Floodplains and fault lines
With the early expiration of key US solar tax credits in 2026 and 2027, solar developers from the United States and Europe are looking to diversify, and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region represents attractive prospects for many. But unpredictable site conditions can defy even the most experienced developers’ assumptions, causing delays and cost hikes. Upfront due diligence is vital, argue Clean Energy Associates engineers Nicholas Hudson and Evan Woolard.
Drive to survive
In 2023, Dutch vehicle-integrated PV (VIPV) startup Lightyear went bankrupt after attempting to commercialize its solar car, the Lightyear 0. While mass production of solar cars is a long way off, Lightyear has resurrected itself under the leadership of Bonna Newman. The CEO tells pv magazine about the startup’s strategic gear switch to on-board solar charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs).
Mixed messages
Indonesia has the resources to quickly increase the share of renewables in its power mix, including abundant solar, geothermal and pumped storage potential to help stabilize the grid. The government has introduced policies to attract foreign investment, including through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), but it is still sending mixed signals about phasing out coal in favor of renewables, as Neil Ford reports.
China’s new pricing policy
China announced new regulations this year that should result in a more market-oriented approach to renewables deployment. S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts Holly Hu and Anqi Shi say the new regulation No. 136 will play a crucial role in shaping China’s renewable energy sector, while introducing revenue uncertainties that will have a ripple effect on the global cleantech supply chain.
Commercial battery opportunities in the UK playbook
Europe needs battery energy storage and the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector is poised to play a key role, writes James Allston, co-CEO and head of growth at feasibility modeling software provider Orkestra Energy. But to accelerate adoption at business sites, installation companies must clearly demonstrate the value of solar-plus-storage systems and focus on solving customer challenges.
The only constant
As JinkoSolar’s Dany Qian notes in this month’s Final Thought (p. 80), the previous 12 months have been among the most difficult faced by the solar manufacturing industry. There are few signs the oversupply that has driven PV component prices ever lower will change meaningfully before the year is out, and escalating import restrictions (pp. 18-21) only create further uncertainty.
On the road with pv magazine
Where we’ve been: NetZero Milan, Italy Italy’s PV sector is going through a complex period due to legal and regulatory issues, as well as economic developments and competition. The battery energy storage system (BESS) sector, meanwhile, is much more confident. These were the main messages that emerged from the two conference sessions hosted by pv […]
Solar’s unsustainable underbelly
Low module prices, persistent overproduction, wasteful packaging, excessively long supply and transport pathways, and a lack of reuse and repair practices are all unsustainable characteristics of the solar industry that have become entrenched, writes Martin Schachinger of pvXchange.com.
Perovskite rollout gathers pace
At The smarter E Europe exhibition in May 2025, perovskite-silicon tandem modules were on show for the first time at the booths of several large PV manufacturers. For the most part, these were prototypes not yet available for purchase. But the technology’s growing visibility at industry events in 2025 is a sign that perovskites have progressed beyond the small lab-made devices seen earlier this decade. The focus is now on developing materials, processes, and a supply chain ready for large-scale manufacturing and deployment.
Diversifying Europe’s battery business
Europe’s battery energy storage systems (BESS) market is growing. Kicking off this year’s pv magazine Focus session in Munich, Germany, Wood Mackenzie analyst Anna Darmani gave an overview of the market, explaining that 14 countries in the region now have energy storage targets. Panelists explored offtake agreements and financing for BESS, as well as some of the technical and financial considerations associated with co-location of PV and storage in Europe.
