China completes 1 GW solar-wind-storage complex in Qinghai desert
Chinese conglomerate CRRC has commissioned a 1 GW hybrid project in Qinghai, combining 700 MW of solar, 300 MW of wind, and 100 MW/400 MWh of storage with Trinasolar’s Vertex tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules.
Meyer Burger gives up on selling itself as a whole, sells U.S. solar production tools
Sales of module and cell production equipment to, respectively, Waaree Solar Americas and Babacomari North Solar further thin chances of any Meyer Burger revival of its domestic production.
German airport installs solar modules on chimney of thermal power plant
Cologne-Bonn Airport has installed 80 adhesive photovoltaic panels on the 27-meter chimney of its cogeneration plant in a pilot project using Heliatek modules.
China connects largest battery-supercapacitor hybrid storage plant
China has connected a 100 MW hybrid energy storage facility to the grid. It integrates supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, setting a new benchmark for ultra-fast frequency regulation services.
Scientists boost organic solar cell efficiency using polymer zwitterions
A research team based in China and the United States has developed electroactive polymer zwitterions to modify zinc oxide interlayers in organic solar cells. Their work was found to passivate defects in organic solar cells, helping to improve device performance and stability.
South Africa deploys 928 MW of solar in Q1
South Africa’s cumulative solar capacity surpassed 9.4 GW by mid-2025, according to figures from the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA). The country also has a solar project pipeline in excess of 10 GW.
Indian regulator to finalize guidelines for virtual renewable PPAs
India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is preparing final guidelines for virtual power purchase agreements (VPPA), a framework aimed at securing financing for more than 40 GW of uncontracted renewable energy capacity and reducing reliance on traditional utility deals.
Hydrostor advances compressed air storage project in Australia
Hydrostor, a Canadian long-duration energy storage developer, has secured AUD 82.6 million ($54.7 million) in funding to support its 200 MW Silver City Energy Storage Centre project in Australia.
Chinese scientists build 10.48 cm2 kesterite solar module with 10.1% efficiency
The efficiency result was confirmed by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The module was fabricated with 13.4%-efficient kesterite cells designed with high film porosity and uniformity.
PV-powered thermal distillation device with self-cleaning, cooling
Scientists in Hungary have built a prototype of a thermal distillation device, supported by PV power. The PV panels use an IoT component that self-cleans when dust is detected and cools itself when the temperatures are too high. The system achieved a daily freshwater yield of 6.1 L/m2⋅day.
