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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 The project will phase out outdated equipment such as texturing machines and tabbing and stringing machines, introduce advanced equipment for wet processing and patterning, and deploy digital and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.
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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."
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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.
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Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
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.
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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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China’s 22.87 Mt extrusion market faces a structural shift as 317 GW solar growth counters weak construction demand  AL Circle
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Funding Opportunities
On August 31, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) announced the Space Photovoltaics Research and Development Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) opportunity which will award up to $12 million for research and development (R&D) projects that support growing demand through lowering the cost of and expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities for solar panels in space applications. The PIA opportunity is designed to accelerate United States leadership in next-generation space-based PV and support growing demand through lowering the cost of and expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities for solar panels in space applications. University and industry research laboratories developing advanced space-applicable photovoltaic (PV) technologies or specializing in PV characterization and stress testing, as well as industry teams advancing near-commercial pilot-scale space PV solutions with testing partnerships and the capability to fly PV prototypes or panels in space, are encouraged to apply. Expected individual awards are up to $1,500,000 for Topic 1 and up to $2,000,000 for Topic 2. 
Topic Area 1: Projects will focus on the advancement of state-of-the-art, low-cost fabrication methods and the improvement of performance and durability in lab-scale PV cells. 
Topic Area 2: Projects will focus on advancing innovative manufacturing processes capable of scaling to high-volume production and demonstrating third party-validated performance of module prototypes in space or near-space environments. 
IESO and TechWerx will host an informational webinar on September 15, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the funding opportunity and the areas of focus. Register for the webinar. 
The Space PV R&D initiative is managed by TECHWERX in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization. This agreement enables TECHWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of energy solutions. 
Learn more about the Integrated Energy Systems Office and sign up for the IESO newsletter to stay current on the latest IESO news and funding opportunities.  
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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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Speakers during the inaugural session on day 1 of the TaiyangNews STC.I 2026 said India could emerge as one of the world’s top solar manufacturing hubs as capacity expands across modules, cells and upstream components
Technology shifts and electrification are expected to increase global electricity demand
Industry representatives from organizations including NSEFI and TERI said India should reduce dependence on imports for wafers and polysilicon while expanding exports beyond the US
Experts highlighted the need for stronger policy support, increased R&D, and development of solar recycling to manage future waste and create new economic opportunities
India’s solar PV market had grown exponentially over the last few years, driven mostly by the government support via policy framework as well as protectionist measures. What more does it need now to expand further, is something experts discussed over the 2-day TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2026 (STC.I 2026). The 2-day event brought together industry leaders, policymakers and technology providers in New Delhi on February 5–6 to discuss the future of solar manufacturing and innovation. With so many insightful sessions and talks spread over the 2 days, we bring you the coverage in several parts to be published over the next few days.
Here we cover the inaugural session on day 1 of the conference Solar Manufacturing in India – Reflecting on the Strategy to Solar Autonomy.
TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela officially opened the event with the launch of the TaiyangNews Market Survey Report on Solar Module Production Equipment 2026, available for free download here.   
Schmela set the tone of the conference when he said, “The buzzword is Electrostate. Even though some countries prefer to be powered by fossil fuels, the future is being electric because it means you are clean, independent and resilient. Solar, for being efficient and low-cost, is obviously the key to quickly get on to the electrification highway.”
Keynote speaker Peter Fath, Founder and CEO of RCT Solutions GmbH, echoed Schmela’s thoughts that the future of solar PV is strong as global electrification, robotics, and AI will increase electricity demand. Solar energy, being quick to deploy, efficient, and cost-effective, is well positioned to meet this demand.
Fath praised Indian solar manufacturers for their resilience and described India as a global powerhouse and a key hope for the solar industry. He sees India as emerging to take place among the top 3 solar manufacturing hubs globally. It could even become the 2^nd largest since Southeast Asia, which was previously ranked 2^nd as a region, is declining due to tariffs and the lack of a strong domestic market.
He projected that India could become the world’s 2^nd-largest solar PV manufacturing hub, with annual module capacity expected to grow from 80 GW in 2025 to 160 GW by 2030. By then, cell capacity could reach 120 GW, while wafer and polysilicon capacities may each expand to 100 GW.
While TOPCon remains the current mainstream technology, Fath advised Indian manufacturers to prepare for next-generation technologies such as back contact (BC) cells. He also encouraged companies with sufficient resources to invest in small laboratories to explore perovskite tandem technologies and develop their own intellectual property.
Fath stressed that India should expand domestic production of components like glass and cables to strengthen its role in the global clean energy value chain, especially amid improving trade conditions between India, the EU, and the US. 
At the same time, he highlighted the importance of reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing as a key future challenge for the industry.
Building on Fath’s points, National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) CEO Subrahmanyam Pulipaka stressed that even though India is taking a strategic approach to protection in the solar sector, it must now focus on long-term energy security and independence.
Pulipaka explained that while India has expanded exponentially in the module space with progress in cell production, the country continues to remain highly dependent on China for wafers (with around 2 GW domestic capacity) and has no polysilicon production of its own so far. This he described as a critical vulnerability and an unsustainable path for energy security.
Pulipaka said India should view its module overcapacity as an opportunity to expand into upstream manufacturing and global markets. He added that India is no longer a developing country in the solar industry and should position itself to compete strongly in the global market.
He welcomed the government’s budget proposal for special incentives to support machinery manufacturing in India. Pulipaka pointed out that European technology is currently being used by Chinese companies to produce solar PV machinery. Now India should collaborate with European partners for technology development and R&D. 
Referring to the proposed EU-India Free Trade Agreement touted as the “Mother of All Deals,” Pulipaka urged India to leverage it to manufacture solar PV production equipment domestically.
Picking up on Pulipaka’s thread of module overcapacity, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Director of Electricity & Renewables Alekhya Datta and Associate Researcher Aniket Tiwari emphasized that India must use its nearly 144 GW module production capacity to expand its export presence, beyond the US. 
They agreed that strengthening vertical integration is a no-brainer for the country to lower its reliance on imports for upstream components.
They noted that policy measures such as PLI, ALMM, and BCD have supported scale-up the purpose for which these were designed, but the next step is to build a complete ecosystem to ensure long-term competitiveness.
For this vertical integration to take place in a sustainable fashion, government policy support is a must. Mahesh Murthy, Group CTO of Waaree Group Murthy said manufacturers currently receive only 3 years of benefits under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, but full 5-year entitlement will work better in their interest.   
He also noted that demand for Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) modules remains limited and called for new DCR-specific projects over the next 12 months, along with faster execution of pending CPSU tenders to boost demand for Make in India products.
Stronger enforcement and compliance monitoring under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) is a must along with measures to discourage import-heavy EPC-led procurement practices, including steps to manage module imports from FTA countries, he stressed. These measures will also create more demand for Make in India modules.  
Murthy also called for advancing the implementation of ALMM List-III for solar wafer compliance from June 2028 to June 2027 to strengthen domestic manufacturing standards.
“I think increased investments in R&D, but also industry, academia, engagements need to be focused on outcomes, which are commercial outcomes, not just technical learnings and some minor improvement. We need to be looking at being future ready in terms of technology. So that’s the key,” stressed Murthy.
Speaking of technology, recycling is one such domain that offers an economic opportunity like no other. It can deal with waste challenges while also attracting investment and creating jobs, provided these are supported by the right policies, according to Ajinkya Kale the Programme Associate from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
Kale shared that India could generate 11 million tonnes of cumulative solar waste by 2047 with most likely to come from high-deployment states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. By 2047, recycling could meet up to 38% of raw material demand for India’s solar sector, representing a market opportunity of about INR 3,700 crore, and avoid 37 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
Currently, recycling is financially unviable due to high operating expenses, especially waste procurement costs, which account for almost 56% to 68% of total costs. If manufacturers supply waste modules free of cost, mechanical recycling could generate about INR 17,000 per tonne and chemical recycling about INR 15,000 per tonne compared to a loss of around INR 10,000 per tonne and INR 12,000 per tonne, respectively.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificate trading under India’s e-waste rules could help turn recycling profitable. Clear EPR targets for solar waste and expansion of eligible materials could improve project economics, said Kale.
Globally, companies such as First Solar have integrated recycling into their business models. Kale recommended that for India, stronger regulatory clarity, technology development and proactive industry participation will be essential to build a competitive and resilient solar recycling ecosystem.
Day 1 of the event also had a policy panel and an executive panel with speakers from leading companies and industry experts joined in to discuss the challenges and opportunities for India’s solar PV industrial growth. There was an interesting session on Market Overview—Supply, Demand and Price Dynamics on day 2. Here are the 10 key takeaways from this session (see India’s Defining Moment: Soaring Demand Meets Surging Supply).  
TaiyangNews will be back with this year’s 1^st Virtual Conference on Smarter Solar for Homes & Businesses on March 25, 2026. Registrations are open here. 
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EWEC says it is actively scaling Abu Dhabi’s solar capacity to more than 35 GW of solar capacity by 2035
It will also target up to 15 GW of battery storage to support the expanding solar fleet
The planned power and water system changes are expected to cut emissions by more than 45% by 2035
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), solar electricity and water supplier in Abu Dhabi, plans to expand its cumulative solar capacity to more than 35 GW by 2035, alongside up to 15 GW of battery storage.
As Abu Dhabi prepares to meet rising electricity demand, EWEC has raised its solar target to 14 GW by 2030 and more than 35 GW by 2035, compared with its earlier targets of 10 GW and 18 GW, respectively.
The company said the strategy supports the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy.
The planned expansion, it explains, will support a more than 45% reduction in carbon emissions from power and water production targeted by 2035.
“EWEC’s strategic planning ensures that our water and energy infrastructure expands substantially to power economic growth, even as total carbon emissions significantly decline,” said Mohamed Almarzooqi, Chief Assets Officer of EWEC.
EWEC said gas generation will continue to provide flexibility for variable renewable power in the near term, although its contribution is expected to decline as solar and storage capacity expands.
“We are actively procuring the utility-scale solar photovoltaic, battery storage and reverse osmosis desalination capacity required to deliver this outcome, structurally reducing the reliance of the system on gas-fired generation,” added Almarzooqi.
Among EWEC’s planned solar and storage projects is a 5.2 GW solar PV and 19 GWh battery storage project, described as the world’s first gigascale renewable energy project designed to deliver power around the clock (see UAE To Host World’s ‘1st’ Facility To Provide RE 24×7, At Scale).  
Earlier this year in May 2026, EWEC partnered Masdar to deploy over 30 GW of solar PV and over 8 GW of battery storage capacity in the UAE (see Masdar & EWEC Partner For 30 GW Solar & 8 GW Battery Storage).
TaiyangNews 2024

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Researchers from Adelaide University said facing rooftop solar panels east and west instead of north will allow Australian households to maximise their energy self-sufficiency and reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources imported from the grid.
Changing the direction panels are facing so that on-site renewable energy generation better matches the load can also reduce unwanted solar exports in the middle of the day, helping improve grid stability.
Solar panels are usually mounted facing the equator to maximise annual energy yield but researchers Kirrilie Rowe and Peter Pudney said the power generated by these systems generally do not match traditional residential loads.
“A typical residential load profile has a peak in the morning and a larger peak in the late afternoon or evening, whereas power generated by PV panels facing the equator peaks in the middle of the day,” they said, adding that “by orienting panels in different directions it is possible to minimise the shortfall between load and generation.”
The researchers analysed data from more than 70 separate dwellings and a 42-apartment building across three years. The properties are all located in South Australia which has become one of the world’s most advanced renewable energy power systems. Solar and wind supply more than 70% of the state’s annual generation and more than 54% of homes have rooftop solar installations.
The widespread adoption of PV and subsequent solar generation has reduced midday demand, but high usage persists in the morning and afternoon, creating pronounced peaks at these times.
In addition, high solar generation and exports in the middle of the day can push distribution network voltage over acceptable limits with South Australia’s distribution network service provider taking steps to limit residential PV exports to the wider grid. 
The researchers said changing the direction panels are facing is one solution to counter this characteristic ‘duck curve’ profile.
“We have shown that below around 1.4 kW for separate dwellings and 1 kW for apartments, panels facing north maximise annual self-sufficiency,” they said. “Beyond this size, optimal panel orientation is increasingly more east and west to maximise self-sufficiency.”
With most new rooftop solar installations in Australia now exceeding 10 kW, the researchers said the orientation of the panels should be considered.
“The initial panel placement to minimise shortfall is mostly north, because there is enough load in the middle of the day to use the generated power,” they said. “However, as PV size is increased, greater self-sufficiency is obtained by removing panels from the north and adding them to the northwest and northeast, and then east and west or east and northwest.”
“Optimal orientations for PV power above 1.4 kW per dwelling are never north.”
The study findings were presented in the article “Orienting PV panels to maximise self-sufficiency in residential communities,” published in ScienceDirect.
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The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market size was calculated at USD 216.04 billion in 2026 and is predicted to reach around USD 484.85 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 9.43% from 2026 to 2035. The solar photovoltaic (PV) market is driven by government incentives and policies, such as tax credits, subsidies, and renewable energy mandates. AI-powered forecasting, energy management platforms, and smart grid integration are improving solar generation efficiency and accelerating adoption worldwide.
The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market size was estimated at USD 196.94 billion in 2025 and is projected to increase from USD 216.04 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 484.85 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 9.43% from 2026 to 2035. The expansion of gigawatt-scale manufacturing and rapid shift toward renewable energy are driving the market. Government incentives and technological advancements are also contributing to market growth.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) market is experiencing significant growth driven by the growing need for clean and renewable energy around the world, the falling cost of solar modules, and government initiatives that support the production of sustainable power. Market expansion is being accelerated in both developed and emerging economies by growing investments in distributed rooftop installations, utility-scale solar projects, and energy transition programs. The performance and uptake of photovoltaic systems are being further improved by technological developments in smart grid infrastructure, energy storage integration, and high-efficiency solar cells.
Furthermore, governments, companies, and consumers are being encouraged to invest in solar energy solutions due to growing concerns about carbon emissions, energy security, and climate change. As a result, solar PV is one of the renewable energy industry’s fastest-growing segments. The demand for eco-friendly energy is encouraging clean energy developers to promote the market.
By enabling predictive maintenance, optimizing solar panel performance, and enhancing energy forecasting, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the solar photovoltaic industry. AI-powered systems improve the efficiency of solar power generation and grid integration, maximizing energy output the lower operating costs. By identifying possible equipment failures before they happen, sophisticated machine learning algorithms can reduce maintenance costs and downtime. Additionally, AI helps utilities and solar operators enhance grid stability and overall system reliability by evaluating weather patterns and electricity demand. The rapid transformation in the market is driven by the integrated AI features and other tech-influenced approaches.
Demand for Green Energy
The growing need for clean and renewable energy sources to lower carbon emissions and fight climate change is the main factor propelling the growth of the solar photovoltaic (PV) market. Solar PV systems are being widely adopted in residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications due to favorable government policies, tax incentives, renewable energy targets, and falling solar panel costs. Further propelling market expansion are rising investments in energy security programs and sustainable energy infrastructure.
Unfavorable Weather and High Cost
The intermittent nature of solar power generation, which depends on weather and sunlight availability, presents challenges for the solar photovoltaic (PV) market. Adoption may also be hampered by high initial installation costs for large-scale projects and energy storage systems, especially in developing nations. Additionally, in some regions, grid integration issues and land availability restrictions for utility-scale solar projects may impede market growth.
Tech Expansion/Integration
The integration of solar photovoltaic systems with smart grids, artificial intelligence-based energy management solutions, and cutting-edge energy storage technologies presents significant opportunities. New growth opportunities for the market are being created by the increasing use of electric vehicles, the growing need for decentralized energy systems, and the growing investments in green hydrogen production. Solar PV deployment is anticipated to present significant opportunities in emerging economies with growing electricity demand and supportive renewable energy policies.
The Monocrystalline Silicon Segment Dominate the Market in 2025
The monocrystalline silicon segment dominated the solar photovoltaic (PV) market with a major share in 2025 due to its high efficiency, superior purity, better electron mobility, and strong temperature tolerance compared with other PV technologies. The technology’s space efficiency, improved power output, and compatibility with advanced solar solutions such as bifacial panels have supported its widespread adoption across utility, commercial, and residential applications. This form of solar panel is more prevalent in solar rooftop systems and is frequently utilized for large-scale installations, whether they are residential, commercial, or industrial.
The thin film segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the projection period. This is mainly due to its lightweight design, flexibility, and favorable temperature performance. Increasing adoption in applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), portable solar systems, and vehicle-integrated solar solutions is driving demand for thin film technologies.
Why Did the Ground-Mounted Segment Held the Largest Share in 2025?
The ground-mounted segment held the largest market share in 2025 because of its suitability for large-scale solar farms and utility projects requiring high electricity generation capacity. These systems enable optimized solar tracking, better airflow, flexible tilt adjustments, and higher energy yields, making them preferred for large renewable energy installations.
The rooftop segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period, rising adoption among residential, commercial, and industrial users seeking energy independence and lower electricity costs. Integration with battery storage systems and reduced transmission losses are further increasing the attractiveness of rooftop solar installations.
The On-grid Segment Held the Largest Share of the Market in 2025
The on-grid segment dominated the solar photovoltaic (PV) market by holding the largest share in 2025. This is mainly due to its affordability, simple installation process, and ability to supply electricity directly to existing utility networks. Increasing deployment across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, supported by net metering policies and grid-connected renewable energy initiatives, strengthened its market position.
The off-grid segment is expected to grow at a rapid pace in the coming years, owing to increasing demand for decentralized energy solutions in remote areas, rural electrification projects, and industrial locations without reliable grid access. Growing adoption in telecom towers, mining sites, agriculture, and remote infrastructure is accelerating demand for standalone solar systems with battery storage.
What Made Utility the Dominant Segment in the Market in 2025?
The utility segment dominated the solar photovoltaic (PV) market with a major share in 2025, driven by the large-scale solar farm development, rising clean energy targets, and increasing investments in renewable power generation. Utility-scale PV projects benefit from power purchase agreements (PPAs), advanced grid management systems, and intelligent inverters that improve electricity reliability and grid stability.
The residential segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR in the upcoming period due to increasing homeowner interest in reducing electricity costs and adopting sustainable energy solutions. The integration of rooftop solar panels with battery storage systems, smart energy management, and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is expected to accelerate residential solar adoption.
The Asia Pacific solar photovoltaic (PV) market was exhibited at USD 74.84 billion in 2025 and is projected to be worth around USD 181.58 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 9.27% from 2026 to 2035

What Made Asia Pacific the Dominant Region in the Market in 2025?
Asia Pacific dominated the solar photovoltaic (PV) market by holding the largest share in 2025 due to rapid renewable energy expansion, large-scale solar farm development, supportive government policies, and strong manufacturing capabilities. The region benefits from the presence of major solar manufacturers such as JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. and LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., which are accelerating innovation in technologies such as n-type TOPCon and heterojunction solar cells. Increasing investments in energy storage, smart grid integration, AI-based monitoring, agrivoltaics, and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are further strengthening regional market growth.
India Market Trends
India is becoming a major contributor to the Asia Pacific market due to strong government renewable energy targets, growing solar park development, and increasing investments in domestic solar manufacturing. Expansion of rooftop solar, utility-scale projects, and initiatives supporting energy independence are accelerating solar adoption. The country’s growing focus on solar manufacturing capacity, storage integration, and decentralized energy systems is expected to support long-term market growth.

Why is North America the Fastest-Growing Region in the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market?
North America is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period due to supportive government policies, domestic solar manufacturing initiatives, and increasing adoption of rooftop and utility-scale solar systems. Programs such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), manufacturing incentives, and tax credits are encouraging investments across the solar value chain, including domestic production of cells, wafers, and modules.
The region is also witnessing rapid adoption of advanced technologies such as thin-film solar, perovskite solar cells, bifacial modules, virtual power plants, and AI-driven energy management systems. Increasing integration of solar PV with battery storage and smart grids is enhancing energy resilience and supporting market expansion.
U.S. Market Trends
The U.S. leads the North American solar photovoltaic (PV) market due to strong utility-scale solar deployment, expanding residential rooftop installations, and growing adoption of behind-the-meter battery storage systems. Increasing demand for grid resilience, renewable energy independence, and clean electricity solutions is accelerating solar adoption across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
Europe is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR in the solar photovoltaic (PV) market in the coming period. The growth is supported by increasing renewable energy targets, investments in domestic solar manufacturing, and rising demand for energy security. Countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain and France are increasingly installing and expanding rooftop solar adoption due to large utility scale projects. The region is advancing next-generation solar technologies such as tandem perovskite cells while promoting sustainable building solutions through BIPV integration. Favourable government incentives are further supporting growth of the market.
Germany Market Trends
Germany is a key contributor to the European solar photovoltaic (PV) market due to strong residential solar adoption, supportive incentive programs, and increasing demand for decentralized energy solutions. The growing popularity of balcony solar systems and rooftop PV installations is enabling urban households and renters to participate in renewable energy generation. Government support and simplified registration processes are further encouraging residential solar deployment.
How is the Middle East & Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Gaining Momentum?
The market within the Middle East & Africa (MEA) is gaining momentum due to high solar irradiation levels, government-led renewable energy investments, and diversification strategies focused on reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Large-scale solar projects, domestic manufacturing initiatives, floating photovoltaic systems, and robotic solar panel cleaning technologies are supporting regional growth.
Saudi Arabia Market Trends
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a major market due to large-scale solar park developments, strong government investment, and efforts to build domestic renewable energy supply chains. The country’s favorable solar conditions and focus on gigawatt-scale projects are accelerating solar deployment. Increasing localization initiatives are also encouraging the development of domestic solar manufacturing capabilities.
Latin America held a considerable share of the solar photovoltaic (PV) market in 2025, supported by abundant solar resources, growing renewable energy investments, and rising demand for clean electricity generation. Countries across the region, such as Brazil, Mexico, and Chile, are expanding utility-scale solar projects and distributed solar systems to improve energy security, reduce emissions, and diversify power generation sources. The governments in the region and private sectors are increasingly investing, which results in accelerated new installations of solar modules.
Brazil Market Trends
Brazil is leading the Latin American market due to strong solar potential, expanding distributed generation, and increasing investments in renewable energy infrastructure. Growth in residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar installations is supported by rising electricity demand and efforts to increase renewable energy penetration. The expansion of solar farms and the adoption of decentralized energy solutions are expected to continue driving Brazil’s solar PV market growth.
The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market is highly competitive, with leading companies focusing on manufacturing expansion, technology innovation, strategic partnerships, and vertical integration to strengthen their market position. Market participants are investing heavily in advanced PV technologies, including TOPCon, heterojunction (HJT), bifacial modules, and thin-film solar solutions, to improve energy conversion efficiency, reduce production costs, and meet rising global renewable energy demand.
Major companies shaping the solar PV market include JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Trina Solar Co., Ltd., Canadian Solar Inc., JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd., First Solar, Inc., Hanwha Solutions Corporation, Risen Energy Co., Ltd., Astronergy, and Adani Solar. These players are expanding production capacities, strengthening supply chains, and improving research and development capabilities to capture increasing demand for solar power worldwide.
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A Chinese satellite carrying prototype heterojunction photovoltaic modules made by the manufacturer JA has been placed into orbit around Earth. According to PV Tech, the independently developed and packaged p-type heterojunction modules were launched on a Kuaizhou-11 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on 17 September and reached their intended orbit.
JA described the mission as the first in-orbit test of p-type heterojunction modules, a step that could prepare the way for larger-scale use in the future. Space-based photovoltaic applications have so far been dominated by gallium-arsenide technology, which is expensive but able to tolerate the demands of space, including radiation exposure and sharp temperature changes. As the space economy is expected to grow, cost efficiency is becoming a more important factor in selecting power-generation technology for satellites, which could open the field to crystalline silicon modules if their ability to withstand harsh space conditions can be shown.
JA said it would compare in-orbit performance data with results from ground-based simulations to evaluate the long-term reliability and degradation of p-type heterojunction technology in low-Earth orbit. If the validation targets are met, the company said the programme could help speed the adoption of mature crystalline-silicon technologies as an alternative to gallium arsenide in low-Earth-orbit applications and potentially reduce the cost of satellite power systems. It could also support the development of satellite internet, remote sensing, space communications, space-based computing and other low-Earth-orbit applications.
JA chief technology officer Dr Ouyang Zi said energy innovation has long driven human progress and that, as satellite deployment accelerates and the space economy expands, solar power is expected to play a growing role in future space infrastructure. He said developing more cost-competitive solar solutions for space is therefore an important strategic priority. He added that testing in orbit is intended to assess the reliability and degradation of crystalline silicon technology in low-Earth orbit and to explore more cost-competitive options for future space energy systems, noting that the technology will require long-term validation but is a direction worth pursuing.
JA said it would treat the mission as a starting point for strengthening its module research, development and manufacturing capabilities and for advancing scalable energy solutions for space exploration and commercial space applications. The company also stressed that space photovoltaics remains at an early stage of exploration and validation. It said large-scale commercialisation remains highly uncertain, that it currently has no orders related to space photovoltaics, and that the programme has no material impact on its current operating performance.
The United States has also signalled interest in developing new photovoltaic technologies for space applications, with the Department of Energy releasing 12 million US dollars earlier this month to fund research and development of advanced space-based solar photovoltaic projects.
A panel discussion on how space solar is driving photovoltaic innovation is scheduled for the PV CellTech USA conference in San Francisco on 13-14 October.
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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.
Experiences of the pack: Vania Carter-Strauss, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
The University of Nevada, Reno honors Sept. 11 with a week of commemorative events 25 years after the tragedy
Moving science out of silos: A conversation with biochemist and philanthropist Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D.
Smoke and fire preparedness
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Perovskite PV manufacturer, GCL Perovskite, has completed an end-to-end production run on its GW-scale perovskite module manufacturing line, covering the entire process from raw-material intake to the production of large-area modules. The company said commercial module deliveries are gradually increasing as its focus shifts to production stabilization and yield ramp-up. Current priorities include improving equipment stability during continuous operation, overall line yield, and material utilization while reducing unit manufacturing costs. GCL Perovskite added that its 2 m² single-junction perovskite module has received third-party certification of IEC 61215, while its perovskite-crystalline silicon tandem module has received both IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certifications. In another development last year, GCL Perovskite led space PV module standard drafting (see China Solar PV News Snippets)
In a technology upgrade, JinkoSolar plans to invest RMB1.792 billion in its Yuanhua base in Haining, Zhejiang province. The project will retire older equipment including texturing machines and tabber-stringers, and introduce advanced wet-processing and patterning equipment, and deploy digital systems including MES, SAP and AI-based tools. According to publicly disclosed environmental impact assessment materials, the project will retire the site’s existing 6 GW crystalline silicon cells and 6 GW modules, while retaining the cell R&D functions. Following the upgrade, the facility plans to have an annual production capacity of 2.7 GW of high-efficiency “new-structure” cells and 4 GW modules. The publicly disclosed EIA materials do not explicitly identify the technology that will be used for the new cells.
Battery manufacturer, CBAK Energy, has disclosed internal test results for its 32140 NH-7Ah full-tab sodium-ion cell and outlined a conditional long-term plan for 12 GWh of annual sodium-ion battery production capacity. The planned lines will be designed to support both sodium-ion and lithium-ion cell production. The company said its NFPP cell reached 90% charge within 15 minutes, while capacity retention remained above 95% during continuous discharge at 15C. At -40°C, the cell retained 87.68% of its discharge capacity relative to its 25°C baseline. Based on internal cycle-life testing and trend analysis, CBAK Energy projects at least 10,000 life cycles under specified protocols. Customer testing of samples is underway in residential and portable energy storage systems, and two and three electric wheelers, while additional evaluations cover backup power and other applications.
EVE Energy has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Railway Beijing Engineering Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Group, with the two companies agreeing on at least 5 GWh of energy storage project over the next three years. The partnership will focus on new energy projects, energy storage applications and coordination in infrastructure development, supported by a dedicated working mechanism. China Railway Beijing Engineering Group is active in infrastructure, power, solar and EPC projects, while EVE Energy supplies energy storage cells and integrated storage systems. The companies plan to combine their engineering and storage equipment capabilities to advance related projects.
Energy China has launched its 2026 centralized procurement for PV modules, with an estimated volume of 15 GWp across 6 packages, covering EPC and self-invested projects. This year’s procurement is 2 GW smaller than its 17 GW procurement of 2025 with 8 packages. Covering TOPCon, HJT and BC module technologies, the bids are due by October 9, 2026. Here are more details:
For the two TOPCon packages, bidders must have at least 2.5 GWp of cumulative sales over the previous three years from individual contracts of 10 MWp or more.
Package 4 additionally requires at least four individual TOPCon contracts of 100 MWp or more.
The HJT packages require at least 150 MWp of cumulative sales over the same period, while the BC packages require at least 1.5 GWp of cumulative module sales across all technology types.
TaiyangNews 2024

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Scientists turned a regular camera into a much cheaper solar-panel testing tool  Digital Trends
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Solar PV drove renewable energy capacity additions in India with a record 44.6 GW, representing 87.2% YoY growth, says MNRE 
Distributed solar surged, with 16.31 GW added last fiscal, led by the PMSGMBY scheme 
Wind installations rose 45.6% to 6.05 GW, supporting overall clean capacity growth 
India added a record 55.3 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity in FY 2026 (April 2025 to March 2026), driven by a record 44.6 GW of solar PV capacity expansion. Annual solar capacity additions expanded by 87.2% over the previous year’s 23.83 GW and exceeded the targeted 24 GW. Wind installations increased by 45.6% with 6.05 GW. 
Open access commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, including those for captive consumption, also pushed annual installations to a record high. The waiver of the inter-state transmission system (ISTS) deadline on June 30, 2025, was another responsible factor, adds JMK Research & Analytics. 
The market intelligence firm adds that ground-mounted PV additions during the last fiscal year improved by 106% to around 34.8 GW, thanks to the completion of projects tendered under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) 50 GW annual bidding trajectory, which started in 2023 (see India Releases Bidding Trajectory For RE).
Distributed generation continues to expand under supportive policy frameworks. Close to 8.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity contributed to the annual total, along with 7.6 GW under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) scheme. In comparison, 3.66 GW was installed under PM KUSUM in FY 2024-25. The scheme has now been extended till March 31, 2027. 
A total of 16.31 GW of distributed solar installations recorded last fiscal is the largest annual addition in this segment to date. Rooftop solar accounted for almost 36% of the total installed capacity during the reporting year, says the ministry.
MNRE data shows that India’s cumulative installed solar PV capacity at the end of March 2026 reached 150.26 GW – the leading contributor to non-fossil-fuel generation of 283.46 GW (including 274.68 GW of renewable energy). By 2030, the target is to expand the latter to 500 GW.
Having achieved 50% of its non-fossil-fuel-based power capacity target for 2030 5 years ahead of schedule, India has now raised the target to 60% by 2035 under its Nationally Determined Contribution (see India Raises Non-Fossil Power Capacity Target To 60% By 2035).
Yet, coal continues to be the primary source of electricity generation in the country, with a 67.7% share up to March 2026, followed by solar at 9.4%. Coal will continue to lead the generation mix even in FY 2035-36 (see CEA: Solar Set To Become India’s Largest Power Source By 2035-36). 
Going forward, JMK Research projects the country will add around 53 GW to 55 GW of solar and wind capacity in FY 2027. 
India’s cumulative solar PV module manufacturing capacity also expanded from 2.3 GW in 2014 to about 172 GW as of March 31, 2026, according to the ministry, with 8 out of the 12 Production Linked Incentive (PLI) winners having launched production in the value chain. Of this, 98 GW was added during the reporting year, compared to 74 GW in the previous year. 
India’s solar module imports decreased by 3 times from $2.15 billion in FY 2025 to $758 million by January 2026. 
The country is also boosting battery energy storage system (BESS) additions, as the ministry extended the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) exemption for lithium-ion cell manufacturing to March 31, 2028. It aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported battery packs, primarily from China. The government is also backing an Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee project to develop sodium-ion battery technology as a cost-effective alternative to lithium-based storage systems. 
TaiyangNews 2024

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Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited (SWREL), a global pure-play renewable engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) provider, has secured multiple international and national orders.
In a press release, SWREL said the secured orders total more than Rs. 985 crore, including taxes. Among the orders, the company has secured a project for a 534.3 MWp solar project in Rajasthan from a leading independent power producer (IPP) in India.
The Rajasthan order is from a new customer and involves a Balance of System (BOS) package. According to SWREL, the order reaffirms the industry’s trust in the company’s project execution capabilities. The South African order is for a BESS turnkey EPC wrap project.
Additionally, SWREL has secured orders for two Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects with a combined energy storage capacity of 616 MWh in South Africa from a leading Middle East-based renewable energy project developer.
The South African order is the second-largest utility-scale BESS project to be undertaken by SWREL. The order has been placed by a repeat customer that has previously experienced SWREL’s expertise and execution capabilities, giving it the confidence to award the execution of the project to the company.
Currently, Sterling and Wilson provides EPC services for utility-scale solar, floating solar, hybrid and energy storage, and wind solutions. The company has a total portfolio of over 28.7 GWp, including projects that have been commissioned and those at various stages of construction.
SWREL also manages an operations and maintenance (O&M) portfolio of 18.3 GWp of solar power projects, including projects constructed by third parties.
Present in 28 countries, Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited has operations across India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy (SWREL) has previously secured an international project in South Africa for a turnkey EPC contract for a 240 MW AC solar project. The project was valued at approximately USD 147 million (Rs. 1,313 crore).
Additionally, the company had previously acquired three new domestic and international renewable energy projects for approximately INR 1,772 crore EPC projects.  
To further build its presence in Africa, SWREL has invested USD 34 million (approximately Rs. 317 crore) as a Parent Company Guarantee in South Africa to support its subsidiary’s solar power operations.
It provided the guarantee to Nedbank Limited as security for an additional working capital facility availed by Sterling and Wilson Engineering (Pty) Ltd., a step-down subsidiary of the company.
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Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, has started operations at Kingstree West, a 74.9 MWac (101 MWdc) photovoltaic solar park in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. 
Kingstree West is Ingka Investments’ first solar park that is fully developed in-house, starting from own land ownership and ending with a utility scale solar park. The project includes 178,000 solar modules and is expected to produce around 186 GWh of electricity each year, equal to the annual electricity use of about 15,200 South Carolina households.  
Construction has been completed according to plan. With operations now started, the site has moved from development and construction into power generation.  
– Frederik de Jong, Head of Renewable Energy at Ingka Investments
– Rob Olson, Chief Operating Officer at IKEA US
The project has been fully funded by Ingka Investments, with no added cost for the local community or ratepayers. Williamsburg County is expected to receive about $7.6 million in additional property tax revenues over the project’s life.  
When developing a solar park, Ingka Investments considers a range of factors, including access to the electricity grid, land suitability, local planning requirements, safety, environmental studies and the relationship with nearby communities. These factors are assessed before and during construction to support responsible project development, and the Kingstree West site has been carefully planned to limit impact on the natural environment and nearby communities.  
Ingka Investments is pursuing South Carolina Solar Habitat Certification for Kingstree West, a voluntary program designed to support native vegetation, pollinator-friendly habitat and biodiversity at solar farms. The project will now begin the program’s habitat establishment and management process alongside its ongoing solar operations. 
Ingka Investments owns and operates 49 wind parks across 17 countries and 27 solar parks in nine countries, producing more than 5 TWh of electricity annually. Ingka Investments currently has six renewable energy assets in operation in the US: Wind: Cameron (165 MW), Hoopeston (98 MW); Solar: Misae (240 MW/326.8 MWdc), Sage (57.6 MW/76.3MWdc), Kingstree West (74.9 MW); Battery: Cameron (16.4 MW).    
 
About Ingka Group
 With IKEA retail operations in 32 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 87% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com.
For further information, journalists and media professionals can contact us at [email protected] or by calling +46 70 993 6376. 
Facts, data points, and commitments are based on information at the time of issue and may have changed since that date.
Kingstree West solar park
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After months of investigation, the official cause of the Boyles Heights fire still remains undetermined according to the LAFD
Payton Zagacki
• 4 hours ago
After months of investigation, the cause of the Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse fire remains officially undetermined, but investigators found that the blaze started on the roof near a section of solar panels, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) announced Tuesday. 
The department’s Arson Counter-Terrorism Section completed its investigation into the June 17 fire at Lineage Logistics. The LAFD determined an “electrical event” occurred near the origin of the fire on the roof of the building, but the cause still remains undetermined. 
“Since the specific cause of that electrical event could not be conclusively established, the incident remains classified as having an undetermined cause,” the LAFD said.
The full report stated, “Due to the complexity of the solar panel system, its associated electrical equipment, and the maintenance activities being performed at the time of the fire, I am not able to eliminate them as the potential cause of the fire.”
City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said the investigation’s conclusion was unsatisfactory.
“Determining what caused the Lineage fire matters — not only for accountability, but to help ensure a disaster like this does not happen again,” she said in a statement. “But LAFD’s finding that the cause remains undetermined does nothing to alleviate what Boyle Heights residents have endured and are still carrying: months of health concerns and disruption, along with unanswered questions about whether this site can safely operate again.”
The cleanup of the food storage facility was completed earlier this month, over two months after the fire. Lineage Logistics, the owner of the storage facility, was unable to meet the city-mandated cleanup deadlines. Over the course of the cleanup, more than 4,900 complaints about rotten, sour and garbage-like scents were sent to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Air quality regulators issued 39 notices of violations from June 12 through Aug. 28, the agency said. 
Lineage Logistics filed a lawsuit against the operator of solar panels on the building’s rooftop in connection with the fire. In its lawsuit against Altus Power Inc. and contractor Pearce Services, which was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lineage claims the companies ignored safety warnings and caused the fire on the 500,000-square-foot warehouse rooftop.
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A representative of Los Palos Street Operating, a subsidiary of Altus, issued a statement saying the lawsuit was an attempt by Lineage to deflect responsibility for the blaze at the 500,000-square-foot facility that burned for eight days.
“Lineage’s statement is riddled with misinformation in a blatant attempt to deflect blame for their role in this matter, including any damage caused by the release of substances from the warehouse, not the solar panel,” according to the statement.
The LAFD’s completed investigation does not identify a specific party as responsible for the electrical event.
“The Department’s thoughts remain with all those impacted by this deeply tragic incident,” Arson and Fire Investigation Chief Thomas Raymond said Tuesday.
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Calibration turns infrared images into measurements of solar cell quality.
A camera sold for infrared photography can also measure how well a solar cell works.
Researchers in Germany have shown that, with a filter and careful calibration, a commercially available camera can capture the faint light solar cells emit under an applied voltage and turn it into data about their quality.
The team from the University of Stuttgart, Research Center Jülich, and Solarzentrum Stuttgart conducted the research.
They aimed to make a quantitative measurement usually performed with a costly industrial camera using more accessible equipment.
When electricity is applied to a solar cell, it emits light in the infrared. This process, called electroluminescence, can reveal quality differences across a cell or module that would not be visible in an ordinary photograph.
Researchers use a measure called electroluminescent quantum efficiency to assess that emission. It is directly related to the cell’s voltage. In general, a higher value indicates a better-performing solar cell.
An image alone, however, does not provide a reliable efficiency measurement. The camera’s response to light must be understood and calibrated so that the brightness recorded in each part of the image can be translated into a quantitative result.
“An electroluminescence image contains much more quantitative information than simply showing bright and dark regions,” said Werner. 
“With a suitable physical camera model and calibration, it can provide absolute luminescent quantum efficiency and, therefore, information about the local quality of a solar cell or module,” he added.
The camera used in the study was already suited to infrared imaging because it lacked the internal infrared-blocking film found in most commercial cameras. Cameras modified this way are also used to photograph the night sky and produce artistic infrared images.
The researchers placed a long-pass filter in front of the camera’s lens to reduce visible background light. 
This allowed the camera to record the solar cell’s infrared emission more clearly. They then used a physical model of the camera’s response and calibration to analyze the image’s brightness.
“Our approach shows that even a relatively inexpensive consumer camera can provide quantitative results when its physical response is properly modeled and calibrated,” said author Jürgen Werner.
The result suggests that the equipment needed to capture an image is only part of the measurement. Knowing how the camera responds to the light it receives is what makes it possible to extract a meaningful value from that image.
The researchers now plan to use the calibrated camera on other solar cells and modules. They want to measure both their quantum efficiencies and open-circuit voltages, which have not yet been characterized.
“Our next step is to use the calibrated camera to determine quantum efficiencies and open-circuit voltages of further, previously uncharacterized solar cells and modules,” Werner said. 
“The same model should also be applicable to photoluminescence measurements and potentially to measurements performed in daylight,” he added. 
Those applications remain future work. For now, the study shows how a modified commercial camera, paired with a filter and calibration, can produce quantitative information about solar cell quality.
The study was published in The Journal of Applied Physics. 
Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.
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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?
By Sekhar Tatineni, Vice President of Technology, ES Foundry

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Save hundreds on top-rated Ecoflow portable power stations, bundles and solar panels with these early Prime Day deals.
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September 23, 2026, 4:53 pm ET
Save up to 57%: Right now, EcoFlow is offering up to a massive 57% off on its portable power stations, bundles and whole home backup systems thanks to early Prime Day discounts. These deals are available now and last until Oct. 5. You can find them at EcoFlow’s website and its Amazon storefront. With these discounts, you can grab an EcoFlow portable power station for as little as $149 before the Prime Day rush.
Of note, you need to get a free EcoFlow membership to access the biggest discounts directly on the EcoFlow website. Its Amazon storefront lists discounts as well, and for Prime members who’ll enjoy free delivery, this may be the best bet.
Save up to 57% off
With these deals, you can grab the Delta Pro Ultra backup system for $5,999 at Amazon, down from $8,799. This saves you $2,800 and amounts to 36% off a whole-house generator and extra battery that provides up to 7,200 watts of power. EcoFlow designed the Delta Pro Ultra to store up to 30 days of power when used with the right settings. 
If you prefer a smaller bundle, this EF EcoFlow Delta 3 classic solar generator and 220-watt solar panel is on sale for $699 right now, which saves you $400. The Delta 3 classic solar generator delivers 1,800 watts of power when used as-is, and a maximum of 3,600 watts with X-Boost technology. The included solar panel is perfect for charging the Delta 3 while camping, during road trips or in inclement weather. You’ll get six ports, including USB and AC ports, perfect for tech devices or home appliances.
Shoppers who need more compact options aren’t left out of EcoFlow’s discounts. Right now, you can grab the Trail 300 portable power station for $149 at Amazon. You’ll save $50 on this light, compact 300-watt portable power station. The Trail 300 can be recharged with a USB-C cable, a generator, a solar panel or a car, and it has five ports.
Travelers and folks on the go can also nab power banks such as the 170-watt Rapid power bank for $86 at EcoFlow. This saves you $23 on a power bank that can charge your laptops, tablets and other devices. 
EcoFlow is also offering massive price cuts on accessories and batteries that are perfect for boosting power on any equipment you already own. For example, you can grab two extra batteries for your Glacier Classic cooler for $299 right now, which saves you $300 over the usual price.
Stock might vary, and it’s a good idea to compare prices on both sites before buying. Additionally, bundles might arrive in separate shipments. EcoFlow is offering free shipping on all orders within the continental US. (The company doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.)
If you want to compare what’s out there, check out our roundup of the best portable power stations, as tested by CNET.
Bluetti also makes excellent portable power stations, including the Elite 100 V2 portable power station, currently $300 off at Amazon. This brings the price down to $499 on a portable power station with 11 ports.
If you need enough juice to power an RV, check out the Bluetti Elite 300 solar generator bundled with a 500-watt solar panel for $1,900 at Amazon. This is a price cut of $899 and represents a discount of 32%. Not only will you get 11 ports, you’ll also be able to use solar power to recharge the generator even when you’re off the grid.
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India’s solar sector is confronting an unexpected shift: while photovoltaic modules are lasting longer than ever, they may be losing economic relevance much sooner.
For years, a 25-year performance warranty has been central to solar project economics. Developers typically assumed that once installed, a module would deliver steady output with gradual degradation over decades. But rapid advances in technology are beginning to challenge that assumption.
Industry experts now point to what is being described as a “solar shelf-life” problem where modules remain functional but are no longer the most efficient or cost-effective option for the same asset base.
This shift comes at a time when India’s solar market is expanding aggressively. The country’s installed solar capacity has crossed 160 GW, supported by policy interventions such as the PM Surya Ghar rooftop scheme and domestic manufacturing mandates under ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers). However, a mismatch persists: module manufacturing capacity has scaled up rapidly, while domestic cell production remains limited, affecting supply chains and pricing.
At the same time, technology cycles are accelerating. The industry has moved from multi-crystalline to mono-PERC and now toward n-type technologies such as TOPCon, with efficiencies reaching 22–24% globally. Bifacial modules, once considered premium, now dominate installations.
“The pace of change means developers are no longer comparing a module only to its past performance, but to what’s available in the market today,” said a senior analyst at a renewable energy consultancy. “A plant built five years ago may still be operating well, but it could be significantly underperforming compared to new installations.”
This has implications for both utility-scale and rooftop segments. In large solar parks, where land and grid infrastructure are already secured, replacing modules, a process known as repowering is becoming economically viable. With module prices having fallen by nearly 90–95% over the past decade, upgrading systems without rebuilding entire plants is increasingly feasible.
However, the equation is different for residential consumers. Despite the push from schemes like PM Surya Ghar, rooftop adoption still faces barriers including high upfront costs, limited financing options, and low consumer awareness. For households, replacing modules prematurely may not be financially attractive due to installation and labour costs.
Another emerging challenge is how developers assess long-term value. Traditionally, procurement decisions focused on cost per watt. But industry participants say the focus is shifting toward metrics such as levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), degradation rates, and energy yield.
“There is a growing realisation that the cheapest module is not necessarily the best investment,” said an EPC contractor involved in utility-scale projects. “Performance over time and compatibility with future upgrades are becoming critical.”
Yet, the rapid turnover of technology also introduces risks. Newer cell architectures, while more efficient, have limited long-term field data. Concerns around degradation, UV stability, and performance in India’s diverse climatic conditions remain areas of scrutiny.
There is also a downstream implication. If modules are replaced earlier than expected, India could face a surge in solar waste. The country currently lacks a robust ecosystem for large-scale recycling and reuse, a gap that could widen as installations grow.
Looking ahead, industry observers say solar projects may need to be designed not as static assets but as evolving platforms. Developers are beginning to consider “repowering readiness” ensuring that mounting structures, inverters, and grid connections can accommodate future upgrades.
The shift marks a broader transition in how solar assets are valued. The question is no longer just how long a module will last, but whether it will remain economically optimal over its lifetime.
As one analyst put it, “In today’s solar market, the risk is not that a module stops working, it’s that something better arrives much sooner.”
 The Author of this article is – Dushyant Kumar, PV Quality Manager, AXITEC Energy India Pvt. Ltd, leading solar module manufacturer
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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Perovskite-based solar cells are inching closer to market viability with the help of researchers at The University of Toledo.
As this promising thin-film photovoltaic technology now bests the silicon-based cells that are the industry standard in some categories, physicists are chipping away at the categories where it still lags. Three such researchers at UToledo’s Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization recently lent expert insights to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Materials, part of the prestigious Nature Portfolio, which breaks ground in improving the ability of these solar cells to withstand rain and other real-world environmental conditions.
From left, the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization’s Dr. Yanfa Yan, Dr. Jiahao Xie and Dr. Xiaoming Wang lent expert insights to research published in the journal Nature Materials.
“The best perovskite solar cells contain lead, which is highly toxic and can harm health and the environment,” said UToledo’s Dr. Jiahao Xie, a postdoctoral researcher who shares first-author credit with collaborators at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies. “Tin perovskites are the leading lead-free alternative, but their drawback is that tin oxidizes easily in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Our research is significant because it supports a solution to this central challenge for tin-perovskite photovoltaics.”
UToledo is a leader in the research and development of thin-film photovoltaic technology, including cells that rely on the category of compound materials known as perovskites. Perovskite photovoltaics have long attracted researchers for their powerful potential to be a lower-cost, higher-efficiency alternative to solar cells that rely on silicon.
Campus research tackling the lingering challenges related to perovskite photovoltaics — chief among them durability and stability — contributes to a broader distinction in materials science that positions UToledo among U.S. News & World Report‘s Best Global Universities.
With two physicists credited among the most highly cited researchers in the world working out of the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, UToledo is further ranked No. 1 among all global universities for the percentage of total research publications that are among the top 1% most highly cited papers in the materials science category.
UToledo’s Dr. Xiaoming Wang, a research assistant professor, and Dr. Yanfa Yan, a Distinguished Professor of physics and Ohio Research Scholar Endowed Chair, join Xie as well as colleagues across the country as co-authors on the latest research in Nature Materials. Their research focuses on a type of photovoltaic technology that pairs perovskites with tin, which has lagged behind lead-perovskite technology as a result of stability challenges despite its powerful potential as a safer alternative to lead-perovskites.
To tackle stability challenges specifically related to oxidation, the research team advanced a previously established approach to protecting tin-perovskites by incorporating “spacer” molecules into the tin-iodide frameworks, creating thin layers that slow the entry of oxygen and water.
This advancement came by attaching chlorine to the standard spacer molecule. UToledo’s Xie, assisted by Wang and Yan, took the lead on the density functional theory calculations that explained the theory behind the approach.
“By mapping the pathways by which oxygen and water molecules move through the organic layer, we showed that the chlorinated spacer uniquely blocks the major pathways, suppressing oxygen and water diffusion by roughly seven to 11 orders of magnitude compared with the standard spacer,” he said.
The result?
The most air-stable tin-perovskite of its kind to date, which maintained its integrity for several months in air. The solar cells created with this material combined state-of-the-art efficiency with exceptional long-term stability, signifying a significant milestone on the path to market viability.
“It’s just as important as the results that we are able to explain why it works to use a chlorinated molecule as the spacer,” Xie said. “This gives us a clear design principle for future lead-free perovskites.”
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The Narmada canal, atop which solar panels have been installed, in Chandrasan village, Gujarat, 2012. The State hosted India’s first canal-top photovoltaics. | Photo Credit: AP
As India expands its clean energy capacity, finding land for solar projects is becoming a challenge. This is driving interest in innovative solar solutions that can generate power without needing more land.
The recently approved PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) is a step in this direction, aiming to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity on reservoirs and other inland water bodies across the country.
However, India’s water infrastructure has more to offer: the country’s vast canal network — one of the largest in the world — is another under-explored avenue to generate solar power. Built over existing irrigation and water-supply canals, canal-top photovoltaics (CTPV) provides a unique approach to turn them into clean energy assets.
In CTPV, solar panels are mounted on specialised structures built over canal stretches. Unlike floating solar systems, where panels are installed on floating platforms on water bodies, CTPV systems use elevated structures above the canals.
Systems can be built based on the canal’s width, design, and orientation. The elevated structures may span the canal or can be installed along the canal banks. In all cases, the design must allow unobstructed water flow.
Similar to floating solar, the biggest advantage of CTPV is that it requires virtually no additional land. With land acquisition for large-scale solar becoming increasingly challenging and expensive, CTPV offers a promising way by using India’s canal infrastructure. For instance, in Punjab, the installation of 20 MW of CTPV systems is estimated to have saved nearly 100 acres of land.
CTPV offers another advantage. With solar panels covering canal stretches, the amount of water lost to evaporation can be reduced. This can be particularly useful in India’s water-stressed regions. The cooling effect of the water beneath the panels could improve panel performance in hot weather. A 1-MW CTPV system over the Narmada Canal in Mehsana, Gujarat, commissioned in 2012, reportedly saves close to 9 million litres of water every year while generating 1.6 million units of electricity annually.
While CTPV remains largely a niche application, India has been an early adopter, with its first installation in Mehsana in 2012. Between 2014 and 2017, two 10-MW CTPV systems were commissioned in Vadodara, Gujarat, and 20 MW of CTPV systems were commissioned in Punjab between 2017 and 2018.
In September 2025, the Punjab Energy Development Agency invited ‘expressions of interest’ for 40-MW CTPV projects across Punjab’s canal network, spanning over 10,000 km. Haryana has also initiated efforts to explore CTPV systems over six of its irrigation canals.
CTPV also received policy support in 2014, when the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a pilot-cum-demonstration scheme for grid-connected CTPV and canal bank projects with a target of 50 MW each for CTPV and canal-bank projects. The scheme also included financial assistance of Rs 3 crore and Rs 1.5 crore per MW or 30% of project cost, whichever was lower, for CTPV and canal bank systems, respectively.
An assessment in 2024 (co-authored by CSTEP, where the author works) estimated India’s CTPV and canal bank potential at around 131 GW (for canals up to 30 m wide and vertical bifacial installations for canals over 30 m wide). Considerations such as solar irradiation, canal characteristics, distance from substations, and protected areas were included in the assessment to identify the best-suited canal stretches across India. The five States with the highest potential were Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.
Despite India’s early progress, deployment has remained limited for more than a decade after the first installation.
High system cost is the primary bottleneck. CTPV systems are more expensive than ground-mounted ones as they require elevated structures to span canal stretches. These structures need to be designed to not disrupt canal operations and be sturdy enough to withstand winds. They also need additional structural steel, foundations, and access provisions for operations and maintenance, all of which add to the overall costs.
Maintenance tasks, including cleaning panels and replacement and repair work, can also prove difficult when the structures are elevated above a working canal.
The linear nature of CTPV systems, which run along the course of canals, can also pose challenges when canals follow irregular paths or change direction. This can increase the cost of producing electricity, especially when electrical substations or transformers are not strategically located.
PM-SSY is expected to revitalise the floating solar segment and drive its adoption across India, signalling growing policy interest in exploring land-neutral solar applications. This focus could extend to other solutions like CTPV, potentially giving the technology greater policy attention and momentum. 
However, to overcome the aforementioned structural challenges and scale CTPV deployment, identifying and prioritising suitable canal stretches will be critical. Factors such as land scarcity, nearby electricity demand and grid connectivity, and canal orientation and geometry should be considered while selecting sites to maximise the economic viability of CTPV systems.
CTPV also requires accessible and tailored financing mechanisms, including viability gap funding and low-cost debt, to make it an attractive option for developers. This will help support early projects, allowing developers to build experience and eventually reducing costs through scale and standardisation.
However, the 2014 MNRE scheme on CTPV shows that financial support alone may not suffice to convert pilots into large-scale deployment. A renewed policy approach that includes financial assistance and standardised specifications and guidelines, capacity building of state nodal agencies, irrigation departments, and other concerned agencies, and streamlined process flows is required.
While CTPV may not fully substitute ground-mounted or rooftop solar, they offer an untapped opportunity for India’s renewable energy expansion. Even if a fraction of CTPV’s technical potential is realised, it could significantly boost India’s renewable energy capacity without adding to the pressure on land resources.
Shantanu Roy is the Sector Coordinator for Renewables and Energy Conservation at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank.
Published – September 23, 2026 09:00 am IST
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By Canary Media
Canary Media
23 September 2026
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This is California Wire, a weekly newsletter from Jeff St. John on the state’s clean energy transition. Subscribe to get it every Wednesday via Substack.
Hi, everyone! Let’s pick up a theme from last week’s newsletter: how California has yet to take full advantage of rooftop solar, backup batteries, and other home devices to create virtual power plants (VPPs) that can help its stressed-out grid — even though it has more of those distributed energy resources than any other state.
Earlier this month, utility Pacific Gas & Electric launched its latest effort to improve on that poor record via an ambitious partnership with friendly neighborhood tech giant Google and pro-electrification nonprofit Rewiring America.
PG&E will recruit more than 20,000 customers with Sunrun or Tesla solar-charged batteries or Renew Home smart thermostats who are willing to let the utility control those resources to help the grid for an as-yet-unspecified reward. 

Google and Rewiring America, meanwhile, will work to get new smart devices into people’s homes, with discounts of $5,000 — or $10,000 for the first 25 customers — on Carrier’s new battery-equipped HVAC units.
Importantly, the costs of the program, dubbed Smart Home Assets for Reliability and Efficiency (SHARE), won’t fall on PG&E customers. Instead, Google has pledged to pay for all of it, starting with about $14 million for the first phase, according to Rewiring America.
That’s a big deal for the nonprofit, which has been pushing tech giants to finance VPPs to offset rising energy costs caused by data centers. It’s an approach that Google has taken a lead on in other parts of the country — so it would be logical to assume that Google is doing the same now with PG&E.
Here’s the weird thing, though: Both Google and PG&E insist SHARE has nothing to do with offsetting data center costs, even as both face increasing scrutiny over a 250-megawatt ​“cloud research and testing facility” that Google plans to build in San Jose. In fact, Google insists it’s not a ​“data center” at all, although neighbors aren’t convinced.
Google and PG&E have been tussling with the Sierra Club, The Utility Reform Network, and others over how to allocate the cost of connecting that 250-MW ​“large load” to the utility transmission grid. The big issue? How much of that cost should be borne by PG&E customers at large versus by Google itself.
PG&E says SHARE is about ​“unlocking additional capacity on the regional electric transmission system.” So you’d think it might acknowledge that it could use this VPP to reduce costs that critics say are tied to Google’s 250-MW project. But maybe the utility would prefer to put those grid upgrades on its own books. That way, it can pass on the costs to customers and keep profiting from its grid-expansion investments.
I don’t mean to sound cynical, but PG&E has a history of trotting out VPP pilot programs and then canceling them. It’s been enabled by the California Public Utilities Commission, which has failed to follow through on state mandates to make utilities do more with these customer-owned resources. That’s all while utilities in Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Utah, and Vermont have steadily built VPP networks from far more modest starting points.
Jigar Shah, the clean energy investor, Biden-era Energy Department loan office czar, and VPP booster, is likewise skeptical, going so far as to say in a LinkedIn post that the SHARE program is ​“not a success story” but ​“an indictment.”
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Shah explained to me that he’s not mad at Google, but rather at PG&E. ​“There are gigawatt-hours’ worth of behind-the-meter batteries in PG&E’s territory,” Shah said. But ​“none of those gigawatt-hours have a standard way to help their neighbors make the grid more efficient.”
To be fair, PG&E has been upping its efforts lately to test how home batteries, smart electrical panels, EV chargers, and smart meters can defer costly grid investments. ​“SHARE adds a complementary, near-term pathway” to that work, Trevor Udwin, PG&E’s VPP and grid optimization manager, told Canary Media in an email.
But there’s a big difference between launching another pilot project and building a VPP that actually takes concrete steps to ease grid costs. We’ll have to wait and see if the utility turns Google’s VPP money into something bigger and better than another one-off experiment.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed dozens of bills into law this week and last week. But as of this writing, he hasn’t yet touched the clean energy or utility affordability bills I covered in the first edition of California Wire.
Newsom did sign a slew of bills that take aim at data centers, however — including several measures to set new requirements on large-scale computing facilities like the one Google is planning in San Jose.
Senate Bill 886, from state Sen. Steve Padilla (D), and Assembly Bill 2383, from Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D), task the California Public Utilities Commission with imposing new cost-recovery rules on data centers of at least 25 MW served by the state’s three major utilities. Data centers will have to pay a ​“reasonable share” of the grid upgrades and additional generation needs that they trigger, as well as a proportional share of the public services like wildfire mitigation and environmental programs that make up a part of everyday utility bills.
PG&E and the trade group Data Center Coalition opposed these bills. But given the growing public backlash against data centers, most politicians wouldn’t dare take a stand against laws that aim to control their costs. And if data centers want to go above and beyond to make nice with their neighbors, SB 887, also from Padilla, offers them a set of grid and environmental stretch goals that can win them expedited review and permitting.
Like a recurring bad dream, the Moss Landing battery complex, which owner Vistra is in the midst of demolishing after a devastating 2025 fire, burst into flame once again, spurring shelter-in-place orders for the beleaguered nearby communities. Thankfully, as Canary Media’s Julian Spector has exhaustively explained, Moss Landing is obsolete in terms both of battery chemistry and site design — which means its propensity to catch fire isn’t a sound indicator of risk for the country’s rapidly growing grid battery fleet. 

Let’s close this newsletter where we started, with more virtual power plant news — in fact, the biggest VPP news yet. Earlier this month, Tesla and Sunrun broke last year’s record for the largest home-battery VPP dispatch in California history: 580 MW of peak power delivered from more than 110,000 home batteries. Unfortunately, one of the programs that has enrolled these batteries is set to be defunded next year — just in time for what’s expected to be among the hottest summers on record. This map pulled from Tesla’s VPP site shows the scale of grid resources the state might be losing out on as a result — unless California can figure out a way to keep these resources in play. 

Tesla’s map of California homes with Powerwall batteries available for VPP service
I’m lucky to work from home, which means that I have as a constant companion my fierce guard dog. Behold Lily, the keeper of the front door.
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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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LONGi cut 42,000 jobs in two years, the entire photovoltaic industry reduced its workforce by 220,000, and the trillion-yuan loss clearance has just begun.
Foresee Energy learned that according to statistics on annual reports of listed companies from multiple institutions including Black Hawk PV, LONGi Green Energy cut 42,000 employees in two years, with the total number of employees plummeting from 75,000 at the end of 2023 to 32,800 at the end of 2025, a drop of 56.3%.
However, the momentum of loss reduction did not continue into 2026. In the first half of the year, the revenue reached 27.045 billion yuan, down 17.58% year on year, and the net loss attributable to shareholders was 3.684 billion yuan, with the loss expanding by 43.3% year on year.
At the same time, the entire photovoltaic industry cut 220,000 jobs in two years, and more than 150 enterprises went bankrupt and liquidated. Layoffs, production restriction, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy are advancing simultaneously, and the photovoltaic industry has shifted from an expansion race to a survival race.
The real problem is not whether LONGi can return to its peak, but who can still stay at the table when production capacity is twice the demand and the price war has lasted for three years. Overcapacity is not a cyclical problem, but a problem of development model. The growth logic supported by investment in capacity expansion, local supporting facilities and capital transfusion is being replaced by industrial clearance.
The management of LONGi packaged the large-scale layoffs as “active strategic production restriction”.
In 2024, the capacity utilization rates of LONGi’s two core product lines, silicon wafers and modules, both fell below 65%, which means that more than one third of the production lines were idling, and there was no way to retain employees when the machines were not running. The deeper problem lies in product iteration. Zhong Baoshen, the chairman, admitted in his letter to shareholders that there was a serious disconnection between R&D, production and marketing for HPBC 1.0, leading to a sharp rise in inventory and huge inventory impairment losses. If there is a rhythm mismatch in the process from R&D to mass production and then to market recognition for a new technology product, the cost is the evaporation of real money on the inventory account.
For the whole year of 2025, the current increase in LONGi’s accrued termination benefits was 92.9184 million yuan, but the actual payment was 151 million yuan, and the intermediate gap came from the 87.2946 million yuan of layoff liabilities recorded in the accounts at the end of 2024.
But this does not mean that LONGi is having an easy time. The number of technical personnel decreased by 673, a decrease of about 6.9%, which seems not large, but the proportion of R&D personnel in the total number of the company has dropped to 9.45%. For a photovoltaic enterprise that relies on technology for development, the proportion of R&D personnel has fallen below 10%. The 12GW cell project in Tongchuan and the 12.5GW BC cell project in Xixian New Area are still under construction, and the first phase of production capacity was put into operation successively in 2025. Laying off employees while expanding production, this contradiction precisely shows that the enterprise is forcing a transformation through the way of “blood exchange”.
Layoffs are not LONGi’s choice, but an ultimatum of the whole industry. According to statistics from Black Hawk PV, from the end of 2023 to the end of 2025, 139 photovoltaic enterprises cut 220,414 jobs in total. In the first half of 2025, 5,089 photovoltaic-related enterprises were deregistered across the country, up 8.3% year on year. Since 2025, more than 50 photovoltaic enterprises have filed for bankruptcy or liquidation, and the number has exceeded 150 since 2024. Once “star” enterprises such as Suntech Power have left the market one after another.
The name Suntech Power was a global photovoltaic benchmark more than a decade ago, but now it is just a line on the bankruptcy list.
In the first quarter of 2026, the total revenue of 22 enterprises in the main photovoltaic industrial chain reached 95.856 billion yuan, down more than 11% year on year, the total net loss attributable to shareholders was 10.554 billion yuan, and the loss after deducting non-recurring gains and losses was 13.172 billion yuan. Leading enterprises such as Tongwei Co., Ltd., LONGi Green Energy and TCL Zhonghuan have recorded net losses for 10 consecutive quarters. Ten quarters means two and a half years, which means that since the second half of 2023, these best enterprises in the industry have been losing money all the time.
The price of polysilicon fell by more than 8%, the price of silicon wafers fell by more than 36%, the price of cells fell by more than 16%, and the price of modules fell by nearly 19%. The module price once fell below 0.6 yuan/W, and the whole industrial chain generally suffered losses. In 2024, the total net loss of A-share photovoltaic enterprises exceeded 55 billion yuan. Huang Yiping, professor of the National School of Development at Peking University, pointed out that the most fundamental reason for the chronic overcapacity in China is the economic imbalance at the macro level, that is, more investment and less consumption, and local governments concentrate resources on these industries, which eventually leads to a sharp surge in production capacity in the short term. The photovoltaic industry is the most typical example on this logical chain.
The price war is not competition, but collective suicide. The one who stops first dies first, but if no one stops, everyone dies together. The end of low-price competition is the continuous retreat of the quality bottom line. The energy storage industry is repeating the same plot of the photovoltaic industry. In 2026, the planned expansion scale of energy storage cells has exceeded 800GWh, the completed production capacity by the end of the year is about 1.2 to 1.5TWh, and the total planned production capacity has exceeded 2TWh, which is far higher than the real demand of the global market. The key equipment of the energy storage system has seen a price drop of about 80% in the past three years, and some bid prices have long been lower than the average production cost of the industry.
Zhang Tianren, chairman of Tianneng Holding Group, pointed out that some enterprises bid at prices lower than cost, forming a vicious cycle of “dumping at low prices – declining profits – shrinking quality”. Some enterprises compromise in links such as cell quality control and safety redundancy to seize market share, which brings major safety risks to end applications.
Industry reshuffling is never average. While second and third tier enterprises are struggling on the profit and loss line, leading enterprises are acquiring high-quality assets. TCL Zhonghuan plans to acquire Yida New Energy, the world’s 8th largest module shipper, through capital increase and share expansion, with a transaction amount not exceeding 1.56 billion yuan. Tongwei Co., Ltd. continues to promote the acquisition of polysilicon enterprise Lihao Clean Energy. After planning to obtain controlling stake with no more than 5 billion yuan in October 2025, it announced the acquisition of part of the shares again in April 2026. From 2025 to 2026, the loss ratio of second and third tier photovoltaic enterprises is expected to reach 70%. Enterprises with weak technical competitiveness and poor cost control will bear the brunt in the face of overcapacity and price war.
The differentiation in the power battery industry is also extremely fierce. The capacity utilization rate of CATL in the first half of 2026 reached 95%, far higher than the 65% average of China’s industry. Morgan Stanley’s analysis believes that companies with higher utilization rates have greater chances to get approval for future battery capacity expansion projects, while enterprises with lower utilization rates may face stricter restrictions on new production capacity. The capacity utilization rate of leading enterprises’ power battery lines is roughly in the range of 85% to 97%, that of second-tier enterprises is about 40% to 65% on the whole, and that of third-tier and tail enterprises is often below 30%. In the second half of 2026, all regions have basically stopped accepting the filing of new power battery and energy storage battery production capacity. Policies have shifted from guidance to compulsion, which means that industry clearance has changed from a spontaneous market behavior to an administrative-driven one.
The profit margin of the new energy vehicle industry has been pushed to the limit by the price war. In the first quarter of 2026, the profit margin of the automobile industry was only 3.2%, far lower than the 6% average level of the manufacturing industry. From January to February 2026, the profit margin further dropped to 2.9%, a significant decline from 8% in 2017. At the beginning of 2026, nearly 70 models in the whole industry cut prices intensively, with the average price of new energy models reduced by 38,000 yuan, and the three-year-long price war further compressed the profit space of automakers. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that while the revenue of the automobile manufacturing industry in the first quarter decreased slightly, the total profit fell by nearly 20% year on year. After three years of price war, the marginal stimulating effect of price reduction on sales has decreased significantly, but no one dares to stop first, and the one who stops first will be eliminated.
LONGi’s layoff of 42,000 employees is only a section of the new energy industry clearance. From photovoltaic to energy storage and then to new energy vehicles, the same plot is being staged repeatedly in different tracks: Capital inflow pushes up production capacity, overcapacity triggers price war, price war erodes profits, enterprises are forced to lay off employees and shrink after profits disappear, and only a few enterprises can survive after the contraction.
The balance of LONGi’s termination benefit liabilities has dropped to 29.1789 million yuan, and the peak of layoffs has indeed passed. But what has passed is not only the layoff cycle of one company, but also the development logic of the whole industry. When production capacity is no longer a scarce resource, and when price war is no longer a means of competition but a normal state of survival, the only question that those who stay at the table need to answer is: What on earth do you rely on to survive? This question was raised by the photovoltaic industry at the cost of cutting 220,000 jobs in two years. The energy storage and new energy vehicle industries are going through the same interrogation in a shorter time.
This article is from the WeChat official account “Foresee Energy”, authorized for release by 36Kr.
该文观点仅代表作者本人，36氪平台仅提供信息存储空间服务。
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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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Keeping copies for your own records can also help if you later need to verify past performance.
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A Reddit user selling their house asked commenters what they should do with their Tesla solar panels and battery, since they want to hand it off to the new homeowner. 
Other users took to the comments to explain everything someone needs to do before handing off their solar equipment to a new person. 
Selling a house with solar panels isn’t just a simple real-estate transaction. It requires handing off the app and account access, settling any remaining loans on the panels, and passing along all documentation in case of warranty claims. 
Solar systems like Tesla‘s are tied to an account owned by the original owner — in this case, the home seller, commenters pointed out. This means the seller has to go into the app and actively transfer the account to someone else. 
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.
One Reddit user said it would be a nice gesture if the seller gave the new homeowner the system’s production history and any performance guarantees, so they can verify the system is up to date and working. 
They wrote: “One thing I found annoying was that Tesla refused to give me the production history from the previous owner. I had some doubts about whether the production guarantee in the paperwork was actually being met, but Tesla refused to provide the production numbers from the previous years. I only have access to the production data from when I took ownership.”
But a big question is whether Tesla’s solar roof warranty can only be transferred once. This matters if the new buyer decides to sell the house and the panels are still under warranty (for Tesla, it’s 25 years). 
Another commenter provided details on their own experience, writing, “I just went through this as the seller had issues with the app. As the buyer I emailed the energy customer service and then sent them the new recorded deed. I created an account and downloaded the app post sale went to the power wall solar set up and the app asks you to scan and then was able to add it as a product to my account.”
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Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy over time. If you’re still shopping for a system, try EnergySage for free solar installation estimates and to compare quotes.
Before closing, sellers can simplify the handoff by pulling together the core solar paperwork: production history, warranty information, equipment details, and any financing paperwork tied to the system. Keeping copies for your own records can also help if you later need to verify past performance.
For anyone considering adding solar, it pays to comparison shop before installation. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map also shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with solar incentives available in each state. Together, those tools can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Homeowners who want to pair panels with backup power can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Saving the records ahead of the transfer will not change how much electricity the panels produced, but it does preserve the paper trail. During a home sale that already involves plenty of paperwork, that small step can make a valuable clean-energy asset easier to hand off.
For a closer look at how solar can shape a home’s value, energy records, and day-to-day owner experience, check out these stories. They cover Tesla roofs and solar-equipped neighborhoods.
• A Tesla Solar Roof and Powerwall earn $350 each month while adding resale appeal.
• Tesla says more than 600 solar neighborhoods now shape buying decisions for new homes.
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Home > Home Energy & Utilities > Generators
Save hundreds on top-rated Ecoflow portable power stations, bundles and solar panels with these early Prime Day deals.
Contributor
Contributor
September 23, 2026, 4:53 pm ET
Save up to 57%: Right now, EcoFlow is offering up to a massive 57% off on its portable power stations, bundles and whole home backup systems thanks to early Prime Day discounts. These deals are available now and last until Oct. 5. You can find them at EcoFlow’s website and its Amazon storefront. With these discounts, you can grab an EcoFlow portable power station for as little as $149 before the Prime Day rush.
Of note, you need to get a free EcoFlow membership to access the biggest discounts directly on the EcoFlow website. Its Amazon storefront lists discounts as well, and for Prime members who’ll enjoy free delivery, this may be the best bet.
Save up to 57% off
With these deals, you can grab the Delta Pro Ultra backup system for $5,999 at Amazon, down from $8,799. This saves you $2,800 and amounts to 36% off a whole-house generator and extra battery that provides up to 7,200 watts of power. EcoFlow designed the Delta Pro Ultra to store up to 30 days of power when used with the right settings. 
If you prefer a smaller bundle, this EF EcoFlow Delta 3 classic solar generator and 220-watt solar panel is on sale for $699 right now, which saves you $400. The Delta 3 classic solar generator delivers 1,800 watts of power when used as-is, and a maximum of 3,600 watts with X-Boost technology. The included solar panel is perfect for charging the Delta 3 while camping, during road trips or in inclement weather. You’ll get six ports, including USB and AC ports, perfect for tech devices or home appliances.
Shoppers who need more compact options aren’t left out of EcoFlow’s discounts. Right now, you can grab the Trail 300 portable power station for $149 at Amazon. You’ll save $50 on this light, compact 300-watt portable power station. The Trail 300 can be recharged with a USB-C cable, a generator, a solar panel or a car, and it has five ports.
Travelers and folks on the go can also nab power banks such as the 170-watt Rapid power bank for $86 at EcoFlow. This saves you $23 on a power bank that can charge your laptops, tablets and other devices. 
EcoFlow is also offering massive price cuts on accessories and batteries that are perfect for boosting power on any equipment you already own. For example, you can grab two extra batteries for your Glacier Classic cooler for $299 right now, which saves you $300 over the usual price.
Stock might vary, and it’s a good idea to compare prices on both sites before buying. Additionally, bundles might arrive in separate shipments. EcoFlow is offering free shipping on all orders within the continental US. (The company doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.)
If you want to compare what’s out there, check out our roundup of the best portable power stations, as tested by CNET.
Bluetti also makes excellent portable power stations, including the Elite 100 V2 portable power station, currently $300 off at Amazon. This brings the price down to $499 on a portable power station with 11 ports.
If you need enough juice to power an RV, check out the Bluetti Elite 300 solar generator bundled with a 500-watt solar panel for $1,900 at Amazon. This is a price cut of $899 and represents a discount of 32%. Not only will you get 11 ports, you’ll also be able to use solar power to recharge the generator even when you’re off the grid.
© 2026 CNET, a Ziff Davis company. All rights reserved.

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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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ML System Gets Patent For Photovoltaic Structural Element In Poland  tradingview.com
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Digital Twin Resolves Operation and Maintenance Pain Points of New Energy Stations, Yusuan Technology Seeks Financing
With the continuous expansion of installed capacity of wind power and photovoltaic, a large number of new energy stations are transitioning from the construction period to the operation period of more than 25 years, and the efficiency and cost of the operation and maintenance link have begun to directly affect asset returns. The “Yusuan Xuanzhi Intelligent Operation and Maintenance” — a digital twin intelligent operation and maintenance platform for new energy stations, developed by Hebei Yusuan Technology Co., Ltd. for the long-term operation stage of new energy stations, has recently focused on serving scenarios of centralized photovoltaic power stations, step-up substations and new energy operation and maintenance service providers, and is proceeding with the next round of financing.
Shifting from “Large-scale Construction” to “Long-term Operation”, Station Operation and Maintenance Has Become a New Challenge
Data released by the National Energy Administration shows that in 2025, China’s new installed wind power capacity reached 120 million kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of 51%, and the cumulative grid-connected capacity reached 640 million kilowatts; the new installed photovoltaic capacity reached 317 million kilowatts, and the cumulative installed scale reached 1.2 billion kilowatts, of which centralized photovoltaic accounts for 670 million kilowatts. Along with the rapid growth of installed capacity, the industry growth logic is changing: after new energy fully enters the market, electricity price fluctuations are directly transmitted to the revenue of stations, and the focus of owners has shifted from “completion and grid connection” to power generation efficiency, equipment health, inspection quality and asset returns, making lean operation and maintenance a rigid demand.
However, centralized photovoltaic power stations and step-up substations have a large number of equipment and a wide coverage, and generally have the problem of scattered construction of systems such as production monitoring, video, access control, fire protection and UAV. The efficiency of manual inspection is insufficient, a large number of images rely on manual interpretation, and it is difficult to connect abnormality detection, order dispatching, disposal and re-inspection. The growth of operation and maintenance demand is also opening up market space. Some industry research institutions predict that the scale of China’s photovoltaic operation and maintenance market will grow from about 260 billion yuan in 2023 to more than 1.2 trillion yuan in 2030, with an average annual compound growth rate of nearly 30%.
Taking Business-oriented Digital Twin as the Entry Point to Build a Closed Loop of “Observation, Inspection, Diagnosis, Control and Training” for Operation and Maintenance
The entry point of Yusuan Xuanzhi Intelligent Operation and Maintenance is not to build another 3D display system, but to take the business-oriented digital twin as a unified entry point, based on the digital objects of stations, regions and equipment, to uniformly organize operation data, alarm events, inspection tasks, image results, defect records, report work orders, auxiliary control resources and training contents, so as to build an intelligent operation and maintenance closed loop covering “observation, inspection, diagnosis, control and training”. Among them, “observation” uniformly displays station operation indicators, equipment status, PR value, performance loss and alarm situation; “inspection” organizes periodic, temporary, alarm-triggered and defect re-inspection tasks; “diagnosis” integrates visible light, infrared images and equipment operation data to carry out auxiliary identification; “control” is associated with auxiliary control resources such as video, access control, fire protection and environmental monitoring; “training” builds scenarios of equipment cognition, standard inspection, fault disposal and emergency drill based on UE5.
In terms of technical mechanism, the platform associates the digital twin object model of business with the spatial position, coding, data, alarm, task, defect, work order and training materials of the digital equipment object, so that the 3D scenario can enter the daily operation and maintenance process; through heterogeneous resource task orchestration, it brings manpower, UAV, inspection robot, camera, sensor and special detection equipment into a unified task system; it drives inspection with PR and performance loss, and converts abnormal operation indicators into key area inspection, infrared inspection, cleaning inspection and special equipment verification tasks; finally, it forms a closed loop through AI primary screening, manual review, report work order, disposal re-inspection and result return, which improves efficiency while retaining professional judgment. It is worth noting that the platform is positioned as a supplement rather than a substitute — it does not intervene in the customer’s existing production control system, but complements the cross-system capabilities of spatial positioning, task organization, result management and disposal collaboration within the security boundary.
According to the disclosure on the official website of Yusuan Technology, the accuracy of its AI defect identification algorithm reaches 98.5%, and the intelligent scheduling center can improve the operation and maintenance efficiency by more than 30%. The job recruitment information on BOSS Zhipin shows that the company is recruiting image recognition algorithm engineers, who are responsible for cleaning, denoising, enhancing and labeling image data such as photovoltaic panels and fan blades collected by UAV and cameras, which indirectly confirms the technical route of “AI image recognition + UAV inspection”.
Based on Hebei’s Demonstration Projects, Promote Regional Replication through “Project Entry and Product Precipitation”
In terms of business model, Yusuan Technology adopts the path of “project entry, product precipitation, module replication, partner expansion and continuous service”: through single-region, single-module or single-station projects, it generates revenue through platform software authorization, private deployment, digital twin modeling, data interface, implementation deployment and necessary customization; during the implementation process, it continuously precipitates equipment models, interface components, task templates, defect classification and acceptance methods, and then obtains continuous revenue through module additional purchase, station replication, multi-station upgrade, annual maintenance and professional value-added services. The target users cover new energy station owners and operation units, new energy operation and maintenance service providers, regional companies of power generation groups, power engineering enterprises and system integration units, which not only serve the digital construction of new stations, but also are applicable to the intelligent transformation of existing stations.
In terms of regional strategy, the company is based in Shijiazhuang, taking Hebei as the first batch of demonstration markets. Hebei has a variety of application scenarios such as centralized photovoltaics, wind power, step-up substations and energy storage, and the local team can shorten the radius of on-site investigation, interface joint debugging, deployment training and after-sales response. Industrial and commercial information shows that Yusuan Technology was established in December 2024 with a registered capital of 3 million yuan, and its registered address is located in Hebei Normal University Science Park, Yuhua District, Shijiazhuang City. It is a technology-based micro-enterprise with less than 50 employees; in March 2026, the company carried out school-enterprise mutual visits with the School of Software of Hebei Normal University, and discussed cooperation around the direction of AI empowering industries. No external institutional financing records of the company have been shown in public channels, and its registered software copyrights are currently concentrated in the digital operation business line of scenic spots.
For Yusuan Technology, new energy station operation and maintenance is a niche market that has not been completely occupied by giants. Manufacturers such as Sifang Co., Ltd. and Haiyi Software mostly cut in from the centralized control platform and simulation training, while the opportunity for startups lies in flexible delivery that is closer to the business process of a single station. It is reported that Yusuan Xuanzhi Intelligent Operation and Maintenance is proceeding with the next round of financing, and the funds of this round will provide support for the product polishing of the platform and the market expansion in regions outside Hebei.
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Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles
After months of investigation, the official cause of the Boyles Heights fire still remains undetermined according to the LAFD
Payton Zagacki
• 1 hour ago
After months of investigation, the cause of the Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse fire remains officially undetermined, but investigators found that the blaze started on the roof near a section of solar panels, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) announced Tuesday. 
The department’s Arson Counter-Terrorism Section completed its investigation into the June 17 fire at Lineage Logistics. The LAFD determined an “electrical event” occurred near the origin of the fire on the roof of the building, but the cause still remains undetermined. 
“Since the specific cause of that electrical event could not be conclusively established, the incident remains classified as having an undetermined cause,” the LAFD said.
The full report stated, “Due to the complexity of the solar panel system, its associated electrical equipment, and the maintenance activities being performed at the time of the fire, I am not able to eliminate them as the potential cause of the fire.”
City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said the investigation’s conclusion was unsatisfactory.
“Determining what caused the Lineage fire matters — not only for accountability, but to help ensure a disaster like this does not happen again,” she said in a statement. “But LAFD’s finding that the cause remains undetermined does nothing to alleviate what Boyle Heights residents have endured and are still carrying: months of health concerns and disruption, along with unanswered questions about whether this site can safely operate again.”
The cleanup of the food storage facility was completed earlier this month, over two months after the fire. Lineage Logistics, the owner of the storage facility, was unable to meet the city-mandated cleanup deadlines. Over the course of the cleanup, more than 4,900 complaints about rotten, sour and garbage-like scents were sent to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Air quality regulators issued 39 notices of violations from June 12 through Aug. 28, the agency said. 
Lineage Logistics filed a lawsuit against the operator of solar panels on the building’s rooftop in connection with the fire. In its lawsuit against Altus Power Inc. and contractor Pearce Services, which was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lineage claims the companies ignored safety warnings and caused the fire on the 500,000-square-foot warehouse rooftop.
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A representative of Los Palos Street Operating, a subsidiary of Altus, issued a statement saying the lawsuit was an attempt by Lineage to deflect responsibility for the blaze at the 500,000-square-foot facility that burned for eight days.
“Lineage’s statement is riddled with misinformation in a blatant attempt to deflect blame for their role in this matter, including any damage caused by the release of substances from the warehouse, not the solar panel,” according to the statement.
The LAFD’s completed investigation does not identify a specific party as responsible for the electrical event.
“The Department’s thoughts remain with all those impacted by this deeply tragic incident,” Arson and Fire Investigation Chief Thomas Raymond said Tuesday.
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French startup Battwoo is developing stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS) using repurposed electric vehicle batteries. The company aims to extend battery lifetimes from 15 to 30 years by giving EV batteries a second life that would otherwise be sent for recycling, while providing an alternative to new batteries.
“Every year, thousands of electric vehicle batteries reach the end of their first life while still retaining 70% to 80% of their capacity,” Melchior Martinache, commercial director at Battwoo, told pv magazine France. “At the same time, the growth of photovoltaics raises a major challenge: how can we make the best use of solar electricity when it is not consumed immediately?”
The process involves sourcing batches of batteries from specialized partners and assessing their condition. Following an initial round of diagnostics and testing, conducted both in-house and by an accredited laboratory, batteries retaining more than 80% of their capacity are refurbished into stationary storage systems at a workshop in Madrid.
“This industrial capability allows Battwoo to ensure full battery traceability, oversee every stage of the requalification process, and maintain high standards of safety, quality and performance,” said Melchior Martinache, commercial director at Battwoo.
The batteries are sized according to the requirements of each project. “Is the customer looking to maximize self-consumption, shave peak demand to reduce costs, participate in grid flexibility mechanisms or engage in spot-market arbitrage? These parameters determine the required power output and number of daily cycles – and consequently the battery’s lifespan and return on investment,” Martinache said, adding that the batteries can handle up to four cycles per day.
Battwoo’s first installations are enabling the company to test its model on an industrial scale. In France’s Hauts-de-France region, for example, a padel club selected the company’s storage system for a 250 kW photovoltaic installation.
The 350 kWh storage system comprises 56 battery modules, equivalent to the capacity of five electric vehicles. It enables the club to store surplus solar power and discharge it in the evening to supply its illuminated courts.
Another project, in the agri-food sector, involves the Les Fruits de Saint-Aubin cooperative. The apple producer uses a 350 kWh stationary battery system coupled with an existing photovoltaic installation. The system helps optimize the electricity supply to the site’s cold-storage facilities and its continuously operating pre-sorting line, while increasing solar self-consumption.
Three other projects are currently under negotiation. “For now, we are still in a scale-up phase to ensure the reliability and safety of the solution. We have focused on projects below 500 kWh, but we will gradually be able to move up to 1 MWh and then to 2 MW or 3 MWh,” Martinache said.
Cost is one of Battwoo’s main selling points. According to the company, a refurbished 500 kWh battery system currently costs around 30% less than an equivalent system using new batteries. The price difference could make stationary storage more accessible to some photovoltaic system operators and industrial sites.
Battwoo also points to the potential environmental benefits of battery reuse. By extending battery service life by several decades, the company estimates that its approach can reduce the associated carbon footprint to one-quarter of that of a newly manufactured battery. Battwoo says the combination of lower costs and reduced environmental impact could appeal to companies seeking to increase solar self-consumption while incorporating sustainability considerations into their investment decisions.

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Comstock Metals, a recycling solutions company, and its parent firm Comstock have begun operations at a solar panel recycling facility located in Silver Springs, Nevada, according to PV Tech.
The site is now running on a continuous basis, slightly more than a month after the company reported that its solar panel recycling system had been fully integrated and tested. At that time, Comstock indicated that every major processing stage had been connected and operated successfully, and that testing of the facility’s individual unit operations had been finished.
Comstock added that it will now increase output on its production platform to satisfy rising customer volume requirements. When the project obtained a lease for the Nevada site in 2024, it was announced that the facility would be capable of processing as much as 100,000 tonnes of decommissioned solar photovoltaic modules annually once fully ramped up.
According to the company, moving to non-stop production delivers an efficient, high-volume, zero-landfill solution that removes disposal-related environmental liabilities for its utility-scale solar customers, who would receive a certification confirming the end-of-life regulatory obligations of the recycled solar panels.
Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals, commented that after focused preparation work with production supervisors and operating staff across four shift teams, the company has now successfully advanced to continuous operations.
The Nevada solar panel recycling facility will eventually be joined by another Comstock facility in Ohio. In June of this year, the company said it would set up a solar panel recycling plant, production facility and logistics hub in Cambridge, Ohio. The expansion is intended to scale up the company’s operations, lower logistics costs and enhance services for its expanding Midwest and Eastern customer base.
A third facility in Hanford, California is also in progress. In February of this year, Comstock received certification from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to recycle universal waste and process photovoltaic modules at its California facility. That site is planned to serve as a collection and pre-processing hub before materials are sent to the Nevada facility for final recovery.
Corrado De Gasperis, CEO of Comstock, said that the company has methodically developed, deployed and tested its system and is now operating continuously. He expressed the view that the technical implementation hurdles and uncertainties tied to the first-time scaled deployment of its proprietary Solar Panel Recycling Production system have now been overcome, and that with demonstrable continuous production, the company’s focus has shifted to volume ramp.
The 45th edition of PV Tech Power examines in depth whether the photovoltaic industry is prepared for the approaching wave of decommissioning and recycling, looking at the development and prospects of solar photovoltaic recycling markets globally.
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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?
By Sekhar Tatineni, Vice President of Technology, ES Foundry

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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Political shifts may shape how quickly Germany adopts electric cars and solar power  Phys.org
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Silicon solar cells could cut satellite power costs by up to 90%  Phys.org
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According to the latest IndexBox report on the global Solar Panels market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The global solar panels market is entering a new phase of expansion, with the 2026-2035 forecast period expected to deliver a 9.2% CAGR, pushing the market index to 245 by 2035 (2025=100). This growth is underpinned by the accelerating energy transition, as governments and corporations ramp up renewable energy targets to meet decarbonization goals. Utility-scale power plants remain the largest end-use segment, but distributed generation in residential and commercial sectors is gaining momentum, supported by falling levelized costs and favorable policies.
Technological advancements, particularly in monocrystalline and bifacial modules, continue to improve efficiency and reduce costs, making solar power increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. However, the market faces headwinds from supply chain bottlenecks, trade restrictions, and raw material price volatility. Asia-Pacific dominates production and demand, but other regions are expanding rapidly. This report provides a data-driven analysis of the market dynamics, competitive landscape, and key trends shaping the industry through 2035.
The baseline scenario for the global solar panels market anticipates robust growth from 2026 to 2035, with a CAGR of 9.2%, culminating in a market index of 245 (2025=100). This outlook assumes continued policy support, technological improvements, and cost reductions. Utility-scale installations will remain the primary driver, accounting for over half of global demand, as countries seek to meet renewable energy targets. The residential and commercial segments will also expand, fueled by falling system costs and rising electricity prices.
Supply chain constraints, including polysilicon shortages and logistical challenges, are expected to ease gradually, but trade tensions and tariffs could disrupt regional markets. The market will see a shift toward higher-efficiency modules, such as HJT and perovskite tandem cells, although crystalline silicon will maintain dominance. Emerging applications like floating solar and BIPV will gain traction but remain niche. Overall, the market is poised for sustained expansion, with Asia-Pacific leading both production and consumption, followed by North America and Europe.
Utility-scale solar power plants represent the largest and fastest-growing segment of the solar panels market, accounting for over half of global demand. This segment is driven by large-scale tenders and auctions, where developers compete on price to secure long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). The economics of utility-scale solar have improved dramatically, with LCOE now often below $0.03 per kWh in favorable regions. Through 2035, demand will be propelled by national renewable energy targets, corporate sustainability commitments, and the need to replace retiring fossil fuel plants. Key demand-side indicators include auction volumes, PPA prices, and grid interconnection queues.
However, challenges such as land availability, permitting delays, and grid integration may temper growth in some markets. Technological trends include the adoption of bifacial modules and trackers to boost energy yield, as well as the integration of storage to provide dispatchable power. Current trend: Increasing.
Major trends: Rising auction volumes and competitive bidding driving down PPA prices, Adoption of bifacial modules and single-axis trackers to increase energy yield, Integration of battery storage to enhance grid stability and dispatchability, Shift toward larger module formats and higher power classes to reduce balance-of-system costs, and Growing focus on repowering older solar farms with more efficient modules.
Representative participants: NextEra Energy, Iberdrola, Enel Green Power, TotalEnergies, ACWA Power, and Adani Green Energy.
The commercial and industrial (C&I) segment is a rapidly expanding market for solar panels, driven by businesses seeking to reduce energy costs, meet sustainability goals, and hedge against volatile electricity prices. C&I installations are typically rooftop or ground-mounted systems ranging from a few hundred kilowatts to several megawatts. Demand is supported by favorable economics, including declining module prices and innovative financing models such as power purchase agreements (PPAs) and leases. Through 2035, growth will be fueled by corporate net-zero commitments, rising retail electricity prices, and the availability of green financing.
Key indicators include commercial construction activity, corporate sustainability reports, and the penetration of third-party ownership models. Technological trends include the use of high-efficiency modules to maximize rooftop area, smart inverters for grid services, and integration with energy management systems. Current trend: Increasing.
Major trends: Corporate PPAs and green tariffs enabling off-site renewable procurement, Rooftop solar adoption driven by falling costs and sustainability mandates, Integration with energy storage and EV charging infrastructure, Digitalization and smart monitoring for optimized performance, and Growth in emerging markets as financing mechanisms mature.
Representative participants: SunPower, Tesla Energy, Schneider Electric, Siemens, ENGIE, and Brookfield Renewable.
Residential rooftop solar is a key segment of the solar panels market, driven by homeowners seeking to reduce electricity bills, increase energy independence, and contribute to environmental sustainability. Demand is highly sensitive to retail electricity prices, installation costs, and government incentives such as tax credits and net metering. Through 2035, growth will be supported by declining system costs, rising awareness of climate change, and the proliferation of financing options like solar loans and leases. Key demand-side indicators include housing starts, electricity price trends, and policy support.
Technological trends include the adoption of high-efficiency monocrystalline modules, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) for aesthetic appeal, and smart home energy management systems. However, growth may be constrained in markets where net metering policies are weakened or where grid connection fees are imposed. Current trend: Increasing.
Major trends: Falling system costs and innovative financing expanding access to solar, Growing adoption of BIPV and solar tiles for new construction, Integration with home batteries and smart home ecosystems, Policy shifts from net metering to self-consumption models, and Rising demand for resilience against grid outages.
Representative participants: Sunrun, Vivint Solar, Tesla Energy, SunPower, Enphase Energy, and SolarEdge.
The off-grid and remote power segment serves areas without access to reliable electricity grids, including rural villages, remote industrial sites, and telecommunications towers. Demand is driven by the need for reliable, cost-effective power in locations where extending the grid is prohibitively expensive. Solar panels, often coupled with battery storage, provide a clean and sustainable alternative to diesel generators. Through 2035, growth will be supported by declining costs, improved battery technology, and international development programs aimed at achieving universal energy access. Key indicators include rural electrification rates, telecom infrastructure expansion, and humanitarian aid budgets.
Technological trends include the use of portable and plug-and-play solar kits, high-durability modules for harsh environments, and integrated energy storage. However, growth may be limited by financing constraints and lack of technical expertise in some regions. Current trend: Moderate.
Major trends: Declining costs of solar-plus-storage systems making off-grid solutions more affordable, Expansion of telecom networks driving demand for reliable remote power, Government and NGO programs promoting rural electrification, Adoption of portable solar products for outdoor and emergency use, and Integration with mini-grids for community-level power supply.
Representative participants: Off-Grid Electric, d.light, SunPower, Schneider Electric, Tesla Energy, and SMA Solar Technology.
The transportation and consumer electronics segment represents a small but emerging market for solar panels, with applications ranging from solar-powered vehicles and charging stations to portable chargers and wearable devices. Demand is driven by the push for sustainable mobility and the proliferation of IoT devices. Through 2035, growth will be supported by advancements in lightweight, flexible solar technologies and the increasing electrification of transport. Key indicators include EV sales, investment in solar infrastructure, and consumer adoption of portable solar products. Technological trends include the development of high-efficiency flexible thin-film modules, integration into vehicle surfaces, and solar-powered charging stations.
However, growth may be constrained by the limited surface area available on vehicles and the relatively low power output of portable panels. Current trend: Emerging.
Major trends: Integration of solar panels into electric vehicles to extend range, Expansion of solar-powered EV charging infrastructure, Growing demand for portable solar chargers for consumer electronics, Development of lightweight, flexible modules for transportation applications, and Use of solar panels in IoT devices and remote sensors.
Representative participants: Tesla, Toyota, Sono Motors, Lightyear, SunPower, and LG Electronics.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Asia-Pacific leads both production and consumption, driven by China’s massive manufacturing base and ambitious renewable energy targets. India and Japan are also key markets. Growth will be supported by favorable policies and falling costs, though grid integration and land availability pose challenges. Direction: Dominant and growing.
North America is a major market, with the U.S. accounting for most demand. Growth is driven by federal tax credits, state-level renewable portfolio standards, and corporate procurement. Trade policies and supply chain constraints may impact growth, but the long-term outlook remains positive. Direction: Growing steadily.
Europe is a mature market with strong policy support for renewables. The EU’s Green Deal and national targets drive demand, but growth may be tempered by grid bottlenecks and permitting delays. Eastern Europe offers untapped potential. Direction: Growing moderately.
Latin America is an emerging market, with Brazil, Chile, and Mexico leading installations. Growth is driven by auctions and corporate PPAs. Economic volatility and policy uncertainty are key risks, but the region’s high solar irradiation offers significant potential. Direction: Emerging growth.
The Middle East and Africa are poised for rapid growth from a small base, driven by abundant solar resources and falling costs. Countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and South Africa are investing in large-scale projects. Off-grid solar also plays a crucial role in expanding energy access. Direction: Emerging growth.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 9.2% compound annual growth rate for the global solar panels market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 245 by 2035 (2025=100).
Note: indexed curves are used to compare medium-term scenario trajectories when full absolute volumes are not publicly disclosed.
For full methodological details and benchmark tables, see the latest IndexBox Solar Panels market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Solar Panels market in the World, including market size, structure, key trends, and forecast. The study highlights demand drivers, supply constraints, and competitive dynamics across the value chain.
The analysis is designed for manufacturers, distributors, investors, and advisors who require a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. It encompasses the global market for finished modules, including all major product technologies and form factors designed for a wide range of end-use applications.
The market data is classified and analyzed according to international trade codes, primarily under the Harmonized System (HS) headings for photovoltaic cells and electric generating sets. This ensures consistent tracking of trade flows for assembled solar modules and relevant apparatus across global markets.
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The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
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Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
World's largest solar wafer manufacturer
Consistently top module shipper globally
Major producer of cells and modules
Pioneer in module technology and Vertex series
Vertically integrated, strong in project pipeline
Largest US-based manufacturer, unique technology
Major investment in US manufacturing
Significant producer with heterojunction focus
World's largest solar cell producer
Maxeon manufactures SunPower's legacy technology
Pioneer in heterojunction technology
Part of GCL Group, large-scale manufacturer
Vertically integrated under Chint Group
Significant global shipments
Major Indian manufacturer with global presence
Part of Adani Group, large integrated capacity
Exited solar business in 2022 but legacy remains
Historic leader, now smaller scale
Largest US residential solar company
Former industry leader, still significant
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“A significant chunk of the red states have electricity rates below the national average.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A fresh 2025 analysis has again put California second nationwide for highest electricity costs, pointing to the state’s own energy policies as the cause.
According to the “Blue States, High Rates” analysis from the Institute for Energy Research and Always On Energy Research, California’s average retail electricity price was 27.63 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025 — more than double the national average of 13.63 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The report said California’s inflation-adjusted average electricity price has increased 29.9% since 2018, the largest absolute rise of any state. In the 2025 rankings, only Hawaii was higher at 35.72 cents per kilowatt-hour, while North Dakota and Oklahoma were among the cheapest at 8.2 and 9.5 cents, respectively.
To assess what drives rates, the groups said they reviewed six policy areas including renewable portfolio standards, rooftop solar compensation policies, carbon pricing, data center consumer protections, access to natural gas, and utility net-zero goals.
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.
During a webinar, Institute for Energy Research President Tom Pyle said, “A significant chunk of the blue states have higher rates than the national average and a significant chunk of the red states have electricity rates below the national average.”
As Always On Energy CEO Amy Cooke said, “Blue States, High Rates captures what we’ve been saying for years: bad energy policy leads to higher electricity rates.”
For homeowners looking for relief, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy. Tools such as EnergySage let people get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes before deciding.
In an exchange on X with Governor Newsom, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote, “California has strangled its own oil and gas production as well as its refinery capacity, driving up CA energy prices to 40% higher than the country as a whole.”
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California officials and clean-energy advocates say the picture is more complicated than a simple red-state-versus-blue-state comparison.
State leaders have long defended the state’s aggressive clean-energy targets, pointing to major reductions in smog and air pollution, particularly in the Los Angeles area. They have also pointed to California’s leadership in electric vehicle adoption. In the second quarter of 2026, roughly 1 in 5 new vehicles sold in the state were zero-emission vehicles.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that utility-scale solar output topped natural gas generation in the California Independent System Operator during the first five months of 2026 — the ISO serves about 80% of the state.
The Public Advocates Office reported that average residential rates have climbed 97% for San Diego Gas & Electric customers, 101% for Southern California Edison customers, and 69% for Pacific Gas & Electric customers.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
With prices still elevated, California’s energy debate is unlikely to cool off anytime soon.
EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. Together, those resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
EnergySage can be especially valuable for anyone trying to make sense of a major home energy purchase. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. That kind of savings and quote comparison can make it easier to decide whether solar, batteries, or both fit a household’s needs.
These stories take a closer look at what’s driving California’s high electricity costs — and what could help bring them down. 
• Economists say California’s recent energy rate hikes could foreshadow what other states face next.
• California utilities warn surging energy bills can add hundreds during the hottest months.
• The Eland project shows how a massive solar-battery project is reshaping California’s grid.
• State officials have approved plans to harness California’s untapped wind resource offshore.
• The 732-mile TransWest line would send wind energy from Wyoming to California homes and businesses.
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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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Leaves and other yard debris account for about 13% of what ends up in municipal dumps.
Photo Credit: iStock
Don’t worry about bagging leaves this fall. Instead, shred leaves where they are with a lawnmower to save hours on raking, boost yard health, and minimize waste.
According to Good Housekeeping, mowing fallen leaves into small pieces can discourage weeds like crabgrass and dandelions, hold moisture in the ground, and improve soil structure.
It’s a great way to minimize lawn upkeep, maintain healthy soil with less fertilizer, and reduce water use since the soil stays moist longer. Keeping weeds down is another benefit for anyone trying to make yard care easier.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leaves and other yard debris account for about 13% of what ends up in municipal dumps. Mulching them on the property instead of sending them away helps keep that material out of landfills. Fewer leaf piles at the curb can also lower safety risks and reduce the taxpayer-funded expense of municipal collection.
Experts in Good Housekeeping’s Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab advise removing the bag before starting. A mower with a mulching mode can then cut the leaves into finer pieces, which lets them decompose faster.
It can also help to raise the mower deck to about 5 inches so the machine can travel more easily over thicker leaf cover. Before mowing, pick up large sticks, rocks, and other debris to avoid damaging the equipment.
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Some lawns may need a few passes to break everything down, and very deep accumulations can be raked out a bit first. It is best to mow once rain has passed and heavy dew has dried.
Mulching leaves in place can help build healthier soil naturally, and it pairs well with other low-chemical yard practices such as controlling weeds without chemicals.
This way, leaf cleanup can take less time, produce less waste, and reduce yard maintenance.
These stories explain how to mulch leaves, when to leave them in place, and how to use mulch around the yard.
• Fall gardeners keep nutrients on-site by turning leaves into free fertilizer for beds instead of bagging them.
• In many yards, it is better to leave leaves through winter for habitat and soil.
• Backyards become a microcosm of biodiversity when leaves stay put for insects and birds.
• Homeowners can do the planet a favor by skipping unnecessary leaf removal in fall.
• Organic gardeners avoid common mistakes by using mulch the right way around soil and plants.
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