Winter weather splits solar conditions across North America
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that destabilized polar circulation in February produced wet and cloudy conditions in some parts of North America, while the central and eastern regions enjoyed elevated irradiance under clearer conditions.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Longi tops 800 MW Hexi solar module tender
Longi says it has ranked first in a recent 800 MW PV module tender in China’s Gansu province, while Canadian Solar says the first 2 GW phase of its US heterojunction (HJT) cell factory is set to begin pilot production in March or April.
Beyond 10X: Rethinking Leadership Standards in the Solar+ Sector
This March, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) is launching its International Women’s Day 2026 campaign: “Beyond 10X: Leadership Without Double Standards.” Inspired by a reflection from Hungarian chess grandmaster Judit Polgár: “I had to prove myself 10 times more than if I’d been born as a boy”, the campaign invites professionals across the solar plus industries to reflect on how leadership is evaluated and how subtle double standards can shape career trajectories.
French electricity posts first negative prices of 2026, battery storage gains
February marked an early 2026 turning point in France’s electricity market, with negative prices emerging for the first time, intraday volatility spiking, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) capturing growing revenue opportunities.
ACME Solar signs 450 MW PPA in India, commissions new 38 MW/82 MWh BESS
ACME Solar has signed two power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 450 MW under a firm, dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) project with SJVN Ltd. It also commissioned an additional 38 MW/82 MWh at its Jaisalmer battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Rajasthan.
Battery storage awarded 576 MW in UK top-up capacity market auction
Battery energy storage system (BESS) and demand-side response assets both secure roughly 8% of capacity agreements, according to provisional results, but nuclear leads the pack in first UK capacity market auction of 2026. Results from larger T-4 auction expected later in the month, with generators and energy storage assets vying for multi-year contracts.
US solar’s push for domestic bliss
Incentives in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 drove a wave of new solar manufacturing announcements, and the country now has more than enough module capacity to meet domestic demand for several years. Policy shifts have created uncertainty, but continued tax credits and a focus on domestic industry have US manufacturers planning to expand cell and component production.
China TOPCon module prices edge higher as March cargoes clear
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
Australia’s Dinawan solar farm among 14 projects in state investment round
The proposed Dinawan solar farm in Australia is one of 14 energy projects worth AUD 34 billion ($23.9 billion) endorsed in the first round of the New South Wales state government’s Investment Delivery Authority program.
New study challenges current narrative around EPE encapsulants
Austrian researchers analyzed commercial ethylene vinyl acetate–polyolefin–ethylene vinyl acetate (EPE) solar encapsulants and found that products sold under the same label can have significantly different material structures and performance. While EPE offers better moisture barriers and thermal resistance than EVA and is rapidly gaining market share, the study warns that its long-term reliability and behavior vary widely and require deeper investigation.
