Rapidly increasing energy consumption due to data centers, EVs and AI, requires adopting innovative energy strategies like distributed energy resources and microgrids that offer viable solutions for a more resilient, responsive energy infrastructure.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice Molly Morgan, Senior Research Analyst at UK-based CRU. She says that mentoring platforms offer aspiring professionals access to relatable role models, providing both inspiration and practical guidance to help them overcome their challenges and thrive in their careers. “A way to address the issue of women making up the minority share in the PV industry would be to encourage more women to enter the world of renewable energies earlier whilst still in academia,” she states.

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.

Tata Power Renewable says its new 431 MW solar project in Neemuch, India, features single-axis solar trackers and 560 W and 565 W bifacial glass-to-glass modules.

Interested developers will have time until February 3 to submit their proposals.

US-based Convalt Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chad’s Ministry of Water and Energy for three community solar plants totaling 3 MW, along with 1.5 MWh of battery storage.

Italian manufacturer Ecoprogetti has ramped up the capacity of a PV production line in Morocco, operated by Almaden Morocco, from 500 MW to 1 GW.

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has shared forecasts with pv magazine projecting strong growth for the nation’s solar sector, despite a decline in deployment compared to last year. Utility-scale public sector plants are scheduled to come online next year for the first time since 2019.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has opened an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender for solar installations at its sites across the country. The deadline for expressions of interest is Jan. 21, 2025.

Muktagacha Solartech Energy Ltd. has agreed to build and operate a 20 MW solar project in Bangladesh, following the signing of a $24.3 million investment package from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Chinese manufacturer said its new products have a capacity of up to 5.1 kWh and are scalable up to 20.48 kWh. The systems feature a depth of discharge of 90% and can purportedly operate for more than 6,000 cycles.

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.

The high amounts of solar and wind power being fed into the Dutch electrical grid cause issues that affect the ability of businesses to expand, according to ELIX CTO Pieter Hofstede, who discusses the growth of energy storage solutions in the Netherlands.

Mercedes-Benz said it is now evaluating a 20%-efficient, non-silicon photovoltaic coating that is significantly cheaper than conventional solar modules.

The researchers of the German institute explained that UV-induced degradation may cause larger than expected efficiency and voltage losses in all dominant cell technologies, including TOPCon devices. The scientists expect that silicon nitride layers could be used to enhance TOPCon UV stability compared to PECVD layers typically utilized in PERC and heterojunction cells.

The novel smart solar window combines photoelectric and electrochromic functions. It can produce electricity while also regulating the amount of solar radiation entering a building.

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.

China Coal Energy Group (China Coal) has ordered 4 GW of solar modules from JinkoSolar, Tongwei, JA Solar, and DAS Solar at $0.10/W, including 3 GW of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) panels and 1 GW of passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) products.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.