Policy

Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has allocated 600 MW of solar at $0.036/kWh in its 1 GW solar tender, with Acme Solar, Adani Renewable Energy, and ReNew emerging as winners.

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has approved 79 MW and 50 MW battery storage projects in Suffolk County, New York state. It is granting Key Capture Energy capacity and dispatch rights under 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA).

Funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America Program is available to rural electric cooperatives in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas.

China’s first zero-carbon highway, the 152.7 km Jinan-Hefei Highway, has opened for traffic, featuring renewable energy systems, advanced tracking technology, and design elements aimed at cutting net carbon emissions by 9,000 tons per year.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has finalized a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to Hanwha Qcells to support its solar plant in the state of Georgia. It aims to rebuild key parts of the US solar supply chain by manufacturing ingots, wafers, cells and solar modules.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Carol Murphy, Head of Independent Engineering for Onshore Renewables at UK-based OWC. She say, with more women joining the solar sector, it’s easier than ever to connect with peers across roles and organizations. “To any woman looking to enter this field, my advice would be to persevere. No matter the obstacles you encounter, if you’re passionate about a career in solar, there is a place for you,” she states.

Greece is pursuing an ambitious island energy transition program. pv magazine visited the island of Tilos for a firsthand account of how one community has blazed a trail in the energy transition.

The latest report from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) says the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) industry is facing significant challenges due to a lack of clear testing and certification procedures. It says international consensus and the harmonization of certification processes will be crucial for widespread adoption of the technology.

The fossil fuel rich Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces mounting pressure to diversify its energy mix. While solar is cheap, it faces significant sociopolitical and economic challenges.

Solar installations grew 4% year on year in the European Union in 2024, down sharply from 53% growth in 2023. The slowdown coincides with a decline in solar investment, marking the first such drop this decade. SolarPower Europe now forecasts annual growth of 3% to 7% in solar installations from 2025 to 2028.