2025

Australian researchers have identified five contaminants that could increase damp heat-induced degradation in TOPCon and heterojunction cells and modules. Their analysis has shown these contaminants could originate from improper handling during cell or module processing.

At pv magazine’s Focus event at Intersolar Europe this week, moderated by ESS News Editor Marija Maisch, the panelists discussed co-location and financing, alongside forward-looking presentations on market trends.

The additions represent marginal growth compared to 2024, according to SolarPower Europe. Last year, the country ranked second in new installations, behind only India (30.7 GW), the United States (50 GW) and China (329 GW). In terms of cumulative capacity through December 2024, the country ranked sixth, with 66.7 GW.

This week, during Intersolar 2025, Women in Solar+ Europe hosted a powerful workshop titled Women Reshaping the Leadership Narrative. Women leaders and experts from across the sector gathered to challenge outdated stereotypes and redefine authentic, inclusive leadership. From embracing vulnerability and rejecting the “too” labels often placed on women, to reframing feedback and leading without apology, participants explored how to turn long-held biases into strengths. The session fostered open dialogue, intergenerational insight, and a shared commitment to modelling change, leaving attendees inspired to keep reshaping leadership on their own terms.

AleaSoft Energy Forecasting says increases in solar energy production contributed to lower electricity prices across major European markets last week. Most analyzed markets also continued to experience negative hourly prices.

China’s Mingyang produces solar glass based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells and has launched a pilot production line for perovskite technology. It is positioning itself as a supplier to building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) companies.

The Chinese company said its new product is intended for commercial and industrial use. It uses 233 kWh LiFePO4 batteries.

A report by the European solar association SolarPower Europe highlights the cybersecurity challenges of PV installations in the European Union. A main concern are the vulnerabilities of connected inverters and data management via cloud services outside of Europe.

In another weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that a significant reduction in airborne pollutants has contributed to year-to-date irradiance in some parts of China being up to 30% higher than the long-term average. South Korea has benefited from a similar pattern, recording a 10% increase in irradiance from January to April relative to its long-term average.

The Spanish company has launched the Hincator, a device that precisely measures key pile parameters, and Amelia Solar, a cloud platform that processes data in real time, to ensure pile-driving and trackers in PV plants are installed correctly and within project tolerances.