‘A modern economy runs on electricity’
Renewable energy, 24/7. Many still associate this with terms like “mammoth task,” “challenge,” and “radical change.” While these are not entirely inaccurate in describing the energy transition, they obscure the essential point that renewable energy actually presents a huge economic opportunity. As part of our Renewables 24/7 series, pv magazine spoke with German energy expert Tim Meyer about the many opportunities wrapped up in the energy transition, and why deployment of renewables at scale is now a necessary condition for the success of any advanced economy.
5 hours ago
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The race for space solar
The space economy could be worth as much at $2 trillion by 2040 – according to a recent report by professional services provider PwC. The cisLunar orbit, between the earth and the moon, is particularly promising. But all of it requires power and, as it has for decades, that means PV – and both the technology and supplier landscape for orbital solar is diversifying. Eternal Sun | WAVELABS‘ Pepijn Veling reports from a series of events the company has attended across the country, on what is a fast-evolving technology and business landscape.
Sep 12, 2026
Solarize Africa: The case of Madagascar
Madagascar’s diesel-dependent power system faces high costs and chronic blackouts, making solar PV and battery storage an increasingly attractive route to reliable, affordable electrification. Five solar-diesel hybrid projects demonstrate that PV can significantly reduce fuel consumption and electricity prices, offering a scalable model for Madagascar and wider sub-Saharan Africa.
Sep 11, 2026
‘I make a point of thanking people for asking critical questions and disagreeing openly’
This week, Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Hanna König, Head of Division Project Execution, at Germany’s Enertrag SE. She says the most important element of an inclusive organisational culture is ensuring that everyone feels safe to contribute ideas and opinions, particularly when they disagree with the majority or with people in more senior positions.
Sep 11, 2026
Sunny north and cloudy south as Super El Niño defines South American winter
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Super El Niño drove a sharp north–south irradiance divide across South America in winter 2026, with sunnier conditions in the north and persistent cloud reducing solar irradiance across much of the south. Two rare August snowstorms in Chile’s Atacama Desert also caused likely snow-related losses for solar PV assets, alongside severe rainfall, flooding, and mudslides.
Sep 11, 2026
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Chinese scientists achieve record-breaking 27.35% efficiency for perovskite-organic tandem solar cell
Nanjing University researchers developed a perovskite-organic tandem solar cell using a novel low-bandgap acceptor to boost near-infrared light harvesting and improve photocurrent matching. The device achieved a 27.35% efficiency, while retaining 80% of its initial performance after 744 hours of continuous illumination.
Applications & Installations
Sodium-ion storage powers fully off-grid solar home in Germany
A homeowner in Augsburg has paired 270 kWh of BIWATT sodium-ion storage with 49 kWp of solar, creating a fully off-grid household energy system with local distributor SALZSTROM providing the solution.
Sponsored
Hitachi launches CO2 heat pump water heaters with solar-friendly tariff controls
Hitachi has introduced its Y-series EcoCute CO2 heat pump water heaters in Japan, with 370-liter and 460-liter models set to launch from November 2026.
The upgraded range adds expanded support for daytime electricity tariffs and PV-linked energy management, alongside a five-year manufacturer warranty.
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‘A modern economy runs on electricity’
Renewable energy, 24/7. Many still associate this with terms like “mammoth task,” “challenge,” and “radical change.” While these are not entirely inaccurate in describing the energy transition, they obscure the essential point that renewable energy actually presents a huge economic opportunity. As part of our Renewables 24/7 series, pv magazine spoke with German energy expert Tim Meyer about the many opportunities wrapped up in the energy transition, and why deployment of renewables at scale is now a necessary condition for the success of any advanced economy.
5 hours ago
Spacebound silicon
Solar has a long history in powering satellites and space exploration, and high-powered devices based on multijunction PV cells made from “III-V” materials such as gallium arsenide or indium gallium phosphide have supplied this niche market as far back as the 1960s. But those devices are made with rare materials and complex processing, limited to small batches produced at high cost.
Sep 14, 2026
Section 232 and US module prices
As the dust settles from the Aug. 6 announcement of tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives, Jesse Pichel and Lev Seleznov of Roth Capital Partners explain the impact the long-awaited decision is expected to have on US module pricing and what it might mean for investment in US manufacturing.
Sep 12, 2026
Socket to the sun
Ten states in the United States have passed laws permitting plug-in solar, with more to follow imminently. Low-income households, renters and temporary workers under pressure from high electricity bills are welcoming plug-in solar as a low-cost, portable and convenient solution. Precise business models have yet to emerge and there are technical and regulatory teething problems to address, as industry figures tell pv magazine.
Sep 11, 2026
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South Korea forecast to add 3.5 GW of solar in 2026
The Export–Import Bank of Korea says the country is on track to add more this solar this year than last year, as the Korean government works on developing a distributed power grid that facilitates greater integration of distributed energy resources.
Sep 11, 2026
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Press Release
Suntech
24 hours ago
Press Release
Jinko ESS
24 hours ago
Press Release
Sungrow
24 hours ago
Press Release
Hoymiles
Sep 10, 2026
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Spacebound silicon
Solar has a long history in powering satellites and space exploration, and high-powered devices based on multijunction PV cells made from “III-V” materials such as gallium arsenide or indium gallium phosphide have supplied this niche market as far back as the 1960s. But those devices are made with rare materials and complex processing, limited to small batches produced at high cost.
Sep 14, 2026
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Why German energy provider Rabot Energy is selling a 2 kWh AC-only battery, no solar required
Rabot Energy launched Rabot Flow, a 2.12 kWh plug-and-play home battery for German apartment renters that uses dynamic tariffs to charge when grid electricity is cheap and discharge during price spikes. Sold at cost and requiring no electrician or smart meter, the Marstek-based battery promises around €120–€130 in annual savings while helping Rabot boost customer retention and grid flexibility.
Sep 11, 2026
GoSun unveils solar-chargeable electric tractor
GoSun and Moonrider have launched a 27 hp electric tractor powered by a 24 kWh LFP battery, with optional 1.1 kW solar charging. The four-wheel-drive tractor offers about five hours of runtime and features a 750 kg hitch lift capacity, rear PTO and connected functions.
Sep 11, 2026
Rocket Lab launches 31.5%-efficient inverted metamorphic space solar cell
Rocket Lab has released its high-efficiency IMM Apex solar cell, eliminating costly and scarce germanium substrates while achieving 31.5% beginning-of-life conversion efficiency. The cell is reportedly 40% lighter than legacy triple-junction products and is designed as a drop-in replacement, improving spacecraft power-to-weight performance while reducing supply-chain risks.
Sep 11, 2026
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Section 232 and US module prices
As the dust settles from the Aug. 6 announcement of tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives, Jesse Pichel and Lev Seleznov of Roth Capital Partners explain the impact the long-awaited decision is expected to have on US module pricing and what it might mean for investment in US manufacturing.
Sep 12, 2026
Canadian province launches second renewable procurement round
Nova Scotia is seeking 350 MW of new renewable capacity, in a program that has so far been dominated by wind, to expand a scheme that lets large industrial and institutional customers buy clean power directly from the provincial grid.
18 hours ago
Sungrow raises inverter, storage prices by up to 15%
Sungrow will raise prices for solar inverters and energy storage products by 5% to 15% from Sept. 20, citing rising raw material and component costs. The move, its second price increase this year, reflects broader cost pressures across China’s inverter and storage supply chains.
19 hours ago
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‘A modern economy runs on electricity’
Renewable energy, 24/7. Many still associate this with terms like “mammoth task,” “challenge,” and “radical change.” While these are not entirely inaccurate in describing the energy transition, they obscure the essential point that renewable energy actually presents a huge economic opportunity. As part of our Renewables 24/7 series, pv magazine spoke with German energy expert Tim Meyer about the many opportunities wrapped up in the energy transition, and why deployment of renewables at scale is now a necessary condition for the success of any advanced economy.
5 hours ago
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Australia to introduce technical code for consumer energy resources
Australia’s new regulatory framework for solar inverters, batteries and other consumer energy resources will require suppliers to register products and prove compliance with a technical code. It also introduces national-level accreditation for installers.
23 hours ago
Socket to the sun
Ten states in the United States have passed laws permitting plug-in solar, with more to follow imminently. Low-income households, renters and temporary workers under pressure from high electricity bills are welcoming plug-in solar as a low-cost, portable and convenient solution. Precise business models have yet to emerge and there are technical and regulatory teething problems to address, as industry figures tell pv magazine.
Sep 11, 2026
Merchant BESS switched on at operational solar site in Romania
Econergy has launched commercial operations at its 70 MW/141 MWh Părău 1 battery project in Romania, paired with an existing 92 MW solar plant to create a 162 MW hybrid site. The fully merchant BESS can charge from the grid during low or negative prices, with Econergy expecting €9.7 million in storage revenue.
Sep 10, 2026
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‘A modern economy runs on electricity’
Renewable energy, 24/7. Many still associate this with terms like “mammoth task,” “challenge,” and “radical change.” While these are not entirely inaccurate in describing the energy transition, they obscure the essential point that renewable energy actually presents a huge economic opportunity. As part of our Renewables 24/7 series, pv magazine spoke with German energy expert Tim Meyer about the many opportunities wrapped up in the energy transition, and why deployment of renewables at scale is now a necessary condition for the success of any advanced economy.
5 hours ago
Photovoltaic-thermal heat pump based on bio-based surface coating achieves 77.32% overall efficiency
Iraqi researchers have developed a PVT heat pump featuring a bio-based TiO₂–linseed-oil coating and three alternative refrigerants. The system achieved up to 77.32% overall efficiency and reduced PV module temperatures by as much as 34 C.
Sep 14, 2026
Georgia Tech, Bert Thin Films build 24.3%-efficient copper-contacted TOPCon solar cell via LECO
Georgia Tech-led researchers developed a 24.3%-efficient n-TOPCon solar cell using screen-printed rear copper contacts and LECO, nearly matching a 24.5% silver-contacted reference. The approach sharply reduced contact resistance while limiting copper diffusion, highlighting its potential to lower silver consumption and solar cell manufacturing costs.
Sep 14, 2026
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Press Release
Suntech
24 hours ago
Press Release
Jinko ESS
24 hours ago
Press Release
Sungrow
24 hours ago
Press Release
Hoymiles
Sep 10, 2026
Applications & Installations
Sponsored
Sodium-ion storage powers fully off-grid solar home in Germany
A homeowner in Augsburg has paired 270 kWh of BIWATT sodium-ion storage with 49 kWp of solar, creating a fully off-grid household energy system with local distributor SALZSTROM providing the solution.
Sep 09, 2026
Technology & Products
Sponsored
Great Power successfully completes full-scale fire test
Great Power has completed a full-scale fire test of its 5 MWh energy storage system, with no fire propagation to adjacent containers, no structural collapse, and no thermal runaway observed in any adjacent module.
Sep 08, 2026
Technology & Products
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Journey Ahead: JA Roadshow 2026 to spotlight integrated energy solutions
As energy resilience rises on the agenda across Europe, JA’s first roadshow, Journey Ahead: JA Roadshow 2026, will bring the company’s expanding PV and energy storage portfolio directly to customers, demonstrating how integrated technologies can support greater grid resilience and meet evolving energy needs.
Aug 31, 2026
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