Highlights

The independent test lab Kiwa PVEL names 53 manufacturers and 388 models–a record number of Top Performers in the ten-year history of the Scorecard.

Freight costs, which represent around 4% of a solar module’s total costs, are increasing on trade lines between the Far East and the US West Coast, Northern Europe, and Mediterranean region.

Switzerland installed 602 MW of solar in the first four months of the year, bringing its total installed PV capacity to around 6.8 GW by the end of April.

Three utility scale battery energy storage projects co-located with solar plants were announced last week in Chile. Enel is building a 67 MW/134 MWh battery, while CJR Renewable and Uriel Renovables are planning 200 MW/800 MWh and 90 MW/200 MWh projects, respectively.

Rabot Charge’s monthly analysis shows significantly more hours with negative prices on the Germany electricity market than in April. However, the average price in daily transactions was €6.72 ($7.32)/kWh – higher than in the previous month.

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications says that since 2021, it has received 44 reports of unwanted radio wave emissions from solar power systems, including interference with defense facilities and emergency wireless equipment. The ministry warns that PV systems may be removed by law if they continue to cause problems.

The latest government installation figures reveal a slower start to the year for the United Kingdom, with small-scale installations accounting for the majority of additions. As the UK General Election approaches, there are calls from industry for the next government to act quickly on the issues hindering capacity expansion.

Swiss consulting firm Pexapark says the total capacity of signed power purchase agreements (PPA) in Europe in April more than doubled the volume it recorded in March. Meanwhile, all tracked PPA prices rose 1.6% month on month.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) GenCost report shows renewables remain the cheapest new-build electricity technology in Australia.

The subsidiary operated a module manufacturing facility in Lannion, Brittany, northern France. According to Recom, the annual production capacity of the Sillia plant had been expanded from 50 MW in 2017 to 500 MW. The Recom Group as a whole remains unaffected by this liquidation and is in the process of consolidating its European cell and module manufacturing in one central location in Padua, Italy.