Taiwan proposes mandatory solar standards for new, expanded buildings
The Taiwanese government has proposed new rules requiring PV installations on most new, expanded, or renovated buildings. The draft standards aim to boost renewable energy and decarbonization by setting minimum solar capacity requirements, with potential exemptions for insufficient sunlight or technical issues.
‘Biases – both conscious and unconscious – continue to subtly shape hiring and promotion decisions’
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Frank Niendorf, Vice President Europe at JinkoSolar. He says that assumptions about women’s capabilities or work-life balance can unfairly impact their career progression. “While women are primarily affected, men who value diversity and inclusion can also find themselves outside traditional leadership expectations,” he states.
QatarEnergy switches on 875 MW of solar
The inauguration of two solar projects with a combined capacity of 875 MW has more than doubled Qatar’s installed solar capacity.
Fujitsu launches residential cold climate heat pump with split design
The Japanese manufacturer said its new heat pump system features a coefficient of up to 5.42 and a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of up to 33.2
European Commission awards €52.4 million for solar projects in Finland
The European Commission has offered €52.4 million ($59.4 million) in funding for seven solar projects in Finland, as part of a broader renewable energy package that also includes two wind projects in Estonia.
April storms cut Eastern US irradiance as northwest surges
In another weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that strong jet stream and Eastern storms split solar conditions across the US in April, with the east experiencing a downturn in solar irradiance while the northwest saw irradiance gains.
Utility-scale solar corruption in California
Researchers have found seven perceived patterns of corruption tied to the utility-scale solar boom in southern California from 2010 to 2024.
China module prices bearish, U.S. prices rise on tariff policies
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, reports that TOPCon modules from China held steady at between $0.085-0.090/W. It also reveals that Europe prices for TOPCon modules of over 450 W rose by 0.96%, assessed at €0.105/W.
5 MWh pilot plant showcases long-duration thermal storage tech
MGA Thermal has its sights fixed on the commercialization of its long-duration electro-thermal energy storage solution after the successful commissioning of a 5 MWh pilot plant on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Planting turf, clover beneath solar plants can increase soil organic carbon
Scientists have analyzed whether planting turf and clover beneath solar panels can increase soil organic carbon, after measuring the results from a commercial plant in Japan. They tested more than 20 areas in the power plant and found that soil organic carbon increased.
