A new report from the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) Task 17 outlines how photovoltaic systems can be effectively integrated with electric vehicle charging infrastructure through optimized sizing, intelligent control, and site-specific design.

As primary silver grades decline and solar demand surges, the industry must transition from viewing retired panels as waste to treating them as high-grade mineral reserves essential for the energy transition.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that January in South America featured dramatic weather contrasts with persistent floods and cloud cover in northern regions sharply reducing solar irradiance, while extreme heat, drought and wildfires in the south boosted sunlight yet also generated aerosol smoke that complicated irradiance outcomes. Severe storms, tornadoes and industrial fires further punctuated the month’s highly variable irradiance patterns across the continent.

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.

This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Charmaine Coutinho, Director – EMEA Energy Transition at UK-based FTI Consulting. She says the energy transition requires inclusive systems that actively involve underrepresented groups, ensuring diversity and equity at all levels. Drawing on decades in the sector, she emphasizes intentional mentorship, sponsorship, and transparent leadership as essential for meaningful change and career impact.

The EU’s third cross-border solar tender is offering a share of €54.9 million ($63.8 million) to solar-plus-storage projects in selected Bulgarian districts and ground-mounted solar projects in Finland, with funding provided by Luxembourg. The deadline for applications is September 1.

Transport for London on track to receive 65,000 MWh of electricity per year from solar connected directly to one of Europe’s largest private power networks.

With 600 MW of installed capacity and 2,400 MWh of storage, the Huai’an Salt Cavern project is now the world’s largest compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility, surpassing the 300 MW/1,500 MWh project commissioned earlier this year that previously held the title.

Estonia’s cumulative solar capacity reached around 1,430 MW by the end of last year. Year-on-year installations slowed as the country’s solar market begins to saturate, with future growth expected to be driven by supplementing solar parks with batteries.

Sigenergy has launched a 2.68 kWh balcony storage system with four MPPTs and up to 4 kW of PV input. The scalable LFP solution offers 800 W grid output, 1.2 kW backup power, and expansion up to 18 kWh per tower.

The Chinese manufacturer expanded its P Class portfolio with two new shingled-module series for residential and commercial rooftop installations. Both lines feature high-density, multi-busbar shingled cells for improved shade tolerance and long-term reliability with 30-year warranties.

Greece’s solar producers are facing rising curtailments that are cutting revenues and driving interest in energy storage, even as regulatory and financing challenges slow deployment.

Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity says an initial 61 MW from the first unit of a planned 1 GW solar project has commenced. The project is being developed across four 250 MW units, with final commissioning currently scheduled for 2028.

EcoFlow has unveiled the single-phase Ocean 2 all-in-one battery inverter at Key Energy in Rimini. The system features a more compact 5 kWh LFP battery stackable up to 30 kWh and offering 100% depth of discharge, 3.4 kW discharge power, and IP66 protection.

The Iraqi Customs Authority has cut customs duties on solar energy systems from 33% to 5% – covering PV panels, inverters, cables, and lithium batteries – to accelerate solar adoption, following financing support from the Central Bank of Iraq.

Researchers in Türkiye have developed a passive anti-soiling coating for PV panels using oleic acid–modified aluminum oxide nanoparticles applied via spray coating. Laboratory and field tests showed the coating reduced dust accumulation and initially boosted daily energy output, though performance declined under prolonged environmental stressors.

The systems deliver outlet water temperatures up to 74 C, operate in ambient temperatures from -25 C to 43 C, and can be cascaded in groups of up to 16 units for larger commercial applications.

The new heterojunction solar module concept is based on co-extruded EVA/POE/EVA (EPE) encapsulant with UV downshifting (UV-DS) films, which convert harmful UV light into blue light, protecting cells and slightly boosting short-circuit current by 1.5–1.75%.

Researchers at ICMS in Seville have developed a hybrid perovskite solar cell that generates electricity from both sunlight and raindrops, using the photovoltaic and triboelectric effects. A fluorinated CFₓ polymer layer enables water resistance, triboelectric energy harvesting, and high light transparency without reducing solar cell efficiency.

Researchers from South Korea improved solar panel dust detection by using SMOTE and stable diffusion (SD) augmentation, with SD boosting detection accuracy from 76.5% to 98.9% while preserving spatial realism.

South Korea has passed legislative amendments to limit the ability of local authorities to impose separation distances on solar projects, removing a major permitting barrier for PV developers.

The transaction is the latest big announcement in a hot market for US power and utilities mergers and acquisitions, as companies jostle for position in anticipation of AI-driven demand spike.

SERIS researchers developed a 16-cm² perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a double-sided TOPCon bottom cell, enhancing passivation, reducing recombination, and increasing voltage and fill factor.

Silver prices have resumed their climb, reaching $95 per ounce this morning. Silver analyst Philip Newman tells pv magazine that escalating tensions in the Middle East are expected to continue driving investment demand for safe-haven assets such as gold and silver.

Researchers in Spain have developed a dual-condenser air-to-water heat pump that shifts domestic hot water production to daylight hours, maximizing PV self-consumption. The prototype boosted solar energy use from 9.9% to 55.5% and achieved a peak coefficient of performance of 7.59 under PV-assisted operation.

The Natec Home has a nominal capacity of 7.68 kWh and a power output of 3.8 kW, and allows parallel connection of up to 15 units. The reference price is set at €3,990.

Daikin has introduced two new propane heat pump lines for industrial and district heating applications, combining monobloc units from 20 kW to 85 kW with modular systems scalable up to 2 MW.

Aurora Energy Research says uncompensated PV curtailment will remain elevated in 2026 and 2027, reaching 3.05 TWh next year and 3.38 TWh in 2027, as grid constraints persist despite planned reinforcements.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence say US battery installations reached a record 57.6 GWh in 2025, up 30% year on year, as the industry enters what they describe as a new phase of sustained, high-volume deployment.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will place sodium batteries at the center of its work on the EU’s industrial strategy and is calling for swift action. pv magazine has compiled a list of manufacturers developing this technology in Europe.