Markets & Policy
In highly regulated energy markets, policy decisions can make or break new technologies, strategies, and even entire industries.
Support from policymakers, in the form of procurement exercises, priority dispatch, tax incentives and a wealth of other instruments, has been vital to the global solar industry’s success, and new mechanisms to support growth in energy storage are an increasingly important part of the story today.
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Latest News
Ireland’s leap of faith to power data centers
Under Ireland’s Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP), 10 MW-plus data centers must provide at least 80% of their energy demand through new onsite renewable energy generation and storage. But whether data centers can meaningfully contribute to Ireland’s decarbonization depends on the success of its grid buildout, reports Blathnaid O’Dea.
Aug 12, 2026
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Brazil’s curtailment compensation offer attracts 1,539 solar and wind plant operators
A total of 1,539 solar and wind power plants representing around 53 GW have applied to Brazil’s compensation mechanism for eligible curtailment events. The final compensation amounts will be determined by the applicable methodology, project contracts and assessment of eligible curtailment events.
Global South Utilities completes 50 MW solar, 15 MWh BESS project in Central African Republic
The solar-plus-storage project has been billed as the largest infrastructure project in the Central African Republic’s history. The government says it is undergoing a phased implementation beginning with an initial 15 MW supplied to the plant’s neighbouring districts.
Guatemala updates regulations for distributed solar up to 5 MW
Guatemala has updated its regulatory framework for renewable distributed-generation projects of up to 5 MW, introducing new connection procedures, grid-capacity mapping and technical requirements. The new rules take effect Aug. 17, while projects already under application may remain under the previous regime unless developers opt into the new framework.
France sees sharp rise in solar module recycling
France collected 13,760 tonnes of end-of-life solar modules in 2025, up 40% from the previous year, as recycling activity accelerates. Government agency Soren expects annual volumes to reach nearly 180,000 tonnes by 2040, underscoring the growing importance of recycling to Europe’s industrial supply chain.
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All Markets & Policy news
Ontario Power Authority proposes cuts in pay rates for small ground-mounted solar PV projects
The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has proposed a new pricing category of 58.8 Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh) for ground-mounted solar photovoltaics (PV) projects of ten kilowatts or less, instead of the original 80.2 ¢/kWh. The new price category, says the OPA, will better reflect the lower costs of installation for these types of projects versus rooftop projects.
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ADB Calls for Asia and Pacific to make transition to solar power
Many countries in Asia and the Pacific are well-suited to solar power initiatives, and incentives, and low-cost financing mechanisms should be made available to help the region make the transition possible, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda has said.
CNPV gains MCS certification for British solar market
CNPV Solar Power SA has said it has been granted full approval for its complete range of modules under the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The MCS certificate is a pre-requisite for selling solar panels in the UK market within the government financial support program.
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Mercom releases second quarter results for solar; investment looking positive
Mercom Capital Group, llc has released its merger and acquisition (M&A) and funding activity results for solar energy for the second quarter (Q2) of this year. The results show that investment figures are higher than the first quarter (Q1). ?
pvxchange: half-yearly PV brokerage figures set new record
pvxchange has announced it has brokered more photovoltaics (PV) modules and inverters in the first half of this year than during the course of the whole previous year. At the same time, another 1,000 participants have registered on the online trading platform since the beginning of this year.
Solar plane successfully completes first ever night flight
The Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar plane has successfully completed its first night flight, thus leading the way for the company to explore “human and technological limits further”. The achievement, says the company, has marked a milestone in solar aviation history.
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