Solar Now

May 7, 2026
HubSalt has signed an agreement with China’s Livoltec to install a hybrid solar and battery storage system in Karachi. The company says the project will reduce diesel use, lower emissions and improve energy efficiency.
News Desk
May 7, 2026
KARACHI: HubSalt has entered into an agreement with Chinese company Livoltec to install a hybrid solar and battery storage system, in what the company described as a step towards greater energy self-reliance in industry.
The agreement was signed in Karachi by HubSalt Chief Executive Officer Ismail Sattar and Livoltec Asia-Pacific Director Max Ma. Under the arrangement, the project will be carried out on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction basis, with Optimizen assigned responsibility for execution in collaboration with its Chinese technology partner, Livoltec.
According to the details shared at the signing, the project includes the installation of a 1.44-megawatt solar photovoltaic system integrated with a 2.35MW-hour battery energy storage system. The company said the move is expected to sharply cut its dependence on imported diesel.
Speaking on the occasion, Sattar called the initiative a transformative step and said it could serve as a model for Pakistan’s industrial sector. He said the use of advanced renewable energy technologies would improve operational performance while also setting a benchmark for the promotion of green energy in the country’s industrial landscape.
Sattar said the project forms part of the company’s long-term strategy aimed at supporting sustainable industrial growth and contributing to national energy objectives. He noted that HubSalt had previously depended on diesel generators for its operations and is now shifting to a modern hybrid energy setup.
He said the project would enable annual savings of around 360,000 litres of diesel, reducing import costs and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Sattar said the environmental gains from the project were also substantial. According to him, the system is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes each year, which he said is equivalent to planting around 90,000 trees.
He added that the initiative would also position HubSalt to participate in international carbon markets, where carbon credits may be earned under standards such as Verra and Gold Standard.
The hybrid system has been designed to maximise the use of renewable energy, improve efficiency and provide uninterrupted electricity supply for operations.
Livoltec’s Asia-Pacific Director Max Ma and Optimizen’s CEO also underscored the significance of the project and reiterated their commitment to completing it ahead of schedule. They said they were confident the partnership would strengthen Livoltec’s footprint in Pakistan and demonstrate its capability to deliver large-scale projects in collaboration with Optimizen.
The agreement marks a notable industrial renewable energy initiative involving solar generation combined with battery storage, with the participating companies presenting it as a first-of-its-kind arrangement for the sector.
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Solar Panels Market 2026- 2033 Overview: Share, Size, Value,  openPR.com
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Richland County voters on Tuesday backed a move by their three county commissioners and preserved a ban on wind and solar power by a thinner margin than partisan politics may suggest. 
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In a tight contest, 12,189 voters (52.9%) voted to uphold a ban on industrial-scale wind and solar in most of the county, while 10.853 (47.1%) voted to overturn it, according to preliminary election results.
This means the north-central Ohio county will maintain its prohibition on renewables in 11 of 18 townships there, a restriction imposed by the county’s three Republican commissioners. 
Solar power in Ohio is often polarized along political lines, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed. But only about 1 in 4 primary voters in Richland County picked a Democratic ballot, meaning a broad swath of Republican voters wanted to reverse the ban.
The referendum campaign tailored its messaging around Republicans, framing the issue as one of government overreach and not global climate change. 
Regardless, the effort fell short. 
Ask us — we may dig up the answer through our reporting.
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Morgan Carroll, a central figure in the repeal campaign, said in a phone call Tuesday evening that the result was disappointing, but proved that solar isn’t a clean-cut partisan issue. 
“It wasn’t that far off from being 50-50,” she said. “It’s telling from such a Republican county that we’d even have that close of a result.”
Darrell Banks, a county commissioner who supported the ban, said the county won despite the outside money that poured in.
“This is an affirmation by the voters that their Township Trustees and County Commissioners are aligned with the best interest of their communities,” he said. “We appreciate the support of Richland County voters.”
Several interests from far outside Richland County sought to move the needle there. The Natural Resource Defense Council, a national environmental nonprofit via its political arm, and Ohio Citizen Action, a grassroots organization from Columbus, spent heavily in support of a repeal. 
On the other side, known Republican operatives backed the campaign in support of the wind and solar ban. 
The election was the second test in state history of a 2021 law that gives local governments broad powers to block renewable energy projects in their jurisdictions – powers they don’t have when it comes to coal, gas or nuclear energy projects. 
You can read Signal Ohio’s more comprehensive coverage on the referendum here.
An earlier version of this story mislabeled the Natural Resources Defense Council.
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Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has commissioned the second phase of its Itimpi solar PV IPP, Zambia’s largest solar plant yet. Financed by CEC’s green bond, the plant is part of a wave of PV projects being added to the Zambian grid.
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US solar PV and energy storage system component manufacturer, Shoals, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Portland, Tennessee.
The 638,000-square-foot “Mega Facility” will be used to produce Shoals’ electronic balance of system (eBOS) products for solar PV, energy storage, and data-centre related projects. The facility is backed by a US$30 million investment, with a total planned commitment of US$80 million over the coming five years.
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The site is a consolidation of Shoals’ three existing manufacturing facilities in Tennessee into one location, which the company said would enable it to “significantly” expand production capacity, increase automation in production and packing and increase efficiency.
“As demand for energy infrastructure continues to accelerate, this new Mega Facility allows Shoals to scale alongside our customers and meet the needs of a rapidly evolving energy landscape,” said Brandon Moss, chief executive officer at Shoals Technologies Group. “By expanding our domestic manufacturing footprint and bringing increased capacity, we are strengthening the American energy supply chain and enabling faster, more efficient energy deployment.”
The company also announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026. It recorded quarterly revenues of US$140.6 million, a 74.9% increase on the equivalent period in 2025. This was “driven by strong underlying demand of products, the impact of market share capture initiatives, and an increase in volume of projects in the current year,” Shoals said.
Gross profit was US$41.0 million, with a margin of 29.2% – down from 35% in Q1 2025. “The decrease in margin is attributable to US$3.8 million in additional tariffs paid in comparison to the prior-year quarter, an increase of US$1.4 million in right-of-use asset amortisation arising from the opening of our consolidated operations facility, along with an increase in material costs,” the company explained.
Adjusted EBITDA was US$21.1 million, compared with US$13.5 million in the prior-year period.
Earlier this year, Shoals was involved in a patent litigation dispute with fellow manufacturer Voltage Energy over Shoals’ ‘big lead assembly’ (BLA) solution, an aluminium trunk bus system that combines cable assemblies, combiner boxes and fusing. PV Tech explored the implications of the dispute in February, after both parties appeared to claim victory (subscription required).

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Just before midnight, two men in white coveralls and black gloves scale an electric fence at a solar farm in Chile’s Atacama Desert, then slip soundlessly into rows of sleek panels. Others use a poultry shear and electric angle grinder to breach the main gate. Three pickups without license plates pull in so the gang can load up their loot and race away.
The thieves typically have less than an hour before police arrive to disable cameras, slice cables and extract dozens of panels before vanishing into the dunes. In this case, there was only one security guard, who was instructed to hide in case of an intrusion. They tied him up anyway.
Chile is witnessing a surge in theft on solar farms. Many in the industry privately confirm they’ve been hit, yet few are willing to say so publicly as the stolen equipment slips into black markets.
In this narrow strip of the Andes, exceptionally sunny conditions, market-based electricity pricing and a favorable investment climate have fueled a swift photovoltaic build-out, from just 3% of total installed capacity in 2015 to a third of the system today, according to government data. Following a pattern in other places like California and the UK, this solar boom has brought crime along with it. But here the trend is turbocharged by more remote expanses and entrenched organized crime, posing risks for Chile’s critical infrastructure, with potential consequences for grid reliability and foreign investment.
“The theft of cables, panels or electronic equipment can temporarily shut down entire solar parks and cause significant economic losses,” said Erwin Plett, chief executive officer of renewable energy advisory Low Carbon Chile SpA, adding that it also drives up security and insurance costs. “Chile remains one of the most attractive renewable markets in the region, but maintaining that leadership requires ensuring the security of energy infrastructure.”
Five years ago, panel theft was rare, according to a service delivery manager whooversees more than 60 parks in Chile and wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. Since March last year, the manager’s portfolio recorded more than 30 thefts. In one case, a single site was hit five times in less than a month.
Fernando Navarro, project manager at Tritec-Intervento, the Chilean unit of a European solar energy company, says theft has become increasingly organized over his six years in the industry. At first incidents were minor — one or two panels disappearing over an eight-month construction period. Losses have since evolved into coordinated raids, with trucks hauling away four or five boxes at a time, with each box holding at least 30 panels.
The fragile panels weigh about 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and usually cost $60 to $70 apiece, and perpetrators know what to shut off and which components to target while avoiding safety risks to remove them, Navarro said. Often they dismantle the complex equipment to extract copper and make off with batteries, fencing and control systems too.

“The profile of these criminal groups committing these robberies is that they understand the utility of the equipment,” said Ana Lía Rojas, executive director of Chile’s Association of Renewable Energy and Storage, or Acera. “And there is a market willing to buy it in order to use it in ways different from what it was originally developed, purchased and installed for. That’s a major concern for us.”
Cables are the most frequently stolen components, accounting for 85.7% of cases, followed by PV panels at 54.8%, according to data from Chile’s Solar Energy Association, or Acesol.
Chile is hardly alone. “The rapid growth of solar energy, combined with the high value density of modules and the difficulty of tracking equipment without standardized identification, creates ideal conditions for theft in any country,” said Felipe Javier Ríos Ledesma, researcher at the Solar Energy Institute at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. “However, Chile has local conditions that make it particularly vulnerable.”
Opaque Channels
Benjamin Sovacool, a professor of earth and environment at Boston University and the University of Sussex, has studied solar panel theft around the world. He estimates that around 20% of stolen panels are damaged during removal or transit, reflecting the fragility of glass-based systems and components such as inverters and batteries. Of the remainder, about 30% is resold in domestic markets and roughly half ends up in international markets, he said, based on a pattern he studied in Indonesia.
In Chile’s case, far-flung sites and vast footprints make solar farms difficult to secure, while dormancy in the desert’s dark night gives thieves a clear window to operate. Sprawling sites may have only one or two unarmed guards.
More importantly, the country’s porous borders can invite contraband. Remotely located solar farms “are often very close to borders and to unauthorized or uncontrolled crossings,” Rojas said. “So it’s easy to move the equipment to neighboring countries like Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.”
Copper in particular can be aggregated and ferried through the value chain for export, making its final destination difficult to trace at a time of buoyant prices for the red metal. In April, Chilean authorities dismantled an organized criminal network that had moved more than $900 million worth of stolen copper between 2020 and 2025, trucking it to the northern port of Iquique before shipping it to China.
Navarro says projects are particularly vulnerable in early phases when uninstalled materials are stored in boxes or on pallets, security systems are not yet fully operational, and there is constant movement of workers and subcontractors.
As the crime flourishes, investors are increasingly incorporating theft and vandalism into their risk assessments, raising insurance, security and overall project costs, said Plett.
“So far, they have not slowed investment, but they do constitute a warning sign that the country must address urgently,” he said.
Sense of Impunity
Before dawn on Feb. 24, thieves broke into the Eléctrica Altos de Til Til solar farm north of Santiago, stealing copper wiring in what general manager Andrés Guerrero describes as the third incident since late September. The farm, which was designed mainly to supply the nearby San Pedro mineral processing plant, had operated for years without incident until this recent string of attacks.
“They knew exactly what they were doing,” Guerrero said. Before cutting the copper cables that power the system, the intruders disabled security cameras and penetrated the control room. Then they rolled up the cables and carried them down an adjacent hillside, navigating terrain inaccessible to vehicles. Some of the bundles were stashed among the trees, concealed for later retrieval.
The perpetrators typically strip plastic sheaths, extract the copper and sell it for scrap. Rising metal prices have helped to fuel the incidents, Guerrero said, adding that costly theft-related damage can take weeks to repair.
The criminals might steal a cable worth only around 1,000 Chilean pesos (close to $1), but replacing it can cost 30 to 40 times more, said Michael Minnes, general manager of CarbonFree Chile SpA, which specializes in solar development and financing.

Chile’s investigative police, or PDI, says it is actively investigating crime at solar farms. “The theft of solar panels and batteries is indeed occurring in northern Chile, and it feeds into a market that is also international or transnational in nature,” said Marcos Ramírez, who heads the PDI’s national theft division.
In one 2023 case, the PDI in the northern city of Arica contacted Acesol after intercepting a pickup carrying panels near the border with Peru. The serial numbers matched those of a set stolen from one of the group’s members.
Yet more often than not, the perpetrators get away, creating a climate of impunity, victims say. “There’s no incentive to report because no results are expected,” said Guerrero.
Another renewable energy executive, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said security cameras only seem to be there so victims can watch thefts unfolding in real time.
Acera expects Chile’s new Security Ministry to address the problem as part of the government’s broader anti-crime campaign. “From Acera, we are fully available to provide information and to develop further proposals,” Rojas said.
A worker at Eléctrica Altos de Til Til solar farm carries recovered cables; photo credit: Cristóbal Olivares/Bloomberg
An Energy Ministry spokesperson said an initial working group on cable theft was broadened to cover energy infrastructure and was ultimately transferred to the Security Ministry, which didn’t reply to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, insurance premiums are going up. All-risk construction policies often carry high deductibles, meaning thefts are typically absorbed by contractors. As the crime has ballooned over the past three years, insurers have tightened conditions and raised costs, reducing the effectiveness of coverage, according to Navarro.
Some companies have begun replacing copper cables with less-valuable aluminum at vulnerable sites, removing a key incentive for theft. Other operators have introduced nighttime vehicle patrols, but the costs can erode already thin margins in a fiercely competitive market.
“This is an issue we need to address rather than just worry about,” said Rojas. “We’re still far from this becoming such a big concern that it slows development or reduces interest in renewables. But the point is to act today so the problem doesn’t turn into a systemic issue.”
The solar community needs to work together to achieve results, says Ríos at the Polytechnic in Madrid. “What we’re seeing in Chile is not an isolated case, but rather the local expression of a global problem that will continue to grow alongside photovoltaics unless coordinated measures for traceability and security are implemented from the installation phase.”
The solar industry is indeed starting to pay closer attention, with discussions around insurance and enhanced security measures like tracking devices, says Gilbert Michaud, an assistant professor in the School of Environmental Sustainability at Loyola University Chicago.
“With global supply chain pressures and rising equipment costs, theft will likely be a bigger issue looking into the future,” Michaud says. “Ultimately, addressing this will help ensure a more resilient energy system.”
Top photograph: In Chile’s case, far-flung sites and vast footprints make solar farms difficult to secure; photo credit: Cristóbal Olivares/Bloomberg
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Propelled by a select group of high-capacity manufacturers including T1 Energy and Canadian Solar, Texas is set to exceed 15 GW of solar PV module production in 2026, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. silicon-based manufacturing and serving as the primary hub for the inaugural Solar Manufacturing USA conference in Austin this September.
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From pv magazine USA
Solar PV module production in Texas is set to exceed 15 GW during 2026, making the state the clear leader today in the drive to ramp domestic manufacturing in the United States, potentially accounting for almost 50% of all silicon-based PV modules made in the United States this year.
While investments in the domestic solar PV ecosystem are spread across a large part of the country, Texas has become the preferred location for a select group of silicon-based PV manufacturers that have efficiently ramped production lines at the multi-gigawatt level, including T1 Energy, SEG Solar, Canadian Solar, Waaree Energies, Imperial Star and TOYO Solar.
This is why the new Solar Manufacturing USA conference is happening in Austin, Texas on 22-23 September 2026. We could have chosen other locations for what will be the first domestic-only U.S. PV manufacturing event, but the concentration of production at the module level in Texas today – and its associated materials supply – puts the state at the forefront of the domestic PV production revival in the United States.
Indeed, attendees at the event will have options to visit some of the local factories the day after the event on 24 September.
The figure shows the dramatic rise in module production in Texas since 2024, first with Canadian Solar and shortly after with T1 Energy, while SEG Solar, Waaree Energies and Imperial Star also ramped GW-scale capacities through 2025.
With this concentration of module assembly underway, Texas effectively becomes the litmus test for how the United States can effectively onshore the necessary raw materials for module production: cells made in Texas or shipped from cell-specific factories located elsewhere; and similarly for solar glass, backsheets, films, frames and other bill-of-materials requirements.
Indeed, simply knowing how the major module producers in Texas today are going to backward integrate will be a key part of the entire U.S. solar manufacturing landscape in the years ahead. Will these companies all ramp up cell lines in 2027? Which will be the first to announced ingot and wafer operations?
For more information on Solar Manufacturing USA 2026, including options to get involved in speaking at the conference and the full two-day agenda topics, the event portal can be viewed here.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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May 7, 2026
Over the past six months, First Solar’s stock price fell to $217.82. Shareholders have lost 18.6% of their capital, which is disappointing considering the S&P 500 has climbed by 7.9%. This was partly due to its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Following the pullback, is this a buying opportunity for FSLR? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Headquartered in Arizona, First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) specializes in manufacturing solar panels and providing photovoltaic solar energy solutions.
Reviewing a company’s long-term sales performance reveals insights into its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. Over the last five years, First Solar grew its sales at an excellent 12.7% compounded annual growth rate. Its growth surpassed the average industrials company and shows its offerings resonate with customers.
Free cash flow isn’t a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it’s telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king.
As you can see below, First Solar’s margin expanded by 39.9 percentage points over the last five years. First Solar’s free cash flow margin for the trailing 12 months was 30.8%.
ROIC, or return on invested capital, is a metric showing how much operating profit a company generates relative to the money it has raised (debt and equity).
We like to invest in businesses with high returns, but the trend in a company’s ROIC is what often surprises the market and moves the stock price. Fortunately, First Solar’s ROIC has increased significantly over the last few years. This is a great sign when paired with its already strong returns. It could suggest its competitive advantage or profitable growth opportunities are expanding.
These are just a few reasons why First Solar ranks near the top of our list. With the recent decline, the stock trades at 11.4× forward P/E (or $217.82 per share). Is now a good time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meeting near-term momentum – both boxes checked at the same time.
Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week’s Strong Momentum stocks – FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
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Building a 94-acre community solar farm fulfils a lifelong dream for Barbara Hammond.
Ray Valley Solar, a community energy project based in Arncott near Bicester, Oxfordshire, has the potential to power more than 6,000 homes for a year. Its business model means any profits go back into the community.
The latest technology is being used, including double sided "bi-facial" panels to catch rays bouncing back from the ground, making the solar farm 20% more efficient than older schemes.
Could this be the future of renewable energy in Oxfordshire?
For Barbara, the business model is key.
The Arncott development is part of the Low Carbon Hub. As a community benefit society, it operates as a business, trading in electricity, with all the profits going back into Oxfordshire's communities.
This in turn goes into projects that help people to understand more about environmental challenges and continue to develop low carbon solutions.
"I like to think of it as a fractal model. It just keeps growing in impact," Barbara said.
The community solar farm has the capacity to power a village the size of Eynsham, distributing power to local homes and businesses. But it does not have the ability to go much further afield.
That is where more large scale solar farms can become more effective.
Compared to the solar farm in Arncott, the proposed development at Botley West is 40 times bigger.
It would cover more than 2,000 acres, generating 840 megawatts of clean electricity each year, with the potential to power 330,000 homes.
It is now in its final stages of planning, with the government asking for more time and information to consider whether to approve the development. A decision is due in September.
Opponents of the proposals have raised concerns about its potential impact on the countryside and argued that the technology could become obsolete in the coming decades.
Mark Owen Lloyd, from developers Photovolt Development Partners, previously said he welcomed "the opportunity to continue engaging constructively with the government and other stakeholders".
"We remain confident in the strength of our application, which has been developed following extensive consultation and detailed environmental and technical assessment," he said.
French firm submitted proposals to build historical theme park north of Bicester last year.
Cherwell Collective's founder says she's "heartbroken" to end operations in Bicester.
Aimee Fallaize, 18, has needed months of extra lessons after her tests were cancelled three times.
Housing developments in Oxfordshire are among those being built with materials made from hemp.
Reg Martin has been performing magic for decades and will receive the Magic Circle's gold star in July.
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Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland installs solar panels for sustainability  AOL.com
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The solar PV panel market revolves around devices that convert sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials. Solar panels are composed of multiple solar cells connected in series to increase power output, making them efficient for large-scale and small-scale energy generation. These panels are widely used in residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications, contributing significantly to clean energy adoption.

Solar panels are mainly categorized into crystalline silicon and thin-film technologies. Crystalline silicon panels dominate the solar PV panel market due to their higher efficiency and durability, while thin-film panels are preferred for flexible and lightweight applications. The growing need for sustainable energy solutions has accelerated the adoption of solar PV systems across various industries, boosting the solar PV panel market size globally.

Market Drivers Fueling Solar PV Panel Market Growth

The rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector is a primary factor driving the solar PV panel market. Increasing awareness regarding environmental sustainability and the need to reduce carbon emissions has encouraged governments and private organizations to invest heavily in solar energy projects. This shift toward clean energy solutions is significantly boosting the solar PV panel market growth.

Government policies and incentives are also contributing to the development of the solar PV panel market. Subsidies, tax credits, and favorable regulations have made solar installations more affordable and attractive. For example, tax incentives introduced in major economies have reduced installation costs, encouraging both residential and commercial consumers to adopt solar technology.

Another key driver of the solar PV panel market is the declining cost of solar panel production. Technological advancements and large-scale manufacturing have reduced the overall cost of solar panels, making them more accessible to a broader consumer base. Improved efficiency and durability of solar panels have further enhanced their adoption, strengthening the solar PV panel market trends.

Technological Advancements in Solar PV Panel Market

Innovation plays a vital role in shaping the solar PV panel market. Continuous research and development efforts have led to improved conversion efficiency, enhanced durability, and better performance under varying weather conditions. Advanced technologies such as bifacial panels, floating solar systems, and smart solar tracking systems are transforming the solar PV panel market landscape.

Crystalline silicon technology continues to dominate the solar PV panel market due to its high efficiency and long operational life. These panels are widely used in large-scale solar farms and rooftop installations. Thin-film technology, on the other hand, is gaining traction for specialized applications where flexibility and lightweight features are required.

Moreover, integration of solar panels with energy storage systems is creating new opportunities in the solar PV panel market. The ability to store excess energy for later use ensures a reliable power supply, especially in remote areas and regions with unstable grids.

Segment Analysis of Solar PV Panel Market

The solar PV panel market is segmented based on technology, grid type, end use, and region. Each segment plays a significant role in shaping the overall market dynamics and growth potential.

By Technology

The crystalline silicon segment held the largest share in the solar PV panel market in 2020, accounting for nearly 86.8% of the total market. This dominance is attributed to its higher efficiency, longer lifespan, and widespread commercial adoption. The demand for crystalline silicon panels continues to grow due to their proven reliability and performance.

Thin-film technology, although smaller in market share, is expected to witness steady growth in the solar PV panel market. Its advantages, such as lightweight design and flexibility, make it suitable for specific applications, including portable solar devices and building-integrated photovoltaics.

By Grid Type

The on-grid segment dominates the solar PV panel market in terms of revenue. On-grid systems are directly connected to the electricity grid, allowing users to feed excess energy back into the system. This setup reduces the need for battery storage and lowers installation costs, making it a preferred choice for residential and commercial users.

Off-grid systems are also gaining traction in remote and rural areas where access to electricity is limited. These systems play a crucial role in rural electrification projects, contributing to the overall growth of the solar PV panel market.

By End Use

The utilities segment held the largest share in the solar PV panel market, accounting for over 42.8% in 2020. This growth is driven by increasing investments in large-scale solar power plants, solar parks, and infrastructure projects. Governments and private companies are focusing on utility-scale solar installations to meet rising energy demands sustainably.

The commercial and industrial segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the solar PV panel market. Businesses are increasingly adopting solar energy to reduce operational costs and carbon footprints. Rooftop solar installations in commercial buildings are becoming more common, further boosting the solar PV panel market growth.

Regional Insights of Solar PV Panel Market

The solar PV panel market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Among these regions, Asia-Pacific dominates the market, accounting for the largest share in 2020. This dominance is attributed to the presence of major solar panel manufacturers, favorable government policies, and a large consumer base.

Countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam are leading contributors to the solar PV panel market in Asia-Pacific. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and increasing energy demand are driving the adoption of solar energy systems in this region.

Europe is expected to witness the fastest growth in the solar PV panel market during the forecast period. Strong environmental regulations, ambitious renewable energy targets, and increasing investments in solar projects are key factors driving the market in this region.

North America also holds a significant share in the solar PV panel market, supported by government incentives and rising adoption of renewable energy technologies. The U.S. continues to be a major contributor due to favorable policies and growing awareness of sustainable energy solutions.

Competitive Landscape of Solar PV Panel Market

The solar PV panel market is highly competitive, with several key players focusing on innovation, expansion, and strategic collaborations to strengthen their market position. Major companies operating in the solar PV panel market include JA Solar, Jinko Solar, First Solar, Hanwha Solutions, Trina Solar, Yingli Solar, Tongwei Group, and Waaree Energies Ltd.

These companies are investing heavily in research and development to enhance product efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs. Strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions are also common strategies adopted by market players to expand their global presence in the solar PV panel market.

Additionally, companies are focusing on developing advanced solar technologies and expanding their production capacities to meet the growing demand for solar panels worldwide. This competitive environment is expected to drive innovation and growth in the solar PV panel market.
Emerging Trends in Solar PV Panel Market

Several emerging trends are shaping the future of the solar PV panel market. The integration of solar panels with smart technologies, such as IoT and AI, is enhancing system efficiency and monitoring capabilities. Smart solar systems enable real-time performance tracking and predictive maintenance, improving overall efficiency.

Floating solar installations are gaining popularity in the solar PV panel market, especially in regions with limited land availability. These systems are installed on water bodies, reducing land usage and improving panel efficiency due to cooling effects.

Another significant trend in the solar PV panel market is the adoption of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). These systems are integrated into building structures, such as roofs and facades, combining functionality with aesthetics. This trend is expected to create new opportunities in the solar PV panel market.

Opportunities in Solar PV Panel Market

The solar PV panel market presents numerous growth opportunities driven by increasing investments in renewable energy and technological advancements. The expansion of solar infrastructure in emerging economies is expected to create significant demand for solar panels.

Rural electrification projects and decentralized energy systems are also contributing to the growth of the solar PV panel market. Solar energy provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for regions with limited access to electricity.

Moreover, the transition toward electric vehicles and smart cities is expected to boost the solar PV panel market. Solar-powered charging stations and integrated energy systems are becoming increasingly important in modern infrastructure development.

Challenges in Solar PV Panel Market

Despite its growth potential, the solar PV panel market faces certain challenges. High initial installation costs, although decreasing, remain a barrier for some consumers. Additionally, the efficiency of solar panels can be affected by weather conditions and geographical factors.

Energy storage remains a critical challenge in the solar PV panel market. Although advancements in battery technology are addressing this issue, the cost of storage systems can still be significant.

Recycling and disposal of solar panels at the end of their lifecycle is another concern in the solar PV panel market. Developing sustainable recycling solutions is essential to minimize environmental impact and support long-term growth.

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Linde seals long-term PPA for Spanish solar power from Ib vogt  Renewables Now
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The Austrian manufacturer said its new glass-glass module features 108 back-contact TOPCon half-cells and a power conversion efficiency of 23.52%.
Image: Sonnenkraft
From pv magazine Germany
Austrian solar module manufacturer Sonnenkraft has launched this week a new back-contact TOPCon panel for rooftop applications.
Dubbed 480GG2RNE, the glass-glass module is based on 108 TOPCon half-cells. It offers a power output of 480 W and an efficiency of 23.52%.
The new product measures 1,800 mm x 1,134 mm x 35 mm and weighs 24.5 kg. It is designed for a maximum system voltage of 1,500 V and an operating temperature range of -40 C to 85 C.
The module also features an integrated shading management system designed to reduce power losses under partial shading conditions. The temperature coefficient is listed at -0.26%/C
Sonnenkraft provides a 15-year product warranty for the module and guarantees 99% of the original power output in the first year. The annual linear degradation rate is specified at 0.4% over 30 years.
The company said the back-contact design improves efficiency, shade tolerance, and aesthetics by relocating all electrical contacts to the rear side of the cells. This creates a busbar-free front surface that increases the active cell area exposed to sunlight and gives the module a uniform black appearance.
According to Sonnenkraft, the module is suitable for residential rooftop installations, building-integrated PV, and other design-oriented applications. It is certified under several IEC standards, has passed the HW3 extended hail test, and is resistant to salt mist and ammonia exposure.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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May 7, 2026
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EWEC and Masdar consolidated a new phase for the United Arab Emirates’ energy transition after signing a strategic framework agreement aimed at accelerating the development of large-scale renewable energy projects in Abu Dhabi.
The alliance will enable expedited execution of over 30 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity and over 8 GW of battery energy storage planned by EWEC for 2035. The objective is to strengthen national energy security, diversify the electricity mix, and advance the country’s decarbonization targets.
The agreement was signed by Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, a company that has established itself as one of the fastest-growing global players in renewable energy and green hydrogen.
EWEC, responsible for water and electricity planning and supply in Abu Dhabi, will use this framework to accelerate Masdar’s participation in renewable projects from early development stages through financial close.
The collaboration builds on landmark projects previously developed by both companies, including Al Dhafra Solar PV, Al Ajban Solar PV, and Khazna Solar PV. It also incorporates experience gained from gigawatt-scale solar and energy storage initiatives.
Ahmed Ali Alshamsi explained that the agreement will enable 60% of Abu Dhabi’s energy demand to be met with renewable and clean sources by 2035. He also emphasized that the massive integration of battery storage systems will help ensure long-term electricity supply stability.
One of the central elements of the agreement involves accelerating the deployment of utility-scale infrastructure for photovoltaic generation and energy storage.
EWEC anticipates that installed solar capacity will exceed 30 GW before 2035, while battery systems will surpass 8 GW. This combination will enable more efficient management of renewable energy intermittency and increase power grid reliability.
Beyond the energy impact, the agreement seeks to maximize local value through strengthening Emirati talent, national supply chains, and industrial opportunities linked to the clean energy sector.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi noted that the partnership strengthens the historic cooperation between Masdar and EWEC on energy transformation projects of international scope.
According to him, the accelerated development of solar projects and energy storage will enable the supply of clean and competitive electricity to local industry while increasing national energy security.
The initiative also supports the strategic objectives of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy for 2035 and the United Arab Emirates’ Net Zero 2050 strategy.
Additionally, EWEC maintains a roadmap focused on transforming the emirate’s water and electricity sector, including water production virtually free of emissions by 2030 and greater integration of clean energy into the national electricity system.
Source and photo: Masdar
The project includes the installation of 21 wind turbines supplied by Siemens Gamesa.
The progress ensures harmonious coexistence in the development of strategic assets capable of pumping up to 150,000 barrels per day of heavy crude oil and natural gas.
The 890-megawatt Unit 8 will operate on gas and enable the transition to hydrogen to strengthen the German electricity system.
Electrochemical corrosion in industry depends on thermodynamic and kinetic factors that control its initiation and rate.
Time management and organization at work are key to operational efficiency in asset management.
Continuous ultrasonic monitoring detects corrosion in jetty lines before failure occurs, safeguarding throughput and reducing inspection costs.
Automation and continuous control redefine the management of industrial drainage in terminals.
The use of cloud software reduces time and improves data management in industrial inspections in the energy sector.
NISTM 2026 brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss the latest technological innovations, such as AI, IoT, and cybersecurity.
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The largest solar energy field in Miami University’s history was recently unveiled and school officials heralded the hybrid electrical power and conservation area as a unique feature on the main Oxford campus. Located along the eastern campus near Miami’s SR 73 entrance, the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park gives the school a new, non-traditional source of electrical power along with a new green space, said university officials. (Contributed)
The largest solar energy field in Miami University’s history was recently unveiled and school officials heralded the hybrid electrical power and conservation area as a unique feature on the main Oxford campus. Located along the eastern campus near Miami’s SR 73 entrance, the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park gives the school a new, non-traditional source of electrical power along with a new green space, said university officials. (Contributed)
The largest solar energy field in Miami University’s history was recently unveiled and school officials heralded the hybrid electrical power and conservation area as a unique feature on the main Oxford campus.
Located along the eastern campus near Miami’s SR 73 entrance, the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park gives the school a new, non-traditional source of electrical power along with a new green space, said university officials.
The more than 3,300 solar panels, located at the site of the former Thomson Hall, will feed into the Miami’s existing underground thermal well heating and cooling system underlying much of the campus.
“We believe we are the first in the country, maybe even the world, to have solar panels on top of a geothermal wellfield,” according to a statement from Miami President Gregory Crawford from the recent opening ceremony for the $5 million project.
 “We are extraordinarily grateful to Sharon and Graham Mitchell for their principal gift” that made the park happen,” said Crawford.
According to Miami officials, the park features two solar arrays — Western Solar North and South — with more than 3,300 ground mount solar panels that will produce around 2,000 megawatt hours of electricity annually.
The Western Solar North array sits on top of Miami’s Western Geothermal Well field. Completed in 2014, the wellfield consists of 690 geothermal wells, each 600 feet deep.
The new park also features walking paths, seating areas, lighting and informational signage. Trail connectors from the walking paths lead to nearby Miami Natural Areas trails.
Graham Mitchell, who along with his wife are both Miami graduates, said during the dedication ceremony: “We were recently reminded through the remarkable images from (NASA moon mission) Artemis II about how small and breathtakingly beautiful our world truly is.”
“Today, here at Miami University we gather to take a meaningful step toward sustainability and one that will help protect the fragile beauty for generations to come,” said Mitchell.
“In many ways this moment represents both a small step and a giant leap forward in Miami’s ongoing sustainability journey.”
“The sustainability park is truly extraordinary. We could not have imagined a more beautiful outcome when we were planning it,” he said.
During the ceremony, Sharon Mitchell said “standing here today in this beautiful park we are filled with both gratitude and hope.”
“Our hope is that this place becomes a space of reflection, connection, and inspiration for all who visit,” she said, adding “more importantly, that it encourages current and future generations of Miamians to renew their commitment to sustainability and to the stewardship of our shared home.”
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Texans file thousands of complaints over solar panel deals; state oversight promised  KXAN Austin
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Otero photovoltaic plant in Spain  Iberdrola
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | May 7, 2026
Qcells announced it will collaborate with contractor manufacturer Jabil to make residential energy storage systems in Michigan.
Q.HOME CORE G3
Assembled at Jabil’s Auburn Hills, Michigan facility, the new LFP battery storage system is a domestic-content-eligible version of Qcells’ third-generation residential ESS, known as Q.HOME CORE G3. The product is now commercially available and ready to ship to customers nationwide.
Qcells already has experience with Jabil, which makes microinverters in Michigan for Qcells AC module products.
“Teaming up with Jabil to launch the domestic content version of the Q.HOME CORE G3 battery system marks a significant milestone for Qcells, as we accelerate our efforts to create an integrated domestic solar-plus-storage supply chain,” said Il Hyeong No, head of Qcells North America’s Residential Business. “Pairing our solar panels from Georgia with our battery systems from Michigan can help unlock significant value for homeowners, particularly when installed in the ‘Grid Support’ configuration, paving the way for utility bill savings.”
Q.HOME CORE G3 pairs with Qcells’ AC module products, Q.PEAK DUO AC and Q.TRON AC, which are both assembled in Georgia with the Michigan-manufactured microinverters. Qcells has a vast solar panel manufacturing base in Georgia.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Qcells on assembling the domestic content version of their Q.HOME CORE G3 here in the United States,” said Brent Tompkins, senior VP of Global Business Units, Renewables and Energy Infrastructure, at Jabil. “By combining advanced energy storage innovation with scalable U.S.-based production, this initiative can help strengthen domestic supply chains, support job creation and accelerate the adoption of reliable, clean energy nationwide.”
Jabil is no stranger to the solar and storage markets. The contract manufacturer has previously produced components for Power Electronics, SolarEdge, Powin and more.
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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IMPARTIAL NEWS + INTELLIGENT DEBATE
Account
Charlie Dearman wanted to get off the gas grid after the 'shock' of the Ukraine energy crisis – now sometimes he is even paid for using energy
A homeowner who has invested in solar panels, a heat pump and an electric car to help avoid soaring energy and fuel bills has said he is saving more than £1,000 a year.
Charlie Dearman started thinking about getting off the gas grid following the “shock” of the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He’s now installed solar panels, a battery and a heat pump in his east London home and reduced his monthly energy bill to £65 per month.
Jake Hall, 35, was found dead
at his rented villa this morning, having sustained serious head injuries from smashed glass, reports claim.
The Civil Guard in Palma are investigating Hall’s death, who was on holiday at the time. Police are said to be investigating the theory that he died after “hitting his head against the glass door”.

No arrests have been made but four men and women who were staying at the hotel have been interviewed.
CULTURE
3 min read
TELEVISION
3 min read
The model and footballer shot to fame after appearing on the reality show The Only Way is Essex in 2015, quitting in 2024.

He had a child with fellow reality star Missé Beqiri of The Real Housewives of Cheshire in 2017, and the pair were in an on-and-off relationship. He had a second home in Majorca and often spent time there.
WORLD
2 min read
Heading to the polls for the
local elections today? Here’s everything you need to make
sure you’re able to vote, and
some dos and don’ts for when
you get there
In Scotland and Wales, you won’t need to show ID to vote.
Polling card
You don’t need to bring this with you, but it might speed up the process.
Pen or pencil
These will be provided though you can bring your own if you wish.
NEWS
4 min read
Children are allowed into the polling station with you, though they shouldn’t write on your ballot paper. Pets usually have to be left outside, except assistance dogs,
If you are disabled, you can bring someone with you to help you vote as long as they are over 18 – they do not need to be registered to vote. Polling station staff can also help you, and you are allowed to bring your phone into the polling booth as an accessibility aid.
Taking a photo or video in the ballot booth is illegal, as your vote is meant to be secret.
Campaigning isn’t allowed so don’t speak about candidates or wear political slogans.
People who have been drinking or are drunk can vote, unless they are disruptive.
You don’t have to vote, so there’s no reason for you to turn up at the polling station if you don’t intend to do so. If you do go, it’s worth knowing that:
TRAVEL
Train services across southern England are being disrupted by a fault with a radio system. National Rail Enquiries said the issue relates to how train drivers and signallers communicate.

It warned passengers that services may be delayed by up to 45 minutes or cancelled, and “major disruption is expected until the end of the day”.
The affected operators are CrossCountry, Gatwick Express, Great Western Railway, London Overground, Southern, South Western Railway (SWR) and Thameslink.
Exclusive
4 min read
NEWS
3 min read
TRAVEL
5 min read
news
Three Britons have now left the ship, as one man with symptoms evacuated in the Netherlands and two having flown home before the outbreak was discovered.
Two British people who left the MV Hondius and returned to the UK two weeks ago have been told to self-isolate. Their close contacts are being contacted to let them know the risk.

Three people have died so far from the outbreak on the ship.
Explained
3 min read
About 150 people are still on board the cruise ship, which is now docked in the Canary Islands, including 18 British passengers and four crew members.
They are expected to be flown home by chartered plane once it is confirmed they do not have symptoms. They will also be asked to self-isolate to minimise the risk to the public in the UK.
Hantaviruses are a group of 38 viruses carried by rodents such as rats, mice and voles, most of which can cause disease in humans. Symptoms vary from too mild to be noticed, to severe lung and kidney problems and even death.

It is thought it was brought onto the ship by a Dutch couple who visited a landfill site in Argentina.
I’m very pleased he’s now in hospital and receiving the treatment he needs.
PROFESSOR ROBIN MAY, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AT UKHSA

Martin Anstee, 56, was evacuated from the ship in the Netherlands yesterday after becoming ill with the virus. He is now in hospital and his condition is being monitored.
news
The retailer has become the first in the UK to make a delivery by sky, with a pilot scheme running in Darlington, Country Durham. It hopes to slowly expand the option across the country.
A local farmer let Amazon use his land for test drives, ordering everything he could think of under the designated weight of 5lb (2.2kg) to be delivered.
Exclusive
3 min read
The certainty is people have never told us they want their stuff slower. This is effectively an autonomous drone that can do what a pilot does in a flight deck. It can do what ground crews do, and it can deliver a package.
12ft
Amazon is using its most advanced drone, the MK30, to deliver in Darlington.
At the moment, it only works for those with gardens or backyards for the parcels to be dropped off.
170,000
The number of successful flights completed so far – but more testing is needed before they are approved for UK-wide use.
Drone delivery is already available in five US states.
People who eat eggs more regularly could have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests.
27%
lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s, compared with those who rarely or never eat them.
The research followed nearly 40,000 adults aged 65 and over for an average of 15 years.
980,000
People are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK, with Alzheimer’s the most common cause.
This is forecast to rise to 1.4m by 2040 as the population ages.
Eggs contain choline, which the body uses to make acetylcholine, a chemical involved in memory and learning.
Eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin, the yellow-orange pigments in food which could act as antioxidants.
They also provide some omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with cognitive function.
HEALTH
Researchers have pinpointed the potential cause of a type of stroke suffered by about 35,000 people in the UK every year.

The discovery could explain why widely used treatments don’t work, and could pave the way for new options.
Divorce Diaries
5 min read
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the UK Dementia Research Institute tested and tracked 229 people who had a lacunar or mild non-lacunar stroke. Patients with widened arteries were four times more likely to have a lacunar stroke.
This explains why conventional blood-thinners don’t work and highlights the need for new therapies to target the underlying microvascular damage.
Stroke research is chronically underfunded, with less than 1% of total UK research funding spent on the condition…Yet these findings illustrate the value of research and the potential it has to change the lives of stroke patients.
HEALTH
Scientists have developed an at-home test which can predict a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study led by the University of Exeter.

It involves a finger-prick blood test and an online brain assessment to help identify people at the highest risk.
Finger-prick blood tests look for biomarkers, p-tau217 and GFAP, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.  
Scientists look at the blood test alongside computerised cognitive testing to identify risk.
The test results can be used to prioritise high-risk people for further testing and treatment.
Finger prick blood tests could revolutionise dementia diagnosis – they offer a low cost, scalable way to identify people who may be at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and who should be offered further checks.
Here’s how his costs have broken down:
Dearman lives in a 1930s terraced property in Walthamstow. Two years ago he approached neighbours to see if he could convince others to get solar panels, the idea being that they could get a discount from an installer.
“My initial idea was it’s all well and good doing something yourself for the climate, but obviously it’s got to scale. So I thought if you could get three people to do it with you and they inspire three more people then it rolls on like that,” he said.
A group of eight households on his street were able to obtain a discount from an installer, which brought the initial quote for solar panels and a battery on his home down from £10,000 to £7,000. The cost of the solar panels was £4,000 and the battery was £3,000.
Dearman has calculated that the value of the energy produced by his solar panels last year was £784. This is a combination of the cash he saved by using solar power instead of buying from the grid, and the money he made selling energy back to the grid.
His household used 61 per cent of the energy it generated and sold the rest back to the grid at a price of 15p/kwh.
Based on this calculation, Dearman will pay off the upfront cost of the solar panels in just over five years.
Deciding to invest in a battery has “unlocked loads of value”, according to Dearman. Batteries can store the excess solar energy a household generates, which means it can be used at a later point, for example when it gets dark.
Dearman said many people are not aware that batteries can play another important function that is not related to solar: utilising a “time-of-use” tariff, which varies the cost of electricity based on the time of day.
With these tariffs it is typically cheaper to buy energy during off-peak times, such as overnight, or when there is an abundance of renewable energy in the grid, for example on sunny or windy days.
Dearman utilities his battery in the winter by charging it overnight and using the power during peak times. This means electricity costs him around 6p per unit, compared to an average of 25p per unit from the grid.
He also makes sure to charge his electric vehicle when electricity is cheap. Sometimes he even gets paid to use energy; this happens when there is more renewable energy available than the grid can handle.
“The other day it had been windy and sunny so the electricity price was negative. So I put our car on charge that afternoon and was basically paid £4 to charge the car, which is remarkable as a concept,” he said.
After installing solar and a battery, the natural next step for Dearman was a heat pump. He received a £7,500 grant from the Government, which brought the cost down to £5,000. As he was renovating his property and replacing an old boiler anyway, the investment made sense.
It cost him an average of £27 per month to heat his home using the heat pump last year, compared to an equivalent £80 per month on gas.
Dearman said one of the benefits of using a heat pump was that “you have a constantly perfect temperature inside” as they work most efficiently when they are set to run at a stable temperature at all times.
However, one of the downsides was that installation can be disruptive as most people will need to upgrade their radiators as part of the process.
But for Dearman it is worth no longer being at the whims of global fossil fuel prices. “They came and dug up the gas pipe, which was quite satisfying after our heat pump install,” he said.
Impartial news + intelligent debate
All rights reserved. © 2026 Associated Newspapers Limited.

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A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
Partly cloudy skies. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: May 7, 2026 @ 7:52 am
LUCI WELDON/The Warren Record
A large crowd gathered for Monday night’s commissioners meeting where more than 40 people signed up to speak during the public hearing. Those on both sides of the larger-scale solar farm debate wore buttons or tags to exprss their point of view. A cuuple of speakers praised the opportunity for both sides to come together for a polite discussion.

LUCI WELDON/The Warren Record
A large crowd gathered for Monday night’s commissioners meeting where more than 40 people signed up to speak during the public hearing. Those on both sides of the larger-scale solar farm debate wore buttons or tags to exprss their point of view. A cuuple of speakers praised the opportunity for both sides to come together for a polite discussion.
During a meeting that lasted more than four hours, the Warren County Board of Commissioners Monday night unanimously voted to accept the recommendation of the county Planning Board to not approve any of the text amendments to Warren County’s solar farm ordinance requested by Tyr Energy Development Resources and others. The amendments would have allowed larger-scale solar farms projects with certain conditions such as strict regulations for buffers and decommissioning plans. The board’s decision upholds the county’s existing solar farm ordinance that was amended in 2022 to cap the size of solar farms at 150 acres.
Attorney Thomas E. Terrell, Jr. of Fox Rothchild requested the amendments to the ordinance on behalf of Tyr Energy Development Renewables and subsidiaries Horizon Solar East, LLC and Horizon Solar West LLC (TED Renewables), joined by landowners Harry M. Leete, HD Forestry LLC, and Powell Realm Inc.
Last year, TED Renewables announced its Horizon Solar proposed to be made up of an east site and a west site. Horizon Solar East refers to an area on the south and east sides of the Five Forks intersection off Churchill Road. Horizon Solar West refers to an area south off Paschall Road between Paschall Station Road and Hawtree Creek, just south of the Virginia state line. Combined, the two sites include an estimated 900 acres. The Horizon Solar design capacity is 160 megawatts. The proposed Horizon Solar project involves two sites of approximately 450 acres each that are located about 10 miles apart.
Warren County Planning, Zoning & Code Enforcement Director Mark Bloomer discussed the requested text amendments during the Board of County Commissioners’ April 15 work session and outlined the Planning Board’s vote to not allow any of the requested changes to the county ordinance. During Monday’s meeting, he told commissioners that the main question regarding the requested amendments centered on whether the amendments are consistent with the county’s strategic plan and goals.
In the board agenda packet for the April work session, Bloomer listed some goals of the Comprehensive Plan as follows: encourage participation in programs designed to ensure sustainability of agricultural resources for future generations, encourage a development pattern that protects rural character and key natural assets and encourage preservation of open space and natural resources in new development.
During Monday’s meeting, Bloomer said that the proposed amendments to solar farm ordinance would apply to the whole county, not just the TED Renewables/ Horizon Solar project.
Board of County Commissioners’ Chairman Al Cooper asked about the precedent that the proposed solar farm ordinance amendments would set. Bloomer replied that they would “open the door to solar farms of any size,” adding that such farms could be located next to each other. He also said that the proposed amendments would set a precedent for large-scale development in general.
County Commissioner Tare “T” Davis asked about the size of the largest existing solar farm in Warren County — which came before the 150-acre size limitations. Bloomer said that the largest solar farm is around 700 acres.
Board of County Commissioners Vice Chairman Victor Hunt asked about long-term impacts of the ordinance amendments. Bloomer said that allowing larger solar farms “could potentially tie up large areas of land for 30 years or more.”
Davis asked TED Renewables representatives why the board should consider the requested text amendments.
Dylan Stickney, director of Project Management with TED Renewables, said that TED has been working on the Horizon Solar project for more than five years, and was reaching out to landowners and moving forward with the project before the solar farm ordinance was amended to limit the size to 150 acres. He said that the amendment prevented the development of new projects.
“We want to be a great asset to the county,” Stickney said. “Our first investments in the project were in 2021.”
Cooper asked how many people the Horizon Solar Project would employ. Stickney said that each of the project’s two sites would need 250 construction workers. After completion of the project, there would be four to six employees at each site, he added.
County attorney Shiekel Richardson asked commissioners to remember that the requested text amendments would not focus on one specific project, but would apply to the county as a whole.
The discussion came during a public hearing that preceded the board’s regular monthly meeting.
More than 40 people signed up to speak during the citizens’ comments portion of the public hearing. Depending on who was in favor of the proposed amendments or not, there was loud applause when many of the speakers finished talking. Those in favor of or opposing larger-scale solar projects wore buttons or tags illustrating their point of view.
Those who opposed changing the solar farm ordinance included residents of both Warren County and other areas. One said that runoff from the panels at an existing solar farm near Lake Gaston created a “muddy mess” in the lake. Another asked why TED Renewables representatives didn’t propose locating the Horizon Solar Project in the county where they live “if the project is so great.”
A number of speakers in opposition raised other environmental concerns, contended that electricity generated by the Horizon Solar Project would not go to Warren County residents, and said that allowing one company to amend a county ordinance would mean that all others who want to do the same must be allowed as well. One speaker said that local residents, people from other counties and other states, as well as hunting clubs have told him that the county ordinance should remain the same. Another said that solar farms damage instead of rejuvenate land. One speaker said that the proposed amendments are not consistent with the county’s Comprehensive Plan or zoning ordinance.
A resident of Lawrenceville, Va., said that her home is surrounded by three solar farms, with switchyards scheduled to come to the area.
Others said that community solar is needed, but larger-scale solar is harmful.
The theme of environmental justice was repeated by speakers on both sides of the issue. Those in favor of the proposed amendments referred to solar power as renewable energy that could protect the environment. Those in opposition said that larger-scale solar facilities would harm the environment.
Those who expressed support for the proposed amendments included landowners, other local citizens, and representatives of TED Renewables, the Center for Energy Education and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network.
Representatives of TED Renewables said that plans for the Horizon Solar Project have changed to address local concerns such as setbacks and buffers, and said that the project will bring jobs and other economic benefits to the county. One speaker said that the climate has changed considerably over the past 50 years with impacts such as more intense droughts. He said that solar energy offers the benefit of no pollution.
An Asheville resident and member of its Board of Adjustments said that solar farms such as the Horizon Solar Project provide income for communities while allowing land to “rest” for many years. “Now is the time to invest in partnerships,” she said.
Others said that other North Carolina counties have approved text amendments similar like those that have requested. A number of citizens said that allowing larger-scale solar would bring opportunity to Warren County. One said that the proposed amendments would provide the county with the choice to approve projects that would benefit the county, and deny those that would harm it. Others spoke about allowing landowners to utilize their property as they deemed best.
During the board’s discussion before the vote, Warren County Assistant County Manager Matthew Garner responded to a question about whether existing language about decommissioning in the current ordinance needs to be strengthened. Assistant County Manager Matthew Garner said that state decommissioning requirements would automatically supersede county requirements.
When the board voted to accept the Planning Board’s recommendation not to approve any of the requested amendments, there was loud applause from those who had opposed the requested changes.
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Climate Fund Managers, Ampyr commission 50-MW C&I solar farm in India  Renewables Now
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Queensland has become the first state in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) to discharge over 100GWh from utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in a single month.
The achievement came in April 2026, a month that also saw NEM gas generation fall to 382GWh, down 49% from 745GWh in April 2025, marking the lowest monthly gas generation in over two decades as battery storage continues to displace gas during evening peak periods.
Australia’s utility-scale solar PV and wind assets generated a combined 4.7TWh in April 2026, up 24% from 3.8TWh in the same month last year, according to data from Rystad Energy. The year-on-year increase follows March’s more modest 2% growth, reflecting improved wind conditions across the NEM and continued capacity additions.
Queensland emerged as the standout state for combined utility solar and wind generation, delivering 1,256GWh comprising 678GWh from utility PV and 578GWh from wind. The state’s wind generation jumped 112% year-on-year, reaching 578GWh in April 2026, up from 273GWh in April 2025.
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NEM wind generation reached 2.76TWh in April, up 33% from 2.08TWh in the same month last year, with wind generation increasing year-on-year across all NEM states.
For utility-scale solar PV, the top five best-performing assets in terms of AC capacity factor were concentrated entirely in Queensland and New South Wales. ENEOS Group and Sojitz Corporation’s 204MW Edenvale Solar Park led the rankings with an AC capacity factor of 33.1%, followed by METKA’s 110MW Moura Solar Farm at 32.8% and ACEN Australia’s 400MW Stubbo Stage 2 at 32.6%.
The top-performing wind assets were all located in Queensland and Tasmania. Atmos Renewables and Palisade Investment Partners’ Granville Harbour Wind Farm led at 51.5% capacity factor, followed by Atmos Renewables’ Cattle Hill at 50.4% and Eurus Energy Holdings’ Kennedy Energy wind farm at 48%.
NEM intraday spreads have collapsed as installed battery storage systems ramp up. The average 2-hour intraday spread was less than AU$110 (US$78.85) per MWh across all states except South Australia, which recorded AU$154 per MWh.
Two battery storage projects commenced construction during April: Alinta Energy’s 250MW/1,000MWh Reeves Plains BESS in South Australia, which will be the state’s largest, and Hanwha Energy’s 100MW/200MWh Tangkam battery storage system in New South Wales.
Geoff Eldridge of consultancy Global Power Energy estimates that approximately 571GWh of renewable energy generation was curtailed across the NEM in April, comprising 316GWh of wind and 255GWh of solar. Victoria recorded the highest curtailment at 255GWh, followed by New South Wales at 122GWh, South Australia at 100GWh and Queensland at 95GWh.
To read the full article, please visit our sister site PV Tech.
Interested in Australia? Read Energy-Storage.news’ Energy Storage Summit Australia coverage and related content.

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Singapore Declines Residential Solar Subsidies as Installation Costs Continue to Fall  SolarQuarter
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Adding to three other solar arrays near Disney property in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the company’s newest solar installation has pushed its Walt Disney World Resort over the proverbial solar tipping point.
Energized in late April, the 74.5 MW facility takes up about 484 acres in Levy County, Florida, about 130 miles northwest of Walt Disney World itself. Constructed and now operated by Levy County-based Bronson Solar and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the site helps Disney diversify its solar energy procurement to multiple areas of the Sunshine State.
Not only that, but Disney Parks & Resorts representatives say the new site makes a fully solar-powered Walt Disney World a reality.
“At Walt Disney World in Florida, on a sunny day in spring or summer, together four solar projects now can produce up to 100% of the daytime power needs of the entire resort – spread across four theme parks, two water parks, dozens of hotels, and more,” the company says. “This new facility joins Walt Disney World’s fan-favorite ‘Hidden Mickey’ solar array, a 5,000-kilowatt installation shaped like Mickey Mouse near EPCOT, along with other large solar projects across Florida.”
Allowing Disney World’s parks, hotels, and auxiliary buildings to operate on solar power would be equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 140,000 metric tons, the company says. That amount of energy could also power the company’s monorail system for 34 years.

Power Disney World, and Disney worldwide

The Walt Disney Company has made a point in recent years to turn to more renewable energy sources, with the company setting a lofty goal of net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2030. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California also sports a 400 kW rooftop solar project, which the company says produces energy for its Radiator Springs Racers, based on the ‘Cars’ film franchise.
Alongside its U.S. solar installations, the entertainment giant has installed rooftop and carport solar systems at its three Asian sites in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
And in Europe, Disneyland Paris sports the largest solar canopy plant on the continent. Producing 36 GWh each year, the massive carport covers more than 11,200 parking spaces and produces enough energy to power a town of more than 17,400 people.
The company has also taken its renewable energy installations to its cruise liners. Representatives say the firm has two installations at its Bahamas cruise destinations, Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay. In total, the installations provide about 3.9 MW of solar power.
But for now, the Floridian sites may be the company’s most consequential installations to date.
“In total across four sites, (Walt Disney World) now has 212,000 kilowatts of solar capacity, with over 600,000 solar panels — generating roughly enough energy to power over 19,000 Florida homes for one year,” say officials from Disney Experiences. “On a bright spring or summer day, together these projects can now produce up to 100% of the resort’s daytime power needs, helping support one of the largest vacation destinations in the world.”

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Solar farm flares up again  Republic-Times | News
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Peoria County solar project uses sheep for land maintenance  CIProud.com
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Displaced residents in Gaza are relying on tents equipped with solar panels to provide them a lifeline to the outside world, with these makeshift charging stations helping people keep their phones topped up and stay connected amid frequent power outages.
With the Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted in 2023 having wiped out nearly all infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, power supply shortages remain a serious issue in the war-torn region, with many areas relying on only a limited supply or going completely without electricity altogether.
An unassuming tent which has popped up in Gaza City is now viewed as an important outlet for residents facing power cuts. Fitted with solar panels on its roof, this facility provides just enough juice for people to charge their mobile phones.
The tent’s owner, Mohammed Sarsawi, initially bought just one solar panel for his own personal use. But as neighbors began coming by and asking him to charge their phones, he added an additional panel and expanded the space inside to provide this much-needed service to locals.
“This is a place that provides charging services. Gaza has been without power for nearly three years. Even now, our area is completely without electricity. People are forced to find alternatives. Currently, the only feasible option is solar panels. There is an extremely big demand for this service, because everyone needs a mobile phone and access to the internet,” said Mohammed.
In Gaza, mobile phones are seen as an essential tool for survival. From obtaining rescue information and contacting relatives to handling medical procedures and arranging transportation, every aspect of life depends on them.
Mohammed’s tent is also proving critical for many facing emergency situations, including Abu Urba, who traveled to Gaza City to seek medical treatment for his son. After searching everywhere for a place to power his phone after his battery went dead, he was relieved to finally find this solution. “I came from out of town this morning, but my phone was dead. I tried to charge it at the hospital, but there were no such facilities. I had to search everywhere for a place to charge my phone, and finally I managed to find this charging point. I’m very grateful. We can’t live without our phones, whether in the hospital or on the road,” he said.
Due to the high demand and the slow speed of charging, people often have to wait two to three hours to get their phones back fully charged. But given the lack of other options, this tent has become the only means for residents to maintain contact with the outside world.
However, keeping the tent operational is also proving a challenge for Mohammed, with concerns over soaring costs meaning he is hoping his current equipment can stay reliable for as long as possible.
“My biggest problem right now is that once the solar panels break, I can’t find replacements. A few months ago, a solar panel cost about 1,000 U.S. dollars, but now the price for the same product has risen to 3,000 or even 4,000 U.S. dollars. It’s also hard to find replacements for broken batteries,” said Mohammed.
The situation here is just a microcosm of the broader survival crisis in Gaza, with the severe electricity shortages not only affecting mobile phone charging but also disrupting all facets of daily life, with homes, hospitals, and water stations all without power, leaving the future uncertain.
Tent fitted with solar panels provides lifeline to Gaza residents amid power outages
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. surged to 4.536 U.S. dollars on Wednesday, a jump of more than 50 percent since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
AAA data show that since the U.S. and Israel began military action against Iran in late February, U.S. oil prices spiked by 48 cents within the first week of March, a weekly increase very close to the record surge of 60 cents seen in March 2022.
The primary driver of the recent rise is the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit chokepoint, with some U.S. experts accusing the American naval blockade of Iranian ports, imposed on April 13, of deepening the energy crunch.
In states with higher taxes and refining costs, such as California, local gas prices have climbed significantly above the national average.
Broader economic data also reflect the toll. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported on April 30 that the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index rose 3.5 percent year on year in March, the highest since June 2023. Analysts say the steep rise in gasoline prices is among the key factors pushing inflation higher.
US average gas prices rise 50 pct since Iran conflict
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Nova Energy and Meridian Energy have marked the installation of the first modules at the 400MW Te Rahui Solar Farm in Rangitāiki, near Taupō, in New Zealand.
The two companies took to LinkedIn to state that the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, Beon Energy Solutions, has delivered the first five rows.
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The installation represents the first visible construction progress at what will become New Zealand’s largest solar PV power plant when complete.
Te Rahui will include 900,000 solar PV modules spread across a 1,022-hectare site that was previously used as a dairy farm. The JV plans to incorporate sheep grazing under solar modules into the project design in a practice known as agrivoltaics.
Nova Energy CEO Rob Foster described the moment as “shared progress” and “turning investment into real infrastructure on the ground,” while Meridian Energy emphasised the collaborative nature of the project involving iwi, industry, communities and councils.
The 400MW project being developerd as part of a joint venture between state-owned Meridian Energy and Nova Energy, a Wellington-headquartered subsidiary of conglomerate Todd Corporation, is being developed in two phases.
The first 200MW phase received NZ$300 million (US$176.6 million) in investment and is slated to begin commercial operations in mid-2026, reaching full capacity by mid-2027.
A final investment decision on the 200MW second stage is pending, though both parties have indicated plans to advance it quickly.
Nova Energy secured resource consent for Te Rahui in April 2024. Meridian Energy signed a power purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the electricity generated at the project and secured a Contract for Difference with Nova for half of this output.
When the project was announced, it ranked among New Zealand’s largest solar developments, though it was still smaller than the proposed 1GW Helios Energy NZ Solar PV Park.
Meridian CEO Mike Roan previously described the joint venture as a “real win-win,” stating that “Te Rahui is a big undertaking and sharing the investment and offtake makes strong commercial sense for both parties, while the project will also benefit home and business customers by further strengthening security of supply.”
The Te Rahui development forms part of Meridian’s broader renewables expansion.
The Wellington-headquartered company plans to build seven large-scale renewable energy projects by 2030 and has committed NZ$2 billion in investment over the next three years to add over 1,000MW of new capacity to New Zealand’s electricity system.
Meridian secured final planning consent from the Environment Court in October 2025 for its 120MW Ruakaka solar plant in Tai Tokerau, Northland, which will use 250,000 modules to generate 150-250GWh of electricity annually. Construction on that project started in mid-2025 and is expected to finish in early 2027.

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MCA cuts ribbon on Africa’s largest off-grid solar-BESS park  Renewables Now
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Thursday, May 7, 2026
A computer scientist in Melbourne is attempting what no regulator has managed to do yet — reach into Australians’ homes, peek at their rooftop solar data, and use that to more accurately forecast what the generation juggernaut will do next.
The rewards, Julian de Hoog says, will be felt by the market regulator, virtual power plants, and homeowners who can see whether their systems are performing properly.
Rooftop solar has long been the freewheeling maverick of the energy world, torching the business plans of grid-scale generators from solar through to coal plants while bedevilling unprepared network operators and regulators. 
Predicting what these huge power plants are doing at any given time of the day is becoming very important, says de Hoog, the founder of Solstice AI.
“That broader regional forecast becomes really valuable to AEMO [the Australian Energy Market Operator] to run the market, but it also becomes really valuable to anybody participating in the market,” de Hoog tells Renew Economy.
“Let’s say sudden cloud cover forms just outside of Sydney. Bands of clouds move across Sydney, and all the solar PV stops generating at the same time. It’s like losing a power plant and that void needs to be filled.
“That’s an opportunity, if you have a battery or a [gas] peaker, that’s your chance to get into the market, because it’s really necessary at that point, and you’re going to get really well reimbursed.”
Rooftop solar in New South Wales (NSW), for example, is the second largest generator in the state at 8.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, according to Open Electricity, and will soon overtake coal.
Across the National Electricity Market (NEM), which covers all but Western Australia and the Northern Territory, rooftop solar is the largest generator at 23.9 GW, with the next  being black coal at 17.1 GW, Open Electricity data shows.
But Australians’ scepticism of handing over control of their private energy empires means little of this is orchestrated under a virtual power plant (VPP) or other means. 
De Hoog says his software, however, can at the very least offer more minute-by-minute insight into what it’s doing now, and what will do in the minutes and even hours into the future. 
Satellite imagery finds all of the rooftop solar panels in an area and then they partner with, say, a VPP or an electricity retailer or inverter manufacturers to get the exact data – with homeowner permission – from a proportion of houses in that area. 
That data provides a baseline as to how each individual rooftop system performs.
Then, instead of using weather forecasts and user-generated data from the likes of PVOutPut.org, as AEMO does to guess at how much power rooftop solar is exporting into the grid, Solstice AI uses the house-level data.
It can show, for example, that homes in eastern Sydney for example are only performing at 40 per cent, so there must be clouds going across.
“AEMO do their absolute best to [forecast rooftop solar] well, and they have their own systems for doing that. But ultimately, these are just estimates,” de Hoog says.
“[In our system] every single house becomes a solar sensor. It’s telling you how much solar is reaching that house.
“We can skip all these things that are really complicated to model and forecast, like cloud movement and weather and so on, and just use the ground truth, the actual measurements from these houses.”
It sounds simple – get data from houses, model – and something the likes of AEMO which needs to manage the grid should be able to do.
But de Hoog says it’s harder than it looks. 
He says each home has an individual “fingerprints” which depends on the angle of the panels, any shading, and even seasonal shading, which means getting a baseline of performance takes more data and longer than just uploading a single data file. 
Turning each of those data points, with their own idiosyncrasies, into a geospatial estimate is also complicated, he says. 
The risk with using household data for commercial purposes is that Australians, already cynical about the motives of companies towards their often-expensive home investments, will decline to participate. 
De Hoog says his tech is not just for big business, however. 
VPPs in particular are saying it will be useful for them to be able to find out which houses are underperforming and allow them, or the homeowner, to do something about it.  
That’s particularly useful for VPPs which specialise in owning, installing and operating solar-batteries for the home, but also for the bring-your-own-device VPPs which need to justify curtailing exports to the grid.
“If I’m a VPP, I might intentionally choose to curtail solar throughout hours of the day because the price is negative and it’s not good to generate. But then you want to demonstrate to all of your customers how much you’ve saved them,” de Hoog says.
“Another is forecasting engines. Every one of these VPPs has their own forecasting engine, which takes in all of their fleet and how much they’re all generating. 
“When you add new sites, you don’t have a history there, and training your forecasting model comes hard. And so we can recreate the history of that house… and suddenly you have a year of data to feed into your forecast.”
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Rachel Williamson is a science and business journalist, who focuses on climate change-related health and environmental issues.
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Thursday, May 7, 2026
China solar giant Trina has launched a new high powered, high efficiency rooftop PV module designed specifically for the Australian market, where households are squeezing as much generating capacity on their roofs as possible to fill the home batteries they are installing at a record-shattering rate.
Trinasolar launched the Vertex S+ 515 watt (W) module at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney on Wednesday, a move the company says was in direct response to Australian installer feedback.
“Because of the Cheaper Home Battery program, everyone… wants to install maximum battery size in their house and, of course, they need to install more solar, to [fill] the battery,” says Edison Zhou, the head of Australia at Trinasolar Asia Pacific.
“Last year, we launched a 475 W panel for the Australia market, but [by the end of the year] the installers said they needed an even higher power-class, higher efficiency product.
“So after the New Year holiday, our [research and development] team started to design this new product for the Australia market,” Zhou told Renew Economy, on the sidelines of the conference. “It’s very fast. In just one quarter we have [the finished product].
“This allows for greater system capacity within a given footprint, while maintaining flexibility in system design depending on inverter selection.”
The module is built on the company’s latest n-type i-TOPCon ultra cell architecture and delivers efficiency of 24.7 per cent within a standard rooftop module footprint of 1842mm x 1134mm (approximately 2.09m²), resulting in higher energy yield per square metre.
Its design incorporates the zero-busbar and zero-gap technologies that Trinasolar says help enhance efficiency and minimise electrical losses. It also ises high reliability light double glass which is less prone to micro-cracks and scratches on the backside.
A lower voltage design also enables more flexible string sizing, meaning that installers can optimise system layouts across a range of inverter configurations, providing greater design flexibility – especially in situations where system configuration is constrained by rooftop layout or electrical limits.
Zhou says that Trinasolar is always looking to the Australian market to help guide its innovation and its future product design, particularly in the residential and commercial rooftop markets.
“Australia is always leading the technology, always pushing us to continue to develop our product innovation,” Zhou told Renew Economy on Wednesday.
“So that’s why we really appreciate the Australian market – they always just push the manufacturer to do more, to develop our technology, which is good for us, too.”
The Vertex S+ 515W module is now available for preorder and is expected to be available in Australia from early in the third quarter, subject to final certification and product listing requirements.
Modules will come with a product warranty of up to 25 years and 30 years power warranty.
The timing is good, because – as Renew Economy reported on Wednesday – the Australian home battery boom is fuelling a parallel boom and more records in rooftop solar installations, with 442 megawatts (MW) of new small-scale PV capacity registered nationwide in April – a 31 per cent month-on-month jump and and the strongest month in STC history, according to SunWiz.
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From pv magazine Germany
The Swiss balancing energy market is opening up to smaller, decentralized assets. Until now, the grid operator Swissgrid has sourced balancing energy mainly from large power plants and industrial facilities.
Novagrid AG, which specializes in digital grid integration and virtual power plant solutions, and AMAG Energy, the renewable energy and energy trading arm of the AMAG Group, are now extending access to commercial and industrial photovoltaic systems, as well as rooftop installations on apartment buildings.
With the “AMAG Energy Flexpool,” existing PV systems can, for the first time, be certified and operate within the Swiss balancing energy system entirely remotely and without additional hardware, the companies said on Monday.
Under this model, PV system operators can participate directly in balancing energy market revenues, while self-consumption remains fully possible, with the systems being aggregated into a virtual power plant. AMAG Energy will handle fiduciary marketing and optimize system performance over the long term for the benefit of pool members. The scale of the pool reportedly enables competitive bids to be placed on Swissgrid’s balancing energy market.
The systems are integrated via the VPN solution Nova Connect, which supports the connection of compatible data loggers and ensures a secure internet connection to the grid, according to Novagrid.
In addition to maximizing self-consumption, the solution ensures that PV systems do not feed electricity into the grid during periods of negative electricity prices through a fully automated process.
In 2025, Switzerland added 1,526 MW of new solar capacity, down from 1,798 MW in 2024 and 1,640 MW in 2023. Despite the decline, growth in residential storage, building electrification, and EV integration points to a gradual market recovery.
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Solar energy has saved Europe more than €100 million per day since 1 March, totaling more than €3 billion. Wind and solar power have reduced electricity prices by an average of 24% between 2023 and 2025. If gas prices remain high, total savings in 2026 could reach €67.5 billion.
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A new report from the advocacy group Positive Money has analyzed the electricity markets in 19 European countries. The report shows that the expansion of renewable energy has reduced electricity prices by an average of 24.2 percent between 2023 and 2025. The impact on prices grows stronger as more renewable energy is connected to the grid.
According to the report, renewable energy displaces more expensive fossil fuel generation from the electricity mix. This pushes down wholesale electricity prices.
Since 2019, Spain has doubled its wind and solar capacity. The country has added more than 40 GW, more than any other EU country except Germany. The German electricity market is twice the size of the Spanish one.
The expansion has made the Spanish electricity price significantly less affected by the price of gas. The price of gas rose by 55 percent the day after the war with Iran began and has continued to fluctuate.
In the United Kingdom, wind power set a new record on 26 March. British wind power generation reached 23,880 megawatts. That is enough to supply 23 million homes with electricity.
An analysis from SolarPower Europe shows that solar energy has saved Europe more than €100 million per day since 1 March. Total savings amount to more than €3 billion.
If gas prices remain high, total savings in 2026 could reach €67.5 billion, according to experts.
Positive Money highlights two conclusions for policy. In countries with limited wind and solar capacity, further expansion is the easiest way to reduce wholesale electricity prices.
In countries that already have large wind and solar capacity, system flexibility should be built out. This includes investments in batteries to store surplus electricity, encouraging rooftop solar, and introducing variable electricity tariffs that balance supply and demand.
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Consumers rank affordability, efficiency, quality, and safety as the most important factors in a car in 2026, areas where electric vehicles perform strongly. The BMW iX3 Neue Klasse won both Electric Vehicle of the Year and the Car of the Year award.
San Diego is negotiating with Arizona and Nevada to sell water from North America's largest desalination plant. The agreement could supply roughly 500,000 people with drinking water annually. San Diego has reduced its water imports from 95 percent to 10 percent over three decades.
Solar and wind accounted for 99% of the growth in global electricity demand during 2025. Solar energy grew by 636 TWh – more electricity than all LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuz can produce. For the first time, coal power accounts for less than a third of the world's electricity generation.
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Credits: Tera, Acciona
A plot of land in western Spain seemed like the perfect place for a solar plant.
Flat terrain. Wide open spaces. No obvious obstacles.
But as crews began clearing the area, buried deep beneath the surface was evidence of a far older world. Fragments of pottery. Pieces of tools.
Crews at the Casas de Hito site expected solar panels. They found a prehistoric pentagon.
The foundation followed a geometric precision that defied the surrounding natural terrain. The deeper they went, the stranger things became.
What 5,000-year-old structure was found in Spain?
Discovery took place near Almendralejo, in Spain’s Extremadura region. Workers preparing the site uncovered several archaeological remains.
Excavations revealed 11 distinct archaeological zones across 100 hectares, dating back to 3300 BC.
They quickly identified at least 11 separate sites across the region.
Sites that spanned thousands of years of human history. From the Copper Age to the Bronze Age. And even a few from the Roman era.
The region was occupied almost constantly. For at least a millennium.
But one feature stood out from the rest.
Beneath the soil was a massive geometric structure unlike anything of the time.
Unlike circular huts common to the era, this site’s perimeter utilized sharp, calculated angles.
And it pointed to a level of organization beyond simple settlements.
As the excavations expanded, this odd structure began to take shape.
It was certainly not just a collection of ruins.
Other energy projects have unearthed similar Bronze Age artifacts. But this one followed a specific pattern.
Experts uncovered several defensive features carved into the terrain in Spain.
Deep trenches. Reinforced boundaries. Controlled entry points.
The sheer scale pointed to coordination and planning.
Researchers found macro-villages protected by 15-foot-deep trenches cut directly into the limestone.
These trenches weren’t just deep; they formed a five-pointed defensive circuit designed for 360-degree surveillance.
Was this some sort of ancient weapon or military site? It definitely was not a temporary settlement.
It was intentionally built to stand the test of time. And it has.
Experts found evidence of weapons.
The people who once lived there were protecting something. But what?
A severe drought took place in the region during the third millennium BC.
This could explain the heavy fortifications found.
But something about this structure was still confounding experts.
The layout utilized a unique polygon symmetry rarely seen in Neolithic Europe.
Analysis by Acciona Energía and local archaeologists confirmed the site was a power center for the Guadiana River valley.
Archaeologists quickly uncovered something unexpected.
A massive Copper Age fortress used by the people in the region over 5,000 years ago.
Its design was far more complex than anyone had expected.
The crown jewel is a massive pentagonal citadel, a five-sided bastion of stone and timber.
Three concentric walls encircled the settlement. Beyond those were moats carved into solid rock.
At the site, experts found several ancient weapons scattered across the area.
Arrowheads, old tools, and remnants of daily life pointed to something.
A community under pressure. Evidence suggests the people who lived there met a violent end.
Signs of fire and destruction indicate the structure was possibly overrun by the enemy.
The pentagonal shape allowed soldiers to monitor threats from multiple sides. This level of planning was extraordinary for the time.
And it challenges previously held beliefs about these early communities in the region.
This has transformed into one of Spain’s most important archaeological discoveries.
Renewable energy sites are doing so much more than just generating power. They are opening up a time capsule of a forgotten past.
© 2026 by Ecoportal
© 2026 by Ecoportal

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If built, The Droves solar farm near Swaffham will be in place for 60 years
Public hearings are being held by the Planning Inspectorate into a project to build one of the largest solar farm schemes in the UK.
The Droves, which would cover an area equivalent of 1,175 football pitches, is earmarked for land between Swaffham and Castle Acre in Norfolk.
Concerns were raised at the meeting by locals about the scale of the project and the impact it would have on the distinctive environment of the Brecks.
The firm developing the plan, Island Green Power (IGP), said the panels were "temporary" and that the land could be returned to agricultural use within 60 years.
Project developer Harman Sond said large scale sites were needed to meet the government's renewable energy goals
The 2,075-acre development would be built on farmland close to Swaffham and IGP said it would generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 115,000 homes annually.
The government, which has the final say on the development, has been inviting public comments on the proposals.
One of those who spoke at the Planning Inspectorate meeting was Tim Hubbard, the chair of Castle Acre Parish Council, who raised concerns about the scale of the project.
"I'm certainly not anti-solar," he said.
"I have solar panels on my roof at home – I am a supporter of solar power.
"I, however, feel that this is really one of the worst locations that they could have picked in terms of the impact it will have on local communities, heritage assets and agricultural land."
Concerns have been raised about how panels will impact pilots flying into RAF Marham
Harman Sond, project development manager at IGP, said they were taking the concerns of locals seriously and remained open to modifying their plans.
"We think that the scale is appropriate because we've done several assessments looking at various things, various areas like landscape, visual heritage, ecology, we've taken the results of all of that, we've come up with this based on what we think is an appropriate scale," he said.
A second day of hearings will take place on Thursday and will include evidence from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) about the potential impact of the solar panels on pilots at RAF Marham.
The MOD confirmed it would oppose the project due to concerns about glint and glare.
Large solar farms are a major part of the government's plans to transition to green power, with the aim of tackling climate change and making the UK less reliant on foreign energy.
Because of the scale of such projects, it will decide on planning permission for them, rather than local authorities.
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Two of Argentine’s most popular football clubs – River Plate and Vélez Sarsfield – are advancing solar energy projects at their Buenos Aires stadiums to cut operating costs and expand on-site renewable generation.
Image: Carlos Trillo y Coral
From pv magazine Latam
Argentine football clubs River Plate and Vélez Sarsfield are advancing solar energy projects at their stadiums in Buenos Aires, aiming to reduce operating costs and increase on-site renewable generation.
Vélez has already begun installing a photovoltaic system on the roof of the José Amalfitani Stadium in the Liniers district. Construction started in March and includes 210 Trina Solar 570 W bifacial modules, delivering a planned capacity of 120 kW.
The system will cover approximately 1,250 m² and is expected to generate around 176.44 MWh per year. Energy will be primarily used for self-consumption across club facilities, with the option to export surplus electricity to the grid under Argentina’s distributed generation framework.
The project is being developed by Coral Energía, a company linked to the Corven Group, and is among the first photovoltaic installations at a stadium in Argentina’s top football division. Completion is expected within two months.
River Plate is meanwhile evaluating a larger solar deployment as part of its planned full roofing of the Monumental Stadium, which is set to expand capacity to 101,000 spectators. The proposal, put forward by a minority faction within the club, includes installing photovoltaic panels on the roof structure, adjacent buildings, and parking areas.
Preliminary estimates suggest the system could generate 6,500–7,000 MWh annually through an on-grid configuration fully financed by private investment, requiring no upfront capital from the club. The project could cover up to 70% of the stadium’s electricity demand, currently estimated at around $50,000 per month in energy costs.
The solar installation is integrated into a broader redevelopment of the Monumental, which includes new stands and full roof coverage. Construction is scheduled to begin this year and is expected to take around 36 months, with total investment exceeding $100 million.
The use of photovoltaic systems in stadiums is already established elsewhere in Latin America. In Brazil, the Mineirão stadium operates a 1.5 MW rooftop solar plant comprising around 6,000 panels, installed ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in its latest report, has introduced the firm levelised cost of electricity (F-LCOE) as a project-level benchmark for assessing the economics of flat, firm, round-the-clock renewable power.
In its report, 24/7 Renewables: The Economics of Firm Solar and Wind, IRENA introduced the F-LCOE metric to analyse renewable energy projects and evaluate the economics of delivering reliable, round-the-clock clean power.
Unlike the conventional levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), which captures only plant-level generation costs, the firm LCOE also accounts for the additional capital required to achieve specified reliability targets through battery storage, generation overbuild, and complementary renewable energy sources.
IRENA’s analysis shows that firm renewable energy costs have declined rapidly, driven by falling costs of solar PV, onshore wind, and battery storage technologies. Since 2010, total installed costs have declined by 87% for solar PV and 55% for onshore wind, while battery storage costs have fallen by an even steeper 93%.

Commenting on IRENA’s new report, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The worst energy crisis in decades has exposed the true cost of fossil fuel dependence. But another path is now possible. Renewable power is increasingly the most affordable, reliable and secure option.”
The report highlights a rapid decline in global firm LCOEs for solar-plus-storage projects, although costs remain higher outside China.
Across several high-quality renewable energy regions — including Bahia State in Brazil, the Thar Desert in India, Southern Queensland in Australia, and the Northwest Province in South Africa — firm LCOEs in 2025 ranged between USD 65/MWh and USD 82/MWh. In comparison, unfirmed LCOEs were significantly lower, ranging from USD 29/MWh to USD 39/MWh.
By 2030, firm renewable energy costs across most of these locations are projected to decline further to between USD 44/MWh and USD 58/MWh, reflecting continued reductions in the installed costs of solar PV systems and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Comparing firm wind-plus-storage systems with solar-plus-storage projects, the report found wind-plus-storage costs to be generally higher at similar reliability targets, despite onshore wind typically having lower unfirmed LCOEs than solar PV.
IRENA estimates for 2025 show that firm wind-plus-storage costs ranged from approximately USD 59/MWh in China to between USD 88/MWh and USD 94/MWh across Brazil, Germany, and Australia. These costs are projected to decline to around USD 49/MWh–75/MWh by 2030 and USD 46/MWh–67/MWh by 2035.
In the United States, new combined-cycle gas turbines have reached record costs of USD 102/MWh, broadly in line with firm solar and wind costs at 90–95% reliability levels in high-resource regions.
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, solar-plus-storage systems are approaching near-continuous electricity supply at a firm LCOE of around USD 70/MWh, making them competitive with combined-cycle gas generation even in markets where fossil fuels remain relatively inexpensive.
Another major cost driver identified in the report is the selected reliability target. Figure 5 of the report illustrates its impact on the firm LCOE of wind-plus-storage systems. At moderate reliability levels of 80–90% in high-quality renewable resource regions, hybrid renewable systems can meet demand cost-effectively using manageable levels of storage and generation overbuild.

Beyond this threshold, costs rise non-linearly, as each additional percentage point of reliability requires disproportionately higher storage capacity or generation overbuild. For most commercial and industrial applications, the 80–90% reliability range represents the most cost-effective balance between affordability and supply certainty.
In 2024, new utility-scale onshore wind projects recorded the world’s lowest global weighted average levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) at USD 35/MWh, followed by solar PV at USD 44/MWh and hydropower at USD 58/MWh. However, the LCOE metric captures only project-level costs, primarily covering construction and operational expenditures incurred within plant boundaries.
Looking ahead, the research suggests that the declining technology costs for both solar PV and battery storage are expected to significantly reduce firm LCOEs over time. Under the cost trajectories outlined in the report’s technical annexes, the firm LCOE for the analysed configuration is projected to decline below USD 80/MWh by 2030 and further below USD 60/MWh by 2035.
Using International Renewable Energy Agency’s Renewable Cost Database, firm LCOEs were estimated for a large sample of utility-scale solar PV and onshore wind projects commissioned in 2024 across China, the United States, and other selected global markets. The analysis combines project-level cost data with location-specific hourly generation profiles to assess how technology costs, resource quality, and reliability requirements interact across different market environments.
IRENA’s analysis of solar-plus-battery configurations across multiple countries shows that firm renewable energy costs have declined from above USD 100/MWh in 2020 to around USD 54/MWh–82/MWh by 2025 across high-irradiance solar regions and strong wind corridors.
Further cost reductions of nearly 30% by 2030 and around 40% by 2035 are projected, potentially bringing firm renewable energy costs below USD 50/MWh at the best-performing sites by 2035.
The Al Dhafra Solar PVcomplex in the United Arab Emirates, which combines solar PV with battery storage, already demonstrates this trend in practice by delivering a firm 1 GW of clean electricity at around USD 70/MWh.
Firm wind-plus-storage systems are also becoming increasingly competitive. IRENA estimates for 2025 show that firm wind-plus-storage costs ranged from around USD 59/MWh in Inner Mongolia to approximately USD 88/MWh–94/MWh across Brazil, Germany, and Australia. These costs are projected to decline further to around USD 49/MWh–75/MWh across these markets by 2030.
The report added that costs decline further when wind is combined with solar PV, as complementary generation profiles help reduce storage requirements and overall system costs.

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IRENA Says Solar, Wind And Battery Storage Can Now Deliver Reliable 24/7 Power At Lower Costs Than Fossil Fuels  SolarQuarter
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Thieves Are Stealing Chile’s Solar Panels and Cashing In on the Black Market  Bloomberg
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Australia’s New South Wales government has introduced legislation to accelerate the delivery of renewable energy infrastructure as the state’s coal-fired power stations prepare to exit the system.
The Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026 enables the energy minister to identify and prioritise the highest-value projects in the planning pipeline.
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The proposed law will allow streamlined approvals for generation, storage and network projects while maintaining all environmental and community assessment requirements.
Developers will still be required to meet planning, environmental and consultation obligations, with priority projects expected to demonstrate best practice in engagement with landholders and communities, particularly in regional areas.
The NSW energy and climate change minister, Penny Sharpe, said the legislation would ensure the infrastructure needed to support heavy industry, including the Tomago aluminium smelter, does not delay in the planning queue.
“This new legislation will mean infrastructure projects that are critical for manufacturing jobs, economic growth and energy affordability don’t get stuck in the queue. No matter where you live in this state, you will benefit from us getting on with the job and delivering quality renewable energy projects as fast as we can,” Sharpe said.
The Tomago smelter, which consumes more than 12% of NSW’s electricity demand, had faced potential closure when its power supply contract expired in 2028 before the federal and state governments intervened in December 2025 to secure its future with a fixed-price, long-term power purchase agreement backed by new renewable energy infrastructure.
Renewable energy already provides approximately 36% of NSW’s annual electricity supply, with the state recording multiple periods during summer 2025-26 when renewables accounted for more than 80% of the electricity supply mix.
The state has approved 13.76GW of renewable energy generation projects, 18.91GW of energy storage system projects, and 2GW of long-duration storage since 2019, and is targeting at least 16GW of new renewable energy generation by 2030.
Planning minister Paul Scully said assessment times for renewable energy projects have been reduced by almost 20% since 2023, with 50% more approvals delivered over the same period.
“With a growing pipeline of energy projects ahead of us, we need a planning system that can support achieving our ambitious energy targets. Since 2023, we’ve already reduced assessment times for renewable energy projects by almost 20 per cent while delivering 50% more approvals,” Scully said.
The new legislation will enshrine the NSW Benefit-Sharing Guideline in law, ensuring councils and communities hosting projects receive associated benefits.
More than AU$180 million (US$130 million) in benefits have been committed to communities since the guideline’s introduction in November 2024, in addition to the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) community and employment benefit funds coordinated by EnergyCo.
The government is also developing reforms to improve how projects are referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination, with Scully stating the changes will ensure NSW residents maintain a strong voice while avoiding unnecessary delays to energy projects.
He said the reforms would prevent critical projects from being delayed by objections from people thousands of kilometres away who will not be impacted by them.
This is the latest development in NSW. In recent months, construction has commenced on the Hunter-Central Coast REZ transmission project, which will connect renewable energy generation in the Hunter region to demand centres.
EnergyCo has also submitted federal approval applications for the New England REZ transmission infrastructure, which will help unlock 6GW of renewable energy capacity by 2034 through 290km of 500kV transmission lines and five energy hubs spanning seven local government areas.
As reported by PV Tech earlier this year, NSW broke the 1TWh solar generation barrier in December 2025, with the state’s solar output surging as part of Australia’s broader renewables expansion. 

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Zambia Commissions Largest Solar Facility As CEC Launches 60 MW Itimpi Solar PV Park  SolarQuarter
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French independent power producer (IPP) Neoen has brought its 440MWp Culcairn Solar Farm online in New South Wales, marking the completion of the company’s second-largest solar asset globally.
The project, located on Wiradjuri Country near the town of Culcairn in the south-east Murray region, was constructed in under two years with a peak workforce of 600 people, representing 152 full-time equivalent positions.
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Culcairn, often referred to as the ‘Oasis of the Riverina’, is an agricultural centre in New South Wales.
The solar PV power plant features approximately 760,000 modules and connects to the wider National Electricity Market (NEM), spanning Australia’s eastern and southern states and territories, via an on-site 330kV transmission line managed by TransGrid.
The project was delivered through collaboration between Bouygues Construction Australia, Equans Solar & Storage, Lumea, TransGrid, and contractors from the Riverina region. Commissioning of the facility began in early 2025, and the project is now at full operational status ahead of schedule.
Neoen will now fulfil its commitment to energy retailer SmartestEnergy Australia, which secured a four-year power purchase agreement for 50% of the solar PV power plant’s output in 2024.
The deal, which SmartestEnergy described at the time as supporting its renewable energy supply to commercial and industrial customers, enables the retailer to meet retail demand with renewable energy from the facility.
Neoen said it will launch a First Nations and Community Benefit Fund for the asset within days, initiating a benefit-sharing program expected to run for more than 25 years to support communities in and around Culcairn.
Neoen secured development consent from the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in March 2021, despite receiving 50 public complaints during the approval process.
The project was estimated to cost approximately AU$636 million (US$415 million) to develop and has an operational lifespan of 30 years.
The approval included provisions for a 100MW/200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to be co-located with the solar PV power plant, though the operational status of the storage component was not confirmed in the latest announcement.
The Culcairn facility is Neoen Australia’s second-largest solar plant after the 460MW Western Downs Green Power Hub in Queensland, which is also operational.
Neoen’s owns several other utility-scale solar projects in New South Wales, including the 66MW Parkes, 36MW Griffith and 28MW Dubbo solar plants.
Neoen Australia’s parent company, Neoen, which was acquired by Canadian asset manager Brookfield, secured AU$1.4 billion in capital in December 2024 to support new solar, wind, and energy storage projects across Australia.
The capital raise was intended to support existing assets and develop an additional 1.3GW of renewable energy generation and storage capacity across the country, including the 157MW Kaban Green Power Hub in Queensland.

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Greenvolt Next, part of the Greenvolt Group, a specialist in renewable energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, today announces the completion of a 2.2MWp ground-mounted solar farm at the Astellas Damastown facility in Dublin.
Greenvolt Next delivered a high-impact renewable energy solution in four months, a timeframe that is increasingly critical to support energy security in today’s volatile energy landscape. Managing every stage of the project, from concept/design to installation and commissioning, Greenvolt Next continues to support Astellas Dublin’s site with ongoing maintenance and performance reviews.
The solar farm which is now live features 3,192 solar panels and five inverters, supplying 27% of the site’s electricity needs and reducing Scope 2 CO₂ emissions by 310 tonnes annually. It marks a significant milestone in Astellas Dublin’s sustainability journey, strengthening operational resilience, lowering environmental impact while maintaining operational excellence.
Designed with future growth in mind, the system can accommodate additional inverters and battery storage integration, allowing the facility to expand its renewable energy capacity as operational needs evolve. This is part of Astellas ongoing commitment to contribute to the sustainability of society through its business activities.
Throughout the project, sustainability considerations extended beyond energy generation. At each stage, careful attention was given to protecting and enhancing site biodiversity. Large bug hotels were constructed using reclaimed tree stumps, multiple bat boxes were installed, and a significant number of native Irish trees were planted to promote local ecology and support long-term biodiversity on the site. The solar farm is also visible along the site’s 1.1km riverwalk, offering employees and visitors a clear view of the facility’s commitment to renewable energy and environmental stewardship.
Gino Gautier, Global CEO DG of the Greenvolt Group, commented, “This project shows how efficiently we can deliver on-site solutions at this level. In just four months, we supported Astellas in reducing its energy costs and improving predictability in a context of continued market uncertainty. The ability to combine speed with high-quality execution is increasingly important for organisations looking for these types of solutions, and we’re very pleased to meet that need.”
Leon Burns, Capital Projects Lead, Astellas Ireland, commented, “In just four months, Greenvolt Next has delivered a solar farm which boosts our sustainability credentials and offers scalability. Underpinned by their resources and expertise, this installation is already making a tangible difference to our business operations.”
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Trina Solar has introduced an Australia-specific version of its Vertex S+ module, according to an article published by pv magazine Australia on May 7, 2026.
The new variant, designated the monofacial NEG10R.28Z module, delivers a power output of up to 515 W and a maximum conversion efficiency of 24.65%. It operates within a standard module footprint measuring 1,842 mm by 1,134 mm by 30 mm. The module utilizes n-type i-TOPCon cell architecture combined with zero-busbar and zero-gap technologies to boost efficiency and minimize electrical losses.
Its lower-voltage design, featuring an open-circuit voltage of 38.3 V and a short-circuit current of 12.85 A, allows for more flexible string sizing across various inverter configurations. This flexibility helps installers optimize system layouts, particularly where roof design or electrical constraints apply. The higher power density means target system capacities can be reached with fewer modules, potentially increasing capacity without expanding the physical footprint and reducing balance-of-system requirements as well as the levelized cost of electricity.
The module is engineered for Australian conditions, with a temperature coefficient of -0.26% per degree Celsius to maintain performance in high heat, and a dual-glass structure for enhanced durability. It is rated for mechanical loads up to 5,400 Pa for snow and 4,000 Pa for wind. The product comes with a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year power output guarantee, with end-of-life output guaranteed at no less than 88.85% of nominal power. First-year degradation is limited to 1%.
Trina Solar stated that the module supports systems of up to 100 kW under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, where higher wattage and efficiency per module allow installers to maximize Small-scale Technology Certificate returns within limited roof space. Edison Zhou, Trina Solar’s head of operations for Australia and Asia Pacific, noted that the 510 to 515 W range is considered a practical sweet spot for rooftop systems, as installers increasingly seek higher-wattage, higher-efficiency modules in standard dimensions.
The Vertex S+ 515 W module is available for preorder, with an expected Australian launch in early Q3 2026, pending final certification and listing requirements.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry in Australia, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the solar cells and light-emitting diodes landscape in Australia.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for Australia. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Australia. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links solar cells and light-emitting diodes demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in Australia.
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of solar cells and light-emitting diodes dynamics in Australia.
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Australia.
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
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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 and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
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