Vietnam’s Solar Capacity Surpasses 19 GW
Vietnam’s cumulative solar capacity reached 19,252 MW (19.3 GW) by the end of 2025, a 586 MW increase over 2024 but far slower than the 1.6 GW added in 2023. The growth is driven by expanding rooftop installations and renewed policy support, including a draft decree to raise the rooftop surplus‑sale cap to 50% and a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism that lets large private consumers buy renewable power directly. Meanwhile, feed‑in tariffs have been trimmed and now favor projects with battery storage. The government’s revised power plan still targets 73 GW of solar by 2030, underscoring the need for grid upgrades and storage solutions.
BMW Targets 2028 Hydrogen Car Launch, Cites Infrastructure and Cost Hurdles
BMW announced that its iX5 Hydrogen fuel‑cell electric vehicle will enter series production in 2028, featuring a third‑generation fuel cell system co‑developed with Toyota. The model promises up to 750 km of range and refueling in under five minutes thanks to...
Agrivoltaics Maintain or Enhance Forage Quality, Study Finds
University of Minnesota researchers evaluated grasses and legumes grown under two agrivoltaic solar arrays and a control pasture to assess biomass and nutritional value for dairy cattle. The 30 kW site produced near‑control yields (8,968 kg/ha) while the 50 kW site yielded less...
Germany Adds Record 1 GWh of Battery Storage in March
Germany is on track to surpass the 1 GWh monthly battery storage milestone in March, driven primarily by residential photovoltaic systems. Energy‑Charts data show 522.9 MW of power and 985.9 MWh of energy capacity added, with figures likely to rise as registrations lag...
Heat Pumps May Help Boost Residential Solar in France
France unveiled an electrification plan that seeks to install one million heat pumps per year by 2030, backed by €200 million in public funding. Subsidies of €12,000‑€14,000 aim to deliver a three‑year return on investment for units costing €10,000‑€15,000. The rollout...
Solar Self-Generation Could Outperform PPAs in Brazil, Delivering up to 32.9% Savings
A new study by the Federal Universities of Ceará and São João del‑Rei shows that large industrial consumers in Brazil’s free‑contracting market can save up to 32.9% by financing, building and operating their own photovoltaic plants instead of signing long‑term power purchase...
The Solar Support Gap: Why Do Pro-Solar Citizens Reject Local Projects?
University of Rhode Island researchers examined why voters who support solar energy opposed a utility‑scale solar project in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. An exit‑poll revealed that 28.9% of pro‑solar respondents voted against the 2019 referendum, creating an individual support gap....
Colombia Approves Guidelines for Integrating Energy Storage Into Electricity System
Colombia issued Decree 0393 to establish public‑policy guidelines for integrating energy‑storage systems (ESS) into both the National Interconnected System and isolated zones. The decree sets deployment criteria, market participation rules, and a remuneration framework, recognizing storage for frequency regulation, voltage...
PV Module Prices Continue to Rise Unabated
Photovoltaic module prices climbed for the fourth month in a row, rising 5.5% between March and April 2026, with all‑black modules posting the steepest gains. The increase occurs despite falling polysilicon costs and the removal of Chinese export tax credits,...
Philippines Registers Solar Module Maker Targeting EU Export Market
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has registered Genuine Renewable Energy and Eco‑Friendly Energy Network Corp. (GREEENC) as an ecozone enterprise to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules for export, primarily to the European Union. GREEENC will invest about PHP 370 million ($6.16 million) in...
Varta Launches All-in-One Residential Inverter and Modular Battery
Varta, the German energy‑storage specialist, unveiled the Varta.hybrid.wall, an all‑in‑one residential system that bundles a three‑phase inverter, modular battery packs and an energy‑management platform. The solution offers 4.5 kWh to 20 kWh of storage, can be configured for AC or DC coupling,...
Porous Silica-Based Anti-Reflective Coating Increases PV Glass Optical Transmission by 5.2%
Researchers at Spain’s CIEMAT have created a porous silica anti‑reflective coating that lifts solar‑panel glass transmission by up to 5.2%, reaching 99.8% at 600 nm. By fine‑tuning the ratio of TEOS to MTES, the concentration of the pore‑forming agent Pluronic P‑123,...
Free Midday Electricity Key to Drive Consumer Demand to Match Excess PV Generation
Australia’s Solar Sharer program will give households with smart meters three free midday electricity hours, aiming to pull demand into periods of abundant solar generation. Research by Cambridge’s Ray Galvin shows the scheme could shift roughly 22.5 TWh of electricity by...
Mova Unveils All-in-One Plug-In Solar and Storage Solutions
Chinese appliance maker Mova has entered the residential solar‑plus‑storage market with its LumeGret A2000 and A4000 all‑in‑one units. The A4000 provides a 4 kWh LFP battery, expandable to 20 kWh, and a 2.5 kW inverter, while the A2000 starts at 1.92 kWh and adds...
Tunisia Launches 200 MW Call for PV Projects Under New Licensing Scheme
Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy announced a sixth licensing round inviting private developers to submit proposals for up to 200 MW of new solar power plants. Applications are open from April 15 to June 15 and will be assessed based on...
