Tongwei unveils 770 W TOPCon PV module with 24.8% efficiency
The Chinese manufacturer unveiled its new TOPCon bifacial TNC3.0 module at WFES 2025. The 1,500 V, IP68-rated panel offers over 85% bifaciality, a 0.26%/C temperature coefficient, and a 30-year warranty guaranteeing 88.85% output.
US withdraws from IRENA
Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Francesco La Camera, says the “door for continued cooperation remains open” following announcement the United States is withdrawing its membership.
Strengthening food and energy resilience with agri-PV
A first-of-its-kind agrivoltaic pilot in Fujairah, developed as part of a joint research project between the Fujairah Research Center and AE Solar, shows how solar panels above native plants can improve soil health, boost crop resilience, and optimize land use – demonstrating a scalable approach to tackling a desert region’s energy, food, and water challenges.
Cyprus solar curtailment hits 47% in 2025
Cyprus wasted nearly half of its distributed renewable generation in 2025, equivalent to 306 GWh, as grid constraints and lack of battery storage forced massive curtailments while solar capacity keeps growing.
Grid-forming inverters boost grid stability, say US researchers
The Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative in Hawaii, which deployed storage before grid-forming inverters became available, became a test case for diagnosing grid issues that can arise with older grid-following inverters, and how grid-forming inverters can stabilize a grid.
Mirai Solar develops lightweight solar panel for agrivoltaics
While completing pilot projects in the U.S. and Europe, Mirai Solar has certified its lightweight PV module designed to work as a shade screen in agrivoltaics applications, such as greenhouses.
Solar module prices lagging behind soaring silver costs
Solar manufacturers are facing rising cost pressure as silver paste now accounts for up to 30% of total cell production costs. OPIS analyst Hanwei Wu tells pv magazine that module producers currently have limited ability to raise panel final prices, which is accelerating efforts to reduce silver use across all mainstream cell technologies.
Chinese scientists push selenium solar cells beyond 10% efficiency
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have set a world record for selenium solar cells, achieving 10.3% efficiency for the first time above the 10% threshold. The breakthrough was enabled by optimized charge-selective contacts, light-driven crystallization, and post-deposition annealing, producing stable devices with a 1.03 V open-circuit voltage.
Luxembourg revamps subsidies for solar on residential buildings
Luxembourg’s new subsidy scheme for solar installed on residential buildings by an approved installer deducts the financial aid from the installer’s invoice, meaning customers no longer have to wait for reimbursement.
Australia adds 7 GW of renewables in 2025, stays on track for 2030 target
Australian Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the country is on track to meet the government’s flagship target of 82% renewable energy by 2030 after solar, wind, and other renewables supplied about 50% of all power in the electricity grid in the final quarter of 2025.
