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.
TOPCon solar cell based on aluminum contacts achieves slightly lower efficiency than silver-based counterpart
Researchers in Australia have have fabricated an aluminum contact-based TOPCon solar cell based that achieved a power conversion efficiency of 22.92%. The device was built with an aluminum contact manufacturing process that reportedly does not compromise the surface passivation quality of underlying silicon oxide layers.
Long-term issues found in warehoused solar panels
Clean Energy Associates (CEA) is receiving more calls from solar developers concerned about warehouse panel damage. CEA senior engineering manager Claire Kearns-McCoy explains how improper handling, stacking, and storage conditions can lead to long-term issues.
Borussia Dortmund plans 4.2 MW PV system at soccer stadium
Borussia Dortmund, a German soccer team, is partnering with JA Solar and RWE to install a 4.2 MW solar system with battery storage at its stadium, supplying 4 MWh for on-site consumption. A smaller PV installation is already in operation on the stadium roof.
Edilians launches tile-like mounting system for rooftop solar
Edilians introduced Easy Roof Integration, its new mounting system for residential PV panels, at the BePositive trade show this week in Lyon, France.
Solar module, cell, wafer prices to rise in Q2 2025, says TrendForce
TrendForce says solar module, cell, and wafer prices will rise in the second quarter as China accelerates installations ahead of looming regulatory changes. It notes that prices are expected to decline in the third quarter as demand eases.
Waaree Energies to start 5.4 GW solar cell factory
Waaree Energies will soon inaugurate its 5.4 GW state-of-the-art solar cell manufacturing plant in Chikhli, India.
The current state of U.S. polysilicon production
Despite rising tariffs on imports and a looming U.S. Department of Commerce investigation, American solar-grade polysilicon production is expected to keep pace with the growth of the domestic PV supply chain.
California solar on canals initiative moves forward
The California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) aims to use research from the University of California, Merced, to find communities willing to generate power with solar-covered canals.
