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

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Solar-Fit has finished installing solar power systems on Palm Coast’s new fire stations — No. 26 at 72 Airport Commerce Center Way and No. 22 on the northeast corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Colbert Lane.
The installations took about six weeks for each building, Solar-Fit CEO Bill Gallagher said.
“Each facility has 305- to 590-watt solar panels, totaling 179,950 watts of DC power. Each system is projected to produce over 250,000 kilowatt-hours of free energy per year, resulting in an estimated energy savings of $22,000 to $25,000 annually,” he said.
Solar-Fit also installed the solar power system on the roof of the Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast a few years ago.
“Palm Coast is leading the way for other municipalities to model regarding renewable energy utilization,” Gallahger said. “We salute our local leaders for the foresight to use the sun’s free energy to reduce the operating expenses of city facilities. These savings benefit all residents in our community.”
  
 
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Following the BLM announcements about the projects, conservation group Basin and Range Watch raised concerns about desert tortoises in the area.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued the final environmental impact statement and resource management plan amendment for the proposed Copper Rays Solar Project in Nye County last week.
According to its description, the project is located southeast of Pahrump and 40 miles west of Las Vegas, on about 4,414 acres of public land in Nye County managed by BLM.
“The electricity generated from the project would be collected at the onsite substation and conveyed to the existing Gamebird substation located northwest of the project site via a generation gen-tie transmission line,” reads the project description. “Construction for the facilities is estimated to take approximately 54 months over two phases.”
If approved, Copper Rays Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leeward Renewable Energy LLC, could develop an energy facility with integrated battery storage and interconnection to the regional electric transmission system, states the Aug. 21 BLM announcement.

Bonanza Solar Project

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

Environmental concerns

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

Public input

Last week’s BLM notices opened a 30-day protest period for both projects that will end on Sept. 21. Protest instructions can be found at tinyurl.com/3fpzmkw5.
For more information about the Copper Rays Solar Project, visit tinyurl.com/2p8yb8fv.
Additional details about the Bonanza Solar Project can be viewed at tinyurl.com/3236jnnm.
Contact reporter Elijah Dulay at edulay@pvtimes.com
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A newly issued executive order by President Donald Trump restricts foreign-made electrical infrastructure across the United States bulk-power system, taking direct aim at equipment connected to entities in 24 embargoed nations. The action targets high-voltage hardware including transformers, utility-scale inverters, circuit breakers, energy storage systems, and industrial control electronics, citing concerns over potential remote access, cyber vulnerabilities, and grid disruption.
While the executive order technically applies to transactions initiated after Aug. 26, 2026, Norton Rose Fulbright noted in its analysis that equipment is not formally barred until the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) evaluates specific vendors and issues official risk determinations.
The DOE has 120 days (until Dec. 24, 2026) to publish formal rules implementing the policy. However, the agency is instructed to make recommendations to the National Security Council to isolate, monitor, or replace sensitive infrastructure as soon as practicable.
According to law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, the executive action applies broadly to foreign-produced equipment used in substations, power generation facilities, and control rooms tied to the bulk-power system. While transmission lines rated at 69 kV or higher are explicitly included, the order also covers generation assets necessary to maintain overall power system reliability.
Specific hardware covered includes:
The order excludes residential or commercial distributed energy assets that connect solely to local low-voltage distribution lines.
Restrictions apply to equipment designed, manufactured, or supplied by vendors tied to 24 designated sanction- and arms-embargoed countries under U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
While the list includes nations such as Iran, Russia, and Syria, China represents the primary commercial supplier affected across solar, battery, and electrical component supply chains.
Norton Rose Fulbright noted that the DOE may establish a pre-qualified vendor white-list or create a licensing framework for utilities seeking to deploy sensitive components. Regulatory mechanisms could also force asset owners to isolate, monitor, or remove previously installed gear, though any mandate would likely be phased in to maintain grid stability.
According to Norton Rose Fulbright, the executive order adds another layer of regulatory complexity for clean energy developers already navigating Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions, domestic content rules, Section 45X manufacturing credits, and import tariffs.

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Is the security risk real, or just Trump assaulting clean energy again to keep the fossil fuel riches flowing to his buddies and family?
Monday, October 26, 2026
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A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
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Solar cell and module manufacturer Canadian Solar has shipped 3.1GW of modules in the second quarter of 2026, a 60% year-on-year decrease.
The Q2 2026 shipment figure puts Canadian Solar’s module volumes in any Q2 at their lowest level since 2020, when the company shipped 2.9GW of modules in Q2 2020. As shown in the chart below, module shipments for the first half of 2026 are lower than Q1 2025 alone.
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However, on a quarterly basis, the shipments are up 25%, as the company continues to navigate a weaker solar market while expanding its US manufacturing footprint.
Looking ahead, Canadian Solar expects solar module shipments to increase to between 3.5GW and 3.8GW in Q3 2026, pointing to a sequential recovery in volumes after the sharp YoY decline in Q2. The expected increase in Q3 module shipments would still leave volumes below the 7.9GW recorded in Q2 2025.
The company is simultaneously increasing its US manufacturing capacity, with its Texas module assembly plant expanding from 5GWp to 10GWp. The company expects this expansion to be completed in H2 2026, while its Jeffersonville, Indiana, HJT solar cell facility is being expanded to 6.3GWp. Phase I of the solar cell facility has a nameplate capacity of 2.1GWp and is the first commercial-scale HJT solar cell facility in the US.
Moreover, the company is installing and commissioning additional solar cell production lines through 2026 and increasing production capacity beyond 6GWp in response to customer demand.
Phase II is expected to begin trial production in the first quarter of 2027. The expansion will add 4.2GWp of solar cell annual nameplate capacity, bringing Canadian Solar’s total solar cell nameplate capacity in the US to 6.3GWp.
Colin Parkin, CEO of Canadian Solar, said: “We are executing on a multidimensional solar technology roadmap. In addition to ramping up the Phase I capacity of 2.1GWp, we will start installing equipment for Phase II before the end of the year, bringing total nameplate cell capacity to 6.3GWp in the first half of 2027. This will position CS PowerTech as the largest crystalline silicon cell manufacturer in North America. When combined with our 10GWp module facility in Texas, CS PowerTech solidifies its position as one of North America’s premier integrated PV manufacturers.”
“We delivered 3.1GW of solar modules, with nearly half shipped to our North American home base. In addition, we achieved 3.7GWh of energy storage shipments to internal and external projects under execution, serving utility-scale projects across North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific and Latin America. As we double down on our US manufacturing strategy, we continue to rebalance our global project development business and optimize capital allocation across our core growth engines,” Parkin added.
Canadian Solar has also launched its TOPCon 3.0 high-power-density module during Q2 2026, with power output of up to 670Wp and conversion efficiency of 24.8%, shipments are scheduled to begin in August 2026.
Canadian Solar reported a 12% sequential increase in net revenues to US$1.2 billion for the second quarter of 2026, as higher solar module and battery energy storage sales offset lower project sales.
Net revenues were down 29% YoY, with the decline reflecting lower solar module and project sales.
Canadian Solar’s gross profit fell to US$168 million in Q2 2026, from US$271 million in Q1 2026. Operating expenses increased to US$240 million from US$198 million sequentially, reflecting higher ramp-up and logistics costs. However, operating expenses were down from US$378 million in Q2 2025, mainly because of lower impairment charges related to certain solar and storage assets and manufacturing assets.
The company reiterated its 2026 US guidance of 6.5GW to 7GW of solar modules and 4.5GWh to 5.5GWh of battery energy storage solutions. Recurrent Energy is also expected to close delayed project sales from Q2, supporting a sequentially stronger Q3.
Canadian Solar’s Recurrent Energy business had a total solar project development pipeline of 21.7GWp as of June 30, 2026.
The pipeline included 1.7GWp under construction, 2.2GWp of backlog and 17.7GWp of projects in advanced and early-stage development.
By region, the pipeline comprised 5,650MWp in North America, 6,293MWp in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), 6,746MWp in Latin America and 2,978MWp in Asia Pacific. The figure includes 392MWp in backlog partially sold to third parties.
Recurrent Energy’s business model combines electricity revenue from its operating portfolio, asset sales and power services. Its O&M platform currently has 15GW of contracted projects.
Battery energy storage was a significant growth area during the quarter.
Total battery energy storage shipments recognised as revenue reached 3.7GWh, up 82% QoQ and 73% YoY. Of this total, 471MWh was shipped to internal projects under execution, with the associated revenue to be recognised in subsequent quarters.
The company’s e-STORAGE business had a contracted backlog, including contracted long-term service agreements, of US$3.5 billion as of June 30, 2026. Canadian Solar also reported an 84.1GWh battery energy storage project development pipeline at the end of the quarter, including 600MWh under construction, 4.4GWh in backlog and 79.1GWh in advanced and early-stage development.
Learn more about how the domestic solar supply chain is developing in the United States at our PV CellTech USA conference in San Francisco on 13-14 October. For full details and booking, click here.

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Eurowind Energy Romania has obtained Technical Connection Approvals (ATR) for 2,307.4 MW of renewable energy capacity across seven projects combining wind, solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking a key step towards connecting the projects to Romania’s national electricity grid.
The approvals were obtained in June 2026 and cover projects planned in several Romanian counties. The portfolio includes the 900 MW Albesti wind project in Constanta County, the 49 MW Manesti solar-plus-BESS project in Prahova County, and a 1,188 MW wind portfolio in Botosani County.
The remaining projects are the 49.6 MW Stancuta wind project in Braila County, the 49.6 MW Liesti wind project in Galati County, the 49.6 MW Slobozia Conachi wind project in Galati County, and the 21.6 MW Pechea wind project, also in Galati County.
According to Eurowind Energy Romania, the Technical Connection Approvals represent an essential step towards connecting the future renewable energy facilities to the grid.
“We currently have a pipeline of approximately 7.5 GW at different stages of development and have already started construction works on the Frumusita and Vector wind farms in Galati County and Pecineaga Nord-Est in Constanta County – a total of 138 MW of clean energy to be connected to the grid,” Adrian Dobre, Country Manager of Eurowind Energy Romania, said.
Dobre added that obtaining connection approvals for a further 2,307.4 MW represents an important step in expanding the company’s project portfolio and contributing to Romania’s energy transition objectives. However, the projects are expected to be connected to the national energy system after 2030, with their grid connection and completion dependent on grid reinforcement and obtaining construction permits in due time.
“We are taking all the necessary steps and working closely with grid operators and authorities to deliver these projects,” Dobre said.
The largest project covered by the approvals is the 1,188 MW wind project in Botosani County. It is planned to be developed in phases and will comprise nine wind farms located within the county.
According to Eurowind Energy Romania, the project is expected to begin its execution schedule around 2031. The company says the development could contribute to Romania’s energy security and to the country’s potential role as an important exporter of renewable electricity in the region.
Eurowind Energy has been active in the Romanian market since 2011, where it develops and operates renewable energy projects through a local team.
The company currently operates four solar parks — Halchiu, Magurele, Pufesti and Teius — and one wind farm, Pecineaga. Its Romanian pipeline stands at approximately 7.5 GW across different stages of development.
Eurowind Energy currently has 184 MW in operation in Romania, including 60 MW of battery storage capacity at Teius.
Eurowind Energy A/S is a Danish company specialising in the development, construction and operation of renewable energy projects. Its portfolio covers wind, solar, hydrogen, biogas, power-to-heat and battery storage.
Founded in 2006, the company has more than 700 employees and operates across 16 markets in Europe and the United States.
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In Africa, a Growing Underground Solar Boom  Yahoo
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Around 50% of India’s energy is renewable, making it the largest renewable energy market in the world outside of China. The opportunity for India, Suzlon CEO Ajay Kapur feels, is the Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE). A combination of solar and wind energy can put India in a position to export more than 20% of the world’s green energy. ET World Leaders Forum 2026, offered glimpses into India’s next decade of growth and stability.
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Sun-Ways Is Testing Out Train Track Solar Farms  The New York Times
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Germany-headquartered inverter manufacturer SMA Solar is expanding its Large Scale and Project Solutions business to cater for the fast-growing data centre market.
The company has unveiled plans for a portfolio of data centre power infrastructure solutions designed for artificial intelligence and hyperscale applications.
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SMA’s CEO Jurgen Reinert pointed to growth in the data centre and AI markets as a key business focus for the company in its first-half results earlier this month, which showed an uptick in SMA’s sales and earnings.
In the launch of the new data centre portfolio yesterday, SMA further highlighted the “unprecedented” growth in global demand for data centre capacity to keep pace with the boom in AI, cloud computing and digitalisation.
“As operators race to bring new facilities online, access to power has become a decisive factor for project success. In many regions, lengthy grid interconnection processes and increasing grid stability requirements are slowing the deployment of new data centre capacity,” SMA said in a statement on the launch. “This development is creating significant demand for advanced electrical infrastructure and grid integration solutions.
The company said its dedicated data centre portfolio would address the “critical challenges” of this market around time-to-power, reliability and scalability, drawing on its capabilities in areas such as grid stabilisation, grid-forming, battery energy storage integration, cybersecurity, power plant controls and the management of complex electrical infrastructure.
“For years, much of the data centre conversation has focused on accessing power,” said Jay Arghestani, managing director of sales, technology and marketing for large-scale solutions at SMA America. “Data centre developers either pursue a grid connection, or collocation of new generation assets with their data centre, or increasingly, both. And regardless of their decision, they must deliver reliable operation while facing complex compliance and stability challenges. These are the challenges SMA has been solving at scale for decades.”
The portfolio includes three solution architectures, which SMA said would give data centre developers a choice of options best suited to their specific operational, grid and business requirements:
SMA GridAssist is a battery-based architecture that supports grid-connected data centres through load smoothing, power quality stabilisation and grid code compliance
SMA GridLink AC is a medium-voltage uninterruptable power supply (UPS) architecture that decouples data centre loads from the grid, addressing interconnection challenges and maintaining stable operations, SMA said.
SMA GridLink DC supports the industry’s transition toward 800V DC-powered AI infrastructure. Planned for deployment in 2027, SMA said the solution is designed to improve efficiency, scalability and power availability “from grid to compute”, while reducing technology and execution risks.
Arghestani said: “Our approach is to bring proven power conversion technology and deep grid expertise into this market, then work alongside customers to determine the right architecture for the project. Whether that is AC today, DC tomorrow or a combination over time, the underlying requirement is the same: power must be reliable, scalable and ready to perform.”

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How batteries are reshaping the solar power business model  Financial Times
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Ireland has surpassed 3 GW of installed solar capacity for the first time, marking another milestone in the rapid expansion of solar power across the country’s electricity system, Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Darragh O’Brien announced on Thursday, August 27.
The figure includes the full range of solar installations deployed across Ireland, from rooftop systems on homes and businesses to large utility-scale solar farms connected to the grid.
The milestone comes just days after utility-scale solar generation reached a new record of 1.3 GW on the national grid. At certain points on Monday, solar farms supplied more than one third of the country’s total dispatchable electricity generation.
O’Brien said the two records highlight the pace at which solar power is becoming an increasingly important part of Ireland’s energy system.
“With continued investment in solar – across homes, farms, businesses and large grid-scale projects – Ireland is building a growing source of homegrown, clean electricity, and strengthening our energy security,” the minister said.
Ireland’s solar sector has expanded dramatically over the past decade. Just over ten years ago, the country had only 2 MW of solar capacity. Today, that figure has climbed above 3,000 MW.
Ireland’s first grid-scale solar farm was energised in April 2022. Since then, the development of large-scale projects has been accompanied by a rapid increase in rooftop installations.
According to government figures, more than 200,000 homes across Ireland have installed solar panels, while over 120,000 households have received Solar PV grants since the support scheme was introduced.
Demand for the programme continues to accelerate. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) received more than 31,000 Solar PV applications between January and the end of July 2026, representing a 76% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
In addition, free solar panels have been installed at 2,000 schools across Ireland. Households producing more electricity than they consume can also sell excess power back to the grid through the country’s microgeneration framework.
The expansion in installed capacity is increasingly translating into higher levels of solar generation.
EirGrid Chief Executive Cathal Marley noted that Ireland surpassed 1 GW of solar generation for the first time in April, before setting the new peak of 1.3 GW this week.
According to EirGrid, an estimated 1 GW of generation is enough to power around 500,000 customers.
The transmission system operator is also progressing what it describes as its most ambitious programme of grid works to date, aimed at enabling greater volumes of renewable electricity to connect to the system.
Meanwhile, ESB Networks is implementing a major investment programme under Price Review 6, designed to strengthen the electricity network, accommodate further renewable deployment and support Ireland’s transition towards a cleaner and increasingly electrified energy system.
The Irish Government said solar deployment has been supported by schemes including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), covering projects ranging from household installations to large renewable developments.
O’Brien also confirmed that the Government remains committed to funding the Solar PV grant until 2030.
Solar growth forms part of a broader expansion of renewable electricity in Ireland. The country now has more than 8 GW of renewable generation capacity connected to the network, after adding approximately 5 GW of new renewable capacity over the past decade.
During that period, Ireland has doubled its wind capacity while building a significant solar sector from an extremely low base. With installed solar capacity now exceeding 3 GW, the technology is becoming an increasingly important pillar of the country’s electricity supply.
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At the recent Agrivoltaics Field Day, University of Illinois plant breeding, genetics and bioenergy crop agronomist DoKyoung “D.K.” Lee discusses how solar panel shade impacts crops. (Photo courtesy of April Wendling, University of Illinois)
By PHYLLIS COULTER
FarmWeek
Researchers at the University of Illinois brought to light lessons learned about growing crops in the shade of solar panels at the Agrivoltaics Field Day at the Illinois energy farm Aug. 5.
“There’s a lot of interest in agrivoltaics,” DoKyoung “D.K.” Lee, a U of I plant breeding, genetics and bioenergy crop agronomist, told FarmWeek of people wanting to know more about the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. “It’s not only about agronomic practices, but also economics.”
Sorting out shade impact
Some agrivoltaic research at the farm focuses on how shade affects crop yield. In three years of study, research shows shade caused by solar panels can reduce soybean yields by about half.
However, for grain sorghum, “the yield penalty was minimal as the greater kernel size compensated the lower grain numbers,” Lee said.
Based on the recent harvest of winter wheat, Lee said the grain yield was reduced by about 40% due to shading in the rows directly under the panel, compared with wheat in full sun. The impact of shade on crops also depends on the arrangement of the solar panels, he noted.
The research is part of the Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems project, which aims to blend agriculture and solar power in a way to boost U.S. farmers’ resilience and income while maintaining food production and ramping up renewable energy.
While modern commercial-sized equipment cannot be used in the trials with solar panels, small equipment can, “but you have to be careful,” Lee said. For the arrangement of 20 feet between the panels, a four-row planter can be used with 10 feet of plantable space, and for 40 feet arrangement, a 12-row planter can be used with 30 feet plantable space.
Some testing was done at the U of I energy farm and some at a utility-scale solar farm. The research also involves row crops including soybeans, grain sorghum, winter wheat and horticulture crops including tomatoes and greens, but not field corn because of its height.
In 2024, researchers added forage crops, including alfalfa, red clover, orchard grass, tall fescue and timothy grass. Forage may be one of the more practical options for larger-scale production on a solar farm, Lee said. When growing forages, some researchers and farmers include livestock, often sheep. “We aren’t able to accommodate livestock in research here,” he said, but noted the combination may be more profitable.
Other research focuses on the impact the solar panels have on soil quality, carbon intensity and potential for heavy metal contamination. “We haven’t seen any heavy metal in the soil,” Lee noted.
Current funding of the five-year project ends this year, but Lee hopes it will be extended because there is more work to be done.
“As we produce electricity on the farm, we need to know the consequences or benefits from the practice,” he added.
This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
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California lawmakers officially passed a bill allowing the use of plug-in solar panels, with great bipartisan support. Now, the bill awaits Governor Newsom’s signature.
Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, these panels can be plugged into standard electrical outlets, making them relatively inexpensive and easy to install. This would allow a wider range of individuals to have access to solar power, including renters and people whose homes don’t support traditional rooftop solar systems.
“We’re in an era of very high cost of living that is having huge political ramifications in this country, and that is causing people to lose faith in the system as a whole,” said Senator Scott Weiner, presenting the bill to the Senate in March. “This is a very straightforward way to help people lower their monthly electric bills in a tangible way that they will see every single month.”
If signed into law, California’s bill would allow plug-in solar devices up to 1,200 watts per residence. That’s powerful enough to run devices like refrigerators, Wi-Fi routers, microwaves and lights.
Additionally, the “Plug and Play” bill would allow for residents to install solar devices without the current interconnection procedure, which requires a utility company to assist in connecting an individual’s solar system to the local power grid.
However, even this has an expiration date. Starting in 2030, Californians will again need their utilities’ approval to install new plug-in solar systems.
Organizations like PG&E, California Professional Firefighters, the California State Association Of Electrical Workers and the California Municipal Utilities Association opposed the bill.
“We have concerns about prohibitions on publicly owned electric utilities […] not being able to do inspections or having interconnection agreements with customers,” said Derek Dolfie, Senior Director of Energy at the California Municipal Utilities Association. “Really, it just boils down to safety for us.”
Paul Doherty, the  Manager of Clean Energy and Innovation Communications at PG&E told KALW, “it’s our responsibility to ensure the safety of the electric system, then our coworkers, the linemen, the electricians that work on that system and the first responders that are involved in those responses when it comes to outages”
Senator Weiner noted that the plug-in solar technology is already widely used: “This is not some newfangled technology,” he said. “This is being deployed in other states, in other countries, and there are absolutely safety standards here.”
Governor Newsom has 30 days to sign or veto the bill.

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“If you are doing this for a house install, you probably want more like 500-600 watt panels.”
Photo Credit: iStock
After summer power bills climbed to about $600 a month, one family went to Reddit’s r/SolarDIY community looking for an inexpensive way to build a solar setup themselves.
The answers were less encouraging than they expected. Commenters said a plan built around a few 200-watt panels might be easy to picture, but it would barely make a dent in the electricity use of an entire house.
In their post, the homeowner said they wanted to lower their crushing utility costs, rely less on the grid, and avoid hiring an electrician. The original poster asked about using 200-watt panels with equipment that could plug into outlets they already had outside.
OP added: “We are tired. I am not handy but I am willing to do whatever it takes to be a little more self reliant to save ourselves money from these greedy corporations.”
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Replies in the thread stressed that a whole-home system usually starts at a very different scale. As one user put it, “If you are doing this for a house install, you probably want more like 500-600 watt panels.”
A second commenter made a similar point, writing: “Exactly. 200w ones are more expensive, somehow.” 
The discussion underscored a common problem: that compact solar kits can sound like a practical answer, even when they are too small to meaningfully reduce very large electric bills.
A few small panels may help power limited devices or serve as backup, but steep usage often points to a much larger need, either more power generation, reduced consumption, or both.
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To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Still, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially for households hit hard by seasonal utility costs. If you’re comparing real rooftop options, EnergySage lets homeowners get free installation estimates and compare quotes in one place. Its free tools help people lower installation costs by up to $10,000.
A properly sized solar system can reduce electricity costs over time, provide some insulation from utility rate increases, and curb the pollution associated with fossil-fuel-powered electricity. On the other hand, undersized equipment can lead to frustration and unnecessary spending.
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Norwegian behind-the-meter energy firm Otovo ASA has announced a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) to acquire Ewa Beach-based PV Hawaii.
The company has also agreed to acquire Norwegian firm Mr. Elektro, with the two deals coming at a combined price tag of $4.6 million.
Once complete, the acquisitions will further extend Otovo’s proprietary behind-the-meter service platform, the company says. Otovo representatives say the company will specifically bring its Endurance-brand AI platform to PV Hawaii. Not only will this add a 17th state to the Nordic firm’s reach in the U.S., but it brings a licensed and OSHA compliant field crew to Oahu, a region that was previously a blind spot for the company.
“PV Hawaii and Mr. Elektro bring licensed, experienced local teams that strengthen how we serve customers, and they extend our platform into Hawaii for the first time while deepening our reach across Norway and Sweden,” says John Berger, CEO of Otovo. “These acquisitions come with strong leaders that we can integrate into the management team.
Founded in 2016, PV Hawaii provides solar repair, as well as warranty and inspection services across Oahu. The company offers panel cleaning for residential and commercial customers, and is certified across a group of ten major solar equipment brands.
“Leveraging our powerful Endurance AI platform, we are continuing our successful plug-and-play acquisition strategy that has helped us create the world’s leading provider of behind-the-meter energy services for homes and businesses,” Berger adds.
PV Hawaii and Mr. Elektro are Otovo’s ninth and tenth announced transactions since the tail end of 2025, the company says. Both will see integration onto the Endurance platform through a six-member team over the course of approximately three weeks.
Otovo expects its integration of its Endurance platform into all of these transactions to not only provide faster customer service, but enable synergies across the firm’s footprint. The platform will automate intake, dispatch, scheduling and supply chain processes through a singular portal, officials say.
The company’s other recent acquisition, Mr. Elektro, will allow it to extend the platform further into solar. Additionally, the company’s EV charging focus will bring Otovo into a new market in its native Norway.
Otovo’s overall footprint now spans 17 U.S. states, as well as 15 different markets across Europe. The company’s platform compromises field services, as well as logistics warehouses, AI-based inventory management, and dispatch and technical capabilities available around the clock.


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Financing, projects sought for Guyana, Suriname solar build-out  BNamericas
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California passes legislation allowing plug-in or ‘balcony’ solar  firstcoastnews.com
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“You will need at least another battery, winter nights are long and the sun is weak.”
Photo Credit: iStock
After a homeowner missed the deadline to claim a 30% tax credit for solar panels, they turned to Reddit’s r/SolarDIY community to ask whether it was still worth going solar.
Based on a projected price of roughly $24,000, the homeowner estimated a payback period of about 6.5 years.
The original poster wrote, “I’ve been looking into DIY solar for a while… I currently pay $300 a month with level pay for my electricity. I use about 60ish kWhs a day, as I have a server rack in my garage. I recently had a DIY system designed and want to make sure I am going in the right direction.”
The OP then described a plan as using 36 SunPlus 445-watt bifacial panels, a Sol-Ark 18K inverter, Tigo optimizers, and two 16-kilowatt-hour batteries. The homeowner then asked, “Is this a good direction for me to go?… Appreciate any insights.”
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Not everyone thought the equipment list needed to remain as is. One commenter wrote, “If you can handle a redesign. Go emphase. IQ8 MC. May be slightly higher cost but damn they just work.”
Another added, “You will need at least another battery, winter nights are long and the sun is weak.”
In this case, a $300 electric bill makes the path to savings clearer than it would be for a low-usage home.
The proposed array is also sizable, at just over 16 kilowatts of solar panels, which lines up with a household using around 60 kilowatt-hours per day. The two batteries would add backup power and flexibility, allowing the home to store electricity for later use.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
A system like this can help stabilize energy costs, reduce exposure to utility rate hikes, and provide more resilience during outages.
For anyone working through similar numbers, the first step is to compare equipment choices, installer pricing, and expected production before making a purchase. DIY solar can save money, but it also raises the stakes if a design decision proves less reliable or harder to service.
EnergySage’s free services can help reduce that uncertainty. It can be worth exploring EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes. Those who do can save up to $10,000 on installations.
Homeowners can also check EnergySage’s solar map, which shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. 
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Together, these resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off grid. Home batteries can also help you use more of the power your panels produce instead of relying as heavily on the grid. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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California passes legislation allowing plug-in or ‘balcony’ solar  cbs19.tv
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The state legislature approved California AB 1738 with a unanimous vote in the Assembly after an earlier 29 to 6 vote in the Senate. The bill now sits with Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30 to sign it into law.
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, is meant to tackle bureaucratic delays that drive up the price of home improvements. Homeowners or their contractors can ask for remote virtual inspections for several specific upgrades instead of waiting for a city official to visit their house in person.
The bill covers residential solar panels, home battery storage systems, heat pump HVAC setups, heat pump water heaters, and new roofs. Local governments will still run the inspection programs and they can require an in person visit if a project needs a closer look for safety reasons.
“AB 1738 ensures that the convenience and cost savings of remote inspections will be available to all California families helping them save money on their utility bills by making it cheaper and easier to install home solar and batteries,” said Nick Josefowitz, CEO of Permit Power.
An analysis from the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research organization showed that contractors usually wait between two and six hours for a city inspector to show up for a job that takes about fifteen minutes to review. The wasted time ends up costing the homeowner an extra $600 to $1,000 per project, said the analysis.
The change in process is projected to save California families more than $500 million over the next three years. It also lines up with the state’s Extreme Heat Action Plan which calls for faster permitting and inspections for high efficiency heat pumps.
Many parts of the state already do this. At least 19 jurisdictions offer remote inspections, including Los Angeles County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Berkeley. In Los Angeles County, building officials say 20% to 40% of all inspections are handled remotely, mostly for things like water heaters and solar batteries. Officials have done hundreds of thousands of these virtual checks over the last seven years without any safety issues. 
A massive coalition of more than 50 groups supported the bill. This includes housing advocates like California YIMBY and the Housing Action Coalition, environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the US Green Building Council of California, and local leaders including the mayors of San Jose and Oakland.
If Governor Newsom signs the bill, California will be the first state to guarantee rights to remote inspections.
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Monarch Completes 310.89 MW Solar and 250 MWh Storage Projects in Texas  SolarQuarter
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Fully screen-printed perovskite solar cells represent a promising solution for scalable manufacturing of perovskite photovoltaics. However, their development is hindered by inefficient vertical phase transformation within thick, multi-layered films, which results in incomplete infiltration, premature surface nucleation and residual stress. Here we report a fluid motion crystallization strategy employing a co-solvent system of ionic liquid methylammonium propionate and butyronitrile. The butyronitrile reduces the fluid motion resistance and disperses PbI₂ aggregates with optimized solvation structure, enabling rapid and deep infiltration of the perovskite precursor. This promotes a bottom-up, ordered phase transition before surface nucleation, effectively suppressing defect formation. The subsequent growth of a dense, interconnected perovskite nanocrystal network featuring an island-like surface morphology strengthens the interfacial contact with the carbon electrode. This intimate contact enhances the carrier transport and minimizes the recombination losses. Finally, air-processed, fully screen-printed perovskite solar cells yield a power conversion efficiency of 22.41% (certified 21.86%). Devices retain over 90.5% of their initial power conversion efficiency after 2,000 h under International Summit on Organic Photovoltaic Stability light-soaking-1 (ISOS-L-1) accelerated ageing conditions and show no degradation after 900 h of operation at 85 °C with 50% ± 10% relative humidity (ISOS-L-3 protocol).
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We acknowledge assistance from Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility for the GlWAXS measurements.
This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (22425903, U24A20568, 62288102 and 22379067), the Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Disciplines Breakthrough Plan of the Ministry of Education of China (JYB2025XDXM406), the National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFB4204500) the Jiangsu Provincial Departments of Science and Technology (BE2022023, BK20220010, BZ2023060 and BK20243057).
State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics and Institution of Advanced Materials, School of Flexible Electronics (Future Technologies), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
Changshun Chen, Qing Yao, Youjian Ding, Anshi Chu, Yingdong Xia, Yonghua Chen & Wei Huang
Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi’an Institute of Flexible Electronics and Xi’an Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
Changshun Chen, Yanxiang Zhao, Chenxin Ran & Wei Huang
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Y.C. and W.H. conceived the idea and designed the experiments. Y.C. and Y.X. supervised the project. C.C. performed most of the device fabrication and characterization. Q.Y., Y.D., Y.Z. and A.C. assisted with the fabrication of perovskite films and related characterizations. C.C. and Y.C. contributed to data analysis and discussions. C.C. prepared the first draft of the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and provided feedback on the manuscript.
Correspondence to Yingdong Xia, Yonghua Chen or Wei Huang.
The authors declare no competing interests.
Nature Photonics thanks Carys Worsley and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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Supplementary Notes 1 and 2 and Figs. 1–48.
Contact angle measurements on different substrates.
Molecular dynamics simulation of fluid crystallization without BN.
Molecular dynamics simulation of fluid crystallization with BN.
In situ optical imaging of wet-film crystallization without BN.
In situ optical imaging of wet-film crystallization with BN.
Statistical source data for Fig.1c–l, 2e, 3b,c,e,g, 4c,d,f,g
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
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Chen, C., Yao, Q., Ding, Y. et al. Fluid motion and crystallization control enable air-processed fully screen-printed perovskite solar cells. Nat. Photon. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-026-01991-3
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Received: 10 December 2025
Accepted: 22 July 2026
Published: 27 August 2026
Version of record: 27 August 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-026-01991-3
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Nature Photonics (Nat. Photon.)
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WUXI, China, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the photovoltaic industry accelerates its transition toward thinner wafers and higher-power modules, multi-subcell technology has become a key pathway for next-generation high-efficiency production. By improving power generation efficiency, reducing silicon material consumption, and enhancing module resistance against microcracks and hot spots, multi-subcell enables higher-performance modules without changing existing module dimensions—making it a mainstream technology choice for manufacturers pursuing high-efficiency capacity expansion.

However, transforming this technology from concept into stable mass production remains challenging. Laser slicing processes can introduce fragment risks, edge damage during cutting may accelerate cell degradation, and achieving both high-speed production and precision control in thin-wafer stringing remains difficult. These challenges continue to slow down manufacturers’ capacity expansion plans.
Simplifying the Production Line, Maximizing Manufacturing Efficiency To address the challenges across scribe, passivation, sorting, and stringing processes, Lead Intelligent has developed a complete turnkey multi-slicing production line solution. By integrating all critical manufacturing steps into a unified equipment platform, the solution enables end-to-end process optimization and eliminates key bottlenecks in high-volume production.
Higher Throughput with Fewer Breakages and Lower Material Loss The integrated solution combines laser scribe, automated material handling, edge passivation, and testing processes, creating a complete front-end manufacturing workflow designed for high-efficiency PV production.
• High Throughput for GW-Scale Manufacturing The scribe system achieves a single-machine capacity of ≥12,000 full-size wafers per hour, while the multi-subcell sorting system reaches ≥10,000 full-size wafers per hour, fully supporting the throughput requirements of gigawatt-scale photovoltaic manufacturing facilities.

• Flexible Processing Architecture Minimizes Breakage Risks Equipped with multiple vision inspection systems, combined with flexible alignment and handling mechanisms, the solution provides continuous protection throughout wafer processing. By reducing mechanical stress during transfer and positioning, it minimizes wafer breakage and improves production yield from the source.
• Process Integration Reduces Edge Degradation The integrated edge passivation module repairs cutting-induced damage, while interconnected equipment data enables rapid defect tracing and process optimization. This significantly shortens production line commissioning cycles and improves overall manufacturing stability.
Multi-Subcell Stringer As the core equipment within the integrated production line, the multi-subcell stringer is specifically designed to overcome the key challenges associated with high-volume multi-subcell solar cell production.
• High Throughput With a production capacity of up to 16,000 cells per hour, the system effectively addresses the industry challenge of significant throughput reduction after wafer slicing, enabling manufacturers to maintain high productivity in advanced PV production.
• High Precision Built on a granite base platform and equipped with high-precision linear motors, together with advanced vibration suppression technology, the system achieves highly accurate cell positioning and stable high-speed operation.
• Superior Welding Quality The system integrates a uniform-temperature welding zone with closed-loop temperature control to ensure consistent welding performance. Optional buffering and encapsulation processes enable seamless integration with downstream lamination processes, further improving production continuity.
Four Core Benefits Driving Long-Term Manufacturing Value Leveraging the combined advantages of integrated production equipment and the PHM (Prognostics and Health Management) intelligent predictive maintenance platform, Lead Intelligent’s multi-subcell turnkey solution creates measurable value for customers across four key dimensions: production capacity, material utilization, equipment operation, and long-term scalability.
Maximizing Production Output and Reducing Equipment Cost per Watt Through high-speed coordination across the entire production line, the system maintains an overall equipment availability rate of ≥98.5%. With higher output within the same factory footprint, the solution improves production efficiency compared with conventional industry approaches and effectively reduces equipment depreciation costs per watt.
Reducing Material Loss and Improving Silicon Utilization Through comprehensive soft-contact protection mechanisms and multi-layer visual inspection systems designed to prevent wafer breakage, the solution significantly reduces cell scrap rates and minimizes raw material losses throughout production.
PHM Predictive Maintenance Enables Proactive Equipment Management Powered by Lead Intelligent’s proprietary PHM intelligent maintenance platform, the solution transforms traditional maintenance models from reactive repair and scheduled servicing into proactive equipment health management. By enabling early fault detection and predictive intervention, the system helps reduce both manual inspection requirements and production downtime costs. The average annual maintenance cost of the stringer system is controlled below RMB 60,000, further improving operational efficiency through digitalized maintenance.
Multi-Technology Compatibility Supports Long-Term Product Evolution The solution is compatible with thin-wafer manufacturing and various next-generation solar cell technologies, while supporting rapid switching between different multi-subcell formats to accommodate future product upgrades. Through a unified turnkey solution covering equipment, data systems, and after-sales services, Lead Intelligent helps customers avoid complex coordination among multiple suppliers while significantly reducing long-term operation and maintenance management challenges.
Multi-subcell technology has become a critical pathway for reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in the photovoltaic industry. However, the complexity of full-process manufacturing integration has prevented many companies from successfully transitioning this technology into stable mass production. As a global provider of intelligent manufacturing solutions for the new energy industry, Lead Intelligent has developed a comprehensive multi-subcell turnkey solution covering scribe, automation, passivation, sorting, stringing, and intelligent maintenance.
By addressing critical manufacturing challenges across the entire value chain—including cutting yield, thin-wafer microcracks, insufficient production capacity, and high maintenance costs—the solution enables photovoltaic manufacturers worldwide to accelerate the deployment of high-efficiency multi-subcell production lines. With integrated capabilities in high throughput, low material loss, and intelligent equipment management, Lead Intelligent continues to support the PV industry’s transition toward higher-quality, lower-cost, and more sustainable manufacturing.
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR
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I took this portable solar generator on a weekend camping trip and it was a complete game changer  Tom’s Guide
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Sharp Energy Solutions is combining high-efficiency solar technology, battery storage and intelligent energy management to strengthen energy security in Japan and beyond, while building integrated renewable systems for homes, businesses, electric vehicles, stratospheric platforms and satellites.
Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation is the Sharp Group company responsible for its solar power business. Based in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, it provides residential solar, battery storage and home energy management systems alongside industrial solar engineering, construction, maintenance and large-scale power generation. Drawing on Sharp’s more than 60 years of solar experience, the company supports projects from household rooftops to satellites and utility-scale installations across Asia. 
 
Japan’s energy future sits at the intersection of energy security, industrial competitiveness, and decarbonization. The country remains heavily dependent on imported energy, particularly from the Middle East, while renewable energy still represents a relatively limited share of the national energy mix. At the same time, global energy demand is expected to continue rising steadily through the end of the decade, increasing pressure on governments and industry leaders to secure stable and sustainable power supplies. Against this backdrop, many Japanese corporations are accelerating investments into renewable energy, grid modernization, and next generation energy systems. From your perspective, how do you see the global energy market evolving over the next four to five years, and what role will renewable energy play in Japan’s long term economic and energy strategy?
The share of renewable energy will certainly continue to increase over the coming years. When we speak with major Japanese electric power companies, there is already a clear understanding that thermal power generation must gradually be reduced and replaced with renewable energy sources. This is no longer simply an environmental discussion. It has become directly tied to energy security, industrial competitiveness, and the long term stability of national economies.
In line with that broader shift, we are also expanding our solar power business. Personally, the reason I entered the solar energy business was because Japan does not possess significant natural resources. I have always believed that solar power can become Japan’s equivalent of an oil field. My vision was to create more and more “oil fields” within Japan through solar energy generation. That idea became one of the foundations of our renewable energy strategy.
As a result, I believe solar power, wind power, and renewable energy overall will continue expanding rapidly. This direction is supported not only by government policy, but also by industry itself. Japanese corporations increasingly recognize that energy transition is essential both for sustainability and for maintaining competitiveness in the global economy. Renewable energy is no longer viewed as an optional supplement to the traditional energy system. It is becoming a central pillar of future industrial growth and national resilience.
 
As countries around the world pursue green transformation strategies, Japan is increasingly being recognized for its strengths in manufacturing quality, operational efficiency, and advanced system integration. Many industry observers believe Japan could play a leading role in shaping next generation energy systems, particularly through innovations in efficiency, smart infrastructure, and industrial collaboration. Do you agree with this assessment, and what do you believe are Japan’s greatest strengths as the world transitions toward a more decentralized and intelligent energy economy?
I do agree with that assessment. One of Japan’s greatest strengths is quality. That applies not only to hardware manufacturing, but also to software, operational systems, and long term reliability. Japanese companies have historically placed great importance on precision, consistency, durability, and continuous improvement. I believe those strengths remain extremely valuable as energy systems become more advanced and interconnected.
Another major strength is Japan’s culture of partnership and collaboration. Japanese companies tend to work closely together across industries and supply chains, and that creates an environment where cooperation is easier. In the context of green transformation, the ability to collaborate across sectors is extremely important because next generation energy systems require coordination between utilities, manufacturers, technology companies, infrastructure providers, and governments.
I also believe Japan has accumulated significant expertise in efficiency and system optimization. As energy systems become more decentralized and more dependent on real time management, the ability to integrate technologies efficiently will become increasingly important. Japan has strong capabilities in these areas, and I believe those strengths position the country well for the future energy transition.
 
Global electrification is accelerating rapidly, driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure, data centers, electric vehicle adoption, and broader digital transformation. As a result, power systems are facing unprecedented pressure, increasing the need for advanced grid integration, aggregation technologies, real time optimization, and sophisticated energy control systems. While Europe has moved ahead in some areas, many experts see Asia as the next major frontier for energy system innovation. In this environment, what role do you believe Japan can play in helping shape the next generation of energy infrastructure across Asia?
Europe is ahead in certain areas, so it is difficult to make a direct comparison. However, within Asia, I believe Japan is among the most advanced countries when it comes to control technologies, system integration, and energy management devices.
One important strength is the close relationship between Japanese companies and electric utilities. We are already working closely together to address current grid related challenges, including system balancing, renewable integration, and overall grid stability. This cooperative approach allows us to develop solutions more effectively.
Looking ahead, one of the key areas we are focusing on is aggregation. As renewable energy penetration increases, aggregation and demand balancing technologies will become increasingly important across Asia. Countries throughout the region are still in relatively early stages of renewable integration compared to Europe, so there is a significant opportunity to apply advanced Japanese technologies and operational expertise to those markets.
I believe Japan’s role will not only be to provide products, but also to contribute know how related to control systems, optimization, and overall energy management. Those areas will become increasingly important as power systems become more complex and more decentralized.

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The renewable energy industry is increasingly moving beyond standalone hardware toward integrated lifecycle solutions that combine solar generation, battery storage, EPC services, electricity retail, and long term energy management. Sharp appears to be pursuing a particularly comprehensive approach across the energy value chain. For international readers evaluating the future of renewable energy infrastructure, why do you believe an integrated end to end model offers greater long term value than a lower cost modular approach focused primarily on equipment sales?
Our strength is that although we are a manufacturer, we are also involved in power generation businesses, PPA businesses, EPC operations, and energy services. In Japan, there are very few manufacturers operating across such a broad portion of the value chain.
By connecting all of these businesses together, we want to create a circular business model. For example, revenue generated through electricity retail can be reinvested upstream into product development and innovation, which then creates additional value throughout the system. This creates stronger long term sustainability for the business and for customers as well.
We believe that integrated systems create greater efficiency, better optimization, and stronger long term reliability compared to isolated products. As energy systems become more complex, customers increasingly need solutions that work seamlessly together rather than separate technologies operating independently.
If we can successfully establish this model in Japan, we would like to expand similar value chains internationally. However, international expansion is challenging because regulations, grid requirements, and market conditions differ significantly from country to country. Adapting these systems locally requires substantial time and resources.
 
Sharp has also expanded its activities across Southeast Asia, including markets such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. As renewable energy demand rises throughout the region, companies entering these markets must navigate highly diverse regulatory frameworks, grid systems, and local business environments. Looking at Southeast Asia over the next decade, where do you see the greatest long term opportunity for renewable energy development, and what makes that market particularly attractive from your perspective?
Personally, I believe the Philippines represents one of the most attractive markets in Southeast Asia. Many countries in the region have various restrictions that can make business operations more difficult for overseas companies. The Philippines, however, has been relatively open to foreign manufacturers and international participation, and I believe that openness creates significant long term potential.
Another important factor is geography. Because the Philippines is an island nation, renewable energy solutions are particularly well suited to its energy needs. Decentralized renewable systems can play an important role in improving energy access, stability, and resilience.
We are already building relationships and partnerships within the country, and through those networks we believe we are in a position to develop broader value chain activities, including EPC and PPA businesses. In the future, we are also considering establishing a local subsidiary there.
At the same time, expansion across Southeast Asia requires careful localization. Every country has different legal systems, grid connection requirements, and regulatory structures. Successfully adapting to those differences takes time, but we believe the long term opportunity remains significant.
 
Sharp’s involvement in solar technology extends far beyond terrestrial applications. The company has a long history in space grade solar cells dating back to the 1970s, and its technologies have since been deployed on more than 180 satellites, including lunar exploration missions. As the global space economy expands and demand grows for high performance energy systems in communications satellites and aerospace infrastructure, how is Sharp leveraging its expertise from extreme space environments to support both future space applications and terrestrial energy innovation?
We have accumulated a very long history and substantial technical expertise in space related solar technology. That experience has given us important knowledge about reliability, durability, and performance under extremely demanding conditions.
Today, we are already collaborating with automobile manufacturers on vehicle mounted solar cells. We are conducting demonstrations together with Toyota and Nissan, and we have accumulated a considerable amount of operational data through those projects.
We also provide solar cells for HAPS platforms, which are high altitude stratospheric communication systems. These are aircraft like platforms that operate in the stratosphere and function as communications infrastructure.
Looking ahead, we believe communications satellites, particularly low Earth orbit satellites, will become the primary growth driver for our space solar business. The expansion of global communications infrastructure, space connectivity, and satellite networks is creating growing demand for advanced solar technologies.
We also intend to continue expanding internationally. The future opportunity for space related solar technology is not limited to Japan, and we would like to contribute globally in this field.
 
As conventional silicon solar cells approach their theoretical efficiency limits, the industry is increasingly turning its attention toward next generation technologies such as tandem perovskite solar cells. This is particularly important in countries like Japan, where land constraints and limited rooftop space make higher energy density increasingly valuable. Sharp has identified tandem perovskite technology as a key future growth area and is targeting commercialization around 2027. Where do you see the first major commercial opportunities emerging for this technology, and what advantages do you believe Sharp has in bringing it to market successfully?
Our goal is to achieve efficiencies of 30 percent or higher through tandem perovskite technology. Initially, we want to introduce this technology into the residential market because residential applications are especially important in Japan, where rooftop space is limited and energy efficiency per square meter is extremely valuable.
Once efficiency, reliability, and product lifespan are fully verified, we would then expand the technology into industrial applications such as large scale ground mounted solar power facilities.
If this technology becomes commercially viable, it could nearly double power generation compared to current systems. Even in a country like Japan, where available land is limited, that would allow significantly more power generation from the same physical space.
For example, a conventional residential system today may generate approximately 5 kilowatts at around 20 percent efficiency. With perovskite technology reaching approximately 30 percent efficiency, that could increase to around 7.5 kilowatts. At that level, a household could potentially balance its own energy generation and consumption and move much closer to achieving residential carbon neutrality.
At this stage, however, international expansion plans are still under discussion. The Japanese government currently places strong emphasis on a “Made in Japan” approach, so future international strategies will need to be considered carefully over time.
 
China currently dominates global solar manufacturing capacity, and international competition within the renewable energy sector is becoming increasingly intense as worldwide solar deployment accelerates. At the same time, energy supply chains are becoming more interconnected, and collaboration across borders is increasingly necessary to scale production, innovation, and infrastructure deployment. In this environment, how important do you believe international partnerships and collaboration will be for the future competitiveness of Japanese renewable energy companies?
International partnerships are already extremely important, and I believe they will continue becoming more important in the future. We are already conducting business through partnerships with various companies, including Chinese manufacturers, and I do not believe that trend will change.
The renewable energy industry is global by nature. Supply chains, manufacturing, technology development, and infrastructure deployment increasingly require international cooperation. No single country can completely isolate itself within this industry.
At the same time, partnerships allow companies to combine different strengths. Some companies may have manufacturing scale, while others may have technological expertise, quality advantages, or advanced system integration capabilities. I believe successful collaboration across borders will continue to play an essential role in the future growth of the renewable energy sector.

Residential energy systems are undergoing a major transformation. Homes are increasingly evolving into intelligent energy hubs that combine solar generation, battery storage, EV charging, V2H systems, and artificial intelligence driven optimization platforms. Many experts believe this sector could become one of the defining components of the future energy economy. From your perspective, do you see residential energy evolving toward standardized systems, or toward more customized and integrated ecosystems centered around advanced energy management services?
I believe these systems will increasingly become standardized, particularly in Japan. Major homebuilders are already making solar installation standard in the vast majority of new homes. Once solar becomes standard, battery storage naturally follows, and as electric vehicle adoption expands, systems such as V2H will also become increasingly common.
Our COCORO ENERGY platform is already one of Japan’s leading energy related services, and I believe this type of integrated ecosystem will continue expanding in the future.
As these technologies become more widespread, homes themselves will increasingly function as energy management hubs. Generation, storage, charging, and optimization will all become interconnected within a single system. That integration will improve energy efficiency while also helping households manage costs and reduce carbon emissions.
Over time, I believe these technologies will become part of the standard residential environment rather than specialized systems for only certain consumers.
 
As renewable energy systems become more sophisticated and interconnected, there is also growing concern about usability and accessibility, particularly for older consumers or users unfamiliar with advanced technologies. At the same time, policy uncertainty and shifting government priorities continue to create challenges for long term industry planning worldwide. Looking ahead, what do you believe will be the greatest barriers to mass renewable energy adoption, and how can the industry overcome them to make these systems more accessible and easier for consumers to use?
One of the biggest obstacles may actually be government policy. Energy policies can change dramatically depending on political leadership and national priorities. For example, changes related to the Paris Agreement in the United States created major uncertainty for the industry. Those types of policy shifts can significantly affect long term investment and business planning.
Another challenge is complexity. Renewable energy systems are becoming increasingly advanced, integrating solar panels, storage batteries, EV charging systems, and energy optimization platforms. For many consumers, especially elderly users, these systems can feel difficult to understand or manage.
I believe automation will become the key solution. Artificial intelligence and automated control systems will allow energy systems to optimize themselves without requiring users to understand the technical details. Customers should not need specialized knowledge in order to benefit from renewable energy technologies.
Ultimately, the goal is to create systems that automatically operate in the most efficient and optimal way possible while remaining simple and convenient for consumers. I believe that level of automation and user friendliness will be essential for achieving widespread adoption.
 
Finally, Newsweek reaches readers across 59 countries, including corporate sustainability leaders, infrastructure investors, policymakers, renewable energy executives, and global industry stakeholders who are actively shaping the future of the international energy transition. If you had to define Sharp’s role within that future global energy landscape in a single message to the international community, how would you describe the company’s long term mission and identity?
We want to be recognized as a leading company in renewable energy, especially in solar energy. Our goal is not simply to manufacture products, but to contribute to the broader transformation of global energy systems through innovation, reliability, and long term value creation.
We believe renewable energy will play a central role in the future global economy, and we want Sharp to contribute meaningfully to that transition through advanced solar technologies, integrated energy solutions, and sustainable infrastructure development.
In simple terms, Sharp aims to be a global leader in solar power and renewable energy solutions.
 
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The contract award was announced by the company itself, which described the initiative as its official entry into the Mozambican market through the Programme for the Promotion of Renewable Energy Auctions (PROLER), the first competitive mechanism for contracting solar photovoltaic projects implemented in the country.
“The Manje project opens a new chapter for JCM Power in Africa, securing the company’s entry into Mozambique through the PROLER programme,” the company states.
According to JCM Power, the future power station, located in the central province of Tete, is expected to contribute to boosting clean energy production and support national objectives to expand access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity. The company also stated that it intends to work in collaboration with the Mozambican Government, Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and other local partners to bring the project to fruition.
The project was awarded through PROLER, a programme supported by the European Commission and the French Development Agency (AFD), created to promote private-sector participation in the development of renewable infrastructure and increase the country’s energy generation capacity, which envisages the installation of around 120 MW of renewable capacity through competitive tenders.
The initiative dates back to 2022, when the Mozambican authorities launched a pre-qualification process aimed at selecting private investors for the development of the Manje solar power station in Tete and the Chimbunila solar power station in Niassa province, both with a planned capacity of 30 MW. The selected developers were to secure the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the infrastructure.
Founded in Canada, JCM Power is an independent power producer focused on the development, financing and operation of renewable energy projects in emerging markets. The company already has a presence in southern Africa, notably through its involvement in the development of the 60 MW Salima solar power station in Malawi, as well as the Golomoti power station, with a 20 MW solar capacity supplemented by a storage system.
Its entry into Mozambique comes against a backdrop of growing momentum in the country’s renewable energy sector. In June, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy launched a tender for the installation of a 30 MW solar power station in the Dondo district, Sofala province, signalling the resumption of the Proler programme and reinforcing the strategy of using competitive tenders to attract private investors.
At the same time, the Nhamatanda Solar Power Station project in Sofala Province – an investment estimated at $69 million (€59.5 million), promoted by EDM in partnership with the private company VBC – is currently undergoing public consultation. With a planned capacity of 45 MW, the facility is expected to occupy around 160 hectares and contribute to strengthening the National Electricity Grid.
The project forms part of the Energy for All programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, and is in line with the government’s target of achieving universal access to electricity by 2030.
According to data from EDM, the national electrification rate has reached 66.4% and the company plans to make at least 420,000 new connections by the end of 2026, benefiting around two million people. In the first quarter of this year, the country made more than 75,000 new electricity connections, including via the National Electricity Grid and off-grid systems powered by solar and mini-hydro power stations.
Source: Lusa
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Rethinking Indonesia’s electricity economics to reach the 100GW solar target  Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“It seems like a way to guarantee profit, while removing risk from shareholders.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A proposed $67.8 million rate hike by Delmarva Power is drawing resistance in Delaware, where opponents say higher utility bills would burden families already contending with housing, food, and energy costs.
During a public hearing, residents asked regulators to deny the filing, saying the plan would insulate the company and its investors at customers’ expense, as WDEL reported.
The request was filed in December 2025 by Exelon, Delmarva Power’s parent company. The Delaware Public Advocate estimated it would add about $9.30 a month for the average heating customer and $15.63 a month for customers who use space heaters.
An interim increase took effect on July 9. A typical customer began paying an extra $3 per month, and Delaware law would raise that amount to $4.50 per month if regulators have not issued a final decision by Dec. 9.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Sierra Club Delaware’s Marissa McClenton said, “It seems like a way to guarantee profit, while removing risk from shareholders.”
She also criticized a proposal to shift $23.2 million recovered through the Distribution System Improvement Charge, saying Delmarva “has not hit the cap” and that approving the move in advance could “[open] us up to another 7.5% rate hike.”
For homeowners interested in saving money on home energy over time, going solar is one of the best ways to do so. You can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
Several speakers described the filing as part of a broader pattern in which households are repeatedly asked to pay more, even as a major utility parent company continues to bring in billions in revenue.
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For Wilmington resident Jill Houston, Exelon’s reported $5.97 billion in quarterly revenue was reason enough to oppose the request.
“There’s absolutely no need for a rate increase,” she said.
Exelon’s stock performance has been mixed, but it has still risen 28.7%.
Critics say ordinary customers are being squeezed while investors remain protected.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Resident Kristina Kelly said that branches from a nearby tree near power lines destroyed her sweet potato garden.
“Look at Delaware’s housing crisis, look at what families are paying, look at Delmarva’s executive compensation, and then look at people like me,” Kelly said.
McClenton also argued that customers should not be stuck with infrastructure costs associated with data centers and other energy-intensive developments.
“If these big projects need infrastructure improvements, it should come out of their own pocket, not the energy bills of Delawareans,” she said.
Residents can weigh in before regulators decide. Written comments can be emailed to the Delaware Public Service Commission at psc@delaware.gov, using 25-1555 in the subject line, by Sept. 18, 2026.
Delmarva said it is offering customer support measures such as bill payment arrangements, energy-efficiency programs, a $6.5 million Customer Relief Fund, and a proposed 20% discount on electric delivery charges for qualifying low- to moderate-income customers.
The company also said the filing reflects reliability investments already completed, including stronger poles, new substations, and updated technology.
For households considering alternatives, EnergySage’s free services can help clarify whether solar makes financial sense. EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system, along with details on solar incentives, and together those tools can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Readers can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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Researchers from the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) in Germany have fabricated a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using a fully solvent-free manufacturing process.
“At the heart of the project is the fabrication of the perovskite layer using physical vapor deposition (PVD) and other solvent-free, industrially scalable processes,” the scientists said in a statement. “The perovskite layer was deposited through sequential evaporation.”
PVD offers a solvent-free approach to thin-film deposition, as the coating material is transferred directly to the substrate through the vapor phase under vacuum, eliminating the need to dissolve the material in a liquid carrier. The approach can also reduce solvent-related contamination and eliminates the need for subsequent solvent removal or drying steps.
“We have succeeded in eliminating all solvents from the manufacturing process of the wide-bandgap perovskite top cell and integrating this technology into the world’s first fully solvent-free perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell,” said lead author Mohamed A. A. Mahmoud.
“Thanks to excellent collaboration with researchers from four different countries, we were able to combine various measurement techniques to gain a detailed understanding of the processes taking place during the deposition of the perovskite thin films,” said co-author Juliane Borchert. “Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells have great potential to become the next generation of highly efficient solar cells. For them to make the transition from the laboratory to industrial manufacturing, it is essential to identify the optimal combination of deposition methods that enables reliable, large-scale, and high-throughput production. With this solvent-free tandem solar cell, we are laying an important foundation for achieving this goal.”
The researchers built the solvent-free device in a monolithic two-terminal (2T) configuration, with a sequentially evaporated perovskite top cell integrated onto a silicon heterojunction (SHJ) bottom cell. They deposited the perovskite absorber via sequential evaporation using an optimized precursor recipe designed to achieve the required bandgap and complete conversion of the lead-halide precursors.
The scientists also deposited the hole-transport layer (HTL) by evaporation, avoiding solution processing at the bottom interface of the perovskite cell. At the upper interface, they deposited an ethylenediammonium diiodide (EDAI) passivation layer, followed by a 15-nm buckminsterfullerene (C60) electron-transport layer (ETL). They then deposited 20 nm of tin oxide (SnOₓ) via atomic layer deposition (ALD) and 25 nm of indium tin oxide (ITO) by sputtering.
The 1 cm² device was completed with a 200-nm silver (Ag) electrode and a 100-nm magnesium fluoride (MgF₂) layer.
Tested under standard illumination conditions, the tandem cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 27.1%, an open-circuit voltage of 1,903 mV, a short-circuit current density of 19.3 mA/cm², and a fill factor of 73.8%. The device also retained 97.06% of its initial efficiency after 6,800 hours of storage in the dark under a nitrogen (N₂) atmosphere.
The scientists said in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements provided insights into the growth and conversion of sequentially deposited perovskite absorbers on planar and textured silicon substrates. They found that textured silicon promoted more effective conversion of lead-halide precursors into the perovskite phase than planar silicon.
The researchers also observed halide redistribution during thermal annealing, highlighting the importance of carefully optimized annealing conditions for achieving high device performance. However, they noted that the elevated processing temperatures impose additional thermal-stability requirements on the hole-transport layers.
“This achievement and the new insights into the crystallization processes form an important foundation for the further optimization of the technology and its future industrial implementation,” the academics concluded.
The new manufacturing process was described in “Impact of silicon substrate topography on sequentially evaporated perovskite film growth,” published in Joule.

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Our special edition for Intersolar South America 2026 is here!
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If you’re experiencing solar installation problems after investing in a residential photovoltaic (PV) system, know that they could be due to dirt accumulation or tree growth casting shade on the panels. Equipment problems, like panel or inverter defects, improper installation, or overinflated contractor estimates, could also be behind it.
You’re not alone in this situation, either; many Americans are in the same boat, with their panels failing to deliver on claims made by installers.
As KXAN.com reported in May 2026, the federal agency Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has already received over 2,000 solar-related complaints over the past decade. California, Texas, and Florida are the top three states with the most complaints.
Incorrect system sizing and improper installation are among the most common solar installation problems homeowners may experience. Others may also experience roof problems (e.g., leaks) and even fire hazards.
If a solar installer fails to review previous utility bills carefully, they may miscalculate a household’s energy load. It could lead to them installing an undersized system.
In some cases, installers may also fail to account for future energy use increases and seasonal panel output drops.
Regardless of the cause, an undersized system will not meet your performance expectations because it’s too small. The system’s production won’t be enough to offset your total household electricity needs.
Many homeowners also experience solar installation problems because their contractor (or subcontractor) may have performed shoddy work. Specific examples include:
Roof problems like leaks and rot can occur if a solar installer drilled holes for the panels’ mounting brackets without using the correct techniques and supplies.
They may have purposefully skipped the use of flashing or the application of waterproof sealants. Even if they only forgot, it still points to a lack of solar installer accountability and subpar craftsmanship.
It’s rare for solar panel systems to cause a fire directly, but it can still happen.
The Inter­national Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) says that in rare cases involving PV modules implicated in house fires, the cause was electrical arcing. Electrical arcing, an electrical discharge “jumping” through the air, can occur due to:
Yes, with one of the primary reasons being that the panels are reaching or have reached the end of their useful service life. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes, solar panels’ typical lifespan is over 25 years.
Other owners are getting rid of their panels due to:
All those are practical reasons, but for some, it’s because they regret their solar contracts and want to seek contract exit options. Their regret stems from being in agreements that involved deceptive sales practices, misleading information, low-quality work, and faulty equipment.
If your PV system isn’t performing as well as promised by your contractor, don’t assume the worst immediately; instead, do some solar energy troubleshooting. If that still doesn’t work, call your contractor next.
If your actual household energy use hasn’t drastically increased, your PV system’s underperformance may be due to dirt or debris accumulating on the surface of the panels. Try hosing them down with a garden hose or using a long, telescoping soft-bristle brush from the ground.
Check the surrounding area, too, and make sure there’s no tree overgrowth shading the panels.
If basic troubleshooting doesn’t do the trick, call your solar company for help. They should help you get your system back in shape, whether it’s through panel, electrical, or inverter repairs or replacements.
If your contractor doesn’t offer any resolution, or you believe they’ve engaged in deception, you may be within your consumer energy rights to seek legal assistance. They may have exaggerated the numbers when selling you the system, such as the panels’ potential output or energy savings.
In this case, one of your options is to get in touch with Solar Cancellation Resource Center experts. You can get direct access to legal support and representation, helping you get out of a bad solar deal.
If you, friends, or family don’t have a PV system yet but plan to get one, beware of potential scams and bad deals, often signaled by high-pressure sales tactics.
The sales agents or contractors may say they’re offering “free” or massively discounted equipment, but only if you agree to and sign the contract within the same day. They may use statements like “today only” or “one-time deal.”
Be cautious of salespeople who say their products will allow you to enjoy $0 bills. They’re highly misleading, even deceptive, because even if the panels offset the entire electricity usage of a home, utility companies still charge miscellaneous fees, which means that bills are unlikely to be $0.
Yes. Solar panels are still worth it, despite these mounting concerns about bad solar contracts and shady deals. Most problems with solar don’t stem directly from the panels or overall system; they have more to do with the installers or contractors, including their sales tactics and the quality of work.
Solar panels remain among the most accessible options to transition to clean, green, sustainable energy. If installed properly by a highly experienced, reputable, and trustworthy contractor, they should deliver their expected (and realistic) performance, helping you reduce your household energy use and bills.
From incorrect sizing to improper installation, roof problems, and fire hazards, these are all solar installation problems that homeowners can face.
If you’re in this situation, do some basic troubleshooting and then call your installer. If none of that works, consider your legal options, even more so if you believe you’re a victim of deceptive sales practices.
Find the latest on this topic and more by checking out our investigative reports, community news, and in-depth news coverage.
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Solar farms provide clean energy, but new research from China suggests rapid development can come at a cost to birds and their habitat.
Building solar farms is supposed to be the easy part of fixing the climate. But panels need land, and in China most of that land was cropland or grassland with birds living on it. A new study of 2,344 Chinese counties finds that the harder a county pushed solar, the fewer kinds of birds its birdwatchers recorded.
Clean power and habitat are competing for the same ground.
Huiming Zhang and colleagues compared counties against each other. They did not follow any single solar site from before construction to after, so the study shows a pattern and not a cause. The pattern survived a long list of alternative tests.
Amateur birdwatchers logged the sightings on the China Birdwatching Record Center, where experts check each entry. Zhang works at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology. His team matched those records to county figures on solar policy, land cover, weather, and income, month by month from 2014 through 2023.
To measure the birds, the team used a standard score. It rises when a place holds more species, and when those species are spread evenly rather than dominated by one or two.
For the policy side, they scraped official documents off provincial, city, and county government websites. Each document scored from 1 to 9, from a vague plan up to a binding regulation.
Researchers before them counted panels. This team counted the paperwork that put the panels there.
Counties with stronger solar policy had lower bird scores. Moving a county up one standard deviation on the policy scale went with a 2.10% drop in its score.
That’s a small number for one county and a large one for a country installing solar faster than anywhere else. China’s panels already covered about 1,745 square miles (4,520 square kilometers) in 2024, roughly the area of Rhode Island. By 2060 solar is projected to supply close to 45% of the country’s energy.
The authors then separated new rules from old ones. New rules coming into force tracked with a drop in bird diversity. Older rules already in force didn’t.
Whatever is happening to the birds appears to happen early in the solar expansion process.
Counties also lost species outright. The total number of species fell, while the evenness among the ones left over ticked up slightly. That’s the pattern expected when more specialized species drop out and adaptable ones divide up what remains.
The team then checked two satellite measures of plant cover, and the two disagreed. The measure that tracks how healthy and widespread plant cover is went down as solar policy tightened. The measure of how much leaf surface is stacked over a patch of ground went up.
The authors call that combination inferior greening. Land that reads as greener from orbit can be dense, uniform cover under and between the panels. It stands in for the mixed grassland or crop mosaic that used to be there.
Dense and uniform is fine if you’re a plant. It’s a problem if you’re a bird that nests in a shrub of a particular height, or one that eats the insects a varied plant community feeds.
They tested a simpler explanation and dropped it. If lights around industrial sites were pushing birds out, night-light readings should climb with solar policy. They fell instead, because large solar plants get built in empty places.
The losses landed outside China’s dry northern belt and outside its sandy and gravel deserts, and in counties never designated as poverty counties. Inside the desert zones, where birds are already adapted to bare open country, the researchers found no significant effect.
Species split the same way. China’s endemic birds, the ones concentrated in mountain forest nobody is paving for panels, came through unaffected.
Widespread species did worse, along with birds that nest in vegetation and birds that eat meat or a bit of everything. Plant-eaters, which can work with thick ground cover, showed no significant change.
Migratory and resident birds both declined. The counties with the most aggressive solar policy also overlap with major flyways, which turns a local land swap into a problem for wildlife only passing through. Those migration stopovers shape populations thousands of miles away.
Farmers in those counties harvested less, too. The authors estimate a 2.88% drop in crop yield for each one-unit rise in policy strength, an effect they report separately from the bird numbers.
Their recommendation isn’t less solar. It’s solar somewhere else. Put the big utility plants in the arid north, where clearing costs the least, and keep them off productive land in wealthier, wetter regions.
For those regions they point to rooftop arrays and to growing crops under and between the panels, which keeps some plant structure and some food production on the same land.
They also want ecological rules written into policy before the bulldozers arrive, and restoration standards that require a mix of native plants instead of the cheapest fast-growing cover.
Earth.com has reported on how wildflower borders change what lives on a solar site, and on how solar farms can be designed around wildlife from the start. Researchers are making the same case about floating panels on reservoirs.
Shanjun Li of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability is one of the paper’s corresponding authors, alongside co-authors in Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Maryland, and Hanoi.
Economists can tell a government roughly what a ton of carbon dioxide costs the world. No comparable figure exists for a county’s birds, so a plan that trades one for the other can only put a value on one of them.
Yuanning Liang, an economist at Peking University who wrote an accompanying commentary, called that the next job. He wrote that “credible estimates of biodiversity values are needed when sustainable development policies alter ecosystems.”
The desert-siting fix is still a recommendation rather than a tested result. This study measures what China’s counties have already built. It doesn’t measure what happens to the birds if the panels move.
The full study was published in the journal Science.
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Sanjay Ganjoo, director general of the Indian Federation of Green Energy, urged investment in technologies that extend the period during which solar power can be generated and in mechanisms to evacuate electricity from high potential regions such as Ladakh. He pointed to projects including the Khavda solar park as examples of how otherwise marginal land can be utilised to produce electricity for domestic use. Ganjoo also emphasised the need to strengthen the domestic supply chain so that wafers and batteries are produced locally and research and manufacturing receive greater investment.
Mohammad Rihan, director general of the National Institute of Solar Energy, said large solar parks have improved financial viability by aligning policy, industry and infrastructure, driving down prices and supporting sector growth. He noted that the projects have generated employment and local economic benefits in challenging locations. Rihan added that solar installations had reached 165 gigawatt (GW), module manufacturing capacity had crossed 213 GW and cell manufacturing capacity stood at more than 30 GW, signalling progress towards longer-term renewable targets.
Looking ahead, the experts said India will need to combine large scale renewable projects with stronger transmission links, enhanced technology development and deeper domestic manufacturing to increase energy self-reliance. They recommended focused investment in power evacuation infrastructure for remote sites and in storage or generation extending technologies to make solar output more reliable. The consensus was that while large solar parks will continue to be central to the green transition, complementary measures will determine how quickly capacity can be expanded.
Industry experts said that large scale solar parks can play a key role in making renewable energy more financially viable and supporting India’s green transition, but cautioned that realising that potential will require coordinated investment in infrastructure and manufacturing. They argued that bringing together policy support, industry participation and large scale projects helps reduce costs and strengthens the sector’s long-term prospects. The experts noted that these parks also create economic activity in remote areas and can unlock land that was previously unused. Sanjay Ganjoo, director general of the Indian Federation of Green Energy, urged investment in technologies that extend the period during which solar power can be generated and in mechanisms to evacuate electricity from high potential regions such as Ladakh. He pointed to projects including the Khavda solar park as examples of how otherwise marginal land can be utilised to produce electricity for domestic use. Ganjoo also emphasised the need to strengthen the domestic supply chain so that wafers and batteries are produced locally and research and manufacturing receive greater investment. Mohammad Rihan, director general of the National Institute of Solar Energy, said large solar parks have improved financial viability by aligning policy, industry and infrastructure, driving down prices and supporting sector growth. He noted that the projects have generated employment and local economic benefits in challenging locations. Rihan added that solar installations had reached 165 gigawatt (GW), module manufacturing capacity had crossed 213 GW and cell manufacturing capacity stood at more than 30 GW, signalling progress towards longer-term renewable targets. Looking ahead, the experts said India will need to combine large scale renewable projects with stronger transmission links, enhanced technology development and deeper domestic manufacturing to increase energy self-reliance. They recommended focused investment in power evacuation infrastructure for remote sites and in storage or generation extending technologies to make solar output more reliable. The consensus was that while large solar parks will continue to be central to the green transition, complementary measures will determine how quickly capacity can be expanded.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for continuous reforms across all stages of infrastructure project execution during the 53rd PRAGATI meeting. He asked ministries and state governments to adopt an end-to-end approach and a proactive work culture to ensure timely delivery. The meeting reviewed six key infrastructure projects in the railway, road and power sectors across nine states with a cumulative investment of Rs 300 billion (Rs 300 bn). Officials assessed projects on timelines, inter-agency coordination and resolution of pending issues. He said infrastructure projects should b..
GMR Airports plans a US$2 billion (bn) expansion of facilities at New Delhi and Hyderabad as part of a major modernisation drive. Hyderabad’s upgraded airport will be able to accommodate about 80 million (mn) passengers a year, more than double its current annual volume of 34 mn fliers. The company is India’s largest airport operator by number of fliers annually, while rival Adani Airport Holdings Ltd is the biggest by number of airports and is reported to be looking to invest US$15 bn to boost passenger capacity over the next five years. Executives indicated the build-outs in New Delhi an..
Adani Group-operated Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) will begin partial demolition of the north section of Terminal one-B at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from 15 January 2027, according to a letter to the civil aviation ministry. The operator has begun redistributing air traffic to Terminal two and to Navi Mumbai International Airport to facilitate the work. The airport, managed by Mumbai International Airport, currently has a capacity of over 50 million (mn) passengers and handles over 950 flight movements daily. Terminal one is nearly 80 years old and parts of it have..
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WANA (Aug 28) – With more than 280 sunny days throughout the year, Iran is considered one of the most potential geographic zones in the world for constructing solar power plants and producing clean energy. Now, the country intends to make a fundamental leap from this potential capacity.
 
Based on the planned arrangements, Iran plans to construct the world’s largest solar power plant with a capacity of 5 gigawatts (5,000 megawatts) in Isfahan province.
 
Currently, the record for the world’s largest single-site solar power plant belongs to China’s “Midong” power plant with a capacity of 3.5 gigawatts. With the fruition of the Isfahan project, Iran can stand at the top of the table of renewable energy owners in the world.
 
Majiid Ansari, Legal Deputy to the President, emphasizing the mandates of the Seventh Development Plan law regarding the compensation of lags in the energy sector, noted: “The main goal setting of the 14th government is the construction and generation of 30,000 megawatts of solar energy in the country.”
 
WANA (Aug 25) – Iran has moved closer to its annual target of reaching 12,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy following the inauguration of 107 power projects across the country.   Hamidreza Azimi, Deputy Head of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization of Iran, announced that 600 MW of renewable power capacity from 107 […]
 
This action is not only a step toward joining the green economy, but also plays a key role in resolving the challenge of electricity imbalance.
 
Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, spokesman for Iran’s electricity industry, announced the country’s annual electricity consumption rate as about 350 billion kilowatt-hours and predicted that this amount would reach 380 billion kilowatt-hours at peak consumption.
 
Referring to the subsidies situation, he says: “Iran is the second country in the world in paying energy subsidies, about one-fourth of which are directly allocated to the electricity sector”; a pattern whose reform and the direction of investments toward clean energy is imperative.
 
Official statistics show the composition and rate of electricity consumption in different sectors of the country as follows:
 
Industrial Sector (36.83%): Holds the largest share of the country’s electricity consumption. Industries such as steel, cement, and petrochemicals need sustainable energy to maintain production cycles. Applying modern technologies like Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and developing renewable power plants around industries will double the productivity of this sector.
Technicians install solar panels on a residential rooftop in Tehran, Iran October 11, 2020. Picture taken October 11, 2020. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Residential Sector (32.34%): The second largest electricity-consuming sector, which pushes the grid load to its peak in the summer season with cooling appliances coming online.
 
Agricultural Sector (14.67%): The electricity of this sector is mainly spent on water well pumps and farm equipment. Using solar panels on farms is an effective step toward reducing costs.
 
Commercial and Administrative Sector (7.19%): This sector has the highest consumption pattern during working hours, which will have a more optimal performance if equipped with automation systems.
 
Currently, the country’s electricity generation is heavily dependent on non-renewable sources, such that about 85 to 90 percent of Iran’s electricity is produced by fossil fuel power plants (thermal, gas, and combined cycle). On the other hand, the share of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in supplying the country’s electricity is about 1 to 1.5 percent (equivalent to 1,000 megawatts).
Milad tower and a solar panel, are seen in Tehran, Iran October 13, 2020. Picture taken October 13, 2020. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
The current share of solar energy and other renewables in the national energy mix accounts for only about 1.5 percent. Haji-Mirzaei, Head of the Presidential Office, explaining the priorities of the Presidential Administration in this area, emphasized: “To compensate for the electricity imbalance, creating 30,000 megawatts of solar energy capacity has been targeted, of which 18,000 megawatts have so far been added to the country’s electricity generation capacity, and an important priority of the government is the complete elimination of these imbalances.”
 
The entry of the 5-gigawatt Isfahan power plant into the grid will inject new power into the national grid and cover a significant portion of the existing gap between generation and consumption.
 
The full implementation of this project, in addition to self-sufficiency in electricity supply, will prevent the annual waste of billions of cubic meters of natural gas and turn Iran into one of the main hubs of renewable energy.
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Britain has just legalised a category of solar hardware that could reshape how millions of renters and apartment dwellers generate their own power  and it is a policy India’s own rooftop-constrained cities would do well to watch. From August 27, 2026, households across England, Scotland and Wales can legally buy and use “plug-in solar” kits: panels that connect directly into a standard three-pin wall socket, need no electrician, no planning permission in most cases, and no rewiring of the home’s consumer unit.
The change rests on two statutory instruments — SI 2026/848, which creates a new legal category of “plug-in microgenerator,” and SI 2026/896, which amends England’s permitted development rules so most installations need no planning application. Each certified kit of plug-in balcony solar modules is capped at 800 watts of AC output at the socket, fed by up to 2,000 watts of solar panelling, and comes with automatic disconnect protection that cuts export the moment grid voltage is lost, preventing any backfeed risk to line workers.
The UK government’s own estimate is that an 800W kit can cover up to 20% of an average household’s electricity use and save between £70 and £110 a year, for an upfront cost starting around £400 and, crucially, zero installation cost. Major retailers like Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon among them have already worked with regulators on the rollout and are expected to stock kits within weeks.
Why this matters beyond Britain
Plug-in or “balcony” solar has been sold legally in Germany for years, where over a million households have adopted it as a low-friction entry point to microgeneration. The UK’s move  after a safety consultation, independent testing of electrical compatibility with British wiring, and a formal engineering standard (G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1)  signals that regulators in a major, risk-averse electricity market are now comfortable with socket-connected generation at meaningful scale, not just as a niche gadget.
There’s a scale ceiling worth noting too: DESNZ has capped the rule at one 800W device per household regardless of how many circuits a home has, rejecting industry calls for a higher per-dwelling limit on the grounds that most UK homes run at least two power circuits. It’s a deliberately conservative first step. A proof of concept for socket-connected generation at national scale, not a replacement for full rooftop systems, which will still make sense for homeowners with south-facing roofs and higher consumption to offset.
The India Situation
India’s rooftop solar push under PM Surya Ghar has been built almost entirely around net-metered, professionally installed rooftop systems for homeowners that comes with a subsidy to boot. This model structurally excludes the large and growing share of urban Indians who rent, or live in multi-storey apartments with no individual roof access or DISCOM net-metering approval of their own. A plug-in category, sized appropriately for Indian balconies and grid conditions, could open solar to exactly this segment without touching net-metering policy, discom interconnection queues, or landlord permissions, the three biggest friction points slowing rooftop adoption in Tier-1 cities today.
The caveats are real and worth carrying over deliberately: UK regulators spent over a year on safety testing before this went live, and India’s own wiring standards, socket ratings and grid protection norms would need equivalent scrutiny before any plug-in category could be certified here. But as a policy instrument for widening solar access to renters and apartment-dwellers,  rather than deepening it only for existing rooftop owners,  it is a live global template that India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and BIS could usefully study now, while the UK’s rollout data is still fresh. Considering how some of India’s priciest apartments have no way to benefit or contribute for now. Making the kits cheaper with tax exemptions might also be a better idea than cumbersome subsidy claims, for systems used in this case.

A typical 2kW system that generates a peak of 800 W output (thanks to less than ideal placement in most cases that balcony solar is made for ) will generate 1.5 to 2.5 units per day, enough for  lights, fans, chargers, or small appliances. At 50-60 units per month, such systems could take a little longer to pay back even without subsidies,  but would still be a handy support if they last 15-20 years as they should with rising electricity prices. 
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The global transition to cleaner energy is often discussed in terms of climate targets or geopolitical competition. Less attention is paid to the industrial systems that make that transition possible. China’s solar photovoltaic (PV) industry offers a useful example. Over the past decade, China has expanded renewable energy at home while becoming the world’s leading producer of solar technologies. The result has been felt far beyond its own borders. Greater manufacturing capacity has made solar power more widely available, supported new clean-energy industries and provided countries and regions with another pathway to diversify their energy supplies. At the same time, China’s dominant position in global PV manufacturing has also raised legitimate questions about supply-chain concentration and resilience, making solar an increasingly important issue in both climate and energy-security discussions.
A file photo shows an aerial view of a solar power plant at sunset in a mountainous area. /CFP
China’s position in the industry did not emerge overnight. Solar PV has become one of the most mature and scalable clean-energy technologies, and China’s role in that evolution has grown steadily over the past two decades. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the annual output value of China’s PV manufacturing sector exceeded 1 trillion yuan (around $148 billion), while exports totaled more than $180 billion. The breadth of overseas demand is particularly notable. Chinese-made solar products are used in economies with very different development strategies and energy policies, suggesting that the industry’s expansion reflects not only domestic industrial policy but also sustained international demand for affordable renewable-energy technologies.
The significance of this development extends well beyond solar panels themselves. China’s investment across the PV supply chain has helped drive advances in batteries, energy storage, smart grids and electric vehicles, contributing to the world’s largest renewable-energy system. As China’s clean-energy technologies have expanded into overseas markets, it have also supported the development of renewable-energy industries in countries and regions such as Malaysia and Vietnam while encouraging investment in more flexible electricity grids. China’s contribution also extends beyond the solar industry itself. In recent years, it has built the world’s largest renewable-energy system, expanded the global reach of its electric-vehicle industry, and played a role in facilitating the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. These developments reflect China’s efforts to link its domestic green transition with broader international environmental cooperation.
A file photo of workers handling newly manufactured solar panels on a production line at a factory. /CFP
There is also an important energy-security dimension. Countries and regions without significant oil and gas reserves have traditionally relied either on domestic coal or on imported fossil fuels to meet their energy needs. Solar power changes part of that equation. Although PV panels and other equipment may still be imported, the electricity itself is generated domestically. For countries and regions with abundant solar resources but limited fossil-fuel reserves, expanding solar generation can strengthen energy security by reducing reliance on volatile international fuel markets. While solar does not eliminate external dependence altogether, it reduces the need for continuous fuel imports by allowing countries and regions to generate more of their own electricity.
A file photo of a solar power tower at the Dunhuang solar power plant in northwest China. /CFP
None of this means China’s solar industry should be viewed without criticism. Manufacturing concentration, recycling, grid integration and the environmental footprint of production remain important challenges, and no single technology can deliver a secure and fully decarbonized energy system on its own. But these trade-offs should be considered alongside the industry’s broader contribution. By lowering the cost and expanding the availability of solar technologies, China has helped make renewable electricity more accessible at a pivotal stage of the global energy transition. The significance of the solar industry development extends beyond its manufacturing scale and export performance. Its development has also expanded the practical options available to countries and regions seeking cleaner and more sustainable paths to development.

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Shade-grown pasture delivers less grass but the same nutrition, suggesting solar farms might have a second life as livestock habitat.
By Brendan Brown
Published August 28, 2026 · How we edit
The experiment at Oregon State University’s research farm in Corvallis was set up like a fair fight. Two groups of weaned Polypay lambs, matched and weighed. Two pastures side by side: one open to the full Willamette Valley sky, the other planted beneath the rows of a working solar array. Turn the lambs out, let them graze a spring, and weigh what happens.
On paper, the solar lambs were at a serious disadvantage. Measured across two years, the pasture under the panels produced 38 percent less forage than the open field, with the fully shaded strips directly beneath the panels growing thinnest of all. A third less food on the table should mean lighter lambs; that is close to a law of animal husbandry.
The scales disagreed. In spring 2019 the solar lambs gained 120 grams a day and the open-field lambs gained 119. The next year it was 89 grams against 92. Statistically, identical growth, two years running, on a third less grass.
The resolution of the paradox was sitting in the forage analysis. Grass grown in shade is not simply less grass; it is different grass. Plants under the panels, receiving less light, put less energy into the coarse structural carbohydrates, the stemmy, fibrous bulk that fills a pasture and fills a rumen without feeding it especially well. What the shaded plants did produce stayed leafier, softer and richer, with the study finding higher nutritive quality in the solar pasture’s forage, more protein and digestibility packed into fewer kilograms.
A lamb, it turns out, does not eat kilograms; it eats nutrition. Offered a smaller salad of better greens, the solar lambs simply extracted what they needed from less material. The researchers’ own summary states the trade cleanly: the lower herbage mass in solar pastures was offset by higher forage quality, resulting in the same lamb production as the open field.
The panels chipped in a second, sneakier subsidy. Lambs in the open field spent their afternoons standing in full sun, burning energy on staying cool, and in the hot weeks of late spring they drank measurably more water, nearly three-quarters of a liter more per head per day, than the lambs loafing in panel shade. Every calorie a solar lamb did not spend on heat regulation was a calorie available for growth. The researchers watched the flocks organize their days around the geometry, grazing the open strips, then drifting under the panels to ruminate through the heat, using the array the way sheep on old pastures use a hedgerow tree.
The study, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems in 2021 and believed to be the first anywhere to measure livestock production under a working solar array, then did the sums that matter to landowners. Grazing returns came out at $1,046 per hectare per year in the open pasture and $1,029 under the panels, a difference of less than 2 percent. As co-author Serkan Ates noted, the returns are about the same before counting the electricity, and the panels’ output is the entire point of the land. The same hectare was producing its full agricultural value and a power plant’s worth of energy at once, the double-cropping that the agrivoltaics field exists to prove.
There were honest wrinkles in the data. The 38 percent forage deficit was not evenly spread; the strips in permanent full shade grew poorly and established badly, while partially shaded ground between rows sometimes out-produced the open field in high summer, when the panels’ shade kept soil moisture alive after the open pasture had browned off. An earlier Oregon State study on the same site had found late-season grass under panels benefiting from exactly that moisture effect. Shade, in a dry Pacific Northwest summer, cuts both ways.
The Corvallis result has been cited ever since in the argument it was designed to inform, the land-use fight between food and energy. The reflexive objection to solar on farmland is that every panel’s shadow is subtracted pasture, and by the crudest measure, biomass, the objection is true; the study measured the subtraction at 38 percent. What the lambs demonstrate is that the subtraction never reached the animal. Growth, liveweight per hectare, water use, returns per acre: on every metric that ends in meat or money, the shaded pasture matched the open one.
The mechanism is the part worth keeping. Shade taxes a pasture’s quantity and quietly refunds the tax as quality, thinner grass but better grass, and a ruminant is precisely the machine built to cash that refund. The lambs never knew they were part of an energy debate. They stood in the shade on the hot afternoons, ate a third less of something better, and gained weight to the gram alongside their cousins in the sun.
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Canadian Solar’s Q2 2026 revenue increased sequentially, but the company remained loss-making as gross margin fell sharply
Its US manufacturing expansion is moving ahead alongside a sizable contracted module backlog
Canadian Solar is preparing a technology path beyond HJT and TOPCon toward QBC, Space PV and tandem cells
Canadian Solar increased its Q2 2026 revenue sequentially as solar module and battery storage shipments rose, but profitability weakened sharply. The company also outlined plans to expand its US manufacturing base and move toward newer solar cell technologies.
The company reported $1.21 billion in net revenue for Q2 2026, meeting the higher end of its guidance for the quarter, up 12% from the first quarter but down 29% year-on-year (YoY). Gross margin fell to 13.9%, compared with 25.1% in Q1 and 29.8% a year earlier (see Canadian Solar Q1 2026 Revenue Reaches $1.1 Billion).
Canadian Solar’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Xinbo Zhu said the lower sequential margin was mainly due to the absence of an IEEPA tariff refund recorded in the previous quarter, along with normalized energy storage margins. 
Its net loss for the quarter widened to $77 million, from a $32 million loss in Q1. The company had reported net income attributable to Canadian Solar of $7 million in Q2 2025.
Canadian Solar’s recognized revenue from 3.1 GW of solar module shipments during the quarter, up 25% sequentially but down 60% YoY.
On the other hand, battery energy storage shipments reached 3.7 GWh, an 82% increase from Q1 and 73% higher than a year earlier, representing $426 million in revenue. Of the storage shipments, 471 MWh were delivered to the company’s own projects under execution, with the related revenue to be recognized in later quarters.
Its manufacturing business generated $1.10 billion in revenue and $131 million in gross profit, giving the segment an 11.9% gross margin, down from previous quarter’s 29.1%.
Recurrent Energy generated $117 million in revenue, with a 30.7% gross margin. The company said Recurrent Energy’s quarterly performance was affected by the deferral of planned project sales into the second half of the year. Electricity revenue increased following the commercial operation of a major utility-scale solar project in Spain.
Canadian Solar officially opened the first phase of its HJT solar cell factory in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in July through CS Power Tech. Phase I has a nameplate capacity of 2.1 GW. The company expects to begin trial production at Phase II in Q1 2027. The expansion would add another 4.2 GW, taking total US solar cell capacity to 6.3 GW, making it the ‘largest’ crystalline silicon solar cell factory in North America (see Canadian Solar Opens 6 GW HJT Cell Plant In Indiana).
It is also expanding the Texas module factory from 5 GW to 10 GW, with completion expected in H2 2026. The management claims more than 13 GW of contracted US module backlog, worth more than $4.5 billion as of August 14, 2026. The backlog extends from H2 of 2026 into 2027 and beyond.
CEO Colin Parkin said US solar and storage shipments are expected to accelerate in the second half of the year, while ramp-up costs at the Jeffersonville cell facility are expected to weigh on profitability for the rest of 2026.
Canadian Solar’s e-STORAGE business had a $3.5 billion contracted backlog as of June 30, 2026. It also had 34 GWh of operating projects contracted under long-term service agreements. Recurrent Energy had a global solar development pipeline of 21.7 GW and a battery storage pipeline of 84.1 GWh at the end of June.
The solar pipeline included 1.7 GW under construction and 2.2 GW in backlog, while the storage pipeline included 600 MWh under construction and 4.4 GWh in backlog.
Canadian Solar’s technology roadmap extends from current HJT and TOPCon technologies toward quad back contact (QBC), space PV and tandem cells. Through 2028, it plans to improve HJT and TOPCon modules raising their efficiency from 23.2% to 24.4% while reducing silver use from 6.5 mg/W to 3 mg/W.
Shawn Qu, Executive Chairman and CTO shared that in 2028 it will target mass production of QBC technology with module efficiency of 24.8% to 25.2%, and silver use of 1-2 mg/W. It also expects Space PV shipments in 2029, while tandem shipments are targeted for the 2030s with module efficiency above 30%.
The roadmap also includes newer energy storage technologies. SolBank 3.0 is positioned for 2026-28, followed by SolBank 4.0 and a sodium-ion battery product, while the power electronics roadmap includes higher-capacity medium-voltage skids and a solid-state transformer.
For Q3, Canadian Solar expects revenue of $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion, with gross margin between 13.5% and 15.5%. Global module shipments are expected within 3.5 GW and 3.8 GW, while battery storage shipments are forecast at 3.4 GWh to 3.8 GWh. The company maintained its 2026 US shipment guidance of 6.5 GW and 7.0 GW of solar modules and 4.5 GWh to 5.5 GWh of utility-scale battery storage.
It also expects delayed Recurrent Energy project sales from Q2 to be realized in Q3.
TaiyangNews 2024

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Crops below, solar above: How agrivoltaics can boost farmer income  The Indian Express
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Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2026-08-28 14:39:16
A former coal-mining subsidence area in Anhui, east China, has been transformed into a floating solar farm.
Once marked by mining, the area now generates clean energy, with rows of solar panels floating on the water beneath blue skies. 
#SolarEnergy #GreenTransformation #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Environment #China #Sustainability

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Solar represents around 98% of new energy capacity installed in Colombia since 2022, when a National Development Plan began to prioritize a shift away from fossil fuels. “The country is no longer in an early adoption phase: solar energy has become the main source of growth in new installed power capacity,” said José Miguel Hernandez, …
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‘World’s first solar ambulance’ just proved it works  CNN
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Hawkes Bay Airport has initiated an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to identify partners for construction and co-investment in a planned 12-17MW solar photovoltaic facility on its property in New Zealand. The installation is slated for a 24-hectare parcel northwest of the runways, catering to the Napier and Hastings area on the country’s North Island.
Chief executive Nick Flack noted that the venture would lay the groundwork for an aviation industry anticipated to depend significantly more on renewable electricity by 2050, with demand possibly reaching 20 times present figures. This EOI phase comes after a more ambitious earlier plan: the airport had previously considered a 45MW solar project alongside Manawa Energy, later acquired by Contact Energy, but both sides agreed to reduce the scope to better match the airport’s enduring needs.
A final investment decision on the reduced project remains pending, with feasibility assessments proceeding in parallel with permitting, engineering, and cultural and community consultations over the coming year. Flack indicated that this stage aims to test market interest in construction, maintenance, and possible co-ownership models prior to determining the asset’s ownership structure.
Airports embracing on-site renewable generation and storage is a growing trend across Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, CleanPeak Energy has entered a 15-year contract to provide Western Sydney International Airport with fully renewable power, integrating a 9MWp rooftop solar array with 30MW/120MWh of battery storage before the airport’s scheduled opening in late 2026. In contrast to Hawkes Bay’s ground-based approach, CleanPeak will own the infrastructure and sell electricity to the airport via a long-term energy services deal, shielding the airport operator from initial capital outlays.
Hawkes Bay’s initiative is part of wider solar momentum in the region. Lodestone Energy and Centralines commenced work in July 2026 on the 31.5MWp Central Hawkes Bay solar farm, a joint venture with the local lines company, aiming for commercial startup by autumn 2027. To the north in the Bay of Plenty, Aquila Clean Energy has switched on its 38MW solar facility, contributing to a rapidly growing utility-scale pipeline that emerged after New Zealand’s 2024 energy crisis, where low hydro reserves and falling gas supplies highlighted vulnerabilities in the nation’s heavy dependence on hydropower.
This growth aligns with governmental efforts to reduce regulatory hurdles impeding smaller solar installations. The Ministry for Regulation has issued a review concluding that the process for residential and small-to-medium solar setups is overly complex, pointing to inconsistent council rules, distributor approval timelines varying from minutes to four months, and a solar adoption rate of just 3-4% among households versus over 30% in Australia. Although the review focused on small-scale systems rather than large projects like Hawkes Bay’s, it underscores broader support for solar expansion across both distributed and utility-scale sectors as New Zealand seeks to diversify its historically hydro-centric power generation.
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Ireland has crossed 3 GW of installed solar capacity across rooftop and utility-scale projects 
Utility-scale solar recently reached a record 1.3 GW, exceeding one-third of national electricity demand at peak 
The sector is now looking toward greater rooftop solar, battery storage and further grid investment 
Ireland’s installed solar capacity has surpassed 3 GW, marking a major milestone for the country’s rapidly expanding solar sector. The figure covers both rooftop installations and utility-scale solar farms, according to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.  
The pace of growth has accelerated sharply. Ireland took three years to more than double its installed solar capacity and cross 2 GW in November 2025. It has now added another 1 GW in less than a year, taking total capacity beyond 3 GW (see Ireland’s Cumulative Installed Solar PV Capacity Exceeds 2 GW).   
The 3 GW solar PV milestone comes days after utility-scale solar generation reached a record 1.3 GW on Ireland’s national grid. At the peak, solar supplied more than one-third of national electricity demand, the department said.  
The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien shared, “Just over 10 years ago there were 2 MW (MegaWatts) of solar in Ireland. Now there are over 3,000 MW (MegaWatts).” He added, “These milestones highlight just how rapidly solar energy, including the growing rooftop revolution, is becoming a major part of our energy system.”  
EirGrid CEO Cathal Marley said grid-scale solar generation had passed 1 GW for the first time in April before reaching the latest 1.3 GW peak.  
Earlier in March 2026, Solar Ireland said solar generation in Ireland exceeded 1 GW for the first time on March 6, meeting nearly 20% of electricity demand at midday as the country surpassed 8 GW of cumulative installed renewable energy capacity (see Ireland Hits 8 GW Renewables Milestone; Solar Now 3rd Largest Source).  
The growth is also visible at the household level. More than 200,000 homes in Ireland have installed solar panels, while more than 120,000 homes have received solar PV grants since the support program began.  
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) received more than 31,000 Solar PV applications through July 2026, up 76% from the same period in 2025. Solar has also expanded into schools, with free solar panels provided to 2,000 schools across the country. Excess electricity from eligible installations can be sold to the grid through microgeneration arrangements.  
Solar Ireland CEO, Ronan Power noted that Ireland’s first utility-scale solar farm was connected to the grid in 2022. “Three gigawatts is a big moment for Irish solar,” Power said, adding that the speed of deployment was particularly significant. The industry group said the next phase should focus on increasing rooftop solar and battery storage, while continuing investment in the electricity system.  
The association is also calling for measures in Budget 2027 to support these areas. Power said storage would become more important as solar generation increases, allowing electricity produced during the middle of the day to be used later.  
The government said solar deployment has been supported through schemes including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme and Microgeneration Support Scheme. It plans to continue with the Solar PV grant through 2030.  
TaiyangNews 2024

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One of the UK’s largest fruit, vegetable and flower markets, New Spitalfields stocks London restaurants with green goodness every day.
Now it’s got a green power source of its own: London’s largest rooftop solar installation.
Spread over five roofs, the 2,730-panel project will help slash energy costs and emissions at the sprawling 13-hectare market in Leyton, East London.
With a total capacity of 1.4 megawatt-peak (MWp), the system is expected to generate around 1.27 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power approximately 470 homes.
Housing 130 traders selling more than 15,000 products, New Spitalfields Market is managed by the City of London Corporation. It operates overnight and around the clock, making it one of the city’s most energy-intensive markets.
Powering its lighting and refrigerators with electricity generated onsite will reduce the market’s reliance on grid power and its carbon footprint. The solar installation is expected to cut emissions by around 225 tonnes each year – equivalent to the electricity used by around 50 homes annually.
It will also help the City of London achieve its goal of reaching net zero across its own operations by 2027.
Costing £1 million (€1.17m), the solar installation is one of the city’s most significant renewable energy investments to date.
It is hoped it will act as a blueprint for integrating large-scale renewable energy into critical commercial infrastructure across the capital.
“As the UK experiences periods of extreme heat and rising electricity demand for cooling, this project demonstrates the value of investing in local renewable energy generation,” says Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation.


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Despite promising clean energy, solar has become a dirty word in Lincolnshire, with at least 10 large projects currently in the pipeline. Critics point to a loss of productive farmland but one farmer says he has no choice but to turn to solar in order to survive.
Joe Ward slams a spade into the land he hopes will become Windsock Solar Farm. The sound of shovel on stone is like the crack of a whip.
This is not soft compost for roses in the back garden, it is sandy soil littered with rocks bigger than tennis balls.
"The topsoil is very shallow and stony, and the soil texture is coarse," he tells me.
"The last two years have been absolutely terrible. Experts tell us we can expect more drier summers. So if that's the case, the future doesn't look very good for this soil type."
Joe is the third generation of the Ward family who has farmed this land.
At a glance it could be a field of freshly harvested wheat, perhaps destined to become loaves of bread, but Ward tells me it has never really grown food.
"This land here really doesn't sustain wheat in a profitable way. So barley, especially for the malting industry, has been the mainstay of this farm."
But the malting industry, which processes barley to make whisky and beer, is a "reducing market due to consumer changes", Ward says.
"And with climate change making the last two summers so dry, it's been really difficult."
But surely a Lincolnshire farmer can find a crop that will grow in the county's famously food rich soil?
"On soil like this, you just couldn't grow potatoes without a water source," he says, and after changes to an agreement with a water company, which previously meant cheap access to water, Joe says he is left with no other option but to join with a developer who wants to build a solar farm spanning 640 acres (220 hectares), which is the equivalent of 360 football pitches.
"I think it's a good use of the land," Joe insists. "Solar will be far more productive financially for the business.
"It will produce more energy in solar panels than it ever will trying to grow very small crops."
It is just one of many patches of agricultural land in the county destined to use the power of the sun to generate electricity, rather than grow crops.
In a county famed for its produce, the idea is controversial.
Campaigners have been protesting about "energy invasion" fears, due to the number of large solar farms already approved for Lincolnshire by the government.
The Beacon Fen Energy Park in nearby Heckington was the latest to be approved, which the Reform-led county council says was an "appalling" decision.
Council leader Sean Matthews has said it was "another attack on our beautiful countryside".
Local Conservative MP Caroline Johnson says the proposals for Windsock Solar Farm "goes beyond the reasonable amount local people should be expected to bear".
Developers BLC Energy, which is behind the plans, says the impact on local residents is overinflated.
"I'm not going to deny it will be a change to views," managing director Neil Lindsay says.
"Locally, there is a change, but the advantage with solar compared to some of the other technologies is it's relatively low to the ground, which means you can put in hedgerows and new trees."
Neil thinks there is "misinformation about what these things look like".
He says if you were to drive past a solar farm "you wouldn't even know they're there".
"We've seen that from a lot of projects where we've taken concerned members of the community to visit an operating solar farm. Once they get there, they walk around, they understand it. A lot of those fears seem to dissipate."
Back on the farm, Joe climbs into his tractor to survey the land his grandfather bought in the 1950s.
Is he sad to turn over the land to solar after 70 years growing barley?
"Land use always changes," he says. "This is just evolving for the needs of the next 40 years.
"The solar panels can be removed if the needs change, and I'm sure in 40 years' time there will be different technologies and this land will be returned back to arable farming."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.
Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Rory Lay runs a beef, sheep, and arable farm and has been hoping for a downpour for weeks
At least 12 people have died in the fires and Algeria's president has announced three days of mourning.
Makers of some of France's most famous cheeses get waivers on where herds graze due to the lack of grass.
Scotland and other northern European nations are seeing more tourists as people avoid the heat.
Two cases of bluetongue are confirmed in Wiltshire as vets struggle to get hold of vital medicines.
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Want a plug-in battery to go with your new solar panels? Read this first to avoid disappointment  TechRadar
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