French testing body flags durability risks in TOPCon solar modules
Accelerated testing by French certification body Certisolis finds wide performance divergence and design vulnerabilities in tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar modules that current international standards do not capture.
Chinese scientists unveil thermoacoustic ultra-high temperature heat pump prototype
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a thermoacoustic Stirling heat pump prototype that offers high thermal performance, a peak coefficient of performance of 1.68, and potential applications in high-temperature industrial processes, enabling zero-carbon heating for sectors like petrochemicals and metallurgy.
Key takeaways from France’s Energaia trade show
France’s Energaia trade fair drew record crowds and exhibitors last week, underscoring continued investment appetite in solar and storage, even as developers warn that policy delays and a residential slowdown could weigh on activity after 2025.
France pulls reduced VAT status from four DMEGC solar modules
France’s certification body says it has withdrawn eligibility for a lower solar VAT rate from four Chinese-made modules after finding traceability errors that altered their carbon footprint calculations.
EU security doctrine highlights high-risk dependency on Chinese solar inverters
A document published by the European Commission on strengthening the EU’s economic security lists reliance on Chinese solar inverters as an example of high-risk dependency. It adds the commission plans to address such risks under its cybersecurity framework.
Wood Mackenzie predicts 2-year decline in global solar inverter demand
Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis expects market uncertainty in China, Europe and the U.S. to cause two consecutive years of contraction in the global solar inverter market, forecasting a fall to 577 GWac this year and 523 GWac in 2026.
GoodWe launches new hybrid inverters for C&I solar
The Chinese manufacturer has launched a new series of three-phase hybrid inverters ranging from 80 kW to 100 kW. They new products feature eight MPPTs with up to 42 A input current.
Shenzhen First Tech releases 15 kWh LFP battery
The battery is rated at a nominal 48 V and 314 Ah, with an ingress protection level of IP20.
Gokin Solar launches new back-contact solar module series
Gokin has launched back-contact solar modules ranging from 480 W to 780 W for residential, C&I and utility-scale projects. The series supports 1,500 V systems and reaches efficiencies of up to 24.8%.
Mauritius opens 2 MW hybrid solar tender
Mauritius’ Central Electricity Board is running a tender for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of rooftop solar systems, with an added option to procure battery energy storage systems. The deadline for applications is Feb. 2, 2026.
