Heat Dome and High Pressure Boost Southern US Solar as Polar Vortex Clouds the North
Solcast’s March analysis shows a stark solar divide across North America, with the southern half—northeastern Mexico, southeastern Texas and much of California—recording 20‑25% above‑average irradiance, while Canada, the Great Lakes region and the northeastern U.S. suffered below‑normal solar levels. The contrast stemmed from persistent high‑pressure systems and a southwestern heat dome that cleared skies in the south, versus a polar vortex that ushered cold air and stormy clouds to the north. Temperatures under the heat dome were 10‑19 °C (18‑35 °F) above seasonal norms, amplifying the sunny conditions. Solcast’s AI‑driven satellite data, used by over 350 firms managing more than 300 GW of solar assets, underpins these findings.
Agratas Advances 20 GWh Battery Plant in Western India
Agratas, the Tata Group’s global battery arm, has finished the steel frame of its Sanand manufacturing complex in western India. The first phase will deliver up to 20 GWh of advanced cells annually for electric vehicles and energy‑storage systems. Spanning 105,000 sq m...
Rooftop Solar Now Accounts for One-Fifth of Puerto Rico’s Generation Capacity
Rooftop solar now supplies roughly one‑fifth of Puerto Rico’s total generation capacity, overtaking natural gas to become the island’s second‑largest source. Distributed solar accounted for 81% of all new capacity added between 2016 and 2025, reaching 1,456 MW across 191,929 installations...
Terabase Energy Advances Automated PV Construction with Robotics, AI Tools
Terabase Energy announced that its upgraded Terafab V2 automated solar‑construction system has completed field testing and is ready for commercial deployment. The AI‑assisted robotics platform can assemble and position panel‑tracker modules at a two‑minute cycle, delivering roughly 20 MW per week...
Bauer Solar Launches 480 W Back-Contact Solar Module
German solar module maker Bauer Solar introduced a new 480‑watt back‑contact panel with a record‑high conversion efficiency of 23.52%. The full‑black glass‑glass module incorporates 108 bifacial half‑cells, 2 mm anti‑reflective glass on both sides, and a robust anodized aluminum frame, weighing...
Key Takeaways From Chile’s Re+ Cono Sur
Chile’s Energy Minister Ximena Rincón used the RE+ Southern Cone Summit to urge a shift from a passive to a proactive stance on renewables, storage, and electrification. She highlighted recent policy steps such as net‑billing legislation and stressed the need...
Germany’s Heat Pump Public Discourse Is Positive but Volatile
A new study of 33,131 German news articles shows heat pumps are generally portrayed positively, yet public sentiment is volatile. Sentiment dipped sharply after the 2022 Russian gas cut and again during the early‑2023 debate over Germany’s heating law (GEG)....
Solar Fabrik Launches 400 W Red-Brown Module for Heritage Roofs
Solar Fabrik unveiled the Mono S4 Halfcut Chroma Orange, a 400‑watt red‑brown glass‑glass PV module tailored for heritage roofs. The panel delivers 20.02% efficiency using bifacial n‑type TOPCon half‑cells and meets strict aesthetic standards by matching traditional red tiles (RAL 8004)....
BBDF: German Network Agency to Release BESS Grid Fee Framework Soon
Germany’s Federal Network Agency announced it will publish the first framework for future electricity network fees in late May or early June 2026. The guidance will outline how fees apply to battery energy storage systems (BESS) and interact with flexible...
Can Sodium-Ion Storage Drive Energy Flexibility in France?
France’s Association Environnement Juste has urged the government to mandate on‑site energy storage for any renewable project larger than 10 kW, aiming to embed flexibility directly at the source. The proposal highlights sodium‑ion batteries as a cost‑effective, metal‑independent solution, with cell...
Solbian Launches Solar Kit for Boat Davits
Solbian has introduced the SunBoard solar kit for boat davits, offering 80 W and 108 W rigid‑frame modules built with high‑efficiency SunPower Maxeon cells. The panels mount to unused davit surfaces using rope‑secured eyelets and can tilt from 0° to 90° for...
Sassmann Develops ‘Solar Panel Grid’ for Pigeon Protection
Sassmann, a German specialist, has launched a modular solar‑panel grid that mechanically blocks pigeons from nesting under photovoltaic modules. The system uses clamp‑clips to attach without drilling or gluing, preserving manufacturers' warranties. It can be retrofitted to existing residential and...
Abu Dhabi Extends Solar Self-Supply Policy to Residents
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy has launched the second phase of its solar self‑supply policy, extending the scheme to villa owners and eligible residential buildings. The new rules let households install rooftop photovoltaic systems with optional battery storage, while streamlining...
SolarEdge Outlines Path to 800 V (DC) Data Center Infrastructure
SolarEdge released a March 2026 white paper proposing a five‑stage roadmap to replace legacy AC power with integrated 800 V DC infrastructure in data centers. The paper argues that current AC‑to‑DC conversion chains waste 10%‑30% of input power, limiting AI workload...
Middle East Conflict Lifting PPA Valuations, Says Pexapark
Swiss analytics firm Pexapark reports that recent LNG strikes in the Middle East are pushing up long‑term power purchase agreement (PPA) valuations across Europe. The conflict creates a structural supply‑side risk that tightens medium‑term fundamentals, especially in markets with limited...
Azerbaijan Commissions 500 MWh Battery Storage Project
Azerbaijan’s state utility AzerEnergy inaugurated a 250 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage system, part of a two‑site rollout at the 500 kV Absheron and 220 kV Agdash substations. The Absheron installation houses 50 battery containers and 13 inverter units, all monitored by a SCADA‑enabled...
BBDF 2026 Opening Session: Optimism, Caution, and Grid Fees
At the Battery Business Development Forum (BBDF) 2026 in Frankfurt, investors reaffirmed confidence in Europe’s fast‑growing battery‑energy‑storage market while flagging regulatory uncertainty, especially Germany’s pending grid‑fee rules, as a potential drag on project economics. The two‑day event featured more than...
EU Energy Regulator Opens Consultation Into PPA Market
The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has opened a public consultation running from March 31 to May 8 to map the EU power purchase agreement (PPA) market. The consultation seeks detailed input on regulatory frameworks, financial guarantees,...
Italy, Spain Set Solar Records in March
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting reported that weekly average electricity prices fell across most major European markets, with the average dipping below €90 ($103) per MWh in seven countries. Record‑low prices of €0.18/MWh ($0.21) were logged in Portugal and Spain, the latter...
Solar Above 60° North: The Arctic as PV’s Next Frontier
The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme reports that solar installations above 60° N are expanding rapidly, with capacity reaching roughly 1,400 MWp by 2023 and annual growth rates of 46‑145% in key regions. Cold temperatures boost panel efficiency, while bifacial...
IFC Loans $125 Million for Polysilicon Factory in Malaysia
The International Finance Corporation is extending up to $125 million in financing to OCI TerraSus, a Malaysian subsidiary of Korean polysilicon giant OCI, for a new semiconductor‑grade polysilicon plant in Sarawak. The facility, built with Japanese partner Tokuyama, targets a 10,000‑metric‑ton...
US Startup Begins Manufacturing Grid-Scale Flywheel ESS
Qnetic, a SOSV‑backed startup, is launching low‑volume production of its Q500 solid‑state flywheel energy storage system at a new Sacramento factory. The Q500 is designed for 500 kWh capacity, 125 kW power, and up to twelve hours of discharge at lower power,...
Multi-Year Field Study Finds that Agrivoltaics Can Support Healthy Potato Yields
A four‑year field trial in northern Italy examined potato production under agrivoltaic (APV) systems with varying shading patterns. The study found that moderate shading (around 20%) caused only a 12% yield drop, while high shading (>35%) reduced yields by more...
Adani Green Commissions 951 MW Solar, Hybrid Capacity in India
Adani Green Energy Ltd. commissioned 951 MW of renewable capacity in western India, comprising 926 MW of solar and 25 MW of hybrid projects across Baiya, Rajasthan and Khavda, Gujarat. The plants began commercial operation on March 30 after receiving clearances. This addition lifts...
Sodium-Ion Cells Launched for Energy Storage by Another Chinese Mid-Tier Battery Company
Chinese mid‑tier battery maker Bosa Energy announced the launch of 175 Ah sodium‑ion cells for stationary energy storage. The cells deliver 110 Wh kg‑1 and 206 Wh L‑1, weigh 4.75 kg, and match the dimensions of the company’s existing 314 Ah lithium‑ion module. Bosa’s four factories covering...
Lithuania’s Solar Capacity Surpasses 3 GW
Lithuania’s solar capacity hit 3.04 GW at the end of 2025, adding roughly 600 MW in the last year. Prosumers—about 170,000—produced around 70% of that output, delivering 1.79 TWh and covering 14.2% of national electricity demand. Technical permits for an additional 4 GW of...
Portable Data Centers Target Curtailment, Grid Constraints
Australian startup WinDC, together with US‑based Armada, will install 11 MW of modular, container‑sized data centers at solar, wind and battery sites across New South Wales and Western Australia. The portable units run entirely on renewable power, can be moved by...
The Hydrogen Stream: Capacity Outlook Grows, Deals Shift
GlobalData projects global low‑carbon hydrogen capacity could reach 82.3 mtpa by 2030, up from 2.2 mtpa active in early 2026 across 460 projects. Only 2% of that future capacity is operational, with most projects still in feasibility or early stages. Meanwhile, Topsoe...
China PV Industry Brief: China Adds 32.48 GW Solar as Polysilicon Prices Fall
China’s National Energy Administration reported 32.48 GW of new solar capacity installed in January‑February 2026, a 17.7% year‑on‑year decline, while total generation capacity reached 3.95 TW, with solar climbing to 1.23 TW (+33.2%). Polysilicon prices fell sharply, with weekly drops of up to...
Agrivoltaics with Trackers, Vertical Systems Offer Economic Upside
A new analysis by Jochen Hauff challenges a German Thünen‑Institut study by showing that agrivoltaic systems with trackers or vertical configurations can be financially viable and even outperform conventional ground‑mounted solar. Tracker‑based agrivoltaics add roughly 12‑13% to capital costs but...
Bluetti Targets Home Backup with Fridge-Focused Battery System
Bluetti has launched FridgePower, a plug‑and‑play battery system aimed at keeping refrigerators and other essential home devices running during power outages. Unlike fixed residential storage like Tesla Powerwall, FridgePower requires no permanent installation and can be moved within the house....
‘Be Kind to Yourself and Patient with Your Journey’
Irene Mihai, Policy Director of the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association, highlighted the critical role of mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive workplace practices in attracting and retaining talent in the solar sector. She noted that women now represent roughly 40% of the...
European Prosecutor Investigates Suspected Solar Tender Fraud in Slovenia
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has opened a fraud investigation into an unnamed Slovenian solar company that allegedly violated EU tender rules for Cohesion Fund co‑financing of small solar plants. Police searches in Celje seized documents and electronic data...
Brazil PV Module Imports Fall 24% to 17.9 GW in 2025
Brazil imported 17.9 GWp of photovoltaic modules in 2025, a 24% drop from 2024’s 22.3 GWp. Distributed‑generation projects absorbed 79% of the volume, even as new installations slowed to 8.8 GW, down from 10 GW a year earlier. The decline coincided with a sharp...
US ITC Opens Section 337 Probe Into Global TOPCon Supply Chain
The US International Trade Commission has opened a Section 337 investigation into TOPCon solar cells, modules and related products after First Solar filed a complaint naming 47 respondents across 11 countries. First Solar alleges infringement of patents 1, 2, 4 and 8 and seeks...
Inland Rail Deploys Solar-Powered Level Crossings in Australia
Australia’s 1,600‑km Inland Rail freight corridor has installed standalone solar power systems at two level crossings in northern New South Wales, eliminating the need for grid connections during construction. The solar‑powered installations include battery storage, LED warning lights, audible alarms...
Electrospray Cooling Can Boost PV Panel Performance with Minimal Water Use
Researchers at Turkey’s Artvin Çoruh University refined electrospray cooling for photovoltaic (PV) panels, pinpointing optimal irradiance, coolant flow, voltage, and nozzle distance. Using a response‑surface method, they determined that 1,000 W/m² irradiance, 94.34 mL/h flow, 17 kV voltage, and a 5.5 cm nozzle gap...
China Solar Cell Prices Fall for Third Consecutive Week as Upstream Costs Ease
China's TOPCon M10 solar cell prices slipped for a third week, falling 0.36% to $0.0558 per watt as polysilicon and wafer costs eased. N‑type M10 wafer prices dropped 3.92% to $0.147 each, reflecting broader upstream price pressure. Production in January‑February...
Germany Classifies Cybersecurity Threats for Energy Infrastructure
Germany’s Federal Network Agency will adopt a new classification framework developed by Fraunhofer IOSB‑AST to evaluate cybersecurity incidents in the energy sector under the EU NIS 2 Directive. The methodology introduces a three‑stage, risk‑based model that moves from initial incident reporting...
Austria Deploys 1.63 GW of Solar in 2025
Austria installed about 1.63 GW of new photovoltaic capacity in 2025, a 22% decline from 2024’s 2.08 GW. The slowdown leaves total solar capacity at roughly 9.9 GW, well short of the 2 GW per year needed to meet the country’s 100% renewable electricity...
German Pilot Shows 700 EVs Can Provide Redispatch Services
TransnetBW and Octopus Energy’s OctoFlexBW pilot proved that 700 private‑EVs can provide grid‑flexibility services through Germany’s Redispatch 2.0 process. The fleet shifted about 2 MWh of load per day, demonstrating a fully automated chain from system‑operator dispatch signals to household chargers, including...
Hysolar Moves to Take Control of Suntech
Hongyuan Green Energy (Hysolar) is set to acquire control of Wuxi Suntech Solar Power through a court‑led restructuring that creates a new entity, New Suntech, and transfers core assets while isolating legacy debt. The new company will be capitalized at...
Agrivoltaics for Turnips
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario tested 13 photovoltaic modules, including semi‑transparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) and low‑transparency crystalline silicon (c‑Si), in field‑scale agrivoltaic trials with turnips. The 60 % transparent CdTe panel delivered the highest fresh root weight (176.5 g) and...
UK Solar Deployment Hits 22 GW as More Large Projects Commissioned
The UK added 2.5 GW of solar capacity in the 12 months to February 2026, pushing total installed PV to 22 GW – the fastest annual increase in a decade. Large‑scale projects (≥25 MW) drove most of the growth, with CfD‑backed capacity jumping...
Croatia to Invest €40 Million in Household Solar, Batteries, Heat Pumps
Croatia announced a €40 million ($46.2 million) package to co‑finance residential solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps, targeting up to 15,000 applications. The scheme will cover 50 % of costs, rising to 70 % for households at risk of energy poverty, and is...
France Lowers PV Feed-In Tariffs for Systems up to 100 kW
France’s energy regulator (CRE) announced lower feed‑in tariffs for photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 100 kW, effective April‑July 2026. The 9‑36 kW tier now receives €0.805 (≈$0.93) per kWh, while 36‑100 kW gets €0.70 (≈$0.81) per kWh, and surplus electricity is compensated at €0.473 (≈$0.55) per kWh....
Spain Enables 50-Plus Renewable Plants for Real-Time Voltage Control
Spain’s grid operator Red Eléctrica and regulator CNMC launched real‑time, setpoint‑based voltage control services on March 17, enabling renewable generators to adjust reactive power on demand. More than 50 installations are already active, with 365 applicants and 74 qualified units...
Global PV Equipment Market to Reach 2.6 Times Current Size by 2035
A study by Germany’s VDMA and Fraunhofer projects global capital expenditure on photovoltaic manufacturing equipment to rise from about $16.6 billion in 2025 to $43.8 billion by 2035, roughly 2.6 times current size. The growth mirrors an expected 2.5‑fold increase in annual...
Sekisui-Led Consortium Testing Film-Type Perovskite Solar for Agrivolatics
A Japanese consortium led by Sekisui Solar Film has launched a three‑year agrivoltaic pilot that places film‑type perovskite solar cells over rice paddies at Chiba University. The study will monitor electricity generation, rice yield, methane emissions and overall commercial viability....
How Many Solar Projects Have Been Backed by the UK Government?
Since the July 2024 election, the UK government has backed at least 780 solar projects, spanning rooftop installations on schools and hospitals to utility‑scale farms over 500 MW. The contracts‑for‑difference (CfD) scheme accounts for 247 projects with 8.1 GW capacity, including 90...
