DNV publishes new floating PV safety standards
Norwegian classification society DNV has published two new guidelines covering the structural design of floats for floating solar systems and their mooring and station keeping systems.
U.S. solar faces massive gap between stated capacity and real factory output
The U.S. solar industry tracks billions in new factory investments, but upstream bottlenecks and strict trade enforcement mean active factory production continues to trail behind headline numbers. Solar Energy Industries Association organized the American Solar and Storage Manufacturing Expo on Capitol Hill, which brought manufacturers together to highlight $43.1 billion in announced domestic manufacturing investments since 2022.
U.S. transformer market faces severe supply constraints
Severe shortages of power transformers are stalling grid expansion as developers face skyrocketing prices and four year wait times for critical equipment.
K2 Systems releases new mounting systems for ground-mounted PV
The German manufacturer launched two mounting systems for utility-scale solar projects and small- and medium-scale installations, respectively. Both are designed to streamline installation with simplified components and modular layouts.
AlphaTracker launches hydraulic mechanism that locks trackers during strong wind gusts
The Portuguese manufacturer unveiled Maxi-Lock, an autonomous hydraulic mechanism that locks solar trackers during strong wind gusts or high-amplitude vibrations, and Smart-Slope, a universal joint-style system designed for uneven terrain. The company claims the technologies can reduce supply and maintenance costs, lower component counts, improve plant availability, and enable higher PV module integration in both conventional and agrivoltaic projects.
EU solar and storage push could cut power system costs by nearly half
A scenario analysis by SolarPower Europe, modeled by Rystad Energy, finds that accelerating PV and battery storage deployment could save the European Union €223 billion ($260.7 billion) in gas imports between 2026 and 2030 and reduce wholesale electricity prices by 14% compared with 2025 levels.
Resisting rust in solar
Over a 30-year asset life, corrosion can evolve into a structural, electrical, and fire safety issue. Corrosion drives up operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, reduces resilience to extreme events, and in some cases, can force premature decommissioning or complete structural replacement Intertek CEA’s Nicholas Hudson and Ankil Sanghvi advise on best practices.
Saatvik Green Energy enters transformer manufacturing
Indian solar manufacturer Saatvik Green Energy has acquired an 80% stake in Jaipur-based Melcon Transformers and Electricals, expanding into power transmission equipment. The move strengthens its position in a segment closely tied to India’s growing renewable energy sector.
Scientists identify new loss factor in tracker-based PV plants on slightly undulating terrain
Researchers in Spain have identified a new source of underperformance in utility-scale PV plants caused by “suboptimal backtracking” on slightly uneven terrain. The study shows that real tracker control systems deviate from ideal flat-terrain assumptions, reducing irradiance capture and causing measurable energy losses compared with simulations.
Dismantled 28-year-old PV system reveals wasps nest in junction box
Researchers in Austria discovered a wasp nest inside the junction box of a 1998 rooftop PV module, illustrating how insects can exploit even sealed electrical components. The affected module showed significant degradation and partial failure, though overall results confirmed the surprising durability of older PV module designs.
