France cuts feed-in tariffs for solar up to 100 kW
The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has lowered feed-in tariffs by up to 16% for rooftop solar systems between 10 kW and 100 kW, while keeping smaller system rates unchanged.
Slow progress on access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for eight of every ten people lacking access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency, with early data for 2025 suggesting the rate of progress is set to remain broadly flat.
Ireland allocates over €1 billion to renewables, solar takes lead
For its 2026 budget, the Irish government will allocate a record €558 million ($648.1 million) for home and community energy upgrade grants, including the popular microgeneration scheme for residential PV, and extend the €400 income tax exemption for microgeneration profits until 2028 to help lower energy bills.
Silver prices surge, yet ‘thrifting’ poses little threat to solar cell, module quality
With silver prices nearing $50 per ounce, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) tell pv magazine that efforts to reduce silver use in solar cells will not compromise module quality if properly engineered.
Over 6 GW of solar approved under Malaysia’s large-scale solar program
Malaysia’s large-scale solar scheme (LSS) has approved 6,028 MW of solar capacity to 117 companies across six bidding rounds to date, according to the country’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation.
Large-scale PV faces market contraction in Brazil
In the first nine months of 2025, Brazil added 1,718 GW of utility-scale solar generation capacity to its electricity matrix, up from 4 GW in the same period in 2024.
Japan’s Aomori prefecture sets capacity tax on large wind, solar
Japan’s Aomori prefecture is introducing a capacity-based levy on large onshore wind and solar projects, using zoning criteria to align renewable expansion with environmental, historical, and cultural priorities.
Czechia expands rules for agrivoltaics, permits vertical installations
Amendments to rules governing agrivoltaics in Czechia mean it will now be possible to deploy vertical agrivoltaics, or have installations on arable land if vegetables with high or very high labor intensity are grown at least once every three years.
Researchers discover photovoltaic properties in zinc-based film
Research from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has found zinc-phosphate-hydrate (ZPH) films are capable of producing electricity from light. The coating’s photovoltage was amplified when anthocyanin, a natural dye found in blackberries, was added.
Japan launches R&D call for tandem perovskite solar cell mass production
Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is accepting proposals for a six-year R&D program to advance large-scale manufacturing technologies and field testing of next-generation tandem perovskite solar cells.
