Solar Now

By: Luis Reyes
Published: Jun 18, at 1:30pm ET
Green hydrogen has spent the better part of a decade as the clean fuel everybody promises and almost nobody actually makes at scale. Governments across Europe, the US and Asia have written rules that assume the stuff will be flowing by 2030, while the projects meant to produce it keep slipping their timelines or getting quietly cancelled before they pour any concrete.
So it is worth paying attention when one of them is more than 90 percent built.
Out on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, at an industrial site called Oxagon, the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company has put up what its owners describe as the world’s largest green-hydrogen-based ammonia plant running entirely on renewable energy. It is an equal joint venture between Saudi power developer ACWA Power, American industrial-gas company Air Products, and NEOM itself, the Public Investment Fund’s futuristic megacity project.
The price tag is $8.4 billion. The job is to take sunlight, wind and seawater and turn them into 600 tons of green hydrogen a day, then ship most of it out as ammonia. According to Air Products, the plant is now more than 90 percent complete, with commercial production expected in 2027.
Before any hydrogen gets made, NEOM has to generate a frankly absurd amount of clean electricity in the middle of the desert, and most of the project is dedicated to exactly that. The renewable side runs to roughly 4 gigawatts: a wind farm of 257 turbines good for about 1.6 GW, and a solar array that Air Products describes, with no apparent exaggeration, as a solar farm the size of Manhattan, producing another 2.2 GW.
A dedicated transmission grid was built to carry all of it across the site to the part of the plant that does the actual chemistry.
That part is the electrolyzer, and it is the real machine here. Germany’s thyssenkrupp nucera won the contract to supply a plant of more than 2 gigawatts, assembled out of its standard 20-megawatt alkaline modules, each one packing around 300 individual cells. Run renewable electricity through those cells with water in the mix and you split the water into hydrogen and oxygen, with nothing dirty left behind.
The water itself is desalinated seawater. NEOM sits on a coast and has no fresh water to spare, so the same renewable power that feeds the electrolyzers also runs the reverse-osmosis plant that makes the feedstock in the first place.
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None of the individual pieces are exotic. Alkaline electrolysis has been around for decades, ammonia synthesis is more than a century old, and seawater desalination is routine across the Gulf. What NEOM is attempting is to bolt all of it together at a size nobody has tried before, and to run it as a commercial export business rather than a science project.
The partners reckon that, once it is operating, the plant will keep roughly 5 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the air every year compared with making the same hydrogen from natural gas, which is how the overwhelming majority of the world’s hydrogen still gets made today.
Here is the inconvenient thing about hydrogen: it is a miserable molecule to move. It is the lightest element there is, so to ship any meaningful quantity you either compress it to brutal pressures or chill it to around minus 253 degrees Celsius, and both options burn serious energy and money. The economics of hydrogen have always tripped over transport more than production, which is why the industry keeps hunting for a workaround.
NEOM’s answer is to not ship hydrogen at all. The plant combines its hydrogen with nitrogen pulled straight out of the air to make ammonia, about 1.2 million tons of it a year, which is far denser, far more stable, and something the world already moves around by the tanker-load. The ammonia leaves through a purpose-built jetty next to global shipping lanes, and at the far end it can be converted, or “cracked,” back into hydrogen for whoever needs it.
That cracking step costs energy of its own, so the round trip is never free, but it beats trying to sail a tanker full of liquefied hydrogen across the planet. Air Products has locked up every ton of the output under a 30-year exclusive off-take deal, and is in advanced talks with Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara to handle distribution of whatever ammonia is not turned back into hydrogen in Europe.
A project like this only makes sense if the electricity behind it is dirt cheap, because the cost of green hydrogen is mostly the cost of the power you feed the electrolyzer. This is where Saudi Arabia has an edge that is hard to argue with. The same desert that makes the place inhospitable also delivers world-class sun and steady wind, and the two tend to complement each other across the day, one picking up roughly where the other tails off.
Air Products’ chief executive, Eduardo Menezes, has pointed to Saudi power costing under two cents per kilowatt-hour as among the lowest rates anywhere, and has said the joint venture is not expected to run at a loss as it ramps up.
That is also why the financing came together at the scale it did. The $8.4 billion total was anchored by $6.1 billion in non-recourse project financing from 23 banks and institutions back in 2023, with the engineering and construction contracts alone running to $6.7 billion. The Gulf’s pitch to investors is fairly blunt: abundant cheap renewables, plenty of empty land, and the export muscle of a region that has spent a century shipping energy to everyone else. The molecule is changing. The business model, not so much.
For all the steel in the ground, the plant is not making anything yet. The 4 GW of solar and wind generation is due to wrap up around the middle of 2026, and only then do the electrolyzers get commissioned, with first product expected in 2027 rather than this year. The “end of 2026” target that floated around when the deal closed in 2023 has quietly become a 2027 one, which is roughly par for the course on first-of-a-kind energy megaprojects.
The bigger question was never whether the Saudis could build it. It was whether anyone would buy the output at a price that works, and that part has been bumpy. Air Products’ planned £2 billion import terminal at Immingham in the UK, meant to receive NEOM’s ammonia and crack it back into hydrogen for British industry, got paused over uncertainty about government incentives.
Demand for green hydrogen is still mostly written into law rather than into purchase orders, and laws can be rewritten. Saudi Arabia is at least building both ends of the chain at once: the same Vision 2030 push that funded NEOM also just put the country’s first self-driving hydrogen freight truck on the road hauling for Procter & Gamble. Whether the rest of the world turns up with the trucks, ships and factories to burn all this hydrogen is the one part no electrolyzer can solve.
What do you think?
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Photo: Elijah Nouvelage / Getty Images News / Getty Images
California’s Senate Bill 868, introduced by state Senator Scott Wiener, could soon allow Californians to purchase plug-in solar panels, potentially reducing their monthly utility bills.
The bill, known as the "Plug and Play Solar Act," aims to make solar power more accessible by permitting the sale of portable solar generation devices through large retailers and local hardware stores. These devices, often referred to as "balcony solar panels," can be connected to a home’s electrical system via a standard 120V outlet.
The bill, which passed the California Senate with broad bipartisan support, exempts these devices from existing interconnection requirements and fees imposed by utility companies. According to pv magazine USA, this measure is modeled after a similar bill passed in Utah and is part of a broader effort to provide affordable clean energy solutions.
Senator Wiener emphasized the importance of this legislation, stating, "The cost of electricity has risen to absurd levels, and plug-in solar is an easy way families can lower costs." The bill now moves to the California Assembly, where it must pass by August 31 to be enacted.
Despite the potential benefits, the bill has faced opposition from some utility companies and industry groups. Concerns have been raised about safety standards and the potential impact on the electrical grid. During a committee hearing, representatives from Pacific Gas and Electric and other organizations expressed opposition, citing the need for further evaluation and safety testing.
However, advocates like Bernadette Del Chiaro, Senior Vice President of the Environmental Working Group, argue that the bill will provide much-needed relief for Californians facing high energy costs. "These systems are simple, practical, and proven," Del Chiaro said. "They give people the ability to plug into clean energy savings immediately."
If passed, SB 868 could pave the way for millions of Californians to access affordable solar energy, particularly benefiting renters and those unable to install traditional rooftop systems. The bill’s supporters remain optimistic that the Assembly will approve the legislation, allowing residents to begin reaping the benefits of plug-in solar technology.

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By Emily Forgash, Bloomberg
Solar power is surpassing natural gas generation in California, demonstrating the sustained and growing impact of renewable energy in the biggest US market for photovoltaic panels.
Utility-scale solar generation in California exceeded power from gas during 82% of the days this year through May, according to a Tuesday report from the US Energy Information Association. While solar has supplied more power to the state’s grid for short periods in the past, this marks the first year when average generation in the first five months has outpaced the fossil fuel that’s the biggest source of US electricity.
The solar industry is growing despite efforts from the Trump administration to thwart the use of renewable energy. US policies favor traditional electric sources like coal and nuclear, which can produce power around the clock, unlike solar and wind. In May, solar overtook coal in US power generation for the first time.
California is aggressively adding renewable energy to meet a 2045 goal of reaching carbon neutrality, and has installed more panels and energy storage than any US state. Utility-scale solar capacity climbed 19% in the two years through April, while gas capacity was flat, according to the report.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
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New training program helps residents find jobs in solar panel industry  NBC4 WCMH-TV
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The solar industry has a quiet productivity problem. Across the world, utility-scale photovoltaic plants are underperforming — not because the sun shines less, but because the operations and maintenance regimes keeping them running were designed for a different era. Fixed inspection schedules. Calendar-driven cleaning. Reactive fault response. As portfolios scale into the hundreds of megawatts, this model buckles under its own weight.
To address these challenges, Areg.AI has developed an AI-driven solar O&M platform that combines advanced analytics, robotics-enabled field operations and data-driven asset management. At Intersolar Europe 2026, taking place in Munich from June 23–25, the company will showcase these capabilities at booth A4.220, highlighting performance improvements achieved across utility-scale PV portfolios.
As Hayk Harutyunyan, Co-Founder and CEO of Areg.AI, puts it:
“Solar has already solved scale. The next challenge is control. Every plant is losing energy in small, invisible ways every day. Our mission is to give solar operators one intelligence system — software, drones, robots, and people working together — so plants can operate closer to their true potential.”
The performance case: 9% more energy from the same sun
The flagship performance figure comes from a third-party deployment: the New Energy Group portfolio in Armenia, operated by Energy Service LLC.
Between 2023 and 2024, the portfolio generated an average of 113.19 GWh annually under conventional maintenance practices based on fixed cleaning and inspection schedules. These activities were carried out according to predefined intervals, regardless of actual operating conditions, equipment status or localized soiling levels.
After deploying the Areg.AI platform, the portfolio achieved a weather-normalized generation increase of more than 9% in 2025, with a further 3.70% projected for 2026. Of that improvement, 7.26 percentage points were attributed to AI-driven soiling detection and targeted cleaning strategies alone. These results will be among the case studies presented by Areg.AI at Intersolar Europe 2026, where the company plans to showcase how AI-based O&M strategies can improve solar asset performance. 
The mechanism matters as much as the number. Drone-based aerial inspections now assess soiling distribution at the zone level, quantify associated energy losses and generate prioritized cleaning tasks. Preventive maintenance is also condition-based, triggered by AI-detected degradation signals rather than fixed schedules.
Energy Service LLC, as the O&M operator of record, independently verifies these results, providing third-party validation of the performance improvements achieved.
The architecture: closing the loop
For the company, most platforms available on the market today function primarily as decision-support tools, identifying anomalies and generating recommendations that still require manual task creation and field execution. 
In this scenario, Areg.AI takes a different approach, combining anomaly detection, data processing, work-order creation and field execution within a single platform. At Intersolar Europe, the company will reinforce the importance of connecting operational insights directly with field actions, reducing the gap between identifying an issue and resolving it.
Unlike conventional systems that route tasks exclusively to human technicians, Areg.AI can coordinate both human teams and robotics-enabled workflows through a fleet of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The platform also supports frequent assessments of soiling, thermal anomalies and electrical deviations through an in-house aerial inspection data pipeline and a multi-protocol IoT integration layer, providing a near real-time operational view of solar plant performance.
Seven robots, one operating system
At Intersolar Europe 2026, Areg.AI will showcase seven robots designed for real solar plant operations:
CBOT for panel cleaning.
SOBOT for inspection and security.
MOWBOT for vegetation control.
SNOWBOT for snow clearing.
ARMBOT for mechanical maintenance.
FIREBOT for fire response.
AIRBOT for aerial inspection.
The important point is not that Areg.AI has robots.
The important point is that the robots are connected to one operating system.
The AI agent at the center
The platform’s AI agent, ARPI, is partially live and expanding. It is currently deployed across the monitoring and maintenance modules of the ERP, two of roughly ten functional sections with rollout across the remainder ongoing.
What ARPI does beyond the base monitoring and dispatch layer is best illustrated by how it is actually used. Rather than navigating dashboards and drilling into raw data, operators increasingly route their plant analysis through ARPI directly. It has access to the full data environment — operational, financial, maintenance history, IoT streams — and synthesizes across all of it in response to natural-language queries. Visitors to Areg.AI’s booth at Intersolar Europe will have the opportunity to learn more about how ARPI supports monitoring, maintenance and operational decision-making across solar assets.
Field adoption tells its own story. In more than half of cases, on-site staff have adopted ARPI as their primary diagnostic reference, finding its answers precise enough to be operationally trusted. That level of uptake at the technician level is a meaningful signal of production-grade reliability.
Access is role-differentiated through approximately 30 discrete permission points. A lender sees financial performance and covenant compliance. An O&M manager sees the full operational picture. A technician sees task-level diagnostics and equipment history. Each role operates within a defined, auditable boundary — a feature that matters increasingly as lender scrutiny of operational data intensifies.
Scaling O&M efficiency: a case study
In early 2025, Areg.AI acquired Energy Service LLC, the operations and maintenance (O&M) company that had served as the proving ground for its platform. The company manages approximately 89 MW of utility-scale and commercial solar PV capacity in Armenia and generates around $800,000 in annual recurring revenue. The acquisition followed demonstrated results rather than speculation: the platform was deployed first, a weather-normalized generation increase of 9.72% was achieved, and the acquisition came afterward.
Beyond expanding its portfolio, the deal aims to address one of the solar industry’s key challenges: scaling O&M efficiently. By integrating Energy Service LLC’s field operations team with Areg.AI’s artificial intelligence, robotics, aerial inspection capabilities and digital workforce management tools, the company has created an operating model designed to improve productivity without a proportional increase in resources. With its current workforce and robotic fleet, Energy Service LLC expects to extend coverage to an additional 100 MW of solar capacity without adding headcount, shifting human teams from manual task execution to the supervision and validation of platform-coordinated and increasingly autonomous workflows.
Going global: Spain, Uzbekistan, and beyond
The 100 MW currently under management sits entirely in Armenia, across three third-party client sites. That is about to change on two fronts simultaneously.
According to the company, the acquisition agreement for a Spanish solar portfolio of approximately 100 MW is scheduled to be signed in June at Intersolar Europe 2026, with integration work already underway. The target is full integration of the existing Spanish portfolio by year-end, alongside 200 MW of additional O&M contracts to be signed concurrently. The commercial model in Spain is fully managed O&M — not a standalone SaaS license or a pure revenue-share arrangement. The service package includes ERP platform integration, robotics-enabled ground operations, vegetation management and aerial thermal data collection by drone where local regulations permit.
At the same time, Areg.AI has recently entered the Uzbekistan market, with platform deployment now underway. Together with its planned expansion in Spain, the Uzbekistan deployment reflects a broader international growth strategy, one of the key themes Areg.AI will highlight during the exhibition. Central Asia represents a significant opportunity for intelligent solar O&M as utility-scale solar capacity continues to expand across the region.
Together, Spain and Uzbekistan reflect Areg.AI’s strategy to expand its integrated O&M model across both mature and emerging solar markets, building on the operational experience gained in Armenia.
What to watch
After demonstrating a more than 9% increase in electricity generation in Armenia through AI-driven maintenance strategies, Areg.AI will use Intersolar Europe 2026 to showcase its digital O&M model to developers, operators and investors. The company argues that the combination of artificial intelligence, drones and robotics can increase energy output while reducing operating costs without the need to add new solar capacity.
Through its participation at Intersolar Europe, Areg.AI is strengthening its presence in the European market and advancing its international expansion strategy by leveraging one of the industry’s leading platforms to demonstrate the capabilities of its AI-powered operations and maintenance solutions. The company aims to position itself as a key player in the digitalization of photovoltaic assets at a time when the sector is increasingly focused on improving the performance and profitability of existing solar plants.
 
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Chinese solar PV manufacturer Huasun Energy will launch its Himalaya PLUS heterojunction (HJT) module in Europe at next week’s Intersolar event, to be held from 23-25 June in Munich, Germany.
The company first launched the module in November 2025, and noted that the module would have the same technical specifications as the product launched last year. This includes an output of 760W and a system voltage of 2,000V, making the module one of several new products to shift from 1,500V to 2,000V, which ABB’s Brian Nelson told PV Tech Premium last year would be the new “standard” in the industry.
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“As a leader in HJT technology and a dedicated solar solutions provider, we are deeply committed to growing our presence in Europe by bringing not only products, but also solutions that are purpose-built for application scenarios,” said Huasun chairman Jimmy Xu. “We look forward to working alongside our European partners to advance the energy transition together.”
Huasun plans to demonstrate a number of products at next week’s trade show to meet the demands of these “application scenarios”, including anti-glare modules and its HJT Kunlun vertical module, both of which can be effectively deployed in urban environments. The company will also demonstrate coloured modules at the Intersolar event.
Next week’s module launch comes as interest in HJT technology grows, particularly in the US. Already this year, TOYO and SEG Solar have advanced HJT cell and module plants in the US, and the technology was a topic of conversation at this week’s PV ModuleTech USA event, where experts pointed to a relative lack of HJT testing among Chinese companies, compared to those in the US.

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Ingka Investments, the investment arm of the largest IKEA retailer Ingka Group, has acquired its first two operational solar parks in Spain, expanding its renewable energy footprint across the Iberian market. The acquisition includes the La Oliva Solar Farm in Toledo and a second project in Murcia, which are expected to generate 51 GWh and 55 GWh annually, respectively. Combined, the two facilities will pump 106 GWh of clean electricity into the grid each year.
This move builds on Ingka Group's broader strategy to green its value chain, following a 440 MW solar capacity purchase in Germany and Spain in 2022. It also complements Ingka Investments' recent project in Portugal, where the company hybridized an existing wind farm with solar panels. Together, these new Spanish assets and the upgraded Portuguese site are projected to drive the group's total Iberian renewable energy output to 323 GWh per year. To date, Ingka Group has invested or committed a staggering €4.3 billion globally into renewable energy initiatives.
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A homeowner and a real estate agent are warning you to read all the fine print when buying solar panel systems, as KMBC 9 Investigates continues its Solar Scam investigation.
Kelly Hunter, a Raymore homeowner, said a salesman came to her door in 2022 despite a “no soliciting” sign on her front porch.
“He just came knocking on our door, Hunter said, “And we’ve had solar panels before, so we were excited.”
Hunter purchased 17 solar panels that were installed on her roof, but she said they are not producing the electricity promised.
“I look up there, and I think, what a waste,” Hunter said. “Yeah, they’re no good. They’re roof decorations.”
Hunter said she pays $186 in monthly payments for the system, but it is not paying off.
Hunter is one of more than 50 people who’ve contacted KMBC 9 Investigates since March with concerns about their solar panel contracts.
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Many are paying tens of thousands of dollars while their solar panels are not producing the electricity promised. Often, people are left with payments for the solar panel systems that far exceed their original electric bills.
Reputable solar panel dealers have also reached out to KMBC to say door-to-door “Solar Bro” salesmen give their industry a bad name.
Jenny Olson-Paden, a short sale specialist for Weichert Realtors, said solar loans are creating challenges for homeowners trying to sell their properties.
“Most of these people don’t even know how they’re getting savings,” Olson-Paden said.
She explained that homeowners who cannot pay their solar loans often face liens that cost tens of thousands of dollars or risk foreclosure when they try to sell their homes.
“I think read the fine print and definitely make sure it’s something you go into with open eyes,” Olson-Paden said.
Hunter, meanwhile, urged others to be cautious before installing solar panels.
“The solar company wants to make a sale, so they’re going to tell you whatever they can tell you,” she said. “If it doesn’t make sense, don’t believe them.”
KMBC 9 Investigates has heard from more than 50 people who have shared their struggles with solar panel systems. If you have a tip you’d like to share, email investigates@kmbc.com.
Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

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Science and Technology
A former coal mining area in central Illinois, USA, is now generating renewable energy from nearly 17,000 solar panels. Nexamp and TurningPoint Energy announced on June 17 that they have completed two community solar energy projects in Woodford County, transforming land once designated for coal production into a solar plant that provides electricity to local customers and businesses.
The land carries a long history linked to coal. According to the two companies, the site near Minonk was once part of the Colchester coal mining region, active from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, and now hosts nearly 17,000 solar panels capable of generating 9.8 megawatts of electricity, enough for hundreds of subscribers and to add clean energy to the local grid.
The transformation of the land marks the first partnership of the two companies in the state. These are the first community solar energy projects of the Illinois Shines program in Woodford County, and in them, the former Colchester coal region, active from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, has given way to nearly 17,000 solar panels generating 9.8 megawatts.
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The choice of land followed a specific state incentive. The solar panels were installed on a former coal mine classified as a contaminated area by the Illinois Shines program, the state solar energy incentive program. This certification encourages entrepreneurs to utilize already impacted lands, rather than agricultural lands or untouched areas, which was exactly the path taken in Woodford.
The work was divided between the two companies. TurningPoint Energy was responsible for the project development, while Nexamp handled the construction and now owns and operates the facilities. Together, the parks housing the solar panels cover about 16 hectares, equivalent to 40 acres.
The production goes directly to the regional power grid. The parks send electricity directly to the Commonwealth Edison grid, and according to Nexamp, all solar panels were manufactured in the United States, which, in the company’s view, supports local clean energy supply chains and brings new economic value to lands previously tied to fossil fuels.
The projects go beyond the installation of solar panels. The Minonk farms also bring new electrical grid management technologies to the region and are among the first in the ComEd system to use Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems, known by the acronym DERMS.
The tool gives utilities more control over the energy flow. The software allows for real-time monitoring and management of energy resources, and as more renewable energy connects to the grid, it becomes more challenging to balance supply and demand. DERMS helps by enhancing control and visibility of this flow, which, according to those responsible, contributes to maintaining grid reliability and preparing utilities for a future with more clean energy.
Community engagement was swift. The projects are almost fully subscribed, with over 650 customers already registered to receive the energy generated by the solar panels.
Social reach is one of the key points of the initiative. One of the farms provides energy for about 450 homes, while the other serves approximately 200 low-income families, helping to reduce electricity bills for this group. Community solar energy differs from rooftop installation because the customer participates in a shared project and receives credits on their bill without needing to install solar panels at home, making the model accessible to tenants, apartment dwellers, and those with unsuitable roofs.
Some major organizations help provide economic viability to the parks. The Rush University Medical Center and the College of DuPage have become clients and together consume about 40% of the electricity generated by the solar panels, which creates a constant demand and supports the community solar energy model.
For the company, the case summarizes the proposal of the projects. According to Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp, by converting the former coal mine into two community solar farms, in his words,
“we are helping hundreds of subscribers reduce their energy costs today”
, while in his view, the initiative reinforces the region’s energy security in the long term.
The Minonk farms show how land once dedicated to coal can gain new use with clean energy, bringing together impacted area reuse, accessible community solar energy, and grid technology in a single case.
With nearly 17,000 solar panels generating 9.8 megawatts for more than 650 subscribers, including about 200 low-income families and institutions like the Rush University Medical Center, the model points a way for the energy transition, even though claims like fully made in the United States come from Nexamp itself.
More than the numbers, the experience suggests how former mining areas can find new economic life through the sun.
And you, what do you think about transforming former coal mines into solar panel farms? Do you believe this model could work in degraded areas elsewhere? Share your opinion and exchange ideas with other readers about energy and energy transition, respecting different opinions.

I cover construction, mining, Brazilian mines, oil, and major railway and civil engineering projects. I also write daily about interesting facts and insights from the Brazilian market.
© 2026 Click Petróleo e Gás – All rights reserved

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Withholding clean energy resources could increase energy bills during increased demand.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a motion for preliminary injunction today in Wake County Superior Court and challenged the N.C. Utilities Commission’s order halting North Carolina’s 2026 solar and storage procurement process as unconstitutional.
At a time of escalating energy costs and demand, the 2026 solar procurement would improve affordability and reliability for North Carolinians who buy electricity from Duke Energy if allowed to go forward. The sudden order from the state utility commission violates not just the statutes governing the utilities commission, but also, as a result, the state’s constitutional guarantees of due process and access to court review. Without taking evidence, holding a hearing, or even receiving public comments, the order not only halts regulated monopoly Duke Energy from taking further action to procure solar and energy storage, but effectively cancels it because the delay will make the procurement impossible.
“The state utilities commission issued an unconstitutional order that blocks low-cost, reliable, and homegrown solar and storage energy resources for North Carolinians,” said Nick Jimenez, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Keeping solar and battery energy off the grid will impact our energy costs over the long term, especially with the increasing demand from data centers and other large loads.”
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the motion on behalf of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Vote Solar, Sierra Club, and Environmental Justice Community Action Network.
The complaint filed in court outlines how the order violates due process according to the North Carolina constitution. Unlawful and troubling aspects of the order include:
The order came about a month before the expert witness hearing in the current long-term planning of energy resources proceeding for Duke Energy, the predominant regulated monopoly in the state. The pause on solar and battery procurement undermines Duke’s current proposed portfolio of energy resources. It leaves a “hole” in Duke’s plan that risks increasing the cost to keep the lights and air conditioning on for North Carolinians. Duke itself has declared that it needs all the resources in its proposed plan, including solar and storage in its 2026 procurement, to reliably meet load growth. It also threatens the utility’s progress towards North Carolina’s 2050 carbon pollution reduction requirement goal.
The order came less than two weeks after Duke updated its load forecast, showing it expects an additional 2GW of new demand from “large-load customers” like data centers. Facing such energy demand, delaying the procurement of new least-cost solar power and battery energy storage, which improves grid reliability while reducing fuel costs and pollution, does not make sense.
In the lawsuit, the conservation groups requested that the court declare the unlawful order void and order the 2026 procurement of solar energy to go forward as was previously planned. Until the order is rescinded, it remains in effect and impacts reliability and affordability in North Carolina.
The conservation groups statements are below: 
“Expensive and volatile fuel costs have only increased the financial burden of gas and coal, that’s on top of the price we all pay for damaging our environment. Cancelling a low-cost, clean energy source would be a giant step backwards,” said Mikaela Curry, Beyond Coal Campaign manager for Sierra Club. “Solar is cheaper, faster and cleaner and must be built without delay, especially if we are serious about meeting rapidly increasing electricity demand at the lowest cost for North Carolinians.”
“Eliminating solar and solar-plus-storage procurement leaves the door wide open for harmful, polluting methane gas plant projects to go forward,” said Stacey Washington, clean energy, and equity director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “With energy costs and bills increasing, it makes no sense to effectively cancel solar development, a low-cost resource option that would keep some money in the pockets of North Carolinians.”
“This order blocks solar and storage— proven by Duke’s 2023 resource plan to be cost-effective solutions that are necessary to maintaining a reliable grid,” said Jake Duncan, southeast senior regulatory director at Vote Solar. “This order threatens to raise bills for communities already burdened by rate increases.”
“Energy bills are increasing and harmful polluters are continuing to impact our communities,” said Maggie Galka, board chair of EJCAN. “The order from the state utilities commission cuts an affordable, reliable solution while also putting customers at risk of even higher bills.”
About the Sierra Club
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Enery opens Nokian Tyres-backed solar park in Romania  Renewables Now
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The setup is expected to avoid about 80% of the outages the town previously experienced.
Photo Credit: iStock
Parts of Australia are starting to redesign the power grid around local generation — and in some areas, that shift means fewer poles and wires.
According to a report from The Conversation, Western Australia has already taken down more than 15,000 kilometers, over 9,000 miles, of overhead lines as remote towns increasingly adopt solar, batteries, and microgrids.
For many rural communities, connecting to the power grid can be both costly and unreliable. Now, according to The Conversation, falling prices for solar panels and battery storage are making it increasingly practical for towns, mining operations, and remote properties across Australia to generate and store more of their own electricity rather than relying on aging transmission lines that stretch across vast distances.
No state illustrates this shift more clearly than Western Australia. According to Asma Aziz and Yasir Arafat, the authors and engineers behind The Conversation report, utilities in Western Australia are increasingly rethinking whether or not the region’s massive grid is necessary. 
In recent years, they have dismantled thousands of kilometers of overhead lines while expanding options such as standalone power systems, microgrids, and community batteries.
Kalbarri, a coastal town over 350 miles north of Perth, offers a striking example. The authors noted the community sits at the end of a storm-prone 130-kilometer power line. 
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To mitigate power issues, the region has opted for a 5-megawatt microgrid that draws on local wind, rooftop solar, and batteries, and can switch to “island mode” almost immediately when faults occur, often without residents noticing. The setup is expected to avoid about 80% of the outages the town previously experienced.
This is one of a long line of communities and companies in the region switching to microgrid options. 
In Kalbarri, officials expect the microgrid to prevent the bulk of the outages that used to hit the town.
Elsewhere, projects are underscoring the same potential. The Conversation reports the Agnew Gold Mine now gets about 50% to 60% of its electricity from wind, solar, and batteries while maintaining 99.99% reliability, and communities such as Blackstone are exploring comparable setups to support homes and healthcare.
Maintaining long transmission lines is expensive, and as much as 35% of the electricity sent through them can be lost before it arrives. Some communities also depend on diesel generators, which bring costly fuel deliveries, dirtier air, and higher fuel bills.
Microgrids and community batteries can lower costs and improve reliability. In remote communities and mining towns, that can mean fewer disruptions when storms hit.
These systems can do more than reduce costs: by reducing reliance on diesel generation, they can also curb harmful air pollution while providing communities with cleaner, steadier power.
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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has provided an extra AU$95.4 million (US$66.8 million) to the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, prolonging its research activities until 2033.
UNSW leads ACAP, which unites a nationwide consortium of research bodies: the Australian National University, CSIRO Energy and CSIRO Manufacturing, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Queensland, and the University of Sydney.
This injection extends over ten years of joint work between Australian solar researchers and commercial partners. ARENA first backed ACAP in 2012. A 2022 funding extension provided AU$45 million to sustain operations until 2030. The latest AU$95.4 million commitment pushes the endpoint three years further to 2033, signaling ongoing governmental trust in the consortium approach for solar R&D.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen stated the funding aims to preserve Australia’s role in the coming wave of solar advancement. He remarked that Australia previously led global solar development and intends to continue that leadership, adding that the money supports top researchers and converts Australian concepts into practical technologies that bolster the clean energy system and generate economic prospects.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller connected the funding to the agency’s cost-reduction objectives. He noted that Australia possesses world-class solar researchers and that ACAP has been key in transforming that knowledge into internationally acknowledged innovations. He emphasized that achieving ultra low-cost solar requires ongoing efficiency improvements, and ACAP’s efforts are delivering high-performance cells and modules that lower expenses at scale.
ACAP’s work aligns with ARENA’s 30-30-30 target: 30% solar module efficiency at 30 cents per watt installed cost by 2030, equating to a levelised electricity cost under AU$20 per megawatt-hour.
The center has recently expanded into tandem perovskite-silicon cells. In 2024, the University of Sydney node attained a certified 30% efficiency for a monolithic tandem cell, placing it among a small number of global research teams to hit that mark at the time.
This ACAP extension follows a separate AU$60 million funding round ARENA announced in July 2025, dedicated to ultra-low-cost solar R&D. That allocation was divided equally between a cells-and-modules stream and a balance-of-systems, operations, and maintenance innovation stream. Unlike ACAP’s ongoing consortium model, that program operates as a competitive grant round open to universities, startups, and supply-chain businesses.
Analysis supporting the cost-reduction push indicates the potential extends beyond electricity. ACAP modeling released in early 2026 showed that ultra-low-cost solar could enable a 2,000-gigawatt domestic PV market, producing 1,000 terawatt-hours annually for local consumption and an extra 2,600 terawatt-hours per year for export via green metals, industrial goods, and fuels like ammonia. Led by ANU professors Kylie Catchpole and Andrew Blakers with UNSW researchers, the modeling was characterized as the first integrated effort to quantify the full industrial and export opportunity cheaper solar could unlock nationally.
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Concerns raised over large solar farm plans  AOL.com
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Engineers from the Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) on the South Island, New Zealand are investigating the impact of solar panels installed on electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce power grid demand, as the only non-European participant in Horizon Europe’s Solar-Move project.
The Solar-Move project is investigating vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) across heavy-duty trucks, passenger buses, rubbish trucks, last-mile delivery vehicles, and motorhomes, involving 35 partners in 16 countries.
The Horizon Europe is the European Union’s (EU’s) flagship research and innovation funding program with a budget of $155 billion (USD 108 billion), coordinated by the non-profit Portugese Research and Innovation Institute, and supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on behalf of the New Zealand government.
The UC Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) team received $452,000 from Horizon Europe toward the new project.
EPECentre Director Dr Hamish Avery said New Zealand’s electricity network was never designed for every house to have an EV and the project enables the engineers to investigate how to reduce some of the new load by incorporating solar power into EVs, along with solar power-assisted charging points.
Specifically, they aim to extend EV driving range by five to 10 kilometres per day; reduce grid dependence by 20% to 50%; and deliver solutions that add additional value for consumers and the power grid.
“The point of this project is to do a formal and rigorous analysis of rules and regulations and how to integrate these new initiatives into existing energy systems,” Avery said.
“Finding solutions that seamlessly fit into everyday life is the easiest pathway to reducing emissions, but behind change is often a lot of work. In this case, we are challenged to investigate how solar-augmented cars and solar-augmented charging stations fit into our rules and regulations and to understand what barriers might need to be overcome.”
Consumer benefits
The engineers will also explore ways solar panels on EVs can benefit consumers, such as charging from panels on stationary EVs to help power homes, or in large parking lots, charged EVs might be utilised to charge a newly arrived vehicle without relying on the supply grid.
A pilot trial of solar-assisted ‘last mile delivery’ vehicles will involve attaching solar panels to UC electric buggies, which are already in use on campus, and can be monitored to see how their range is affected by using panels.
“Getting real-world data is vital to establish a baseline of what we could expect,” Avery said.
Australia gains access to Horizon Europe funding
After successful negotiations with the European Commission, Australia’s access to Horizon Europe has been formally recognised.
Australia will associate to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which addresses societal challenges in the digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food, bioeconomy and agriculture fields.   
To date under Horizon Europe, Australian organisations have participated in 239 projects, where nearly one in four individual applications from Australia has been selected for participation in the programme – resulting in a 24.39% success rate. 
From January 2027, under a transitional arrangement, Australian entities will transition from third-country rules – where they typically had to self-fund or rely on narrow exceptions for funding – to being treated as ‘eligible entities’ from an associated country.
This will grant them direct, routine access to EU funding under Pillar II on equal terms with EU Member States, such as allowing them to lead project consortia.
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Elon Musk Says Dollars Will Be Replaced By ‘Mass & Energy,’ Reaffirms Lunar Factories, Mass Drivers For AI Goals  Yahoo Finance
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The Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) has secured AUS 94.5 million ($66.5 million) in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to accelerate breakthroughs in high efficiency solar cells and modules.
Advances attributable to ACAP include solar technology efficiency improvements, durability, cost of solar and the development of next-generation tandem solar cells.
ACAP Executive Director Professor Renate Egan said Australia is uniquely placed, globally, in its research leadership and its connection to industry.
“This significant investment provides a long-term research horizon and positions Australia to build on its success in developing the technologies and talent needed to deliver on next-generation solar technologies that will power a low-carbon future Australia.” 
ARENA Chief Executive Officer Darren Miller said Australia has some of the best solar researchers in the world and ACAP has been instrumental in turning that expertise into globally recognised breakthroughs. 
“If Australia is to achieve ultra low-cost solar, we need to keep pushing the limits of cell efficiency. ACAP’s work is doing exactly that, helping deliver high-performance solar cell and module technologies that will reduce costs at scale.  
Ultra low cost solar through national research collaboration report
More than 250 researchers across Australia are working together to advance the long-term vision of ultra low-cost solar, under the ACAP umbrella.
The 19 June 2026 launch of ACAPs 2025 annual report outlines those efforts.
“The future is solar-powered. Through sustained investment in research, collaboration and innovation, ACAP’s researchers are helping to ensure that future arrives sooner, costs less and delivers greater benefits for Australia and the world,” Regan said.
ACAP is a consortium of research institutions led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and includes the Australian National University (ANU), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO Energy and CSIRO Manufacturing), the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Queensland (UoQ), and the University of Sydney. 
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Some county officials suspect the PFAS may be connected to firefighting foam.
Photo Credit: iStock
Residents in parts of Montgomery County in Maryland are being told to avoid a local creek after testing found high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS — a class of synthetic compounds commonly called “forever chemicals.” 
The county government has released a health advisory, which authorities have said does not affect the area’s drinking water supply. Even so, they told residents to stay out of the creek water, avoid fishing there, and keep pets away from the site.
Testing conducted in April found elevated levels of PFAS in a stormwater pond and a nearby stream at Great Seneca Highway and Key West Avenue, according to Montgomery County officials, as cited by NBC4 Washington. 
On Monday, the local news outlet reported that the county responded by adding fencing and posting warning notices at the location. In their health advisory, officials described the other actions they are taking to address the situation.
These actions include “directly notifying residents living near the areas with the highest sample results and providing additional information and online resources,” “contacting well owners within one mile,” and “conducting additional testing, including groundwater and soil in the affected areas.”
The Montgomery County government added that it would also be forming a task force to address the issue.
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According to NBC, county health officer Kisha Davis said residents should keep children away from the creek, avoid swimming or wading in it, and not let pets drink from the water or enter it. Davis also advised against fishing in those waters or eating fish caught there. 
Officials said anyone who comes into contact with the water should immediately wash with soap and water.
Some county officials suspect the PFAS may be connected to firefighting foam previously used at a training facility that closed more than 10 years ago. They added that testing for PFAS has changed over time, according to the local news outlet, and that the chemicals were not detected when the academy shut down in 2015.
The term “PFAS” refers to a broad category of synthetic — or man-made — chemicals that have been used in consumer goods and industrial applications for decades. The nickname “forever chemicals” reflects how long they can persist in habitats and human bodies.
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According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, peer-reviewed research has linked exposure to “certain levels” of PFAS to health problems such as cancer, developmental delays in children, and hormone disruption.
A community meeting is set for Wednesday evening, NBC4 Washington reported. Residents seeking more information can visit the county website.
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Newswise — KYOTO, JAPAN – JUNE 19, 2026 – The Inamori Foundation today announced chemist Tsutomu Miyasaka as the recipient of its 2026 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology for his world-leading contributions to the development of perovskite solar cells. The Kyoto Prize, Japan’s highest private award for global achievement, is awarded annually in the categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. Full details are available at https://www.kyotoprize.org/en.
Miyasaka will receive the award for his contributions to the creation of next-generation photovoltaic technologies, including perovskite solar cells, opening a new frontier in high-efficiency photovoltaic conversion through solution-based coating processes. His innovation contrasts sharply with traditional silicon solar cells, the global standard for more than half a century. While today’s rigid silicon solar cells require a silicon layer about 100 microns thick, Miyasaka’s flexible perovskite-based solar cells can function with a perovskite layer of just a few microns in thickness, or even less.
Perovskite solar cells, first proposed by Miyasaka in 2006, exploit the exceptional light-absorption characteristics of an organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskite. They open new opportunities to use mobile platforms, walls and other surfaces for solar electric power generation, expanding renewable energy deployment beyond the limits of silicon panels.       
While conventional silicon solar cells already offer proven reliability, low levelized cost of electricity, and conversion efficiency exceeding 26%, perovskite cells offer new complementing potential. Tandem solar cells combining perovskite and silicon have already surpassed 30% in energy conversion efficiency, drawing global interest as a way to accelerate renewable energy adoption using existing infrastructure.
Project Professor at Toin University of Yokohama, and Specially Appointed Professor at Waseda University, Miyasaka has received a wide range of career honors, including the Rank Prize for Optoelectronics, Japan Academy Prize, Asahi Prize, and others. 
In addition to Miyasaka, other laureates of the 2026 Kyoto Prizes include marine microbiologist Farooq Azam, receiving the award in Basic Sciences for his discovery of the oceanic microbial loop; and multimedia artist Laurie Anderson, receiving the prize in Arts and Philosophy for her lifelong contributions to experimental music and the performing arts.
Each laureate will receive a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal, and a monetary award of 100 million yen (more than US$600,000) during the 41st annual Kyoto Prize ceremony, Nov. 10 in Kyoto. Laureates will later convene for the 26th annual Kyoto Prize Symposium in San Diego, Calif. in March 2027, and the Kyoto Prize at Oxford events in Oxford, UK, in May 2027.
About the Inamori Foundation and the Kyoto Prize
The Kyoto Prize is an international award bestowed by the non-profit Inamori Foundation to honor those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of humankind.  The Foundation was established in 1984 by the late Dr. Kazuo Inamori, who served as founder and chairman of Kyocera Corporation; founder and honorary adviser to KDDI Corporation; and chairman and honorary adviser to Japan Airlines. Inamori created the Kyoto Prize in line with his belief that a human being has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of humanity and the world, and that the future of humanity can be assured only through a balance of scientific progress and spiritual depth.
Counting the 2026 recipients, the Kyoto Prize has honored 130 laureates worldwide — 129 individuals and one group (the Nobel Foundation). Individual laureates range from scientists, engineers and researchers to philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors.  For more information, see: https://www.kyotoprize.org/en.

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China
Dubbed the ‘Photovoltaic Great Wall,’ a massive solar installation in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province is generating green electricity while shielding the Mu Us Desert’s fragile ecology.
By blocking direct sunlight, the panels create a sunshade effect that significantly reduces water evaporation from the ground. Beneath and around the arrays, large areas of drought-tolerant vegetation have been planted to make effective use of the sandy terrain.
Following careful selection, the research team has placed low water-requirement, sand-stabilizing species such as alfalfa and erect milkvetch directly under and between the panels, pushing vegetation coverage to past 90 percent.
The plants also provide natural feed for livestock. The forage from the solar panel-covered land, covering about 467 hectares, can sustain 1,000 sheep for up to 10 months.
Moreover, the panels can produce enough electricity to power some 100,000 households.
“We can steadily supply 450 million kWh of green electricity to the grid every year. The photovoltaic panels reduce wind speed by 50 percent, and the soil moisture evaporation beneath the panels is cut by 30 percent,” said Li Xiaolin, an engineer from the Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group.
Drawing on local sandy land resources, Shaanxi has pioneered a three-dimensional ecological protection approach: power generation atop solar panels, crop cultivation underneath and livestock grazing in the spaces between them.
This approach halts desertification while increasing farmers’ income, offering a replicable example for arid regions to pursue energy transition and land restoration simultaneously.
The project is part of the country’s broader efforts to halt desert expansion. Through its decades-long afforestation campaign, China has made significant strides toward this goal.
On Wednesday, the 2026 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a report issued by the Northwest Institute of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration states that all treatable mobile sand lands across Shaanxi was eliminated by the end of 2025, a landmark achievement.
“Great Wall” of solar panels protects ecology on desert edge in Shaanxi
Foreign visitors joined the vibrant celebrations of the Duanwu Festival in Haining City in east China’s Zhejiang Province, immersing themselves in traditional Chinese culture.
Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on Friday this year. Its signature traditions include dragon boat races and the sharing of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
To build festive excitement ahead of the holiday, a unique dragon boat tug-of-war competition was held. Teams seated in dragon boats paddled vigorously in opposite directions, striving to drag their opponents across the finish line.
Many foreign visitors enthusiastically took part in the dragon boat races.
“My feeling, it was fun, and it’s hard. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun, very fun. Maybe next year we will be better,” said Chiara, a visitor from Italy.
Meanwhile, other foreign guests tried their hand at making zongzi to gain a deeper appreciation of Chinese traditions.
“I feel like it’s like such a traditional technique, and you cannot get it from the first time. But I think with practice I can do it. I wanted to learn more about Chinese culture, so I think this is like a great way to learn. And also everyone is so welcoming, [everyone] wants us to try new things. I’m so happy to be here,” said Bekkali Kenza, a Moroccan visitor.
Foreign visitors enjoy traditional customs of Duanwu Festival
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IW supervisors approve BESS ordinance 4-1  Smithfield Times
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India Emerges As A Global Leader In Renewable Energy And Energy Security – MNRE  SolarQuarter
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The Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) has secured $94.5 million (USD 66.5 million) in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to accelerate breakthroughs in high efficiency solar cells and modules.
Advances attributable to ACAP include solar technology efficiency improvements, durability, cost of solar and the development of next-generation tandem solar cells.
ACAP Executive Director Professor Renate Egan said Australia is uniquely placed, globally, in its research leadership and its connection to industry.
“This significant investment provides a long-term research horizon and positions Australia to build on its success in developing the technologies and talent needed to deliver on next-generation solar technologies that will power a low-carbon future Australia.” 
ARENA Chief Executive Officer Darren Miller said Australia has some of the best solar researchers in the world and ACAP has been instrumental in turning that expertise into globally recognised breakthroughs. 
“If Australia is to achieve ultra low-cost solar, we need to keep pushing the limits of cell efficiency. ACAP’s work is doing exactly that, helping deliver high-performance solar cell and module technologies that will reduce costs at scale.  
Ultra low cost solar through national research collaboration report
More than 250 researchers across Australia are working together to advance the long-term vision of ultra low-cost solar, under the ACAP umbrella.
The 19 June 2026 launch of ACAPs 2025 annual report outlines those efforts.
“The future is solar-powered. Through sustained investment in research, collaboration and innovation, ACAP’s researchers are helping to ensure that future arrives sooner, costs less and delivers greater benefits for Australia and the world,” Regan said.
ACAP is a consortium of research institutions led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and includes the Australian National University (ANU), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO Energy and CSIRO Manufacturing), the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Queensland (UoQ), and the University of Sydney. 
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The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
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Thursday, July 9, 2026
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Thursday, June 18, 2026
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The new pv magazine Global May issue is now available!
Mountains to climb
Available in print and digital formats.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
Energy-hungry data centers open new doors for solar and storage.
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Utah made it legal to plug solar panels into wall outlets, and now 30 states are chasing it  Yahoo
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An investigation is underway into a fire that broke out in a house in Livadia, Larnaca on Friday, which may have been caused by a technical failure in a photovoltaic system transformer.
Police said that the fire broke out at around 3am and quickly spread to the ground floor of the house.
The fire service responded quickly and managed to bring the fire under full control.
The owner of the house was taken to the hospital as she had inhaled smoke.
Police are investigating the possibility that the fire was caused by a technical failure in a photovoltaic system transformer which was installed in the garage of the building.
Investigations into the case are ongoing.
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KNPC expands solar project with battery storage  ZAWYA
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Concerns have been raised over plans for a large solar farm between Newport and Telford in Shropshire.
Andrew Eade, the Telford and Wrekin councillor for the area, said the site in the open countryside would "slash through historical and ancient rights of way".
He has urged people to attend a consultation event in Lilleshall on 25 June.
The company behind the plans, Greenvolt Power, said the approximate 58 hectare (143 acre) site would meet the annual electricity needs of "approximately 11,000 homes".
Greenvolt also said solar farms can "significantly improve biodiversity compared with intensive agriculture".
It said the land would be returned to farmland at the end of the life of the site.
But Eade said the plans would "have a massive and detrimental impact on Lilleshall's natural landscape", and lead to a loss of much-needed agricultural land.
He added: "Not only would we lose access enjoyed generations, but also prime farm land which will disappear forever, despite developers laughable claims to be able restore the land to agriculture use after 40 years."
The pre-application consultation event will held between 25 June at Lilleshall's Memorial Hall.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Council 'ahead' on climate change target
Solar panels to save £35k a year, trust says
Gull-shaped solar panels set for hospital car park
Telford & Wrekin Council
Greenvolt Power
A goal from Luis Romo, and a stunning late save from Raúl Rangel, gave Mexico the 1-0 win.
A win by the USMNT coupled with a draw between Paraguay and Türkiye or a Paraguay win would clinch the group for the U.S.
Reese notched a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and put the Fever away with an And-1 in the closing seconds.
The Tar Heels and Sooners, both undefeated in Omaha, begin the best-of-three finals on Saturday.
Switzerland scored all four of its goals over the final 23 minutes of the match.
Disney Dream, Disney Wish, Disney Destiny — how to choose? Here's a breakdown of all the Disney Cruise Line ships and how to pick the right one for your next sailing.
Are you ready to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Here's how to watch the USMNT's next game!
The Trump administration's Anthropic ban could mean problems for other AI firms.
Snap stock has had a down week following the hyped reveal of its latest AR glasses.
SpaceX opened lower on Thursday, extending losses from the prior session.

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On May 16, gas plants were held to no more than 3% of demand for a four-hour evening stretch.
Photo Credit: iStock
Springtime is becoming a useful test for clean energy on the U.S. grid because electricity use is often lower then. Records set this year suggest solar panels and battery storage are carrying more of the load than many people might expect.
These are not just technical milestones. They are signs of a power system that can become cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable at the same time.
May was the first month in which U.S. solar generation beat coal nationwide, according to Canary Media. That made solar the country’s third-largest source of electricity for the month, trailing only natural gas and nuclear — a major shift for an energy source that critics still often dismiss as too limited by daylight.
Coal plants, at least in theory, can run around the clock. Solar cannot. However, battery storage is a way to harness solar power well after sunset. Ultimately, the nation’s growing fleet of panels proved its mettle as part of the energy mix.
In California, on March 29, batteries supplied 44% of demand on the grid run by the California Independent System Operator — which Canary Media said serves about 80% of the state — and discharged more than 12 gigawatts at 7 p.m.
Then, on May 16, gas plants reportedly provided no more than 3% of demand for a four-hour evening stretch, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
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Renewables often do especially well during shoulder season, the period of time between winter cold and summer heat. Milder temperatures reduce electricity demand, longer days boost solar output, and wind and solar systems can perform well under those conditions.
When clean power surges at the right time, it can push expensive and polluting fossil fuels to the margins.
That can mean healthier air for communities living near power plants, less exposure to fuel-price swings, and a stronger case for grids that rely more heavily on homegrown energy sources.
Batteries can store daytime solar power and release it later, when people tend to need electricity most, in the evening.
Canary Media noted that these records are still “momentary successes amid ideal conditions,” and wrote that they “push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
The outlet also described California’s spring battery performance as leaving gas in a “shockingly marginal role” for part of the evening.
The data also showed that the transition is still underway. Gas remains useful in the middle of the night, when solar output disappears, and batteries cannot carry the whole grid on their own.
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The Chilean government has introduced a significant change in the remunation scheme for PV plants operating under the so-called Pequeños Medios de Generación Distribuida (PMGD) scheme, which supports solar and other renewable energy plants with capacities of up to 9 MW and provides access to stabilized feed-in tariffs.
The new provisions define how revenues from these projects, particularly those incorporating energy storage, are settled. According to an analysis by Norwegian consulting firm DNV, amendments to Supreme Decree 88 formally incorporate the MEP Balance (Saldo MEP), an economic settlement mechanism associated with the Price Stabilization Framework.
Previously, PMGD plants were compensated based on either the stabilized price or the marginal cost. Under the new framework, price stabilization remains in place, but revenue calculations are now based on a reference energy price adjusted by the MEP Balance. DNV emphasizes that this change represents more than a simple pricing update; it fundamentally alters how project revenues are realized and managed.
The MEP Balance is designed to capture the difference between energy valuation under the stabilization mechanism and actual system costs. It is calculated monthly as the balance between interval-valued energy and marginal cost, taking into account both energy injections and withdrawals associated with storage systems. DNV notes that the calculation is performed using the system’s actual settlement granularity, which is currently based on 15-minute intervals.
According to DNV, the mechanism introduces a new source of future financial exposure for project owners. The MEP Balance is paid monthly on a pro-rata basis according to system withdrawals and must subsequently be reimbursed by each PMGD plant operator—also on a pro-rata basis—over the following year. These reimbursements are indexed for inflation, while Chilean grid operator Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional is responsible for overseeing compliance and administering the settlement process.
The reform also changes how PMGD plant operators interact with the power system. Following amendments to Supreme Decree 125, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional may apply pro-rata reductions based on economic criteria, including curtailment, and may limit injections due to either temporary or structural transmission congestion. In addition, they are now required to submit forecasts for both generation injections and storage operations.
With respect to storage, DNV highlights that battery charging withdrawals are included in the MEP Balance calculation. However, it warns that storage assets compete with demand for withdrawal priority, creating an additional layer of operational and financial risk for hybrid and battery-equipped projects. These risks are particularly relevant in a market where grid congestion and curtailment increasingly influence renewable energy revenues.
DNV’s central conclusion is that, once the time-value effects of cash flows are excluded, the resulting remuneration profile closely resembles exposure to the spot market. As a result, the principal risks shift from price stabilization itself to the timing of collections and reimbursements, grid interaction, and the potential reduction of energy injections.
For PMGD developers, the new framework requires modeling not only the stabilized price but also settlement balances, reimbursement schedules, inflation adjustments, storage operations, and congestion-related risks. In practice, project bankability will increasingly depend on the ability to forecast operational performance and quantify the financial implications of the new settlement regime.

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A new shelter-in-place order was issued Thursday in Boyle Heights, where a massive fire at a warehouse was extinguished Wednesday evening. Firefighters said smoke was being vented from the charred structure that could affect residents nearby.
The fire originated Wednesday afternoon on the solar-panel-covered roof of the cold storage facility at 1400 S. Los Palos St. The flames reached an ammonia line, which started off-gassing and led to several small explosions, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire prompted shelter-in-place orders that were later lifted.
The venting of the structure on Thursday, officials said, was to create a safer environment for firefighters inside the facility. LAFD officials said Thursday evening that a pocket of fire had been discovered in a freezer container at the facility, spurring a call for additional fire companies to the scene.
The new shelter-in place order came hours after fire officials provided an update about the blaze at a morning news conference. Residents were urged to stay inside their homes, close all windows and doors and turn off the air conditioning. They also said residents should bring their pets indoors.
The order encompasses an area from Interstate 5 south to Washington Boulevard; and Indiana Street west to Lorena Street, which becomes Grande Vista Avenue.
The blaze on Wednesday had sparked concerns about toxic gases spreading into neighborhoods. In a news conference that day, L.A. Fire Chief Jaime Moore said that the ammonia leak was not toxic to individuals unless they had respiratory issues or came into direct contact with the chemical.
Moore said during Thursday’s news conference outside the building that there were no remaining risks for residents with respiratory issues — “absolutely zero.”
“We’ve been monitoring the air throughout this incident — monitoring smoke columns, we are monitoring downwind, we’re monitoring inside the building, we’re monitoring outside the building — and we’re getting absolutely no readings of any concern,” he said.
California
Los Angeles Fire Department ground crews, hazardous materials teams and three water-dropping helicopters were deployed to the blaze.
Anhydrous ammonia is widely used as a refrigerant in industrial settings. The regulated, toxic substance is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs, and high levels of exposure can lead to choking, burns and death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
There were no reports of injuries.
Wednesday’s shelter-in-place order covered an area extending roughly from south of the 101 Freeway to Washington Boulevard, and east of Soto Street to Indiana Street.
A smoke advisory was also issued for a broad swath of East Los Angeles, with members of the public urged to limit outdoor exercise and people with health issues to remain indoors.
An air quality advisory is in place east of downtown Los Angeles and in portions of the San Gabriel Valley until 12:30 p.m. Friday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The agency warned that, as firefighting efforts progressed, smoldering material could continue to affect air quality directly downwind of the facility, as cooler smoke plumes don’t rise as high into the air. That could lead to poor air quality in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, a spokesperson wrote in an email.
Air quality management officials deployed a mobile air monitor to take measurements of metals following the path of the plume. The AQMD did not report elevated levels of ammonia in the air Wednesday.
Preliminary results from the mobile monitoring survey showed elevated particulate matter concentrations for a few seconds at a time within the plume, the AQMD said Thursday.
During those few seconds, monitors also observed increased levels of bromine and chlorine, which are typically found at trace levels during structural fires, the agency said. The levels seen were below the threshold that would cause health issues during short-term exposure, it said.
Officials were continuing to conduct mobile air monitoring and assess potential air quality impacts on Thursday, the agency said.
The fire ignited shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at a nearly 500,000-square-foot warehouse owned by Lineage Logistics.
Lineage Logistics provides cold storage and blast-freezing inside the massive structure.
“Lineage’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees, partners, and the communities in which we live and operate,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement Thursday. “We are aware of the incident and are working closely with local officials and first responder teams to assess the situation and provide support. This is an evolving matter, and we will provide updates as appropriate.”
Lineage Logistics has previously been accused of failing to comply with safety regulations to prevent the accidental release of anhydrous ammonia. In 2023, the company agreed to pay a fine to the EPA over how its facility in Altoona, Iowa, managed chemical risk posed by the more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia stored on site.
Its Boyle Heights warehouse also caught fire in August 2024, although that incident was significantly less dramatic. Crews quickly established hose lines on the roof and contained the blaze to a portion of the solar panels atop the structure, achieving knockdown in 48 minutes with no injuries reported, the Fire Department said at the time.
Times staff writers Alex Wigglesworth and Ruben Vives contributed to this report.
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Today people are not just rebuilding their homes but their lives. To talk about this, Rebuilding L.A. host Kate Cagle talks with Dr. Bonnie Zucker, a clinical psychologist, specializing in anxiety. She is also a Palisades fire survivor.
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The Tunkhannock Area School Board on Thursday decided not to move forward with a solar energy project the district has debated the past two years.
The board also approved the district’s 2026-27 final budget, which does not include a property tax increase.
The board did not advance a motion on a proposed power service agreement with SRE/Greenworks for a lease-to-own solar project at five school district sites.
That effectively ends the district’s plans to place solar panels at three district-owned sites — two at the district’s main campus near the border of Tunkhannock and Tunkhannock Twp. and one at the district’s campus in Mehoopany Twp.
Board members cited significant increases in cost projections, especially from electrical utility company Penelec, as a main reason it is no longer practical to pursue the project. There is also uncertainty over whether the district would receive federal solar tax credits, as well as reduced projections for the overall long-term savings the district could realize by switching to solar power.
“It just wasn’t enough savings to justify the cost,” board President Holly Arnold said, after the meeting. “We are done with it.”
If there is a shift in the financial outlook and political climate at some point in the future, the board could reconsider whether a solar project is feasible, but for now the project is “dead in the water,” Arnold said.
The district will withdraw land development plans for the solar project that were going through the county-level approval process, she said.
The board unanimously adopted the $57.3 million balanced budget for 2026-27 proposed by Superintendent Paul Dougherty. It does not include a property tax increase. The millage rate for Tunkhannock Area property owners will remain unchanged at 86.984 mills for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
However, Dougherty cautioned that it required a contribution of $2.95 million from the district’s reserve fund to balance the budget and avoid a tax hike.
That was more than $2 million less than the $5 million Dougherty had projected taking from the reserve fund when he proposed a preliminary budget in April. The administration worked every day to find ways to reduce the use of reserve funds, he said.
However, Dougherty cautioned that the district cannot continue to use reserve funds to plug budget holes every year, or else those funds will dwindle.
The district has “a healthy fund balance but that needs to be protected,” he said.
Also, the district has saved significant money in recent years through the reduction of staff by attrition due to declining student enrollment, Dougherty said. The district is approaching the limit of attrition-based staff reductions, he said.
“We don’t have a lot of room to find savings,” Dougherty said.
The state educational funding formula is unfair to small, rural school districts and state officials have made it clear they expect revenue for those districts to be raised at the local level, he said.
The budget is posted to the county website as part of the agenda for Thursday’s school board meeting: go.boarddocs.com/pa/tunk/Board.nsf/Public
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Canais Plataforma:
HONG KONG, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NOVVA Group ("Novva"), a global AI-enabling energy infrastructure platform, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of San Jose Solar Power Plant ("SJSP"), a utility-scale solar PV project in Bukidnon, Mindanao, from Mabuhay Power Holdings Corporation. The acquisition marks Novva's first investment in the Philippines and a critical milestone in its strategy to build a scalable, bankable power platform across Southeast Asia.

NOVVA Group CEO Steven Liu (left) and Mabuhay Power Holdings Corporation Chairman Sherwin Hing (right) sign the agreement for SJSP.
SJSP is a 120 MWp greenfield solar project located in Barangay San Jose, in the Municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon. Once operational, it is expected to generate over 200 GWh of clean electricity per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in Q1 2027, with commercial operation targeted for 2028.
The transaction comes amid an unprecedented surge in Asian power demand, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. With energy availability emerging as the primary constraint on sustained economic growth, resilient power infrastructure has become vital. The project also advances the Philippines' goal of a 35% renewable energy share by 2030, channelling clean capacity into one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing digital economies.
Steven Liu, Founder and CEO of Novva, said: "Power availability has become one of the defining constraints on future growth. With SJSP, we are securing the strategic infrastructure needed to support the next wave of industrial and digital development. By combining disciplined execution with long-term partnerships, Novva is building a reliable clean energy foundation to power the future of Southeast Asia."
SJSP will integrate directly into Novva's regional platform, which combines renewable generation, flexible power solutions, energy storage, grid connectivity and infrastructure financing capabilities. Novva remains committed to scaling clean energy capacity to sustain the next generation of hyperscale data centres and digital economies.
About Novva
Novva (NOVVA Group Pte. Ltd.) is a global AI-enabling energy infrastructure platform that originates, finances, builds, and operates bankable clean energy assets across Southeast Asia and Latin America. As digital transformation drives an unprecedented increase in global electricity demand, Novva scales its clean power capabilities to build the reliable energy foundation for the AI era and beyond.
www.novvaglobal.com
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As Russian missiles continue to devastate Ukraine’s centralized power system, the country is turning to solar energy at a remarkable pace. Rooftop panels, batteries, and diesel generators have become part of daily survival for businesses, hospitals, and households enduring chronic blackouts. But Ukraine’s wartime solar rush is now exposing a new problem: the grid is …
The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Thursday, July 9, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, June 18, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Be part of the high-level European conference on solar and energy storage, exploring bankable BESS projects, warranties, and energy management for residential and C&I sectors
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
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Is Your Solar System Underperforming?  Energy Matters
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Plans for an enormous solar farm which have since been withdrawn were "poorly conceived and badly designed", according to the chair of a community group.
Kingsway Solar Farm, a proposal likened to the size of Heathrow Airport, was set to cover more than 3,000 acres of farmland in East and South Cambridgeshire, and hoped to power up to 175,000 homes.
However, amid concerns from local residents and councils, it emerged on Wednesday that those behind the proposals had withdrawn the application, but had plans to resubmit.
Tony Day, chair of Kingsway Solar Community Action, said: "We hope this is the beginning of [the] end for Kingsway."
Residents feared the solar farm could "envelop" the villages of Balsham, West Wratting, Weston Colville and Weston Green.
The solar farm had been classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning Energy Secretary Ed Miliband would have had the final say.
But councils raised concerns about the consultation process, with South Cambridgeshire District Council's planning director stating it "made it difficult to develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of the likely significant effects".
Kingsway Solar Farm Limited wrote to the Planning Inspectorate to withdraw the application, but in a statement said it was "determined to deliver the best possible project which considers all the potential impacts as effectively as possible".
Reacting to the withdrawal, Day said: "This is welcome news, although Kingsway suggest that they plan to resubmit.
"But this confirms our conviction that this proposal has been poorly conceived and badly designed."
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Inspectors say the there is an "unmet need" for the plant, which would be used to store energy.
The Clean Air Solar Farm would sit across two sites near Lockington and Walkington.
Government research shows households could save up to £110 a year on their energy bills.
The Planning Inspectorate has until 8 July to decide whether Whitestone's application can proceed.
Developers are hosting a series of information events in June for the proposed farm near Beverley.
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HONG KONG, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NOVVA Group (“Novva”), a global AI-enabling energy infrastructure platform, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of San Jose Solar Power Plant (“SJSP”), a utility-scale solar PV project in Bukidnon, Mindanao, from Mabuhay Power Holdings Corporation. The acquisition marks Novva's first investment in the Philippines and a critical milestone in its strategy to build a scalable, bankable power platform across Southeast Asia.

NOVVA Group CEO Steven Liu (left) and Mabuhay Power Holdings Corporation Chairman Sherwin Hing (right) sign the agreement for SJSP.

The transaction comes amid an unprecedented surge in Asian power demand, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. With energy availability emerging as the primary constraint on sustained economic growth, resilient power infrastructure has become vital. The project also advances the Philippines' goal of a 35% renewable energy share by 2030, channelling clean capacity into one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing digital economies.
Steven Liu, Founder and CEO of Novva, said: “Power availability has become one of the defining constraints on future growth. With SJSP, we are securing the strategic infrastructure needed to support the next wave of industrial and digital development. By combining disciplined execution with long-term partnerships, Novva is building a reliable clean energy foundation to power the future of Southeast Asia.”
SJSP will integrate directly into Novva's regional platform, which combines renewable generation, flexible power solutions, energy storage, grid connectivity and infrastructure financing capabilities. Novva remains committed to scaling clean energy capacity to sustain the next generation of hyperscale data centres and digital economies.
About Novva
Novva (NOVVA Group Pte. Ltd.) is a global AI-enabling energy infrastructure platform that originates, finances, builds, and operates bankable clean energy assets across Southeast Asia and Latin America. As digital transformation drives an unprecedented increase in global electricity demand, Novva scales its clean power capabilities to build the reliable energy foundation for the AI era and beyond.
www.novvaglobal.com

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Colorado Springs Utilities is proposing new billing options for customers with home solar panels. Future solar users would choose between two new rate structures, which are both expected to raise electric bills by about $30 a month.
According to our news partners at The Gazette, utility leaders say the changes are needed to cover peak electricity demand costs.
Some solar owners say higher rates defeat the purpose of investing in solar.
Carolyn Dickerson, who spoke to The Gazette, added solar panels to her house in 2023. Dickerson said she did this because the savings on her electric bill would pay for the cost of the panels in about 20 years.
“They’re making it too expensive, and they don’t want the energy from us,” said Dickerson.
Current solar customers would keep their existing rates until 2032.
Colorado Springs City Council will hold a hearing in August, with a final vote expected in September.
The Gazette’s Brennen Kauffman contributed to this web story.
___

A local property owner is searching for answers after her Stetson Hills rental home was destroyed, she says, by outgoing renters.

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According to the latest IndexBox report on the global String Inverter Systems market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The global String Inverter Systems market is positioned for sustained expansion through 2035, supported by accelerating solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity additions, replacement of aging inverter fleets, and the rising integration of smart inverter features for grid support and energy storage. String inverters, which convert direct current (DC) from a series of solar panels into alternating current (AC), remain the dominant inverter topology, accounting for an estimated 60-70% of global solar inverter unit shipments. This dominance reflects their optimal balance of efficiency, per-string monitoring capability, and cost competitiveness relative to microinverters and central inverters. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8-12% between 2026 and 2035, with the market index (2025=100) reaching approximately 250-310 by 2035. Key growth drivers include aggressive renewable energy targets in major economies, declining system costs that improve solar project economics, and the increasing deployment of hybrid string inverters with integrated battery-ready ports. However, the market faces challenges from supply chain concentration in China, trade policy uncertainties in key import markets, and intermittent power semiconductor shortages. This analysis provides a comprehensive outlook on market size, demand structure, competitive landscape, and regional dynamics, offering actionable insights for manufacturers, distributors, investors, and strategic planners navigating the evolving solar inverter landscape.
Under the baseline scenario, the global String Inverter Systems market is expected to demonstrate robust growth from 2026 to 2035, driven by a confluence of policy support, technological advancement, and economic factors. Global solar PV installations are forecast to increase substantially, with annual additions projected to exceed 500 GW by 2030 and approach 700 GW by 2035, according to industry benchmarks. String inverters, as the primary conversion technology for residential, commercial, and utility-scale systems, will capture a significant share of this deployment. The replacement cycle for existing installations, typically 10-15 years, will generate recurring demand, particularly in mature markets such as Europe and North America where early solar adopters are upgrading to higher-efficiency, smart-enabled units. Hybrid string inverters with integrated battery ports are expected to penetrate 30-40% of new residential installations in leading markets by 2030, reshaping product specifications and supplier qualification criteria. System prices on a per-watt basis have declined 15-25% annually in nominal terms over the past five years, and further erosion is anticipated at a moderating pace as silicon carbide (SiC) adoption begins to offset commodity pricing pressure. Manufacturing capacity remains heavily concentrated in China, which supplies the majority of global units, but policy incentives in the United States, India, and Europe are fostering localized assembly and component sourcing. Import-dependent markets face exposure to trade disputes and logistics disruptions, which could introduce short-term volatility. Overall, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8-12%, with the market index (2025=100) reaching 250-310 by 2035, reflecting both volume expansion and
The residential segment remains a cornerstone of string inverter demand, accounting for an estimated 30% of global market value. Homeowners increasingly seek systems that combine solar generation with energy storage, driving uptake of hybrid string inverters that integrate battery ports without requiring separate hardware. This trend is particularly strong in markets with high retail electricity rates, such as Germany, Australia, and California, where payback periods are attractive. By 2035, hybrid inverters are expected to represent over 40% of new residential installations in leading markets. Demand-side indicators include residential solar permit volumes, net metering policies, and battery attachment rates. The shift toward smart home integration and remote monitoring capabilities further supports premium product adoption. Key challenges include sensitivity to interest rates and financing availability, as well as competition from microinverters in complex roof layouts. Overall, the segment benefits from growing consumer awareness and supportive policies like the U.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and EU energy efficiency directives. Current trend: Growing adoption of hybrid string inverters with battery-ready ports, driven by energy independence goals and falling ba.
Major trends: Hybrid inverter adoption rising to 40% of new residential installations by 2030, Integration with smart home platforms and energy management systems, Increasing demand for higher power density and compact designs, and Growth of community solar and virtual power plant programs.
Representative participants: SolarEdge Technologies, Inc, Enphase Energy, Inc, SMA Solar Technology AG, Growatt New Energy Technology Co., Ltd, and GoodWe Power Supply Technology Co., Ltd.
The commercial and industrial segment represents the largest share of string inverter demand at 35%, driven by businesses seeking to reduce operational costs and meet sustainability targets. C&I installations typically range from 50 kW to 2 MW, where string inverters offer a favorable balance of efficiency, scalability, and per-string monitoring compared to central inverters. The trend toward higher-voltage systems (1000V-1500V DC) enables longer string lengths, reducing wiring and balance-of-system costs. Demand is supported by corporate renewable energy procurement, carbon neutrality pledges, and government incentives for commercial solar. Key demand-side indicators include commercial building permit data, corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) volumes, and electricity tariff trends. By 2035, the segment is expected to see increased adoption of string inverters with advanced grid support functions, such as reactive power control and voltage ride-through, to comply with evolving grid codes. Challenges include project financing constraints and competition from rooftop leasing models. The segment benefits from the growing trend of on-site generation and energy resilience, particularly in regions with unreliable grid infrastructure. Current trend: Shift toward higher-voltage string inverters (1000V-1500V) and integrated monitoring for energy cost optimization..
Major trends: Adoption of 1500V DC string inverters for larger C&I installations, Integration with building energy management systems (BEMS), Rise of solar-plus-storage for peak shaving and backup power, and Increased focus on cybersecurity and remote monitoring capabilities.
Representative participants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd, Fimer S.p.A, Delta Electronics, Inc, and ABB Ltd.
Utility-scale solar farms, traditionally dominated by central inverters, are increasingly adopting string inverters for projects in the 5-50 MW range, where the technology offers advantages in terms of redundancy, easier maintenance, and higher energy yield through per-string MPPT tracking. This segment accounts for 25% of string inverter demand, with growth driven by the global pipeline of large-scale solar projects, particularly in China, India, the United States, and the Middle East. The shift toward 1500V DC string inverters is enabling longer string lengths and reducing balance-of-system costs, making them competitive with central inverters in many applications. Demand-side indicators include utility-scale solar project announcements, auction results, and renewable energy certificate (REC) pricing. By 2035, string inverters are expected to capture a larger share of the utility segment, especially in regions with high labor costs where the plug-and-play nature of string inverters reduces installation time. Challenges include the need for robust grid compliance and the potential for higher per-watt costs compared to central inverters in very large installations. The segment benefits from the global push for renewable energy and declining system costs. Current trend: Growing use of string inverters in utility-scale plants, particularly in distributed and medium-scale projects, as an al.
Major trends: Increasing adoption of 1500V DC string inverters in utility-scale projects, Integration with plant-level monitoring and control systems, Rise of distributed utility-scale plants (10-50 MW) favoring string topology, and Growing demand for grid-forming inverter capabilities.
Representative participants: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, TMEIC (Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation), Chint Group (Astromax), and KACO new energy GmbH.
The OEM integration and maintenance segment, representing 7% of market value, encompasses the supply of string inverter components, modules, and replacement parts to system integrators, installers, and aftermarket service providers. This includes MPPT trackers, DC/AC converters, fuses, capacitors, cooling fans, and service kits. Demand is driven by the growing installed base of string inverters, which requires periodic maintenance and component replacement over the 10-15 year lifecycle. As the global fleet of solar installations expands, the aftermarket segment is expected to grow in tandem, with replacement parts demand increasing as early installations reach end-of-life. Key demand-side indicators include the age distribution of installed systems, inverter failure rates, and service contract volumes. By 2035, the segment will benefit from the trend toward modular, repairable designs that extend system lifespan and reduce e-waste. Challenges include price sensitivity and competition from generic replacement parts. The segment is supported by the growing professionalization of solar O&M services and the need for certified components to maintain warranty and grid compliance. Current trend: Steady demand from system integrators and aftermarket service providers for replacement parts and OEM modules..
Major trends: Growing aftermarket for replacement parts as installed base ages, Shift toward modular designs enabling easier component replacement, Rise of predictive maintenance using IoT and data analytics, and Increasing demand for certified OEM parts to maintain warranties.
Representative participants: SMA Solar Technology AG, Fimer S.p.A, Delta Electronics, Inc, ABB Ltd, and KACO new energy GmbH.
The off-grid and remote applications segment, while small at 3% of market value, represents a growing niche driven by rural electrification programs, mining and telecom sites, and disaster relief applications. String inverters in these settings are typically paired with battery storage and diesel generators to form hybrid microgrids. Demand is supported by declining battery costs, improving inverter efficiency, and government initiatives to provide electricity to off-grid communities, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Key demand-side indicators include rural electrification funding, off-grid solar system sales, and mining industry investment. By 2035, the segment is expected to benefit from the increasing affordability of solar-plus-storage systems and the expansion of pay-as-you-go (PAYG) business models. Challenges include harsh environmental conditions requiring ruggedized designs, limited technical support infrastructure, and price sensitivity. The segment offers opportunities for manufacturers to differentiate through durability, remote monitoring, and after-sales service. Overall, off-grid applications contribute to market diversification and social impact, though they remain a small fraction of total demand. Current trend: Niche but growing demand for string inverters in off-grid and remote power systems, supported by declining battery costs.
Major trends: Integration with battery storage and diesel hybrid systems, Rise of pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar models in emerging markets, Demand for ruggedized inverters with extended temperature ranges, and Growth of telecom tower solarization and mining site power.
Representative participants: SMA Solar Technology AG, Growatt New Energy Technology Co., Ltd, GoodWe Power Supply Technology Co., Ltd, Delta Electronics, Inc, and KACO new energy GmbH.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Asia-Pacific leads the global string inverter market, driven by massive solar deployment in China, India, and Southeast Asia. China alone accounts for over 60% of global production and a significant share of consumption. India’s 500 GW renewable target and Southeast Asia’s growing solar adoption support robust demand. The region benefits from low manufacturing costs and strong policy support. Direction: Dominant and growing.
North America is a key market, driven by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which provides long-term tax credits for solar and storage. The region is seeing increased domestic manufacturing investments to reduce import dependence. Canada’s renewable energy targets and growing corporate PPAs further support demand. Replacement of early installations adds to growth. Direction: Steady growth with policy tailwinds.
Europe’s string inverter market is mature but growing, supported by the EU Green Deal, REPowerEU plan, and national solar targets. Germany, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands are key markets. High electricity prices and energy security concerns drive residential and C&I adoption. Replacement of early 2010s installations provides a steady demand base. Direction: Moderate growth with high replacement demand.
Latin America is an emerging market for string inverters, led by Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. Abundant solar resources, declining system costs, and government auctions for renewable energy are driving utility-scale and commercial installations. Challenges include political instability, currency volatility, and infrastructure constraints, but long-term growth potential is significant. Direction: Emerging growth.
The Middle East and Africa region is poised for rapid solar expansion, driven by ambitious renewable energy targets in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and South Africa. Large-scale solar parks and off-grid rural electrification projects are key demand drivers. The region’s high solar irradiance and falling system costs improve project economics, though political and logistical risks remain. Direction: High growth potential.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 10.0% compound annual growth rate for the global string inverter systems market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 280 by 2035 (2025=100).
Note: indexed curves are used to compare medium-term scenario trajectories when full absolute volumes are not publicly disclosed.
For full methodological details and benchmark tables, see the latest IndexBox String Inverter Systems market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the String Inverter Systems market in the world, covering market size, growth trajectory, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035.
The study is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, investors, procurement teams, advisors, and strategy teams that need a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers the global market for String Inverter Systems, which are photovoltaic (PV) inverter units designed to convert direct current (DC) generated by a series of solar panels (a string) into alternating current (AC) for grid integration or local consumption. The scope includes complete inverter units, associated components, integrated system solutions, and consumables or replacement parts used in residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar installations.
The report combines the standard market-statistics backbone with strategic chapters that are useful for commercial planning, sourcing decisions, market entry, competitor monitoring, and portfolio prioritization.
The market is segmented into decision-relevant buckets so that demand drivers, pricing logic, supply constraints, and competitive positions can be compared across the same analytical frame.
The market is segmented by product type (string inverter systems, components and modules, integrated systems, consumables and replacement parts), by application (industrial automation and instrumentation, electronics and optical systems, semiconductor and precision manufacturing, OEM integration and maintenance), and by value chain (upstream inputs and critical components, manufacturing/assembly/quality control, distribution/integration/channel partners, after-sales service/replacement/lifecycle support).
Coverage includes global totals, major demand markets, production and sourcing hubs, leading exporters and importers, and country profiles for the top national markets.
The report combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, product-level evidence, and analyst validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to keep market sizing, trade flows, pricing, and forecasts comparable across countries and time periods.
All indicators are mapped to a consistent product definition and reviewed against the segmentation framework used in the Table of Contents.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
Top market share in residential and utility-scale
Strong in C&I and utility segments
Now part of Fimer, but brand remains
Known for reliability and service
Acquired ABB inverter business
Strong in Asia and emerging markets
High efficiency products
Rapidly expanding globally
Known for power optimizers
Competes indirectly with string inverters
Part of Chint electrics
Focus on quality and durability
Premium brand in Europe
Strong in large projects
Solectria brand for solar
Integrated with solar solutions
Strong in global markets
Growing export presence
Active in Asia and Europe
Focus on module-level power electronics
Also offers string inverter solutions
Power management solutions
Focus on large-scale projects
Formerly ABB Power Grids
Inverter offerings via subsidiaries
Limited direct inverter production
Offers integrated inverter solutions
Expanding inverter portfolio
Limited inverter market share
Same as Chint Group
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The Chinese scientists hoping to use a space solar plant to power the world  South China Morning Post
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‘Agrivoltaics’ can both power AI data centers and increase food production: New study  Tech Xplore
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From ESS News
A research project in Widderstall, Germany, is testing DC-coupled commercial battery storage systems to assess whether they can reduce material use, improve system efficiency, and ease network connection constraints. Sigenergy, EnBW, and the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) are conducting the project.
The system under test has a capacity of 252 kWh and uses Sigenergy’s Sigen Hybrid 60 M1-HYA hybrid inverters, which allow direct DC coupling between PV systems and batteries.
Compared to conventional AC-coupled architectures, DC coupling can reduce the need for power electronics. In a typical AC setup, a 100 kW PV system connected to a 50 kW grid connection would require 100 kW of solar inverters plus an additional 50 kW of battery inverter capacity, with export limits applied to manage grid injection.
With DC coupling, a single 50 kW hybrid inverter can manage both functions. If the PV system produces 100 kW, 50 kW can be converted and fed into the grid, while the remaining 50 kW is directly stored in the battery on the DC side, eliminating the need for a separate battery inverter.
Sebastian Feges of Sigenergy’s direct sales DACH team said battery storage has historically been dominated by AC-based designs, but argued the market is increasingly recognising that DC operation is both safe and more efficient.
The partners said AC-coupled systems require more hardware when PV systems are oversized relative to grid connection capacity, which often leads to smaller installations due to limited connection rights. DC coupling could therefore enable larger PV systems behind existing grid connections while using infrastructure more efficiently.
The project also explores mixed operating modes in which batteries are charged not only from onsite solar generation but also from the grid. This becomes relevant under Germany’s proposed “MiSpeL” regulatory framework, which is intended to define how stored electricity is tracked and allocated between renewable and grid sources.
However, under the current draft, DC-coupled systems are not eligible for the most flexible accounting option and can only use a simplified allocation model. The partners aim to demonstrate that DC-side metering could still enable accurate separation of green and grid electricity, potentially influencing future regulatory revisions.
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The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
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The Australian Government, through ARENA, has committed an additional $95.4 million in funding to the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), securing Australia’s global leadership in solar PV research and innovation.
Led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), ACAP is a world-leading centre bringing together a national consortium of research institutions, including the Australian National University, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO Energy and CSIRO Manufacturing), the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Queensland, and the University of Sydney.
Related article: Father of modern solar looks to new tech frontier
The funding will extend ACAP’s existing research program out to 2033, building on more than a decade of collaboration between Australia’s leading solar researchers and industry partners to accelerate breakthroughs in high efficiency solar cells and modules.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP said, “Australia helped lead the world in solar and we want to keep leading the world in the next wave of solar innovation.
“This funding backs our best researchers and helps turn Australian ideas into real-world technologies that can strengthen our clean energy system and create economic opportunity.
“Building more of this expertise here at home makes Australia stronger, more secure and better placed for the future.”
Through ACAP, Australia has delivered a series of globally-recognised advances in solar technology, including major improvements in the efficiency, durability and cost of solar, and the development of next generation tandem solar cells.
ACAP executive director Professor Renate Egan described how improvements in solar technology over the last decade builds on foundational research, industry development and collaboration.
Related article: Aussie businesses the “missing middle” in solar and storage
“Australia is uniquely placed, globally, in its research leadership and its connection to industry,” Professor Egan said.
“This significant investment provides a long-term research horizon and positions Australia to build on its success in developing the technologies and talent needed to deliver on next-generation solar technologies that will power a low-carbon future Australia.”
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Oxford PV and Fraunhofer ISE have introduced a new photovoltaic module prototype that integrates Oxford PV’s tandem perovskite-silicon cells with Fraunhofer’s matrix shingle interconnection technology, according to a joint announcement from the two organizations.
The prototype will be displayed at Intersolar Europe in Munich next week. The partners reported that two versions of the module achieved an efficiency of 25.6% across the entire module area.
Stefan Glunz, head of photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE, explained that in the design, Oxford PV’s tandem cells are cut into shingles, electrically connected using conductive adhesive, and encapsulated. The modules are constructed as glass-glass units with edge sealing to protect the moisture-sensitive cells. Glunz commented that the collaboration combines two high-tech European approaches in a single PV module.
Ed Crossland, chief technology officer at Oxford PV, noted that the two technologies are complementary. He said the tandem technology and the shingle interconnection work well together technologically. Because perovskite-silicon solar cells produce lower current densities, they can be cut into wider strips, which improves productivity. Crossland added that tandem solar cells generate higher voltages and efficiencies than conventional cells, while the current is lower due to its distribution across two sub-cells. This lower current density helps reduce resistive losses within the module. He also pointed out that the adhesive interconnection of the matrix shingle technology is a low-temperature process and requires no copper connectors, which can lower operating costs and reduce stresses in module construction.
The new design has been deployed in two prototype modules: a 491-watt rooftop version with an area of 1.92 square meters, and a 546-watt bifacial model covering 2.13 square meters. Both achieved the same 25.6% efficiency.
Tandem modules combining perovskite and silicon technologies are widely regarded as the next major step in solar technology evolution. Adding a perovskite layer to a silicon cell can significantly boost conversion efficiency beyond the theoretical limits of silicon-only cells. Oxford PV has been a leading developer of tandem technology and is advancing it toward commercial deployment through its pilot production facility in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.
Fraunhofer’s matrix shingle technology bonds solar cell strips together with electrically conductive adhesives in an overlapping, staggered pattern similar to roofing shingles. This allows complete coverage of the module surface and high tolerance to partial shading. The matrix arrangement enables current to flow around shaded areas, potentially generating up to twice the power compared to conventionally connected PV modules, depending on shading levels, according to Fraunhofer.
The new PV modules were developed as part of the HoTSun research project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Both prototypes will be on display in Munich next week.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the global solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the worldwide value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between exporters and importers worldwide. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the global solar cells and light-emitting diodes landscape.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts across countries and regions.
For the global report, country profiles provide a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators. The profiles highlight the largest consuming and producing markets and allow direct benchmarking across peers.
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links solar cells and light-emitting diodes demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts.
Each country projection is built from its own historical pattern and the regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of global solar cells and light-emitting diodes dynamics.
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data at country and regional levels, presented in both value and volume terms.
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
The report provides profiles for the largest consuming and producing countries, enabling benchmarking across peers.
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
Largest solar manufacturer globally
Leading monocrystalline silicon producer
Major module and cell producer
High-efficiency cell and module maker
Global manufacturer and project developer
Major player in US and EU markets
Integrated PV product manufacturer
Leading thin-film CdTe manufacturer
World's largest solar cell producer
ABC cell technology leader
Major LED component and display maker
Pioneer and major supplier of LED chips
Historically leading innovator in LED technology
Leading European optoelectronics supplier
High-power LED and automotive lighting
One of world's largest LED chip producers
Major LED packaging and component supplier
Leading Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer
Innovator in WICOP and SunLike technologies
LED components for automotive and IT
IBC cell technology leader
Solar project developer and manufacturer
Integrated PV manufacturer
Historically significant in both fields
Rapidly growing cell and module producer
Solar manufacturing arm of Chint Group
Module manufacturer with US focus
Leading Indian solar manufacturer
LED packaging and lighting solutions
Major LED packaging company
Instant access. No credit card needed.
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