Markets

Radovan Kopecek, an expert on back-contacted (BC) solar cell and module technologies, spoke with pv magazine about BC manufacturing costs, efficiency and technical challenges. He believes that global BC solar module manufacturing capacity could reach 1 TW by 2030, potentially making BC products the industry’s mainstream technology. Kopecek added that 2028 will be a crucial year for its development, as most of the critical patents associated with this module tech will expire.

China General Nuclear (CGN) New Energy has awarded contracts for 10.5 GW of solar modules under its 2025 procurement framework. The winning companies, including JinkoSolar, Longi, and GCL SI, will supply high-capacity n-type bifacial and monofacial panels.

A Chinese research group has created a novel method to calculate city-scale rooftop PV potential not only based on roof areas but also including installation parameters and economic feasibility. The novel methodology was demonstrated in Nanjing, east China, and was found to be superior to conventional methods when it comes to estimating planned capacity.

Cyprus curtailed 29% of its renewable energy in 2024, a record high that signals risks to the island’s energy transition.

The Philippines’ Department of Energy says its net-metering program has added around 141 MW to the grid since its inception in 2015.

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.

The storage facility featuring six Megapack 2XL systems from Tesla was built over a seven-month period in the vicinity of a wood gas generator and a solar farm. The project has a power output of 12 MW and storage capacity of 24 MWh.

Researchers recommended that transmission system operators consider adopting grid-forming battery energy storage systems system-wide to improve grid stability and to maximize system hosting capacity for solar and wind generation.

There is a gap in the market for long-duration energy storage (LDES), according to US-based manufacturer ESS Inc. – one which can’t be plugged with lithium-ion chemistry. Hugh McDermott, of ESS Inc. tells pv magazine how he thinks iron flow batteries fit into the energy system of the future, as the company pursues global expansion.

The Romanian Association of Energy Prosumers and Communities (APCE) is urging the government to introduce a new prosumer model that allows apartment residents to benefit from surplus solar energy generated by rooftop systems.