wider business.”
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Commenters also noted that tariff choice matters just as much as the hardware itself.
Photo Credit: iStock
A U.K. resident comparing home solar setups dug into a very specific question: For a house with an air-source heat pump, two electric vehicles, and no gas connection, how important is home solar battery sizing?
After running the numbers on two storage sizes — 14.6 kilowatt-hours versus 17.5 kilowatt-hours — the answer was that the small capacity system might be worth buying, since the extra cost of the larger battery doesn’t pay for itself financially.
In a Reddit post, the homeowner ran a detailed financial and energy model using their personal smart meter data.
The homeowner said they got cheap electricity through a special EV tariff called Intelligent Octopus Go. But their goal is to install solar panels and a home battery so they can charge the battery with cheap overnight power and run the house off the battery when power gets too expensive.
Option A is the bigger battery at £13,500 ($18,080) for 17.5 units of power; Option B is a slightly smaller battery at 14.6 units of power for £12,275 ($16,439).
Their calculations found that the extra storage space with the bigger battery would only save the house £10 ($13) to £40 ($54) a year, and it would take them over 30 years to make back the extra £1,225 ($1,640) difference between the two batteries.
Plus, neither battery survives the deep winter. The only downside to going smaller is the battery would have to work harder, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will wear down faster than the big battery.
For homeowners weighing similar choices, adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and move closer to going off-grid. If you’re comparing systems, EnergySage can help you explore home battery storage options and competitive installation estimates, and EnergySage has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions. Another option is Pila, whose plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of what a whole-home backup system would cost.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
Pulling smart-meter data, separating EV charging from household demand, and modeling winter usage can show whether a few extra kilowatt-hours are financially meaningful or mostly emotional insurance.
If the priority is reducing energy bills, the homeowner’s analysis suggests the final few kWh may offer the least value. If the priority is resilience, comfort, or avoiding the need to constantly watch battery levels in winter, a larger system could still make sense.
Households that want backup power without committing to a full-home system may also find lower-cost options useful, especially as prices and product types continue to diversify.
Commenters also noted that tariff choice matters just as much as the hardware itself. A well-matched battery can perform differently depending on time-of-use plans, export tariffs, and EV charging deals, meaning the ideal system size may depend as much on the utility plan as the roof.
These stories dig into home batteries, community storage, and what rooftop solar can cost — and save — homeowners.
• German battery maker sonnen is building what could be the first virtual power plant for homes.
• In England, residents funded the U.K.’s first community-owned battery to store surplus solar power.
• Former EnergySage president Charlie Hadlow broke down the mystery of solar costs for homeowners.
• An energy professional shared a home upgrade that can save homeowners up to $62,000 over 25 years.
• An energy expert said investing in solar panels can mean free electricity for decades.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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One of the biggest remaining challenges, however, is durability.
Photo Credit: iStock
A team of researchers believes that one small materials swap could make perovskite solar cells more practical by replacing a relatively thick tin oxide buffer with an aluminum oxide film just 3 nanometers thick.
If the approach holds up under further testing, it could help future solar devices deliver more power with less material while better protecting delicate cell components.
According to pv magazine, the proposed inverted perovskite design uses a thin aluminum oxide (AlOₓ) film at the point where the C₆₀ electron transport layer meets the sputtered indium tin oxide contact. The researchers say the atomic-layer-deposited buffer both protects the perovskite and lowers charge recombination at that interface.
Stephanie Essig, the study’s corresponding author, told pv magazine: “The novelty of this research lies in demonstrating that the conventional 10 nm to 20 nm thick SnO₂ buffer layer, typically used to prevent sputter damage, can be replaced by a much thinner, yet more uniform AlOₓ layer.”
For the tests, the researchers made semi-transparent inverted perovskite solar cells with AlOₓ films that were 1.5 nm, 3 nm, 5 nm, 8 nm, and 15 nm thick. They compared the results with both buffer-free devices and reference cells that used SnOₓ layers of 3 nm, 10 nm, and 20 nm.
They also evaluated how the fabrication process affected results by comparing deposition temperatures of 167°F (75 C) and 176°F (80 C), while refining the technique with a repeated water-pulse sequence.
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Perovskite solar cells have drawn major interest because they could be cheaper and easier to manufacture than some conventional solar technologies. One of the biggest remaining challenges, however, is durability, especially when sensitive layers are exposed to manufacturing steps that can damage them.
A thinner protective layer that still allows efficient charge extraction could simplify device design while helping the cells maintain strong performance. “It was surprising to find that a 3 nm thick AlOₓ layer allows efficient charge-carrier extraction across the C₆₀/ITO interface,” Essig said.
More efficient, stable cells can generate more electricity from the same surface area, making the technology valuable for homes, offices, and urban buildings with limited roof or facade space.
Broader adoption of improved solar technology could also reduce reliance on pollution-producing energy sources, which may help improve air quality and lower health risks associated with dirty energy.
The study examined several aluminum oxide thicknesses, measured how changing the process temperature affected performance, and compared the new buffer against the tin oxide layers commonly used to guard against sputter damage.
According to pv magazine, the top inverted cell began with a glass and indium tin oxide substrate coated with a Me-4PACz hole-selective layer and silicon oxide nanoparticles. The stack also included the perovskite absorber, an approximately 1.4-nm aluminum oxide interlayer, and a 20-nm C₆₀ electron-transport layer, followed by a 25-nm atomic-layer-deposited tin oxide layer and a 130-nm silver electrode. Finally, a 100-nm lithium fluoride coating served as an antireflective layer on the glass.
As researchers improve performance and reduce material thickness, it could open the door to more versatile solar products, especially in applications where lightweight or semi-transparent designs are useful.
The team is focused on refining the process and proving the devices can last. As Essig put it: “We plan to further optimize the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) sputtering process to mitigate sputter damage, alongside extended stability testing of device performance.”
These stories look at battery-manufacturing coatings, emerging electric vehicle battery chemistries, and breakthroughs in aluminum recycling.
• At the University of Chicago, researchers achieved a novel battery electrolyte that could aid EVs.
• Scientists found a way to turn recycled aluminum foil into useful nanoparticles.
• At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, researchers transformed scrap metal into advanced aluminum materials with a new process.
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Electricity generation from non-conventional renewable energies in Peru grew 20% in the first half of 2026 BNamericas
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by WRGB Staff
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.Y. (WRGB) — A major solar project proposed in Montgomery County is no longer moving forward.
Flat Creek Solar, a 300-megawatt project planned in the towns of Root and Canajoharie, has formally relinquished its state siting permit, which was issued in April.
The decision comes after years of pushback from some local residents and county leaders, who argued the company did not fully study the impacts the 3,000-acre facility would have on the community.
Earlier this year, the county filed lawsuits against the state and the developer, claiming local laws were not followed during the approval process.
CBS6 reached out to the developer to ask why it decided to walk away from the project, but has not yet received a response.
MORE: State goals, Local impacts: Inside the fight over where large-scale solar should go in NY
PREVIOUS: Plans for massive 300 MW solar farm in Montgomery County blindside residents
2026 Sinclair, Inc.
Monday, September 21, 2026
An abundance of rooftop solar generation has helped set a new record high for the total share of renewables on Australia’s main grid, reaching nearly 80 per cent on a sunny Friday afternoon in Spring.
Data on OpenElectricity.org says the share of renewable energy on the National Electricity Market (NEM) hit 79.5 per cent at 1.30 pm on Friday September 18, beating the previous high – as measured by the Australian Energy Market Operator – of 78.6 per cent recorded nearly a year earlier at 11.30 am on Saturday October 11, 2025.
The record is based on 30-minute intervals, as is the measure used by the Australian Energy Market Operator – but there have been suggestions that the share in renewables went as high as 80.1 per cent according to 5-minute data.
At the time of the 1.30pm record, there was a total of 26,316 megawatts (MW) of renewables powering the NEM, compared to just over 2,000 MW of fossil fuels.
Rooftop solar was supplying nearly half of all generation at the time of the record – at a 47.9 per cent share – followed by 22.1 per cent from utility-scale solar. Brown and black coal, combined, held roughly 20 per cent of the mix.
Gas, meanwhile, was barely there, contributing a total of less than 1 per cent to the generation mix at the time of the record.
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Sophie is editor of Renew Economy and editor of its sister site, One Step Off The Grid . She is the co-host of the Solar Insiders Podcast. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.
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A staff member works inside a water-saving photovoltaic greenhouse in Hongsibu District of Wuzhong, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2026. Based on local agricultural conditions, farmers in Hongsibu District have built photovoltaic greenhouses, integrating photovoltaic power generation, intelligent temperature control, and precision water-saving technologies. (Xinhua/Liu Yun)
A staff member works inside a water-saving photovoltaic greenhouse in Hongsibu District of Wuzhong, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2026. Based on local agricultural conditions, farmers in Hongsibu District have built photovoltaic greenhouses, integrating photovoltaic power generation, intelligent temperature control, and precision water-saving technologies. (Xinhua/Liu Yun)
A staff member checks on photovoltaic panels outside water-saving photovoltaic greenhouses in Hongsibu District of Wuzhong, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2026. Based on local agricultural conditions, farmers in Hongsibu District have built photovoltaic greenhouses, integrating photovoltaic power generation, intelligent temperature control, and precision water-saving technologies. (Xinhua/Liu Yun)
A staff member works inside a water-saving photovoltaic greenhouse in Hongsibu District of Wuzhong, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2026. Based on local agricultural conditions, farmers in Hongsibu District have built photovoltaic greenhouses, integrating photovoltaic power generation, intelligent temperature control, and precision water-saving technologies. (Xinhua/Liu Yun)
Georgia Power it received authorization to add 1.14 GW of new solar power capacity through agreements linked to seven projects that will begin commercial operations starting in 2029. The facilities will be distributed across different counties in Georgia and will be part of the company’s strategy to expand its renewable generation portfolio, meet the electricity needs of its customers, and add resources with long-term fixed prices under the CARES programs.
The Public Utilities Commission of Georgia (PSC) authorized Georgia Power to formalize power purchase agreements that will add approximately 1.14 GW of new solar capacity to its generation portfolio, the contracts were awarded through the CARES 2023 and CARES 2025 requests for proposals. With these additions, the company seeks to expand the availability of renewable resources to meet the electricity demand of its customers in Georgia.
Georgia Power highlighted that the contract awarded under the 2023 CARES Act represents the company’s largest single solar energy acquisition to date, the seven projects will be located in Appling, Decatur, Emanuel, Irwin, Jefferson, Sumter, and Warren counties. According to the projected schedule, the facilities will begin commercial operation in 2029.
The CARES program was jointly developed by Georgia Power and the Georgia PSC as a mechanism to expand access to renewable energy generation. Its structure allows eligible customers to acquire a stake tied to the production of energy from these resources. Wilson Mallard, Georgia Power’s director of renewable energy development, explained that the new projects will provide electricity at a fixed price and will become part of the company’s generation portfolio.
According to Mallard, the authorization incorporates more than 1,100 MW of renewable resources, the company expects this capacity to contribute to providing affordable and reliable energy to its customers for years to come. This decision builds on solar contracting that had already received regulatory approval. In September 2025, the PSC approved 1.07 GW of solar projects under the CARES 2023 program, with planned installations in Coffee, Jefferson, Laurens, Mitchell, and Wilkinson counties.
Georgia Power it is also expanding its renewable energy strategy through competitive bidding processes and programs that allow for more direct customer participation, among these initiatives is CARES Customer Identified Resource (CARES CIR), a scheme with a potential authorized capacity of up to 3 GW.
The program allows eligible commercial and industrial customers to identify renewable energy projects for consideration under the CARES Act subscription program. The structure includes projects and participation levels of varying scales to meet diverse consumption needs. This solar expansion coincides with increased electricity demand in Georgia. The PSC also recently approved a company agreement to supply electricity for OpenAI’s planned project in Effingham County.
With the seven newly authorized projects, Georgia Power continues to expand a renewable portfolio based on competitive contracts, subscription programs, and projects proposed by commercial and industrial customers.
Source: Brixen
Photo: Shutterstock
Moises Carrasquero is a mechanical engineer and writer specializing in technology, engineering, and industrial development, with a focus on the advancements that are transforming these sectors. My goal is to turn complex technical information into clear, accurate, and relevant journalistic content.
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According to the latest IndexBox report on the global Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The World Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8–12% from 2026 to 2035, reaching a market index of 245 (2025=100). This growth is primarily driven by the accelerating deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which account for an estimated 65–75% of global demand. Utility-scale solar installations, supported by renewable energy targets across major economies, represent the largest and fastest-growing subsegment. Additionally, industrial automation, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing sectors are adopting modular aluminum framing systems for their lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and precision-machined properties.
The market is characterized by a concentrated supply of raw extrusions in China and Southeast Asia, while value-added processing is increasingly regionalized to meet local certification and compliance requirements. Key trends include a shift toward premium coated profiles, integrated system purchases, and digital specification platforms. However, aluminum price volatility, certification fragmentation, and extended lead times pose challenges. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of market size, segmentation, supply chain, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035, offering actionable insights for stakeholders across the value chain.
The baseline scenario for the World Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market anticipates robust growth from 2026 to 2035, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8–12%. This outlook is anchored in the sustained expansion of solar PV capacity, which remains the dominant demand driver, accounting for 65–75% of global consumption. Utility-scale solar projects, particularly in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, are expected to lead volume growth, supported by government renewable energy mandates and declining solar levelized cost of electricity.
The industrial automation and semiconductor sectors will also contribute, albeit at a slower pace, as capital expenditure cycles recover and modular framing gains traction over traditional steel structures. Supply-side dynamics indicate that raw extrusion capacity will remain concentrated in China and Southeast Asia, but regional value-added processing will grow to satisfy local content and certification requirements. Pricing is expected to remain volatile due to aluminum ingot price fluctuations, though premium coated profiles will command higher margins. The market index is forecast to reach 245 by 2035 (2025=100), reflecting a 2.45x expansion over the decade.
Key risks include trade policy shifts, certification bottlenecks, and substitution by alternative materials, but the overall trajectory remains upward.
The solar PV mounting segment is the largest and fastest-growing end-use for aluminum rail mounting profiles, accounting for an estimated 65–75% of global demand. This dominance is rooted in the material’s favorable strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ease of extrusion into precise T-slot and custom profiles. Currently, utility-scale solar farms are the primary volume driver, particularly in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, where renewable energy targets and falling module costs spur capacity additions. Through 2035, demand will be further propelled by the need for durable mounting structures capable of withstanding 25–30 year service life, often in harsh environments.
Premium coated profiles, such as anodized or PVDF-coated, are gaining share to meet warranty requirements. Demand-side indicators include solar installation rates, module efficiency improvements (which reduce the number of rails per MW), and the shift toward tracker systems that require more complex profiles. The segment’s growth is also supported by the increasing adoption of bifacial modules and agrivoltaics, which demand elevated or specialized mounting. However, aluminum price volatility and certification costs remain challenges. Overall, the solar PV segment will continue to dominate, with demand growing in lockstep with global solar capacity, projected to expand at a CAGR of 10–14% through 2035.
Current trend: Growing rapidly, driven by utility-scale and distributed solar installations worldwide..
Major trends: Shift toward premium coated and corrosion-resistant profiles for extended warranty, Growing adoption of tracker systems requiring specialized profiles, Increasing use of integrated mounting solutions with pre-assembled components, Regionalization of supply chains to meet local content requirements, and Digital specification platforms and BIM data becoming standard.
Representative participants: Hydro Extrusion, Arconic Corporation, Constellium SE, Norsk Hydro ASA, and China Zhongwang Holdings.
Industrial automation and instrumentation represent the second-largest end-use sector for aluminum rail mounting profiles, with an estimated share of 10–15%. These profiles are integral to building modular machine guards, workstations, conveyor systems, and robotic cells, where their lightweight, rigid, and easily reconfigurable nature enhances flexibility and reduces downtime. Currently, demand is driven by the ongoing automation of manufacturing processes across automotive, electronics, and food and beverage industries. Through 2035, growth will be supported by the proliferation of collaborative robots, Industry 4.0 initiatives, and the need for agile production lines that can be quickly reconfigured.
Demand-side indicators include industrial robot installations, manufacturing PMI, and automation capital expenditure. The segment is also benefiting from the trend toward integrated system purchases, where profiles are bought as part of pre-engineered framing kits. However, competition from steel and composite profiles persists in heavy-duty applications. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6–8%, with increasing demand for precision profiles that accommodate sensors, cable management, and pneumatic lines. Major companies in this space include profile system manufacturers and automation solution providers. Current trend: Steady growth, supported by automation capex and modular framing adoption..
Major trends: Rising adoption of modular framing for flexible manufacturing, Integration of sensors and cable management into profile designs, Growth in collaborative robot installations requiring lightweight structures, Shift toward pre-assembled kits and integrated systems, and Increasing demand for cleanroom-compatible profiles in electronics manufacturing.
Representative participants: Bosch Rexroth, Item Industrietechnik, Festo, Parker Hannifin, and SMC Corporation.
The electronics and optical systems sector accounts for an estimated 6–10% of aluminum rail mounting profile demand. These profiles are used in the construction of equipment frames, enclosures, and mounting structures for sensitive electronic components, optical benches, and testing apparatus. The key demand driver is the need for vibration damping, thermal stability, and precise dimensional tolerances to ensure the performance and longevity of electronic and optical devices. Currently, demand is concentrated in regions with strong electronics manufacturing bases, such as Asia-Pacific and North America.
Through 2035, growth will be fueled by the expansion of 5G infrastructure, data centers, and advanced optical communication systems, which require robust and precise mounting solutions. Demand-side indicators include semiconductor equipment spending, data center construction, and R&D expenditure in photonics. The segment is also seeing a shift toward custom extrusions that integrate cable routing and shielding. However, the relatively small volume compared to solar and automation limits its overall impact. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5–7%, with increasing demand for profiles that meet cleanroom and ESD requirements. Major companies include electronics OEMs and their contract manufacturers.
Current trend: Moderate growth, driven by precision and vibration damping requirements..
Major trends: Growing demand for vibration-damping profiles in precision equipment, Integration of cable management and shielding features, Rising use of aluminum profiles in data center infrastructure, Increasing adoption of custom extrusions for optical benches, and Shift toward cleanroom-compatible and ESD-safe profiles.
Representative participants: Applied Materials, ASML, Tokyo Electron, Lam Research, and KLA Corporation.
The semiconductor and precision manufacturing sector represents an estimated 5–8% of aluminum rail mounting profile demand. These profiles are critical in the construction of cleanroom environments, wafer handling systems, and precision tooling, where tight tolerances, low outgassing, and corrosion resistance are paramount. Currently, demand is driven by the global expansion of semiconductor fabrication capacity, particularly in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, as governments and companies invest in chip sovereignty.
Through 2035, growth will be supported by the transition to smaller process nodes, which requires increasingly precise and stable mounting structures, as well as the rise of advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration. Demand-side indicators include semiconductor equipment spending, fab construction, and wafer fab equipment (WFE) forecasts. The segment demands high-precision profiles, often with specialized surface treatments to prevent particle generation. However, the high certification burden and long qualification cycles limit the number of qualified suppliers. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7–9%, outpacing general industrial growth. Major companies include semiconductor equipment manufacturers and their suppliers.
Current trend: Growing steadily, driven by tight tolerance and cleanroom requirements..
Major trends: Increasing demand for ultra-precision profiles with tight tolerances, Growth in cleanroom-compatible and low-outgassing profiles, Rising adoption of modular framing in fab construction, Shift toward integrated systems with embedded sensors, and Expansion of semiconductor capacity driving new fab projects.
Representative participants: Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, ASM International, and Screen Holdings.
The OEM integration and maintenance sector accounts for an estimated 3–5% of aluminum rail mounting profile demand. This segment encompasses profiles used by original equipment manufacturers for integrating components into machinery, as well as aftermarket demand for replacement parts and maintenance. Currently, demand is driven by the need for standardized, repeatable mounting solutions that reduce assembly time and ensure compatibility across equipment generations. Through 2035, growth will be supported by the aging installed base of industrial machinery and solar installations, which requires replacement profiles and consumables.
Demand-side indicators include industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) spending, and the average age of installed equipment. The segment is also benefiting from the trend toward modular design, which facilitates easier maintenance and upgrades. However, demand is relatively inelastic and tied to overall economic activity. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4–6%, with increasing demand for profiles that are easy to install and compatible with existing systems. Major companies include distributors and MRO suppliers. Current trend: Stable growth, supported by replacement demand and standardized mounting..
Major trends: Growing demand for replacement profiles from aging installations, Shift toward standardized mounting for easier maintenance, Increasing use of e-commerce platforms for aftermarket parts, Rising adoption of modular designs for upgradability, and Expansion of MRO services in emerging markets.
Representative participants: Fastenal, Grainger, RS Components, Misumi Group, and Bosch Rexroth.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Asia-Pacific leads both production and consumption, driven by massive solar PV installations in China and India, plus a strong electronics and semiconductor manufacturing base. China alone accounts for over 40% of global demand, with utility-scale solar projects and industrial automation fueling growth. Supply chain concentration in China and Southeast Asia ensures regional dominance through 2035. Direction: Dominant and growing.
North America is a key market, with the U.S. driving demand through utility-scale solar farms and reshoring of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. The region is also a hub for industrial automation, with high adoption of modular framing. However, reliance on imports for raw extrusions and certification requirements shape the competitive landscape. Direction: Growing steadily.
Europe’s demand is supported by ambitious renewable energy targets, particularly in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, as well as a strong industrial automation sector. The region emphasizes premium coated profiles and sustainability, with local certification (TÜV, IEC) driving value-added processing. Growth will be steady but tempered by market maturity. Direction: Moderate growth.
Latin America is an emerging market, with Brazil and Chile leading solar PV deployments and industrial automation adoption. Demand is expected to grow as renewable energy auctions and manufacturing investments increase. However, economic volatility and reliance on imports may constrain faster expansion. Direction: Emerging growth.
The Middle East & Africa region shows niche growth, primarily driven by large-scale solar projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Industrial automation demand is nascent but growing. The region relies heavily on imports, with limited local extrusion capacity, but presents opportunities for suppliers as solar capacity expands. Direction: Niche growth.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 10.0% compound annual growth rate for the global aluminum rail mounting profiles market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 245 by 2035 (2025=100).
Note: indexed curves are used to compare medium-term scenario trajectories when full absolute volumes are not publicly disclosed.
For full methodological details and benchmark tables, see the latest IndexBox Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market in the world, covering market size, growth trajectory, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035.
The study is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, investors, procurement teams, advisors, and strategy teams that need a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers the market for aluminum rail mounting profiles, which are extruded aluminum sections designed for constructing modular framing systems, machine guards, workstations, and automation structures. The analysis encompasses profiles used across industrial automation, electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, and OEM integration, including standard T-slot profiles, custom extrusions, and associated structural components.
The report combines the standard market-statistics backbone with strategic chapters that are useful for commercial planning, sourcing decisions, market entry, competitor monitoring, and portfolio prioritization.
The market is segmented into decision-relevant buckets so that demand drivers, pricing logic, supply constraints, and competitive positions can be compared across the same analytical frame.
The classification coverage includes aluminum rail mounting profiles categorized by product type (standard profiles, components and modules, integrated systems, consumables and replacement parts), by application (industrial automation, electronics and optical systems, semiconductor and precision manufacturing, OEM integration and maintenance), and by value chain segment (upstream inputs, manufacturing and assembly, distribution and integration, after-sales service and lifecycle support).
Coverage includes global totals, major demand markets, production and sourcing hubs, leading exporters and importers, and country profiles for the top national markets.
The report combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, product-level evidence, and analyst validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to keep market sizing, trade flows, pricing, and forecasts comparable across countries and time periods.
All indicators are mapped to a consistent product definition and reviewed against the segmentation framework used in the Table of Contents.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
Leading supplier of aluminum rail profiles for automation
Pioneer in aluminum framing and rail mounting
Global distributor of industrial aluminum rails
Offers T-slot and rail mounting profiles
Major producer of mounting rails and systems
Specialist in modular aluminum rail systems
Known for precision rail profiles for automation
Distributor and fabricator of mounting rails
Produces rail profiles for solar and industrial use
Major supplier of standard and custom rail profiles
Legacy brand, integrated into Hydro Extrusions
Supplies rail profiles for transport and industry
Produces mounting profiles for various sectors
Offers rail profiles for industrial applications
Historical producer, now limited to specific profiles
Specialist in mounting rails and linear guides
Produces custom rail mounting profiles
Offers rail systems for HVAC and industrial use
Competitor in T-slot and rail mounting profiles
Regional producer of mounting rails
Major Chinese producer of industrial rail profiles
Supplies mounting rails globally
Produces rail profiles for transport and machinery
Specialist in small-batch mounting rails
Focuses on tight-tolerance rail profiles
European producer of rail systems
Offers mounting profiles for solar and automation
Distributor of standard rail mounting profiles
Known for high-precision mounting rails
Italian producer of rail mounting profiles
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Trina Storage, the utility-scale energy storage unit of Trinasolar, will supply its Elementa DC-coupled storage solution for Stage One of Frontier Energy’s Waroona Renewable Energy Project, located around 120 km south of Perth. The project pairs 132 MW of solar with an 81.5 MW/6.9-hour BESS. First generation is targeted for 2028.
The battery will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells produced at Trina’s Changzhou plant, with liquid cooling and fire safety systems including heat, gas and smoke detection and active fire suppression. The system will be DC-coupled, allowing the battery to draw directly from the solar array’s DC output before conversion to AC – a design Trina said adds engineering complexity but can reduce clipped solar generation and conversion losses.
According to CIS Tender 6 documentation and Frontier Energy disclosures, Stage One was awarded storage revenue support through Australia’s federal Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) after being selected in the program’s sixth tender round. According to separate Frontier Energy financing announcements, the company announced a conditional AUD 110 million ($78.4 million) equity placement and up to approximately AUD 280 million in credit-approved debt facilities during 2026, which Frontier said were expected to cover construction and commissioning costs.
Warrick Stapleton, head of sales for the Asia-Pacific region at Trina Storage, said the company worked closely with Frontier throughout procurement to align its technology with the project’s requirements. The agreement includes a 20-year warranty and performance guarantees, which Stapleton said would support the project’s long-term operation and financing.
“As Western Australia continues its energy transition, projects such as Waroona will play an increasingly important role in providing reliable, dispatchable capacity to the South West Interconnected System,” Stapleton said.
Adam Kiley, chief executive of Frontier Energy, said Stage One forms the foundation of a broader development strategy for the site. Frontier’s longer-term plans for Waroona target as much as 1,000 MW of solar generation and 660 MW of battery storage by 2031, according to the company’s Australian Securities Exchange filings, though later stages remain subject to further feasibility studies, approvals and network-access work with Western Power.
According to CIS Tender 6 project listings and related project disclosures, Waroona’s approximately 565 MWh battery is smaller than several other storage projects awarded through the same tender round, including the 200 MW/1,518 MWh Collie Battery and Solar Hybrid Project and Neoen’s 200 MW/1,600 MWh Yathroo Battery. Frontier’s initial feasibility material had described an earlier, smaller configuration for Waroona – 120 MWdc of solar paired with an 80 MW/380 MWh battery.
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It’s estimated that households may pay roughly $82 more than they did last winter.
Photo Credit: iStock
National Fuel customers in New York will see an increase in their monthly bills beginning in October.
The higher bills are tied to the last delivery-rate adjustment approved for 2024, though the utility said lower natural gas supply costs should lessen part of the effect, WGRZ reported.
This will be the third and final rate hike from the 2024-approved increase, according to WGRZ. National Fuel says lower natural gas supply costs should offset the hike, and no further delivery rate increases are expected to hit for the next two years.
This comes as U.S. heating costs are projected to rise nearly 9% this upcoming winter, driven mainly by higher electricity and heating oil prices. It’s estimated that households may pay roughly $82 more than they did last winter, WGRZ reported.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy over time. Homeowners who want to explore that option can use EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
Reducing waste at home and finding ways to lower energy dependence are among the most immediate steps consumers can take as higher gas bills arrive.
Sealing drafts, improving insulation, and using smart thermostat settings can help reduce heating demand, even if they do not fully offset a rate increase.
EnergySage offers free services that can make it easier to compare solar options without having to guess whether a quote is competitive. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, as well as details on solar panel incentives for each state, and together these resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
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Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. It can also help households rely less on the grid when electricity is most expensive. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
These articles look at New York climate legislation, federal methane rules, coal plant costs, and national power generation trends.
• In New York, lawmakers moved to make polluters pay for environmental damages.
• In Washington, the Senate blocked a methane rule critics said would raise energy costs.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
• Across the U.S., utilities are keeping old coal plants alive at consumers’ expense.
• In West Virginia, decades-old coal units are impacting consumers after 50 years of operation.
• Nationwide, EIA data shows wind and solar produced more electricity than coal.
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NSW moves on solar recycling Manufacturers’ Monthly
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“This is why you should really get a solar PV system checked regularly.”
Photo Credit: YouTube
The trouble at a United Kingdom care home’s solar installation extended well beyond a malfunctioning inverter. After one unit caught fire twice, electricians who examined the system said the site’s costly attempt to reduce energy bills was marred by a range of installation flaws that raised serious safety concerns.
The inspection pointed to several possible problem areas, not a single failed piece of equipment. In a YouTube video, U.K. electricians from Artisan Electrics (@artisanelectrics) said they were brought in after the care home experienced two inverter fires and found loose MC4 connectors, missing DC isolators on two of the three inverters, poor cable labeling, and other defects that could make servicing harder and increase danger.
Although the array is large — 228 panels at 445 watts each, for roughly 101 kilowatts peak, along with three 30-kilowatt inverters — it has not erased the facility’s steep electricity costs. Artisan Electrics said the care home’s heavy use of power for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances still leaves it paying thousands per month.
One of the biggest concerns was handling DC electricity during the inverter replacement. The electricians said the unit that burned was swapped out before proper DC isolation was available, so workers reportedly had to cut live cables while arcing was visible. They also said the replacement inverter was never fully commissioned, which meant the customer could not effectively monitor system performance.
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Going solar is still one of the best ways to save money on home energy over time. If you’re considering panels for your home, you can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes from vetted installers.
Poor workmanship can undermine both the financial and environmental benefits of a system that should otherwise reduce utility bills and lower pollution.
The electricians also reviewed an older feed-in tariff-era solar system on the care home property, which they said had produced about 159,000 kilowatt-hours over its lifetime. In their view, that earlier installation appeared to include safety measures missing from the newer one, showing that newer equipment is not automatically better when the work itself is poorly done.
Artisan Electrics said the owner is also weighing an expansion that could include solar over carports, battery storage, and possibly a solar fence on south-facing land. For a property with high electricity use day and night, those additions could store more daytime generation for overnight use and reduce power drawn from the grid.
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Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Solar can be a smart investment, but vetting installers, getting multiple quotes, and making sure systems are properly labeled, monitored, and safely isolated is essential.
If a system is already in place, periodic professional inspections can help catch wear, loose connections, and other hazards before they become costly or dangerous.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages and save on energy costs. It can also help households go off-grid for longer by storing extra power for when the sun isn’t shining. To compare home battery storage options, you can explore EnergySage for information, including competitive installation estimates.
EnergySage’s free services can also make buying solar much easier to navigate. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state, helping consumers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
As one electrician said while inspecting a loose connector on the care home’s system, “This should not be spinning like that,” then later added, “This is why you should really get a solar PV system checked regularly.”
The care home’s fire and installation problems are part of a broader set of solar issues, from misleading sales pitches to neighborhood fights and confusion about how the technology works. They also raise a bigger question about how projects are planned and installed so they deliver savings safely while serving other community goals.
• Across Australia, homeowners were targeted with bogus “free” solar panel ads online.
• In Nebraska, homeowners faced a battle with their HOA over rooftop solar panels.
• Across Europe, developers are pursuing nature-inclusive solar parks that can also support biodiversity.
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Sunshine is never in short supply in the high-altitude deserts of northern Argentina. In Jujuy province, all that abundant solar energy is now being put to an unusual use.
Locomotion.
The Tren Solar de la Quebrada is Latin America’s first solar-powered railway, running 42 kilometres through the Andes on state-of-the-art technology and batteries charged with locally generated solar energy.
The train connects six towns in Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed valley that has served as a route through the Andes for thousands of years. Launched in 2024, it was designed in part to bring tourists to communities along the valley – and more significantly, without adding the emissions of a diesel train.
Despite its name, the Tren Solar does not generate electricity from photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on its roof.
The two-car train is instead powered by six lithium batteries, which are charged using solar power generated in Jujuy. When it brakes, some of the motion is also converted back into electricity and stored in the batteries for later use.
According to the operator, the batteries give the train a range of between 100 and 120 kilometres – more than twice the length of its current route.
Two fast-charging points at Volcán and Purmamarca allow operators to recharge along the way. A third is planned for the northern terminus at Tilcara too.
This battery-powered system allows the train to run without diesel – or even the overhead electrical lines typically used by electric railways.
So far, the new service has been a hit.
When it launched in June 2024, the Tren Solar brought passenger rail back to Quebrada de Humahuaca for the first time in 30 years. Since then, more than 90,000 people have taken the train, according to the Jujuy government.
South America isn’t the only region upgrading its rail services and weaning them off fossil fuels.
Almost 58 per cent of the EU’s railway network was electrified in 2024, according to Eurostat, the bloc’s’s statistical office.
Since 2017, Dutch rail operator NS has bought enough renewable electricity to match the amount used by its trains each year. Since 2025, the mix of renewables has included both wind and solar power.
In Switzerland, meanwhile, start-up Sun-Ways installed 48 solar panels between the rails on a 100-metre stretch of active track in Buttes in 2025. The pilot project generated around 16,000 kWh during its first year, roughly enough electricity to power four or five European homes for a year.
Sun-Ways has also signed an agreement with Italian railway infrastructure company GCF to explore installing the system in Italy.
For railways that can’t plug into an existing electric network like they can in Europe, however, Argentina’s tourist train could offer a promising alternative. In places graced with abundant sunshine, the power to leave diesel behind may already be there.
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Coal-to-Solar Project Approved for Southeastern Ohio Columbus Underground
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This is a new round of price hikes following the implementation of the anti-involution initiative (a self-discipline agreement promising that the selling price will not be lower than the full cost) signed by 8 polysilicon enterprises in the upstream photovoltaic industry. However, the order window that can accommodate this round of price increases is closing. Several large power generation groups are the largest buyers of the aforementioned modules, which conduct centralized bidding for their annual consumption, with a single procurement volume reaching several gigawatts (GW, 1 GW equals 1 million kilowatts).
In late August, photovoltaic module manufacturers collectively raised their quoted prices. A month later, the momentum of this round of price hikes is weakening.
On August 25, a leading photovoltaic module manufacturer raised the quoted price of mainstream N-type (the current mainstream high-efficiency technical route) modules by RMB 0.01 to 0.04 per watt.
On the same day, according to the research of DataBM New Energy, JinkoSolar Co., Ltd. (688223.SH, hereinafter referred to as “JinkoSolar”), Canadian Solar Inc. (688472.SH, hereinafter referred to as “Canadian Solar”), GCL Integrated Technology Co., Ltd. (002506.SZ, hereinafter referred to as “GCL Integrated”), and Shenzhen Skyworth Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Skyworth Photovoltaic”) have raised the quoted prices of their mainstream N-type modules, with an increase of RMB 0.01 to 0.04 per watt as well.
This is a new round of price hikes following the implementation of the anti-involution initiative (a self-discipline agreement promising that the selling price will not be lower than the full cost) signed by 8 polysilicon enterprises in the upstream photovoltaic industry.
However, the order window that can accommodate this round of price increases is closing. Several large power generation groups are the largest buyers of the aforementioned modules, which conduct centralized bidding for their annual consumption, with a single procurement volume reaching several gigawatts (GW, 1 GW equals 1 million kilowatts).
The bidding for such large annual orders is usually finalized at the beginning of the year or in the first half of the year, with the price and scale locked in at one time. By the time this round of price hikes landed in August, the orders in their hands had already been settled at the old prices. In other words, the large buyers that account for the majority of demand have left the market in advance, and the space left for this round of price hikes to be realized is getting narrower and narrower.
In mid-September, although the public quoted prices of leading manufacturers have not loosened, the transaction prices have quietly dropped. Second- and third-tier enterprises took the lead in cutting prices, and some special-priced modules returned to around RMB 0.65 per watt.
A business leader of a leading photovoltaic module manufacturer told the reporter of Economic Observer that this pricing refers to the reference cost given by the General Rules for Cost Accounting Model of Photovoltaic Industry (a group standard led by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, which provides a unified standard for industry cost accounting), and is also based on its own full cost (the cost line covering all expenses such as depreciation, labor, and finance). This price hike is also aimed at reversing losses.
After the price adjustment letter was issued, his enterprise followed the industry to raise prices synchronously. A few days passed, the figures on the quotation sheet were changed, but the price benchmark in the customer’s bidding system remained at the original level. The person in charge said that many customers are now coming to negotiate with the price increase notice, hoping that the bidding will still follow the previous price benchmark, and some are even pressing for lower prices.
Li, the person in charge of an energy storage system integrator in East China, also has such a contract in hand: for the low-price independent energy storage (a standalone energy storage power station constructed and operated separately) project that his company previously took over, he dared not continue to deliver goods according to the original contract, because the contract price was locked, but the cost of upstream cells (the battery unit of the energy storage system) rebounded, and strictly performing the contract would lose money for every 1MWh (megawatt-hour, the unit of energy storage capacity) delivered.
Li repeatedly negotiated with the owner, who had sufficient alternative suppliers and refused to accept the price increase. Finally, they reached an agreement to extend the payment period and add free operation and maintenance services. Li’s company sacrificed its own profits to keep the project running. Li said that the upstream photovoltaic industry is calling for price increases, but the end market does not accept it, which is highly similar to the situation of the energy storage industry. The core logic of the two is similar — the manufacturing side has suffered losses for a long time and wants to restore prices, but the end investors have a rigid red line of return, and will not pay for it just because the manufacturer issues a price increase notice.
For several contracts that Li has handled recently, the final quoted prices were signed in accordance with the manufacturer’s latest price increase notice. But at the same time, he gave benefits to the buyer by increasing the supply volume, extending the warranty period, and providing on-site technical support for free, and split one contract into two: equipment contract and technical service contract. The equipment contract is executed at a high price, and part of the price is returned in the form of technical service fee. The payment is settled by bill, and the capital cost is borne by the supplier.
He said: “The common result of these measures is that the contract price has risen, but the actual total cost paid by the buyer has not risen synchronously.”
A person from a polysilicon enterprise analyzed that after the 8 polysilicon enterprises signed the anti-involution initiative, orders with prices significantly lower than the cost have indeed decreased. However, while the public quotation has kept the bottom line of cost, competition has not disappeared. Instead, it has shifted from pure price competition to competition in commercial terms and services such as payment period and settlement method. Enterprises strive for orders by extending the payment period, accepting acceptance bills, and giving away additional services. This shows that the initiative can control public quotations, but it is difficult to restrict adjustments at the level of commercial terms. This change itself is not a bad thing. It promotes industry competition from “exchanging price for volume” to “exchanging services for orders”, which is more beneficial to the long-term operation of enterprises and the healthy development of the industrial chain.
When the price increase notice was issued, the prices of the heaviest batch of large module orders this year had already been locked according to the old benchmark.
According to statistics from DataBM New Energy, 7 major power generation groups have released group-level 2026 module framework procurement (framework procurement, which determines suppliers and unit prices first, and then places orders in batches) projects, totaling about 45.6GW, and only 4 have not been released. Several of the largest businesses this year have been signed in accordance with the previous price benchmark.
The person in charge of an overseas clean energy base project under a central power generation enterprise recently returned a project income calculation form to the finance department. He told the reporter of Economic Observer that according to the calculation of his overseas projects with high financing costs, if the module price rises by RMB 0.03 per watt, the IRR (Internal Rate of Return, the core indicator to measure project investment return) of the ground power station will be reduced by about 0.4 to 0.6 percentage points. Now the financing cost of overseas new energy projects is rising, and the rate of return red line of many projects is around 6%. Once it falls below this line, the project will directly lose investment value and can only be suspended.
When the news that domestic module manufacturers collectively raised prices on August 25 reached him, his low-price inventory, combined with the existing long-term orders, could cover the project construction demand for the next 3 to 4 months. During this period, he did not want to rush to replenish spot goods at high prices.
The aforementioned person in charge of the overseas clean energy base project said that if all purchases are made at the latest spot quotation now, the investment return calculation of the entire project will not be valid. This price increase cannot be directly absorbed internally. It is necessary to negotiate with suppliers repeatedly, instead of passively accepting the manufacturer’s price increase notice.
The person in charge of a leading A-share photovoltaic power station operation enterprise is facing a similar situation. The person in charge said: “The impact of module price hikes is concentrated in the new installed capacity sector. Modules account for about 40% to 50% of the total investment of ground power stations. When the module price rises, the initial investment of projects of the same scale will directly increase. Our team will re-calculate the project income, and some new projects whose rate of return is on the edge will be suspended, and the construction pace will be delayed.
The bargaining power of upstream and downstream is reversing. The aforementioned person in charge of the leading A-share photovoltaic power station operation enterprise further said that when the module supply was tight in the past, module manufacturers were in a strong position, and power station owners could only passively accept the quotation. Now the industrial chain has excess production capacity, and manufacturing enterprises are suffering widespread losses. Orders have become scarce resources. As a power station operator, his negotiation position has been significantly improved, but this does not mean that prices can be suppressed indefinitely, nor does he want the industry to continue vicious low-price competition. If a large number of manufacturing enterprises go bankrupt, subsequent equipment warranty and spare parts supply will have problems, and the risk will eventually be transmitted back to the power station side.
The aforementioned person in charge of the overseas clean energy base project is taking countermeasures, for example, the payment period of some orders has been negotiated and extended from the mainstream 3 to 6 months to 9 to 12 months, and at the same time, suppliers are required to add spare parts and extend the warranty period. The person said, “For us investors, the total investment cost is the core assessment indicator, and the paper quotation is only one of the dimensions.”
The overseas market does not accept all price increases either. Jiang Cong, the person in charge of overseas projects of a leading photovoltaic and energy storage enterprise, told reporters that the procurement of the company’s overseas projects is divided into two modes: one is long-term orders with prices locked 6 to 12 months in advance, and the other is small-batch spot procurement. This round of upstream price hikes in China will not affect the signed long-term orders, but for new spot inquiries, the external quotations given by manufacturers have indeed increased.
Jiang Cong said: “In some emerging markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the local photovoltaic supply chain is weak, the project delivery cycle is tight, and there are few options for goods sources, so the tolerance for price increases will be higher. However, large power groups in the European and Latin American markets have very strict red lines for project investment returns, and will not easily accept sudden increases in equipment quotations.”
The upstream action came earlier than the module side.
Whether the price increase can be realized ultimately depends on whether the product is worth the price. The aforementioned person in charge of pricing of the leading module manufacturer said: “Policy initiatives set the bottom line of cost, but there is a mismatch between the actual demand of the end market, the project return model, and the cost line.”
The aforementioned person in charge of the leading A-share photovoltaic power station operation enterprise judged that short-term quotations can be supported by industry initiatives and policy expectations, but whether they can stabilize in the medium and long term depends on two things: first, whether the high inventory can be effectively reduced, and second, whether the backward production capacity is substantially cleared. If the prices of silicon materials and modules can really remain stably above the reasonable cost line, the payback period of investment for ground photovoltaic power stations will be extended by 0.3 to 0.5 years, which is good for power station operators, but the premise is that the price increase can be transmitted and implemented, not just a paper quotation.
On August 26, the quotation of mid-range cells (the core component of modules) fell back to RMB 0.32 to 0.35 per watt, and the previous week’s quotation of RMB 0.38 was no longer visible; the order delivery period for the 620W to 630W power range (referring to the power generation of a single module) was shortened from one month to one week.
Module manufacturers are also making corresponding preparations. The aforementioned person in charge of pricing of the leading module manufacturer has already left leeway for the orders in September: “If there are not enough orders settled at the new price afterwards, it is not ruled out that some products will give back the actual transaction price through the adjustment of commercial terms and payment period. Enterprises do not want to go back to the old path of grabbing orders at a loss, but the first priority is to ensure cash flow to survive.”
Since August 25, the public quotation of mainstream N-type modules has increased by a few cents. The production scheduling (production plan) arrangement for September will be finalized soon. The numbers on the quotation sheet have changed, but for module enterprises, whether this round of price increases can really be reflected in their revenue still depends on the remaining few months.
(At the request of the interviewee, Jiang Cong is a pseudonym)
This article is from the WeChat Official Account “Economic Observer”, written by Wang Yajie, and published with authorization from 36Kr.
该文观点仅代表作者本人，36氪平台仅提供信息存储空间服务。
36kr Europe (eu.36kr.com) delivers global business and markets news, data, analysis, and video to the world, dedicated to building value and providing business service for companies’ global expansion.
© 2024 36kr.com. All rights reserved.
Vertical bifacial rooftop PV systems can outperform conventional tilted monofacial rooftop PV systems across seasons in the U.K, a year-long study has found.
Research by the University of York has performed the first empirical assessment of a vertical bifacial rooftop PV system belonging to Norwegian-headquartered vertical solar specialists Over Easy Solar in a British climate. The full findings are presented in the paper “Comprehensive study of the efficiency of vertical bifacial photovoltaic systems: a UK case study,” published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study assessed the performance of Over Easy Solar’s vertical bifacial PV system installed on the rooftop of the university’s physics tower. It encompasses 22.5% efficiency heterojunction cells and utilizes white gravel to bounce light onto the rear side of the system, something traditional panel setups are unable to utilize.
The system was monitored over a full annual cycle in 2023 and compared against a vertically-mounted monocrystalline silicon monofacial PV system and a traditional tilted monofacial PV system. Over Easy Solar’s system demonstrated a 26.91% higher output than the tilted system during the morning hours between 05:30 and 09:00 and a 22.8% higher output in the hours between 17:00 and 20:30.
Keelin Currivan, international customers solutions advisor at Over Easy Solar, explained to pv magazine how these results highlight the double peak advantage offered by vertical bifacial PV.
“While traditional tilted panels struggle with midday saturation, peaking when the grid is often full and prices are low, our vertical bifacial system shifts production to when it is needed most,” Currivan said. She added that these peaks align with residential spikes caused by demand for heating, cooking and electric vehicles, in turn reducing the need for battery storage and mitigating grid congestion.
Over Easy Solar’s vertical bifacial PV system outperformed both other test systems across the four seasons. It had a 14.77% comparative gain on the traditional tilted system in summer, increasing to 19.32% in spring, 20.27% in autumn and 24.52% in winter.
“Vertical orientation is the superior geometry for the UK and Irish climates because it is optimized for low-angle winter sun and diffused light,” Currivan explained. “Even against a vertical monofacial system, the bifacial version gains an extra 12.45% in winter, proving that capturing rear-side reflection is critical.”
On one particularly high-performance day, May 7, Over Easy Solar’s system produced 4.92 kWh, around 25.38% more energy than the tilted system across the day. The authors of the research paper, based at the University of York, add that their findings “underscore the vertical bifacial PV system’s unparalleled ability to harness solar energy efficiently, irrespective of seasonal variances.”
“Its design not only maximizes land use but also integrates seamlessly with modern architectural landscapes, adding an aesthetic value to its functional benefits,” their conclusion says. “The system’s bifacial technology, capable of capturing solar radiation from both sides, significantly boosts its energy yield, making it a potent solution for regions with variable sun exposure and reflective environments.”
Currivan added that the higher yield in high-priced months also leads to a faster payback period despite a higher initial cost. She estimated the initial costs of a vertical bifacial PV system at GBP1,200 ($1,630)/kW, compared to GBP900/kW for a traditional system. “The increased yield results in an estimated GBP1,221.13 in additional annual savings per 1,500 kWh baseline in the UK, based on GBP0.28/kWh pricing,” Currivan explained.
Over Easy Solar’s vertical bifacial system was also subject to computational fluid dynamics simulations during the testing. The system maintained negligible lift forces at wind speeds of approximately 98 kmh, which Currivan said is a critical structural advantage for high-wind coastal regions across the UK and Ireland.
Currivan told pv magazine Over Easy Solar is using the research findings to drive expansion into the UK and Irish markets. “It surprised me just how applicable these systems are to the UK and Irish markets,” she said. “In Norway and colder climates, these systems are the only viable ones because of the amount of snow, but even in this climate it’s hitting multiple key points, from seasonal gains to mitigating grid issues to giving the double peak.”
Earlier this month, Over Easy Solar installed its first rooftop vertical solar installation in the U.S. market. A previous case study analysis from the company found vertical rooftop panels are capable of outperforming conventional rooftop systems during snowy months.
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A plain business common sense is that unsalable goods never need tariffs to block them. No country will build a tariff wall as high as 102.5% for products that no one is interested in.
Yet this is exactly what China’s new energy vehicle industry is experiencing right now.
The US has imposed combined tariffs of up to 102.5% on Chinese electric vehicles, while the EU has levied anti-subsidy tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese-made pure electric vehicles and is brewing a mechanism to set a minimum price. At the same time, the claim that “China has an overcapacity of 20 million vehicles” has been circulating repeatedly among Western think tanks and media outlets.
The “15th Five-Year Plan” for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry, released on September 11, does not point to unregulated expansion, but to the upgrading of production capacity to high-end levels and the creation of new demand through new supply.
Tariffs are actions, and “overcapacity” is a narrative. To answer the question of whether there is real overcapacity, we might as well calculate three accounts that the other side is unwilling to count: the account of market behavior, the account of industrial history, and the account of national systems.
If Chinese electric vehicles were really unwanted products, the market would vote with its feet, so why would politicians go to such great lengths?
The reality is that while trade barriers are being raised layer by layer, the market share of Chinese EVs is rising against the trend.
Even with anti-subsidy tariffs, the share of Chinese brands in the European market is still climbing; in the first 8 months of this year, the share of Chinese brands in the UK’s new car market has more than tripled compared to before. The UK’s Business Secretary publicly opposed tariff restrictions for a very straightforward reason: trade protection ultimately makes domestic consumers pay the price.
Then look at the repeatedly cited “overcapacity” figure. A European think tank report claims that China’s overcapacity “will reach 20 million units by the end of 2025”, and its calculation method simply adds up the nominal planned production capacity of all enterprises, neither deducting the parts that have not yet been put into production and have been eliminated, nor taking into account the year-on-year growth in demand.
Authoritative data paints a completely different picture.
A Bloomberg survey shows that China’s top automobile exporters are operating at a capacity utilization rate within the internationally recognized normal range; the proportion of China’s automobile exports in total output is far lower than that of Germany, Japan and South Korea.
The average capacity utilization rate of China’s automobile manufacturing industry in the past three years is 73.3%, while the US automobile and auto parts industry is also less than 70% in the same period. In the same interval, it is called “cyclical adjustment” in the US, but “overcapacity” in China — the scale of the ruler changes with the object it is used to measure.
The accusation of “overcapacity” is nothing new. In 2012, the exact same scenario played out in China’s photovoltaic industry: the US imposed tariffs of 34% to 47% on Chinese photovoltaic products, the EU followed up with “anti-dumping and anti-subsidy” measures, China’s photovoltaic exports plummeted by more than 40%, and Suntech Power, the world’s largest module manufacturer at the time, collapsed.
But in the following ten years, the cost of photovoltaic power generation per kWh dropped by more than 80%, and photovoltaics evolved from an expensive environmental gimmick to the cheapest source of electricity in many regions.
China’s global production capacity share in all four links of polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells and modules has exceeded 80%, and the total export value of photovoltaics during the 14th Five-Year Plan period has exceeded 180 billion US dollars.
The moment when the cry of “overcapacity” was the loudest was exactly the eve of the birth of a globally leading industry.
A distinction needs to be made here.
The advanced production capacity of emerging industries actually falls into two categories: one is inefficient repetition of backward technologies, which is destined to be eliminated in competition, which is the normal state of the market economy; the other is “productive advancement”, which rapidly pushes down the technical cost curve through fierce competition and creates demand that did not exist before.
Since 2018, the energy density of China’s power batteries has increased by more than 50%, and the production cost has dropped by more than 60%. Every drop in cost has made a family that could not originally afford an electric vehicle a new user.
It takes 3 to 5 years for a complete vehicle production line to go from construction to commissioning. Today’s production capacity is originally prepared for the market five years later. Using this year’s production and sales data to pronounce the death sentence on a long-cycle industry is just like denying high-speed rail back then based on its passenger occupancy rate.
The accounts of new energy vehicles cannot only be calculated on the profit statement of automakers, but also cannot ignore the profit statement of automakers.
Let’s first clarify the liability side: in the past two years, the price war has resulted in widespread losses in the vehicle manufacturing segment, extended payment periods for suppliers, and low utilization rates of some production lines built under the leadership of local governments.
These are real problems — the reason why the “overcapacity” narrative has a market is precisely because it is attached to these real pain points.
But what the capacity utilization rate cannot reflect are several other system-level benefits.
The most solid one is the account of energy security.
China’s external dependence on oil will still reach 72.7% in 2025, and automobiles are the largest end consumer of refined oil. In 2025, new energy vehicles across the country will replace about 38 million tons of gasoline, and the consumption of refined oil has already peaked and begun to decline.
What electric vehicles do is to transform transportation energy from oil that needs to cross the Strait of Hormuz to domestically diversely supplied electricity. This account is not reflected in any capacity report, but it is being cashed in every year.
There is also an account of technology spillover.
Power battery technology spills over to the energy storage sector, and the perception and decision-making technologies of autonomous driving share the same origin with robotics — a smart electric vehicle production line hones the full-stack capabilities of chips, operating systems, AI algorithms and precision manufacturing.
Morgan Stanley’s recent judgment is that the competitive focus of China’s electric vehicle industry has shifted from price advantage to technological advantage.
As for the sense of gain on the consumer side, it is even more a natural result: smart cockpits and combined driving assistance have moved from a novelty to standard features, configurations that used to cost 400,000 to 500,000 yuan are now available in 150,000-yuan family cars, and the plan also specifically arranges to reduce maintenance costs and deploy high-power charging facilities.
Safer, smarter and more hassle-free vehicles are the most intuitive by-products of this system.
Adding the green supply in the global carbon neutrality process constitutes the complete balance sheet of this production capacity.
Of course, recognizing the value of “productive advancement” does not mean denying the existence of supply-demand mismatch.
In fact, the elimination within the industry is already underway: idle trailing production capacity, accelerated mergers and reorganizations, and significantly reduced new local projects. The direction given by the 15th Five-Year Plan is not unregulated expansion, but to upgrade production capacity to high-end levels, standardize the competitive order through law enforcement and anti-monopoly, strengthen the top-level design of internationalization, and create new demand through new supply.
Neither being deterred by the “overcapacity” narrative nor using administrative means to protect backward production capacity, allowing market competition and government supervision to jointly complete structural upgrading — this is a more practical answer than arguing over labels.
Looking back at industrial history, the warning of “overcapacity” is almost a fixed soundtrack when Chinese industries approach the global leading position: steel, photovoltaics, communication equipment, without exception. Every time, those who issued the warnings stood on the wrong side of history.
Unsalable goods do not need high walls, and backward production capacity does not need warnings. What needs to be blocked by a 102% tariff has never been overcapacity, but the arrival of a new era.
This article is from the WeChat official account “Caijing Wuji”, written by Chen Song, and published with authorization from 36Kr.
该文观点仅代表作者本人，36氪平台仅提供信息存储空间服务。
36kr Europe (eu.36kr.com) delivers global business and markets news, data, analysis, and video to the world, dedicated to building value and providing business service for companies’ global expansion.
© 2024 36kr.com. All rights reserved.
Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech
Though the price to install new solar panels has been trending downward for a while, it’s officially reached a new milestone: “offensively cheap.”
Provocative new reporting by the Financial Times highlighted the new paradigm around photovoltaics, which are disrupting traditional energy networks with a near-infinite supply, resulting in shockingly low prices.
As Dave Jones, co-founder of the energy research firm Ember, told the FT, solar panels used to run between $5 and $6 per watt of generation capacity. That was 26 years ago. Today, Jones says solar panels sell for just 12 cents per watt — a price he says is “offensively cheap” considering the alternatives.
The FT characterizes that jaw-dropping price decrease as “entirely the result” of a massive rise in Chinese solar panel production, which is making renewable energy available to rich and developing countries alike for bottom-barrel prices.
In rural parts of the world, this means that a “home goes from burning two or three kerosene lanterns to a light that is 20 to 40 times brighter, [turned] on every day,” Anish Thakkar, co-founder of Kenyan solar financing company Sun King told the paper.
And as the barriers to enter a solar-powered world come down, the amount of energy generated by photovoltaics is reaching unprecedented heights.
In China, the undisputed world-leader in renewable energy, new clean energy installations have flooded the grid with electricity faster than it can be used. As executive vice chairman of battery giant BTR New Material Group Youyuan Huang said in a forum covered by Fortune, “China’s grid is a very strong and stable one, but we’ve installed too much green energy.”
In the US, the green energy build-out is likewise making headlines. Despite president Donald Trump’s efforts to revive the declining US coal industry, photovoltaics produced more electricity than coal-fired generators for the first time in June.
And across the pond in Spain, the simply incredible amount of solar panel installations has flipped the domestic energy economy upside-down, resulting in a mass exodus of venture capital as customers have to be paid to use more power.
All in all, there’s never been a better time to buy solar panels — which is especially good news as the crude oil market turns belly up.
More on solar energy: Texas Avoids Blackout by the Grace of Solar Power
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Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech
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“Panels are cheap; it’s kinda always worth putting more on the roof.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A U.K. homeowner weighing a solar upgrade turned to Reddit with a question many shoppers run into: Is it better to keep things simple with fewer panels, or use as much roof space as possible for bigger long-term energy savings?
Commenters were largely in agreement. If the roof can safely support it, more panels generally mean more value, especially in winter, on cloudy days, and as a household’s electricity needs grow over time.
Even though the installer had used MCS calculations and believed the system would work with the proper fixings, the homeowner was still uneasy about how close the panels would sit to the roof edges.
“I can install 10 panels with ease, or squeeze 15 panels in but I’m massively worried about the 250mm gaps top and bottom and weight on roof,” the original poster said.
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To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Most commenters urged the homeowner to choose the larger system.
One user wrote: “15 for sure. Will help in winter and you’ll still get extra export.”
“Panels are cheap, it’s kinda always worth putting more on the roof,” another said.
The discussion highlighted a common tension in home solar planning: maximizing energy production while still feeling confident about the installation itself.
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The original poster pushed back on the purely financial argument, writing: “It isn’t the financial saving for me, it is whether 15 panels is appropriate for my roof given it doesn’t meet MCS guidelines.”
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, particularly when you size a system for your future needs instead of just your current bills. If you’re considering rooftop solar, EnergySage lets you get free installation estimates and compare quotes in one place.
Because solar output falls in winter and on overcast days, commenters argued that extra capacity can help cover those weaker periods. One person estimated that adding five more panels might increase the total project cost by only about £800 (around $1,067), making the upgrade seem relatively minor next to the full installation price.
Several commenters said that even if output gets “clipped” on the brightest days, the tradeoff can still make sense because a larger array tends to generate more useful energy through the rest of the year. The homeowner’s proposed setup included 490-watt panels, 4 kilowatts of export, an 8-kilowatt inverter, and a 9-kilowatt battery.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Safety remained the central concern, and commenters pointed to outside verification as a possible way to address it. One suggested asking a structural engineer to sign off on the design if the homeowner was still uneasy.
Another user replied: “MCS rules just say that the installer has to actually do the calculations and (if necessary) add extra brackets to withstand the wind load if they’re within 400mm of the edge.”
For homeowners facing a similar decision, the first step may be to ask for the structural calculations, roof-loading assumptions, and wind-load design in writing. If the proposed layout still feels too aggressive, other options — such as slightly smaller panels or a different orientation — could offer a middle ground between peace of mind and stronger output.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. It can also store extra daytime production for later use, instead of sending it back at lower export rates. Explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
EnergySage’s free tools can also make the shopping process less overwhelming. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map also shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, plus solar panel incentives for each state — resources that can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
One user commented: “Always go big ! You will thank me in winter.”
Articles here cover rooftop solar installation disputes, system costs, tax credits, and shopping for used panels.
• A homeowner pushed back after a roofer’s warning about rooftop solar drew criticism online.
• EnergySage COO Charlie Hadlow broke down the mystery of solar costs for homeowners weighing installation quotes.
• One homeowner learned a planned solar upgrade could still earn major tax incentives.
• A home energy expert said homeowners can still cash in on solar incentives.
• Solar-curious homeowners found used panels on Facebook Marketplace at eye-popping discounts.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech
Though the price to install new solar panels has been trending downward for a while, it’s officially reached a new milestone: “offensively cheap.”
Provocative new reporting by the Financial Times highlighted the new paradigm around photovoltaics, which are disrupting traditional energy networks with a near-infinite supply, resulting in shockingly low prices.
As Dave Jones, co-founder of the energy research firm Ember, told the FT, solar panels used to run between $5 and $6 per watt of generation capacity. That was 26 years ago. Today, Jones says solar panels sell for just 12 cents per watt — a price he says is “offensively cheap” considering the alternatives.
The FT characterizes that jaw-dropping price decrease as “entirely the result” of a massive rise in Chinese solar panel production, which is making renewable energy available to rich and developing countries alike for bottom-barrel prices.
In rural parts of the world, this means that a “home goes from burning two or three kerosene lanterns to a light that is 20 to 40 times brighter, [turned] on every day,” Anish Thakkar, co-founder of Kenyan solar financing company Sun King told the paper.
And as the barriers to enter a solar-powered world come down, the amount of energy generated by photovoltaics is reaching unprecedented heights.
In China, the undisputed world-leader in renewable energy, new clean energy installations have flooded the grid with electricity faster than it can be used. As executive vice chairman of battery giant BTR New Material Group Youyuan Huang said in a forum covered by Fortune, “China’s grid is a very strong and stable one, but we’ve installed too much green energy.”
In the US, the green energy build-out is likewise making headlines. Despite president Donald Trump’s efforts to revive the declining US coal industry, photovoltaics produced more electricity than coal-fired generators for the first time in June.
And across the pond in Spain, the simply incredible amount of solar panel installations has flipped the domestic energy economy upside-down, resulting in a mass exodus of venture capital as customers have to be paid to use more power.
All in all, there’s never been a better time to buy solar panels — which is especially good news as the crude oil market turns belly up.
More on solar energy: Texas Avoids Blackout by the Grace of Solar Power
Add Futurism as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting.
I’m a tech and labor correspondent for Futurism, where my beat includes the role of emerging technologies in governance, surveillance, and labor.
Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech
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Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.
© 2026 Recurrent. All rights reserved.
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According to the latest IndexBox report on the global Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The World Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8–12% from 2026 to 2035, reaching a market index of 245 (2025=100). This growth is primarily driven by the accelerating deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which account for an estimated 65–75% of global demand. Utility-scale solar installations, supported by renewable energy targets across major economies, represent the largest and fastest-growing subsegment. Additionally, industrial automation, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing sectors are adopting modular aluminum framing systems for their lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and precision-machined properties.
The market is characterized by a concentrated supply of raw extrusions in China and Southeast Asia, while value-added processing is increasingly regionalized to meet local certification and compliance requirements. Key trends include a shift toward premium coated profiles, integrated system purchases, and digital specification platforms. However, aluminum price volatility, certification fragmentation, and extended lead times pose challenges. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of market size, segmentation, supply chain, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035, offering actionable insights for stakeholders across the value chain.
The baseline scenario for the World Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market anticipates robust growth from 2026 to 2035, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8–12%. This outlook is anchored in the sustained expansion of solar PV capacity, which remains the dominant demand driver, accounting for 65–75% of global consumption. Utility-scale solar projects, particularly in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, are expected to lead volume growth, supported by government renewable energy mandates and declining solar levelized cost of electricity.
The industrial automation and semiconductor sectors will also contribute, albeit at a slower pace, as capital expenditure cycles recover and modular framing gains traction over traditional steel structures. Supply-side dynamics indicate that raw extrusion capacity will remain concentrated in China and Southeast Asia, but regional value-added processing will grow to satisfy local content and certification requirements. Pricing is expected to remain volatile due to aluminum ingot price fluctuations, though premium coated profiles will command higher margins. The market index is forecast to reach 245 by 2035 (2025=100), reflecting a 2.45x expansion over the decade.
Key risks include trade policy shifts, certification bottlenecks, and substitution by alternative materials, but the overall trajectory remains upward.
The solar PV mounting segment is the largest and fastest-growing end-use for aluminum rail mounting profiles, accounting for an estimated 65–75% of global demand. This dominance is rooted in the material’s favorable strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ease of extrusion into precise T-slot and custom profiles. Currently, utility-scale solar farms are the primary volume driver, particularly in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, where renewable energy targets and falling module costs spur capacity additions. Through 2035, demand will be further propelled by the need for durable mounting structures capable of withstanding 25–30 year service life, often in harsh environments.
Premium coated profiles, such as anodized or PVDF-coated, are gaining share to meet warranty requirements. Demand-side indicators include solar installation rates, module efficiency improvements (which reduce the number of rails per MW), and the shift toward tracker systems that require more complex profiles. The segment’s growth is also supported by the increasing adoption of bifacial modules and agrivoltaics, which demand elevated or specialized mounting. However, aluminum price volatility and certification costs remain challenges. Overall, the solar PV segment will continue to dominate, with demand growing in lockstep with global solar capacity, projected to expand at a CAGR of 10–14% through 2035.
Current trend: Growing rapidly, driven by utility-scale and distributed solar installations worldwide..
Major trends: Shift toward premium coated and corrosion-resistant profiles for extended warranty, Growing adoption of tracker systems requiring specialized profiles, Increasing use of integrated mounting solutions with pre-assembled components, Regionalization of supply chains to meet local content requirements, and Digital specification platforms and BIM data becoming standard.
Representative participants: Hydro Extrusion, Arconic Corporation, Constellium SE, Norsk Hydro ASA, and China Zhongwang Holdings.
Industrial automation and instrumentation represent the second-largest end-use sector for aluminum rail mounting profiles, with an estimated share of 10–15%. These profiles are integral to building modular machine guards, workstations, conveyor systems, and robotic cells, where their lightweight, rigid, and easily reconfigurable nature enhances flexibility and reduces downtime. Currently, demand is driven by the ongoing automation of manufacturing processes across automotive, electronics, and food and beverage industries. Through 2035, growth will be supported by the proliferation of collaborative robots, Industry 4.0 initiatives, and the need for agile production lines that can be quickly reconfigured.
Demand-side indicators include industrial robot installations, manufacturing PMI, and automation capital expenditure. The segment is also benefiting from the trend toward integrated system purchases, where profiles are bought as part of pre-engineered framing kits. However, competition from steel and composite profiles persists in heavy-duty applications. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6–8%, with increasing demand for precision profiles that accommodate sensors, cable management, and pneumatic lines. Major companies in this space include profile system manufacturers and automation solution providers. Current trend: Steady growth, supported by automation capex and modular framing adoption..
Major trends: Rising adoption of modular framing for flexible manufacturing, Integration of sensors and cable management into profile designs, Growth in collaborative robot installations requiring lightweight structures, Shift toward pre-assembled kits and integrated systems, and Increasing demand for cleanroom-compatible profiles in electronics manufacturing.
Representative participants: Bosch Rexroth, Item Industrietechnik, Festo, Parker Hannifin, and SMC Corporation.
The electronics and optical systems sector accounts for an estimated 6–10% of aluminum rail mounting profile demand. These profiles are used in the construction of equipment frames, enclosures, and mounting structures for sensitive electronic components, optical benches, and testing apparatus. The key demand driver is the need for vibration damping, thermal stability, and precise dimensional tolerances to ensure the performance and longevity of electronic and optical devices. Currently, demand is concentrated in regions with strong electronics manufacturing bases, such as Asia-Pacific and North America.
Through 2035, growth will be fueled by the expansion of 5G infrastructure, data centers, and advanced optical communication systems, which require robust and precise mounting solutions. Demand-side indicators include semiconductor equipment spending, data center construction, and R&D expenditure in photonics. The segment is also seeing a shift toward custom extrusions that integrate cable routing and shielding. However, the relatively small volume compared to solar and automation limits its overall impact. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5–7%, with increasing demand for profiles that meet cleanroom and ESD requirements. Major companies include electronics OEMs and their contract manufacturers.
Current trend: Moderate growth, driven by precision and vibration damping requirements..
Major trends: Growing demand for vibration-damping profiles in precision equipment, Integration of cable management and shielding features, Rising use of aluminum profiles in data center infrastructure, Increasing adoption of custom extrusions for optical benches, and Shift toward cleanroom-compatible and ESD-safe profiles.
Representative participants: Applied Materials, ASML, Tokyo Electron, Lam Research, and KLA Corporation.
The semiconductor and precision manufacturing sector represents an estimated 5–8% of aluminum rail mounting profile demand. These profiles are critical in the construction of cleanroom environments, wafer handling systems, and precision tooling, where tight tolerances, low outgassing, and corrosion resistance are paramount. Currently, demand is driven by the global expansion of semiconductor fabrication capacity, particularly in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, as governments and companies invest in chip sovereignty.
Through 2035, growth will be supported by the transition to smaller process nodes, which requires increasingly precise and stable mounting structures, as well as the rise of advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration. Demand-side indicators include semiconductor equipment spending, fab construction, and wafer fab equipment (WFE) forecasts. The segment demands high-precision profiles, often with specialized surface treatments to prevent particle generation. However, the high certification burden and long qualification cycles limit the number of qualified suppliers. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7–9%, outpacing general industrial growth. Major companies include semiconductor equipment manufacturers and their suppliers.
Current trend: Growing steadily, driven by tight tolerance and cleanroom requirements..
Major trends: Increasing demand for ultra-precision profiles with tight tolerances, Growth in cleanroom-compatible and low-outgassing profiles, Rising adoption of modular framing in fab construction, Shift toward integrated systems with embedded sensors, and Expansion of semiconductor capacity driving new fab projects.
Representative participants: Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, ASM International, and Screen Holdings.
The OEM integration and maintenance sector accounts for an estimated 3–5% of aluminum rail mounting profile demand. This segment encompasses profiles used by original equipment manufacturers for integrating components into machinery, as well as aftermarket demand for replacement parts and maintenance. Currently, demand is driven by the need for standardized, repeatable mounting solutions that reduce assembly time and ensure compatibility across equipment generations. Through 2035, growth will be supported by the aging installed base of industrial machinery and solar installations, which requires replacement profiles and consumables.
Demand-side indicators include industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) spending, and the average age of installed equipment. The segment is also benefiting from the trend toward modular design, which facilitates easier maintenance and upgrades. However, demand is relatively inelastic and tied to overall economic activity. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4–6%, with increasing demand for profiles that are easy to install and compatible with existing systems. Major companies include distributors and MRO suppliers. Current trend: Stable growth, supported by replacement demand and standardized mounting..
Major trends: Growing demand for replacement profiles from aging installations, Shift toward standardized mounting for easier maintenance, Increasing use of e-commerce platforms for aftermarket parts, Rising adoption of modular designs for upgradability, and Expansion of MRO services in emerging markets.
Representative participants: Fastenal, Grainger, RS Components, Misumi Group, and Bosch Rexroth.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Asia-Pacific leads both production and consumption, driven by massive solar PV installations in China and India, plus a strong electronics and semiconductor manufacturing base. China alone accounts for over 40% of global demand, with utility-scale solar projects and industrial automation fueling growth. Supply chain concentration in China and Southeast Asia ensures regional dominance through 2035. Direction: Dominant and growing.
North America is a key market, with the U.S. driving demand through utility-scale solar farms and reshoring of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. The region is also a hub for industrial automation, with high adoption of modular framing. However, reliance on imports for raw extrusions and certification requirements shape the competitive landscape. Direction: Growing steadily.
Europe’s demand is supported by ambitious renewable energy targets, particularly in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, as well as a strong industrial automation sector. The region emphasizes premium coated profiles and sustainability, with local certification (TÜV, IEC) driving value-added processing. Growth will be steady but tempered by market maturity. Direction: Moderate growth.
Latin America is an emerging market, with Brazil and Chile leading solar PV deployments and industrial automation adoption. Demand is expected to grow as renewable energy auctions and manufacturing investments increase. However, economic volatility and reliance on imports may constrain faster expansion. Direction: Emerging growth.
The Middle East & Africa region shows niche growth, primarily driven by large-scale solar projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Industrial automation demand is nascent but growing. The region relies heavily on imports, with limited local extrusion capacity, but presents opportunities for suppliers as solar capacity expands. Direction: Niche growth.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 10.0% compound annual growth rate for the global aluminum rail mounting profiles market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 245 by 2035 (2025=100).
Note: indexed curves are used to compare medium-term scenario trajectories when full absolute volumes are not publicly disclosed.
For full methodological details and benchmark tables, see the latest IndexBox Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Aluminum Rail Mounting Profiles market in the world, covering market size, growth trajectory, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035.
The study is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, investors, procurement teams, advisors, and strategy teams that need a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers the market for aluminum rail mounting profiles, which are extruded aluminum sections designed for constructing modular framing systems, machine guards, workstations, and automation structures. The analysis encompasses profiles used across industrial automation, electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, and OEM integration, including standard T-slot profiles, custom extrusions, and associated structural components.
The report combines the standard market-statistics backbone with strategic chapters that are useful for commercial planning, sourcing decisions, market entry, competitor monitoring, and portfolio prioritization.
The market is segmented into decision-relevant buckets so that demand drivers, pricing logic, supply constraints, and competitive positions can be compared across the same analytical frame.
The classification coverage includes aluminum rail mounting profiles categorized by product type (standard profiles, components and modules, integrated systems, consumables and replacement parts), by application (industrial automation, electronics and optical systems, semiconductor and precision manufacturing, OEM integration and maintenance), and by value chain segment (upstream inputs, manufacturing and assembly, distribution and integration, after-sales service and lifecycle support).
Coverage includes global totals, major demand markets, production and sourcing hubs, leading exporters and importers, and country profiles for the top national markets.
The report combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, product-level evidence, and analyst validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to keep market sizing, trade flows, pricing, and forecasts comparable across countries and time periods.
All indicators are mapped to a consistent product definition and reviewed against the segmentation framework used in the Table of Contents.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
Leading supplier of aluminum rail profiles for automation
Pioneer in aluminum framing and rail mounting
Global distributor of industrial aluminum rails
Offers T-slot and rail mounting profiles
Major producer of mounting rails and systems
Specialist in modular aluminum rail systems
Known for precision rail profiles for automation
Distributor and fabricator of mounting rails
Produces rail profiles for solar and industrial use
Major supplier of standard and custom rail profiles
Legacy brand, integrated into Hydro Extrusions
Supplies rail profiles for transport and industry
Produces mounting profiles for various sectors
Offers rail profiles for industrial applications
Historical producer, now limited to specific profiles
Specialist in mounting rails and linear guides
Produces custom rail mounting profiles
Offers rail systems for HVAC and industrial use
Competitor in T-slot and rail mounting profiles
Regional producer of mounting rails
Major Chinese producer of industrial rail profiles
Supplies mounting rails globally
Produces rail profiles for transport and machinery
Specialist in small-batch mounting rails
Focuses on tight-tolerance rail profiles
European producer of rail systems
Offers mounting profiles for solar and automation
Distributor of standard rail mounting profiles
Known for high-precision mounting rails
Italian producer of rail mounting profiles
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NISE Maps 102 GW Floating Solar Potential Across India, Opening New Path For Clean Energy Growth – Report SolarQuarter
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Slower oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are helping drive prices up.
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For millions of households in the Northeast, the cost of staying warm could rise sharply during the 2026-27 heating season. Families that rely on heating oil are projected to face some of the steepest increases, with average bills approaching $2,300.
According to CBS News, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association expects heating oil customers to pay more than 30% more from mid-November to mid-March 2027.
Across all fuel types, NEADA projects that the average cost of heating a home during that four-month stretch will reach about $1,030. That would be an increase of $82, or 8.7%, while households using heating oil could see costs come in near $2,300.
With Brent crude trading at about $106 per barrel, Mark Wolfe, an energy economist and executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, told CBS News that slower oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are helping drive prices up. He also said Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities are putting additional pressure on supply.
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U.S. Energy Information Administration figures cited by CBS News show that nearly 4.8 million homes in the United States used heating oil in 2024. Roughly 82% of those households were in the Northeast, leaving the region especially exposed to sudden price increases.
One of the best ways to protect yourself from rising oil costs and save money on home energy is to invest in solar panels. Homeowners who want to explore that option can use EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
NEADA said the increase is not just an issue for oil-heated homes. The group reported that the cost of heating with heat pumps and other electric-powered systems has risen 35%, and electricity in the Northeast is often more expensive than it is in many other regions.
The organization said electricity bills are also rising because demand from data centers is growing and because repairing aging power infrastructure is costly.
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Sealing air leaks, improving insulation, and checking for heating assistance or payment plan options can ease some of the immediate strain. Larger upgrades can also help households reduce their exposure to oil price shocks.
EnergySage’s free services can be especially useful for homeowners considering rooftop solar. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. Comparing multiple quotes can also make it easier to identify better equipment, pricing, and installer options.
Readers can also use EnergySage’s solar map, which shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level and details the solar incentives available in each state. Together, those resources can help people get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup can protect a home during outages. It can also help save money on energy and make it easier to go off-grid. Homeowners can check out EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
As Wolfe told CBS News, “While the war may be thousands of miles away, families will feel it when the heating oil truck pulls into their driveways.”
These articles cover rising electricity bills and the health and financial costs of using climate-warming fuels.
• In Massachusetts, utilities spent $100 million on new gas lines after local fossil fuel bans.
• A global analysis tied oil and gas pollution to asthma and premature deaths.
• Across the country, aging coal plants are costing ratepayers hundreds of millions.
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A 19.3 MW solar project belonging to UK-headquartered solar developer Solarcentury Africa has reached commercial operations in Namibia.
The Gerus solar PV plant, located in the Kunene region of northwestern Namibia, is only the second purpose-built merchant solar plant in Africa to trade electricity on the Southern African Power Pool, a competitive regional electricity market that connects utilities and large customers across Southern Africa.
It follows the 25 MW Mailo solar plant in Zambia, also belonging to Solarcentury Africa, which was inaugurated in July 2025. The company says work is now underway on a third purpose-built merchant project via a 34 MW phase two expansion at the Mailo site.
Electricity generated at the Gerus plant is expected to total 50.8 GWh annually, enough to power more than 14,000 Namibian homes. It will be sold by Solarcentury Trading, a member of the SAPP.
Funding for the Gerus project reached around $20 million, representing the largest UK investment in Namibia’s clean energy sector to date. It was provided by BB Energy, parent company of Solarcentury Africa.
Solarcentury Africa says it is on track to develop, own and operate more than 320 MW of fully merchant solar capacity by 2027. The company says such merchant projects “play a critical role in addressing regional energy deficits while accelerating the transition to sustainable, market‑based power solutions.”
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has identified 1.49 GW of operational solar in Namibia, according to figures from its project database, the majority of which is located in the C&I sector. An additional 33 MW is listed as under construction.
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The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
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Old video from India falsely shared as showing villagers in Nigeria’s Sokoto state destroying solar panels africacheck.org
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Look at what’s been bolted onto the typical Aussie home in the last decade. A solar inverter reporting panel output to your phone. A battery that trades with the grid while you sleep. A heat pump hot water system that heats from surplus solar, an EV charger with its own app.
Then open the switchboard. It’s the same thing your parents had, with better breakers and less asbestos.
Everything in the house runs through that box, and the box knows nothing. Of all the bits of home electrification, it’s the one still stuck in the last century.
The first serious attempt came from California. SPAN was founded by a guy who worked on Tesla’s Powerwall 2, and it shows. The SPAN panel replaces the whole breaker box, puts a controllable relay and an energy monitor on each of up to 32 circuits
It looks brilliantly executed. But it’s built for American 120/240V split-phase power and American electrical codes. You can’t buy one here, and that won’t change without a redesign.
Closer to home, Auckland startup Basis has built the first smart switchboard designed to our shared Aussie/Kiwi wiring rules. I read the Gen-1 technical datasheet and the full installation guide, and met the founder this week at the Everything Electric Show (video soon). There’s plenty to admire.
Every circuit gets digital protection you set in software: the breaker rating, the RCD sensitivity (10 or 30 mA), Type A or Type B, and AC arc fault detection. Each circuit is metered, and each can be switched remotely. There’s a surge protector built in. The chunky spring-clamp terminals are a nice touch.
Then I tried to think about how it would work with a typical Australian solar and battery home, and realised it’s not the solution we need.
It’s indoor only. It must be flush-mounted inside a stud wall. In a lot of Australian homes, especially older ones, the switchboard lives in the meter box on an outside wall. The rated operating range tops out at 40°C, which an Adelaide garage passes before lunch in January.
It’s single-phase only, with a 63 A main switch. Three-phase homes are out. For a single-phase house with a heat pump, induction and an EV charger, 63 A works, and the board will switch circuits off dynamically to keep the load under 63A, but it’s tight.
There’s nowhere to put solar and battery gear. The Basis enclosure has no DIN rail. None. No space for the inverter’s main switch, the battery isolator, the backup changeover switch, the inverter’s DIN-mounted power meter, or the CTs the battery needs to see what the house is doing. The install guide’s only guidance on solar and batteries is to connect them to the bottom circuit module so the busbar doesn’t overload. On a modern Aussie job, you’d end up hanging a second enclosure next to the shiny smart one to hold everything that makes the solar and battery work.
There’s no plan for battery backup. The install guide doesn’t mention backup circuits at all. Ironically, per-circuit relays are exactly what you’d need to fix the “wrong circuits on backup” problem that plagues Aussie battery installs.
We’re electrifying our homes faster than almost anywhere. The board of the future should be designed for the modern electricity-hungry Aussie home with solar, batteries, EV and backup.
Here’s my dream spec, just in case anyone wants to make one:
Rated for outdoors. If it can’t live in an Australian meter box on a west-facing wall, in the sun, at 45°C, it doesn’t work for most of the country. That means a proper IP rating and a temperature range that suits Birdsville as well as Hobart.
Single and three-phase with main switches sized for an all-electric home with an EV charger.
Surge protection as standard.
Digital protection on every circuit. Per-circuit, programmable RCBOs with metering, configurable sensitivity, Type B where the circuit needs it, rated for reverse feed from inverters, and AC arc fault detection1.
Self-testing that replaces the six-monthly test. Each circuit should test itself on a schedule, log the result and tell you if it fails. No one tests their RCDs every six months – and that’s a problem.
A proper DIN zone for solar and battery gear. Enough rail for a backup changeover and bypass switch, DIN-mounted power meters and whatever the next battery brand needs. Standard 35 mm rail, so any compliant device fits.
Somewhere to mount the CTs. Right now, current transformers get clipped onto whatever cable the installer can reach, and often end up dangling off a cable, hard to identify and too often backward. Give them a fixed, labelled mounting point on the main conductors, and make the current direction obvious.
Backup built into the design. Either a grid-side section and a backup section, or a whole-home design where the battery feeds the board and software sheds non-essential circuits when the grid drops. The owner should choose what stays on during a blackout, and be able to change their mind without calling a sparky.
It works without the internet. The relays, the protection and the monitoring should all work locally. The cloud should be a convenience. Open APIs so you don’t need proprietary monitoring or control software.
Non-proprietary modules, or a guarantee. Standard form factors that other makers can supply.
A pocket for the SLD, with a sign. Every solar and battery install should come with a single-line diagram showing how the system is wired. In my experience, they’re missing from almost all switchboards. The board of the future should have a dedicated pocket inside the door with “SLD GOES HERE – DON’T BLOODY SKIP IT!” printed on it in large letters.
Basis has already done the hard part: digital, per-circuit protection certified to AS/NZS standards, in a product people can buy. What’s missing for Australia is mostly the box around it. An outdoor enclosure, a three-phase version and a DIN zone for solar and battery gear.
If you’re a sparky, tell me in the comments what I’ve missed. You open a helluva lot more switchboards than I do.
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Turn your shed into the ultimate winter workspace with an off-grid solar power station — a solar expert explains everything you need to know Yahoo Tech
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Approximately 30% of the electricity consumed in Albania during June was generated by photovoltaic plants, confirming the growing role of solar energy in the security and stability of the power system.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, announced that energy generation from photovoltaic plants reached 868 GWh by the end of August.
According to Karakaçi, the diversification of power generation sources is increasing the contribution of domestically produced energy and strengthening energy security.
“30% of the energy consumed in June was generated by photovoltaic plants,” the minister stated, emphasizing that solar energy is playing an increasingly important role in the power system.
“During the most challenging period for the Albanian power system – the summer season, when water levels in the Drin cascade drop significantly due to drought – energy generation from photovoltaic plants has become a crucial factor in balancing energy production,” the minister said. He emphasized that the increase in production from photovoltaic sources contributes to bringing Albania closer to its goal of achieving greater energy independence by 2030.
“These figures confirm the effectiveness of government policies aimed at enhancing the country’s energy security through the diversification of energy generation sources. This progress is part of the government’s strategic objective to steer the country toward energy independence by 2030 by boosting domestic production and diversifying energy sources,” stated Karakaçi.
In recent years, the diversification of energy sources – particularly through investments in renewables – has aimed to increase domestic production and strengthen the resilience of the power system.
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A quick way to evaluate any offer is to divide the total price by the system’s output in watts.
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After a prospective solar panel buyer got a suspiciously high quote for a 9.88-kilowatt setup, they took to the internet for a reality check.
In a thread on Reddit’s r/Solar community, the shopper shared an estimate for a 9.88 kW system priced at about $44,000, including nearly $20,000 for installation and around $15,000 for supporting equipment.
The original poster’s reaction was blunt, writing, “Am I crazy? I did a little digging beforehand and was expecting like half this price, am I missing something?… Wtf?”
Rather than focus only on the line items, several commenters reduced the proposal to a common benchmark (dollars per watt). That figure varies by area rather than having a strict nationwide benchmark, but one commenter said the proposal came to “$4.35/watt of solar, which is crazy. Maybe the market has shifted, but $3/watt was ‘about right.’ I think I paid like $2.45 or $2.75 or something before adding in battery backup.”
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One user added, “Not sure where you are located, but for most of the US, over $4/w cash price and for lower tier equipment is very very overpriced.” Another wrote, “For comparison, I paid $49,282.50 for a 17.6kw system last year, but that was when the tax credit was still in effect.”
After looking over the listed parts, some commenters said the equipment pricing alone seemed inflated by about $11,000. But more broadly, others said the full proposal landed well outside what they would view as a reasonable bid.
One commenter summed up the community’s reaction by saying, “RUN. run very far away.”
A quick way to evaluate any offer is to divide the total price by the system’s output in watts, which makes it much easier to compare one installer’s bid with another’s.
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Battery storage was another point raised in the discussion, because batteries are often priced separately instead of being folded into a solar system’s per-watt figure. Even so, many commenters said the quote in question looked expensive based on the base system alone, before batteries entered the equation.
Shopping several installers is the safest move. Always compare the cost per installed watt along with the equipment brands, labor pricing, warranty coverage, and any extra fees. When one quote is dramatically higher than the rest, that is usually a sign to dig deeper or move on.
If you’re shopping around, EnergySage can help you get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes side by side. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
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And adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. If you’re considering that route, EnergySage also offers information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
These stories cover solar pricing scams, ways homeowners can save, and utility charges.
• Energy experts warned homeowners that a common solar panel scam can make no-cost promises expensive.
• EnergySage experts have used competitive quote shopping tactics to cut homeowner solar costs.
• One solar owner blasted ridiculous utility charges after receiving an unexpectedly high bill.
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Zambia’s national utility ZESCO has entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Hungary-based energy and climate infrastructure company EnerSynk Group for a planned 500 MW solar project.
Under the terms of the PPA, the solar plant, to be developed in Zambia’s Cooperbelt province, will supply renewable electricity to Zambia’s national power system once completed.
A statement published by EnerSynk explains the PPA enables the company to advance the development into its next phase, including technical studies, environmental and regulatory processes, financing and implementation planning.
The company added that it intends to progress the project in phases, allowing technical development, financing and construction activities to be structured around an overall implementation programme.
Jason Temasfieldt, EnerSynk Group Founder and Executive Chairman, said the signing of a PPA is one of the most important commercial milestones for a project of this scale.
“Our focus now is disciplined execution,” he said. “There is still significant work ahead, but this agreement provides a strong platform from which to advance the project.”
Temasfieldt added that EnerSynk’s commitment to Zambia extends beyond the development of a single energy project.
“We see Zambia as a long-term energy market, not a one-project opportunity. Our objective is to build infrastructure that is bankable, scalable and aligned with the country’s long-term electricity needs,” he added.
Zambia is currently one of Africa’s most active solar markets. The country has been undergoing a market liberalisation making it one of the most attractive markets to private sector renewable energy developers.
Recent figures published by the country’s Ministry of Energy put Zambia’s operational solar capacity at 841 MW, with analysis suggesting the country is on track to surpass 1 GW of installed solar by the end of the year.
In May, the country’s largest solar site to date, the 136 MW Itimpi II plant, entered operation. In July, ZESCO doubled the capacity of its Chisamba solar power plant from 100 MW to 200 MW.
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Trusted Patterned Glass Stress Meters Factory
Trusted Patterned Glass Stress Meters
Beijing, China Sep 19, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – Founded as a national high-tech enterprise holding over 40 authorized patents, Beijing Jeff Optics Technology Co., Ltd. has established itself as a premier provider of optical quality control systems for global manufacturers. Among their core offerings, Trusted Patterned Glass Stress Meters Factory solutions have become vital for solar energy supply chains. These advanced glass stress meters evaluate surface and internal stress levels to ensure structural integrity under harsh environmental conditions. Modern photovoltaic modules demand rigorous quality verification, making reliable stress inspection equipment indispensable for production lines.
Technical Foundations in Photovoltaic Glass Manufacturing
Solar panels face harsh environments. Photovoltaic glass must endure severe thermal fluctuations, high wind pressures, and physical impacts over decades of outdoor operation. Stress control is vital. The structural integrity of patterned glass depends heavily on precise tempering parameters and controlled surface stress distribution. Internal flaws cause failure. Residual thermal stresses or uneven cooling rates can lead to catastrophic module breakage during field installation or operational lifecycles. Quality inspection prevents defects. Implementing rigorous optical stress measurement protocols ensures that every sheet of solar glass meets stringent mechanical durability requirements. Solar modules require uniform surface compression to resist fatigue. Microcrystalline and thermally tempered panels undergo complex heating and quenching cycles. Without accurate stress evaluation, hidden micro-fissures propagate under load. Advanced optical inspection bridges this gap by quantifying surface and edge stress profiles accurately. Production lines rely on these diagnostics to maintain high yield rates and long-term field reliability.
Core Competencies and Design Precision
Precision in stress measurement relies heavily on optical engineering standards and robust mechanical design. Photovoltaic glass manufacturing lines require specialized inspection tools capable of handling complex textured surfaces and high-volume throughput without compromising measurement accuracy. Devices such as the JF-2E Surface Stress Meter offer specialized portability and manual operation support designed directly for factory floor environments. On a bustling production line inspecting solar panel covers, operators can rapidly assess surface tempering quality. This unit accommodates a measurement range up to 1000 MPa and layer depths up to 100 micrometers, operating at a standard 590 nm wavelength in compliance with ASTM C 1422 standards.
Edge strength is equally critical for preventing panel edge-initiated cracking during automated frame installation or heavy wind load testing in solar farms. Instruments like the AEM-02 Automatic Edge Stress Meter utilize nematic liquid crystal variable retarders to evaluate edge compression in compliance with ASTM C 1279-13. During final quality audits of solar modules, technicians rely on this system to detect micro-defects along cut edges where mechanical stress concentrates most. With a calculation time of approximately 7 seconds, a resolution of 1 nm or 0.1 MPa, and support for sample thicknesses up to 14 mm, automated edge inspection eliminates subjective human error while maintaining high processing speeds. Detailed specifications for these instruments are outlined below.
Verifying Supplier Quality and Compliance
Selecting optical inspection instrumentation requires careful evaluation of technical parameters, material compatibility, and regulatory certifications. Procurement teams should verify that instruments comply with recognized international benchmarks such as GB, ASTM, and ECE R43 requirements. Reliable suppliers must demonstrate robust R&D capabilities, holding valid software copyrights and structural patents that prove long-term product stability. Furthermore, validating equipment through full-cycle technical support and routine calibration using standard wave plates ensures consistent measurement accuracy across multi-shift industrial operations.
Streamlining Production Quality Control
Integrating high-precision optical inspection tools directly impacts yield rates and field reliability for solar manufacturers. By adopting rigorous stress verification methods, production facilities can optimize tempering parameters and eliminate structural defects early in the manufacturing cycle.
Navigating international procurement specifications often brings up specific operational questions from engineering teams across North American, European, and emerging solar markets regarding equipment setup, standards compliance, and testing speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these stress meters handle textured or patterned solar glass surfaces used in high-efficiency photovoltaic modules?
Yes. Both the JF-2E and AEM-02 instruments are engineered to evaluate solar patterned glass efficiently. They accommodate complex textured surfaces without sacrificing measurement precision, ensuring compliance with strict industrial standards.
How fast can the AEM-02 edge stress meter complete an edge compression test on architectural or photovoltaic glass?
The AEM-02 automatic edge stress meter requires approximately 7 seconds per calculation. It provides a resolution of 1 nm or 0.1 MPa and supports sample thicknesses up to 14 mm, making it ideal for high-throughput factory quality audits
What international testing standards do Jeffoptics glass stress inspection devices comply with?
Jeffoptics inspection equipment complies with major recognized benchmarks, including ASTM C 1422 for surface stress measurement and ASTM C 1279-13 for edge stress evaluation, alongside broader GB, ECE R43, and EN frameworks.
Do these portable stress meters support multi-shift operations in large export manufacturing plants?
Yes. Units like the JF-2E feature a lightweight design with PDA touch screens and manual operation assistants, built specifically for continuous factory floor environments across international manufacturing hubs in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
How do procurement teams verify the long-term reliability and calibration accuracy of these meters?
Reliable verification relies on built-in calibration using standard wave plates, backed by full-cycle technical support and hardware supported by over 40 authorized patents and proprietary software copyrights.
For technical specifications or customized inspection inquiries, industry professionals can connect directly with the Jeffoptics technical support team to discuss specific factory integration requirements. Comprehensive details regarding optical inspection systems are available directly through https://www.jeffoptech.com/
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Wind turbine blades are among the most difficult parts to manage.
Photo Credit: iStock
Wind turbines and solar panels have become defining symbols of cleaner energy, but what happens when that hardware reaches the end of its useful life?
According to the IEC via pv magazine, many wind turbines installed in the early 2000s and earlier are approaching the end of their usual 20- to 30-year service life. As that retirement wave approaches, industries and governments are preparing for a growing stream of renewable-energy e-waste even as wind and solar become more important to meeting global climate goals.
Wind and solar remain among the most important tools for reducing the pollution that worsens extreme weather and harms human health.
The problem arises only after these systems have provided electricity for decades. IEC wind energy expert Alistair Mackinnon said, “Wind has become a mature and multi-billion industry, which is having to meet new challenges. One of them is the lifecycle of wind turbines.”
Tony Sample, chair of IEC TC 82, said, “It’s easy to meet targets by recycling aluminium frames, cables and glass. The difficult part is the module itself.”
The rapid spread of rooftop and large-scale renewable electricity has also created a future surge of equipment that will age out of service. If those materials are crushed, buried, or burned instead of recovered, a growing waste burden could weaken some of the environmental gains linked to cleaner energy.
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Wind turbine blades are among the most difficult parts to manage. Many are made from epoxy resin, a strong material that helps turbines withstand harsh conditions but is notoriously hard to recycle because it cannot simply be melted down and reused.
Solar panels face their own bottlenecks. Silicon is harder to recover, and shipping old modules to specialized recycling centers can be expensive, which can discourage full recycling.
Circular economy strategies prioritize repair and reuse of functioning solar panels and turbine components ahead of recycling so renewables can continue to provide healthier air, lower emissions, and energy savings without pushing waste and costs further down the road.
George Kelly, secretary of IEC Technical Committee 82, said companies specializing in that area “estimate that over 75% of a PV module can now be recycled thanks to innovative and high-performance processing and sorting techniques.” He added that more industrial-scale recycling capacity is still needed to bring costs down.
On the wind side, newer turbine blades are beginning to incorporate thermoplastic composites and other materials designed for recyclability. Existing blades can also be mechanically processed for use in cement, concrete, or fiber boards, helping keep them out of landfills.
IECRE Secretary Wolfram Zeitz said, “The idea is to ensure that wind turbine assets that are used beyond their initial lifecycle still perform safely and efficiently. By working hand in hand, experts from TC 88 and IECRE can promote the idea of a more circular economy in the wind sector.”
Here are a few examples of how companies, scientists, and governments are working to keep renewable hardware out of landfills and move the industry toward a more circular model.
• In Texas, SolarCycle is expanding solar panel recycling capacity to handle aging modules domestically.
• In China, engineers are refining methods to recycle solar panels and recover harder-to-extract materials.
• Scientists have tested recyclable wind turbine blades made with resin designed to avoid landfill disposal.
• The U.S. Department of Energy is backing novel recycling solutions for old wind turbine materials.
Cleaning up the power grid is only part of the job. What happens to aging turbines and panels matters too, and handling that stage well will help preserve the climate benefits wind and solar are supposed to deliver.
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Energies Media
A German solar farm shows how clean power generation and agricultural production can successfully coexist.
Many overcrowded European nations are under immense pressure to boost green capacity despite having limited land available.
Germany exemplifies this struggle, as the country often faces major competition from its agriculture sector.
To address this, agrivoltaics are being increasingly explored to maximize land use.
Can developing photovoltaics and food production as one entity offer other distinct benefits?
Global greenhouse emissions have reached record highs.
This is attributed to the rapidly rising energy demands across urban and industrial regions.
Maintaining digital infrastructure and technologies, while transportation and industry undergo electrification, requires a significant supply of electricity.
Fossil fuels remain standard sources for grid stabilization as power demand grows.
As a result, industrial economies like Germany produce roughly 650 million tons of greenhouse gas equivalents annually.
This has raised pressure from strict international climate regulations.
These frameworks have established tighter reduction mandates to curb climate change.
It is vital to meet these targets without delay, as global warming accelerates.
Industry is legally bound to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 55% compared to 1990 levels.
But crowded European nations struggle to meet these carbon reduction targets.
There is little available space to increase renewable energy capacity at a large-scale.
Consequently, these spatial limitations often lead to immense competition over land.
Viable land resources in Germany have sparked a direct contest between the energy and agricultural sectors.
More than 50% of the nation’s total territory is used for farming and food production.
This is because agriculture is deeply rooted in the nation’s economy and culture.
These productive fields are managed by many enterprises to secure domestic food security.
This longstanding reliance on farming practices highlights why opposition to large-scale solar power has grown intense.
Developing utility-scale solar projects threatens large tracts of productive farmland.
The resulting resistance often leads to several developments being stalled or even cancelled.
This significantly slows the nation’s progress in meeting climate goals.
Fortunately, not all hope is lost, as RWE has been developing and researching agrivoltaics initiatives.
The company’s goal is to establish the best approach to combine solar power generation with traditional farming.
A 3.2-megawatt demonstration plant in Bedburg at the edge of an opencast mine provided valuable insights.
Adding solar panels to crop fields can offer unique advantages.
The demonstration plant near the Garzweiler mine served as a vital testing ground to prove this.
The Energy Institute was among the leading technical bodies to track these developments.
The solar plant spans nearly 17 acres of recultivated land and consists of 6,100 solar panels.
The panels were configured into three setups to evaluate crop compatibility and energy output.
Vertical, fence-like solar rows were used for the first setup.
The second one uses motorized sunlight trackers.
Both were tested with grain crops like wheat and barley between the rows.
The third setup consists of a raised pergola-like structure, which grows potted raspberries underneath.
The setups allowed free passage of rainwater while providing shade that lowered soil evaporation.
The crop yields matched traditional farming results.
However, the grains had superior protein content, and raspberries benefited from storm protection.
These initial findings are highly promising for the future outlook of agrivoltaics in crowded nations like Germany.
Streamlining zoning laws will help legally recognize dual-use farming projects in industrial countries.
Financial incentives and feed-in tariffs will also encourage farmers to adopt solar infrastructure more willingly.
Nonetheless, the solar demonstration plant proves that agrivoltaics are key to resolving land-use conflicts while offering additional benefits.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
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TOPCon Accounts for 33% of India’s Solar Cell Capacity, While Mono PERC Retains Lead Photograph: (AI)
India’s listed solar cell manufacturing capacity continues to be dominated by Mono-PERC technology, according to an analysis of the latest Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM-II) released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The ministry recently issued the latest revision of ALMM List-II for solar cells, which currently features 15 manufacturers with approved domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity.
The development comes at a time when the MNRE has mandated the use of domestically manufactured solar cells for a wide range of government-backed and utility-scale solar projects. While India has more than 130 solar module manufacturers, only a limited number of companies are currently approved to supply domestically manufactured solar cells.
An analysis of the latest ALMM-II data shows that Mono PERC accounts for nearly 52% of India’s enlisted solar cell manufacturing capacity, despite the technology gradually losing market share to more efficient n-type alternatives. India’s total ALMM-listed solar cell manufacturing capacity currently stands at 30.98 GW, of which 16.06 GW (52%) is based on Mono PERC technology.
TOPCon, meanwhile, accounts for 33% of the country’s approved solar cell manufacturing capacity. Seven of the 15 listed manufacturers have commissioned TOPCon production lines. These include Waaree Energies, Mundra Solar PV (Adani Group), Emmvee Energy, Premier Energies Photovoltaic, Avaada Electro, RenewSys India and TP Solar.
Several manufacturers are currently producing both Mono PERC and TOPCon solar cells to cater to different segments of the market. These include Waaree Energies, Mundra Solar PV (Adani Group), Premier Energies Photovoltaic and TP Solar, reflecting the industry’s gradual transition towards higher-efficiency n-type technologies while continuing to serve demand for conventional p-type products.
At the same time, a number of manufacturers continue to focus exclusively on Mono PERC production. These include Fujiyama Power Systems, Jupiter Solartech, Evervolt Green Energy, ReNew Photovoltaics, Premier Energies International, Tata Power Renewable Energy and Websol Energy System.
Beyond these technologies, FS India Solar Ventures (First Solar) is the only manufacturer enlisted under thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) technology, while Reliance Industries is the sole producer of heterojunction (HJT) solar cells in the ALMM-II list.
With these additions, India’s cumulative ALMM-listed solar cell manufacturing capacity now stands at 30.98 GW, underscoring the country’s rapidly expanding domestic manufacturing ecosystem as it moves towards greater self-reliance in the solar value chain.
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A plain business common sense is that unsalable goods never need tariffs to block them. No country will build a tariff wall as high as 102.5% for products that no one is interested in.
Yet this is exactly what China’s new energy vehicle industry is experiencing right now.
The US has imposed combined tariffs of up to 102.5% on Chinese electric vehicles, while the EU has levied anti-subsidy tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese-made pure electric vehicles and is brewing a mechanism to set a minimum price. At the same time, the claim that “China has an overcapacity of 20 million vehicles” has been circulating repeatedly among Western think tanks and media outlets.
The “15th Five-Year Plan” for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry, released on September 11, does not point to unregulated expansion, but to the upgrading of production capacity to high-end levels and the creation of new demand through new supply.
Tariffs are actions, and “overcapacity” is a narrative. To answer the question of whether there is real overcapacity, we might as well calculate three accounts that the other side is unwilling to count: the account of market behavior, the account of industrial history, and the account of national systems.
If Chinese electric vehicles were really unwanted products, the market would vote with its feet, so why would politicians go to such great lengths?
The reality is that while trade barriers are being raised layer by layer, the market share of Chinese EVs is rising against the trend.
Even with anti-subsidy tariffs, the share of Chinese brands in the European market is still climbing; in the first 8 months of this year, the share of Chinese brands in the UK’s new car market has more than tripled compared to before. The UK’s Business Secretary publicly opposed tariff restrictions for a very straightforward reason: trade protection ultimately makes domestic consumers pay the price.
Then look at the repeatedly cited “overcapacity” figure. A European think tank report claims that China’s overcapacity “will reach 20 million units by the end of 2025”, and its calculation method simply adds up the nominal planned production capacity of all enterprises, neither deducting the parts that have not yet been put into production and have been eliminated, nor taking into account the year-on-year growth in demand.
Authoritative data paints a completely different picture.
A Bloomberg survey shows that China’s top automobile exporters are operating at a capacity utilization rate within the internationally recognized normal range; the proportion of China’s automobile exports in total output is far lower than that of Germany, Japan and South Korea.
The average capacity utilization rate of China’s automobile manufacturing industry in the past three years is 73.3%, while the US automobile and auto parts industry is also less than 70% in the same period. In the same interval, it is called “cyclical adjustment” in the US, but “overcapacity” in China — the scale of the ruler changes with the object it is used to measure.
The accusation of “overcapacity” is nothing new. In 2012, the exact same scenario played out in China’s photovoltaic industry: the US imposed tariffs of 34% to 47% on Chinese photovoltaic products, the EU followed up with “anti-dumping and anti-subsidy” measures, China’s photovoltaic exports plummeted by more than 40%, and Suntech Power, the world’s largest module manufacturer at the time, collapsed.
But in the following ten years, the cost of photovoltaic power generation per kWh dropped by more than 80%, and photovoltaics evolved from an expensive environmental gimmick to the cheapest source of electricity in many regions.
China’s global production capacity share in all four links of polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells and modules has exceeded 80%, and the total export value of photovoltaics during the 14th Five-Year Plan period has exceeded 180 billion US dollars.
The moment when the cry of “overcapacity” was the loudest was exactly the eve of the birth of a globally leading industry.
A distinction needs to be made here.
The advanced production capacity of emerging industries actually falls into two categories: one is inefficient repetition of backward technologies, which is destined to be eliminated in competition, which is the normal state of the market economy; the other is “productive advancement”, which rapidly pushes down the technical cost curve through fierce competition and creates demand that did not exist before.
Since 2018, the energy density of China’s power batteries has increased by more than 50%, and the production cost has dropped by more than 60%. Every drop in cost has made a family that could not originally afford an electric vehicle a new user.
It takes 3 to 5 years for a complete vehicle production line to go from construction to commissioning. Today’s production capacity is originally prepared for the market five years later. Using this year’s production and sales data to pronounce the death sentence on a long-cycle industry is just like denying high-speed rail back then based on its passenger occupancy rate.
The accounts of new energy vehicles cannot only be calculated on the profit statement of automakers, but also cannot ignore the profit statement of automakers.
Let’s first clarify the liability side: in the past two years, the price war has resulted in widespread losses in the vehicle manufacturing segment, extended payment periods for suppliers, and low utilization rates of some production lines built under the leadership of local governments.
These are real problems — the reason why the “overcapacity” narrative has a market is precisely because it is attached to these real pain points.
But what the capacity utilization rate cannot reflect are several other system-level benefits.
The most solid one is the account of energy security.
China’s external dependence on oil will still reach 72.7% in 2025, and automobiles are the largest end consumer of refined oil. In 2025, new energy vehicles across the country will replace about 38 million tons of gasoline, and the consumption of refined oil has already peaked and begun to decline.
What electric vehicles do is to transform transportation energy from oil that needs to cross the Strait of Hormuz to domestically diversely supplied electricity. This account is not reflected in any capacity report, but it is being cashed in every year.
There is also an account of technology spillover.
Power battery technology spills over to the energy storage sector, and the perception and decision-making technologies of autonomous driving share the same origin with robotics — a smart electric vehicle production line hones the full-stack capabilities of chips, operating systems, AI algorithms and precision manufacturing.
Morgan Stanley’s recent judgment is that the competitive focus of China’s electric vehicle industry has shifted from price advantage to technological advantage.
As for the sense of gain on the consumer side, it is even more a natural result: smart cockpits and combined driving assistance have moved from a novelty to standard features, configurations that used to cost 400,000 to 500,000 yuan are now available in 150,000-yuan family cars, and the plan also specifically arranges to reduce maintenance costs and deploy high-power charging facilities.
Safer, smarter and more hassle-free vehicles are the most intuitive by-products of this system.
Adding the green supply in the global carbon neutrality process constitutes the complete balance sheet of this production capacity.
Of course, recognizing the value of “productive advancement” does not mean denying the existence of supply-demand mismatch.
In fact, the elimination within the industry is already underway: idle trailing production capacity, accelerated mergers and reorganizations, and significantly reduced new local projects. The direction given by the 15th Five-Year Plan is not unregulated expansion, but to upgrade production capacity to high-end levels, standardize the competitive order through law enforcement and anti-monopoly, strengthen the top-level design of internationalization, and create new demand through new supply.
Neither being deterred by the “overcapacity” narrative nor using administrative means to protect backward production capacity, allowing market competition and government supervision to jointly complete structural upgrading — this is a more practical answer than arguing over labels.
Looking back at industrial history, the warning of “overcapacity” is almost a fixed soundtrack when Chinese industries approach the global leading position: steel, photovoltaics, communication equipment, without exception. Every time, those who issued the warnings stood on the wrong side of history.
Unsalable goods do not need high walls, and backward production capacity does not need warnings. What needs to be blocked by a 102% tariff has never been overcapacity, but the arrival of a new era.
This article is from the WeChat official account “Caijing Wuji”, written by Chen Song, and published with authorization from 36Kr.
该文观点仅代表作者本人，36氪平台仅提供信息存储空间服务。
36kr Europe (eu.36kr.com) delivers global business and markets news, data, analysis, and video to the world, dedicated to building value and providing business service for companies’ global expansion.
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