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Chinese PV Industry Brief: Maxeon, Tongwei reach patent dispute settlement

Maxeon Solar Technologies and Tongwei have settled a global patent dispute over shingled solar cell and module technologies, ending litigation initiated by Maxeon in Germany in 2023.
Installations

Renewables supply 71% of Portugal’s electricity in 2024, led by solar

Renewables supplied 71% of Portugal’s electricity in 2024, including 10% from solar, as production hit a record 36.7 TWh, according to grid operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN).
Installations

‘High electricity prices in California have nothing to do with renewables’

Stanford University professor Mark Z. Jacobson spoke to pv magazine about recent research work showing that California could easily rely on a wind-water-solar-dominated large grid. He says the state's current electricity prices are high because of...
Announcements

On February 19, 2025, in Riyadh, we will explore Saudi Arabia’s evolving solar landscape, focusing on PV sector growth, utility-scale battery energy storage, solar manufacturing in the Middle East, and best practices for O&M.

Register now with a 25% early bird discount.

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Taiwan maintains solar FITs to support residential PV deployment

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) says its feed-in tariff (FIT) for PV systems up to 10 kW in size will be maintained at TWD 5.7055 ($0.17)/kWh, with the aim of further supporting homeowners and small businesses adopting solar.
Energy Storage

Somalia opens tender for hybrid solar project

A tender is open for the design, supply and installation of 10 MW of solar alongside 20 MWh of battery energy storage in northeastern Somalia. The deadline for applications is Feb 10, 2025.
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Installations

Gambia seeking consultants for regional solar plan

Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Co. (NAWEC) is searching for consultants to update and implement a resettlement plan for regional solar development, with expressions of interest due by Jan. 31, 2025.
Energy Storage

Tesla smashes its own records with big increase in energy storage deployments in 2024

Tesla’s energy storage deployments broke its own year-on-year records in 2024, for another consecutive year.
Installations

Moldova records 344 MW of solar capacity up to September 2024

Moldova expanded its solar capacity to 344 MW by September 2024, up from 185 MW in 2023, according to the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED).

Press Releases

Arctech Lands a 1.5GW Solar Project Order in the UAE

China's Arctech has signed a 1. 5 GW order of its 1P single-axis tracking system with PowerChina for a solar project in Al Ajban, United Arab Emirates.

Biodiversity boosting Beane Solar Farm​ project enters planning​

RES has submitted a planning application for a 49. 9MW solar farm, on land west of Cottered village in Hertfordshire, prioritising biodiversity and enhanced screening whilst anticipating generation power for approximately 15,000 homes.

Driving the circular economy: Valmont Solar Leads Sustainability in Solar Trackers with the Renewal of NCI Certification

The first solar tracker manufacturer to achieve the certification twice, Valmont Solar raises the bar with enhanced metrics validated by third-party accreditation. Valmont Solar, a pioneer in solar tracker solutions, proudly announces the renewal of its NCI (New Circularity Index) certification, awarded by ICMQ as an accredited and independent body, solidifying its position as the […]

RWE successful with 31 solar projects in Polish auction

RWE is building solar farms with a total capacity of more than 100 megawatts (MWac) across Poland.

Opinion & Analysis

Featured

‘Closing the gender gap is not just an ethical imperative but also a strategic one’

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Ines Monroy, founder of Spain-based Licenciasocial.energy. She says the global renewable energy industry should be prepared to adress the so-called authority gap. "When I’ve adopted a neutral, professional tone to convey directives or focus on problem-solving, I’ve been met with comments suggesting that my approach was 'bossy' or 'too harsh.' My impression is that this reaction stems from ingrained stereotypes that expect women to be overly accommodating, even in roles where decisiveness and objectivity are critical," she states.

2024 delivers mixed solar outcomes despite heat records

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that variations in weather patterns, including El Niño and regional droughts, shaped solar energy performance worldwide last year.

Curtailing solar photovoltaics is here to stay, overbuilding PV will become normal

As the penetration of variable renewable energy increases, curtailment of solar PV generation will only increase. Since curtailment will almost always be cheaper than investing in new transmission capacity or new grid-scale storage, curtailed energy should be rewarded, so that PV investment decisions can include curtailment as one of the flexibility options for grid operators.

Eyes in the sky: Meteosat third generation set to improve solar forecasting

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellite is now beginning operational testing. The new satellite will offer sharper and more detailed, frequent imagery, providing a significant boost to solar irradiance estimates.

‘Never underestimate the power of a strong network’

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Carol Murphy, Head of Independent Engineering for Onshore Renewables at UK-based OWC. She say, with more women joining the solar sector, it’s easier than ever to connect with peers across roles and organizations. “To any woman looking to enter this field, my advice would be to persevere. No matter the obstacles you encounter, if you’re passionate about a career in solar, there is a place for you,” she states.

Global solar module prices stable-to-firm as markets wind down for year end

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.

Markets & Policy

Featured

Germany hits 62.7% renewables in 2024 electricity mix, with solar contributing 14%

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) reports that Germany generated 72.2 TWh of solar in Germany in 2024, accounting for 14% of total electricity generation.

Hoymiles launches 5.12 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery for rooftop PV applications

The Chinese manufacturer said its new LB-5D-G2 battery offers excellent performance with 5.12 kWh capacity for a single unit and up to 81.92 kWh for 16 batteries running in parallel.

India seeks developers for floating solar projects at 35 dams and reservoirs

Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has started accepting expressions of interest (EOI) from developers to set up floating solar projects on a build-own-operate basis in India.

Best practices for PV-powered heat pump design

A British-Swedish research team has reviewed all models for designing and simulating solar-powered heat pumps systems of various complexities. Based on this work, the scientists proposed a new method combining five models across multiple computer programs into a single analysis tool that reportedly produces accurate critical metrics for technical, economic, and climate impact analysis.

Tesla starts trial production at Shanghai Megapack manufacturing plant

Tesla’s Shanghai Megapack factory, its first outside of the United States, has begun trial production.

A closer look at China’s Great Solar Wall

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has published aerial images of the Great Solar Wall, China’s largest renewable energy project. The installation is expected to reach 100 GW of capacity by 2030.

Installations

Featured

Samsung launches monobloc air-to-water heat pumps

The Korean manufacturer said its new products are now available in the North American market and are suitable for multi-unit homes, apartments, new-builds and retrofits. The systems work with new AI technology and reportedly perform better when connected to a PV system.

NTPC allocates 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid capacity in India at $0.040/kWh

Adani Renewable Energy, Adyant Enersol (Datta Infra), Ampin Energy, Green Prairie Energy (EverGreen Power) and JSP Green (Jindal Renewables) have won in NTPC’s latest auction for 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid capacity in India.

Jordanian government promotes small scale solar

The new government of Jordan has been described by analysts as progressive on clean energy. Public support for solar has already been widespread, with tariffs for home systems encouraging people to adopt low-cost energy.

The Hydrogen Stream: PV-hydrogen polygeneration system for humid climates

Researchers have proposed an atmospheric polygeneration system for hot, humid climates that generates water, cooling, and hydrogen, while Inpex has started preparations for a blue hydrogen production project in Niigata, Japan.

Sembcorp Utilities activates 588 MW of solar in Oman

Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities has launched commercial operations at its 588 MW solar plant in Oman more than four months ahead of schedule. The project operates under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Nama Power and Water Procurement Co.

Timber PV canopy for EV charging station in Austria

Norway’s Mer Group has installed a pilot EV charging station with a timber canopy in Spittal an der Drau, Austria, in collaboration with local partners.

Technology

Featured

New research sheds light on impact of sodium-induced degradation in heterojunction solar cells

University of New South Wales researchers investigated the impact of sodium-induced degradation in heterojunction solar cells under accelerated damp-heat testing. They considered three different types of sodium salts and identified the degradation mechanisms attributed to each contaminant.

IEA-PVPS shares guidance on technical KPIs for PV systems

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) highlights key performance indicators (KPIs) for PV systems in its latest report. It calls for clear KPI definitions and standardized data handling to enhance system efficiency and reliability.

Controlling water-to-water CO2 heat pump for optimal coefficient of performance

Scientists have designed a novel control approach for water-to-water heat pumps that use carbon dioxide. They relied on a virtual heat pump for their tests. The coefficient of performance (COE) improved by up to 14.6%.

Perovskite solar cell based on hole-selective interlayer achieves 26.39% efficiency

Researchers in China claim to have built a perovskite solar cell that can effictively reduce ion migration and offer superior stability. The device utilizes an ultrathin membrane made of a polymeric material known as PDTBT2T-FTBDT (D18), which reportedly offers conformal coverage on the surface of perovskite film due to its high fluidity.

Scientists develop thermal model for floating solar with 15.45% efficiency

Scientists have developed a multi-physics thermal model for panels with a natural convection cooling loop and tested it against experimental data. They have also experimented with varying the coolant channel thickness and different coolants. The highest measured electrical efficiency reached 15.45%.

BatX Energies opens lithium battery recycling plant in India

BatX Energies says it has opened a lithium battery recycling facility in India to extract critical materials using a hydrometallurgical process.

Manufacturing

REC Silicon shuts down polysilicon operations at U.S. site

The reason given for the shutdown is the inability to “improve the level of some key impurities,” and would not be able to deliver a quality product in the time demanded by the company’s main customer.

UP: Steely determination

US-based Origami Solar has overcome two key challenges to replace aluminum solar module frames with steel products. The company says it can offer improved performance and a compelling value proposition, particularly for module makers setting up outside China. pv magazine caught up with Origami Solar CEO Gregg Patterson to discuss steel frames and the company’s expansion plans.

New tech to reduce oxygen defects in Czochralski wafers

Research from the Chin-Yi University of Technology in Taiwan revealed a novel heater design in the Czochralski silicon crystal growth process that can control and decrease oxygen concentration without incurring the costs associated with other methods, such as installing magnets or using alternative crucible materials.

A tumultuous year for solar and batteries

In five key trends, pv magazine looks back over a year that saw PV module prices fall lower than many thought possible, while demand was restrained by grid congestion, among other challenges. Energy storage has had a strong year and geopolitics is seeing solar and battery manufacturing enter new regions as competition drives technical innovation.

Sekisui Chemical invests in 100 MW perovskite solar production line

Japanese plastics manufacturer Sekisui Chemical is investing in a 100 MW production line to make lightweight perovskite solar panels for low load-bearing rooftops, with an operational start in 2027. It will also acquire a production facility from Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp.

Prospects for reusing silicon from end-of-life solar modules in new ingot production

Scientists in the Netherlands proposed a new testing scheme for recycling silicon from end-of-life photovoltaic panels. Their methodology helped create different wafer categories for recycling silicon for new ingot production but also showed that most of recycled silicon in the near future will come from p-type products, which will harldy be reutilized in a market now dominated by n-type modules.

Energy Storage

Featured

Saudi Arabia announces prequalified bidders for 2 GW/8 GWh battery storage tender

The Saudi Power Procurement Company has announced its list of 33 prequalified biders for its massive 2 GW/8 GWh BESS tender.

The Hydrogen Stream: BNEF forecasts sharper green H2 price drop by 2050

BloombergNEF says green hydrogen will fall from a current range of $3.74/kg to $11.70/kg to between $1.60/kg and $5.09/kg by 2050, while Longi Hydrogen has secured a conditional $6.14 million equity investment and cooperation agreement with HydrogenPro.

NY utility approves battery storage project on shuttered US nuclear site

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has approved 79 MW and 50 MW battery storage projects in Suffolk County, New York state. It is granting Key Capture Energy capacity and dispatch rights under 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA).

World’s largest compressed air energy storage project breaks ground in China

Huaneng Group has begun phase two of its Jintan Salt Cavern CAES project in China. It is set to become the world’s largest compressed air energy storage facility with groundbreaking advancements in power output and efficiency.

Pumping underground water in the desert with PV, wind

Scientists have designed a system that combines solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage to operate water pumping systems in Jordan. They simulated it under several scenarios in search of the optimal size.

French startup offers 10 kWh battery generator for TV, film crews

Pess Energy has launched FlyWatt, a 10 kWh compact battery-based generator for film and TV production crews. A compatible solar panel kit is available to recharge the equipment offgrid.

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