Oxford PV’s Perovskite Expertise to Help Advance Solar-Powered EVs
Oxford PV, a specialist in perovskite photovoltaics, has joined the UK‑led Smart Use of Integrated Technology for EV (SUITE) research consortium. The project, backed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and the UK government, brings together Nissan’s Technical Centre UK, engineering firms and universities to develop vehicle‑integrated solar panels that can boost electric‑vehicle efficiency and range. Oxford PV will contribute its perovskite‑on‑silicon tandem cell technology, leveraging its German manufacturing plant that began commercial shipments in 2024. The collaboration also follows a recent licensing agreement with First Solar, underscoring the company’s push toward commercialising perovskite solar for automotive use.
Kiwa PVEL Updates Module Testing Programme, Aims to Tackle Glass Breakage, Frame Failures and Hail Damage
Kiwa PVEL has revamped its Production Qualification Program to include test‑to‑failure protocols for static mechanical load and hail testing, aiming to identify the maximum stress solar modules can endure. The updated hail test now evaluates five modules per round, focusing on...
Solar Procurement Is Changing as Geopolitics ‘Redefines Risk’
Solar buyers in Europe are shifting procurement focus from pure cost to security, ESG compliance, and cyber‑risk mitigation, as highlighted at the SolarPLUS Europe conference in Milan. Geopolitical tensions—such as the Strait of Hormuz blockade and China’s polysilicon consolidation—are creating...
Iberdrola Reaches 400MW in Italy with Acquisition of Lazio Solar Plant
Iberdrola is acquiring a 42 MW solar PV plant in Lazio, Italy, raising its Italian solar portfolio to 400 MW. The newly bought asset, commissioned less than six months ago, is covered by long‑term power purchase agreements that guarantee stable cash flows....
Virginia Passes Law to Add 625MW of New Community Solar Capacity by 2028
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed four bills that will add 625 MW of new community‑solar capacity statewide by 2028. Dominion Energy must deliver an extra 525 MW by July 2024, with a portion reserved for low‑income customers, while Appalachian Power will roll out...
How Sonnedix Secured Capacity in Italy’s ‘Crucial’ FER X Auction
Spanish renewable developer Sonnedix secured a substantial block of capacity in Italy’s FER X auction, a key mechanism for allocating new renewable projects. The company was awarded roughly 550 MW of solar and wind assets at an average price of about €70...
Tongwei and Daqo Shares Rally on Polysilicon Regulatory Rumours, Prices Stay Depressed
Rumors of a closed‑door meeting in Chengdu to impose polysilicon production cuts sparked a sharp rally in Chinese PV stocks on April 13, with Tongwei up 7.9% and Daqo Energy nearly 8%. The benchmark polysilicon futures surged to RMB 34,770/ton (≈US$5,097),...
European Solar Must ‘Embrace Volatility’ (and Energy Storage)
European solar developers are being urged to treat market volatility as a source of value rather than a threat, amid macro‑economic shocks, regulatory swings, and volatile power prices. Speakers at SolarPLUS Europe highlighted that energy storage is now essential, turning...
India’s MNRE Expands ALMM List-II to 27.8GW, Adds HJT Cells for the First Time
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy expanded the ALMM List‑II capacity to 27.8 GW, adding 1.3 GW since February. The revision introduces heterojunction (HJT) solar cells for the first time, with Reliance Industries contributing 1.238 GW of high‑efficiency modules. Jupiter Solartech and...
Fraunhofer ISE Launches Consultancy Spin-Off NEXUS GreenTech
Fraunhofer ISE has launched NEXUS GreenTech, a consultancy spin‑off based in Freiburg, to serve the increasingly complex solar PV market. The firm is led by three former ISE researchers who together hold over 60 years of PV expertise. NEXUS GreenTech will offer technical...
GAIL Invests in 700MW Solar, 572MWh Storage Projects Across India
GAIL, the Indian state‑owned gas utility, is investing INR 38 billion (≈$408 million) to build 700 MW of solar capacity and 572 MWh of battery storage across Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The flagship project in Jhansi will combine 600 MW of solar with a 550 MWh BESS, while...
Premier Energies Secures 1.6GW Solar Cell and Module Supply Orders
Premier Energies secured supply contracts for 1.6 GW of solar cells and modules valued at roughly $276 million, with deliveries slated for 2027‑28. The orders come from undisclosed IPPs and EPC contractors and signal a strategic shift from PERC to TOPCon technology....
IRENA: Incentivise Renewables Deployment to Minimise Impacts of Global Energy Shock
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released a policy advisory urging governments to speed up renewable‑energy deployment to shield economies from volatile fossil‑fuel prices. The agency estimates the EU has avoided about $67.8 billion in fuel costs thanks to recent solar...
Oman’s Naqaa Sustainable Energy to Lead 500MW Botswana PV Project—Reports
Omani renewables firm Naqaa Sustainable Energy has been appointed lead developer for a 500 MW photovoltaic plant in Botswana, the country’s largest solar project to date. The plant, slated for the Maun region, will incorporate an integrated battery energy storage system....
Vikram Solar Doubles PV Deployments to 10GW
Vikram Solar announced that it has doubled its cumulative solar module deployments to 10 GW within two years, equivalent to roughly 25 million modules, of which about 1.5 GW were exported. The Indian manufacturer now operates 9.5 GW of module capacity across West Bengal...
