Magazine Archive

Demand-side flexibility and virtual power plants may support greater renewables deployment but digital devices connected to the grid pose a real security threat if best practices are ignored, according to SolarEdge cybersecurity expert Uri Sadot. Attitudes are changing, however, and some simple steps can make a world of difference.

Investors, regulators and end-customers want supply chain traceability, emissions monitoring and reduction, and other environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria included in contracts, as well as reporting along the PV supply chain. At the Sustainable Solar Europe Conference in December 2024, pv magazine participated in a discussion with manufacturers and project developers about how they are working to integrate ESG criteria into their business practices.

The past 20 years have seen remarkable shifts in technology, from smartphones to solar and the electrification of transport. Clean energy and technology consultant Gerard Reid argues that an even bigger shift is looming, with the combination of clean electricity and AI set to usher in an “era of electrification intelligence.”

China’s photovoltaic market looks set to continue its battle with overcapacity in 2025. It will do so with a slew of untested industry initiatives and a redoubling of overseas expansion efforts, despite protectionist barriers springing up.

As solar deployment accelerates in markets where high ambient temperatures are the norm, researchers across the globe continue to experiment with new approaches to cooling PV modules. A cost-efficient solution could have a significant impact on project efficiency and panel lifespans.

Operational electrolyzer capacity surged in China following the introduction of supportive policies, doubling in both 2023 and 2024. China’s nameplate electrolyzer manufacturing capacity reached 39 GW per year in 2024. Announced projects could raise that to more than 50 GW by 2026. Xin You and Siqi He, of S&P Global Commodity Insights, explore the future of Chinese green hydrogen.

Solar energy has been essential for survival in Ukraine during nearly three years of war since the Russian invasion in 2022. As citizens hope for peace, PV will be instrumental in supporting post-war recovery, whenever it comes.

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.

Faster-than-expected price falls and global oversupply of batteries will go up against a rising tide of global protectionism this year. So how will it all shape up for the energy storage industry? Storage industry thought leader and UN adviser Marek Kubik considers the key issues.

Hard-pressed Asian solar manufacturers have switched from multi-layer polymer backsheets to a single layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with a protective coating on both sides of their modules. Backsheet makers confirm these products, known as “CPC,” are now mainstream. But there is little evidence to demonstrate that they can withstand 30 years-plus of outdoor use.