N-type wafer prices rise over 10% as silver-driven cell costs increase
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
La Niña Ridge drives December solar gains across U.S. Southwest
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that December’s solar resource reflected a classic La Niña pattern, with suppressed irradiance in the Pacific Northwest and above-normal conditions across the southern U.S. A blocking ridge brought clear skies and strong solar gains to the Southwest and Texas, while cloud cover and fog reduced output farther north.
Spanish startup develops BIPV systems for tunnel exits, entrances
Spain-based Izpitek has developed an 86 kW building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) installation for tunnel entrances and exits that supplies power for lighting, demonstrating how solar energy can be adapted to complex architectural environments.
French regulator highlights flexible grid connections, battery queue pressures
France’s energy regulator says wider use of flexible grid connections is becoming essential as solar and battery projects compete for limited network capacity, with storage connection queues now totaling 2.8 GW.
Campaign group protests giant solar projects in Portugal
A campaign group in Portugal is challenging large-scale solar developments in Beira Baixa, Portugal. Developers of a proposed 867 MW solar site told pv magazine sustainability is central to the project, including biodiversity measures and tree planting at a rate 18 times higher than removals.
China’s Hefei BOE Solar Technology claims 27.37% efficiency for perovskite solar cell
The Chinese perovskite solar technology developer said the result is currently under testing by an unspecified third-party authoritative laboratory in China. The achievement is part of the company’s efforts to bring its perovskite cell technology closer to commercial production.
Ecuador plans 2.1 GW power auction with high share of solar
The Ecuadorian government has announced plans to tender 2,100 MW of new power generation capacity, with large-scale solar projects expected to account for a significant part of the mix.
Australia’s biggest battery starts commercial operations
The first stage of the biggest approved battery project in Australia is now fully operational with Origin Energy announcing the initial stage of the 700 MW / 3,160 MWh battery energy storage system being built next to its Eraring coal-fired generator in New South Wales has commenced commercial operations.
JinkoSolar pushes on perovskite-silicon tandem solar with new partnership
JinkoSolar has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with XtalPi, an “AI for Science” platform company, to pursue high-throughput R&D on perovskite-crystalline-silicon tandem solar cells using an AI platform and quantum-physics-based models.
Maldives microgrid project with floating solar becomes model for island renewables projects
With a 2 MWp floating solar PV plant and a 3 MWh battery storage system, the Soneva Secret resort project will result in 900,000 to 1,000,000 liters of diesel savings per year, leading to 2,000 plus tons of CO2 emissions reduction.
