Taiwan to revise environmental impact rules amid floating solar scrutiny
The Taiwanese government has revealed plans to update environmental impact assessment (EIA) standards for solar projects, following storm-related damage to installations and growing public concern over floating PV deployment.
South Africa simplifies registration process for distributed PV
South African utility Eskom is urging consumers with grid-tied rooftop solar to register their systems and integrate them with the national grid, waiving registration fees until March 2026.
Unlimited low-cost energy storage
In its latest monthly for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) explains how pumped-hydro energy storage combined with PV power generation could provide 24/7 power to data centres
Philippines raises FIT levy for renewable payments
The energy regulator of the Philippines has approved an increase in the feed-in tariff allowance (FIT-All) to PHP 0.2073 ($0.004)/kWh from PHP 0.1189, with the new rate set to take effect next month.
What WTO can still do to regulate global cleantech trade
pv magazine spoke with energy and environmental law expert Anatole Boute about the past and future role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in regulating trade disputes related to clean energy technologies amid current geopolitical tensions. He noted that despite recent protectionist efforts to revive the solar manufacturing industry, the European Union still strives to remain compliant with WTO rules.
Croatia’s regulatory deadlock is strangling large-scale solar
Regulatory inaction on grid fees has stalled 3.5 GW of large-scale renewables in Croatia, mostly solar, with developers such as Solvis citing a lack of stable grid-connection rules as a barrier to planning and investment.
New Zealand approves 200 MWh solar-plus-storage project
A 179 MW solar-plus-storage project near Auckland has secured approval from an independent panel, allowing a commercial decision if the project remains viable under the imposed build and operating conditions.
Australia becomes world’s third-largest utility battery market
Australia has overtaken the United Kingdom to rank behind China and the United States in utility-scale battery capacity, with 14 GW/37 GWh of projects at or nearing financial close.
Optimizing solar-plus-storage operation for markets with imbalance penalties
Scientists in Japan have used a deep reinforcement learning–based AI model to calculate discrepancies between the planned and actual electricity supply volumes in PV-battery systems operating in markets where grid imbalances are penalized. Through a series of simulations, they found that the proposed methodology can reduce imbalance penalties by approximately 47%.
Romania drafts cybersecurity rules for PV, cogeneration up to 1 MW
Romania plans to amend its energy law to require the National Cybersecurity Directorate (DNSC) to define technical standards for PV and cogeneration systems up to 1 MW, aimed at preventing data breaches and safeguarding grid operations.
