Why Fundamental Research in Photovoltaics Remains Critical for an Established Technology
A new paper led by Professor Rebecca Saive of the University of Twente warns that fundamental research in photovoltaics is losing traction as scientists drift toward other fields. The authors cite a 15% drop in dedicated funding over the past five years, despite solar’s central role in the global energy transition. They argue that breakthroughs in materials, efficiency, and durability still depend on basic science, not just incremental engineering. Without renewed focus, the pace of cost reductions and performance gains could stall.
Australia’s Bellevue Gold Achieves 90% Renewable Energy at Off-Grid Mine in March
Bellevue Gold announced that its off‑grid mine ran on 90% renewable energy in March, cutting diesel to just 1.3% of total project costs. The hybrid power plant—27 MW solar, 24 MW wind and a 15 MW/30 MWh battery—enabled the company to claim net‑zero Scope 1‑2...
Novar Acquires 100MW Solar PV Plant in Germany, Potential to Co-Locate 160MWh BESS
Novar, the Dutch solar developer, has purchased a 100 MW photovoltaic plant in Baden‑Württemberg from German firm Stromernte. The acquisition includes a prospective 160 MWh battery‑energy‑storage system that could be co‑located with the solar assets. Stromernte will stay on board under a...
Origis Secures US$118 Million in Tax Equity for California Solar-Plus-Storage Project
Origis Energy has secured $118 million in tax‑equity financing for its Chalan solar‑plus‑storage project in Kern County, California. The under‑construction site will combine a 65 MW solar‑PV plant with a 25 MW/100 MWh battery energy storage system and is slated for commercial operation in...
Italy ‘Definitely’ Most Attractive European Market for Solar Development
Jan‑Philip Kock, chief of staff at German IPP Encavis, said Italy is the most attractive European market for solar‑only projects, citing strong industrial demand, high gas‑driven power prices and the government’s Energy Release scheme that subsidises electricity for renewable investors....
Voltalia Commissions 148MW Solar PV Plant in South Africa with Rio Tinto Subsidiary PPA
French renewable developer Voltalia has commissioned the 148 MW Bolobedu solar farm in Limpopo, South Africa, marking the country’s first large‑scale PV project built for a private client. The plant is backed by a long‑term corporate power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto’s...
Australian Utility-Scale Solar and Wind Generation Reaches 4.7TWh in March 2026
Australia’s utility‑scale solar PV and wind farms generated 4.7 TWh in March 2026, a modest 2 % year‑on‑year increase after February’s 11 % jump. Queensland and Western Australia dominated the top‑performer list, while southern states saw lower capacity factors as the country moved from...
Federal Permitting Delays in the US Could Drive Cost of Renewable Energy Deployment up by 10%
Federal permitting bottlenecks stalled roughly 11 GW of new solar and wind projects in the United States over the past year, inflating development costs by up to 10%. A Crux survey of 50 developers found 94% experienced at least a one‑month...
PPC Group Completes Construction at 2.1GW Greek Solar PV Portfolio
Greek utility PPC Group has finished building a 2.13 GW solar photovoltaic portfolio across former lignite mines in northern Greece, branding it as Europe’s largest PV cluster. The 14‑project complex, highlighted by the 550 MW Phoebe plant and the 940 MW Amyntaio complex...
Solar-Plus-Storage Could Meet 90% of India’s Power Demand – Ember
Ember’s new report finds that installing about 930 GW of solar capacity together with 2,560 GWh of battery storage could meet up to 90 % of India’s electricity demand at a levelised cost of roughly INR 5.06/kWh (≈ $56/MWh). This cost is lower than current...
LONGi Launches Integrated Solar-Plus-Storage Strategy
Chinese PV leader LONGi unveiled its integrated solar‑plus‑storage solution, LONGi One, shifting from multi‑vendor architectures to a single‑partner model. The offering combines LONGi’s back‑contact solar panels with its 5S storage platform, featuring the OneBank 2.0 AC/DC solution for utility projects and...
PERC Module Prices up 20% in the US, as Overall Module Prices Remain Constant
PERC (mono) solar modules jumped 20% in the United States, reaching $0.33 per watt between November 2025 and February 2026, while the overall average module price barely moved to $0.285/W. In contrast, TOPCon modules slipped to $0.28/W, making them cheaper than PERC...
TotalEnergies, Masdar Establish US$2.2 Billion Asia Renewables Partnership
TotalEnergies and Masdar have formed a $2.2 billion 50‑50 joint venture to develop on‑shore solar‑PV, wind and battery‑storage projects across nine Asian countries. The new entity combines roughly 3 GW of operational assets with a 6 GW pipeline slated for completion by 2030....
T1 Energy Produced 2.8GW Solar Modules in 2025, Forecasts up to 4.2GW in 2026
U.S. solar maker T1 Energy reported 2.79 GW of module production in 2025, aligning with its 2.6‑3 GW guidance. Q4 net sales surged to $358.5 million, while the net loss narrowed to $190 million, half of the prior year’s loss. The company secured a...
TNO Claims ‘World’s First’ Perovskite Solar Roof Tile
Dutch research institute TNO, together with thin‑film specialist ASAT, unveiled what it calls the world’s first perovskite solar roof tile. The flexible perovskite module delivers 13.8% efficiency on foil and 12.4% after being bonded to a curved composite tile. TNO...
EU Grid Constraints Put 120GW of Renewables at Risk
Ember’s latest report warns that Europe faces a 104 GW grid‑capacity shortfall that could cripple utility‑scale solar and wind projects. More than two‑thirds of the 158 GW of renewables slated for 2030 may never connect, while nearly 700 GW of projects sit in...
Solar Saving EU ‘Millions a Day’ Since Outbreak of Middle East War
SolarPower Europe reports that EU solar generation has saved roughly $127.5 million each day since the Middle East conflict began. In March, cumulative savings reached about $4.36 billion, offsetting an estimated $2.2 billion in gas‑fuel costs. The analysis projects total 2026 benefits could...
Japan’s Toyo Hits Solar Cell and Module Shipment Targets, Posts 142% Revenue Increase
Japanese solar‑cell maker Toyo reported FY 2025 revenue of $427.4 million, a 142% jump year‑on‑year, driven by a $241.6 million surge in cell sales and a modest $7.6 million lift in module revenue. The firm shipped 4.5 GW of cells and 249 MW of modules, surpassing...
Abu Dhabi Launches Residential Solar Deployment Policy
Abu Dhabi's Department of Energy launched the second phase of its Solar Energy Self‑Supply Policy, introducing a simplified regulatory framework for residential solar photovoltaic and battery storage installations. The new rules streamline permitting, technical standards, and grid‑connection procedures, aiming to...
JV August Mega Energy Looks to Expand Vietnam’s C&I Solar Sector
August Energy and Mega Energy have launched a joint venture, August Mega Energy, to develop more than 200 MW of corporate and industrial (C&I) solar photovoltaic and battery storage projects in Vietnam. The JV is financed with roughly $100 million in equity and debt,...
Germany Launches Tender for 475MW of Solar PV Capacity
The German Federal Network Agency launched an innovation tender to allocate 475 MW of new solar PV capacity by early May. Bids must be submitted by 4 May with a ceiling price of 7.13 euro‑cents/kWh (about 6.3 US cents/kWh). The tender targets utility‑scale projects...
Premier Energies Commissions 5.6GW Solar Module Facility in Telangana
Premier Energies has commissioned a 5.6 GW solar‑module plant in Seetharampur, Telangana, raising its total manufacturing capacity to 11.1 GW. The 75‑acre facility can produce four G12R zero‑busbar TOPCon modules every 16 seconds and has begun trial production. It is expected to generate...
India Adds 9.56GW of Rooftop Solar Under Nationwide Scheme
India reported adding 9.56 GW of rooftop solar capacity under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) scheme, bringing total installations to over 2.62 million systems serving roughly 3.24 million households. Launched in February 2024, the flagship program aims to equip ten million homes with solar panels and generate...
How Today’s PV Buyers Can Navigate ITC Uncertainty, Supply-Chain Risk and Verification Challenges
The Inflation Reduction Act’s solar investment tax credit has been tightened by H.R. 1, limiting eligible projects to those that start construction by July 4 2026 and finish within four years. The law also expands eligibility to require detailed traceability, ownership disclosure, and...
SSI Awards First Supply Traceability Certificates to Astronergy Module Factories
Europe’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) awarded its first Supply Traceability Standard Bronze certifications to two Astronergy module factories in China, marking the inaugural implementation of the standard launched in December 2024. The inspections, conducted by German technical institute TÜV Rheinland, confirmed...
SPAIN ROUND-UP: Axpo, McDonald’s Sign 10-Year PPA, EDP Brings 90MW PV Plants Online
Swiss renewable developer Axpo has secured a ten‑year power purchase agreement with McDonald’s to supply up to 83 GWh of solar electricity each year from its newly commissioned 200 MWp photovoltaic complex in León, Spain. The facility consists of four 50 MW plants...
Ultra-Low-Cost Solar Could Unlock 2,600TWh per Year to Power Australia’s Green Metals Export Potential, ACAP Says
Australian researchers at ACAP modelled a scenario where ultra‑low‑cost solar—targeting 30% module efficiency and a $0.20 per watt installed price—could unlock a 2,000 GW solar market. The model predicts the nation could generate 1,000 TWh of clean electricity for domestic use and...
Qair Secures Solar PV PPA at 192MW Brazilian Plant
French independent power producer Qair has secured a power purchase agreement with Brazil’s LPG distributor Ultragaz for its 192 MW Bom Jardim solar PV plant in Ceará. The plant, which entered commercial operation earlier this year, is one of ten projects...
70% of Solar PV Factories Show ‘Major’ Defects – Intertek CEA
Intertek CEA’s 2025 Global PV Manufacturing Quality Report found that 71% of the more than 340 solar‑panel factories inspected were graded C or D, indicating multiple major or critical defects. No facility earned an A+ rating and only 2% achieved...
Sonnedix Acquires 194MW Italian Solar PV Portfolio From EOS, Capital Dynamics
Spanish IPP Sonnedix has purchased a 194 MW portfolio of Italian solar PV projects from EOS Investment Management and Capital Dynamics, bringing its operational capacity in Italy to just over 1 GW. The acquisition, dubbed the Akira portfolio, comprises five operating sites...
TCL Zhonghuan Reports 2025 Loss, Launches Executive Reshuffle
TCL Zhonghuan posted 2025 operating revenue of $4.22 billion, a modest 2.2% rise, but recorded a net loss of $1.35 billion, narrowing the deficit by 5.6% year‑on‑year. The company’s wafer segment kept its market‑share lead, while cell and module revenue surged 60%...
INDIA ROUND-UP: Ceigall Inks Two PPAs, Adani Completes 300MW of PV, Coal India Backs 875MW Project
Adani Green Energy commissioned 510 MW of renewable capacity at its Khavda site in Gujarat, raising its operational portfolio to 17,982 MW. The Khavda hybrid park is slated to reach 30 GW of solar and wind by 2030, with a 5 GW, 25‑year PPA...
Power Roll, Tokyo Gas Collaborate on Japan Trials of Perovskite PV Tech
Power Roll, a UK flexible‑PV specialist, has signed a joint development agreement with Tokyo Gas to trial its lightweight perovskite solar‑film technology in Japan, marking the first deployment of the product outside Europe. The collaboration will assess use‑cases, certification pathways...
Solar PV and Wind Account for Record 17% of US Electricity Generation in 2025
Utility‑scale solar PV and wind together generated a record 17% of U.S. electricity in 2025, up from 16% in 2024. Solar output surged 34% year‑on‑year to 296,000 GWh, while wind grew only 3% to 464,000 GWh. The Energy Information Administration projects operational...
Race to July 2026: Securing Your PV Safe Harbour
Regulators have eliminated the 5 % test for solar projects over 1.5 MW, making the physical‑work test the sole path to safe‑harbour compliance, with a hard deadline of 4 July 2026. Recent observations from Enertis Applus+ across 80 independent‑engineering engagements reveal on‑site issues such as...
NTPC Seeks Bids for 100MW Solar, 50MW/200MWh BESS Project
NTPC Green Energy has issued a tender for a 100 MW solar photovoltaic plant coupled with a 50 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The hybrid project targets industrial and commercial users with at least 5 MW demand and aims...
Third-Party Ownership and Strong Market Fundamentals Drive ‘New Shape of Solar’ in US Residential Sector
The Aurora Solar Snapshot shows third‑party ownership (TPO) models have become the leading financing choice for U.S. residential solar, with 55% of installers favoring PPAs or leases over loans and cash. The shift follows the Trump administration’s rollback of Inflation...
“We Will Not Wait for the War to End” – Poland’s ELQ to Invest €2.5 Billion in Ukraine Solar and...
Polish solar developer ELQ announced a €2.5 billion (US$2.9 billion) investment to build 2.5 GW of solar PV and energy‑storage capacity in Ukraine, starting this year. The firm already has nine projects under development or construction and ten more under consideration, amounting to...
Sosteneo Secures Full Ownership of 151MW Sicily Solar Project
Sosteneo has completed the acquisition of the remaining 50 % stake in the 151 MW Mineo photovoltaic project in Sicily, giving it full ownership. The project reached ready‑to‑build status and secured a contract‑for‑difference (CfD) covering 70 % of its output under Italy’s FER‑X...
RES Group to Deliver Asset Management Services at Nala Renewables’ 217MW Solar-Plus-Storage Portfolio
RES Group has secured an asset‑management mandate for Nala Renewables’ 217 MW solar‑plus‑storage portfolio operating across Lithuania, Belgium and Greece. The agreement covers both photovoltaic and battery‑energy‑storage system (BESS) assets, aiming to maximise long‑term value through integrated operational services. RES builds...
TotalEnergies, Holcim Energise 31MW Belgian Floating Solar Plant
TotalEnergies and Holcim have commissioned a 31 MW floating solar photovoltaic plant on a rehabilitated quarry lake in Obourg, Belgium. The facility is expected to generate about 30 GWh of renewable electricity each year, which will be fully self‑consumed by Holcim’s industrial...
PV Yield Uncertainty: What It Means for Engineers, Lenders and Investors
Utility‑scale solar projects hinge on the projected annual energy yield (PVOUT), but that figure carries inherent uncertainty from irradiance variability, modeling assumptions, and site‑specific losses. Engineers, investors, and lenders each interpret this uncertainty differently—design constraints, return probability distributions, and credit...
‘Urgent’ Reform of EU PV Recycling Needed to Tackle Growing Waste Volume
The EU’s photovoltaic recycling capacity of about 170,000 tonnes per year is set to be dwarfed by an estimated 2.2 million tonnes of PV waste annually by 2050. Germany alone could generate roughly 681,800 tonnes, far exceeding its 99,000‑tonne processing ability....
Combination of Voltage and Oscillation Caused Iberian Blackout, Says ENTSO-E Report
The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO‑E) released its final report on the April 2025 Iberian blackout, identifying a cascade of at least 15 interacting factors such as voltage oscillations, gaps in reactive power control, and rapid generator...
Statkraft Starts Operations at 206MW Solar PV Portfolio in Ireland
Statkraft has begun commercial operations at two Irish solar PV projects – the 174 MW Clonfad farm and the 32 MW Irishtown site – adding 206 MW of capacity. The move lifts Statkraft’s operational solar portfolio in the Republic of Ireland to 560 MW,...
Zelestra Brings Spanish 162MW Solar PV Portfolio Online
Spanish IPP Zelestra has placed three solar farms—Belinchón I, II and III—in commercial operation, delivering a combined 162 MW capacity in Cuenca, Castilla‑La Mancha. The projects, built in 14 months, feature 275,000 modules on single‑axis trackers and are projected to generate...
Jinko, LONGi, Tongwei and Aiko Secure Solar Module Orders Exceeding 4.6GW in March
Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers JinkoSolar, LONGi Green, Tongwei and Aiko booked more than 4.67 GW of overseas module orders in March. Europe accounted for 51.1 % of the volume, Australia 42.5 %, with the remainder split across Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. JinkoSolar led...
Newave Energia, Gerdau Open 452MW Brazilian Solar PV Project
Renewable developer Newave Energia and steelmaker Gerdau have commissioned the 452 MW Solar de Barro Alto photovoltaic plant in Goiás, Brazil. The project cost R$1.3 billion (US$240 million) and comprises roughly 731,000 solar panels. Gerdau will purchase 40 % of the output to power...
Danantara Secures US$1.4 Billion to Build PV Module Assembly Plant in Indonesia
Indonesia’s sovereign investment agency Danantara has secured US$1.4 billion to build a domestic PV‑module assembly plant, slated for completion by the end of 2026. The funding underpins the government’s goal of adding 50 GW of renewable capacity by 2035 and ultimately 100 GW...
Global Solar PV Installations Reached 647GW in 2025
Global solar PV installations hit a record 647 GW in 2025, an 11 % increase over 2024, according to Ember. China contributed 378 GW, more than half of the world’s additions, with a May surge of 111 GW driven by pricing reforms. Combined solar...