Using LiDAR data to improve modeling of PV system tilt, azimuth
Researchers in Sweden have developed a method to use LiDAR data to enable more precise tilt and azimuth modeling of solar PV and solar thermal capacity at a regional or substation level. The model could enable aggregators and grid operators to improve grid planning.
French company unveils PVC-based mounting system for C&I solar projects
Renolit Ondex says its PVC-based mounting system is lighter and more impact-resistant than metal or fiber cement supports, while also helping to lower PV module temperatures.
France releases new FIT rates for PV systems up to 500 kW
France’s new feed-in tariffs (FITs) for February to June 2025 range from €0.0839 ($0.0907)/kWh to €0.1295/kWh, depending on system size.
Digging into China’s solar capacity numbers
Amid a record amount of new solar capacity added in China in 2024, the share held by small-scale, “distributed” arrays fell to 38%, from 58% in 2022. Grid constraints, policy changes, and pricing adjustments have impacted home and business solar arrays, as Vincent Shaw reports, from Shanghai.
Solar-plus-storage for extreme low temperatures
Scientists in the United States have created a testing platform for energy harvesting in solar-plus-storage systems under extreme temperatures ranging from -180 C to 300 C.
Record year for UK solar as renewables generate most electricity
Renewables accounted for majority of annual UK electricity generation for the first time in 2024, with solar enjoying record highs despite fewer sun hours Gains for PV reflect increased deployed capacity, which hit 18 GW in February 2025 according to the latest government figures.
Austria installs 2.2 GW of PV in 2024
Austria installed 2.2 GW of new PV capacity in 2024, bringing its cumulative total to 8.3 GW by the end of the year, according to industry group PV Austria.
Heat pump control strategy for energy communities
Researchers have utilized measured data from a small energy community on a Finnish university campus to simulate its operation under various control strategies. The first control strategy prioritizes the use of heat pumps, while the second prioritizes price. Total costs were reduced by up to 25% with the second option.
France’s Imeon launches AI-powered home solar-plus-storage system
Neo learns and adapts to user consumption habits, ensuring optimal use of rooftop solar energy and improving battery life.
Portugal adds 1.77 GW of solar in 2024
Portugal set a record for solar deployment in 2024, installing 1.77 GW and surpassing the previous year’s total. The country’s cumulative installed PV capacity now stands at 5.66 GW, as it works toward a revised 20.8 GW target by 2030.
