Magazine Archive 02 - 2025

Solar energy has been essential for survival in Ukraine during nearly three years of war since the Russian invasion in 2022. As citizens hope for peace, PV will be instrumental in supporting post-war recovery, whenever it comes.

Following the indictment of its chairman, Gautam Adani, in the United States over bribery allegations, questions are being asked about Adani Group’s ability to raise capital. With the charges related to solar, India’s PV industry has wider concerns. Adani Group refutes the allegations and says it is as robust as ever.

Reforms over the past three years have lifted restrictions on foreign investment and sped up the permitting process for solar projects in the Philippines. As the government banks on renewables to drive the rapid expansion of power production, challenges remain for local project developers. Neil Ford reports.

Utility-scale solar is set to crank up the voltage, preparing to shift from 1.5 kV to 2 kV on the DC side. It is a move that could redefine PV system design and slash costs, but it won’t happen globally due to vastly different regulations as voltages rise, reports Tristan Rayner.

String monitoring can save PV asset owners time and money on operations and maintenance (O&M). The monitoring technique is widely used in Europe, Latin America, and Japan, and is gaining traction in the United States, according to industry insiders.

As solar deployment accelerates in markets where high ambient temperatures are the norm, researchers across the globe continue to experiment with new approaches to cooling PV modules. A cost-efficient solution could have a significant impact on project efficiency and panel lifespans.

Lorenzo Jourdain, chief commercial officer of Nomad Solar, a Spanish solar-in-a-box startup, discusses scalable solutions, technical details, and how hypergrowth is playing out for the hardware company.

Hard-pressed Asian solar manufacturers have switched from multi-layer polymer backsheets to a single layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with a protective coating on both sides of their modules. Backsheet makers confirm these products, known as “CPC,” are now mainstream. But there is little evidence to demonstrate that they can withstand 30 years-plus of outdoor use.

Demand-side flexibility and virtual power plants may support greater renewables deployment but digital devices connected to the grid pose a real security threat if best practices are ignored, according to SolarEdge cybersecurity expert Uri Sadot. Attitudes are changing, however, and some simple steps can make a world of difference.