The solar energy industry continues to push the boundaries of efficiency and reliability. However, as innovative photovoltaic cell and module technologies emerge, they also bring a new set of challenges in durability and performance. A new report from IEA PVPS Task 13, titled “Degradation and Failure Modes in New Photovoltaic Cell and Module Technologies,” offers a comprehensive analysis of degradation and failure mechanisms in current photovoltaic technologies.
Taking inspiration from the 3D photonic structures on a Morpho butterfly’s shimmering blue wings, scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed colored solar panels that can be incorporated into a building’s exterior practically invisibly while maintaining high efficiency.
High-efficiency solar modules are becoming scarce, prompting some retailers to stockpile in anticipation of rising prices, says Martin Schachinger, founder of pvXchange.com. He expects module prices to climb moderately but steadily until at least early next quarter.
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Letizia Coradeschi, Investments at Switzerland’s SUSI Partners AG. She says that normalizing parental leave and flexible work schedules that support work-life balance would further help retain female talent past junior and mid-level positions. “Despite the hurdles, my personal experience led me to believe that, coupled with persistence and resilience, this is a space where women can thrive and lead,” she states.
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that cloud-bearing weather systems dominated the British Isles, significantly reducing irradiance across the UK and Ireland between 9 and 18 February 2025, when solar generation reached in the region its lowest levels relative to capacity in at least a decade.
The 15 kWh aPower 2 battery can store input from solar, grid, generator and EV.
The North American manufacturing hub has added several new producers across the PV module supply chain but analysts see continued cell, wafer, and polysilicon capacity constraints. The report is based on announcements of capacities at sites in the region producing PV modules, cells, wafers, ingots, polysilicon, and metallurgical-grade silicon.
First Solar delivered 14.1 GW of thin-film solar modules in 2024, driving $4.2 billion in revenue. The US cadmium telluride panel maker now faces global policy uncertainty.
New cathode material combined with carbon nanotubes delivers high energy and power in sodium-ion batteries.
Oil and gas giant BP wants to sell stake in Lightsource BP just four months after completing full takeover of the renewables developer. New “strategy reset” will also cut company’s investment in energy transition by $5 billion per year.
LevelTen says its new Asset Marketplace Listings platform will streamline the buying and selling of renewable energy assets. The platform covers projects of all sizes across Europe, including storage.
A new survey shows that most Australian solar installers are not concerned about solar panel and battery brands, but have a clear preference when it comes to inverters.
India installed a record 25.2 GW of solar in 2024, driven by a surge in large-scale PV, according to Mercom India.
Researchers in Japan have demonstrated solar-powered mobile homes including a bedroom and living room with an integrated kitchen, bathroom, restroom, and lavatory. Their work demonstrates how renewable energy can enhance resilience in temporary housing solutions, reducing reliance on external power sources.
An Iraqi-Canadian research team has created a new algorithm that can detect direction change in the line current of renewables-based microgrids. The novel approach can be applied to both grid-forming and grid-following infrastructures.
The Chinese manufacturer said that its new glass-backsheet Windproof module utilizes a zinc-aluminum-magnesium surface alloy technology and a high-strength steel substrate. It features a power conversion efficiency of up to 23.03%.
Iberdrola, through its Perseo startup program, has partnered with the Spanish National Association of European Business and Innovation Centres (ANCES) to launch an innovation program for startups and entrepreneurs in the PV sector. One selected entry will conduct a pilot project and may scale its technology with the Spanish energy multinational.
The European Commission has launched the Clean Industrial Deal, a plan to boost industrial competitiveness and accelerate decarbonization. The initiative aims to lower energy costs, support clean technology, and streamline regulations amid high energy prices and global competition.
An international team investigated repeated thermal stress on metal-halide perovskite solar cells and has proposed strategies to boost resistance to degradation effects of diurnal cycles or geographical conditions.
A research group led by Chinese manufacturer Trina Solar has outlined a new approach to predict potential induced degradation (PID) in dual-glass solar panels under multiple typical field conditions. The novel methodology is claimed to facilitate simultaneous PID and light exposure.
First Solar has sued JinkoSolar in a US federal court in Delaware, claiming that the Chinese manufacturer infringed upon US Patent No. 9,130,074, which is related to tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar technology.
Renshine Solar says it is building a gigawatt-scale perovskite PV module factory in Jiangsu province, with a planned investment of CNY 1.25 billion ($172.4 million). Its perovskite solar panels hit a power conversion efficiency of 18.4% in January 2024.
Daanaa says its news Zodiac substring inverter delivers up to 42% more energy than a regular setup.
Scientists have grown strawberries under thin-film cadmium telluride panels with varying transparency. They found that 40% transparency maintained a greater than 80% yield of uncovered plants. If all strawberry farms in the world were converted to agrivoltaics, they would produce up to 173 TWh a year.
EnergySage, a residential PV marketplace operator, has released a review of the top solar panel brands in the US market.
Air Products is pulling out of three US projects due to unfavorable economics and regulatory changes. The company says it remains focused on its Neom green project in Saudi Arabia and the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex
Construction company Viebrockhaus made the move after an incident in Schönberg where a home fitted with a solar-plus-storage system suffered an explosion which destroyed a wall of the house. The builder, and battery maker LG, have put some units into standby mode and others have had their operating capacities reduced.
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched a tender for the seventh phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which could add up to 2 GW of PV capacity and 1 GW of battery storage.
The new product series uses R-454B as the refrigerant and is available in four versions.
Broken Hill is closer to becoming one of the world’s largest renewable energy microgrids with the New South Wales (NSW) government giving planning approval for a compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility near the historic mining town.
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