Solar Now

The US solar policy landscape has ebbed and flowed in the last month. After back-to-back shocks and changes over recent months, from the Safe Harbour deadline in early July and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) inverter ban later that month, to the Section 232 tariffs in early August, things quietened down from August to mid-September.
Or they had done until this week, when the Department of Commerce (DOC) clarified anti-stockpiling rules preventing a rush of polysilicon imports before Section 232 comes into force. We published some snap industry analysis and reaction to that news yesterday, which you can find here. And my first US Policy Focus piece looked at the impacts that Section 232 may have for upstream US solar manufacturing.
Get Premium Subscription
The second Policy Focus piece will look at the impact of a number changes that have happened over the last month or so: the executive order banning certain power equipment, the latest anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) determinations for Indian solar products, the impact that Trump’s policies have had on US clean energy jobs and the reinstatement of a low-income solar grant.  
On 26 August, president Donald Trump issued an emergency executive order banning the import of certain power equipment for grid-connected energy projects. It included grid-connected inverters, transformers and battery energy storage systems (BESS), alongside other equipment, and covered 24 countries on US embargo and sanctions lists. Obviously, for that equipment, China is the most pertinent country on the list.
The ultimate effects of the executive order are still unclear; the Department of Energy (DOE) has 120 days to issue rules on how to implement the order, though it seems that its framework will be similar to the Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions introduced last year, in focusing on the country of origin for specific components and materials. It will only affect transmission-grid scale products, leaving out smaller distributed energy sites.
The executive order said that certain products from certain countries pose an “unacceptable risk” to US grid security, largely on the grounds of cybersecurity risk, and declared a “national emergency”.
Legal experts from Norton Rose Fulbright have said the DOE may introduce “white lists” of permitted products, or develop a permitting system for developers wishing to use sensitive kit. More stringent measures could see existing equipment already in the US modified, monitored or removed.
Even more confusingly, this is a separate measure from the FCC’s designation that all foreign-made power inverters pose an “unacceptable risk to national security”. Speakers at the 2026 US Battery Asset Management Summit in California this week said that the FCC ban, along with the broader equipment ban, posed a greater risk to US renewable energy deployment than the FEOC restrictions that made headlines last summer. You can read PV Tech’s analysis of the solar market’s response to the FCC inverter ban here.
What does seem clear is that these two bans—which will particularly hit imports of inverters, for which the US currently cannot meet demand through domestic production, and potentially energy storage components too—are part of the current administration’s suite of “security” measures that will ultimately harm renewable energy deployments.
When the Section 232 polysilicon tariffs were announced—in the name of national security—it quickly became clear that they would help a small number of US solar manufacturers that already have a foothold but make deployments more expensive and provide essentially no incentive for new upstream manufacturing plans.
So far, restrictive efforts like FEOC and safe harbour deadlines have caused a rush in project development, and 2026 has actually seen a 45% year-on-year increase in solar deployments. But based on comments at this week’s Batter Asset Management Summit in California, the inverter, transformer and BESS bans could be formulated in a way “to kill a lot” of the planned development.
The DOC also reached final determinations in the AD/CVD investigation into solar cells imported from India, Indonesia and Laos. As with previous AD/CVD cases, rates varied between countries and manufacturers. The biggest market, India, had AD and CVD rates of 123.04% and 126.09%, respectively. Laos and Indonesia saw lower rates.
The new AD/CVD case may not have a huge impact on the US solar market, given the various other cases already in force and the other import barriers already making it expensive to bring things into the US.
PV Tech heard that cell facilities in Indonesia and Laos may be forced to close unless they can find alternative markets, as the US was the primary reason for companies to establish capacity in those countries. The same pattern happened with the previous AD/CVD investigation in Southeast Asia, which slapped duties on cells and modules from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.
When it comes to India, most cell producers will be prioritising the domestic market anyway, with Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) policies that already support Indian cell production.
Waaree has the biggest US solar manufacturing footprint of any Indian company, with plans to potentially expand cell capacity. The new AD/CVD may accelerate those plans. Other Indian producers in the US, like Inox, which bought Boviet Solar’s US module assembly assets, will see US costs rise if they rely on Indian cells.
But, more broadly, there are so many barriers to importing cells to the US already that this AD/CVD case may make a limited difference for the US manufacturing landscape. Section 232 will already make importing assembled modules to the US a non-starter, and given that the time it would take to build a new US cell facility from scratch today would roughly coincide with the end of the Section 45X manufacturing tax credit, anyone not already planning such a move is unlikely to commit as a result of this.
A coalition of manufacturers, including First Solar and Hanwha QCells, was behind these AD/CVD investigations; the tariffs show the impact that a small group of US solar manufacturers can have in pushing for measures to make life harder for their competitors, many of whom are themselves based in the US but still rely on imported cells from various global suppliers.
US business group E2 reported this week that US clean energy industries lost almost 40,000 jobs in 2025 as a result of the Trump administration’s policy reversals and its broad anti-renewables actions. The company noted that the losses are significant enough to be an active reversal of the positive trend seen in preceding years, not just slower growth.
The “One Big, Beautiful” budget reconciliation bill of 2025 led to project cancellations and the removal of tax credits for residential and utility-scale solar developments. Alongside tighter permitting rules and broadsides against electric vehicle adoption, the US’ clean energy economy has taken a significant step backwards as a result of the changes. E2 said earlier this year that the OBBBA had cost the US around US$100 billion in clean energy investments.
In a more hopeful development for US energy consumers, a Rhode Island judge ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) decision to cancel the Biden Administration’s Solar For All programme was unlawful, and called for the programme to continue.
US District Judge Mary McElroy ruled that the US$7 billion scheme, which was introduced to give grants to low- and moderate-income households, should never have been cancelled and the money never “pocketed” by the EPA because Congress intended to continue issuing the money.
This is good news for low-income households, particularly at a time of rising energy bills and other pressures on the cost of living. It’s also another small example of legal pushback against some of the Trump administration’s more stringent and aggressive moves against renewable energy.
Earlier this year a DC court ruled that the changes to “safe harbour” regulations for solar tax credits were too stringent, and reinstated the rule that a project could secure tax credits by committing 5% of its value by the deadline. Both are small moves, but there are small victories to be found in them.
The US policy landscape will be discussed in more detail at the PV CellTech USA conference on 13-14 October 2026. Read the full agenda here and book tickets on the event website.

source

Chile energy storage and curtailment: State of play and outlook  BNamericas
source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“You need batteries to have power when the grid goes down. Solar is only part of the solution.”
Photo Credit: iStock
One Minnesota homeowner hoping to start a cheap solar panel project and add backup power later sparked a debate about what it takes to cut utility bills and keep the lights on during an outage.
The discussion began in a Reddit thread posted to the site’s r/SolarDIY forum after the homeowner said a utility rate change had driven costs sharply higher, writing, “Our bills have doubled.”
The original poster said that they wanted to use a sunny detached garage to bring down a household load of about 900 kilowatt-hours per month, with expansion plans deferred. As the OP put it in a comment, “I would be OK with a $20 electric bill and the cost of solar.”
Commenters zeroed in on the biggest complication, added blackout protection.
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.
Whether the system could safely provide backup power depended on the buried line between the garage and house, the inverter setup, and the transfer-switch arrangement, one user said. “You need batteries to have power when the grid goes down. Solar is only part of the solution,” they added.
Standard grid-tied solar systems usually shut off during outages for safety reasons, making battery backups critical for outages.
Still, one commenter pointed to a notable exception: an Enphase IQ8 configuration paired with an IQ System Controller 2 and a neutral-forming transformer. Even then, that kind of setup requires specialized equipment and careful design.
Using the homeowner’s monthly consumption of 30 kilowatt-hours a day, one estimate put the minimum solar array at 8.6 kW. That commenter suggested 9-10 kW DC as a more realistic starting point since snow, weather variation, panel aging, and imperfect roof orientation should be considered.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
Because the plan involved a detached garage, several roof orientations, possible future batteries, utility interconnection, and even salvaged vehicle battery packs, another commenter urged professional design help. “There are enough interacting pieces here that a mistake can get very expensive very quickly, and some mistakes could be deadly,” they warned.
Cutting your electric bill and building backup power are related goals, but they are not the same project. A grid-tied system may reduce monthly charges, while a battery-ready hybrid system can add resilience, albeit at a higher upfront cost.
If you’re considering panels, EnergySage can help you get free solar and battery backup installation estimates and allow you to easily compare quotes.
Plus, EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state along with details on solar panel incentives in each state. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on a solar purchase and installation.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
If you’re weighing the same trade-off between lower electric bills and backup power, these stories show how other homeowners approached it. 
• One person skipped the battery, added an EV charger, and said the solar worked fine.
• Solar owners debating off-grid upgrades say they don’t even notice power outages with battery backup.
• Homeowners are racing toward bill-slashing futuristic tech that keeps lights on during outages.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Indian solar module manufacturer Navitas Solar plans to invest INR 10,000 crore over the next five years to expand across the renewable energy value chain, including solar cells, ingots, wafers, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and renewable power generation.
The company plans to build an integrated renewable energy ecosystem across Gujarat and Maharashtra, with investments across both the upstream and downstream segments of the renewable energy value chain.
As part of the expansion, Navitas Solar is already progressing with a 2.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility at Sisodara, Gujarat, with Phase I involving an investment of around INR 1,200 crore. The company is also developing pilot lines for ingot and wafer manufacturing, which are intended to build technical capabilities and create a foundation for future scale-up. The cell manufacturing facility is targeted to become operational by July 2027.
The company is also expanding beyond manufacturing into renewable energy generation and energy storage. In Maharashtra, Navitas Solar is developing two solar parks with capacities of 200 MW and 25 MW, respectively, under EPC and independent power producer (IPP) models. In Gujarat, the company is entering the energy storage segment with a planned 5 GWh battery energy storage facility in Vadodara, further strengthening its capabilities across the clean-energy ecosystem.
“India’s renewable energy journey is entering a phase where scale, technology and supply-chain depth will increasingly determine the competitiveness of the sector. At Navitas Solar, we want to participate across the value chain and build capabilities that enable us to contribute meaningfully to India’s clean energy transition,” said Ankit Singhania, Director, Navitas Solar. “Our planned INR 10,000 crore investment over the next five years is a reflection of this ambition.”
The planned investments build on Navitas Solar’s existing manufacturing base. The company has a 3 GW annual solar module manufacturing capacity and manufactures high-efficiency solar modules, including TOPCon and bifacial Mono PERC technologies. It has also been pursuing backward integration through its solar encapsulant business, Navitas Alpha, while expanding its renewable energy portfolio through subsidiaries such as Navitas Planet. Alongside utility-scale renewable energy projects in India, its EPC business is expanding its presence across the Southern African region for execution of utility/IPP scale projects.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!

You have no items in your basket.

source

Indian conglomerate Nava Limited has announced the commissioning of a 100 MW solar project in Zambia.
The project was completed by Nava’s subsidiary Maamba Solar Energy Limited (MSEL), a Zambian renewable energy company. Nava holds a 65% stake in MSEL, with Zambia’s ZCCM Investments Holding covering the remaining 35%.
Located in the Sinazongwe district within Zambia’s southern province, the Maamba solar energy project is connected to the country’s national grid. 
MSEL holds a 20-year power purchase agreement with Zambia’s national power utility ZESCO covering the entire power generated by the 100 MW solar plant. Nava disclosed in May 2025 that MSEL signed the agreement at a tariff of $0.078/kWh.
Total investment in the project reached around $90 million, financed via debt and equity from both Nava and ZCCM.
According to a statement published by Nava, the commissioning “represents a strategic milestone for the group’s formal entry into utility-scale renewable energy and broadening its business portfolio beyond its traditional core sectors.”
“It represents a deliberate diversification strategy, positioning it to participate in the global shift toward clean energy, building a scalable platform for future renewables ventures across geographies” the statement adds.
The project is the latest in a series of large-scale solar sites to begin operating in Zambia. In May, the country’s 136 MW Itimpi II plant entered operation. In July, ZESCO doubled the capacity of its Chisamba solar power plant from 100 MW to 200 MW.
Recent figures published by the country’s Ministry of Energy put Zambia’s operational solar capacity at 841 MW. The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has identified 1.33 GW of operational solar projects in Zambia to date, according to figures in its project database, 539 MW of which is listed as C&I projects. 
Zambia is currently one of Africa’s most active solar markets, in part down to an ongoing market liberalisation that is making it one of the most attractive markets to private sector renewable energy developers.
Last week, Hungarian developer EnerSynk Group entered into a 25-year PPA with ZESCO for a proposed 500 MW solar plant.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new ESS News magazine is here!
Download your free digital copy today.
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026
14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma

You have no items in your basket.

source

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
This signup form requires necessary cookies.
Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form.
Next Upcoming

By Canary Media
Canary Media
24 September 2026
Tim Pawlenty was a two-term Republican governor of Minnesota and made a run in the 2012 presidential primary, which ultimately went to Mitt Romney. Now, Pawlenty has reemerged on the national political scene as the leading evangelist for solar energy, while the industry seeks to recover from a stinging political defeat.
In June, Pawlenty took over as president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, the largest solar-specific trade group in the U.S. He steps into the job at a uniquely turbulent moment in the industry’s history. Solar developers had revved up to take advantage of the supportive policies in President Joe Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, only to have Republicans win back control of D.C. in 2024 and gut the climate law in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“The current state is relatively bleak,” Pawlenty said of solar’s political clout in Washington. ​“But … nothing stays the same in politics, and there’s hope in what’s to come in the future.” He was speaking during my onstage interview with him Tuesday at Canary Media’s Climate Week NYC summit on the energy transition in rural America, one of Pawlenty’s first public appearances in his new role.
Despite the setbacks in Congress, solar is far and away the biggest source of electricity getting built in the country right now, and has been for several years. Factor in the ​“unbelievable exploding demand for energy in our country,” and the business fundamentals for solar and storage have never looked stronger. But, Pawlenty noted, state and federal governments still stand between the sector and what can get built, so the industry has to sharpen its political efforts if it wants to deliver on its enormous potential.
“Eventually, the policymakers catch up to the facts,” he said. ​“We have really good facts on our side. Some of the old narratives, some of the old spins … are out of date. If you bring policymakers to the current story with current facts, it goes something like this: Solar and storage is the most cost-effective form of energy in the country, without question.”
And while a common Republican critique of the domestic solar industry is that it relies too much on panels imported from China, in fact, the U.S. has nearly eliminated Chinese panels thanks to trade policy and the rapid growth of domestic manufacturing capacity, Pawlenty said.
Besides working to ensure politicians have fresh intel on the state of U.S. energy, Pawlenty wants to push for policies where a strong bipartisan consensus already exists.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
This signup form requires necessary cookies.
Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form.
“Going forward, we’d like to adopt policies and have politics around solar and storage that are durable,” Pawlenty said. ​“While it’s very tempting to just say, ​‘Let’s roll whenever we can roll,’ I think it’s wise to at least take a half a step back and say, ​‘Are we advocating for policies that are likely to survive political turbulence and change?’”
For instance, Pawlenty argued, the industry should push to ​“turbocharge” domestic manufacturing for clean energy. Indeed, Trump’s budget law kept the Inflation Reduction Act’s domestic manufacturing incentives, even as it cut tax credits for solar installation, and the Trump administration has adopted stricter trade protections on imported solar panels since then. Domestic solar and battery manufacturing has surged in the last four years, but it’s still too early to evaluate the long-term stability of this recent industrial revival.
The solar industry aspires to mass appeal, but its members often get tied in knots of jargon when they try to communicate outside their own ranks. Pawlenty avoids that pitfall by making his case in plain English, and drawing connections between solar and conservative values that don’t typically get floated in climate policy conversations.
“Iran can’t block the sun, and so if you’re into national security, as I am, I like things that Iran can’t block, or North Korea, or China, or Russia, or any of the other folks who want to do us harm,” he said.
Though energy policy gets written in cities, large-scale solar projects get built where there is space. As of last year, 87% of U.S. clean energy generation happened in rural areas of the country, per a Rural Climate Partnership analysis. This buildout has increasingly encountered local resistance in communities concerned about changing uses of legacy farmland, a fear sometimes exacerbated by misinformation that spreads on social media.
As many rural areas consider restrictive rules to limit solar or battery installations, Pawlenty said the solar industry can position itself as a defender of private property rights, supporting policies that allow farmers to develop their own land as they see fit.
“I’m from a farm state — I’ve spent a lot of time in farm areas and with farmers,” he said. ​“From a conservative standpoint, land rights are pretty important. We want to make sure that those are not lost in the shuffle either, as we talk about what farmers can do with their land as the owners of land.”

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
This signup form requires necessary cookies.
Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form.
Julian Spector is a senior reporter at Canary Media. He reports on batteries, long-duration energy storage, low-carbon hydrogen, and clean energy breakthroughs around the world.
Electrification
Politics
Offshore wind
Virtual power plants
U.S. regions
This video requires marketing cookies.
Update your cookie preferences to watch the video.

source

From ESS News
Solar Solutions Group AG, a Swiss brand-licensing and procurement company that designs, quality-assures, and distributes premium solar systems globally through contract manufacturers under licensed brands like AEG, has presented an AEG-branded AC-coupled, low-voltage storage system for residential applications.
The system was developed by Dutch partner companies BM Energy and Apex Power Supplies, with a focus on the requirements of the Dutch residential market. BM Energy is an importer, distributor and wholesaler of renewable-energy products for the residential and commercial sectors, while Apex Power Supplies is a Poeldijk-based distributor specializing in residential batteries and energy storage systems for installers and energy professionals.
“The Solarcube Pro is an extension of the existing AEG Solarcube range,” Govert Zaalberg, COO of BM Energy, told pv magazine.
According to the product datasheet, the Solarcube Pro is a storage system with 6.0 kWh of nominal battery capacity and 6.028 kWh of nominal battery energy. It uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells.
The 6 kWh configuration consists of a 3 kWh base unit combined with a 3 kWh battery power module. AEG describes the product as a plug-and-play system designed for integration into residential properties.
The battery can charge and discharge at up to 3 kW. On-grid AC output is rated at 800 W as standard, with a 1,500 W “premium” setting. The manufacturer notes that activation of the premium function is subject to local regulations and should only be carried out by authorized personnel.
The system operates at a 90% depth of discharge, according to the datasheet, which states that the figure is based on testing at 25 C.
The 6 kWh version measures 575.5 mm x 460 mm x 281 mm and weighs 54 kg. It has an IP66 enclosure and an operating temperature range of -20 C to 55 C. Communications options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and CAN.
AEG says the storage system supports dynamic electricity pricing and self-consumption, as well as AI-optimized power consumption and virtual power plant applications. It also provides backup power functionality, according to the company.
The new product carries a 10-year technical warranty and a stated 15-year service life. The datasheet specifies cumulative discharged energy of 18.3 MWh per battery over 10 years, based on 70% end-of-life capacity.
It also lists IEC 62619 and UN 38.3 among the applicable battery standards and VDE 4105, IEC 61727/62116 and EN 50549-1 among its grid-compliance standards.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new ESS News magazine is here!
Download your free digital copy today.
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026
14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma

You have no items in your basket.

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“I don’t want to find a campground with hookups. I want to be able to park somewhere like this.”
Photo Credit: YouTube
To see whether life in a converted box truck could stay comfortable in the California and Arizona desert once temperatures topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit, one owner relied entirely on rooftop solar, battery storage, and an efficient mini-split instead of plugging in.
A YouTube video by Dave from Ebike VanLife (@EbikeVanlife) showed a converted 2003 Chevy Kodiak C4500 tiny home traveling through hot parts of California and Arizona while keeping its air conditioning running off-grid.
For the test, there were no campground electrical hookups, no shore power connection, and no generator operating during the day.
Cooling came from a 12,000-BTU mini-split that runs on 110 volts, supported by a 3,000-watt Sungold inverter/charger, roughly 10 kilowatt-hours of 24-volt lithium batteries, and three 650-watt solar panels for 1,950 watts total.
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.
Dave said they bought the mini-split on Facebook Marketplace for about $500. They added that the system was meant to do more than provide a little temporary relief from the heat.
“I don’t want to find a campground with hookups. I want to be able to park somewhere like this,” they said, describing a setup that could also support cooking, refrigeration, work, and device charging.
Going solar is also one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially if you’re trying to offset heavy summer cooling costs. Homeowners who want to explore it can try EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
Dave’s test suggested that a converted box truck could stay comfortable in high heat, partly because a mini-split is more efficient than a standard rooftop RV air conditioner.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
In the video, Dave noted that an inverter mini-split can ramp its performance up or down to match demand instead of repeatedly switching fully on and off like a typical rooftop unit. That flexibility matters in an off-grid setup where the same solar production and battery capacity also have to cover the rest of daily life.
The rig was built to function as a genuine off-grid home, Dave said, with a sleeping space, a kitchen, a bathroom, and 75 gallons of fresh water on board.
“Excellent explanation of how solar is used to power your mini split and comparative efficiency of traditional rooftop AC units v mini split,” one commenter wrote. “The best part was the drone footage that showed just how isolated you were from ppl and shore power.” 
If this test has you thinking about your own home, EnergySage offers free tools that let you compare competitive bids from local installers without them getting your contact information unless you choose to work with one further.
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
That kind of comparison shopping can make a major financial difference. 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 details on solar panel incentives for each state, helping homeowners find the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and reduce reliance on an unpredictable grid. Homeowners interested in that option can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
“And there’s something pretty funny about using the brutal desert sun to generate the electricity that keeps me cool enough to survive the brutal desert sun,” Dave said.
These stories explore how far solar power can go in real-world conditions. They cover homes and off-grid setups using rooftop panels and batteries to handle heavy energy demands.
• One homeowner kept whole-house AC and two EVs running through 90-degree summer heat.
• In the Rocky Mountains, a family of five showed how 1,000 watts of solar powered daily off-grid life.
• In snowy conditions, one off-grid homeowner showed that solar panels still generated power when many assumed they wouldn’t.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Nadara has completed Big Fish, a 227 MW agrivoltaic project in Sicily that the company describes as Italy’s largest agrivoltaic plant. The project, located near Catania, was developed with the support of Amazon, which has signed a 156 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) for electricity from the facility.
Located around 40 km from Mount Etna across the municipalities of Catania, Lentini and Motta Sant’Anastasia, Big Fish covers 400 hectares across 15 plots. The project was built in 12 months with the participation of more than 900 workers, while half of the land remains dedicated to active agriculture.
The agrivoltaic system was developed in collaboration with the University of Catania’s Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Solar panels have been installed at heights of up to three metres to allow farming activities to continue underneath, while 14 wells have been built or restored to support irrigation. The project also includes measures to support biodiversity, with beehives expected to produce around 4.5 tonnes of honey per year.
According to Nadara, local municipalities will receive at least €17.25 million in services and energy-efficiency funding over the plant’s lifetime. These commitments include infrastructure improvements, monitoring systems for public buildings and electric vehicles for municipal use. The project has also involved planting 38,000 trees and maintaining 2.5 km of public waterways.
Nadara Chief Growth Officer Jorge Martínez said the project illustrates how large-scale renewable generation can coexist with productive agricultural land and create long-term value for local communities.
Amazon Italy Managing Director Giorgio Busnelli said the company wants to support renewable energy projects that contribute to the energy transition while benefiting surrounding communities. Amazon has supported the development of eight large-scale solar projects in Italy and installed 32 solar systems at its facilities in the country. Together, the 40 projects have an estimated capacity of 532 MW.
The Big Fish PPA builds on an existing relationship between Nadara and Amazon, which already includes previous agreements in Finland and Italy. Amazon said the projects form part of its wider European portfolio of more than 260 renewable energy projects, expected to provide more than 10 GW of new carbon-free energy capacity once completed.
Alongside Big Fish, Nadara has also completed the 46 MW Sardella solar PV project. The two facilities were built simultaneously next to each other and, according to the company, together represent the largest solar development ever carried out in Italy. Sardella also includes energy-efficiency initiatives in the municipality of Belpasso, alongside agricultural and environmental measures.
Sé el primero en comentar…

source

MANILA, Philippines — ACEN Corp. of the Zobel family has completed the sale of a portion of its stake in a large-scale solar project in India to Netherlands-based Diamond India Renewables One B.V. (DIRO).
In a stock exchange filing yesterday, ACEN said the deal closed on Sept. 23, giving DIRO an initial 10-percent voting interest in Tejorupa Renewables India Project Pte. Ltd.
The transaction follows ACEN’s earlier disclosure of plans to divest up to a 49-percent stake in Tejorupa. Financial details were not immediately disclosed.
To facilitate the deal, ACEN units Unlimited Renewables Holdings B.V. and Amsa Solar Holdco Pte. Ltd. entered into a securities subscription and purchase agreement, as well as a shareholders’ agreement, with DIRO.
Unlimited Renewables is a subsidiary of ACEN, while Amsa Solar is an entity under ACEN’s joint venture with Singapore-based UPC Renewables for power projects in India.
Through the investment, DIRO gains an interest in Tejorupa, which is developing a 250-megawatt (MW) alternating-current solar farm in Rajasthan, India.
As of June, India projects accounted for around 20 percent of ACEN’s total attributable renewables capacity, latest company data showed.
In recent months, the Ayala Group’s listed energy platform has moved to reduce its equity interests in select renewable power projects under construction in India.
Earlier this year, ACEN also disclosed plans to sell up to 49-percent interests in two India wind projects totaling 120 MW to DIRO.
These include the 100-MW Diyos Renewables project and the 20-MW Avana Renewables facility. Both projects will rise in Karnataka, India.
Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
Signup for the News Round now

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“I was quoted (and I rejected) $70k for roughly half of this equipment with a bunch of panels.”
Photo Credit: Indaspec
Sticker shock is almost unavoidable when homeowners start pricing out whole-home battery backup systems. 
But one Ohio resident shopping for enough storage to support a geothermal system learned that a seemingly huge quote may not have been as outrageous as it first seemed.
The estimate, shared by a homeowner in southwest Ohio to Reddit’s r/FranklinWH community, totaled $55,100 for a whole-home backup package. 
According to the original poster, the home has 400-amp service, and the proposed equipment included two aGates, three Franklin aPower 2 batteries, a smart circuit module, a generator module, and a 30-amp 240-volt generator plug. The bid also covered permits, labor, breakers, disconnects, wiring, other electrical components, and drywall repair if needed.
OP wrote that, “The price seems maybe $10k more than I was expecting. What do you guys think? … Fair price?”
The commenters surprised the OP when they overwhelmingly chimed in to say the package quote wasn’t as inflated as initially thought.
One commenter wrote, “This actually seems rather cheap for all this. Apower2 are usually $11k+ each. You need a lot of wiring and conduit work.” 
Another user called the quote “incredibly fair in my opinion,” and a third said it “seems fair, borderline cheap.”
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers 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.
Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
One user added, “Looks like a very fair price. I was quoted (and I rejected) $70k for roughly half of this equipment with a bunch of panels.”
For comparison, one commenter from Massachusetts said they spent $32,680 on a system with two aPower 2 batteries and one aGate. They added that theirs came with solar and no add-ons, which may have pushed some of the electrical work into the solar portion of the project.
Adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect a home during outages. It can also help households save money on energy and make partial or full off-grid living more realistic, especially when paired with solar or other electrified systems. But those wanting to harness geothermal energy can expect higher upfront costs.
For readers doing similar research, it may help to explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
Another option is Pila, which offers excellent battery backup options. Its plug-and-play batteries are priced at a fraction of what a whole-home backup system would cost, making them worth considering for households that want emergency power without committing to a major installation.
Other homeowners have run into similar sticker shock while pricing out backup power and electrification upgrades. 
• In Ohio, a homeowner weighed a $50,000 solar setup and learned their bills may not vanish.
• In Virginia, HVAC pros said to get more quotes after a $12,000 heat pump bid.
• In central New Jersey, homeowners faced $15K to $20K HVAC quotes and questioned heat pumps.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Rows of solar panels similar to those found in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
On February 25, 2025, a 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line disconnected between Vallenar and Coquimbo, Northern Chile. The Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional reported loss of supply from Arica in the far north to Los Lagos region in the south; the distance spanning over 3,100 km. The largest blackout in the country’s history affected 98.5% of its population.
The event demonstrates the key structural element of the Chilean electricity system. The country’s strongest solar resource is the Atacama Desert, its best wind resource in the far south, and its principal demand centre sits in the middle. Italy’s transmission geography shares similarities, at a smaller scale. Most Italian solar and wind potential is in the continental south and the islands, with the heaviest demand over a thousand kilometres to the north. A single dominant axis moving bulk power over long distances is common to both countries.
Both countries are committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Chile’s target is set in national legislation, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) treats it as a legally binding obligation, whilst Italy’s commitment derives from European law rather than a national climate statute.
The two economies differ in scale. Italy is several times larger in population, energy demand and GDP, and operates inside the EU single market. Though there are important distinctions to be made, there are also useful parallels to be drawn in the outcome drivers of the energy sector: resource quality, market design, and climate policy.
Chile restructured its electricity market in 1982, decades before the climate question was widely considered. Generation, transmission and supply were separated, and generators were dispatched in order of short-run marginal cost. Two rules shaped the sector from this point: first, the cheapest available generation is dispatched first, and second, long-term supply contracts are allocated to the lowest bidders at regular auctions.
The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is recognised as one of the very first places in the world where utility-scale, unsubsidised solar energy began winning on price, outcompeting fossil fuels.
Solar and wind together now supply more than a third of Chilean electricity, with hydropower contributing close to another third, while the share generated from coal has fallen from 43.6% in 2016 to below 16%.
Chile, with its unique natural conditions, did not generate this shift towards renewable sources through subsidies. Instead, these changes have been enabled by favourable economic fundamentals; strategic policies implemented to allow the emerging technologies to develop and to compete. However, this is not the case across all sectors; the decarbonisation of the energy grid has proceeded alongside continued fossil fuel dependence in transport and heating, costing the country around $14 billion in 2024.
Throughout the 2010s, most of Europe, including Italy, relied heavily on imported natural gas, and the renewable share of generation remained flat; this reliance continues. In 2022, energy prices spiked, exposing the vulnerability of external dependence. For Italy, with three-quarters of energy imported, price volatility fed immediately into industrial and household costs. This coincided with binding EU climate objectives under Fit for 55, and the combination accelerated renewable deployment.
Italian policy reflects dual drivers with equal weight: energy security and EU decarbonisation mandates. The mechanism differs from Chile, which built machinery to find the lowest price. Comparatively, Italy built machinery to stabilise prices and improve project bankability, with the intention of making renewable investments more attractive to financing institutions.
The resulting volumes are substantial. In December 2025, the energy agency GSE awarded 7.7 GW of solar and 940 MW of wind under FER X, the first major competitive auction round. The scale was partly due to pent-up pipeline capacity that had accumulated.
Wholesale power markets settle at marginal cost, so every generator running in a given hour receives the price set by the most expensive plant dispatched. In Italy, that plant is, for most of the 24-hour cycle, gas-fired.
Paradoxically, Italy’s low renewable generation costs do not reduce consumer prices. The country maintains Europe’s most expensive retail electricity market despite massive renewable deployment. This pricing dynamic is evident across Europe: the larger the gas share of generation, the higher the average wholesale price. Electrification lags behind because gas-linked prices weaken the economics of replacing gas boilers and internal-combustion vehicles. Italy’s automotive manufacturing sector is still locked into internal combustion engine (ICE) production and slow to move toward electric vehicles, which creates industrial and political resistance to the broader shift away from gas.
Chile uses the same mechanism, with remarkably different results. Zero-marginal-cost solar generation entering a marginal-cost dispatch lowered the clearing price directly, and the IEA projects household energy bills will fall substantially by mid-century. 
Where renewable entry reduces consumer bills, public support is self-sustaining. Where it does not, as in Italy, policy faces an additional challenge: the absence of visible consumer benefit drives local opposition to new projects. NIMBY, or “not in my backyard,”  resistance to both transmission infrastructure and distributed generation has become a binding constraint on deployment, requiring intensive stakeholder engagement. 
In February 2026, the Italian government issued Law Decree 21, known as the Decreto Bollette. Article 6 provided for reimbursing gas-fired generators for their compliance costs under the EU Emissions Trading System, with the intention of reducing the marginal price paid by consumers. The measure was conditional on European Commission approval under state aid rules.
That authorisation did not follow. The Commission’s temporary state aid framework of April 29, 2026 set conditions incompatible with the measure, so Article 6 will not enter into force. Renewable and storage investors were identified as the parties most exposed had it taken effect.
The Chilean total net effective carbon rate, priced roughly at $36/tonne, is among the lowest effective rates compared to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, but the country is focused on decarbonising the energy sector regardless. Italy, operating inside the most developed emissions trading system globally, met 41% of its power demand from renewable sources in 2024, the resulting carbon cost offset by the power price.
Carbon pricing was neither necessary for Chile’s outcome nor sufficient for Italy’s, and relative technology costs and market structure explain considerably more of the difference. This is the case specifically for electricity; carbon pricing remains the principal available instrument in transport, heating and heavy industry, where no lower-cost substitute has emerged.
Both countries deployed generation, but neither has solved the infrastructure and consent challenges that follow. The binding constraint has shifted from generation capacity to transmission and storage. In Italy, there’s an additional problem embedded in this: despite deploying 40 GW of renewables, the country still maintains Europe’s most expensive retail electricity market.
Chile’s principal response is the Kimal–Lo Aguirre link, a 600 kV transmission line of approximately 1,500 kilometres running from Antofagasta towards the metropolitan area of Santiago, due in service in 2029. The 2024 Energy Transition Law additionally allows fast-track priority for transmission works with a simplified permitting process.
Italy’s response is a €23 billion, ten-year programme from Terna, whose 2025 development plan targets an increase in exchange capacity between market zones from around 16 to 39 gigawatts. 
Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:
Permitting presents an important constraint in both markets, with no efficient mechanism in sight to address permitting timeframes for individual solar photovoltaic (PV) or battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects, nor for transmission lines. Both Chile and Italy are exposed to uncertainty around the timing and viability of large-scale projects and the transmission capacity necessary for their operation. While individual projects utilise a limited, carefully selected plot of land, transmission lines can traverse hundreds or even thousands of kilometres, and create a different set of challenges.          
Italy’s northern demand centre neighbours France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia; their electrical systems are mutually interconnected. As of 2026, Chile has no operating cross-border interconnection. Chilean adequacy must therefore be secured domestically.
Both countries are in vital need of BESS storage; the most recent technological innovation and the key to unlocking continued decarbonisation. Italy treats it as regulated grid infrastructure. Under MACSE, the capacity market for electricity storage, Terna procured 10 GWh of battery capacity in 2025 across southern Italy and the islands under fifteen-year fixed-premium contracts for 2028 delivery, oversubscribed four times and priced well below reserve premium. Chile is currently operating around 1 GW of batteries, most of them added to existing PV plants. A smaller portion operates as stand-alone systems, relieving a congested grid at peak solar hours and reinjecting electricity at night when spot prices peak. 
The remaining asymmetry is financial. Chile has historically demonstrated high fiscal discipline but pays emerging-market prices for capital. Italy’s deep capital markets and EU support compensate for a high sovereign debt relative to GDP. 
The renewable energy assets are financed over 15- to 20-year horizons. The assumptions that applicable rules will remain in force present an ongoing risk. While banks and investors value stable, predictable cost and revenue flows typically associated with mature industries, the dynamically evolving renewable energy/BESS market innovates at a much faster pace. 
The differences set out above are differences of method rather than of destination. Chile and Italy play with different cards — each has advantages the other lacks, whether created by nature, historical context, institutional support or economic realities. What transcends the comparison is the shared objective: carbon neutrality by 2050. It may seem a distant future; however, it will be achieved within the operating life of the assets both countries are financing today.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: K.
Cristiano Spillati is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Limes Renewable Energy, an international developer of solar, wind, and battery storage projects. He brings nearly 30 years of executive experience across consulting, telecoms, and clean energy, with the past two decades dedicated entirely to renewables. Before founding Limes, Cristiano was Managing Partner at Koralion Partners, advising major renewable energy investors, and helped expand global solar PV projects at SkyPower Global. Since 2004, he has played a key role in advancing clean energy initiatives across 17 countries on four continents. Cristiano holds a law degree from the University of Bologna and an MSc in Economics from the University of Warwick. He has lived and worked internationally, bringing a global perspective to renewable energy development.
Martin Libra is Managing Director for LATAM at Limes, an international renewable energy developer active across Latin America, Europe, and Asia, focusing on solar and energy storage. Previously, he has held senior operational and commercial roles in Chile’s photovoltaic sector and served as Commercial Attaché at the Czech-Chilean Chamber of Commerce. Martin holds an MSc in Financial Risk Management from The University of Glasgow and is a Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.


Impakter informs you through the ESG news site and empowers your business CSRD compliance and ESG compliance with its Klimado SaaS ESG assessment tool marketplace that can be found on: http://www.klimado.com
Registered Office Address
Klimado GmbH
Niddastrasse 63,
60329, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
IMPAKTER is a Klimado GmbH website
Impakter is a publication that is identified by the following International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the following 2515-9569 (Printed) and 2515-9577 (online – Website).
Office Hours – Monday to Friday
9.30am – 5.00pm CEST
Email
stories [at] impakter.com
© 2026 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.
© 2026 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

source

Home   Companies
Posted By: The Corner 24th September 2026
Yesterday, Enerside, a Catalan photovoltaic company, filed for bankruptcy. With less than €6 million in revenue and over €60 million in debt, it is not an isolated case. The bursting of the photovoltaic bubble has left solar plant developers in Spain—a community of nearly a thousand companies of varying sizes—facing severe financial distress, with over 15% of the solar fleet at risk of insolvency due to an inability to service their debt.
Spain is the second-largest solar energy producer in the EU after Germany (which has 117 GW), with a installed capacity totaling around 55 GW. However, the average price captured fell from €42.28 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in 2024 to €36.39/MWh in 2025, and down to €29.68/MWh in the first half of 2026—representing a steep 30% collapse. According to Unef, the solar industry trade association, 2025 recorded 797 hours with prices at zero euros per megawatt-hour. So far in 2026, there have already been 900 hours at zero or negative prices.
Under these circumstances, Unef estimates the size of this financial shortfall at roughly €900 million. To address it, the association has proposed a three-year moratorium to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition—during which ICO (Spain’s Official Credit Institute) would take over the loans—while project cash flows recover in a more stable pricing environment.
Unef estimates that the moratorium would benefit facilities totaling about 10 Gigawatts out of the 55 GW of installed photovoltaic capacity in Spain, which holds the second-largest capacity in Europe behind only Germany (117 GW).




Facebook
Twitter
© Consejeros del Capital Social CDC Group. All rights reserved.

source

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

source

Leading Chinese PV manufacturer LONGi has unveiled a hybrid interdigitated back contact (HIBC) solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 28.29%, a record for the company.
The new cell builds on a previous record of 28.13%, set in April, and marks the third time this year that the company has broken its record for HIBC cell efficiency. As was the case in April, the latest efficiency record was certified by the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) in Germany.
Get Premium Subscription
LONGi showcased the new cells at an industry event this week in Romania, alongside 700W modules into which the new cells will be integrated. The company added that it has reached “successful mass production” of these modules, and confirmed to PV Tech today that the technology is used in its ‘EcoLife’ Hi-MO S10 series of modules and its 700MW Hi-MO 9 modules, both of which are available to purchase.
The news follows advances across a number of solar technologies in LONGi’s portfolio, as part of its plans to invest in “multiple mainstream cell technologies”. Earlier this year, the company developed a silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 35.5%, marking an efficiency improvement of almost two percentage points in the last three years.
LONGi’s latest announcement comes following a challenging few months for the company and a number of other leading Chinese firms. In the first half of the year, LONGi Green posed net losses of as much as RMB4.2 billion (US$630 million), which would be on pace to exceed the RMB6.5 billion in losses endured in the entirety of 2025.
Crucially, back contact (BC) has emerged as an important technology to navigate through this challenging period, with LONGi Green posting a rise in the share of its BC module sales in the first half of this year, and fellow industry leader GCL-SI retrofitting existing lines for BC production. New rules in China could help eliminate “low-cost, outdated technology,” according to a report from PV Tech Research, and could encourage greater investment in higher-efficiency technologies such as BC.

source

Energy and Climate Databases
Energy – Climate Forecasts
Market Intelligence
Market Analysis
Energy – Climate Scenarios
Climate Strategy and Policy Evaluation
Training
The Tunisian governorate of Tataouine has presented a project to develop a 120 MW solar photovoltaic plant in the Remada West area, Tunisia (Tunisie Numérique, 22/09/2026).
The EUR80m (USD91m) facility is expected to cover approximately 200 ha and produce around 260 GWh/year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of about 200,000 people. It is also expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by nearly 130 kt/year. The project includes a 2 km, 225 kV overhead transmission line connecting the plant to the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company network through the existing line between Borj Bourguiba and the Tataouine power plant.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027, with a contractual implementation period of 15 to 18 months. Commissioning is targeted for end-2028.
The project forms part of Tunisia’s national strategy to reduce its energy deficit and raise the share of renewables in electricity generation to 35% by 2030. As of 2025, Tunisia had an installed solar capacity of 913 MW, representing around 13% of total installed capacity.
Enerdata has developed a market research service to screen, monitor and analyse the development of power generation assets.
Power Plant Tracker offers an interactive database and a powerful search engine covering power plants worldwide – including both installed and planned capacities for renewables and fossil fuels.
Request a free trial Contact us
Register now to subscribe to our informative monthly, weekly or daily Newsletters.

source

Norfund, the Norwegian government’s development finance vehicle, has invested US$100 million into Indian renewable energy company Ampin Energy Transition.
The investment, made through Norfund’s Climate Investment Fund, will support Ampin’s deployments of roughly 2GW of utility-scale and commercial and industrial (C&I) solar PV and wind power projects across India, alongside supportive energy storage developments.
Get Premium Subscription
The money will also help to expand Ampin’s solar PV manufacturing operations in India, according to Norfund, which the firm is backwardly integrating from its main C&I and utility-scale deployment business. In April, the company opened a 1.3GW solar cell production facility in Odisha alongside fellow Indian solar firm Jupiter International.
Pinaki Bhattacharyya, founder, managing director, and chief executive officer of Ampin Energy Transition said the investment “reaffirms” Ampin’s business model and place in the Indian energy industry.
“Notably, [Ampin] is now the only energy transition company in India to attract leading investors from Europe, North America and Asia,” he said. “Besides capital, Norfund also brings to Ampin a range of strategic advantages, being a global leader in energy investments, making them an ideal partner for our long-term growth.”
Norfund framed its investment around the volatile global energy market and the impact of the ongoing war in Iran. It said the issues in the Strait of Hormuz were pushing up global power prices and incentivising some governments to bet on new cheap coal generation. It said that India had 43GW of new coal power under construction.
“At a time of high gas prices, the use of cheap coal is increasing in several places around the world. That is why it is crucial that countries in economic growth gain access to capital that makes investments in renewable energy possible,” said Åsmund Aukrust, Norway’s minister of development.
Bjørnar Baugerud, executive vice president for renewable energy and head of the Climate Investment Fund at Norfund, said: “If coal power wins, it will lock the world into enormous emissions. This can be avoided if countries such as India gain access to enough risk-willing capital for profitable investments in solar and wind energy, as the Climate Investment Fund is helping to provide through this investment.”
Norfund invests in developing countries, with a focus on climate, energy infrastructure and economic growth. It is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has previously invested in projects alongside Norwegian independent power producer (IPP) Scatec in Colombia and Egypt.

source

Research News
Patricia Daukantas

Water attenuates long wavelengths of light, leading to the blue hues below the ocean’s surface. [Image: DrPixel / Getty Images]
Water preferentially attenuates long wavelengths of light, leading to the blue hues familiar to scuba divers. This attenuation means that the undersea environment is not an ideal location for conventional solar cells, which are most efficient at collecting long wavelengths.
Researchers in China have developed specialized perovskite solar cells with wide band gaps customized to the blue-green spectrum of underwater regions (Joule, doi:10.1016/j.joule.2026.102672). The solar cells, modified with an organic polymer to convert the perovskites from p– to n-type, survived extended use in a simulated underwater environment and later supplying power to electronic devices submerged 10 m under the ocean surface.
“Very few studies have been reported on underwater solar cells, and all of them are focused on very shallow water depths of only two meters or less, a scenario far from catering for requirements of practical application,” says author Wen-Hua Zhang of Yunnan University and Southwest United Graduate School in Kunming, China. “This work presents the first functional validation of submerged solar cells practically operating at a water depth of up to about 10 meters, greatly broadening their application scope.”
[Enlarge image]
A schematic diagram of submerged perovskite solar cells for underwater applications. [Image: Simin Ma, Yunnan University]
Both human divers and autonomous devices require power for lighting, motors, cameras and other underwater equipment. Surface supply via electrical cable greatly limits the travel range of divers and robots, and batteries—even high-capacity versions—need to be recharged or replaced. While high-efficiency terrestrial photovoltaic panels, containing cadmium telluride or even conventional perovskites, harness wavelengths of 800 to 1150 nm to generate electricity, underwater solar cells struggle to operate because water strongly absorbs light with wavelengths at or above 630 nm.
In the new work, the team at Yunnan University fabricated a lead-based perovskite crystal modified with polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride. The guanidine moieties interacted with the lattice structure of the semiconductor to improve the quality of the material’s lattice structure and widen the band gap to roughly 1.96 eV. An epoxy resin protected the cell from water damage.
The researchers first tested the prototype solar cells above ground, but under lighting conditions simulating what the cells would “see” under varying depths of pure water (2, 5 and 10 m). The unit’s power conversion efficiency actually increased at greater mock depths, up to 34.71% at 10 m. The team also immersed the cells in tap water then tested the water to make sure that lead leakage from the cells was negligible.
Next, the Yunnan group tested the solar cells in real-world conditions off an island in the South China Sea. The team programmed an aquatic mini-robot to charge lithium-ion batteries with energy generated by the prototype cells. Even 10 m deep in seawater, the cells registered an output of 324 mWh. Retrieved from the water, the batteries lit up a small neon sign.
“What surprised us most was so much electrical energy our large-area modules generated under real-world conditions at 10-meter water depth for only two hours,” said Zhang.
Based on their tests, the Yunnan researchers predict that the perovskite solar cells will last more than 5 years of continuous operation at 25°C. The team will test the cells at greater depths to find their limit of underwater operation.
Publish Date: 24 September 2026
Article Tools
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Recent Headlines
Perovskite Powers Underwater Photovoltaics
Perfect Quantum Information Transfer
Attalon and AeroVironment Partner on High-Energy Lasers
Explore Latest
Multimedia
The Magazine
Information

source

India Adds 50.6 GW Solar Module Capacity In H1 2026, Cell Supply Lags: Mercom  businessworld.in
source

On clean energy, bigger is not always better  Utility Dive
source

Research from the University of Málaga (UMA) has documented six species of birds of prey regularly using a solar PV plant in southern Spain over a two-and-a-half-year period.
The study, “Raptors Using a Solar Photovoltaic Facility in Southern Spain,” published in the Journal of Raptor Research, provides field-based evidence of how birds of prey use PV infrastructure in open agricultural landscapes.
The researchers conducted the study at a 150 MW, 299-hectare PV plant in the Spanish province of Seville. The facility features fixed-tilt modules with uniform spacing between rows. It is located in a flat to gently rolling landscape dominated by cereal crops, with scattered olive groves and areas of natural vegetation, including stone pine.
The researchers recorded six raptor species at the site. The black kite was the most abundant, followed by the common buzzard and common kestrel.
Perching on modules, posts and fences was the most frequently recorded behavior, with 121 observations, followed by flight, with 120. The researchers also recorded 47 hunting events, 29 instances of soaring and one observation of territorial behavior.
The researchers said the plant’s location in a cereal-growing area with few natural perches could explain why the birds use PV structures as vantage points and resting places. They added that restrictions on hunting within the site favor prey species such as rabbits, hares, partridges and small mammals, increasing food availability for birds of prey. The researchers recorded several hunting events between the module rows.
Some soaring species also used rising air currents generated by warm air above the PV modules to gain altitude, according to the study. The researchers repeatedly observed this behavior during the monitoring period.
They recorded no collisions or mortality associated with the modules, mounting structures or fencing during the study period.
The researchers cautioned that their findings cannot be extrapolated to all solar plants. They said there are no data on the raptor community at the site before the PV plant was built. It also remains unclear how the birds would respond to a greater concentration of similar infrastructure or what the medium- and long-term effects could be.
The researchers recommended conducting similar studies in areas where new PV plants are planned and implementing long-term monitoring programs to build a body of knowledge comparable to that available for wind farms.
Following the local study, the researchers plan to expand their work across the Spanish region of Andalusia to assess how the expansion of solar PV affects steppe birds, particularly species associated with open agricultural landscapes.
The research is part of Spain’s Complementary R&D&I Plan on Biodiversity. It is funded by the Regional Ministry of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program.
The research team comprised scientists from UMA, BioGea Consultores, the University of Extremadura and Ofitecma Marbella.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new ESS News magazine is here!
Download your free digital copy today.
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its clean energy transition—join the SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Riyadh to explore how solar PV and energy storage are powering its digital economy.
pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Giovedì, 1 ottobre 2026
14:30 – 15:30 CEST, Roma

You have no items in your basket.

source

India Adds 50.6 GW Solar Module Capacity In H1 2026, Cell Supply Lags: Mercom  BW Businessworld
source

Trinasolar sees extreme weather lifting demand for tougher solar panels  bnamericas.com
source

We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy Manage cookies
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Scientists at the University of Malaga have gathered field evidence showing that six raptor species made regular use of a solar photovoltaic installation in southern Spain throughout a monitoring effort lasting two and a half years.
The paper, titled Raptors Using a Solar Photovoltaic Facility in Southern Spain, appeared in the Journal of Raptor Research and documents how birds of prey engage with PV infrastructure in open farming landscapes.
The fieldwork took place at a 299-hectare, 150 MW PV plant in Seville province. The site employs fixed-tilt modules arranged with even spacing between rows, set within a flat to gently undulating terrain where cereal crops dominate, alongside scattered olive groves and patches of natural vegetation that include stone pine.
Six raptor species were identified at the facility. The black kite proved most numerous, with the common buzzard and common kestrel following.
Perching atop modules, posts and fences emerged as the most common activity, logged 121 times, just ahead of flight at 120 observations. Additionally, the team documented 47 hunting events, 29 soaring instances and a single case of territorial behavior.
According to the researchers, the plant’s placement in a cereal-producing region with limited natural perching spots may account for why the birds treat PV structures as lookout points and resting areas. They further noted that hunting restrictions inside the site benefit prey animals including rabbits, hares, partridges and small mammals, boosting food supplies for raptors. Multiple hunting events were observed among the module rows.
The study also found that certain soaring species exploited thermal updrafts created by warm air rising above the PV modules to climb higher, a pattern the researchers witnessed on numerous occasions during monitoring.
Throughout the study period, no collisions or deaths were attributed to the modules, mounting structures or fencing.
The researchers warned against generalizing their results to every solar installation. They pointed out that no baseline data exist regarding the raptor population at the location prior to construction of the PV plant, and that questions remain about how the birds might react to denser concentrations of similar infrastructure, as well as potential medium- and long-term consequences.
Their recommendations included carrying out comparable studies in locations earmarked for new PV plants and establishing long-term monitoring efforts to accumulate knowledge similar to what exists for wind energy facilities.
Building on the local project, the team intends to broaden its research throughout Andalusia to evaluate how solar PV expansion impacts steppe birds, especially those tied to open agricultural environments.
The work falls under Spain’s Complementary R&D&I Plan on Biodiversity and receives funding from the Regional Ministry of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program.
Scientists from UMA, BioGea Consultores, the University of Extremadura and Ofitecma Marbella made up the research team.
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
The Largest Destinations for Exports
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc

source

Websol Energy is consolidating its expansion plans in West Bengal after being allotted 54.2 acres at Falta Industrial Park. The company will establish an integrated 4 GW solar cell and module facility in two distinct phases of 2 GW each. Relocating the project from its previously planned location in Andhra Pradesh allows Websol to leverage its three decades of local expertise, minimize land expenditures, and optimize its existing supplier and logistics networks.
Market snapshot: Websol Energy System Limited has secured a 54.2-acre land allotment at the Falta Industrial Park in West Bengal for its proposed greenfield manufacturing facility. The state-backed land allotment clears the way for the company's integrated expansion project of 4 GW solar cell and 4 GW solar module capacity. This critical development shifts the location of the planned greenfield plant from Andhra Pradesh back to Websol's home region, driving substantial operational synergies.
The relocation of the 4 GW solar manufacturing project to West Bengal is a highly pragmatic step by Websol's management. Building a greenfield facility in Andhra Pradesh would have required duplicative administrative structures and higher logistics overheads. Operating within their home ecosystem of West Bengal, where they have been active since the mid-1990s, dramatically de-risks project execution. With a massive Q1 FY27 order book of ₹1,278 cr, getting this capacity online efficiently is paramount to meeting domestic content requirement demand.
The resolution of the land allotment details eliminates the locational uncertainty that had emerged during recent investor calls. Having the 54.2-acre parcel fully approved ensures that preliminary construction can start promptly. This preserves the overall project timeline and provides a clear trajectory to scale Websol's annual manufacturing output from the current 1.2 GW cell capacity to a prominent domestic position, securing its competitive edge under key government solar initiatives.
Market Bias: Bullish
The formal allotment of 54.2 acres at Falta Industrial Park eliminates land-related uncertainties and secures the operational base for Websol's 4 GW solar expansion. Supported by zero outstanding term debt after the full prepayment of its ₹110 cr IREDA loan and a robust ₹1,278 cr order book, the company exhibits strong financial health and near-term execution visibility.
Overweight: Renewable Energy, Solar Equipment Manufacturing, Capital Goods
Trigger Factors:
Time Horizon: Medium-term (3-12 months)
India's solar sector faces a structural supply gap with solar cell manufacturing trailing behind module assembly capacity. As one of only 14 ALMM-approved solar cell manufacturers in India and the sole operator in the eastern region, Websol holds a unique advantage. The 4 GW integrated expansion directly addresses this supply gap, enabling domestic developers to satisfy strict sourcing guidelines under national schemes like PM-Surya Ghar.
In Q1 FY27, Websol reported a 70.33% YoY revenue increase to ₹372.6 cr and a 15.79% YoY PAT growth to ₹77.79 cr. On August 4, 2026, the company successfully prepaid its entire ₹110 cr IREDA term loan from internal cash accruals. This debt clearance led to the release of 9,51,72,110 pledged shares, representing 21.92% of total share capital, which drastically reduced promoter pledge levels.
Websol's localized consolidation in West Bengal represents a highly efficient capital strategy. By choosing synergistic expansion over geographical expansion, the company has de-risked its capacity targets. Backed by a clean balance sheet, strong liquidity, and a rising order book, Websol is fundamentally aligned to capture a leading share of India's clean energy infrastructure spend.
High Performance Trading with SAHI.
Disclaimer: This news section may include AI-generated or AI-assisted news, summaries, drafts, or insights. All content is subject to human review before publication. While we aim for accuracy, readers should independently verify information before relying on it.
Related
JPMorgan Downgrades Apollo Tyres: Navigating Commodity Headwinds and Sector Re-rating
JPMorgan Bullish on TVS Motor: Target Price Hiked to ₹4,440 as Resilience Outshines Sector Risks
JPMorgan Shifts Stance on Escorts Kubota: Upgrade to Neutral Amid Sector Recalibration
Geopolitical Friction in Hormuz: Oil Majors Flag Costs of Proposed Tolls and India’s Readiness Gaps
Recent
Lemon Tree Hotels Signs Deal For New 90-Room Hotel In Patancheru, Telangana
Godrej Industries Sells 0.50% Stake In Godrej Consumer For ₹450.12 Crore
Sambhv Steel Tubes To Host Analyst And Investor Meeting
Ircon International To Host Analyst And Investor Meeting On September 30
Godawari Power & Ispat Schedules Analyst And Investor Meet On September 29
Click the link, confirm the box next to sahi.com is checked — ignore any other results.
Built by
experienced traders & technologists
Backed by
the investors of world leading companies
“India’s trading ecosystem is evolving rapidly, driven by the rise of mobile-native, high-frequency investors. Sahi is helping shape this shift, reimagining what a modern broking experience should look like with AI.”
– Accel India
Fintech Startup of the Year
India FinTech Awards 2025
Ready to Trade the Sahi Way?
Click the link, confirm the box next to sahi.com is checked — ignore any other results.
Risk disclosures on derivatives –
Those making net trading profits, incurred between 15% to 50% of such profits as transaction cost. ATTENTION – A note from the Regulators for Investors
SEBI Stock Broker Registration No: INZ000317632 | Depository Participant (CDSL) ID: IN-DP-780-2024 | Registration Number of the Research Analyst: INH000022172
Exchange Membership No: NSE: 90375 | BSE: 6867 | MCX: 57630
Registered Office: Aaritya Broking Private Limited, 11th Floor, Brigade Metropolis, Summit A, Whitefield, Bangalore, Karnataka – 560048, Contact Number – 18004107244.
In case of grievances for any of the services rendered by Aaritya Broking Private Limited, please write to grievance@aaritya.com (for NSE and BSE) or dpgrievance@aaritya.com (for CDSL Participant). Please ensure that you carefully read the Risk Disclosure Document as prescribed by SEBI, our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Compliance Officer: Mr. Vaibhav Satalkar and Contact Number: 18004107244

Important Links: SEBI | BSE | NSE | CDSL | SCORES | ODR Portal | ODR Circular| Investor Charter for Stock Brokers | Investor Charter for DP | UCC Advisory – KYC Compliance | e-Voting for Shareholders | KYC document in Vernacular Language – NSE | BSE | Account Opening Procedure | Account Closing Procedure | Voluntarily Freeze Policy | Filing a complaint | Opting out of Nomination | Research Disclaimer
Attention Investors
 KYC is a one-time exercise while dealing in securities markets — once KYC is completed through a SEBI registered intermediary (Broker, DP, Mutual Fund, etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when approaching another intermediary. | No need to issue cheques while subscribing to an IPO — simply write your bank account number and sign the application form to authorize payment in case of allotment. No worries about refunds as the money remains in your account. | Prevent unauthorized transactions in your demat account — update your mobile number with your Depository Participant and receive alerts on your registered mobile for all debit and important transactions directly from CDSL on the same day
Important Information: Policies and Procedures | Terms & Conditions | Anti Money Laundering Policy | RMS Policy | Filing complaints on SCORES – Easy & quick | Complaints Disclosure | Bank A/c Disclosure | Key Managerial Personnel | Saarthi 2.0 Mobile | Surveillance Policy | GTT and GTC order facility | Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) | Research Analyst Most Important Terms and Conditions (RA MITC)

All Rights Reserved | © Copyright 2026

source

Rising borrowing costs are hitting solar stocks harder than almost anything else in the market Thursday, and the reasons behind the selloff reveal deeper vulnerabilities across the entire renewable energy sector.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Solar stocks are sliding sharply Thursday as elevated borrowing costs add pressure to an industry that depends heavily on project financing. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR | FSLR Price Prediction) stock is down 8% to $177.45, while SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) stock is falling 5% to $31.76 and Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) stock is down 3% to $32.04.
The selling is broad across the solar industry, with Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE ARCA:TAN) down 4% to $43.23 while SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE ARCA:SPY) is down 0.54% to $763.69. Higher interest rates can make new solar installations and upgrades more difficult to finance, potentially slowing private investment even when demand for renewable power remains intact.
Solar projects often require substantial upfront capital before generating revenue or reducing energy costs, making financing conditions particularly important for First Solar, SolarEdge and Enphase Energy. Higher borrowing costs can raise the required return on new projects and make some planned installations less attractive to developers, businesses and homeowners.
First Solar stock is facing the steepest decline among the three major solar names Thursday, although the immediate catalyst remains unclear. The broader weakness in First Solar stock, SolarEdge stock and Enphase Energy stock suggests that investors are also responding to macroeconomic concerns rather than a single company-specific development.
The financing pressure can affect different parts of the solar industry in different ways. First Solar supplies utility-scale solar modules, while SolarEdge and Enphase Energy provide technologies used in solar installations, meaning higher financing costs can ultimately affect equipment demand if developers delay projects or customers reduce spending.
First Solar has benefited from U.S. manufacturing incentives and demand for domestically produced solar modules, but First Solar stock can still be sensitive to changes in clean-energy policy and project economics. First Solar’s large utility-scale exposure also means financing conditions can influence the timing of projects even when the long-term demand outlook remains constructive.
Another issue surrounding First Solar is the company’s decision to withdraw its Section 337 complaint involving certain TOPCon solar manufacturers. The move has generated discussion among traders about competitive conditions in the solar-module market, although the immediate relationship between the legal development and Thursday’s First Solar stock decline isn’t clear.
First Solar’s position as a major U.S. solar manufacturer gives First Solar a different business profile from SolarEdge and Enphase Energy. That distinction could matter as investors weigh the effects of financing costs, U.S. clean-energy incentives, module pricing and project demand across the solar industry.
SolarEdge stock is down 5% to $31.76 as the broader solar selloff continues. SolarEdge has faced a difficult operating environment as residential solar demand, inventory levels and financing conditions have pressured the solar equipment market.
Enphase Energy stock is also under pressure, falling 3% to $32.04 despite Enphase Energy’s focus on microinverters, batteries and energy-management systems. Higher financing costs could make residential and commercial solar-plus-storage installations less attractive at the margin, particularly when customers are already weighing higher equipment and borrowing costs.
The weakness in SolarEdge stock and Enphase Energy stock also highlights the difference between equipment suppliers and utility-scale manufacturers. SolarEdge and Enphase Energy can be affected by installation volumes and customer financing conditions, while First Solar can be more directly exposed to the economics and timing of large utility-scale projects.
U.S. clean-energy policy remains another source of uncertainty for First Solar, SolarEdge and Enphase Energy. Changes to tax credits and other incentives could alter project economics, while uncertainty can cause developers and customers to delay investment decisions as they assess the financial benefits of new solar installations.
The 4% decline in the Invesco Solar ETF puts Thursday’s weakness into broader industry context, while the smaller 0.54% decline in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust suggests solar stocks are experiencing substantially more pressure than the wider market. Investors can watch for signs that higher borrowing costs are slowing project commitments, while First Solar stock, SolarEdge stock and Enphase Energy stock could also respond to changes in policy, demand and financing conditions.
The combination of elevated interest rates, policy uncertainty and company-specific concerns leaves the solar sector with several factors to balance. Investors should consider keeping their position sizes modest as First Solar stock, SolarEdge stock and Enphase Energy stock remain sensitive to financing conditions and shifts in expectations for renewable-energy investment.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
David Moadel is financial writer specializing in stocks, ETFs, options, precious metals, and Bitcoin. David has written well over 1,000 articles for leading online publications, helping investors understand markets, income strategies, and risk.His work has appeared in The Motley Fool, InvestorPlace, U.S. News & World Report, TipRanks, ValueWalk, Benzinga, Market Realist, TalkMarkets, Finmasters, 24/7 Wall St., and others.With a master’s degree in education, David has taught at the elementary, high school, and college levels. That teaching background shapes his writing style: clear, educational, and practical. David has also built a loyal social-media audience by providing trustworthy financial content on YouTube, X/Twitter, and StockTwits.
A new research report from Deutsche Bank points out that declining solar costs are driving growth, and the analysts have three top picks.
Reports of a potential Trump administration move to protect domestic solar manufacturers sent the entire sector surging on Tuesday, and the policy details could determine whether this rally has real staying power or fades…
Solar names bounced hard on Thursday, but that relief trade collapsed by Friday morning, and now one question hangs over the sector: whether the rate path has already decided where these stocks go next.
Goldman Sachs sees big benefits for some top solar companies in a new law that provides funding for residential energy efficiency and electrification. These five outstanding solar stocks look like top ideas for now…
SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG | SEDG Price Prediction) stock is surging 10% on Tuesday, rallying to $38 intraday. Solar-industry peers Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) and Sunrun (NASDAQ:RUN) are joining the party, with the shares of both…
Three of solar's biggest names traded in completely different directions in 2026, and the one posting the worst losses also happens to be the most profitable of the group. Find out what policy shocks…
Solar stocks are splitting on Thursday. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH | ENPH Price Prediction) is up 15% to $48.13 and SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) is up 17% to $50.04, while Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ) is down 11%…
These four top clean energy solar stocks are rated Buy, and they all have massive upside to their Goldman Sachs price targets.
Shares of SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG | SEDG Price Prediction) are ripping higher in Friday’s midday session, with SEDG stock up 22% to $61.44. That extends Thursday’s surge into a powerful two-day run, with the…
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them. © 2026 24/7 Wall St.

source

ACEN Corp. has completed the divestment of an initial 10% voting interest in Tejorupa Renewables India Project Private Ltd. as part of its proposed sale of up to 49% of the Indian solar project company.
In a regulatory filing on Thursday, ACEN said Diamond India Renewables One B.V. (DIRO) acquired the initial 10% interest after all relevant conditions under the securities subscription and purchase agreement had been satisfied. The transaction closed on Sept. 23.
The transaction follows ACEN’s June 12 disclosure on the proposed divestment of up to 49% of Tejorupa.
Tejorupa is developing a 250-megawatt (MW) solar utility project in Rajasthan, India.
The transaction involves ACEN units Unlimited Renewables Holdings B.V. (URH) and Amsa Solar Holdco Pte. Ltd., which earlier signed a securities subscription and purchase agreement and a shareholders’ agreement with DIRO.
ACEN is also planning to divest stakes of up to 49% in projects with capacities of 100 MW and 20 MW in Karnataka.
As of September 2026, India accounted for 20% of ACEN’s net attributable capacity across its international operations. The company operates three solar projects in India with a combined capacity of 630 MW.
Earlier this year, ACEN assumed full ownership of Singapore-based URH, which is developing three projects across Rajasthan and Karnataka with a combined capacity of 1,059 MW.
Across its markets, ACEN has 7.5 gigawatts (GW) of attributable renewable energy capacity from projects in operation, under construction, and covered by signed agreements.
The company has operations and projects in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Laos, and the United States.
For the six months ended June, ACEN’s attributable net income rose more than fivefold to P3.9 billion, while revenue increased by 47.1% to P23.13 billion from P15.72 billion a year earlier.
ACEN shares fell by 1.47% to P2.69 apiece on Thursday. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

source

We already have the ability to move through whole countries via Google Street View. Video games like Grand Theft Auto let you walk the streets of complex cities and their surroundings. Maybe a solar land analysis tool will do the same one day?
While you can’t do it on a PlayStation, Glint Solar does have a goal of giving you the ability to explore whole states at once, but in a locally precise, and responsible solar manner. Glint Solar CEO Simen Fure Jørgensen told pv magazine USA, “With interconnection queue withdrawal rates approaching 80%, developers need to move from quantity to quality.”
The company says, one reason developers must be more disciplined is that with interconnection queues growing unabated, utilities and system operators have begun to clamp down on applications requiring big down payments, or other requirements. For instance, system operator PJM, which only recently opened their grid for new power generation resources, now requires 100% site control to get into the queue. Glint Solar notes that MISO increases the fee it charges for withdrawing from its interconnection queue the longer you wait – making queue squatting increasingly expensive.
Jørgensen noted that with grid operators are now looking at projects that are “first ready” instead of “first in line.”
In practice, “first ready” means land and deposits to grid operators like PJM and MISO. Technically, zoning is not on the checklist, but the penalties for failing it later are now large enough that some developers treat it as if it were. This means, developers are going to include these variables in their funding requirements.
This is where the ultra-local land screening process becomes most valuable, because local zoning is where the hard decisions happen.
The company, so far, has made their tool available in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Texas. Other states are coming soon.
Glint Solar’s workflow starts with choosing the state. Then you go through the list of variables to screen the state’s parcels. Some of the screening variables include proximity to grid infrastructure and hosting capacity, buildable solar area, protection zones, wetlands, zoning, distance to key infrastructure, and detailed topography. To help with consistency, you can save your screening profile.
The company jokes that you should get a coffee once you set their computers to begin your customized search.
Source: Glint Solar
As the tool finds parcels that fit your highest-level requirement, it also solves for the amount of space available. The Buildable Area tool will make sure to bring back parcels that meet your minimum sizing needs.
Jørgensen said of the Buildable Area tool:
BLOCKQUOTE INDENT: The buildable area logic is core. We start using it in the land survey process. The land survey picks out the parcels based on the buildable area inside of each. It is already marked out at the beginning of the survey process, and you can do a design right away. So you can quickly go from searching the state to maybe ten minutes then a couple of minutes are already a preliminary design.
A second complementary tool, called Area Insights, gives the developer a heads up on items that may endanger a project. Combined, these should offer the developer support in either choosing the specific, individualized parcels to go after, or going after the whole list in a broad direct mail campaign.
Another tool aimed explicitly at the zoning process is called “Beautify”. Essentially, it gives the developer an opportunity, early in the development process, to show what the finished site might look like from the perspective of neighbors. Specifically, one function is that trees can be added in between a residence and a project to manage viewshed concerns.
Source: Glint Solar
A key item regarding batteries that the tool offers is noise analysis. Glint Solar showed how its tool can nearly instantaneously come up with a noise map for a battery, and then show how the noise can be mitigated by a tactically placed wall.
The company also has additional tools in development. Glint Grid will give greater insight into the headroom at local substations, as well the connection interconnection queue that is in line at that substation.
Jørgensen notes, ““Basically, we’re giving developers the ability to do their own powerflow analysis, with their own covert information, maybe even helping their analysis that they can put into the machine.”
A second tool coming soon will be Glint Radar, which will focus on the local temperature by analyzing things such as town meeting notes. In particular, the Glint Solar says this tool will be actively following the areas you’re working in. If something negative happens after you pick the site, but before you finish construction, it will let you know.
Glint Solar noted a developer that had bought a project, but in the interim, the local town had put a moratorium in place.
Last, and possibly being launched this week, is an upgraded Beautify feature that allows for better tree placement.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.

You have no items in your basket.

source

0
Powered by :
A parcel of about 54.2 acres at Falta Industrial Park now belongs to Websol Energy System, an India-based solar cell and module manufacturer. The West Bengal government allotted the land for a greenfield manufacturing facility. Plans there call for 4 GW of solar cells and 4 GW of solar modules. Construction is to run in two phases of 2 GW each. Its existing plant sits nearby in the Falta Special Economic Zone. That plant runs 1.2 GW of cells and 550 MW of modules today. Staying close gives the company skilled manpower and suppliers it already knows. As per the release, Websol is one of 14 ALMM-approved cell makers in India and the only one based in the east.
SOLARbytes brings you the latest news in solar world in bite size; essentially a gist of important solar news in few sentences.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Quick Links
© 2026 SOLARbytes | SOLARbytes is a publication of Wat(t) Bytes Media Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“Although I had to sue Tesla to get anything done, at least there was a company to sue.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
For one homeowner weighing solar panels and battery storage, the deciding factor was not flashy technology or top-rated service. 
In a Reddit discussion about Tesla‘s solar panel offerings, the homeowner said the choice came down to a long-term concern: whether the installing company would still be around if a warranty issue arose years later.
They took to r/TeslaSolar to discuss why they chose Tesla Energy over other solar panel providers.
“I’d rather have average customer service than no customer service at all,” the original poster said, noting Tesla came out ahead because 4,000 to 10,000 solar firms had disappeared over the last two decades.
The replies included both skepticism and reluctant agreement. After one commenter responded, “Thanks, Tesla employee!” the OP wrote, “I am not an employee or influencer or any associate and do not get anything for that. It is just my personal experience thus far.” 
Another commenter stated, “Although I had to sue Tesla to get anything done, at least there was a company to sue.”
Reddit users also pointed to savings. One said Tesla was “by far the least expensive non-DIY option.” Another wrote that Tesla was “$10k cheaper than the closest competitor” on the battery portion of a project. And a third person noted a different company wanted $42,000 for two Powerwalls, while Tesla quoted $32,000 for two Powerwalls plus 12 solar panels.
Hardware specifications are important, but because solar panels and batteries are investments that are often backed by warranties, buyers may care about whether an installer or manufacturer will still be in business years later.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers 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.
Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn’t that worth an email or two?
It can still be quite difficult to understand which companies and installers are reputable and worth working with. If you’re comparing backup power options, it may be worth exploring EnergySage to get information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has also teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
Another option is Pila, which offers plug-and-play batteries priced at a fraction of what whole-home backup systems cost.
EnergySage can also help homeowners go solar with free tools that let you curate competitive bids from local installers without giving out your contact information unless you decide to move forward. Those who use the company’s tools can save up to $10,000 on a solar installation.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

We may receive a fee from trusted installers when you request a quote, or a commission when you buy through links on our site. This helps us keep our content independent, well-researched and up to date – Learn more
Can you put a plug-in solar panel on a wooden garden shed? The answer is yes, but you need to know exactly what type of material your garden shed is made from before you do so because otherwise plug-in solar might not be suitable.
The most important thing is not to put your plug-in solar panel on wood, particular timer. Why shouldn’t a plug-in solar panel be put on timber wood? Because the inverters can potentially overheat, which causes a fire risk.
According to garden shed expert, Sam Jenkinson, from garden building retailer Tiger, while plug-in solar panels are a really exciting piece of technology, they shouldn’t be installed on a wooden, particularly timber, surface.
“While sheds can seem like a good location for plug-in panels, particularly if the roof gets plenty of direct sunlight, homeowners need to check the small print first,” Jenkinson told The Eco Experts.
The new rules that came on in the 27th August allowing plug-in solar panels contained specific condition that means they cannot be installed on a wooden wall, balcony or enclosure, or on a timber-clad part of the exterior of the dwellinghouse.
“As the vast majority of UK garden sheds are timber-built, this could rule out a straightforward installation for many households, even where the roof and sunlight would otherwise be perfect,” Jenkinson said.
“Unlike traditional rooftop solar, compliant plug-in systems don’t require the same level of professional installation,” Jenkinson said.
While this makes solar more accessible, households should still consult with a qualified electrician if they have older wiring or need a suitable outdoor socket installed first.
Plug-in solar panels have huge potential to cut energy bills. With each kit producing up to 800W, plug-in solar could provide up to a fifth of an average household’s electricity use, and could save households up to £110 a year, with kits priced at around £400-£500 depending on capacity.
Households in Germany, Europe’s leading market for plug-in solar panels, have had huge success installing them on balconies since the law changed to make them more accessible in 2024.
Such has been the success that by the end of 2025, more than one million households have installed plug-in solar panels and by 2045 roughly 5% of Germany’s domestic energy generation could be accounted for by plug-in solar.
However, there is a big difference between the UK and Germany and that’s mainly down to where people live. As many as 61% of the German population live in flats, whereas in the UK that figure is about 21%.
But that doesn’t diminish the UK’s potential for plug-in solar because, as has been pointed out by experts, households here usually have more space, which means more room for the panels.
That includes gardens, garages, and also sheds.
“This is a really exciting area for cleaner energy, but as with any new product, suitability comes down to the individual building, its construction, its intended use, and what the specific product actually requires,” Jenkinson explained.
“As these products are still relatively new, it’s worth speaking to the relevant supplier directly to understand what’s right for your situation.”
“Before installing anything, check the direction of the shed roof and how much shade it receives from nearby trees and buildings. You should also inspect the shed itself, ensuring the structure is in good condition and the roof is strong enough to carry the additional weight.”
“You’ll also need a suitable mains socket to safely plug the solar panel into. The cable run should be short and safe, without extension leads stretching across the garden.”
“Once installed, each system must be registered with your local Distribution Network Operator. It’s also important to check whether you need permission from your landlord, freeholder or your local council before installing.”

Written By

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
He has represented The Eco Experts on national television several times, including the BBC’s Sunday Morning Live and ITV Tonight .
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
Popular topics
Registered Office: 1st & 2nd Floors, Wenlock Works, 1A Shepherdess Walk, London, N1 7QE, United Kingdom.
Registered in England & Wales (no. 06951544)
© 2026 Marketing VF Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

source

Browse topics
Explore articles
Our Projects
We encourage you to republish Dialogue Earth articles, online or in print, under the Creative Commons license. Please read our republishing guidelines to get started.
A robot positions solar cells at a module production line in Hefei, Anhui province (Image: Cynthia Lee / Alamy)
Eleanor Randolph
September 24, 2026September 24, 2026
In July, China’s solar power generation capacity surpassed coal for the first time. Yet this historic milestone coincided with more than two years of widespread financial losses, layoffs, and incessant controversy surrounding cutthroat competition within the industry.
Data from 2026 interim reports reveals a widespread contraction in revenue across the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry during the first half of the year. In 2025, over 70% of leading companies had fallen into the red, and more than 50 firms declared bankruptcy.
Between 2024 and 2025, China’s top 110 listed PV firms laid off 222,800 employees; that excludes many of the small- to medium-sized firms being squeezed out of an overcrowded industry.
The workforce reductions follow two years of net losses for Chinese solar firms, spurred by an industry-wide supply glut that sent module spot prices plunging by over 50%.
But the layoffs also reveal how China’s solar industry is remaking itself: by consolidating – through mergers, bankruptcies and capacity retirements; and also by automating production, ending overexpansion and shifting workers from factory floors to sales and advanced products. 
China’s PV industry created 4.6 million jobs in 2023, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. This expansion came to an abrupt end in 2024, when firms shed 140,000 jobs. Layoffs continued in 2025, with annual reports for China’s top 110 listed firms identifying another 68,255 job cuts. Beyond official layoffs, PV firms are embracing a variety of tactics to curb production and “optimise” labour costs.
In December 2025, a solar factory in Anhui issued a five-month holiday. Shortly afterwards, the company posted a severance offer for voluntary resignations. Forced production pauses for “holidays” were common in 2024, but have been getting longer in the past year.
Firms are also struggling to pay wages. More than half of firms cut wages at all levels in 2025, and reports of company-wide salary cuts continued this year. For factory employees, this often means pay drops below minimum wage, with ripple effects on local economies.
These tactics are designed to encourage voluntary resignations. Coraline Goron of Duke Kunshan University cautioned against interpreting such tactics as purely exploitative, as they are often used by firms that can neither afford to pay wages nor lay off staff.
The tactics obscure the true extent of unemployment in China’s solar industry. Some estimates suggest de facto layoffs may bring the total to 200,000 job cuts in 2024 alone. 
This is not the first oversupply crisis faced by China’s solar industry. As the 2008 financial crisis reduced European demand, local governments expanded subsidies for solar firms, creating a glut of exported panels. The EU and the US responded with anti-dumping duties in 2012, sharply curtailing demand for Chinese solar products as supply was ramping up.
Chinese solar firms faced another shock in 2018. Concerned about looming excess capacity, the central government abruptly ended subsidies for new solar projects in May. Demand for solar modules plummeted overnight, but the downturn proved short-lived, and new policies promoting solar over coal power revived the industry in 2019.
The industry entered another boom in 2020 after Xi Jinping announced national goals to peak carbon emissions and bring them down to zero. Included was a target of 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar and wind capacity by 2030. This spurred a rush of new Chinese solar firms, many subsidised by local governments hoping to capitalise on a growing industry. 
By 2023, China had 600,000 registered PV firms, with 22.4% founded in 2022 alone.
Solar factories operating at 54% capacity produced more modules than markets could absorb by 2024. Global PV production capacity in 2025 exceeded 1,100 GW, almost double global installations of 570-630 GW. The excess production capacity sank module prices to 1 yuan (about USD 0.14) per watt, below production costs, necessitating the current cuts.
While such challenges are familiar territory for Chinese solar firms, Wang Bohua, honorary chairman of the China Photovoltaic Association, warns that current losses far exceed any previous cycle.
For firms losing money on every panel sold, labour cost reductions are a survival tactic, and restructuring is necessary to cut the bloat accumulated during years of unchecked expansion.
Even as the industry gradually steadies, manufacturing jobs are unlikely to return as automation fundamentally shifts how, or by whom, solar panels are made.
Automated production lines, including fully automated “lights-out factories” requiring no or few human staff, are spreading rapidly across the industry. Solar manufacturing is relatively easy to automate, says Cosimo Reis of Trivium China, and companies that do not switch to robotic production lines and AI systems will struggle to compete. As early as 2024, 90% of production at solar giant LONGi’s factory in Jiaxing was automated, a process that only took nine months. Since automation, production cycles at the factory have shortened 84%, while output has increased 35% per hour.
Even if competition eases and prices rise, production line jobs are unlikely to recover. The solar industry is shifting toward fewer, more skilled workers overseeing automated systems. The future of China’s renewable energy industry will be high-tech, but not labour-intensive.
Layoff trends show firms are shifting their focus from production to sales, advanced products, and downstream services. Factory floors were hit hardest by the layoffs, with 75% of production jobs impacted. LONGi laid off more than half of production staff. Technical and administrative staff were also heavily impacted, and 2025 saw job losses extend to managerial positions. Sales teams were one of the few areas of continued job growth as companies focused on moving products off shelves.
Inverter firms were one of the few areas of industry growth last year, as demand for energy storage solutions increased. The gap reflects a broader industry shift away from traditional manufacturing toward installing solar systems, energy storage projects and integrated systems. As companies restructure, jobs are moving from production lines to downstream services. 
Firms are continuing to expand production of advanced yet expensive modules and batteries. These production lines require more technical expertise than older modules, and with firms cutting training budgets, only workers with existing skills will find jobs in these factories.
Caroline Goron, of Duke Kunshan University, notes that while local governments are adept at competing for industry and attracting new jobs and revenue to their jurisdictions, their strategies rarely consider how to retain industry and often neglect social policy. Now, as the industry is forced to consolidate, local governments have little to offer the workers losing their jobs.
The central government has rejected claims that there is overcapacity in the industry, preferring to address the problem of “involution” (内卷), meaning excessive competition, and launched campaigns to address it. The question is how much the industry will need to consolidate before firms become profitable again. 
Some observers estimate 20-30% capacity reductions are required, but demand shrinkage could increase that figure. “I’m particularly worried about the downstream side,” says Reis. “Even as prices collapsed, demand remained robust for three years, but power market reforms are now upending the entire renewables market.” 
China’s power market reforms since 2025 have added greater uncertainty to the market for renewables. Since last July, prices for power from new renewable projects have been determined by a market-based mechanism. Investors in new projects face uncertain returns and are responding with greater caution. This threatens to slow China’s historic solar installation rate, at least in the short term, making the supply-demand mismatch even harder to resolve. 
“The best plan I’ve seen for reducing overcapacity so far is the fund to consolidate and shut down one-third of polysilicon capacity,” Ries says. The price of polysilicon, a key input material for PV modules also mired in oversupply, began rising in July 2025 after plans were announced for a USD 7 billion fund for China’s large producers to acquire and retire one-third of production capacity. It was the first concrete sign of discipline in solar supply chains.
But the trend was thrown into disarray in January 2026 when the State Administration for Market Regulation accused the fund of anti-competitiveness. It forbade any coordination on “production or sales volumes, capacity, pricing, output quotas, profit sharing, market division, or exchange of price and production information.” Despite this ruling, in August, eight polysilicon manufacturers, who account for 90% of China’s polysilicon supply, agreed not to sell below the cost of production, coordinating a price floor to tackle “involution”.
Analysts have anticipated the industry will begin stabilising in the second half of this year or next, providing a welcome respite to a beleaguered sector. This will only be possible through brutal consolidations and production cuts that bring supply closer to demand. When the dust settles, China’s solar firms will be leaner, more efficient, and a source of far fewer jobs.
We encourage you to republish Dialogue Earth articles, online or in print, under the Creative Commons license. Please read our republishing guidelines to get started.
Eleanor Randolph
Eleanor Randolph is a researcher specialising in China’s political economy, climate policy and industrial development. She studied international relations in Mandarin at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and has contributed to work at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and ChinaTalk.
Select from our bespoke newsletters for news best suited to you.
Please enter an email address
We’ve sent you an email with a confirmation link. Click it to be added to the list. If you can’t see the message, please check your junk mail.
我们向您的邮箱发送了一封确认邮件，请点击邮件中的确认链接。如果您未收到该邮件，请查看垃圾邮件。
If you would like more information about the terms of our republication policy or permission to use content, please write to us: [email protected]
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our privacy and cookies policy for further information.
Dialogue Earth uses cookies to provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser. It allows us to recognise you when you return to Dialogue Earth and helps us to understand which sections of the website you find useful.
Required Cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
Dialogue Earth – Dialogue Earth is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting a common understanding of the world’s urgent environmental challenges. Read our privacy policy.
Cloudflare – Cloudflare is a service used for the purposes of increasing the security and performance of web sites and services. Read Cloudflare’s privacy policy and terms of service.
Dialogue Earth uses several functional cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of site visitors and the most popular pages. Keeping these cookies enabled helps us to improve our website.
Google Analytics – The Google Analytics cookies are used to gather anonymous information about how you use our websites. We use this information to improve our sites and report on the reach of our content. Read Google’s privacy policy and terms of service.
This website uses the following additional cookies:
Google Inc. – Google operates Google Ads, Display & Video 360, and Google Ad Manager. These services allow advertisers to plan, execute and analyze marketing programs with greater ease and efficiency, while enabling publishers to maximize their returns from online advertising. Note that you may see cookies placed by Google for advertising, including the opt out cookie, under the Google.com or DoubleClick.net domains.
Twitter – Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you find compelling and follow the conversations.
Facebook Inc. – Facebook is an online social networking service. China Dialogue aims to help guide our readers to content that they are interested in, so they can continue to read more of what they enjoy. If you are a social media user, then we are able to do this through a pixel provided by Facebook, which allows Facebook to place cookies on your web browser. For example, when a Facebook user returns to Facebook from our site, Facebook can identify them as part of a group of China Dialogue readers, and deliver them marketing messages from us, i.e. more of our content on biodiversity. Data that can be obtained through this is limited to the URL of the pages that have been visited and the limited information a browser might pass on, such as its IP address. In addition to the cookie controls that we mentioned above, if you are a Facebook user you can opt out by following this link.
Linkedin – LinkedIn is a business- and employment-oriented social networking service that operates via websites and mobile apps.

source

Renewables Now is a leading business news source for renewable energy professionals globally. Trust us for comprehensive coverage of major deals, projects and industry trends. We’ve done this since 2009.
Stay on top of sector news with with Renewables Now. Get access to extra articles and insights with our subscription plans and set up your own focused newsletters and alerts.

source

A water treatment plant in South Australia (SA) has employed a containerised off-grid power system installed by SA renewable energy systems company MyEnergy Engineering, in an area with no grid connection that ensures energy needs are met, and essential water movement and filtration processes run continuously.
The system includes 99.6 kW of Jinko Solar panels, three Victron Quattro 48/15000 inverter/chargers, and a 96 kWh Pylontech battery.
Key components include six Victron SmartSolar MPPT RS450/200-TR, two Fronius Symo 20.03, a Victron Cerbo GX and Clenergy ground mounting system.
The system was tailor-made within a 20-foot insulated and airconditioned shipping container on site at MyEnergy headquarters in Adelaide, then transported to the water treatment plant location in Callington, approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Adelaide.
“The system reflects a proven approach to supplying power in locations where no suitable dwelling or infrastructure exists to house equipment,” a MyEnergy spokesperson said.
“By integrating core components, including battery storage and control systems, into a secure, transportable container, we deliver a complete, ready-to-deploy solution that reduces installation time, protects equipment and simplifies long-term maintenance.”
The project was recognised at the 2025 Master Electricians Australia Industry Excellence Awards, receiving ‘Highly Commended’ for Clean Energy Project of the Year – Commercial Project Under $1 million (USD 700,000).
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!

You have no items in your basket.

source

We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy Manage cookies
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Longi, a Chinese maker of photovoltaic modules, has reported a power conversion efficiency of 28.29% for a hybrid interdigitated-back-contact solar cell, according to pv magazine. Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin confirmed the measurement.
The company said the figure represents a world record for single-junction crystalline silicon solar cells, beating its own earlier mark of 28.13% set in May. Longi noted that it has set a new world record three times this year, with efficiencies of 28.04%, 28.13% and 28.29%, and added that crystalline silicon cell efficiency is now nearing its technical ceiling at 96.2% of the theoretical limit. The company did not disclose additional information about the cell technology.
Longi described the architecture of its hybrid interdigitated-back-contact cell in a scientific paper released in November. The device integrates passivated tunneling contacts, dielectric passivation layers, and both n-type and p-type contacts.
The cell is constructed on a high-resistivity, half-cut M10 wafer with edge passivation and optimized n-type contacts made through a mix of high- and low-temperature processes. An indium tin oxide layer enhances lateral transport, while multilayer aluminum oxide and silicon nitride coatings lower surface recombination.
The researchers also cut phosphorus doping in the n-type polycrystalline silicon layer to restrict dopant diffusion into the wafer. The company’s in situ passivated-edge technology allows edge passivation during fabrication. Deep-trenched metal fingers and selective indium tin oxide etching help stop leakage between the n-type and p-type contacts, while a thicker amorphous silicon layer enhances junction coverage and sidewall encapsulation. To lower contact resistivity without sacrificing passivation, the amorphous silicon layer is crystallized with a pulsed green nanosecond laser.
Longi said the technology could be scaled for heterojunction solar cell manufacturing, though further improvements are needed to cut resistive losses in the p-type contact.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
How the Report Was Built
World's largest monocrystalline silicon producer
Major PV manufacturer, high-efficiency cells
One of world's largest solar module producers
Leading PV module and cell manufacturer
Major LED chip and compound semiconductor producer
Global HQ in Canada, major ops in China
Major PV product manufacturer
Solar cell and module division
HJT solar cell specialist
Solar cell manufacturer
Major polysilicon and solar cell producer
Solar cell and module manufacturer
Solar cell and module producer
LED packaging and components
LED chip manufacturer
LED packaging and lighting solutions
LED packaging and components
Solar cell and module manufacturer
Solar cell producer
Crystal growth equipment and materials
Integrated circuits and LED chips
LED packaging and lighting
LED packaging and components
LED packaging and smart lighting
LED packaging and display products
LED chip technology company
LED packaging
PV manufacturing equipment
LED driver ICs and chips
LED packaging and components
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc

source

We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy Manage cookies
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Websol Energy System Ltd has obtained 21.9 hectares at Falta Industrial Park in West Bengal, India, for a solar manufacturing plant it intends to build.
The planned factory is designed for 4 GW of annual solar cell output and 4 GW of module output, with development split into two 2 GW stages.
The land allocation advances Websol‘s push to grow its manufacturing activities in West Bengal, where it already runs a solar cell and module plant inside the Falta Special Economic Zone. According to the company, its current operations in the state give it access to trained labor, long-standing supplier ties and knowledge of the local production environment, all of which it expects to aid the new site’s development. The project would extend Websol’s manufacturing reach in eastern India.
Sohan Lal Agarwal, chairman and managing director of Websol Energy System, noted that when the company first entered solar manufacturing in the mid-1990s, India’s industry was still at a very early stage, while solar has now become an increasingly significant element of the nation’s energy infrastructure, making the case for robust domestic manufacturing clearer than ever. He called the land allotment the next stage of a journey that started over thirty years ago in West Bengal, enabling the company to construct at a considerably larger scale while remaining near an ecosystem, workforce and operating base it understands well. He further stated that as India grows its solar capacity, manufacturing ought to expand in parallel, across regions and nearer to demand.
Sanjana Khaitan, executive director of Websol Energy System, said the company will now concentrate on advancing the project from land allotment through construction, commissioning and production.
Established in 1990, Websol produces solar cells and modules. It mainly provides cells to the Indian market, including module makers aiming to meet domestic content requirement rules, and offers its modules both in India and abroad.
The current Falta SEZ site has 1.2 GW of annual solar cell output and 550 MW of module output, and its production lines are capable of handling wafers up to 210 mm. Websol appears among the manufacturers on India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers for solar cells.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
How the Report Was Built
Major integrated solar manufacturer
India's largest solar module manufacturer
Part of Adani Group, integrated manufacturing
Leading manufacturer, part of Tata Group
Major PV module and cell producer
Historical leader in solar manufacturing
Makes solar cells, modules, encapsulants
Module and cell manufacturer
Solar PV module manufacturer
Solar panel manufacturer and distributor
Manufactures solar modules and inverters
Solar panel manufacturer
Solar panel manufacturer
Solar panel manufacturer
Solar cell and module manufacturer
Major LED lighting products manufacturer
Leading electrical goods co, major LED player
Major manufacturer of LED lights and fixtures
Major player in LED lighting segment
LED lighting manufacturer
Manufactures LED displays and lighting
Indian subsidiary, major LED mfg in India
Manufactures LED lights and fixtures
Major Indian electrical brand, produces LEDs
LED lighting products manufacturer
Manufactures LED bulbs and lighting
Major player in consumer LED lighting
Leading LED lighting solutions provider
Manufactures LED lights under Finolex brand
Wires & cables major, also manufactures LEDs
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc

source

Waaree Clean Energy Solutions Enters India’s Specialty Gases Market For Semiconductor And Solar Manufacturing  SolarQuarter
source

Indian solar module manufacturer Navitas Solar plans to invest INR 10,000 crore over the next five years to expand across the renewable energy value chain, including solar cells, ingots, wafers, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and renewable power generation.
The company plans to build an integrated renewable energy ecosystem across Gujarat and Maharashtra, with investments across both the upstream and downstream segments of the renewable energy value chain.
As part of the expansion, Navitas Solar is already progressing with a 2.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility at Sisodara, Gujarat, with Phase I involving an investment of around INR 1,200 crore. The company is also developing pilot lines for ingot and wafer manufacturing, which are intended to build technical capabilities and create a foundation for future scale-up. The cell manufacturing facility is targeted to become operational by July 2027.
The company is also expanding beyond manufacturing into renewable energy generation and energy storage. In Maharashtra, Navitas Solar is developing two solar parks with capacities of 200 MW and 25 MW, respectively, under EPC and independent power producer (IPP) models. In Gujarat, the company is entering the energy storage segment with a planned 5 GWh battery energy storage facility in Vadodara, further strengthening its capabilities across the clean-energy ecosystem.
“India’s renewable energy journey is entering a phase where scale, technology and supply-chain depth will increasingly determine the competitiveness of the sector. At Navitas Solar, we want to participate across the value chain and build capabilities that enable us to contribute meaningfully to India’s clean energy transition,” said Ankit Singhania, Director, Navitas Solar. “Our planned INR 10,000 crore investment over the next five years is a reflection of this ambition.”
The planned investments build on Navitas Solar’s existing manufacturing base. The company has a 3 GW annual solar module manufacturing capacity and manufactures high-efficiency solar modules, including TOPCon and bifacial Mono PERC technologies. It has also been pursuing backward integration through its solar encapsulant business, Navitas Alpha, while expanding its renewable energy portfolio through subsidiaries such as Navitas Planet. Alongside utility-scale renewable energy projects in India, its EPC business is expanding its presence across the Southern African region for execution of utility/IPP scale projects.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!

You have no items in your basket.

source

© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
“Electric mobility should not be a promise for a few.”
Photo Credit: Volkswagen
Series production has started in Spain for Volkswagen’s new ID. Cross, a compact electric SUV for the affordable end of the EV market.
Its cheapest version is expected to cost about $32,000, as Electrek reported.
At Volkswagen Navarra in Pamplona, the company has begun building the ID. Cross in series production, according to a LinkedIn post by CEO Thomas Schäfer.
The launch adds another low-cost EV to Volkswagen’s growing lineup.
German orders for the EV began at €36,525 ($41,630), with the more affordable Trend trim at €27,995 — or $31,909 — scheduled to arrive in mid-October.
Schäfer called it “a true Volkswagen: modern, reliable, and, above all, affordable,” per Electrek.
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Starting at $50
Starting at $99
Starting at $60
Starting at $80
He added: “Electric mobility should not be a promise for a few. It should be a real choice for many.”
Volkswagen positions the ID. Cross as an electric alternative to the T-Cross, with a choice of a 37- or 52-kilowatt-hour battery. Its maximum range is listed at 265 miles.
On DC fast charging, Volkswagen said the smaller battery can go from 10% to 80% in 23 minutes.
A low-cost electric SUV provides savings beyond the purchase price.
EVs cost less to fuel than gas vehicles and require less routine maintenance because they have fewer moving parts and don’t need oil changes.
Charging an EV at home often costs half as much as using public chargers, but basic Level 1 charging tends to be slow. Qmerit provides free, instant installation estimates for faster Level 2 home charger installations.
Volkswagen said the Cross is about the size of the T-Cross, but its flat battery layout and floor setup create up to 125.5 gallons of interior storage space — 5.3 gallons more than the gas version.
Inside, Volkswagen fitted its digital cockpit with a 10.25-inch instrument display and a 12.9-inch center infotainment screen. 
It also includes a Retro Display mode modeled after the first-generation Golf.
To prepare Volkswagen Navarra for vehicles such as the ID. Cross and the Skoda Epiq, Volkswagen upgraded the plant to produce gas and electric models side by side.
It is using its MEB+ platform for the SUV and plans to sell it in multiple trims and power outputs, giving buyers flexibility on price and range.
For more on Volkswagen’s push into low-cost EVs, check out these stories.
• At Volkswagen’s Spain plant, its first low-cost EVs are already rolling off the line.
• Volkswagen’s new Chinese-market crossover brings unprecedented features to the brand’s expanding EV range.
• Volkswagen’s ID 2all shows how affordable EV design can still prioritize cabin space.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source

Solar farms could do more than generate clean energy—they could also cut dust pollution  phys.org
source

Amazfit has unveiled the T-Rex Dual Solar, a rugged smartwatch that takes solar charging a little further by putting solar panels on both the front and rear of the watch. The setup is designed to extend battery life when the watch is exposed to sunlight, potentially cutting down how often you need to reach for the charger.
The T-Rex Dual Solar has a 660mAh battery rated for up to 21 days of typical use. But Amazfit says that figure can stretch considerably depending on how much sunlight the watch gets.
Worn on the wrist and exposed to three hours of direct sunlight each day, typical battery life can increase to 34 days. Put the larger solar panel on the rear under three hours of direct sunlight daily instead, and that figure rises to 51 days.
That dual-panel setup is the main attraction here, but the T-Rex Dual Solar isn’t just about battery life. It has a 1.32-inch AMOLED display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, while Sapphire Glass provides protection over the screen.
For fitness tracking, Amazfit says the watch supports more than 180 workout modes, giving it plenty of scope for different types of training. There’s also Bluetooth calling for taking calls from the wrist, along with 10 ATM water resistance for more demanding conditions. A built-in LED flashlight is another handy addition, particularly for a watch designed with outdoor use in mind.
The T-Rex Dual Solar comes in a Basalt Black colourway with a silicone strap. It’s priced at $650 in the US, putting it firmly into the premium smartwatch bracket.
How useful that dual-solar approach will be in everyday wear will depend on how much sun the watch actually gets, but it’s an unusual approach to solving one of the perennial smartwatch problems: keeping the thing charged.
Diane is a News Writer for Trusted Reviews, covering daily goings on in the tech world. She holds a degree in creative writing and mainly crafts fictions with a passion for novel storytelling. Her work delves into different genres, now with writing reviews for gadgets and home appliances. Outside of work, Diane enjoys immersing herself in active lifestyle such as dancing and running.
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

source

Renewables Now is a leading business news source for renewable energy professionals globally. Trust us for comprehensive coverage of major deals, projects and industry trends. We’ve done this since 2009.
Stay on top of sector news with with Renewables Now. Get access to extra articles and insights with our subscription plans and set up your own focused newsletters and alerts.

source

U.S. solar system prices increased across utility and commercial segments in the second quarter of 2026, driven by persistent structural materials tariffs and rising domestic transportation expenses, according to the latest pricing analysis from Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
Residential solar stood as the single exception to the upward pricing trend, with turnkey residential system costs dropping 1.4% year-over-year to average $3.36 per watt in Q2. Commercial solar system pricing experienced the steepest inflation, rising 5.6% year-over-year to $1.77 per watt. In the utility-scale segment, fixed-tilt system prices rose 0.9% year-over-year to $0.95 per watt, while single-axis tracking systems increased 2.0% over the same period to reach $1.06 per watt.
The top-line pricing trends reflect a widening divergence between equipment hardware costs and site-level installation logistics. While module hardware prices declined across the board, those savings were largely absorbed by rising structural, electrical, and transport expenditures.
In the distributed generation market, module prices dropped by an average of 16% year-over-year to hit $0.37 per watt in Q2. The sharp reduction followed the invalidation of International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs earlier in 2026, which eased trade pressure on imported solar components.
Conversely, utility-scale module price declines were far more muted. Utility module costs fell just 2% year-over-year, averaging $0.33 per watt in Q2. The muted decline stems from a widespread operational shift toward domestic procurement, as developers pay a notable premium for U.S.-manufactured modules to secure federal domestic content adders and insulate project pipelines from trade enforcement risks.
Cost reductions on modules were countered by a 15% average increase in logistics and freight expenses across all market segments. Logistics inflation has been driven primarily by higher oil and gas prices, which have jumped roughly 50% year-over-year since the start of the Middle East conflict.
Additionally, Section 232 tariffs on raw aluminum, steel, and copper continue to elevate structural and electrical balance of plant costs, affecting both imported and domestic equipment. The import duties affect both foreign supply chains and domestic equipment manufacturers relying on imported raw metals, keeping racking, tracker, and wiring costs high for developers across all scales.
Wood Mackenzie calculates its national average solar system pricing using a bottom-up modeling framework. The methodology captures overnight contracting prices incurred during the year in which the project is being contracted without factoring in procurement or construction lags. This is accomplished by combining tracked wholesale pricing of major solar components and supply chain data models with direct industry interviews.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Monday, October 26, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
pv magazine USA hosts its multi-day virtual event on U.S. solar and energy storage, covering domestic manufacturing, distributed energy and the growing role of solar-plus-storage in meeting AI-driven power demand.

You have no items in your basket.

source

We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy Manage cookies
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Tell us where to send the sample and whether you want this report customized.
Thank you. Our team will review your request and reply to your business email.
Our team will review your request and route it to support@indexbox.io.
According to the latest IndexBox report on the global Thermophotovoltaic Cells market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture.
The global thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells market is transitioning from a specialized research domain to a commercially viable energy conversion technology with significant strategic potential. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the market landscape as of 2026, projecting trends and structural shifts through the forecast horizon to 2035. Core growth is driven by the intensifying global demand for high-efficiency waste heat recovery, the integration of TPV systems in advanced power generation cycles, and supportive regulatory frameworks aimed at industrial decarbonization.
While technological maturity and high initial costs remain barriers, ongoing R&D focused on cell materials, spectral control, and system integration is rapidly improving economic feasibility and opening new application pathways. The competitive environment is characterized by a mix of established semiconductor and photovoltaic firms, specialized technology startups, and significant involvement from academic and government research institutions. Supply chains are currently concentrated and sensitive to the availability of high-purity semiconductor materials, though diversification efforts are underway.
This analysis concludes that the TPV market is poised for accelerated adoption, particularly in industrial heat recovery and remote power generation, fundamentally altering energy efficiency paradigms across multiple heavy industries by 2035.
The baseline scenario for the thermophotovoltaic cells market from 2026 to 2035 envisions a transition from pilot-scale deployments to broader commercial adoption, primarily driven by the imperative to decarbonize industrial processes and enhance energy efficiency. In 2026, the market remains concentrated in high-value niches such as aerospace and defense, where reliability and power density outweigh cost considerations. However, the forecast period will witness a gradual shift as technological advancements reduce manufacturing costs and improve cell efficiencies.
Key to this outlook is the integration of TPV systems into industrial waste heat recovery, where waste heat from furnaces, kilns, and exhaust streams can be converted into electricity. This application is expected to gain traction, especially in energy-intensive industries like steel, cement, and glass, supported by tightening energy efficiency regulations and carbon pricing mechanisms. The market is also anticipated to benefit from the growing demand for remote power generation, particularly in off-grid locations where traditional power sources are impractical.
Geographically, Asia-Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest-growing region, fueled by rapid industrialization and government initiatives promoting clean energy technologies. North America and Europe will maintain significant shares, driven by advanced research capabilities and early adoption in aerospace and defense. Despite these positive drivers, the market faces restraints such as high initial capital costs, competition from alternative waste heat recovery technologies, and the need for further standardization. Overall, the market is projected to grow at a robust CAGR, with the market index reaching new heights by 2035, reflecting a maturing ecosystem and expanding application base.
Waste heat recovery represents the largest and most promising end-use sector for thermophotovoltaic cells. Currently, industrial processes such as steel manufacturing, cement production, and glass melting generate vast amounts of high-temperature waste heat that is often released into the atmosphere. TPV cells offer a direct, solid-state method to convert this infrared radiation into electricity, which can be used on-site or fed back into the grid. The demand is driven by the dual imperative of reducing operational costs and meeting stringent environmental regulations. Through 2035, as carbon pricing mechanisms expand and energy efficiency standards tighten, the adoption of TPV-based waste heat recovery systems is expected to accelerate.
Key demand-side indicators include industrial energy consumption, waste heat availability, and the levelized cost of electricity from TPV systems compared to alternatives. The segment’s growth will be further supported by advancements in selective emitters and filters that enhance conversion efficiency for specific industrial heat sources. Current trend: Growing adoption in heavy industries.
Major trends: Integration of TPV systems with existing industrial furnaces and kilns, Development of modular TPV units for retrofitting, Increasing focus on high-temperature waste heat sources, Collaborations between TPV manufacturers and industrial end-users, and Government incentives for waste heat-to-power projects.
Representative participants: Cummins Inc, General Electric Company, Siemens Energy AG, Antora Energy, and MicroPower Global Limited.
Combined heat and power systems, also known as cogeneration, simultaneously produce electricity and useful heat from a single fuel source. TPV cells can be integrated into CHP systems to convert high-temperature heat into additional electricity, boosting overall system efficiency. In 2026, the adoption of TPV in CHP is still nascent but growing, particularly in industries with continuous heat demand such as chemicals, refining, and food processing. The demand is driven by the need to maximize fuel utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the forecast period, as CHP systems become more prevalent due to their efficiency benefits, the integration of TPV cells is expected to increase.
Key indicators include the number of CHP installations, average system efficiencies, and the cost of natural gas. The segment will benefit from advancements in TPV cell durability and the ability to operate at the high temperatures typical of CHP exhaust streams. Current trend: Rising demand for efficient cogeneration.
Major trends: Increasing adoption of CHP in industrial and commercial facilities, Integration of TPV with micro-CHP systems for distributed generation, Focus on high-efficiency TPV cells for high-temperature CHP, Government incentives for CHP installations, and Partnerships between TPV developers and CHP system integrators.
Representative participants: Cummins Inc, General Electric Company, Siemens Energy AG, Electro Power Systems S.A, and Thermo PV, Inc.
Aerospace power systems require lightweight, reliable, and high-density power sources, making TPV cells an attractive option for converting heat from radioisotope sources or combustion into electricity. In 2026, the aerospace sector remains a key early adopter, particularly for military drones, satellites, and deep-space probes where solar power is insufficient or impractical. The demand is driven by the need for long-duration missions and the limitations of battery technology. Through 2035, as space exploration and defense spending increase, the demand for TPV cells in aerospace is expected to grow steadily. Key indicators include defense budgets, satellite launch rates, and the number of deep-space missions.
The segment will benefit from ongoing R&D to improve TPV cell efficiency and reduce weight, as well as from the development of novel heat sources such as advanced radioisotope generators. Current trend: Steady growth in defense and space applications.
Major trends: Increasing use of TPV in radioisotope power systems for space missions, Development of lightweight TPV modules for unmanned aerial vehicles, Growing demand for reliable power in remote aerospace applications, Advancements in high-temperature TPV materials, and Collaborations between aerospace firms and TPV technology providers.
Representative participants: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, General Electric Company, Broadcom Inc, and II-VI Incorporated (Coherent Corp.).
Military portable power applications require silent, lightweight, and efficient power sources for dismounted soldiers and remote outposts. TPV cells can convert heat from combustion or other sources into electricity with no moving parts, offering a quiet and reliable alternative to traditional generators. In 2026, the adoption of TPV in military portable power is limited but growing, driven by the need to reduce logistical fuel supply chains and enhance operational stealth. Over the forecast period, as militaries seek to lighten the load for soldiers and extend mission durations, the demand for TPV-based portable power systems is expected to rise.
Key indicators include defense procurement budgets, soldier power requirements, and the adoption of wearable technologies. The segment will benefit from advancements in miniaturization and fuel-flexible TPV systems. Current trend: Increasing demand for silent, lightweight power.
Major trends: Development of man-portable TPV generators for dismounted soldiers, Integration of TPV with fuel cells for hybrid power systems, Focus on fuel flexibility and reduced logistical footprint, Increasing investment in soldier power programs, and Collaborations between defense contractors and TPV innovators.
Representative participants: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, General Electric Company, MicroPower Global Limited, and Thermo PV, Inc.
Industrial process heat refers to the thermal energy used in manufacturing processes such as drying, curing, and melting. TPV cells can be integrated into these processes to recover waste heat and generate electricity, improving overall energy efficiency. In 2026, the application of TPV in industrial process heat is in early stages, with pilot projects in industries like metals, ceramics, and chemicals. The demand is driven by the need to reduce energy costs and comply with emissions regulations. Through 2035, as industries seek to decarbonize and improve competitiveness, the adoption of TPV for process heat recovery is expected to grow.
Key indicators include industrial energy prices, carbon regulations, and the availability of high-temperature heat sources. The segment will benefit from the development of TPV systems capable of operating in harsh industrial environments. Current trend: Emerging applications in high-temperature processes.
Major trends: Pilot projects integrating TPV with industrial furnaces and kilns, Development of high-temperature TPV cells for process heat, Increasing focus on energy efficiency in heavy industries, Government incentives for industrial decarbonization, and Partnerships between TPV manufacturers and industrial end-users.
Representative participants: Siemens Energy AG, General Electric Company, Cummins Inc, Antora Energy, and Electro Power Systems S.A.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
Asia-Pacific is poised to become the largest and fastest-growing market for TPV cells, driven by rapid industrialization, increasing energy costs, and government initiatives promoting clean energy. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are investing heavily in advanced energy technologies, including waste heat recovery and remote power generation. The region’s strong manufacturing base and growing aerospace and defense sectors further support demand. Direction: Fastest-growing region.
North America remains a key market for TPV cells, supported by advanced research capabilities, stringent energy efficiency regulations, and significant defense and aerospace spending. The United States leads in R&D and early adoption, with Canada also contributing through industrial waste heat recovery projects. The region’s growth will be driven by industrial decarbonization efforts and the need for reliable remote power. Direction: Mature market with steady growth.
Europe is expected to experience steady growth in the TPV market, driven by ambitious decarbonization targets and energy efficiency directives. Countries like Germany, France, and the UK are at the forefront of industrial waste heat recovery and CHP adoption. The region’s strong focus on renewable energy and carbon reduction will support the integration of TPV systems in various applications. Direction: Steady growth driven by decarbonization.
Latin America represents an emerging market for TPV cells, with potential in industrial waste heat recovery and remote power generation. Brazil and Mexico are key countries, with growing industrial sectors and increasing energy demands. However, limited awareness and high initial costs may hinder faster adoption. The region’s growth will depend on economic development and regulatory support. Direction: Emerging market with potential.
The Middle East & Africa region offers niche opportunities for TPV cells, particularly in remote power generation for oil and gas operations, mining, and off-grid communities. The harsh environments and lack of grid infrastructure make TPV an attractive solution. However, the market is still nascent, and growth will be contingent on investment and technology transfer. South Africa and the UAE are expected to lead adoption. Direction: Niche opportunities in remote power.
In the baseline scenario, IndexBox estimates a 12.0% compound annual growth rate for the global thermophotovoltaic cells market over 2026-2035, bringing the market index to roughly 285 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 Thermophotovoltaic Cells market report.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Thermophotovoltaic Cells 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 thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells, semiconductor devices that convert infrared radiation from a heat source directly into electricity. The scope includes the core photovoltaic cells and modules designed for high-temperature operation, along with key components and integrated systems specific to TPV energy conversion. The analysis encompasses the entire value chain from specialized semiconductor manufacturing to final system integration for waste heat recovery and other applications.
Thermophotovoltaic cells are primarily classified under electronics and electrical machinery categories due to their function as photovoltaic devices. They intersect classifications for photovoltaic cells, diodes, and static converters. The relevant Harmonized System (HS) codes reflect their nature as photosensitive semiconductor devices and essential electrical components of power supply systems.
World
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.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint, Trade and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
Where Growth and Supply Concentrate
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Detailed View of the Most Important National Markets
How the Report Was Built
Leading in industrial TPV applications
High-profile R&D project, status uncertain
Leading startup in TPV for industrial decarbonization
Specialized TPV company
Formerly Micropower, focused on semiconductor waste heat
Research focus on novel TPV materials
Materials expertise for high-temperature emitters
Significant academic research group
Key academic institution for advanced TPV concepts
Prominent academic research
Leading European research institute
Historical and ongoing TPV research
Explored TPV for cold storage applications
Historical work on space nuclear TPV
Explored TPV for portable power
Developed TPV for silent military generators
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc
Select the sections and data you need. Delivery by e-mail within 24 hours.
No sections selected yet
Minimum order: $99

source

1 place you should never put a plug-in solar panel, according to experts – or put your property at risk  idealhome.co.uk
source

Research News
Patricia Daukantas

Water attenuates long wavelengths of light, leading to the blue hues below the ocean’s surface. [Image: DrPixel / Getty Images]
Water preferentially attenuates long wavelengths of light, leading to the blue hues familiar to scuba divers. This attenuation means that the undersea environment is not an ideal location for conventional solar cells, which are most efficient at collecting long wavelengths.
Researchers in China have developed specialized perovskite solar cells with wide band gaps customized to the blue-green spectrum of underwater regions (Joule, doi:10.1016/j.joule.2026.102672). The solar cells, modified with an organic polymer to convert the perovskites from p– to n-type, survived extended use in a simulated underwater environment and later supplying power to electronic devices submerged 10 m under the ocean surface.
“Very few studies have been reported on underwater solar cells, and all of them are focused on very shallow water depths of only two meters or less, a scenario far from catering for requirements of practical application,” says author Wen-Hua Zhang of Yunnan University and Southwest United Graduate School in Kunming, China. “This work presents the first functional validation of submerged solar cells practically operating at a water depth of up to about 10 meters, greatly broadening their application scope.”
[Enlarge image]
A schematic diagram of submerged perovskite solar cells for underwater applications. [Image: Simin Ma, Yunnan University]
Both human divers and autonomous devices require power for lighting, motors, cameras and other underwater equipment. Surface supply via electrical cable greatly limits the travel range of divers and robots, and batteries—even high-capacity versions—need to be recharged or replaced. While high-efficiency terrestrial photovoltaic panels, containing cadmium telluride or even conventional perovskites, harness wavelengths of 800 to 1150 nm to generate electricity, underwater solar cells struggle to operate because water strongly absorbs light with wavelengths at or above 630 nm.
In the new work, the team at Yunnan University fabricated a lead-based perovskite crystal modified with polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride. The guanidine moieties interacted with the lattice structure of the semiconductor to improve the quality of the material’s lattice structure and widen the band gap to roughly 1.96 eV. An epoxy resin protected the cell from water damage.
The researchers first tested the prototype solar cells above ground, but under lighting conditions simulating what the cells would “see” under varying depths of pure water (2, 5 and 10 m). The unit’s power conversion efficiency actually increased at greater mock depths, up to 34.71% at 10 m. The team also immersed the cells in tap water then tested the water to make sure that lead leakage from the cells was negligible.
Next, the Yunnan group tested the solar cells in real-world conditions off an island in the South China Sea. The team programmed an aquatic mini-robot to charge lithium-ion batteries with energy generated by the prototype cells. Even 10 m deep in seawater, the cells registered an output of 324 mWh. Retrieved from the water, the batteries lit up a small neon sign.
“What surprised us most was so much electrical energy our large-area modules generated under real-world conditions at 10-meter water depth for only two hours,” said Zhang.
Based on their tests, the Yunnan researchers predict that the perovskite solar cells will last more than 5 years of continuous operation at 25°C. The team will test the cells at greater depths to find their limit of underwater operation.
Publish Date: 24 September 2026
Article Tools
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Recent Headlines
Perovskite Powers Underwater Photovoltaics
Perfect Quantum Information Transfer
Attalon and AeroVironment Partner on High-Energy Lasers
Explore Latest
Multimedia
The Magazine
Information

source

Norway’s solar capacity tops 1GW as growth slows  EnergyWatch
source

    
Source: TH  
Growing difficulty and rising costs of land acquisition for large-scale ground-mounted solar projects have renewed interest in Canal-Top Photovoltaics (CTPV) as a land-neutral renewable energy solution.  

1. What is Canal-Top Photovoltaics (CTPV)?
CTPV involves installing solar panels on elevated structures over existing irrigation or water-supply canals, generating electricity without requiring additional land. 
2. How is CTPV different from floating solar?
CTPV uses fixed elevated structures spanning canals, whereas floating solar panels are mounted on floating platforms on reservoirs or lakes. 
3. What is the potential of CTPV in India?
A 2024 CSTEP assessment estimated India’s CTPV and canal-bank solar potential at around 131 GW, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab among the leading prospective States. 
4. What is the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana?
The PM-SSY aims to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity by FY 2030–31, supported by ₹5,070 crore and integrated Energy Storage Systems. 
5. What are the major challenges of Canal-Top Photovoltaics?
Key challenges include high capital costs, difficult maintenance and canal desilting, and grid-connectivity constraints due to the linear nature of canal networks. 


Q. Consider the following statements about ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’: (2025)
Which of the statements given above are correct?  
(a) I and II only  
(b) I and III only  
(c) II and III only  
(d) I, II and III  
Ans: D  
Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?     
(a) 1 only      
(b) 2 only     
(c) Both 1 and 2     
(d) Neither 1 nor 2     
Ans: (a)
Q. India has immense potential for solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (2020)

More Links
Archives by Date
Archives by Month & Year
What’s New
 

source

Many people wonder whether broken panels release harmful chemicals into the soil or groundwater. However, recent scientific research suggests that these concerns may be greater than the actual risk. 
According to a science-based fact sheet prepared by Taylor Curtis, National Laboratory of the Rockies, and Annick Anctil, Michigan State University, modern solar panels are designed to safely contain their internal materials, even when physical damage occurs. 
Most solar panels are made primarily of glass and contain smaller amounts of metals and specialized materials. These components are enclosed within durable protective polymer layers that shield them from rain, wind, moisture, hail, and temperature extremes. The design helps ensure that internal materials remain protected throughout a panel's lifespan, which can extend for decades. 
One commonly discussed concern involves the presence of lead in some crystalline silicon solar panels and cadmium compounds in certain thin-film panels. However, the researchers explain that these materials make up only a very small portion of the panel's total weight, typically around 0.1% or less. More importantly, they remain securely encapsulated within the panel structure under normal operating conditions. 
To better understand potential risks, scientists have conducted tests that go beyond typical real-world conditions. In one study, pieces of damaged solar panels were placed in a solution designed to simulate acid rain and left there for an entire year.  
The results showed that lead and cadmium levels remained below the screening thresholds established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These findings indicate no significant risk to either human health or the environment. 
Researchers also addressed concerns about other potentially harmful substances. The fact sheet notes that technical experts have found no evidence that commercially available solar panels contain arsenic, hexavalent chromium, or harmful PFAS "forever chemicals." 
As solar energy continues to expand across rural and agricultural communities, questions about panel safety and environmental impact are becoming increasingly common. Scientific evidence suggests that modern solar panels are built with durability and safety in mind, helping prevent exposure to internal materials even when damage occurs. 
The research does not dismiss public concerns but instead provides information based on testing and observation. The findings show that modern solar technology is designed to withstand challenging outdoor conditions while minimizing environmental risks. 
Photo Credit: istock-simplycreativephotography

source