Solar to add 13 GW in Brazil in 2025 amid signs of slowdown
Brazil is expected to add 13 GW of solar capacity in 2025, according to the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association (Absolar), but growth appears to be slowing as curtailment, grid constraints, and regulatory uncertainty challenge new projects.
New object detection algorithm for solar cleaning robots
A Chinese research team at Tarim University have developed a lightweight object detection and pose recognition solution for solar panel cleaning robots.
Ecuador authorizes 643 MW of distributed energy projects
Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy has authorized private companies to develop 643 MW of renewable energy projects across the country.
Reducing PV module temperature with ultra-cooling patch
Scientists in Hong Kong have developed a patch that effectively cools down PV panels and utilizes waste heat for freshwater production. It has three layers: an atmospheric water harvester, a thermal regulation layer, and an adhesive layer. Maximum power density reportedly increased by over 28% in a folded version of the ultra-cooling patch.
India installs 18 GW of solar in H1 2025
India installed 18 GW of solar in the first half of 2025, a 31% increase from a year earlier, with 11.3 GW commissioned in the second quarter alone, according to Mercom India Research.
Electrical fault at PV plant triggers forest fire in Spain
A forest fire in southern Spain that burned roughly 800 hectares of pasture, crops, and oak forests originated in an electrical box of a photovoltaic plant’s tracking system, according to the Civil Guard’s Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA).
JA Solar unveils 650 W TOPCon module for desert PV projects
JA Solar has launched DesertBlue, a 650 W tunnel-oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) module for desert PV projects, featuring self-cleaning glass, reinforced frames, and heat-tolerant design with desert-specific certification.
Photovoltaic roofing for airport access roads
The German state of Bavaria has commissioned a €4.2 million ($4.9 million) photovoltaic system along a 35-meter stretch of airport access road near Munich.
Germany records 453 hours of year-to-date negative electricity prices
Germany has logged 453 hours of negative day-ahead power prices this year, already above the total in 2024, while hours above €100 ($116.,54)/MWh have also surpassed last year.
Confused about PV connectors? Words matter
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Labs have created a new nomenclature for PV connectors to reduce confusion amongst installers and developers, while improving deployment practices. They catalogued a sampling of twenty-five commercially available 4 mm connectors.
