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The global rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) market is entering a period of sustained expansion as households, businesses, and industrial facilities increasingly turn to decentralized renewable energy generation. According to the market assessment, the global rooftop solar PV market was valued at approximately US$ 57.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 172.4 billion by the end of 2035. The market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 10.5% between 2025 and 2035. Declining solar technology costs, improving module efficiency, supportive government policies, growing electricity demand, and increasing corporate sustainability commitments are expected to support market growth throughout the forecast period.
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Market Overview
Rooftop solar PV systems enable residential, commercial, and industrial buildings to generate electricity directly from sunlight. The electricity produced can be consumed on-site or supplied to the grid through applicable net-metering, feed-in, or other distributed-generation arrangements. By enabling consumers to generate a portion of their own electricity, rooftop solar can reduce dependence on conventional grid power while supporting renewable energy and emissions-reduction objectives.
The market is benefiting from the broader shift toward decentralized energy systems. Rising electricity prices, growing awareness of energy security, and increasing interest in clean-energy solutions are encouraging property owners and businesses to evaluate rooftop solar installations. Technological improvements are also strengthening the value proposition of rooftop PV systems through higher-efficiency modules, smarter inverters, digital monitoring, energy storage integration, and improved system management.
Adoption is particularly significant across Asia Pacific and Europe, while the U.S. market continues to benefit from supportive clean-energy investment frameworks. The increasing availability of financing mechanisms, third-party ownership models, leasing arrangements, and power purchase agreements is also helping reduce the upfront financial barriers associated with rooftop solar deployment.
Key Market Growth Drivers
Declining solar technology costs and improved financing options are among the most important factors driving rooftop solar PV adoption. Solar module prices have fallen substantially over the past decade, while module efficiency has continued to improve. Advances in manufacturing scale, supply-chain optimization, and photovoltaic technologies have contributed to improved economics for both residential and commercial installations. Reductions in the cost of balance-of-system components, including inverters and mounting structures, have further supported system affordability.
Alternative financing structures are also expanding market accessibility. Third-party ownership models, leasing arrangements, renewable energy service company structures, and power purchase agreements can allow customers to adopt rooftop solar without bearing the entire upfront capital expenditure. These models are particularly relevant for commercial and industrial users seeking greater predictability in energy costs while minimizing direct responsibility for system ownership and maintenance.
Government policies and corporate sustainability targets represent another major growth catalyst. Governments in various markets have introduced net-metering programs, feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, subsidies, renewable-energy targets, and other mechanisms designed to encourage distributed solar generation. Corporate commitments to environmental, social, and governance objectives and net-zero targets are also driving businesses to deploy rooftop solar at factories, warehouses, offices, retail facilities, and other properties to reduce electricity costs and emissions associated with purchased power.
Analysis of Key Players and Key Player Strategies
The rooftop solar PV market features competition among global solar module manufacturers, integrated energy companies, inverter suppliers, EPC providers, and distributed-energy specialists. Major companies identified in the market include LONGi, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., Trina Solar Limited, Canadian Solar Inc., First Solar, Inc., Tata Power Solar, Hanwha Qcells, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., SunPower Corporation, Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd., Sunrun, JA Solar Co. Ltd., Kyocera Corporation, and other participants.
Leading companies are concentrating on increasing module efficiency, expanding production capabilities, improving system reliability, and developing integrated rooftop energy solutions. Advanced monocrystalline technologies, including PERC, TOPCon, and heterojunction technologies, are receiving significant attention because of their potential to increase power generation from limited rooftop space. Companies are also integrating smart monitoring systems, intelligent inverters, energy storage, and digital management tools to improve system performance and provide customers with greater visibility into energy generation and consumption.
Recent industry developments illustrate this focus on technological advancement and market expansion. In October 2024, JinkoSolar introduced its Tiger Neo 3.0 series based on next-generation TOPCon technology, including a residential-oriented module with power output of up to 495 W. Tata Power Solar reported more than 150,000 rooftop installations representing approximately 3 GW of capacity in March 2025 and highlighted its expanded presence across more than 700 cities, together with financing initiatives designed to support residential adoption.
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Market Challenges and Opportunities
The rooftop solar PV industry continues to face challenges involving upfront installation costs, financing accessibility, grid-connection procedures, permitting requirements, rooftop suitability, intermittency, and the availability of adequate grid infrastructure. In some markets, regulatory changes or variations in net-metering policies can influence project economics and customer investment decisions. Residential consumers may also encounter difficulties related to roof ownership, structural conditions, installation complexity, and access to affordable financing.
Nevertheless, these challenges are generating opportunities for innovation across the distributed-energy ecosystem. Battery storage can enable customers to retain excess solar generation for use when sunlight is unavailable, while smart energy-management platforms can optimize consumption, storage, and grid interaction. Digital monitoring, artificial intelligence-based predictive maintenance, smart inverters, virtual power plants, and peer-to-peer energy trading technologies could further enhance the value of distributed solar systems. Increasing electricity demand from commercial facilities, warehouses, data-intensive operations, and industrial sites is also creating opportunities for larger rooftop installations.
Key Player Strategies
Companies operating in the rooftop solar PV market are increasingly pursuing strategies focused on high-efficiency modules, vertically integrated supply chains, expanded installation networks, digital services, and financing solutions. Manufacturers are investing in advanced cell architectures and production capacity to improve energy output while reducing the cost per watt. Solar companies are also expanding their presence across residential, commercial, and industrial markets through partnerships with installers, energy providers, financing institutions, and technology companies.
Integrated solutions are becoming increasingly important as customers seek more than photovoltaic modules. Companies are combining solar generation with energy storage, smart inverters, monitoring software, financing packages, and maintenance services. This integrated approach can improve customer convenience while creating recurring revenue opportunities for system providers and enabling more efficient management of distributed energy assets.
Investment Landscape and ROI Outlook
Investment in rooftop solar PV is being supported by declining technology costs, growing electricity demand, government incentives, corporate sustainability commitments, and the long-term potential for reduced dependence on grid electricity. Investment opportunities extend across solar module manufacturing, inverters, mounting systems, installation services, energy storage, digital energy-management platforms, financing, and operation and maintenance services.
The return on investment for rooftop solar projects varies according to electricity prices, solar irradiation, system size, installation costs, financing conditions, incentives, grid-export arrangements, and electricity consumption patterns. Commercial and industrial facilities with substantial daytime electricity demand can potentially improve project economics by consuming a larger proportion of generated solar power on-site. Financing models such as power purchase agreements and leasing can also enable customers to access solar generation while reducing upfront capital requirements. As technology improves and system costs decline, the addressable investment opportunity is expected to expand across both developed and emerging markets.
Market Segmentation and Regional Outlook
The rooftop solar PV market is segmented by technology type into monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film, and other technologies. Monocrystalline modules represent a prominent segment because of their relatively high conversion efficiency and ability to generate more electricity from limited rooftop space. By capacity, the market includes systems up to 100 kW, 100–500 kW, 500–1,000 kW, and above 1,000 kW. Connectivity categories include grid-connected, off-grid, and hybrid systems, while installation types comprise new and retrofit installations.
By end user, the market covers residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Commercial applications include educational institutions, office buildings, retail spaces, agricultural facilities, warehouses, and other properties, while industrial applications include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, and other industrial sites. Regionally, the market encompasses North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.
Asia Pacific is the leading regional market, accounting for approximately 56.4% of the global rooftop solar PV market. China, India, and Japan are major contributors to regional growth, supported by government policies, solar manufacturing capabilities, declining module prices, and increasing demand for decentralized power generation. Europe remains another important market, supported by ambitious climate targets, renewable-energy policies, relatively high retail electricity prices, and increasing consumer and corporate interest in distributed generation.
Why Buy This Report?
The rooftop solar PV market report provides an in-depth assessment of market size, growth trends, technological developments, competitive dynamics, regional opportunities, and emerging investment areas through 2035. The study examines the market across technology types, capacity ranges, connectivity, installation types, end-user categories, and major geographic markets. It also provides analysis of market drivers, restraints, opportunities, key trends, value-chain developments, competitive positioning, and company strategies, helping solar manufacturers, investors, energy companies, project developers, technology providers, and other stakeholders evaluate market opportunities and formulate growth strategies.
FAQs
The global rooftop solar PV market was valued at approximately US$ 57.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 172.4 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 10.5% during the 2025–2035 forecast period.
Key growth factors include declining solar module and system costs, improving module efficiency, supportive government policies, financing innovations, increasing electricity costs, corporate sustainability commitments, and growing interest in decentralized energy generation.
Monocrystalline solar modules represent a prominent technology segment because their higher efficiency allows greater electricity generation from limited rooftop space. Continued improvements in technologies such as PERC and TOPCon are further supporting their adoption.
Asia Pacific leads the global market and accounted for approximately 56.4% of market share. China, India, and Japan are among the region’s major contributors, supported by government initiatives, expanding solar deployment, and strong manufacturing capabilities.
Major companies include First Solar, JinkoSolar, LONGi, Hanwha Qcells, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, Tata Power Solar, SolarEdge Technologies, SunPower, Maxeon Solar Technologies, Sunrun, JA Solar, Kyocera, and other industry participants.
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Amazfit has unveiled the T-Rex Dual Solar, a rugged smartwatch that takes solar charging a little further by putting solar panels on both the front and rear of the watch. The setup is designed to extend battery life when the watch is exposed to sunlight, potentially cutting down how often you need to reach for the charger.
The T-Rex Dual Solar has a 660mAh battery rated for up to 21 days of typical use. But Amazfit says that figure can stretch considerably depending on how much sunlight the watch gets.
Worn on the wrist and exposed to three hours of direct sunlight each day, typical battery life can increase to 34 days. Put the larger solar panel on the rear under three hours of direct sunlight daily instead, and that figure rises to 51 days.
That dual-panel setup is the main attraction here, but the T-Rex Dual Solar isn’t just about battery life. It has a 1.32-inch AMOLED display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, while Sapphire Glass provides protection over the screen.
For fitness tracking, Amazfit says the watch supports more than 180 workout modes, giving it plenty of scope for different types of training. There’s also Bluetooth calling for taking calls from the wrist, along with 10 ATM water resistance for more demanding conditions. A built-in LED flashlight is another handy addition, particularly for a watch designed with outdoor use in mind.
The T-Rex Dual Solar comes in a Basalt Black colourway with a silicone strap. It’s priced at $650 in the US, putting it firmly into the premium smartwatch bracket.
How useful that dual-solar approach will be in everyday wear will depend on how much sun the watch actually gets, but it’s an unusual approach to solving one of the perennial smartwatch problems: keeping the thing charged.
Diane is a News Writer for Trusted Reviews, covering daily goings on in the tech world. She holds a degree in creative writing and mainly crafts fictions with a passion for novel storytelling. Her work delves into different genres, now with writing reviews for gadgets and home appliances. Outside of work, Diane enjoys immersing herself in active lifestyle such as dancing and running.
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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Trinasolar sees extreme weather lifting demand for tougher solar panels  BNamericas
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Websol Energy System Limited announced on September 23, 2026 that the Government of West Bengal has allotted about 54.20 acres of land to the company at Falta Industrial Park in Kolkata for a planned greenfield solar manufacturing facility.
According to a press release the company filed with the stock exchanges, the new unit is planned with 4 GW of solar cell capacity and 4 GW of solar module capacity. It will be built in two phases of 2 GW each.
The company said the allotment came after it evaluated sites near its existing manufacturing operations at the Falta Special Economic Zone (SEZ). It said expanding within West Bengal would let it draw on more than three decades of operating experience in the state. That experience gives it access to skilled workers, established supplier relationships and close knowledge of the local ecosystem, which the company expects to support faster execution than a plant in an entirely new location.
Websol said the project would also give it a larger integrated manufacturing base in eastern India. It noted that domestic solar manufacturing capacity is expanding to meet India’s growing renewable energy needs.
Sohan Lal Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of Websol Energy System Limited, said the solar industry in India was at a very early stage when the company entered manufacturing in the mid-1990s. Solar is now becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s energy infrastructure, he said, and the need for strong domestic manufacturing has never been clearer.
Agarwal described the allotment as the next phase of a journey that began in West Bengal more than three decades ago. He said it would allow the company to build at a much larger scale while staying close to a workforce and operating base it knows well. He added that manufacturing must grow alongside India’s solar capacity, across regions and closer to demand, and called the project Websol’s contribution to a deeper domestic manufacturing base.
Sanjana Khaitan, Executive Director of the company, said the focus now is execution, moving from land allotment to construction, commissioning and utilisation. She said the company has always measured growth by how efficiently installed capacity translates into production, delivery and revenue, not by the capacity alone. The company will keep following that approach as it works towards its 2028 targets, she added.
Founded in 1990, Websol makes solar cells and modules using Mono PERC technology. Its Falta SEZ facility currently has a solar cell capacity of 1,200 MW and a module capacity of 550 MW, and it can process wafers of up to 210 mm. The company supplies cells mainly within India, helping module makers meet Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) norms, and sells its modules in India and overseas.
According to the company, it is one of only 14 solar cell manufacturers in India on the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), and the only one based in eastern India.
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Developer eyes new 150-acre solar farm project in Effingham County  Savannah Morning News
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Steve Cargil's family has farmed the flat, dry land around Uvalde, a small city in southwest Texas, since 1953.
Cargil, 67, had always assumed that one of his three children would eventually take it over, the way he had from his father.
But that assumption took a hit one night in 2018 after a violent hailstorm.
Cargil and his son, Ryan, had spent months nursing crops of cabbage and onions to harvest. Then a storm rolled through and destroyed them overnight.
"I remember my son saying, 'Dad, I just don't know if I can do this. You do everything right, and we work so hard, and you come out one morning and it's all gone'," Cargil says.
Cargil's farm was at risk of ending with him, he says, with none of his three children wanting to farm full time. For years, that left him wondering what would happen to the land, and to his own retirement, since farmers rarely have a pension to fall back on.
Then in 2001 Cargil signed a deal to lease 600 acres of his land, about a quarter of the total, to a company called OCI Energy which built a vast solar farm.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a solar project would be on my farm," Cargil says. Looking back now, he calls it a blessing.
The lease, which pays Cargil $200,000 (£150,000) a year, has let him keep his farm running through a punishing drought. He has been able to concentrate his water irrigation allowance on the land he still farms, and he has stopped losing sleep over rises in the price of things such as diesel and fertiliser. "It's changed my life."
Texas, which remains the largest oil producer in the US, earlier this year overtook California to become the country's biggest generator of electricity from solar farms.
And in March of last year, more electricity was produced by solar in Texas than from coal for the first time, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Solar farms can stretch out across the flat lands of Texas [AFP via Getty Images]
On hot afternoons, when demand for power peaks, solar is now regularly supplying around a third of the electricity used across Texas, says Mark Stover, executive director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association.
He says that the solar boom is being driven by two main things. Firstly, it is cheap and quick to connect solar farms to Texas' power grid, which is separate to the rest of the US. Secondly, Texas has a huge and growing appetite for electricity, driven by a burgeoning population.
Between 2015 and 2025, Texas's population increased by 15.8%, making it one of the fastest-growing states in the nation.
"We need a whole lot of power in Texas, and we need it quickly," Stover says.
Solar has also become inexpensive. James Scott, vice president of project development at OCI, says the technology has had years of small manufacturing gains that brought the price down to the point where it is now the cheapest way to generate power in the state.
"No one would have believed that 20 years ago," Scott says.
Once a project is built, he says, the price of the electricity it produces can be fixed for decades, since the fuel, sunlight, is free.
"We'll charge you $40 a megawatt hour for the next 25 years," Scott says, adding that large buyers such as Amazon and Apple value being able to lock in a price for that long.
By contrast, new coal plants in the US produce power at nearly $90 megawatts per hour, says the Energy Information Administration.
Farmers have become central to that growth because solar developers need large stretches of flat land.
Stover says the industry is now paying out multigenerational income to families through leases that typically run 25 to 30 years and rise in value each year, letting some retire, set up family trusts, or simply keep a farm solvent.
Stover argues solar's footprint is smaller than critics assume. "The industry is utilizing less than 0.15% of Texas land," he says.
Texas is now the largest producer of solar farm power in the US [AFP via Getty Images]
Yet solar has its opponents. In Franklin County, in northeast Texas, a small group of residents has spent the past few years fighting its growth.
BF Hicks, a local lawyer whose family has owned land in the county since the 1800s, says he watched neighbours sign 30-year leases with solar companies and bulldozers clear centuries-old oak trees near his property.
He describes a summer when smoke from burning cleared land hung over his town for weeks. "It got real personal," he says, when a solar farm was built next to his family's cemetery. His relatives have been buried here dating back two centuries.
David Truesdale, a retired federal law enforcement agent who moved to the county to get away from city life, says he became involved after learning that a neighbouring solar project would sit near his home. And that under Texan law no environmental review was required.
"We're destroying the world as we're trying to save it," Truesdale says of the land clearing he has seen. He also points to the large lithium-ion battery units installed alongside many solar farms, drawing a comparison to fires that have occasionally engulfed similar batteries in electric bikes.
"If one of those things catches fire, they go off in series, so each one will progressively cause another one to go off," he says.
Lawyer BF Hicks fights the building of new solar farms [BF Hicks]
Both men say their objections are not about politics. Franklin County is solidly conservative, but its residents helped push through one of the state's first county-level moratoriums on new solar construction, before it was later rescinded under legal pressure from developers.
Their complaints echo a broader unease that has followed solar's expansion into rural Texas – worries about visual impact, water runoff after land is cleared, and battery storage units that scorch their land.
President Trump has called solar and wind power "farmer destroying" and moved to unwind tax credits for renewable projects.
Yet Fabrizio Lee and Associates, the polling firm used by President Trump, found back in February that 68% of Republican voters believe the country needs "all forms of electricity generation, including utility solar" to keep costs down.
Stover says he has found broad support in the Republican-controlled Texas state legislature. "There is an acceptance that these technologies bring reliability benefits to the grid," he says.
Back in Uvalde, Steve Cargil says that while he has no plans to retire any time soon, he is more positive that the farm might make it to a fifth generation after all, now that the solar farm has put a floor under its finances.
"You're better off being lucky than being smart," Cargil says, echoing something his father used to tell him. "And this was one of those cases where I was just lucky."
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Chinese PV module manufacturer Longi announced today that it has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 28.29% for a hybrid interdigitated-back-contact (HIBC) solar cell.
The result was verified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH).
The achievement represents a world record for single-junction crystalline silicon solar cells and surpasses Longi’s previous record of 28.13%, which it achieved in May.
“Longi has broken the world records three times this year, pushing cell efficiency to 28.04%, 28.13% and 28.29%. The crystalline silicon solar cell efficiency is now approaching its technical ceiling, reaching 96.2% of the theoretical limit,” the company said, without providing further details about the cell technology.
Longi, however, outlined details of its HIBC solar cell architecture in a scientific paper published in November. The company said the device combines passivated tunneling contacts, dielectric passivation layers, and both n-type and p-type contacts.
The cell is built on a high-resistivity, half-cut M10 wafer featuring edge passivation and optimized n-type contacts produced through a combination of high- and low-temperature processes. An indium tin oxide (ITO) layer improves lateral transport, while multilayer aluminum oxide (AlOx) and silicon nitride (SiNx) coatings reduce surface recombination.
The researchers also reduced phosphorus doping in the n-type polycrystalline silicon layer to limit dopant diffusion into the wafer. The company’s in situ passivated-edge technology enables edge passivation during fabrication. In addition, deep-trenched metal fingers and selective ITO etching help prevent leakage between the n-type and p-type contacts, while a thicker amorphous silicon layer improves junction coverage and sidewall encapsulation. To reduce contact resistivity without compromising passivation, the amorphous silicon layer is crystallized using a pulsed green nanosecond laser.
Longi said the technology could be scaled for heterojunction solar cell manufacturing, although further improvements are needed to reduce resistive losses in the p-type contact.
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Sungrow has brought its all-in-one residential energy storage system to its first European markets. PowerHarbor, which made its debut at Intersolar Europe 2026, is now available in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Under the theme “All in Harbor”, PowerHarbor brings the inverter, battery, backup, and energy management together in one system. Built around the “Triple W” value proposition – Win More, Waste Less, Work Faster – it is designed to help households get more value from their solar energy while taking up less space, requiring fewer additional devices, and enabling faster installation.
With up to 160% PV-to-battery charging capability, the system allows the battery to absorb more solar generation during peak production periods, while its 0.66P discharge rate can release the full stored capacity in around 1.5 hours when household demand or energy value rises. Together with its VPP-optimized design, these capabilities allow PowerHarbor to respond to intensive dispatch while sustaining performance.
PowerHarbor comes standard with iHomeManager Mini, the industry’s first Mini AI solution. Activated with a single tap, its AI Mode combines weather forecasts, household consumption patterns, and electricity prices to help determine when energy should be stored, held, or discharged. With Shelly integration, the approach can extend to connected appliances across the home.
Where a home already has a working PV system, PowerHarbor can be deployed as separate inverter and battery units, adding storage without replacing existing equipment. Where an existing inverter is being swapped for the all-in-one system, startup voltage is a common consideration: a higher threshold may rule out shorter strings, which can mean adding panels or rewiring. PowerHarbor’s 100 V startup voltage and wide MPPT range support more string layouts, so existing strings can often be retained, subject to voltage and current compatibility.
Built with high-energy-density 314 Ah cells, the unit is just 25.5 cm deep. With 6, 9, and 10 kWh battery modules and 83 possible combinations within a single unit, the system’s capacity can be configured flexibly.
PowerHarbor’s battery modules stack without external cables, with the blind-mate connection taking around 10 seconds per module. All external terminals sit on the right-hand side, matching how most installers work. PowerHarbor also pairs with EnergyBridge, the industry’s first Mini backup solution, which integrates five functions into a single DIN-rail-mounted device. Up to 99% smaller by volume than a conventional gateway, the device fits inside a standard distribution box and installs in around 20 seconds with no wall damage. For energy management, iHomeManager Mini plugs in as standard, with no separate EMS control box to install.
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The MoA for implementation of grid-connected rooftop solar PV systems across 76 ICAR institutes was signed in the presence of Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Shri Sandeep Sarkar, Additional Secretary, DARE and Financial Advisor, ICAR; Shri Gyanendra D. Tripathi, IAS, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; and Shri Prince Dhawan, IAS, CEO, RECPDCL. The MoA was signed by Shri Jaspal Singh Kushwaha, General Manager, Renewable Division, RECPDCL, and Shri Kumar Rajesh, Director (GAC), ICAR.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex organisation for coordinating agricultural research and education in India under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, for the implementation of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across 76 ICAR institutes spanning 24 States and Union Territories.
Under the agreement, rooftop solar PV systems with an aggregate capacity of 11,109.87 kW (11.1 MW) will be implemented on a turnkey basis. The project is expected to generate approximately 1.73 crore units of clean electricity annually, contributing to reduced dependence on conventional energy and promoting sustainable energy use across India’s agricultural research infrastructure.
The projects will be funded by ICAR, while RECPDCL will serve as the designated Turnkey Implementation Partner. RECPDCL will undertake end-to-end implementation through its empanelled EPC-cum-O&M agencies, covering design, engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, followed by five years of comprehensive Operation & Maintenance (O&M).
The MoA was signed in the presence of Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Shri Sandeep Sarkar, Additional Secretary, DARE and Financial Advisor, ICAR; Shri Gyanendra D. Tripathi, IAS, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; and Shri Prince Dhawan, IAS, CEO, RECPDCL. The MoA was signed by Shri Jaspal Singh Kushwaha, General Manager, Renewable Division, RECPDCL, and Shri Kumar Rajesh, Director (GAC), ICAR.
RECPDCL’s role in the initiative stems from its designation by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as the Scheme Implementation Partner (SIP) for Government Building Solarisation under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. 
The initiative marks a significant step towards accelerating the adoption of renewable energy across government institutions and supporting the Government of India’s broader objectives of clean energy transition, energy efficiency and sustainable development.

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The Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) were urged to sign a pledge to protect elections on Monday. Heather Exby, former dean and vice-president of Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus, explained that “pro-democracy groups” have said that Garfield County is an area of concern for the midterms, stating that a small group of Garfield County residents came together to offer the pledge throughout the county.
“I never thought I’d be here talking about election integrity, but it is an issue that we see weekly, daily out there,” said former state Rep. Gregg Rippy, who is also a member of the group. “The freedom to vote and have our votes counted is the foundation of our democracy.” 
Before he read the short pledge, he pointed out that there is no problem with election integrity in Garfield County. “But if we have people watching this and thinking, ‘My vote doesn’t count’ and they don’t show up because they believe that their vote is not going to be counted, there’s [a problem],” he said. “So that’s why I’m on board with this election pledge.” 
Commissioner Perry Will said that the Garfield County Clerk’s office just went through an audit without issue. “This is just our attempt to recognize that,” Rippy responded. “We really want people to feel comfortable that their vote is counted and important.” 
The GarCo citizens group pledge encourages people to register to vote and go to the polls in November.
Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky gave a shout out to past county clerks Mildred Alsdorf and Jean Alberico, thanking Alberico for choosing Clear Ballot voting machines in 2018 instead of Dominion, which was at the heart of false election fraud allegations in 2020.
County Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon told the BOCC that ballots go in the mail Oct. 6; early voting centers open Oct. 19. “The ballot is two pages and four sides so we highly encourage people to return them to the ballot drop boxes,” Harmon explained, adding that it will cost two stamps to return by mail. All election information is available at the Garfield County website.
The BOCC then approved the consent agenda and heard from local nonprofits High Country Volunteers and Literacy Outreach, which has been in operation for 40 years. The Glenwood Springs Salvation Army has started a winter coat drive and is getting ready for the annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign. Kings and Priests Ministry, home of Jesus Saves homeless day shelter, Discovery Cafe and sober living houses in Rifle for men also provided an update. Becca Schild of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers was given a letter of support for a $43,000 Colorado Parks and Wildlife grant. 
County public assistance benefits for August totaled  over $1.088 million.
The BOCC approved a letter of support for a request from the Sopris Mountain Collective, a resident-owned cooperative at Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park, to enter into a special limited partnership (SLP) with the county housing authority. The SLP would qualify the mobile home park for a property tax exemption. The letter also requests that the resulting savings be passed to residents.
The BOCC chose not to contribute financially to the residents’ efforts to purchase the mobile home park. Commissioner Mike Samson said this would be a way to help.
The BOCC renewed a five-year lease for communication towers at Anvil Points and Harvey Gap, approved fee waivers for upcoming events at the county fairgrounds and gave the nod to a major impact review for a solar farm near Parachute.
Commissioners discussed comments on the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project. The DEIS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and proposes three action alternatives or management options, and one no-action option.
“The three action alternatives vary in their scope and their intensity,” said County Manager Fred Jarman, who helped prepare the comment packet. 
The BOCC has been involved in the project as a cooperating agency for seven years. Jarman presented the 146-page comment packet, including county involvement history and concerns plus letters from locals and media coverage. Major concerns include how the land was purchased, state and federal government involvement and development impacts on the land, wildlife and rural lifestyle.   
The county is against the creation of a state park at Sweetwater Lake but urged the USFS to choose Alternative 3 — the least invasive and impactful action option. 
The entire comment packet is available at tinyurl.com/commentpacket2026

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September 24, 2026
Desk Report:
The power sector has faced the greatest strain due to adverse global conditions. Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s government has not remained idle in addressing this challenge; they have already undertaken various initiatives.
As part of this effort, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has taken a unique and groundbreaking step. They have launched a project to promote eco-friendly green energy—specifically, renewable electricity. A massive action plan has been adopted to generate 300 megawatts of electricity by installing solar panels on the rooftops of 6,544 institutions across the country under the Local Government Division. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, is the driving force behind this timely and visionary program.
State Minister Mir Shahe Alam outlined the details of this flagship project at a crowded press conference held at the Secretariat on Wednesday. He stated that his ministry is committed to strengthening the country’s energy security and generating eco-friendly electricity by utilizing the unused rooftops of government buildings. An initial government allocation of Tk 370 crore has already been released to ensure the project’s rapid and smooth implementation.
This visionary initiative by State Minister Mir Shahe Alam encompasses key local government offices ranging from the grassroots level to divisional cities. These include:
Zila Parishad, Municipality, and Union Parishad buildings;
Field-level offices of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED);
WASA offices in various regions;
Buildings of the Department of Public Health Engineering;
Commercial centers, hat-bazars (local markets), and growth centers across the country.
At the press conference, the State Minister said, “Our primary goal is to ensure the optimal use of government infrastructure. By installing modern solar panels on the vacant rooftops of these institutions, we will be able to add approximately 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid and for the institutions’ own consumption. Letters containing administrative directives have already been sent to each institution regarding the discharge of their respective responsibilities.” Minister of State Mir Shahe Alam’s remarks also revealed a clear deadline for the initiative, aimed at environmental protection and the reduction of power shortages. Demonstrating a mindset focused on rapid execution, he announced that the goal is to successfully implement the entire program by January 27 of next year.
According to analysts, this swift and well-planned initiative by Minister Mir Shahe Alam will serve as a model for reducing the country’s reliance on conventional power, easing the strain on the national grid, and establishing a sustainable energy model within the public sector. This new frontier in grassroots-level power supply is expected to significantly enhance the administrative efficiency of the local administration.
Desk Report: The long-awaited foot-over bridge connecting Aftabnagar and Banasree, constructed over the Rampura Canal under the funding…
Desk Report: Md. Nurul Karim Bhuiyan, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gazipur, has set a unique example in…
Diplomatic Desk: A grand reception was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka at the capital’s Hotel Sheraton…
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As the United States builds a more resilient solar supply chain, the industry’s attention and data collection has primarily focused on factory capacity: how many gigawatts have been announced, how quickly facilities can begin production and where new manufacturing operations are located.
There is an often overlooked aspect of this process, however: What material enters the factory before the cells are produced? The answer can reveal whether a facility is performing the core processes, specifically P/N Junction, required to manufacture a solar cell or completing a limited number of steps on a product that has already undergone its most important transformation overseas.
This distinction is at the center of the growing discussion surrounding “gray wafers” and “blue wafers.” While the terms may sound highly esoteric, the issue has significant implications for domestic manufacturing policy, tax-credit eligibility, trade compliance and the credibility of the U.S. solar supply chain.
When does a wafer become a cell?
A gray wafer is an unprocessed silicon wafer, meaning it cannot generate electricity on its own. Turning it into a functioning solar cell requires a series of highly controlled manufacturing processes that alter its surface, electrical properties and performance.
Although specific production sequences vary by cell architecture, these processes typically include texturing and cleaning the wafer, junction formation, edge isolation, passivation, anti-reflective coating application, metallization and testing.
Among these steps, formation of the photovoltaic junction is particularly significant. The starting crystalline-silicon wafer may be either p-type or n-type. During cell manufacturing, a layer of the opposite conductivity type is introduced to form the junction necessary for photovoltaic operation. Depending on the cell architecture, this may be achieved through high-temperature dopant diffusion or through deposition of doped semiconductor layers. The junction creates the electric field that allows the device to separate charge carriers and convert sunlight into electricity. It is one of the defining technical transformations in solar cell manufacturing.
A blue wafer has its P/N junction already formed by the time it reaches the factory, and it has typically received the anti-reflective coating that gives it its blue appearance. While metallization and other finishing processes may still be required, the wafer already has the fundamental semiconductor structure that enables photovoltaic conversion.
This is why describing both materials simply as “wafers” can obscure an important difference. A gray wafer is a raw input to solar-cell manufacturing. A blue wafer is much closer to a partially completed solar cell.
Why process location matters
The current debate is about identifying where substantive manufacturing occurred.
A facility that imports gray wafers and performs the critical cell-making processes domestically is carrying out a different scope of manufacturing than a facility that imports blue wafers and completes only the remaining downstream steps.
Both operations may require equipment, workers and quality controls. However, they do not necessarily represent the same level of technical transformation, manufacturing value or domestic capability.
Policymakers have started evaluating whether federal incentives are supporting the development of an enduring U.S. solar manufacturing base. Incentives designed to encourage domestic solar cell production are most effective when they support the processes, equipment, engineering expertise and workforce required to transform a gray wafer into a functioning cell.
If nearly completed cells can enter the country as wafers and receive the same treatment as cells manufactured domestically from their initial stage, the market may reward finishing operations the same way it rewards more comprehensive manufacturing. Over time, that could weaken the incentive to invest in the full range of capabilities the United States offers.
Different rules may produce different answers
One reason the issue is complex is that “domestic” can mean different things under different regulatory frameworks.
Tax incentives, customs classifications, domestic content requirements, and antidumping and countervailing duty rules are governed by different statutes and administrative standards. A product’s treatment under one framework does not automatically determine its treatment under another.
For example, domestic content calculations examine where specific manufactured products and components are produced and how their costs are accounted for. Customs and trade authorities may apply separate standards when determining a product’s country of origin or whether duties apply.
In solar trade proceedings, the location where the P/N junction is formed has historically been an important factor in determining a solar cell’s origin. That reflects the technical significance of junction formation in creating a device capable of photovoltaic conversion.
The industry should therefore be careful not to rely on a single broad claim, such as “U.S.-made,” as a substitute for a process-specific compliance analysis. The relevant question is which manufacturing steps occurred in each country and how those steps are treated under the particular rule being applied.
Why this matters beyond the manufacturer
Questions about wafer processing can create risk throughout the solar value chain.
Module manufacturers rely on cell suppliers’ representations to determine product origin and calculate domestic content levels. Developers may use that information to model project economics and support eligibility for federal incentives. Tax-credit investors, lenders and insurers may evaluate the same documentation as part of project diligence.
If the underlying manufacturing process has been inaccurately described, the consequences may extend beyond the original supplier. Domestic content calculations could be challenged, expected incentives could be reduced and contracts could become the subject of disputes over pricing, indemnification or responsibility for inaccurate representations.
This does not mean every product involving imported blue wafers is necessarily noncompliant. The treatment will depend on the applicable law, the specific production process and the facts surrounding the transaction. It does mean that buyers and other stakeholders should understand precisely what they are purchasing and avoid treating all U.S.-finished cells as technically or legally equivalent.
Documentation must follow the manufacturing process
As the market matures, traceability will become as important as production capacity. A credible chain of documentation should identify the material entering the U.S. facility, where the P/N junction was formed, and which manufacturing processes were performed domestically. It should also connect those records to the finished cells and modules being supplied.
Useful diligence questions include:
These questions should become part of routine procurement rather than an exceptional audit exercise. Clear documentation protects responsible manufacturers while giving customers greater confidence in their sourcing and incentive calculations.
The industry needs process-based definitions
The blue wafer debate highlights a broader challenge for U.S. clean energy policy: Manufacturing cannot be measured solely by a factory’s address or the location of its final production step.
Effective policy must recognize where meaningful technical transformations occur. For solar cells, that requires examining the manufacturing sequence and determining where a silicon wafer acquires the characteristics that make it a photovoltaic device.
Clear, consistently applied definitions would benefit the entire market. Manufacturers would have greater certainty when making capital investments. Buyers would be better able to compare suppliers. Developers and investors could make more defensible incentive claims. Policymakers could more accurately evaluate whether public support is producing the domestic capabilities it was intended to create.
The U.S. has an opportunity to build a solar manufacturing base grounded in technical depth, operational transparency and long-term credibility. Achieving that goal requires the industry to look beyond where a product is finished and ask a more fundamental question: Where did the wafer actually become a solar cell?
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
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A parcel of about 54.2 acres at Falta Industrial Park now belongs to Websol Energy System, an India-based solar cell and module manufacturer. The West Bengal government allotted the land for a greenfield manufacturing facility. Plans there call for 4 GW of solar cells and 4 GW of solar modules. Construction is to run in two phases of 2 GW each. Its existing plant sits nearby in the Falta Special Economic Zone. That plant runs 1.2 GW of cells and 550 MW of modules today. Staying close gives the company skilled manpower and suppliers it already knows. As per the release, Websol is one of 14 ALMM-approved cell makers in India and the only one based in the east.
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Websol Energy System Ltd has been allotted a 54.20-acre land parcel at Falta Industrial Park in West Bengal by the state government for its planned greenfield solar manufacturing facility.
The proposed facility will have 4 GW each of solar cell and module manufacturing capacity, to be developed in two phases of 2 GW each.
The land allotment follows Websol’s plans to expand its manufacturing operations in West Bengal, where the company already operates a facility at the Falta Special Economic Zone.
Websol said its existing presence in West Bengal provide access to a readily available base of skilled manpower, established supplier relationships, and deep familiarity with the local ecosystem—factors expected to support faster execution than a facility built in an entirely new location.  
The proposed facility will also create a larger integrated manufacturing base for Websol in eastern India.
“When Websol entered solar manufacturing in the mid-1990s, the industry in India was still at a very early stage. Today, solar is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s energy infrastructure, and the need for strong domestic manufacturing has never been clearer,” said Sohan Lal Agarwal, Chairman & Managing Director, Websol Energy System Ltd.
“For us, this land allotment represents the next phase of a journey that began more than three decades ago in West Bengal. It allows us to build at a significantly larger scale while remaining close to an ecosystem, workforce and operating base we know well. As India expands its solar capacity, we believe manufacturing must grow alongside it, across regions and closer to demand. This project is Websol’s contribution to building that deeper domestic manufacturing base.”  
Sanjana Khaitan, Executive Director, Websol Energy System Ltd,  said the company’s focus now is execution — moving from land allotment to construction, commissioning and utilisation.
Founded in 1990, Websol Energy System produces high-efficiency solar cells and modules. The company supplies solar cells primarily within India, supporting module manufacturers in complying with Domestic Content Requirement norms, while its modules are marketed both in India and internationally.  
Its manufacturing facility, located at the Falta Special Economic Zone in West Bengal, operates with a current solar cell capacity of 1,200 MW and module capacity of 550 MW. The facility is designed to process wafers up to 210 mm, offering higher energy output and optimized land use for rooftop installations. Websol’s integrated production model, manufacturing both cells and modules in house, enhances supply chain control and flexibility to address market dynamics.  
Websol is one of only 14 ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers)-approved solar cell manufacturers in India, and the only such manufacturer based in eastern India.
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By Canary Media
Canary Media
24 September 2026
Denise Abdul-Rahman, founder and CEO of nonprofit Black Sun Light Sustainability, can list in detail the harms that the Trump administration’s shutdown of the $7 billion Solar for All program has caused the Indiana communities she serves.
About 1,000 low-income households have been denied access to low-cost solar that would have cut their electric bills by at least 20%, she said. About 200 jobs installing solar and batteries at homes, community centers, and city buildings, representing roughly $9 million a year in wages, haven’t been created. And residents of Gary, Indiana, have been denied solar-and-battery-equipped resiliency centers that could have helped them recover from a nearly two-week-long grid outage in August.
That’s why Abdul-Rahman joined a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to kill the program. Last week, a Trump-appointed federal judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island upheld that challenge, ruling that the EPA acted illegally and must let the money flow.
“We just want the Trump Administration to comply with the law,” Abdul-Rahman said. ​“We would like them to resume what has started. We’re committed to this because we truly believe it will save lives and change lives.”
Black Sun Light is one of many organizations and companies that have had to cancel work and absorb costs after the EPA terminated the $7 billion in Solar for All program in August 2025. The sweeping initiative was created by the Inflation Reduction Act to deliver more than $350 million in annual electric bill savings to more than 900,000 low-income and disadvantaged households over five years.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s decision to withhold the money has disrupted work by groups like Abdul-Rahman’s and other lawsuit plaintiffs to supply low-cost solar to low-income residents in Southern states, energy-burdened Native American communities, and state and local governments.
Zeldin claimed that the megabill passed by Republicans in Congress in July 2025 allowed the EPA to cancel Solar for All. But in last week’s order, U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy rebuffed that claim.
“Congress’s clear intent was that EPA continue to administer the already obligated SFA grants,” she wrote. The agency’s termination of the program is ​“contrary to law and in excess of its statutory authority.”
The order upheld demands from plaintiffs to vacate the EPA’s termination of the program and reinstate funding. The EPA is ​“reviewing the decision and considering options for appeal,” agency spokesperson Carolyn Holran told Canary Media in a Friday email.
Last week’s court order comes shortly after another federal court ruled that the EPA acted illegally in canceling $20 billion in funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, another Biden-era program. That initiative was meant to inject large-scale federal funding into financing for climate and clean-energy projects. The EPA is seeking a stay of that decision.
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Nick Torrey, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represented plaintiffs in the Solar for All lawsuit, said that last week’s order ​“means this $7 billion needs to flow out to communities that are struggling with skyrocketing electricity bills.”
“This is a very clear smackdown of an obviously illegal decision to cut off a very important program,” he said. ​“We want to ensure it gets up and running as quickly as possible.”
The groups represented in this lawsuit aren’t direct Solar for All grant recipients, Torrey emphasized. A U.S. Supreme Court decision last year has forced those grantees to pursue efforts to recover funding through the Court of Federal Claims, which handles contractual disputes with the federal government.
Instead, the plaintiffs in the Rhode Island case, including Black Sun Light, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, the Rhode Island Center for Justice, Solar United Neighbors, and Sunpath Solar, argue that they have been harmed by being unable to continue work and pay costs undertaken on the good faith that their grant-winning partners would have access to federal funding to reimburse them, Torrey explained.
McElroy highlighted this distinction in her order, noting that the plaintiffs in this case ​“lack any contractual relationship” with the EPA. Instead, she wrote, “[t]he sources of the rights upon which they base their claims are the APA [the federal Administrative Procedure Act] and the Constitution.”
Sunpath Solar has had to absorb burdensome costs since the EPA cut off funds the company was counting on receiving, its CEO Seth Gunning said. Sunpath has 25 employees and has installed about 500 solar systems since 2023. When the Georgia-based coalition his company is a part of was awarded a $156 million Solar for All grant, ​“we scaled our operations in preparation to do that same work for 10,000 households,” he said. ​“That meant moving our operations to a new facility, bringing on more capacity, more employees, more trucks.”
All his would-be clients have suffered too, Gunning said, by being denied the low-cost solar and battery installations they were promised. ​“Thousands of households paying $300 to $400 a month in utility bills don’t have the resources to install these systems,” he said. ​“There could be thousands of households saving hundreds of dollars a month, at a time when energy costs are inflating.”
Abdul-Rahman highlighted similar damage done in Gary, where a third of residents live below the federal poverty line, and aging housing stock and rising utility rates are squeezing household energy budgets.
“We are in an electricity affordability crisis in Indiana,” she said. Utility Northern Indiana Public Service Co., which serves Gary, is raising rates to cover rising costs to maintain aging grids and serve booming data center load, she said. New solar systems and batteries ​“could be an opportunity to strengthen our grid and make energy affordable for more people.” 

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Jeff St. John is chief reporter and policy specialist at Canary Media. He covers innovative grid technologies, rooftop solar and batteries, clean hydrogen, EV charging, and more.
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The United States passed a special solar manufacturing landmark during the second quarter of 2026; cumulative domestic production of solar PV modules reached 100 GWp-dc.
While this production landmark seemed like a distant dream just a few years ago, it now serves as a sharp wake-up call to the U.S. solar industry, with domestic solar manufacturing officially shifting from optional to essential status.
The announcement here is also in stark contrast to years of hype surrounding factories that were never built, meaningless capacity metrics being added up, and a fixation on imported data.
And it is a reminder that the U.S. solar sector should stop referring to misleading third-party capacity graphs or PR-driven ‘map pins’ – and start tracking actual production numbers to see the real market.
The 100 GW number represents modules physically produced at factories in the United States, with the analysis covering more than five decades and linked directly to bottom-up company and site-level data across hundreds of factories through to today.
This research project was done in the months leading up to the inaugural Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 conference in Austin, Texas on 22-23 September 2026, forming much of the background content for the event itself, including my opening talk at the start of the first day.
Since the early 1970’s, U.S. solar PV manufacturing has gone through repeated cycles of investment, expansion, retrenchment and reinvention. Many factories were announced but never built. Others were built but operated at very low utilization rates, changed ownership or closed before producing any meaningful volume.
The 100 GW module-production crossing therefore provides a useful point to look backwards before attention turns to the next phase of the domestic U.S. solar manufacturing build-out – tracking production metrics for ingots, wafer and cells with a similar level of scrutiny from the factory-floor level.
Figure 1: Cumulative U.S. solar PV module production reached 100 GW during Q2 2026, with more than 70% added since the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act late in 2022.
Looking back on my two-decades-plus as a solar PV market analyst, this is an article I never imagined I would write. Still less did I expect that by 2026, I would be diving deep into the factory-floor metrics of more than fifty companies across the United States—uncovering site-specific output in a furious nationwide rush to onshore an entire solar ecosystem.
Twenty years ago, during my early days at Solarbuzz, the landscape looked entirely different.Back then, my research was consumed by the entire thin-film phenomenon. I often spent my days mapping the nuances of fifteen-plus process-flow variants of CIGS panel manufacturing, an era when the U.S. was the undisputed driver of that technology.For years, U.S. solar manufacturing felt like a fascinating playground for technological learning – but not a force of global commercial significance.
My U.S. solar journey began with factory visits to the likes of Frederick and Fremont. In the intervening decades, the geographical center of manufacturing ownership radically shifted, taking me on an endless loop of flights across India, Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to track the industry’s massive wave of global commoditization.
Now, the story seems to have come full-circle, and I find myself right back where I started: returning my research focus to U.S. soil, hunting down capital expenditures, process flow variants, and true production volumes at the company level.
To be the one tracking this data, at this exact moment in history, makes the announcement of this landmark milestone all the more personal and rewarding.
The origins of U.S. PV manufacturing go back to the earliest commercial years of the solar industry in the 1970’s. Until 1985, the United States had produced and shipped about 100 MW of PV modules, accounting for almost all global sales over that period. At the peak, companies like Arco Solar and Solarex had annual production volumes in the mid-megawatt range – tiny numbers by today’s standards, but global solar production leadership status at the time.
During the 1990’s, Japan became the first country to build PV manufacturing plants at scale and with a supporting government/industry infrastructure that included companies with deep electronics and manufacturing experience. Linked directly to the first subsidized domestic solar end-market, this allowed Japanese PV module production to grow quickly, ultimately exceeding annual domestic U.S. production volumes by the end of the decade.
To capitalize on the growing U.S. market, these leading Japanese solar manufacturers began establishing localized module assembly plants directly within the United States. This overseas manufacturing strategy allowed them to minimize the logistical costs of shipping modules while navigating evolving local content preferences. This move ignited a broader trend, drawing a wave of foreign-owned companies eager to invest in and supply the expanding U.S. solar infrastructure.
Sharp established module manufacturing in Memphis, Tennessee, while Kyocera later assembled modules in San Diego. Sanyo invested upstream in ingot and wafer production in Salem, Oregon. However, U.S.-specific production volumes were modest compared with the manufacturing scale being created then across Asia as a whole.
This same theme was repeated with other international entrants. Chinese company Suntech opened a module factory in Arizona, while China Sunergy later established production in Sacramento.
Korean companies eventually became visible in the United States, with LG Electronics manufacturing modules in Huntsville, Alabama and Qcells (then branding/trading globally as Hanwha Q CELLS) beginning production in Dalton, Georgia.
Some of these operations lasted, but most were short-lived and of minimal long-term significance.
The most dramatic U.S. manufacturing cycle (before the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act at the end of 2022) came between roughly 2007 and 2012.
SolarWorld expanded its U.S. c-Si operations in Oregon, Evergreen Solar built out string ribbon production in Massachusetts, and a large group of thin-film companies attracted substantial amounts of capital.
Unisolar, Solyndra, Global Solar, MiaSole, Stion, Abound Solar and others collectively made the United States unusually thin-film-heavy during this period. The investment footprint was large, but significant production volumes failed to materialize.
Indeed, this period forms one of the most useful lessons from our 100 GW story. Capacity announcements and factory spending in the United States can dominate headlines for years without translating into sustained output.
First Solar is the major exception. Its CdTe manufacturing base in Ohio provided continuity through periods when much of the rest of U.S. module manufacturing was contracting, while recent factory builds in Alabama and Louisiana have taken domestic production volumes to significantly higher levels.
Adding up First Solar’s domestic production volumes from each of its factories in the United States, through to the end of Q2 2026, shows that approximately 39% of all solar modules ever manufactured in the United States have come from this one company.
This is an astonishing statistic—and all the more commendable given that First Solar single-handedly forged a viable thin-film alternative to the mountainous silicon-based capacity being amassed in China during this period.
Figure 2: By the end of Q2 2026, First Solar had accounted for almost 40% of all solar module production volumes accumulated since the U.S. entry into solar module manufacturing in the early 1970’s. South Korean Hanwha Solutions/Chemical’s U.S. manufacturing operations, Qcells/Q_CELLS, is the second major solar module manufacturing entity by production volumes.
For crystalline-silicon (c-Si) modules, the modern U.S. recovery began before the Inflation Reduction Act. U.S. c-Si production remained small and volatile through much of the 2010’s. The Section 201 safeguard period then encouraged a new group of module factories, including Qcells in Georgia and JinkoSolar in Florida, alongside LG Electronics, Silfab and Heliene.
The much larger paradigm shift arrived with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 and its Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit. The lucrative 7 cents-per-watt module credit provided an immediate economic windfall for domestic assembly, while First Solar’s vertically integrated thin-film operations stood uniquely positioned to sweep up the additional, highly lucrative upstream credits available
From 2023 onward, the ranks of meaningful U.S. c-Si producers expanded rapidly. Qcells aggressively scaled its Georgia platform; T1 Energy successfully ramped its newly acquired 5 GW facility (originally built by Trina Solar) in Wilmer, Texas; and Canadian Solar established a major multi-gigawatt footprint in Mesquite.
A wave of further capacity from SEG Solar, Waaree, Illuminate, Imperial Star, JinkoSolar, Silfab, and Heliene rapidly injected volume into the market, even as First Solar pushed domestic output to historic levels with its new builds in Alabama and Louisiana
It took the U.S. solar industry roughly half a century to achieve its first cumulative 100 GW of module production, yet global output is now measured in hundreds of gigawatts every single year. While this disparity emphasizes how far the dominance of global manufacturing hasbshifted away from the United States, it also highlights why the domestic expansion since 2023 is fundamentally different from the smaller, volatile cycles that preceded it.
Going forward, the true test of this expansion lies entirely in factory execution: what these new facilities will actually produce, at what utilization rates, and using which technologies and supply chains. Crucially, the ultimate question is whether the wave of capital currently being deployed into domestic cells, wafers, ingots, and upstream materials can successfully coalesce into a durable, self-sustaining manufacturing ecosystem.
Given that U.S. capacity figures have lacked any real correlation to actual manufactured products since the early 2000’s, the sector must urgently move past misleading, headline-driven ‘capacity-mismatch’ metrics across the c-Si value chain. True domestic progress can only be measured by focusing on verified production metrics within an integrated ecosystem.
I will return to these critical questions in much greater detail on September 22, when I deliver the opening address at Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 in Austin, Texas.
For now, the 100 GW milestone deserves to stand on its own. It is a landmark forged over decades of U.S. solar manufacturing history – stretching from the early days of Arco Solar and Solarex, through the thin-film boom, the Section 201 restart, and the current post-IRA surge. While the next 100 GW of domestic module production is likely to materialize within just three years, long-term success will be determined by the health of the entire ecosystem, not simply module production alone.
If the silicon-based ecosystem fails to integrate as an effective, functional unit, it will simply open the door for the next major landmark in U.S. solar history: the day First Solar reaches the 100 GW milestone entirely on its own, driven purely by its independent, domestic production volumes.
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Wow, reaching 100 GW in solar module production is a massive milestone for the U.S.! This truly highlights the strides we’re making in renewable energy. I wonder how this achievement will impact global supply chains and technology advancements in solar efficiency. Are there specific innovations you’re seeing that might emerge from this growth? wordle today
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Home » Projects » Islington Rooftop Solar Energy Scheme
London Borough of Islington
2023-2024
Economics, Energy consulting
The strategy focused on helping the borough identify the most effective ways to support local businesses in cutting costs by installing rooftop solar panels, with funding provided wholly or partially by the council.
The project was delivered as a feasibility study, providing Islington Council with an evidence base, delivery options and strategic recommendations to support future decision-making around borough-wide solar deployment. While the scheme did not progress to implementation at that stage, the work has helped inform the council’s ongoing approach to solar rollout.
The project methodology included a screening assessment to identify suitable commercial building roof spaces, stakeholder engagement activities, a techno-economic model used to assess the viability of different scheme design options including calculation of socio-economic benefits and carbon reduction impacts. The outcome was the prioritised list of viable deployment scenarios and sites that the local authority could then use to approach owners.
The screening and prioritisation process would need to consider scheme size, yield, potential off-take arrangement and scheme financial return (balancing value both to local businesses and the local authority).
Initial challenges such as mapping approach, setting criteria and KPIs for selection, and performing a thorough techno-economic evaluation were addressed. Both technical and commercial aspects were overseen, ensuring the project aligned with the client’s goals and supported a just transition for the community.
These efforts established a robust evidence base and delivery model that could support future solar deployment initiatives for the council and local businesses.
Two stakeholder engagement exercises were undertaken. The first, was a business survey to map existing energy supply characteristics and gauge interest in the scheme, and a second was a workshop designed to capture local businesses’ opinions and requirements for participation.
Site analysis was conducted along with PV array sizing, energy balance assessments, and the development of a techno-economic model to evaluate feasibility. Additionally, socio-economic and carbon impacts were assessed to support the business case.
To enable the mapping of the properties within the borough, a Geographical Information System (GIS) was used. The GIS software captured all commercial properties that had been selected based on agreed criteria. The tool kit was then used to calculate the potential array sizes for each of the buildings.
The potential array size was calculated using the available rooftop area and this was coupled with the LiDAR data to calculate the solar irradiance levels.
Energy use in buildings and PV generation are both transient as they can vary depending on factors such as time of day, weather, location, building type and working practices. In our study we highlighted how the energy balance of the system works and includes aspects such as annual consumption, annual generation, alongside energy imports and exports.
We also developed the considerations that form the business case for the Islington solar scheme split into considerations around ownership, procurement, energy sales, carbon accounting and socio-economic impacts. Our experts developed a techno-economic model, using the annual yield of the systems coupled with their capital expenditure costs, operation and replacement costs over the system’s lifespan. The modelling then calculated the cash flow for the project considering investment interest payable over the loan term and establishing the payback period for the project. A version of the TEM was delivered to the client to allow the local authority to also undertake its own assessment and adjust parameters.
We created a tool to analyse 1,198 non-council rooftops for ~25MWp solar potential in Islington, to support the development of an effective business plan that highlights savings and revenue opportunities for the local authority, while benefiting the community and building climate resilience and adaptation.
The stakeholder engagement provided valuable insight into the community’s perspectives. The business community responded positively to the proposals. Further analysis would need to determine how much of a discount on the energy bill would be required to attract building owners to participate in the scheme. The levels of discount provided by the council to local building owners will need to balance commercial viability and consumer attractiveness for the scheme.
Although the project was delivered as a feasibility study rather than progressing immediately to implementation, it provided the council with a robust evidence base, a detailed understanding of borough-wide solar potential, and clear strategic recommendations that continue to inform future renewable energy initiatives and solar rollout planning.

© 2026 Buro Happold
Buro Happold is an international, integrated consultancy of engineers, designers and advisors. For nearly 50 years, we have built an unrivalled reputation by delivering creative, value-led solutions for the benefit of people, places and planet.

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by AnnGardner Eubank
KILMARNOCK—The Kilmarnock Town Council on Monday, September 21, unanimously adopted a resolution to enter a purchase agreement with Dimension Energy for the sale of 48.4 acres behind Technology Park Drive for a solar plant facility.
According to zoning administrator Marshall Sebra, the property had been owned by the town and marketed for sale for some 20 years with no real interest from potential buyers until now. Sebra added that the negotiated price is $1,211,750.
According to Sebra, the land is zoned industrial and the buyers must adhere to….

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A business is powering up its green ambitions with a new solar project.
BPC Energy Ltd in Romsey has installed a 48-panel solar PV array at its headquarters with a £3,900 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Test Valley Borough Council.
Malcolm Henley, managing director at BPC Energy Ltd, said: “Our plan is to build an integrated system which uses the solar power to both power our facility and charge batteries for storage.
READ MORE: Southampton exhibition turns air pollution data into immersive art
BPC Energy Ltd has installed a 48-panel solar PV array at its headquarters. (Image: Test Valley Borough Council)
“We’ll then use a multi-power management station to optimise the usage of the solar and battery power.”
The company, which has operated in Romsey for 30 years, specialises in uninterrupted power systems.
It is now developing an integrated solar, battery and energy management system.
Alison Johnston, councillor responsible for climate emergency and countryside at Test Valley Borough Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see a long-standing Romsey company at the forefront of technology.”
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ZEELAND, Mich. — RWE Americas has refiled its application with the Michigan Public Service Commission for the Silver Maple Solar Farm, a $300 million, 200-megawatt project proposed across 1,900 acres of agricultural-zoned land in Zeeland and Jamestown townships.
WATCH: Silver Maple Solar Farm application refiled with Michigan regulators amid dueling lawsuits
The company withdrew its initial application before refiling with the MPSC. The refiling came after two public meetings hosted by RWE Americas, following a change in a recent court case. Ottawa County has also been added to the application as an affected local government, in addition to Zeeland and Jamestown townships.
RWE Americas spokesperson John Lamontagne stated the refiling.
The refiling triggered a state law requirement that Zeeland Township receive $50,000 in intervenor funds, intended to assist with the township’s legal costs.
The refiling also comes as RWE faces two active lawsuits connected to the project.
PRIOR COVERAGE: RWE faces pushback at Silver Maple Solar Farm public meeting held in Zeeland Township
RWE sued multiple members of the Smallegan family in Zeeland Township, claiming they violated a lease agreement and continued to block access to property that makes up roughly 30 percent of the land the solar farm would occupy. The Smallegan family’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the case, which RWE opposed. A judge denied the motion, and a bench trial is set for Oct. 8 at 11 a.m.
Zeeland Township also filed a lawsuit against RWE Americas, arguing that a state law removing local oversight of energy developments is unconstitutional. RWE subsequently filed a notice of removal from Ottawa County Circuit Court, transferring the case to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Zeeland Township has since filed to return the case to local courts.
PRIOR COVERAGE: Zeeland Township approves new data center and energy facility moratorium to protect local planning
Zeeland Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma addressed the legal fight in a statement on social media.
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A water treatment plant in South Australia (SA) has employed a containerised off-grid power system installed by SA renewable energy systems company MyEnergy Engineering, in an area with no grid connection that ensures energy needs are met, and essential water movement and filtration processes run continuously.
The system includes 99.6 kW of Jinko Solar panels, three Victron Quattro 48/15000 inverter/chargers, and a 96 kWh Pylontech battery.
Key components include six Victron SmartSolar MPPT RS450/200-TR, two Fronius Symo 20.03, a Victron Cerbo GX and Clenergy ground mounting system.
The system was tailor-made within a 20-foot insulated and airconditioned shipping container on site at MyEnergy headquarters in Adelaide, then transported to the water treatment plant location in Callington, approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Adelaide.
“The system reflects a proven approach to supplying power in locations where no suitable dwelling or infrastructure exists to house equipment,” a MyEnergy spokesperson said.
“By integrating core components, including battery storage and control systems, into a secure, transportable container, we deliver a complete, ready-to-deploy solution that reduces installation time, protects equipment and simplifies long-term maintenance.”
The project was recognised at the 2025 Master Electricians Australia Industry Excellence Awards, receiving ‘Highly Commended’ for Clean Energy Project of the Year – Commercial Project Under $1 million (USD 700,000).
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The new ESS News magazine is here!
Download your free digital copy today.
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
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“I know the AC unit is a big drain so that is optional.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A homeowner in a rural Southern area turned to Reddit’s r/SolarDIY community with a practical question: Could an off-grid solar backup system meant for long outages be built for less than $10,000?
The replies suggested that it could, but only if the plan was built around more modest backup goals, especially when it came to battery capacity and running air conditioning.
In the Reddit thread, the original poster said they have strong sun exposure where they live and are interested in backup power for resilience, not for lowering monthly electric bills. They wrote, “I want something that can allow us to run our electronics, lights, fridge, freezer, and ideally the AC unit. I know the AC unit is a big drain so that is optional.”
OP then asked the forum, “Is this a pipe dream? Can this be done? … Can I safely do this for what I’m able to spend?”
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With household consumption at about 1,500 kilowatt-hours each month, the proposed project moves quickly into costly territory if the aim is to cover everything off-grid. In the thread, one commenter said a full day of usage would ideally require “at least, 54kwh” of battery storage.
That commenter also sketched out a possible equipment mix, with about $1,000 for a 12-kilowatt inverter, roughly 7.5 kilowatts of solar based on four solid sun hours per day, and around 30 kilowatt-hours of batteries for about $4,400.
The top comment provided a more negative outlook, adding, “Off-grid, with battery backup … you’re never going to be able to achieve that with a $10k budget.”
The main challenge for OP was that whole-home backup and basic emergency backup are not the same thing. Running lights, electronics, refrigeration, and a few outlets is one target. But adding central AC, especially during an extended outage, can dramatically increase the size and cost of both the battery bank and the inverter.
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If the goal is safety and comfort rather than maintaining business as usual, a smaller battery setup, potentially closer to 20 kilowatt-hours, could make more sense than designing for full daily usage.
Still, adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. It also gives homeowners more control over when and how they use their solar power. If you want to compare options, EnergySage offers information about home battery storage, including competitive installation estimates.
If you’re thinking through similar backup-power tradeoffs, these stories look at how other homeowners handled batteries, outages, and off-grid living. 
• Homeowners said battery backups made outages easy to miss after one husband’s off-grid upgrade.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
• During a long storm outage, one home battery saved them through 48 hours without grid power.
• In Utah, Rocky Mountain Power customers could get money to install home backup systems.
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Hoymiles Microinverters Power 300 kW C&I Solar Project at Sagari Leathers in Agra  SolarQuarter
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A research team in India has compared the performance of bifacial and monofacial solar PV modules under varying albedo and climatic conditions across the country and has found that ground albedo has a strong and systematic influence.
The researchers simulated the systems across five representative Indian climate zones: hot-dry, warm-humid, composite, temperate, and cold.
“Our study goes beyond conventional energy-yield comparisons by establishing the relationship between surface albedo and bifacial gain and by integrating technical, environmental, and economic indicators,” corresponding author Mobi Mathew told pv magazine. “This provides a more comprehensive understanding of how climate and surface reflectivity jointly influence the performance and deployment potential of bifacial PV systems across India.”
Mathew said his team plans to extend the work in two directions. “The first will focus on developing empirical correlations between surface albedo and key bifacial PV performance metrics across diverse Indian climatic conditions, using a stronger empirical basis to understand the relationship between surface reflectivity and bifacial performance,” he said. “The second will extend the assessment towards an integrated energy, exergy, economic, and environmental evaluation of bifacial and monofacial PV systems under different albedo and climatic conditions.”
In the current study, the team used PVsyst to simulate 6 kW grid-connected monofacial and bifacial PV systems in five Indian cities: Jodhpur (hot and dry), Thiruvananthapuram (warm and humid), New Delhi (composite), Bengaluru (temperate), and Leh (cold). The systems used 400 W modules and the same 3 kW inverter configuration. Both systems faced south, with a mounting height of 1.5 m and row spacing of 5 m. They also used the same electrical loss assumptions: 2% module mismatch and approximately 1.5% DC wiring losses.
The researchers optimized the tilt angle for each location, ranging from 11 degrees in Thiruvananthapuram to 34 degrees in Leh. For the bifacial systems, they modeled five ground surfaces: concrete (albedo of 0.30), pavement tiles (0.33), galvanized steel (0.35), aluminum (0.85), and white paint (0.90). They simulated annual system performance using long-term synthetic weather data and assessed environmental and economic outcomes over 25 years.
Across all modeled sites and surfaces, bifacial gain ranged from 8.36% to 27.10%. Raising albedo from 0.30 to 0.90 reduced calculated lifecycle greenhouse gas intensity by approximately 10% to 14%, depending on location. The optimized bifacial configurations also had carbon payback times about 13% to 21% shorter than comparable monofacial systems, with the shortest, at 0.99 years, recorded in Leh. Under favorable high-albedo conditions, the researchers calculated a 4% to 7% reduction in the levelized cost of electricity.
“One of the most interesting findings was the strong and systematic influence of ground albedo on bifacial PV performance,” Mathew said. “We found that bifacial gain increases approximately linearly with increasing ground albedo, with every 0.10 increase in albedo producing about 2.6 percentage points of additional bifacial gain. High-reflectance surfaces such as white paint and aluminum increased annual generation by approximately 13% to 16% compared with concrete.”
Mathew added that the results showed the highest annual generation for the high-albedo bifacial configuration in Leh, reaching about 14.3 MWh per year. “These findings demonstrate that the surface surrounding a bifacial PV installation can become an important and controllable design parameter, alongside module selection and climatic conditions,” he said.
The results appear in “Performance comparison of bifacial and monofacial solar PV modules under varying albedo and climatic conditions across India,” published in Next Energy. Researchers from India’s Nehru College of Engineering & Research Center, HICCER – Hariterde International Council of Circular Economy Research, SR University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, and Saintgits College of Engineering participated in the study.

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Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
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Next2Sun is seeking fresh capital to expand its vertical bifacial Agri-PV technology
The company says demand for its dual-use solar solutions is rising, but financing conditions remain difficult
Delayed agri-PV subsidy approvals and cautious investor and bank sentiment have strained its finances, stated the management
German vertical agrivoltaics specialist Next2Sun GmbH is seeking additional capital to “ensure its continued existence” as it faces financial pressure despite a “strong” project pipeline and viable technology for the market, stated the management. 
Next2Sun said delayed subsidy approvals for agri-PV and a cautious financing environment where in investors and banks are reluctant to finance renewable energy projects, have strained its finances. It further cites a widening gap between strong demand for its vertical bifacial solar technology and limited access to growth financing.
The company said its technology is in “higher demand than ever”, but challenging capital market conditions have created significant pressure on its ability to continue scaling operations.
Next2Sun develops vertical solar PV systems on agricultural land, installing bifacial solar modules in a north-south orientation. It claims this technology generates above-average electricity in morning and evening hours when feed-in from conventional ground-mounted systems is lower, while land remains available for agricultural use.
“We have the product the market needs today. Our projects are economically viable, grid-friendly, and technically proven. We have the expertise and the project infrastructure to implement them successfully. What we need now is financing,” said Heiko Hildebrandt, CEO of Next2Sun.
In August 2026, the German company launched a share offering of up to €5 million to finance its growth (see Europe Solar PV News Snippets). However, it has only been able to reach ‘a fraction’ of the targeted volume.
According to the management, institutional financing is not available in the current market environment, hence it is now targeting private investors who can support with a minimum subscription amount of €600. It will accept the funds only if the financing volume reaches a level that ensures viable business development, it adds. The subscription period ends on September 25, 2026.
Hildebrandt warned that capital shortages could undermine companies with proven renewable energy solutions, despite strong market demand. “If we cannot raise sufficient capital in the coming days, the Next2Sun chapter will come to an end,” stated the company.
Next2Sun’s investment appeal comes amid a series of recent insolvency developments in Germany’s solar sector, including cases involving ENERPARC and BSH GmbH & Co. KG (see Solar Installer BSH GmbH & Co. KG Files For Insolvency).
TaiyangNews 2024

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Sheep under solar panels: how one northern Minnesota farm fits into the green energy push
September 23, 2026 By Mark Dorenkamp Filed Under: Livestock, Minnesota, News, Renewable Energy
A livestock producer in northern Minnesota plans to incorporate solar grazing into the operation.
Ellie Trout is a fourth-generation farmer on her family’s diversified cow-calf and sheep farm in Itasca County and says the goal is to promote green energy while keeping agricultural land in production.
“Running sheep underneath solar panels. As our state pushes for green energy and solar farms are popping up everywhere, especially my area. So with the hopes of combining agriculture and energy.”
She tells Brownfield many farms in her area have been sold or leased to solar projects.
“So the infrastructure started on that this summer and is supposed to be done this winter, so hopefully within the next year or two as these solar farms continue to pop up we can continue to try to work with them on grazing.”
Solar grazing is the practice of using sheep and occasionally other livestock to manage vegetation underneath and around utility-scale solar panels.
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | September 23, 2026
To prevent stockpiling polysilicon and its derivatives ahead of Sec. 232 tariff initiation, the Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a temporary final rule explaining how it will monitor imports.
In August, the Trump administration announced tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives under Sec. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, deeming the imports a threat to national security. Starting Dec. 4, 2026, polysilicon derivatives (wafers, cells, finished solar panels) will have a 15% tariff, and minimum import prices are set on polysilicon and each following step in the solar panel manufacturing process.
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation authorizing the Dept. of Commerce, through BIS and in coordination with Customs and Border Control (CBP), to restrict imports and prevent stockpiling of polysilicon products before Dec. 4.
Commerce has been monitoring imports to identify importers of record (IOR) that may be stockpiling and importing polysilicon products in volumes greater than their historic averages. The department is comparing post-Aug. 6 imports with the IOR’s prior weekly averages and use of affiliates.
BIS has set weekly import limits for new IORs without historical import records:
Absent Commerce approval, new IORs that exceed these import quantities will be prohibited by CBP from importing any further polysilicon products into the United States prior to Dec. 4.
There have been mixed feelings on the Sec. 232 polysilicon tariffs, but a vocal group of domestic manufacturers has welcomed the policy effort, including Qcells.
“Flooding the U.S. market with large volumes of imported products is a strategy that companies abroad have long used to undermine American manufacturers. We have repeatedly seen import volumes surge ahead of the implementation of significant U.S. trade or industrial policies, as companies seek to exploit loopholes and gain an unfair advantage before new measures take effect,” said Andy Park, Global CEO at Hanwha Qcells. “The administration is clearly aware of this pattern of imports, which is why it is taking strong and decisive action to hold importers accountable and prevent the circumvention of U.S. trade policy. These actions send an important message that attempts to exploit loopholes and circumvent the intent of U.S. policy will not be tolerated.”
Solar Power World has collected import data for the year that shows from which countries the United States is importing solar cells and panels. It does not show company names or IORs.

 

The Solar Energy Manufacturers For America (SEMA) Coalition, which is led by Corning, Hemlock, Wacker, Qcells and First Solar, released a statement:
“The SEMA Coalition applauds Commerce and CBP’s efforts to deter the stockpiling of solar products ahead of the December effective date for its Section 232 action on polysilicon. There has been evidence of stockpiling since the proclamation was issued. Today’s action signals that Commerce intends to strictly police these practices by evaluating imports against historical levels over the past year and preventing ‘fly-by-night importers’ from establishing operations solely to stockpile products.”
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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A US federal court has ordered the restoration of the $7 billion Solar for All program. US District Judge Mary S. McElroy ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not have the authority to terminate funding already awarded under the initiative. The program, created under the Biden administration, provides grants to states, tribal governments and other organizations to expand residential solar access in low-income and disadvantaged communities. A Biden-era program, the EPA had moved to it in 2025 under Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It was expected to support over 4 GW of distributed solar deployment in 5 years. The EPA had selected 60 winners and committed the funds, before terminating it. The agency was later sued by over 20 US states (see US States Sue EPA Over Ending $7 Billion Solar For All). The EPA however, can appeal against the District Judge ruling. 
Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has commissioned 101 MW DC/74.9 MW AC Kingstree West Solar Park in the US. Located in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, the project is Ingka Investments’ first utility-scale solar park developed entirely in-house, from land ownership through construction and operation. The project comprises 178,000 solar modules and is expected to generate about 186 GWh of electricity annually. Ingka Investments said it fully funded the project, while Williamsburg County is expected to receive about $7.6 million in additional property tax revenue over the project’s lifetime. With Kingstree West entering operation, Ingka Investments now operates 27 solar parks across nine countries and six renewable energy assets in the US.
Chipmaker NVIDIA is set to invest an additional $1.5 billion in SB Energy, a SoftBank-backed US power and data center infrastructure company. According to SB Energy’s amended filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding its initial public offering (IPO), NVIDIA plans to purchase Class N common stock through a private placement at the IPO price. This is in addition to its previous commitment to invest $1.5 billion in private placement. The investment would bring NVIDIA’s total commitment to SB Energy to $3 billion (see North America Solar PV News Snippets).
Apex Clean Energy has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta for its 144 MW Starling Solar project in Gonzales County, Texas. Under the agreement, Meta will receive the environmental attributes associated with the project’s electricity, including renewable energy credits. Starling Solar is expected to begin commercial operations in 2027 and will add new generation to the ERCOT grid. The project represents the seventh transaction between Apex and Meta, taking their combined portfolio to about 1.2 GW across Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Kansas and Iowa.
EQT-backed US distributed energy developer Madison Energy Infrastructure has launched a Community Infrastructure initiative to develop an additional 1 GW of distributed energy capacity across the country by 2028. Under this initiative, the company plans to mobilize up to $2 billion in capital to meet electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data center development. Madison expects its operating portfolio to exceed 1 GW later this year, while the new initiative targets another 1 GW by 2028. 
Skyline Clean Energy Fund (SCEF), a Canadian private renewable infrastructure fund managed by Skyline, has acquired a portfolio of 3,291 solar assets totaling 76 MW DC in Ontario, Canada. SCEF says this transaction increases its installed solar capacity by 83%. The acquired portfolio includes commercial, industrial and residential rooftop and ground-mounted projects operating under long-term fixed-price Feed-in Tariff and microFIT contracts with the province. SCEF’s renewable energy portfolio now comprises 3,375 solar assets and two biogas facilities, totaling 171.68 MW DC.
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This decision is becoming more common as more households add solar panels, batteries, and high-efficiency electric appliances.
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Rising heating costs prompted one Massachusetts homeowner with both an oil boiler and a mini-split heat pump to ask which system should carry most of the load.
Posting in a discussion on Reddit, the homeowner described the setup and the dilemma, writing, “We live in Massachusetts, have a oil boiler and a heat pump/mini split.” They also added, “We have a $700 utility credit from Eversource electric bill from solar overproduction,” before asking how to handle heating “with oil being so expensive.”
The overall advice was to use the heat pump for as much of the winter as it can comfortably handle and keep the oil system available for outages or the coldest stretches.
One commenter, after working through the cost comparison, summed it up, writing, “At the U.S. average electricity prices and $4.69 heating oil, the heat pump is the cheapest option down to the lowest temperature it’s rated for (just not beyond).”
Not everyone thought a national-average calculation settled the issue, though. One commenter pointed out, “Electric in MA is more like $0.34/kWh.” That matters because local power prices, insulation, equipment performance, and the outdoor temperature all affect whether the heat pump or boiler is the cheaper choice at any given time.
For homeowners trying to sort through those tradeoffs, Palmetto can help homeowners understand their HVAC options and slash their energy bills with new, efficient HVACs and heat pumps. Its Comfort Plan network can help connect people with vetted installers and efficient heating and cooling solutions for their homes.
This kind of dual-fuel decision is becoming more common as more households add solar panels, battery backup, and high-efficiency electric appliances. Heat pumps can be especially attractive because they do not generate heat the way a boiler or resistance heater does — they transfer warmth instead, which can make them far more efficient under the right conditions.
That efficiency can lead to meaningful savings, particularly when paired with rooftop solar. In this case, the homeowner’s electric credit changes the short-term equation by allowing more electricity use without immediately increasing the bill.
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To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
For people considering a larger home-energy upgrade, pairing solar panels with electric appliances can drive costs down even further. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, with potential savings of up to $10,000 on installations.
A straightforward strategy suggested in the thread was to let the heat pump take the lead when it is still running efficiently, while keeping oil ready for the times it is needed most. 
Utility pricing could further change the answer. If Eversource has a heat-pump-specific rate or discount available, that may improve the economics even more. In Massachusetts, where electricity can be expensive, programs like that may make a bigger difference than homeowners expect.
If you’re interested in upgrading but not ready to spend up front, Palmetto’s Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 50%. Palmetto Comfort Plans also include 12 years of free maintenance, which can help homeowners avoid surprise service costs while improving efficiency over time.
If you’re comparing heat pumps with oil or looking for ways to cut winter heating costs, these stories offer a closer look at the same tradeoffs. They cover upgrade costs, cold-climate performance, and backup-fuel decisions.
• Massachusetts homeowners found the pricier option might be keeping a 1950s oil system.
• In Maine, heat pumps changed the home-heating game across oil-reliant communities.
• In Minnesota, one homeowner liked the sub-zero heat pump data but still kept propane backup.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | September 22, 2026
Onyx Solar has supplied over 32,000 sq. ft of photovoltaic glass for the roof of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the museum founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson that opens to the public today in Los Angeles. The system has a peak power of 279 kW.
Courtesy Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Photo by Hufton Crow
Designed by MAD Architects under Ma Yansong, with Stantec as executive architect and Alfa-Tech as the MEP engineer, the building covers 300,000 sq. ft across a 13-acre landscaped campus. Its curved volume, with no flat facades and no right angles, rises above the ground and combines a green roof on one slope with the solar roof on the other.
“Projects like the Lucas Museum demonstrate that solar energy does not need to be added to architecture — it can become part of the architecture itself,” said Diego Cuevas, VP of Onyx Solar North America. “For Onyx Solar, participating in a project of this significance is a remarkable opportunity to show what building-integrated photovoltaics can achieve.”
Courtesy Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Photo by Hufton Crow
Spanish BIPV company Onyx Solar designed the solar system for the curved rooftop. The PV Glass panels are made of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells with a black rear finish to meet the desired aesthetic finish. Multiple tapered panels were also engineered and fabricated to follow the shape of the rooftop arrays.
The PV glass panels were integrated by electrical contractor Baker Electric, using IronRidge XR1000 profiles and clamps.
Onyx Solar is no stranger to the U.S. market. The company’s solar glass is also installed at the former headquarters of Bell Labs in New Jersey, which is featured as the office space in the Apple TV+ series Severance.
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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The US clean energy sector has gone from creating 100,000 new jobs a year to shedding nearly 40,000 in 2025, according to a report by E2.
New analysis from the US business group reveals that the country’s clean energy workforce fell by 36,949 last year as the impact of policy reversals by the Trump administration began to bite.
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E2 emphasised that its figures reveal not just a slowdown in the recent jobs boom in US clean energy subsectors such as solar, but a reversal of the trend seen in recent years of growing numbers. Last year’s drop in clean energy jobs was the first since the Covid pandemic in 2020, since when the clean energy workforce has increased significantly year-on-year.
Although the clean energy workforce is still 16% higher than 2020 levels, E2 said the sector’s run of adding 100,000 jobs “appears to be over”.
“America’s clean energy jobs boom didn’t just slow in 2025—it went into reverse. After four consecutive years of strong growth, the industry lost nearly 37,000 jobs—its first decline since the pandemic,” said Michael Timberlake, director of research for E2.
E2 said its analysis of Department of Energy data reflected the impacts of last year’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, which sought to roll back some of the tax incentives for clean energy deployment and manufacturing brought in under Joe Biden’s presidency.
E2 said the figures also echoed wider job losses in the US energy sector, whose total workforce fell by 86,000.
The organisation said clean vehicles recorded the largest percentage decline -2.4%, followed by renewable generation (-2.0%) and energy efficiency (0.9%). Energy storage and grid modernisation fared better, with jobs growing by 3%.
The losses were felt across 35 US states, but California recorded the largest drop in clean energy jobs of -3.7%. Florida saw an increase of 2.1%.
“These numbers paint a clear picture of what is happening after a year of project cancellations and federal policy attacks. When federal leaders play politics, American workers and our economy pay the price,” said Bob Keefe, executive director of E2.
E2’s full 11th annual Clean Jobs America will be published next month, providing detailed analysis of the workforce trends in each clean energy subsector.

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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed AU$25 million (US$16.7 million) to Equans Solar & Storage for a three-year programme testing construction and operations technologies across the company’s Australian solar and storage project pipeline.
The Lightspeed project will trial up to 10 technologies across five categories, including civil works, mechanical works, electrical works, operations and maintenance and digital coordination, to reduce the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar.
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The first technology to be deployed is the Nextpower Ranger, an autonomous inspection robot making its first appearance at an Australian solar farm as part of the trial.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said innovation needed to extend beyond the module itself as Australia’s renewable energy build-out scales up.
“As Australia builds the renewable energy systems needed to support net zero, innovation will play a critical role in reducing costs and improving productivity across the sector,” Miller said.
“By supporting the trial of multiple innovation projects under a single funding portfolio, we can test technologies more quickly in real-world environments and at a greater scale,” he said.
Benoit Froidurot, innovation and development director at Equans Solar & Storage, said the project positioned the company at the front of a shift toward automation in project delivery.
“Lightspeed Solar project proposed by Equans Solar & Storage and supported by ARENA is a tremendous opportunity to pioneer in emerging technologies for site construction and operations, as well as scaling up the use of automated machines and systems,” Froidurot said.
The Lightspeed funding lands against a backdrop of stalled cost reduction in Australia’s utility-scale solar sector.
An ARENA white paper published in July 2026 found the country’s weighted-average installed cost for utility-scale solar had stalled at AU$1.52 per watt, with balance-of-system costs, covering labour, civil works, grid connection and project delivery, now the dominant component of total project costs and largely resistant to reduction even as module prices continue to fall.
That paper directly named Nextpower among the companies testing advanced piling and tracking technologies under ARENA’s broader push to shift attention from cell-level gains toward how projects are actually built.
Lightspeed follows a model that ARENA has already tested at scale through Fortescue’s Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub, which trials multiple construction innovations together across Fortescue’s Pilbara sites and has produced a first milestone report alongside a dedicated report on Built Robotics’ autonomous piling technology trialled at the 190MW Cloudbreak solar PV power plant.
ARENA said Equans’ project will build on that portfolio-style approach, creating further opportunities to test, validate, and share lessons from emerging technologies across the design, build, and operation of large-scale solar projects.
The funding also sits within a broader set of ARENA programmes that target the same underlying problem from different angles. ARENA committed up to AU$105.6 million to 20 research and development projects in August 2026, aimed at reducing the cost of large-scale solar, split between cell and module technology and balance-of-system and operations costs, describing it as the agency’s largest single investment in solar PV research and development to date.
The following month, ARENA launched Launchpad, an AU$30 million programme aimed at early-stage clean energy startups, offering smaller, faster grants to companies working on construction and deployment innovations that ARENA’s larger, research-oriented funding rounds are not well suited to reach.
Both programmes are oriented around ARENA’s “30-30-30” vision, targeting 30% module efficiency, an installed solar cost of 30 cents per watt, and a LCOE below AU$20 per megawatt-hour, all by 2030.
ARENA general manager for solar, Dan Sturrock, has said Australia needs utility-scale solar generation costs to roughly halve, to around AU$25-30/MWh on an LCOE basis, to unlock the 10GW of annual capacity additions the agency judges necessary, compared with the 2-3GW currently reaching financial close each year.

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Move to localize manufacturing hampered by export curbs, lack of knowhow
India is experiencing a solar cell shortage as it moves to localize manufacturing of the entire solar value chain. © Reuters
BENGALURU — India's small and midsize solar manufacturers are grappling with an acute shortage of cells in the market just as the country is pushing for domestic manufacturing of these critical building blocks for panels, due to hurdles related to Chinese equipment imports, financing and lack of cutting-edge knowledge.

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NevadaToday
Corrado De Gasperis speaking at the Energy Solutions Forum (photo by Yasmin Barbosa)
Corrado De Gasperis speaking at the Energy Solutions Forum (photo by Yasmin Barbosa)
Corrado De Gasperis speaking at the Energy Solutions Forum (photo by Yasmin Barbosa)
Solar panels were supposed to last 25 to 30 years. Some are not lasting that long.
That is where Corrado De Gasperis began on Sept. 16, when students, faculty and community members gathered at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Joe Crowley Student Union for the first Energy Solutions Forum of the fall.
The series was founded by biochemist and philanthropist Mick Hitchcock. Those in attendance included Hitchcock, Mridul Gautam, senior vice president for research and innovation, and Christopher Jeffrey, director of the Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology. The Energy Solutions Forum has brought more than 25 speakers to campus from universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, government agencies and industry.
“It’s a great way for students and faculty in the University community to connect with outside community members and local industry members,” said Christopher Barile, a chemistry professor in the College of Science who coordinates the Energy Solutions Forum series.
De Gasperis is CEO of Comstock Inc., a Nevada company whose roots are in hard-rock silver and gold mining on the Comstock Lode. But about seven years ago, he said, the company changed direction. Today, it recovers aluminum, silver, copper, lead and glass from old solar panels and converts waste wood into low-carbon fuels.

“In one case, we’re creating a mine that never stops producing,” De Gasperis said. “In another case, we’re creating an oil well that never stops producing.”
More than a billion solar panels have been deployed in the United States and roughly eight billion worldwide, according to De Gasperis.
“Mostly the assumption was they would last 25 to 30 years,” he said. “It was a far-off problem that no one was really paying any attention to.”
Instead, De Gasperis said some panels are reaching the end of their usefulness after just 15 to 17 years. He estimates three to four million panels are already coming out of service annually in the United States, a number he expects to rise significantly as existing solar installations age.
Handling millions of panels a year on a single production line, De Gasperis said, means finishing one every seven seconds.
Much of a panel can be recovered, but separating those materials is difficult. By weight, a typical crystalline-silicon panel is roughly three-quarters glass and about 8% aluminum, with copper, silicon and traces of silver making up most of the rest. Plastic, adhesives and other materials must be removed from that glass and metal efficiently enough to make recycling economical, and fast enough to operate at scale.
Handling millions of panels a year on a single production line, De Gasperis said, means finishing one every seven seconds.
“Today we can feed a panel every six and a half seconds,” he said.
According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme, international projections suggest U.S. panel waste could roughly double depending on whether panels last their full expected lifetime or fail early.
The idea reaches beyond solar panels. De Gasperis said the Nevada Division of Minerals has approached Comstock about whether its technology could recover metals from old mine tailings around the state.
The region’s advantages are also why Barile sees the University as the right home for the series.
“The University of Nevada, Reno has been at the center of this lithium economy that we’re seeing,” he said, pointing to the region’s geothermal energy, its mining reserves and companies at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.
University Executive Vice President and Provost and former Dean of the College of Science Jeff Thompson agrees.
“Nevada is uniquely positioned to help lead these conversations,” Thompson said. “By connecting students with innovators and industry leaders, we are helping prepare the next generation of problem-solvers who will shape the future of energy and sustainability.”
For De Gasperis, we must be looking beyond whether a technology carries a green label.
“I think we have the ingredients, the raw materials to step up and become a leader, but it’s not automatic,” he said. “What’s the life cycle carbon impact, and what’s the true sustainability of the solution? If we hold ourselves to that standard, we will lead.”
That complexity is part of the reason Barile wants students in the room.

“There’s no magic bullet,” Barile said. Solar and wind may reduce dependence on fossil fuels, he explained, but they raise questions about energy storage and other challenges that cross science, engineering, economics and social issues.

“We really need people from all sorts of different skill sets to help come together, and people who are willing and able to work with many different types of people,” he said. “Those are the people who will be the most valuable in solving this problem.”
For students at the event interested in helping solve those problems, De Gasperis offered a challenge.
“The difference between an operator and a leader is (that) an operator is a reliable, trustworthy executor,” he said. “A leader drives change.”
“So the opportunity is to see a problem, to surface a blockage, a constraint, an obstacle, and shatter it.”
Coming this fall: The Energy Solutions Forum continues Oct. 7 with Sabbie Miller of University of California, Davis on decarbonizing industrial manufacturing and Nov. 18 with Taylor Wilson, Applied Nuclear Physicist and Founder, Prometheus Industries and Talos Materials, on the future of nuclear energy technologies. The series is free and open to the public, and registration is open now via Eventbrite.
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The University of Nevada, Reno honors Sept. 11 with a week of commemorative events 25 years after the tragedy
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Renewables make up for 54% of India's total 552GW installed power capacity
On a hot July afternoon this year, electricity generated from renewable energy briefly met over half of India's peak power demand – only the second time this happened. The first instance was around the same period a year ago.
While it was only briefly that power generated from solar, wind, hydro and nuclear sources collectively outstripped coal-based output, it was a milestone moment reflecting the astonishing growth of non-fossil fuels to the country's electricity mix over the last decade.
"It showed that renewable energy is no longer a marginal source sitting at the edge of the power system," Sumant Sinha, CEO of ReNew Power, one of India's largest Nasdaq-listed clean energy companies, told the BBC.
To be sure, coal-based power plants still continue to generate 70% of India's electricity on average because they run on a higher load factor, or for more hours than solar or wind. Yet, the country's push for clean energy appears to have reached a crucial inflection point.
A decade ago India's installed renewable energy capacity was barely 4GW. It now makes up 300GW or 54% of its total 552GW installed capacity, external – a target that's been achieved five years ahead of schedule.
For a nation long seen as the poster child for dirty coal dependence, this rapid transition points to a remarkable achievement in decarbonising its grid.
Yet, the gains are tempered by some serious challenges.
Electricity generated from renewable energy briefly met over half of India's peak power demand in July
Foremost among them is a shortage of grid capacity. The renewables' build out has significantly outpaced transmission infrastructure, a point of major concern for policymakers.
"In the first quarter of 2026, transmission constraints accounted for nearly two-thirds of all renewable energy curtailment at 300 gigawatt-hours (GWh)," according to Ember, a global energy think-tank.
Put simply, that means a bulk of the clean energy that was produced in India was wasted because the country's transmission lines have been dogged by missed targets, with one out of four inter-state projects facing delays of over a year.
The difficulty lies in matching the speed of generation projects with the grid build-out, says Sinha.
"Generation projects can be constructed in 18-24 months… Transmission can take much longer because they involve right-of-way, land acquisition, approvals and coordination across many agencies. It is an execution issue that becomes more important as the system gets larger," he adds.
Vibhuti Garg of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis also blames "poor planning" for the problem.
The grid was able to absorb new capacity as long as India was generating 10-15GW annually, she told the BBC. But that pace has dramatically increased, reaching a record 51GW last year, and the infrastructure is no longer able to cope.
The concentration of renewables projects in the north-western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan has also compounded the challenge of evacuating power in the face of such grid shortages.
Analysts at Ember now believe this growing mismatch between fast-moving generation projects and slower-moving transmission infrastructure, is the "most critical operational risk to the country's 2030 target of 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil electricity".
A quick solution to addressing this gap would have been to build battery storage systems at renewable pooling stations to integrate the power into the grid.
"Had that been the case, India could have stored the energy and used it during evening hours rather than wasting it," says Garg.
But storage capacity has not grown because of a huge jump in the price of batteries, raw material shortages due to the war in the Middle East and a fall in the value of the Indian currency which has jacked up financing costs for Indian companies.
"Many storage projects that were meant to come up fell through as a result," Garg adds.
Indian renewables projects are concentrated in the north-western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan
Yet, finance isn't a constraint merely for storage projects but an industry wide problem.
While ample global capital is available for green transition across the developed world, getting access to it remains a persistent struggle for Indian clean energy companies, despite the strides that the country has made in its renewables commitments.
Estimates suggest the country will require $400-$500bn to meet its 500GW renewables target by 2030, external. But currently, around 83% of India's finance for climate mitigation is sourced domestically, according to the government's economic survey. While the Paris Agreement clearly mandated developed countries to provide financial resources to the tune of $100bn annually up to 2025 to developing countries for their climate action, that money has been hard to get.
"Emerging and developing economies outside China receive only around 15% of global clean-energy investment, despite accounting for roughly two-thirds of the world's population," says Sinha.
According to him, while India does not necessarily need developed countries to finance its entire transition, help is needed in the form of cheaper loans, guarantees and protection against currency losses so that private investors are encouraged to put in more money into the space.
Plugging these critical gaps in finance, transmission infrastructure and storage will be critical given this transition is under way at a pivotal moment, say experts.
Transmission shortages are said to be the most critical operational risk to India's renewables build-up
India is the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases and facing a sharp rise in electricity demand, which has grown at a compounded rate of over 7% every year. It is expected to further accelerate with the expansion of industries like data centres and chip manufacturing.
The International Energy Agency, external predicts India's electricity demand will increase by 80% by 2035, the sharpest jump among emerging economies. It also credits the country's robust expansion of its renewables as a major contributor for slowing emissions in the developed world this year, even as energy related CO2 emissions rose more strongly in advanced economies for the first time since the 1990s.
How successful India is in achieving its targets on time will thus have an outsized impact on the world's ability to meet its climate goals.
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“It’s just the lack of communication that’s annoying me.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A U.K. homeowner ordered a solar panel system for their house and paid the deposit, but claims the company hasn’t sent anyone to do the final home inspection before installation.
Now the homeowner is asking whether they should cancel the order and go with a simpler, cheaper plug-in solar setup. 
In a thread on r/SolarUK, the buyer said a pending order was already in place for an in-roof system with 12 new solar panels, a 10kW inverter, two batteries for extra energy, and four existing rooftop panels to be reused. But after repeated calls with the company, the original poster summed up their frustration: “It’s just the lack of communication that’s annoying me.”
So the homeowner wondered whether they should pivot to a plug-in solar setup, a small panel that plugs into an outlet and doesn’t require professional installation or permits. 
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Reddit users quickly pointed out that plug-in solar is nowhere near as good as a proper full system, so it would be a major downgrade. Others emphasized that the problem isn’t the system itself, but clearly the company. 
Tools such as EnergySage can help shoppers get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes before committing.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. If that is part of your plan, EnergySage offers information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
For shoppers who want more control over the process, EnergySage also offers free tools that let homeowners curate competitive bids from local installers without sharing their contact information unless they choose to move forward with one. That can make it easier to compare professionalism, price, and system design before signing anything.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
It is also worth checking EnergySage’s solar map, which shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. Together, those resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
These stories dig into many of the same issues, from vetting solar installers to comparing rooftop options. They cover homeowners avoiding shady sales tactics, making sense of solar pricing, and checking what incentives are still available.
• A homeowner said EnergySage was instrumental in saving money after a shady installer nearly closed the deal.
• A new homeowner turned to Reddit after predatory solar calls made finding a legitimate installer harder.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
• EnergySage’s COO broke down interconnected factors behind solar costs that often confuse first-time buyers.
• In Australia, a resident flagged brazen online scam ads falsely promising free solar panels.
• A home energy expert said homeowners can still cash in on incentives for rooftop solar.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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Farmer Steve Cargil is now paid $200,000 a year for hosting a solar farm on his land
Steve Cargil's family has farmed the flat, dry land around Uvalde, a small city in southwest Texas, since 1953.
Cargil, 67, had always assumed that one of his three children would eventually take it over, the way he had from his father.
But that assumption took a hit one night in 2018 after a violent hailstorm.
Cargil and his son, Ryan, had spent months nursing crops of cabbage and onions to harvest. Then a storm rolled through and destroyed them overnight.
"I remember my son saying, 'Dad, I just don't know if I can do this. You do everything right, and we work so hard, and you come out one morning and it's all gone'," Cargil says.
Cargil's farm was at risk of ending with him, he says, with none of his three children wanting to farm full time. For years, that left him wondering what would happen to the land, and to his own retirement, since farmers rarely have a pension to fall back on.
Then in 2001 Cargil signed a deal to lease 600 acres of his land, about a quarter of the total, to a company called OCI Energy which built a vast solar farm.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a solar project would be on my farm," Cargil says. Looking back now, he calls it a blessing.
The lease, which pays Cargil $200,000 (£150,000) a year, has let him keep his farm running through a punishing drought. He has been able to concentrate his water irrigation allowance on the land he still farms, and he has stopped losing sleep over rises in the price of things such as diesel and fertiliser. "It's changed my life."
Texas, which remains the largest oil producer in the US, earlier this year overtook California to become the country's biggest generator of electricity from solar farms., external
And in March of last year, more electricity was produced by solar in Texas than from coal for the first time, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Solar farms can stretch out across the flat lands of Texas
On hot afternoons, when demand for power peaks, solar is now regularly supplying around a third of the electricity used across Texas, says Mark Stover, executive director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association.
He says that the solar boom is being driven by two main things. Firstly, it is cheap and quick to connect solar farms to Texas' power grid, which is separate to the rest of the US. Secondly, Texas has a huge and growing appetite for electricity, driven by a burgeoning population.
Between 2015 and 2025, Texas's population increased by 15.8%,, external making it one of the fastest-growing states in the nation.
"We need a whole lot of power in Texas, and we need it quickly," Stover says.
Solar has also become inexpensive. James Scott, vice president of project development at OCI, says the technology has had years of small manufacturing gains that brought the price down to the point where it is now the cheapest way to generate power in the state.
"No one would have believed that 20 years ago," Scott says.
Once a project is built, he says, the price of the electricity it produces can be fixed for decades, since the fuel, sunlight, is free.
"We'll charge you $40 a megawatt hour for the next 25 years," Scott says, adding that large buyers such as Amazon and Apple value being able to lock in a price for that long.
By contrast, new coal plants in the US produce power at nearly $90 megawatts per hour, says the Energy Information Administration.
Farmers have become central to that growth because solar developers need large stretches of flat land.
Stover says the industry is now paying out multigenerational income to families through leases that typically run 25 to 30 years and rise in value each year, letting some retire, set up family trusts, or simply keep a farm solvent.
Stover argues solar's footprint is smaller than critics assume. "The industry is utilizing less than 0.15% of Texas land," he says.
Texas is now the largest producer of solar farm power in the US
Yet solar has its opponents. In Franklin County, in northeast Texas, a small group of residents has spent the past few years fighting its growth.
BF Hicks, a local lawyer whose family has owned land in the county since the 1800s, says he watched neighbours sign 30-year leases with solar companies and bulldozers clear centuries-old oak trees near his property.
He describes a summer when smoke from burning cleared land hung over his town for weeks. "It got real personal," he says, when a solar farm was built next to his family's cemetery. His relatives have been buried here dating back two centuries.
David Truesdale, a retired federal law enforcement agent who moved to the county to get away from city life, says he became involved after learning that a neighbouring solar project would sit near his home. And that under Texan law no environmental review was required.
"We're destroying the world as we're trying to save it," Truesdale says of the land clearing he has seen. He also points to the large lithium-ion battery units installed alongside many solar farms, drawing a comparison to fires that have occasionally engulfed similar batteries in electric bikes.
"If one of those things catches fire, they go off in series, so each one will progressively cause another one to go off," he says.
Lawyer BF Hicks fights the building of new solar farms
Both men say their objections are not about politics. Franklin County is solidly conservative, but its residents helped push through one of the state's first county-level moratoriums on new solar construction, before it was later rescinded under legal pressure from developers.
Their complaints echo a broader unease that has followed solar's expansion into rural Texas – worries about visual impact, water runoff after land is cleared, and battery storage units that scorch their land.
President Trump has called solar and wind power "farmer destroying" and moved to unwind tax credits for renewable projects.
Yet Fabrizio Lee and Associates, the polling firm used by President Trump, found back in February that 68% of Republican voters believe the country needs "all forms of electricity generation, including utility solar" to keep costs down., external
Stover says he has found broad support in the Republican-controlled Texas state legislature. "There is an acceptance that these technologies bring reliability benefits to the grid," he says.
Back in Uvalde, Steve Cargil says that while he has no plans to retire any time soon, he is more positive that the farm might make it to a fifth generation after all, now that the solar farm has put a floor under its finances.
"You're better off being lucky than being smart," Cargil says, echoing something his father used to tell him. "And this was one of those cases where I was just lucky."
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Trump welcomes Xi to Washington as his trade secretary says US and China agree to extend trade truce
Residents eating garden weeds in Russian-occupied city cut off from food and water
'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia
'Proteinflation': Meet the people paying up to £100 for a bag of protein
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Orkney island welcomes first baby in more than three decades
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Inside Russia's economic unease
Clare Balding revisits the crime that shocked tennis in 1993
Follow the life-saving decisions of dedicated A&E teams
Has technology triggered a crisis in what we value?
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'RAF jet crash escape' and 'Tories to cut benefits'
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Eight US sailors assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide, Navy says
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OpenAI agent 'infiltrated' Australian government website, PM says
Residents eating garden weeds in Russian-occupied city cut off from food and water
'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia
Tories would prevent long-term jobless spending benefits on alcohol and cigarettes
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Low-income Hoosiers may be getting back $117 million in grant funding for solar panels cancelled by the federal government.
Rhode Island District Court Judge Mary McElroy ruled last week the EPA’s August 2025 termination of the $7 billion Biden-era Solar for All program was illegal and funds must be restored.
A coalition of Indiana nonprofits and the cities of Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, and Columbus had been planning solar projects for income-qualified individuals for over a year before funding was cut.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin had characterized the program as fraudulent and wasteful, writing in a social media post, “the bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive.”
Alison Becker is the program director for the Indiana Community Action Association’s Solar team, which led Indiana’s Solar for All program. She said the grant’s cancellation was unprecedented.
“It is highly unusual for a grant to be funded and then have it taken away, unless there’s some type of malfeasance, which there obviously was not here because it was done for programs throughout the country,” Becker said.
The coalition’s plans for the federal grant included community solar projects to benefit renters and homeowners unable to install panels, resilience hubs and libraries in southern Indiana, and a second phase of projects in additional cities, including Bloomington, Muncie, and South Bend.
Becker said a recent example of potential benefits of the Solar for All program is the two-week loss of power in Gary.
“If you have solar plus battery storage on a home, that home can continue to be solar powered even in the event of a long-term outage,” Becker said. “That would have provided opportunities for people to have neighbors where they could store their medicine, charge their phones, cool off, all of those types of things.”
Becker describes the coalition as “cautiously optimistic” about the future of low-income and community solar in the state.
“People are super excited for a win, excited about having the potential again, but recognizing that there could still be a long legal road ahead,” Becker said.
The EPA said Friday it is reviewing the decision and considering options for appeal.
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“Act Independently” is one of the basic creeds of journalism ethics, and we claim it proudly. The WFIU/WTIU News facilities are located on the campus of Indiana University, which does hold our broadcast license and contribute funding to our organization. However, our journalists and senior news leaders have full authority over journalistic decisions — what we decide to cover and how we tell our stories. We observe a clear boundary: Indiana University and RTVS administrators focus on running a strong and secure organization; WFIU/WTIU journalists focus on bringing you independent news you can trust.

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For lower-income group, energy efficiency better than solar power  The Malaysian Reserve
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Thailand’s solar scheme faces hurdles as low power users turned off by high cost  South China Morning Post
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China’s 22.87 Mt extrusion market faces a structural shift as 317 GW solar growth counters weak construction demand  alcircle.com
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On September 21, the Jiaxing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau of Zhejiang Province issued a public notice regarding its intention to approve the environmental impact assessment documents for the high-efficiency new-structure cell and module technological transformation project of Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd.
According to the notice, Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Zhejiang Jinko") plans to invest 179.2 million yuan to implement the high-efficiency new-structure cell and module technological transformation project within its existing factory buildings. The project will phase out outdated equipment such as texturing machines and tabbing and stringing machines, introduce advanced equipment for wet processing and patterning, and deploy digital and intelligent systems including MES, SAP, and AI, thereby achieving a comprehensive technological upgrade.
The factory undergoing this technological transformation by Zhejiang Jinko is located in Haining City, with existing capacity of 6 GW of crystalline silicon cells and 6 GW of cell modules.
After the implementation of the above technological transformation project, the existing capacity of 6 GW/a of cells and 6 GW/a of modules will be fully phased out, while the R&D activities for solar cells will be retained. The entire plant will then achieve an annual production capacity of 2.7 GW/a of high-efficiency new-structure cells and 4 GW/a of modules.
Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.
Notice: By accessing this site you agree that you will not copy or reproduce any part of its contents (including, but not limited to, single prices, graphs or news content) in any form or for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of the publisher.

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BUSINESSFIRST
INFORM : CHALLENGE : INSPIRE
Solmatix has completed a significant solar PV and battery storage installation at Donegall Pass Community Centre in Belfast, supporting the transition towards more sustainable and energy-efficient public buildings.
The installation is comprised of a 30.015kWp rooftop solar PV system comprising 69 high-performance 435W panels, a hybrid inverter and integrated battery storage.
Designed, installed and commissioned by Solmatix, the system is expected to generate approximately 21,371kWh of renewable electricity annually, which is predicted to save the council £7,000 per year. The battery storage will allow more of the electricity generated on site to be retained and used by the centre when required.
The project also includes enhanced monitoring technology, allowing the performance of individual panels to be tracked and helping the centre identify any maintenance or performance issues quickly.
The installation supports the wider direction set out in Belfast’s Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap and Local Area Energy Plan, which identify the decarbonisation of buildings and the development of a more resilient, affordable and low-carbon energy system as important priorities for the city.
Since the installation was completed earlier this year, Belfast City Council has reported that the community centre was effectively ‘off-grid’ for more than 80% of the time in the first 3 months of the project. The array is expected to help reduce carbon emissions by 13 tonnes of CO2e/KWh annually.
This project will be used as a pilot scheme to assess the viability of a move to rooftop solar for more buildings across the council estate.
Donegall Pass Community Centre provides facilities, activities and services for people and community organisations in the surrounding area. Completing the installation within an operational community facility required careful coordination between Solmatix, the centre management team and the other parties involved in the project.
Solmatix managed the technical design, equipment supply, rooftop installation, electrical works, battery integration, monitoring technology, testing and commissioning.
Neville Bell, Managing Director of Solmatix, said: “This project demonstrates how renewable energy investment can deliver practical, long-term benefits for important community facilities.
“The solar PV system will allow Donegall Pass Community Centre to generate a meaningful proportion of its electricity on site, while the battery storage helps the centre make better use of that renewable energy throughout its operating day.
“Our team worked closely with everyone involved to design and deliver a solution suited to the building and the way the centre operates. The installation combines solar generation, battery storage and detailed performance monitoring in one integrated system.
“Projects such as this show the important role public and community buildings can play in the transition to cleaner energy. We are proud to have delivered this investment at a centre which provides such valuable services to its local community.”
The rooftop array has been designed around the available south-facing roof area, with the 69 panels arranged to maximise renewable energy generation while meeting the technical and safety requirements of the building.
A generation display has also been incorporated into the project, providing a visible way for centre users and visitors to see how much renewable electricity the system is producing. Additional controls will help the centre make productive use of available solar generation, while the monitoring system provides greater oversight of the performance of the installation.
The project adds to Solmatix’s growing portfolio of public sector, education, healthcare, commercial and community-based renewable energy installations across the UK and Ireland.
Established in 2008, Solmatix has completed more than 750 installations in the last three years alone, representing approximately 39MW of renewable energy capacity.
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Farmer Steve Cargil is now paid $200,000 a year for hosting a solar farm on his land
Steve Cargil's family has farmed the flat, dry land around Uvalde, a small city in southwest Texas, since 1953.
Cargil, 67, had always assumed that one of his three children would eventually take it over, the way he had from his father.
But that assumption took a hit one night in 2018 after a violent hailstorm.
Cargil and his son, Ryan, had spent months nursing crops of cabbage and onions to harvest. Then a storm rolled through and destroyed them overnight.
"I remember my son saying, 'Dad, I just don't know if I can do this. You do everything right, and we work so hard, and you come out one morning and it's all gone'," Cargil says.
Cargil's farm was at risk of ending with him, he says, with none of his three children wanting to farm full time. For years, that left him wondering what would happen to the land, and to his own retirement, since farmers rarely have a pension to fall back on.
Then in 2001 Cargil signed a deal to lease 600 acres of his land, about a quarter of the total, to a company called OCI Energy which built a vast solar farm.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a solar project would be on my farm," Cargil says. Looking back now, he calls it a blessing.
The lease, which pays Cargil $200,000 (£150,000) a year, has let him keep his farm running through a punishing drought. He has been able to concentrate his water irrigation allowance on the land he still farms, and he has stopped losing sleep over rises in the price of things such as diesel and fertiliser. "It's changed my life."
Texas, which remains the largest oil producer in the US, earlier this year overtook California to become the country's biggest generator of electricity from solar farms., external
And in March of last year, more electricity was produced by solar in Texas than from coal for the first time, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Solar farms can stretch out across the flat lands of Texas
On hot afternoons, when demand for power peaks, solar is now regularly supplying around a third of the electricity used across Texas, says Mark Stover, executive director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association.
He says that the solar boom is being driven by two main things. Firstly, it is cheap and quick to connect solar farms to Texas' power grid, which is separate to the rest of the US. Secondly, Texas has a huge and growing appetite for electricity, driven by a burgeoning population.
Between 2015 and 2025, Texas's population increased by 15.8%,, external making it one of the fastest-growing states in the nation.
"We need a whole lot of power in Texas, and we need it quickly," Stover says.
Solar has also become inexpensive. James Scott, vice president of project development at OCI, says the technology has had years of small manufacturing gains that brought the price down to the point where it is now the cheapest way to generate power in the state.
"No one would have believed that 20 years ago," Scott says.
Once a project is built, he says, the price of the electricity it produces can be fixed for decades, since the fuel, sunlight, is free.
"We'll charge you $40 a megawatt hour for the next 25 years," Scott says, adding that large buyers such as Amazon and Apple value being able to lock in a price for that long.
By contrast, new coal plants in the US produce power at nearly $90 megawatts per hour, says the Energy Information Administration.
Farmers have become central to that growth because solar developers need large stretches of flat land.
Stover says the industry is now paying out multigenerational income to families through leases that typically run 25 to 30 years and rise in value each year, letting some retire, set up family trusts, or simply keep a farm solvent.
Stover argues solar's footprint is smaller than critics assume. "The industry is utilizing less than 0.15% of Texas land," he says.
Texas is now the largest producer of solar farm power in the US
Yet solar has its opponents. In Franklin County, in northeast Texas, a small group of residents has spent the past few years fighting its growth.
BF Hicks, a local lawyer whose family has owned land in the county since the 1800s, says he watched neighbours sign 30-year leases with solar companies and bulldozers clear centuries-old oak trees near his property.
He describes a summer when smoke from burning cleared land hung over his town for weeks. "It got real personal," he says, when a solar farm was built next to his family's cemetery. His relatives have been buried here dating back two centuries.
David Truesdale, a retired federal law enforcement agent who moved to the county to get away from city life, says he became involved after learning that a neighbouring solar project would sit near his home. And that under Texan law no environmental review was required.
"We're destroying the world as we're trying to save it," Truesdale says of the land clearing he has seen. He also points to the large lithium-ion battery units installed alongside many solar farms, drawing a comparison to fires that have occasionally engulfed similar batteries in electric bikes.
"If one of those things catches fire, they go off in series, so each one will progressively cause another one to go off," he says.
Lawyer BF Hicks fights the building of new solar farms
Both men say their objections are not about politics. Franklin County is solidly conservative, but its residents helped push through one of the state's first county-level moratoriums on new solar construction, before it was later rescinded under legal pressure from developers.
Their complaints echo a broader unease that has followed solar's expansion into rural Texas – worries about visual impact, water runoff after land is cleared, and battery storage units that scorch their land.
President Trump has called solar and wind power "farmer destroying" and moved to unwind tax credits for renewable projects.
Yet Fabrizio Lee and Associates, the polling firm used by President Trump, found back in February that 68% of Republican voters believe the country needs "all forms of electricity generation, including utility solar" to keep costs down., external
Stover says he has found broad support in the Republican-controlled Texas state legislature. "There is an acceptance that these technologies bring reliability benefits to the grid," he says.
Back in Uvalde, Steve Cargil says that while he has no plans to retire any time soon, he is more positive that the farm might make it to a fifth generation after all, now that the solar farm has put a floor under its finances.
"You're better off being lucky than being smart," Cargil says, echoing something his father used to tell him. "And this was one of those cases where I was just lucky."
Spain battles climate change on several fronts
Would you buy branded clothing from your favourite tech firm?
Why wait? Business grads buying firms to install themselves as CEO
Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC
Blood tests find high level of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory
What video footage tells us about RAF training jet crash
Trump welcomes Xi to Washington as his trade secretary says US and China agree to extend trade truce
Residents eating garden weeds in Russian-occupied city cut off from food and water
'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia
'Proteinflation': Meet the people paying up to £100 for a bag of protein
Blood tests find high level of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory
AI superpower ambitions take centre stage as Trump and Xi meet
Indians are discovering the thrill of shopping without paying
The Papers: 'RAF jet crash escape' and 'Tories to cut benefits'
Orkney island welcomes first baby in more than three decades
US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter
Inside Russia's economic unease
Clare Balding revisits the crime that shocked tennis in 1993
Follow the life-saving decisions of dedicated A&E teams
Has technology triggered a crisis in what we value?
Blood tests find high level of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory
What video footage tells us about RAF training jet crash
Burnham brands ban on football fans drinking alcohol in stands as 'discrimination'
'RAF jet crash escape' and 'Tories to cut benefits'
Eight US sailors assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide, Navy says
OpenAI agent 'infiltrated' Australian government website, PM says
Home secretary hits out at 'unacceptable' migrant landings
Tories would prevent long-term jobless spending benefits on alcohol and cigarettes
'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia
Teenagers to be offered new vocational GCSE subjects in school
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One user said the plan should work, since people already do this charge-sell-charge cycle overnight.
Photo Credit: iStock
A U.K. homeowner came across an unusually generous promotion via text: several hours of free electricity over one weekend.
This prompted the homeowner to wonder if they could take even greater advantage of the promotion with their home battery. 
On Reddit, the homeowner said they have a Sigenergy home battery system and solar panels. Their electric company, EDF Energy, occasionally runs “Power Perk” promotions where any electricity clients pull from the grid is basically free.
That upcoming weekend, the homeowner said the promotion was for 26 hours of free electricity.
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
There is also a program called SEG that pays people for their electricity if they send it back. So the homeowner questioned whether, during the free hours, they could charge their home battery to the fullest and then sell that electricity back to the grid to earn money. 
So the homeowner would charge their battery during the free hours, sell the electricity back, recharge during the free hours, and so on. 
Since the electricity going in is free and they’d get paid for the electricity going back out, they could technically be making money. 
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially if you’re pairing panels with smart tariffs and storage. Homeowners who want to compare their options can try EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. Tools such as EnergySage’s solar map show the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with solar panel incentives for each state, helping homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
One Reddit user said the plan should work, since people already do this charge-sell-charge cycle overnight. Another commenter noted a slight technical catch: the homeowner has a 12kW inverter, but their battery caps out at 4.5kW. So it’ll be hard to get near the full capacity of their system with just one battery. 
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Homeowners interested in backup power and better tariff control can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Even without exporting, households can still use these windows strategically by charging a battery, shifting appliance use, or topping up an EV while grid power is credited back. That alone can reduce bills without relying on repeated export cycles.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
These stories show other ways homeowners use solar and batteries to lower bills or earn credits, from net metering and virtual power plants to battery incentives, financing, and real-world rooftop solar payoffs.
• Across the U.S., solar export credits can cut bills when rooftop systems send power back.
• Sonnen is pushing virtual power plant links that connect home batteries to the grid.
• Some homeowners can add home backup batteries without upfront costs, easing a major barrier.
• In Connecticut, lawmakers gave home batteries a major advantage as rooftop solar incentives neared caps.
• In Australia, a homeowner’s 20kW solar setup made blackouts invisible and produced hefty bill credits.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -A debate over more solar panels on Richmond-owned buildings is heating up.
The Office of Sustainability wants to enter a deal that would place the company, Secure Solar’s panels on nearly 40 city buildings.
Some councilmembers are skeptical around contract costs and the timeline.
Councilmembers Sarah Abubaker and Kenya Gibson fear the deal is risky, bringing up questions around the hefty fee to exit the contract in the first five years.
The two also questioned the repair costs for panels, and want to ensure the buildings they are going on, are secure enough to handle the weight.
Abubaker says her concerns are around the risk put on the city, and are no way indicative in her belief in green energy.
“This is a 25-year contract. I want that to set with everybody because this is not something the city endeavors every day. And many of us will be old, gone, our children will be here, and so 25 years is a significant commitment. And to me, this is the same as entering into a marriage and we have to ask the question,” she said.
Abubaker says the fee for terminating the contract would be $28 million. Secure Solar’s CEO Anthony Smith explained it is high in the first five years of the contract, because of the tax rules around the credits being used for the panels.
He says the city does not have to pay if it does not produce any electricity.
The Government Operations committee ultimately decided to move the deal forward to the full council, but gave no recommendation.
“We’re at a crux moment where there’s a lot of concern and I would just hope that the council members place a lot of trust, word trust again, that the administration has done all the homework” Secure Solar CEO Anthony Smith said. “And yes, they have questions, but at the end of the day, you heard the CAO step up each time and say, yes, we have addressed those risk concerns.”
Councilmembers asked for a full risk assessment. The deal will be put up to a vote on Monday, September 28.
Copyright 2026 WWBT. All rights reserved.

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Posted by Louise Wilson | Sep 24, 2026 | Cameras, Lifestyle, Networking & Smart Home, Reviews | 0
The EZVIZ HB8 Lite 3K+ is a battery powered outdoor security camera that comes with a 5W solar panel. I received two cameras and two solar panels, which gave me the perfect opportunity to test one camera connected to solar and the other using its internal battery alone.
We already have our Rottweiler, who considers herself the household security department. Unfortunately, her commitment to the role is sometimes interrupted by a very important nap. The cameras provide some useful backup when our four legged security guard is off duty.
I have now had the cameras installed for approximately two to three weeks. Getting them onto the house was the easy part. Getting every setting exactly how I wanted it took more patience, plenty of walking past the cameras and, on at least one occasion, waving at one from very close range. Now that they are set up properly, however, they are working well and producing impressively clear footage during the day and at night.
Everything arrived safely packaged. My kit arrived with two HB8 Lite cameras, 2 5w Solar Panels, power cables (USB C), screw kits and quick start guides. I had what I needed to install the cameras, including the mounting hardware and drilling templates. The memory cards are normally sold seperately.
The drilling template for the camera was excellent. It removed the guesswork from marking the screw holes and made positioning the camera considerably easier. Unfortunately, there was no equivalent drilling template for the solar panel. Its mounting holes had to be measured and marked manually. It was not difficult, but after enjoying the convenience of the camera template, I felt slightly abandoned when I reached the solar panel.
One feature I particularly liked was the long cord connecting the camera and solar panel. This allowed me to position them separately, with the camera placed where it provides the best view and the panel positioned where it receives the most sunlight. That flexibility is genuinely useful because the best camera angle is not necessarily the sunniest position.
I ceiling mounted one camera and wall mounted the other. The solar panel was also wall mounted. The different mounting arrangements were straightforward and I really only needed a drill, a screwdriver, a ladder and apparently someone nearby to question my technique. I am by no means a ‘handy woman’ and I managed install just fine.

 
 
My biggest piece of advice is to read the instructions before beginning. My second piece of advice to EZVIZ is to please put those instructions in a proper booklet.
A quick start guide is included, but the more detailed information is digital. I did not enjoy trying to read a manual on a small screen while standing outside, working through the app and attempting to adjust a camera. Maybe I am showing my age, but sometimes a printed manual simply works better. It would have saved me time and probably prevented some of the initial mucking around.
Positioning is probably the biggest part of the installation. Physically attaching the cameras is easy, but choosing the right height, angle and direction is what determines how well they detect and follow someone. This is where reading the detailed guide really matters, as it explains the recommended mounting height and why people should move across the camera’s field of view rather than walk directly towards it. Had I read that first, I may have spent less time adjusting the cameras afterwards. Clearly, I need to get better at practising what I preach.
The cameras connect to a 2.4 GHz WiFi network. The initial connection was achievable, but getting the cameras to behave exactly as expected was not quite as simple. There are settings for the operating mode, Always On Video, recording intervals, wake up sensitivity, human detection, vehicle detection, detection areas, tracking, warning sounds and notifications. That is a lot to work through when you are learning as you go.
The app is an important part of the experience because it is where you view the cameras, move them around, watch recordings, change detection zones, choose recording modes and manage notifications.
There is plenty of control available, but the number of settings can also make the app feel busier than it needs to be. When a camera was not responding as expected, it was not always obvious whether I needed to change the detection type, sensitivity, recording interval, notification schedule or a setting on my phone. I spent quite a bit of time moving between menus and testing different combinations.
Initially, I had occasions where the camera detected me, sounded its warning and started tracking, but the event recording did not appear in the app straight away. It eventually arrived, so the recording had worked, but there was a noticeable delay.
I also had events where no push notification reached my phone even though notifications were enabled in the EZVIZ app. I eventually checked the settings on my android phone and found that battery management had placed the app in ‘optimised mode’. After changing it to ‘unrestricted’, my notifications began arriving properly.
At approximately 4.30 am one morning, the app notified me that one camera was offline. The warning itself was helpful, but tapping it only opened the notification information rather than taking me to somewhere useful to troubleshoot or reconnect the camera. If an app is going to wake me at 4.30 am to tell me something is wrong, it could at least point me towards fixing it. Thankfully, the camera reconnected by itself before I needed to intervene and it has not become an ongoing issue.
The app now does what I need it to do and I am receiving my notifications. The livestream is easy to access, which is useful for keeping up with every movement made by the neighbours. I may need to remind myself that it is a security camera, not the latest reality television series. I would not call it effortless, though. There is a capable system underneath it, but I think the menus and explanations could do a better job of guiding an ordinary user through the relationship between recording, detection and notifications.
The App offers various views, you can even watch both cameras from the one screen
The camera also has two way talk, but honestly, I never worked out how to use it. I am putting that down to my refusal to keep reading an online manual on a tiny screen. It remains on my list of things to work out because it would be useful for speaking to delivery drivers, unexpected visitors or anyone brave enough to ignore both the detection sounds, spotlight and the Rottweiler at the window.
I am still not completely satisfied with the positioning of my cameras. That’s a me thing, not an  EZIVIZ fault.
EZVIZ recommends installing the camera so that people move across the detection area rather than walking directly towards it. The recommended installation height is also approximately three metres. Those conditions are not always practical around a real home.
One camera overlooks a side laneway where people naturally walk along the path towards the house. I mounted it at an angle rather than pointing it directly down the path, but movement is still mainly towards the camera. I find this has impacted on some detection.
Reaching the recommended height is also difficult on a low set home. I installed the cameras at the greatest practical height available, but I may still need to adjust their angles and detection areas to ensure full detection is occurring.
The cameras provide plenty of mounting flexibility, but getting the best detection performance may require some tailoring to suit your house rather than simply attaching them to the most convenient wall.
Human detection was my biggest concern during the initial testing, however there is also vehicle detection all magically powered by AI. This is where AI is genuinely useful because it helps the camera distinguish between people, vehicles and everyday movement, rather than alerting me every time a leaf moves or a bird flies past.
The cameras responded during setup, but after installation there were occasions when someone could walk past without producing a warning sound, event recording or phone notification. At one point I had to walk very close to a camera and wave before it reacted.
Our trusty four legged friend would certainly have noticed someone walking that close, but unlike the cameras she cannot send a notification to my phone or provide video evidence afterwards. She may, however, leave an intruder with a lasting reminder that they chose the wrong house.
I confirmed that Human Shape Detection was enabled, increased the wake up sensitivity to 90, configured the detection area, enabled the warning sound and checked that notifications were scheduled for all times. Changing the video recording interval from Auto to four seconds produced a noticeable improvement. During the next normal approach, the camera detected me, sounded its warning and began following me.
The auto zoom tracking can pan to follow a person and zoom in for a closer view. It worked during my testing, although it sometimes stopped before I had moved through the entire area. That may be caused by my camera angle, the detection zone or the way I am approaching it. I am still working that one out.

AOV stands for Always On Video. It allows the camera to create time lapse style footage between events and then switch to normal speed recording when it identifies relevant movement. The idea is to provide a more complete view of what happened rather than only showing the moments after a conventional battery camera wakes up.
This was one of the settings that made a real difference to my detection experience. Reducing the AOV interval helped the camera respond more reliably, but it also demonstrated how much the recording mode can affect battery use.
The comparison between my two cameras has been one of the most interesting parts of the review.
During my early testing, as part of part of my trial and error approach while trying to improve the camera’s detection, I changed the camera without solar from Standard mode to the more demanding AOV configuration. It had approximately 60 per cent battery remaining when I did this and was completely flat within a few hours.
That sounds terrible until you add the important context. The camera was running AOV without its solar panel connected, and I had selected a frequent recording interval while testing it. This clearly drains the battery more than using the device on Standard mode.
Once the battery was depleted, taking the camera down was simple. I detached it from its fixed mounting station and charged it using the supplied USB C cable. I then returned it to Standard mode. Five days after charging, it is still sitting at 82 per cent, which I consider a good result.
The camera connected to its solar panel has been the standout. It has remained at 100 per cent for approximately two to three weeks, even though it is operating in AOV mode. So far, the panel appears to be comfortably replacing the power the camera uses.
Battery performance will naturally depend on the number of events, recording settings, WiFi strength, available sunlight and how often the live view is opened. Based on my testing, though, the solar panel has been excellent and has removed the need to keep taking that camera down for charging. Clearly, my next job is to stop testing the limits of the second battery and connect its solar panel too.
The visual clarity is excellent during both the day and night.
The camera records at up to 6MP, or 3200 by 1800, which EZVIZ describes as 3K+. The extra detail is noticeable. Faces, movement and the surrounding area are clear, which is exactly what I want from a security camera.
Night performance has been one of its strongest features. The built in spotlights illuminate the area and allow the camera to record bright colour footage. At times, the resulting video looks almost as though it was recorded during the day.
The camera also provides infrared black and white night vision when the spotlights are not required, with EZVIZ specifying a night vision distance of up to 15 metres.

The camera physically pans through 350 degrees and tilts through 80 degrees, allowing it to cover a broad area and reducing blind spots. I can control its viewing direction through the app, while its tracking function can move the camera automatically when human movement is detected.
The active defence function combines a siren with a light strobe. I like that the light coming on provides an additional visible deterrent not only improving the recording. It announces that the area is being monitored. The audible warning  makes it very clear that movement has been detected and can be heard from inside the house, even on ‘Soft’ mode, so we are also alerted in real time if home. Between the spotlight, the siren and a furry face appearing at the window, an unexpected visitor should receive a fairly clear message.
The camera supports a microSD card of up to 512GB for local storage and also offers optional EZVIZ cloud storage. I added a memory card for each camera, so I was able to record locally without relying on a cloud subscription.
Cloud storage comes at an additional cost. I like having the choice because local storage keeps ongoing costs down, while cloud storage may appeal to someone who wants recordings retained away from the camera itself.
Both the camera and solar panel carry an IP65 weather resistance rating, meaning they are designed for outdoor use and protection against dust and water jets.
Mine have been installed outside for a few weeks and have operated normally. I have not deliberately subjected them to extreme weather because I cannot control the weather and, more importantly, I am not inclined to wish for a storm purely to make this review more exciting.

Now that the EZVIZ HB8 Lite 3K+ cameras are installed, configured and sending notifications correctly, I am happy with their overall performance.
The physical installation was simple, the camera drilling template was excellent and the long solar cable gave me the flexibility to place the camera and panel where each worked best. The 3K+ footage is very clear, night vision is excellent and the bright spotlight provides both colour footage and a visible deterrent.
The solar panel has been the standout feature. Maintaining a 100 per cent battery level for approximately two to three weeks while the camera operates in AOV mode is an impressive result.
The experience was not completely effortless. Camera positioning matters, the app contains a lot of settings and reliable detection initially required experimentation. The delayed recordings, missed notifications and temporary offline event were frustrating at the time, although the notifications are now working and the camera recovered from the offline event by itself.
A proper printed manual would have made the learning process easier and probably encouraged me to explore more of the available features. Even so, now that the cameras are working as intended, they provide clear and useful coverage without requiring power cables to be run around the house.
Our furry friend remains our head of security, of course, but the EZVIZ cameras make excellent assistants. They do not become distracted by treats, afternoon naps or the occasional bird that clearly poses no threat whatsoever.
The HB8 Lite 3K+ starts at A$299.95 for a single unit, and the dual pack as reviewed is valued at A$559.95.
Thank you to EZVIZ for giving me the opportunity to test the HB8 Lite 3K+ cameras and solar panels. You can find out more about the HB8 Lite + here along with many other complimentary security options.
 
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