IEA PVPS has published its new “Snapshot of Global PV Markets 2024” report, highlighting key insights and trends. Despite record installations, concerns over profitability and manufacturing dynamics persist, underscoring the need for strategic interventions and policy support to navigate towards a resilient and sustainable PV ecosystem.

The use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to create nanoscale crystal structures to attract hydrogen molecules could drastically improve the energy efficiency of storing and transporting the energy carrier.

As solar module prices continue to fall, pvXchange.com founder Martin Schachinger explains how price pressure could increase in the weeks and months to come.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that dust storms and slear skies led to contrasting March Solar Performance in West Asia. The Arabian Peninsula experienced humid winds and dust storms that reduced solar irradiance to 90% of typical levels for the month.

In another article of a series on gender equality, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice Mariyana Yaneva, Vice Chair at the Association for production, storage and trading with electricity (APSTE). She explains that policies allowing childcare needs to be met but not placing the burden of care explicitly on women, increase the chances that women can build the business acumen and professional contacts necessary to qualify for a corporate board.

As the Australian authorities launch rolling tenders for 32 GW of renewables and storage by 2030, it has become clear that some communities, including locals around pv magazine reporter Bella Peacock’s hometown, have not been brought onside. Heated debate on social media and a frenzy stoked by concerns about the impact on the natural environment are throwing up hurdles for renewables development.

The scheme allows homeowners to borrow between €5,000 and €75,000 for up to ten years and promises low interest rates. Heat pumps, solar electricity and solar water heater installations are all eligible under various routes of the scheme.

The act now needs to be formally adopted by the EU Council to become law. The European Solar Manufacturing Council has said the latest backing “gives a green light for procurement of sustainable European made solar panels” and urges EU member states to start buying.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued its first report on the importance of battery energy storage technology in the energy transition. It found that tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 would require 1,500 GW of battery storage.

The 2024 edition of the Middle East’s most important solar event has seen an increasing number of exhibitors and visitors, despite the most sever ever seen in the Emirates during the first day of the tradeshow. The fair has also shown the UAE market keeps being dominated by the large scale PV business.

The Chinese manufacturer launched two new module series for utility scale applications. The new products feature a temperature coefficient of -0.24% per C and a bifaciality factor of over 85%.

Dutch module manufacturer Solarge has raised €3 million venture capital from new and existing investors to expand its recently opened facility where it produces lightweight, low carbon, panels for commercial and industrial rooftops.

The US-based company announced plans to wind down its residential solar installation locations and close its direct sales unit.

The South Korean government has announced a new package of measures to support agrivoltaic projects. It says that the agrivoltaics business should be a priority for agricultural companies.

London-based Globeleq has acquired a 48.3% stake in the 25 MW Winnergy solar plant in Egypt’s Benban Solar complex. It will now cooperate on the management of assets and the operation of the facility with Egyptian manufacturer GILA Altawakol Electric.

German and Swedish researchers calculated the supply of materials to produce perovskite PV at a multi-terawatt-scale, flagging the the supply of gold, indium and cesium, well as a need to streamline production of certain materials used for hole-transport layers.

France’s DualSun has developed foldable plug-and-play solar kits with a power range of 420 W to 1.68 kW.

GameChange Solar, a US-based tracker supplier, has announced the construction of a 3 GW tracker factory in Saudi Arabia, with plans for potential expansion to 5 GW in the future.

A group of researchers in Iran has analyzed the coefficient of performance and the energy consumption of a solar-assisted heat pumps and an air-source heat pumps and has found that three factors are crucial to determine their annual performance – irradiance changes, ambient temperature, and wind speed.

The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has updated its research cell efficiency chart for a range of PV technologies.

Chinese module manufacturer JinkoSolar has recorded roughly $16.4 billion of revenue and a $1.06 billion net profit for 2023, with PV module shipments reaching 78.52 GW. Its module manufacturing capacity hit 110 GW at the end of December.

Carbon and Holosolis have both requested construction permits for 5 GW solar panel factories in France.

The new products are intended for applications in commercial and industrial PV projects. The devices feature an efficiency rating of up to 98.1% and a European efficiency of up to 97.8%.

The Chinese manufacturer said Germany’s TÜV SUD has confirmed the results.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) says the nation installed more than 47 GW of solar in the first three months of this year.

The Indian authorities say the nation’s latest 10 GWh tender was oversubscribed. It attracted seven bidders, including ACME Cleantech Solutions, Reliance Industries, and Waaree Energies.

The Australian federal government’s initiative to install 400 community batteries across the nation has reached the Australian Capital Territory, with plans for three new battery energy storage systems.

The Spanish authorities are seeking 1.3 GW of clean energy and storage projects to provide flexibility, stability and security to the national electricity supply.

The new X1 can operate inside or out, from -20 C F to 55 delivering what Anker says is 100% power output without derating. The batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) and will reportedly remain fully operational for up to 3,000 charge cycles.

Denmark will procure at least 6 GW of offshore wind power capacity to potentially produce hydrogen, while Orlen says it will use a European Commission grant to build 16 hydrogen refueling stations in Poland.