Australia grid constraints push data centers to regions
Grid capacity constraints in major Australian metropolitan hubs are prompting data center developers to consider regional locations with integrated on-site gas and solar generation, according to renewable energy land brokerage Rok Solid.
India’s GREW Solar secures 3 GW ALMM approval
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved 3 GW of GREW Solar’s G12R module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), enabling deployment in government-backed projects and supporting the company’s planned expansion to 11 GW by 2026.
Colombia deploys 333 MW of PV in 2025
The country’s cumulative installed PV capacity reached 1.59 GW at the end of December, according to new figures released by the Colombian administrator of the wholesale energy market.
New reflective coating increases BIPV power output by 11%
Australian researchers developed a low-cost reflective coating for semi-transparent solar roof tiles that lowers surface temperatures by up to 20 C and boosts power output by up to 11.7%. Simulations across five global cities showed energy savings of up to 5.85%, highlighting the coating’s strong potential for improving both building cooling efficiency and solar performance in BIPV systems.
Chemitek offers solution for drone-based cleaning of agrivoltaics
The Portuguese company said its new Drone AgroPV Cleaning Agent is scheduled for release in June. It has a safe formulation for crops and soil.
US government withdraws defense of solar tariff pause
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has withdrawn from defending the executive order that paused certain tariffs on imported solar components, leaving private industry groups and companies to continue the appeal. The withdrawal increases legal uncertainty over potential retroactive duties tied to imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Europe’s solar irradiance increased by 4.8% between 1994-2023
Research analyzing surface solar radiation data across the past three and coming three decades finds Europe has gotten sunnier at an average rate of 2.4 W per decade. This increase in solar radiation is anticipated to slow in the next three decades.
Wanxiang A123 launches immersion-cooled semi-solid-state energy storage solutions
By combining semi-solid-state battery technology with immersion cooling, the new battery cells and energy storage solutions from Wanxiang A123 Systems Corp. exhibit both robust thermal safety and strong economic performance.
Norwegian firm introduces fire-resistant membrane for rooftop PV
Norwegian fire safety specialist Bridgehill has developed a fire-resistant roofing membrane designed for use beneath rooftop PV systems. The company says the product is intended to limit heat transfer and flame spread in commercial and industrial installations subject to strict fire safety and insurance requirements.
Carbon dioxide removal benefits from solar PV
Carbon dioxide removal is most likely needed for rebalancing the climate to comply with the 1.5 C target set in the Paris Agreement, as data suggest this level has already been breached on an annual basis. Beneath natural climate solutions and land use change, technological and bio-technical solutions are most promising. Solar PV may play a key role in minimizing area demand and supporting cost optimization even in unexpected places such as Iceland.
