In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that November proved challenging for solar energy across most of the US and Canada, as persistent cloud cover reduced solar irradiance.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Vertical solar at airports can reduce energy costs, provide a revenue stream and enhance operational efficiency and public image.

As battery energy storage system costs plunge, energy price volatility is shortening payback times for storage solutions. This shift, driven by a surge in intermittently generating renewables, and ongoing innovations in battery manufacturing, marks a pivotal moment for energy markets worldwide.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Amila Colakhodzic, Senior Originator and Client coverage at Austria-based Kommunalkredit. She says she constantly prioritizes open communication and inclusivity while challenging biases. “Despite women being the largest untapped resource in renewable energy, the solar sector has improved significantly. Since transitioning from wind to solar in 2018, I’ve witnessed technological advancements and increased diversity, with women taking on technical, commercial, legal, and leadership roles,” she states.

The Italian authorities have chosen 540 projects, totaling 1.5 GW, in the nation’s first agrivoltaics tender.

Panasonic has unveiled a new version of its Eco Cute CO2 heat pump that produces domestic hot water mostly during daytime based on solar radiation data. It integrates a dedicated app to obtain day-ahead solar forecasts and schedule water heating hours for the next day.

HG Infra Engineering, Bhilwara Energy, Kintech Synergy, and Advait Infratech were successful in a standalone battery energy storage tender held by utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL).

The first large-scale solar project in the Australian state of Tasmania has been locked in, with project developer TasRex reaching a commercial offtake agreement with utility Hydro Tasmania.

The financial sector is increasingly throwing its weight behind battery energy storage systems (BESS), but transparent regulations are necessary to keep the investment going. This was one of the resounding messages from the 2nd BVES Investor Summit, held in Berlin on Wednesday.

Eskom is seeking a contractor to provide turnkey design, engineering, operation and maintenance services for a solar project at the Komati Power Station, South Africa.

European researchers have told pv magazine that hydrogen production costs are often underestimated in prefeasibility studies, while the South Korean authorities have reported a rise in deals for large-scale hydrogen consumption projects.

The Bulgarian authorities awarded BGN 526 million ($284 million) to 397 renewable energy projects in the country’s latest procurement exercise.

The Philippnes’ Energy Regulatory Commission has permitted local utility More Power to create a one-stop shop for processing net-metering and distributed energy resources (DER) applications. The initiative is set to benefit consumers in Iloilo City, Central Negros and Tagbilaran, Bohol.

French agrivoltaics company Sun’Agri says that two of its facilities increased grape yields by 20% to 60% in 2024, compared to areas without solar panels. The PV modules helped regulate temperature fluctuations, reducing summer heat peaks and winter temperature declines.

An India-based research team has boosted the power conversion efficiency and stability of indoor dye-sensitized solar cells based on co-sensitized organic dyes. The best indoor PV devices achieved 40% efficiency under 4000 lux fluorescent lighting and 10.40% under standard AM 1.5G one sun illumination.

German engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions’ CO2-based seawater heat pump, located in the Danish port city of Esbjerg, has started operation. The facility, with a total heating capacity of 70 MW, will provide climate-neutral heat to Esbjerg and neighbouring town Varde.

While some may call it a fairytale chemistry, solid-state lithium-air battery (SS-LAB) technology is now a step closer to commercial reality with the foundation of Air Energy. The startup has set out to scale the application of this promising technology over the next five years.

A Chinese research team has developed a floating PV system that purportedly offers high stability and superior seakeeping performance. It features a series of floating pontoons for buoyancy, coupled with a truss-frame support structure for solar panels.

Fraunhofer ISE researchers have investigated whether PV panels installed above orchards can affect the reception of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals and, in turn, affect the precision of advanced autonomous tools. They found a disruption and suggested some alternatives.

Oman has launched its first solar panel production line. A project spokesperson told pv magazine that the facility will serve the domestic market and countries throughout Africa. It is currently supplying panels for a 200 MW project.

McLaren Applied Group has purchased Italian inverter manufacturer Fimer for an undisclosed sum through its subsidiary, MA Solar Italy Ltd. The deal, which includes Fimer’s business assets, will help McLaren Applied expand its core operations.

The latest list sees India-based Insolation Energy, Waaree Renewable Technologies, and Solex Energy maintain the top three positions and Kyocera entering the top ten, up from thirteenths spot.

The government of the Indian state of Odisha has approved new solar manufacturing investments from Grew, Jakson, Jupiter Renewables, and Saatvik.

Sunlit has launched the EV3600 bidirectional inverter for PV carports and balcony solar applications, allowing users with dynamic electricity tariffs to charge storage units when prices are low. The German company says the inverter supports extensions for vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid functionality.

Sodium-ion batteries are undergoing a critical period of commercialization with Chinese cleantech juggernauts actively working on their products.

The company’s new mobile app is designed to combine all operations for solar installers, from installations and commissioning to management and servicing, in one streamlined platform.

Car manufacturer Renault, smart charging solutions provider We Drive Solar and the Netherlands’ leading car sharing platform MyWheels are teaming up to launch a car-sharing service in the city of Utrecht. The vehicles will utilize vehicle-to-grid technology, running on clean energy and feeding power back to the grid during high demand periods.

SolarEdge will shutter its energy storage unit and manufacturing, cutting 500 jobs.

From January to the end of October 2024, Italy added 1.74 GW of storage system projects.