Rethinking module geometry beyond the traditional rectangle could increase rooftop PV capacity on irregular buildings by improving packing efficiency and expanding placement options.

Solar module prices increased by €0.01 ($ 0.012)/W to €0.015/W in February, lifting levels 15% to 18% above the December 2024 low despite falling wafer costs, as manufacturers seek to restore margins after prolonged losses.

Small-scale behind-the-meter storage is beginning to reshape peak demand in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM), raising the prospect of a “Bactrian camel curve” in which evening load is split. Within six months of Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, small-scale storage capacity could supply up to half the peak output of the Eraring coal-fired power station.

Nextpower will supply more than 1 GW of US-made steel module frames to JinkoSolar’s Florida facility under a multi-year agreement, with volumes scalable to 3 GW over three years.

This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Eva Belletti, Country Manager Germany at SP Development Europe. She says gender diversity and inclusive leadership in the renewable energy sector enhance decision-making, resilience, and long-term success, while mentorship, sponsorship, and proactive career ownership help women navigate systemic barriers and drive meaningful change.

Saudi Arabian energy giant ACWA Power will build two 1 GW solar power plants in Türkiye as part of a wider investment agreement covering 5 GW of new renewables capacity in the country.

Renewable curtailment in Chile reached 6,084 GWh in 2025, up 7.8% year on year, underscoring mounting transmission congestion as the country’s power mix becomes increasingly renewable.

How PV modules are treated at the end of their life is an increasingly important issue, but some recycling practices leave a lot to be desired. Scott Azevedo from Intertek CEA explores how asking the right questions, paying closer attention to end-of-life treatment, and steering volume toward good recyclers can have positive long-term consequences for the solar industry.

The South Korean government has announced plans to invest KRW 321 billion ($222.6 million) in 2026 to upgrade regional distribution networks, deploy 85 energy storage systems, and expand solar integration while piloting microgrids and market reforms.

The Taiwanese authorities have also introduced a repowering mechanism designed to encourage replacement of aging PV equipment.

The inverters offer up to 99.2% efficiency, 200% PV oversizing, dual battery inputs, IP65 protection, and support for installations up to 144 kWh of storage capacity.

The Moroccan authorities have established new net‑metering tariffs for high, medium, and extra-high voltage systems from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027. The low-voltage tariff for residential PV will be set later, as the current regime mainly applies to industrial and commercial solar plants.

Analysis from BloombergNEF finds the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a typical fixed-axis solar farm increased by 6% year-on-year in 2025 to stand at $39/MWh, but innovation and competition are expected to see costs fall by 30% through to 2035.

New research from France shows that PV panel height critically influences airflow and evapotranspiration in agrivoltaic systems, with panel heights of less than 3 m affecting crops through altered airflow. The scientists highlighted the need for site-specific measurements and computational fluid dynamics to accurately estimate water and energy exchanges beneath PV panels.

The ClearAir air-to-water heat pump is designed for hydronic heating in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Capable of generating hot water up to 80 C with integrated controls, it supports hybrid configurations across diverse applications.

India can leverage its expanding renewable energy base to power AI-driven data center growth, but grid readiness, transmission upgrades and coordinated policy reform will be critical, according to a Deloitte Asia Pacific report.

TU Delft researchers developed a novel hexagonal microtextured glass that enhances light scattering up to 50%, improving optical performance in thin-film silicon solar cells. The technology shows promise for multijunction, flexible, and low-power solar applications.

Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has completed the installation of a 1 MW solid oxide electrolyzer for on-site hydrogen production, while GlobalData says global low-carbon hydrogen capacity could reach up to 65.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030, driven largely by green hydrogen expansion in the Americas.

Panasonic has launched a new home fuel cell system for detached houses, designed to boost solar self-consumption through HEMS‑based smart scheduling. The unit generates electricity and heat from gas, supports demand response, and can supply emergency power during outages.

Under the terms of the deal, Germany’s NexWafe will supply its ultrathin solar wafers to Talon PV’s planned 4.8 GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing plant in Texas. Initial qualification work will take place at a pilot production line at Fraunhofer ISE’s Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center.

U.S. researchers are testing regenerative agrivoltaics at a farm in Southern California, combining solar panels with soil-restoring practices like composting, cover cropping, and no-till farming to enhance crop yields, soil health, and water-use efficiency. The pilot evaluates technical, ecological, and economic viability while exploring how this land-sharing approach can optimize food and energy production, reduce irrigation needs, and inform larger-scale deployment and policy frameworks.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that January 2026 saw Europe’s coldest month since 2010, with Eastern Europe and Scandinavia enjoying above-average solar irradiance under stable, dry air, while the UK, Spain, and Portugal faced record cloudiness and rainfall that sharply reduced PV output.

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.

An Australian research team has developed a five-step, rule-based method that detects and classifies underperformance in PV systems using only AC-side inverter data. Validated across more than 1,000 systems, the approach offers a low-cost, low-intervention solution for improving reliability, fault response, and PV system performance.

Germany-based solar tracker developer Sunoyster Systems has developed a 440 W lightweight solar panel with a tempered glass cover for low-load commercial and industrial roofs.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $350 million loan to Gulf Renewable Energy to build 194 MW of solar capacity, including two battery-integrated projects, in central Thailand.

Zeo Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Creekstone Energy to supply 280 MW of behind-the-meter solar plus long-duration energy storage (LDES) for a new AI-focused data center campus in the US state of Utah.

Turboden, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has energized what it calls the world’s largest steam-producing heat pump, delivering 12 MWth of superheated steam using low-grade waste heat and CO₂-free electricity with a coefficient of performance 10% above its guaranteed value of 2.

Following their review of redox flow battery research, Norway-based scientists told pv magazine that despite its high upfront capital costs and lower energy density relative to metal-ion, the technology can offer safety, reliability, and scalability advantages for standalone, large-scale applications.

Mexico is attracting US data centers seeking faster power connections, but these facilities will initially rely on firm gas generation from the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), with renewables as a potential future option, Mexican energy expert Santiago Barcón told pv magazine.