Magazine Archive

There are signs that the energy sector’s transformation is accelerating, driven by renewables and digital technologies. Yet integrating new digital tools into solar asset management and O&M is rarely straightforward, despite their very clear advantages, writes Guy de Macedo, product manager for meteocontrol’s mc Assetpilot.

September was a strong month for US solar stocks, with the Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) outperforming leading stock indexes. However, forthcoming action on polysilicon imports could increase cost pressures on solar developers, as Jesse Pichel of Roth Capital Partners explains.

Tariffs continue to reshape the US storage market. Rising costs for overseas systems have created new incentives to integrate equipment domestically, and many developers are turning to US firms to assemble battery systems. Integration capacity can scale faster than battery cell manufacturing, but not without risk. Unlike cell plants, where automated processes keep variations in check, battery assembly and integration depends on people, as Jeff Zwijack from Intertek CEA explains.

Glory Oguegbu, a renewable energy entrepreneur, has garnered many accolades. An Obama Scholar, she was named one of The Economist’s top five women changing the world in sustainability. She advocates building local capacity and implementing renewable energy solutions for underserved communities and partners with global organizations to accelerate Africa’s clean-energy transition. Carrie Hampel of pv magazine spoke with her about building infrastructure in the smallest off-grid communities and recalibrating geopolitical engagement in Africa.

Energy storage in Spain is on the verge of big things. Some have long been betting on this development, while new entrants are eagerly eyeing Spain’s energy storage potential. Luis Marquina, president of Spanish battery storage association Aepibal, warns that for those who still don’t see the opportunity, the train may only pass once.

Residential solar in the United States is in a sustained downturn as policy support shifts in key states, with conditions likely to worsen as federal tax credits near expiration. Companies in the sector now depend on cutting costs, expanding products and services, and innovating with customer financing to stay competitive.

Like any other asset owned and operated for financial gain, solar farms are at risk of criminal attack. Copper theft is a particularly common crime affecting solar sites, with multiple news reports highlighting the ongoing problem in countries such as Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany, as well as other crimes such as arson and vandalism. Luckily, there are measures solar farm owners can take to mitigate criminal activity, as DeterTech’s Head of Renewable Energy Matthew Uttley tells pv magazine.

SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger received the prestigious Becquerel Prize at the EU PVSEC conference in September, in recognition of her tireless work advocating for solar and policies to support it across Europe. pv magazine caught up with Hemetsberger at the event for a look back at recent successes, and the industry association’s focus going into 2026.

With electricity imports from the breakaway region of Transnistria now completely cut off, solar power has a key role to play in Moldova’s quest for energy independence and decarbonization efforts.