The Caribbean stands to benefit from low-cost renewable energy solutions, reducing the energy system cost, mitigating climate risks, and driving a clean energy transition. With solar PV as the cornerstone technology, the region is poised to transition to a solar-to-X Economy, leveraging its abundant renewable resources to achieve carbon neutrality.

The IEC Conformity Assessment System for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components (IECEE) has been building trust for industries making and selling electronic equipment for the last 40 years, one the most important of them being the solar PV panel industry.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that solar generation in parts of Eastern Australia is set to face significant disruptions as Cyclone Alfred hits the Queensland coast. Other areas may benefit from enhanced solar irradiance due to stabilizing atmospheric conditions on the cyclone’s periphery.

In the first anniversary of the series and International Women’s Day, Women in Solar+ Europe, WiSEu, gives voice to Emiliano Bellini, News Director at pv magazine, to reflect on the topics and the impact of the series. He says the series features diverse real experiences of women in the renewable energy sector, engaging readers as each story offers a unique perspective. Emiliano highlights that the series emphasises the importance of mentoring for all genders and showcases women’s assertiveness and struggles with imposter syndrome. Emiliano advocates for refinement and the need to evolve DEI while freeing language in debates to allow for open conversations without fear of offense, encouraging growth from mistakes.

Beita Pharmatech and Northwest Normal University have develop a carbon-14 nuclear battery encased in silicon carbide, offering unprecedented longevity and application potential.

RWE and TotalEnergies have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) under which RWE will supply over 30,000 tons of green hydrogen per year to TotalEnergies’ Leuna refinery in Germany from 2030 to 2044.

Bangladesh’s tenders for 41 solar power plants totaling 2.63 GW have failed to draw any bids, as investors are holding back from projects launched between December and January.

Fuji Electric said the new heat pump system is currently in the first stage of prototyping, with commercial launch being scheduled for 2026. It is being conceived for recycling of heat energy from wastewater in industrial facilities.

A strong market exists for wholesale secondary market solar modules, says EnergyBin.

Charge Robotic’s portable factory system assembles solar equipment including tracks, mounting brackets and panels on-site and then puts it into place via an automated robotic vehicle. The company’s first commercial deployments are scheduled for this year.

The Chinese manufacturer launched its new Infinite panel at the Solar Solutions Amsterdam event in the Netherlands. The module measures 1,762 mm x 1,134 mm x 30 mm and has a temperature coefficient of -0.26%/C.

A report from the Global Solar Council says Africa’s solar deployment is set to accelerate in the coming years, but stresses that mobilizing finance and strong regulatory frameworks will be required to attract investors.

Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency has entered into an agreement with Oando Clean Energy for a 1.2 GW project consisting of an off-grid power plant, mesh electricity generation, interconnected power grid and solar manufacturing power plant. A 600 MW line is scheduled to be rolled out next year.

The Guyana Energy Agency is looking for solar installers to transport, deploy and commission solar arrays with accompanying battery storage at selected public buildings located across four regions of the country. The deadline for applications is April 1.

Two Dutch manufacturers have teamed with TNO’s perovskite solar cell experts to integrate spatial atomic layer deposition equipment to produce ultra-thin, high-quality nickel-oxide hole transport layers in a roll-to-roll process. The team targeting production integration in mid-2027, with full-scale production by 2030.

A longitudinal research project from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE reveals that since 2017, the institute has measured less power on average in a solar module than promised by the manufacturer.

Dutch start-up develops sodium-ion battery tech for solar colocation

Fraunhofer ISE researchers, alongside partners from institutes in Stuttgart and Hameln, will monitor the performance of up to nine PVT systems on apartment buildings, businesses, offices and industry buildings over several years as part of a project building the case for wider deployment of the technology.

The equipment with a processing speed of up to 10,800 pcs/h can be used to upgrade existing super multi-busbar (SMBB) and multi-busbar (MBB) equipment made by China-based Wuxi Autowell Technology (ATW). It is suitable for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), heterojunction (HJT), and back-contact (BC) cell technologies.

Researchers had placed a cotton sheet on the back of a PV module, which was then made wet and cooled. On the front side, water was pumped water from a pipe in a way that kept the panel both cool and clean. Their experimental setup showed superior results compared to reference cooling technologies.

Swiss-British university spinoff, GraphEnergyTech, is developing graphene electrode technology to replace silver and other metals traditionally used in solar cell manufacturing.

To make it easier to adopt building integrated PV (BIPV) as a glazing material, a group within the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) has tackled the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) calculation for BIPV. It is part of IEA PVPS Task 15 international standardization efforts.

The battery features four MPPTs and can take up to 2,600 W of PV input. It also has an AC nominal output power of 800 W.

Analysis by S&P Global suggests new power pricing measures in China could bring a rush of new installations in the country during the first half of the year and lead to an increase in solar module prices first domestically, then internationally.

Long duration energy storage (LDES) support scheme will have eight-hour minimum. First application round opens to well-established technologies, such as lithium-ion battery technology, with at least 100 MW capacity in April 2025. Flow batteries, compressed air, and liquid air likely to progress in second round, says regulator.

Hyundai Motor says it plans to build its first hydrogen fuel cell systems plant in South Korea by 2028, pending union consultations, expanding beyond its existing facility in China.

TBEA says it will invest CNY 10.16 billion ($1.4 billion) in 3 GW of solar and wind projects with storage, backed by equity and syndicated loans, as part of plans to complete the solar plant by 2025 and wind project by 2026.

The Chinese solar manufacturer entered the heat pump business with a new product that can reportedly provide hot water up to 75 C and achieve a coefficient of performance of up to 5.0. It uses propane as a refrigerant and has sound levels of 48 db(A) to 66 db(A).

Construction of the Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage project is set to begin in the coming weeks with renewables developer Gentari pressing go on the DC-coupled hybrid project being built in central western New South Wales.