Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Hongyuan Green Energy (Hysolar) says it plans to take control of Wuxi Suntech Solar Power through a court-led restructuring that transfers core assets into a new entity while isolating legacy debt.

Researchers in Canada found that semi-transparent cadmium telluride and low-transparency crystalline silicon solar panels can boost turnip root and leaf yields in agrivoltaic systems by optimizing light quality, distribution, and heat stress. Their study highlights that PV module type, transparency, and spectral transmission must be carefully matched to plant physiology to maximize both crop productivity and renewable energy generation.

The result was certified by China’s National Photovoltaic Industry Metrology Test Center (NPVM). The cell utilizes a perovskite top device with MBT-ligand-controlled crystallization on a TOPCon silicon bottom cell, achieving a void-free, high-efficiency tandem structure.

The Terawatt PV 100 ranks the top 100 solar manufacturing companies using a new methodology based on production scale, financial strength, and corporate transparency, with Tongwei leading the Q1 2026 list and most top firms headquartered in China. The analysis highlights increasing global supply-chain scrutiny driven by tariffs and ESG mandates, while also showing rising influence from Indian companies and strong positions for key materials and equipment suppliers.

A Japanese consortium is piloting agrivoltaics using film-type perovskite solar cells over rice paddies to study energy generation alongside crop production. The three-year project will assess impacts on rice yield, land use, and emissions while testing the technology’s performance and commercial viability.

Researchers found that widely deployed smart meters pose a “massive” cybersecurity risk, potentially enabling data manipulation, energy theft, and service disruption. They propose a new detection method using state estimation and statistical boundaries to more accurately identify cyberattacks, outperforming traditional techniques despite higher computational demands.

Waaree Energies has approved a capital expenditure of INR 39 billion ($415 million) to build a solar glass manufacturing facility with a capacity of 2,500 metric tons (MT) per day through its subsidiary Waaree Green Glass.

Swansea University researchers found that perovskite solar cells can tolerate dusty fabrication environments, performing almost as well as those made in cleanrooms. The findings suggest low-cost, scalable production may be possible without ultra-sterile conditions, potentially accelerating cell and module manufacturing.

Job advertisements on Tesla’s website outline the 100 GW ambition and follow reports the company is in talks with Chinese firms for the purchase of $2.9 billion worth of equipment for solar manufacturing.

GCL Optoelectronics has won a 1.2 MW commercial perovskite/silicon tandem solar module tender held by China’s Huaneng. The procurement required mass-producible, IEC-certified modules with over 25% efficiency, a 25-year performance warranty, and delivery by end of 2026.