Ontario backs 12 solar projects totaling 915 MW
The Canadian province of Ontario has shared the results of what it has called its largest public power procurement exercise in its history, offering contracts to 12 solar projects and two wind projects with a cumulative capacity in excess of 1.3 GW.
Solar PV Capex could fall to $192/kW by 2050
A review of 60 renewable energy studies finds that by 2050, solar PV and wind could supply 80–100% of electricity, but overly conservative Capex assumptions and simplified PV modeling often underestimate deployment potential. While future PV costs depend on supply chains and geopolitical risks, historical experience suggests medium-term risks are manageable, and material constraints are being resolved.
Dust, storms drag southern European solar as central regions outperform in March
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Saharan dust caused widespread panel soiling in southern Europe in early May, while much of central and eastern Europe benefitted from above-average solar resources. Favourable conditions broke down later in the month as cold polar air and a powerful storm system brought cloud, snow and damaging winds to many parts of the continent.
Solarport launches modular PV carport series
Solarport has launched the modular PowerPark PRO PV carport series, designed to meet UK/EU parking standards and adapt to various site layouts with multiple configurations and orientations.
Kosol Energie airlifts solar cells to avoid delays
Kosol Energie has used air freight to sustain PV module production, as supply constraints pressure timelines across utility-scale and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments.
How Switzerland plans to integrate 40 GW of solar by 2050
Swiss national grid company Swissgrid teamed up with a group of Swiss energy expects to publish a white paper covering how Switzerland can integrate up to 40 GW of solar by 2050 while maintaining safe and reliable operation of the grid.
California community solar proposal ‘virtually ensures’ no new projects
A proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has drawn criticism from industry groups, who say it fails to support a viable market for community solar.
Internet-of-Things could bring solar module water cooling closer to commercial viability
A Czech team developed an IoT system using MQTT to autonomously cool PV panels, boosting daily energy yield by 7.38% with a positive net energy balance.
U.S. scientists build copper-contacted TOPCon solar cell with 24.3% efficiency
The TOPCon solar cells with fabricated with screen-printed, fire-through copper rear contacts and silver front contacts, using laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) to significantly reduce contact resistivity. Optimized copper cells achieved 24.3% efficiency, comparable to Ag-contacted cells, with excellent stability.
New tech reduces silver use in TOPCon solar cells by a factor of 10
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have reduced silver consumption in solar cell metallization to 1.1 mg/Wp using an electrodeposition-based process, down from current levels of 10–12 mg/Wp.
