An industry analysis argues that agrivoltaic systems using trackers or vertical designs can outperform conventional solar on both revenues and land use, challenging conclusions from a recent German study.

This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Irene Mihai, Policy Director at the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA). She says her personal experiences show how mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive workplace practices are essential for attracting and retaining talent while empowering the next generation to contribute to a sustainable future.

Marine energy is renewable and generally predictable. It could thus compensate for the unplanned intermittency of solar and wind generation, its proponents argue. But several challenges still need to be overcome for the energy to become widely used.

Global solar PV continues its rapid growth, reaching around 650 GW in 2025, with record solar irradiation extremes across regions such as East Asia, India, and Latin America. With current production capacity and emerging technologies like perovskite-silicon tandem modules, PV is poised to surpass all other electricity generation technologies combined by the end of the decade.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Australia’s wettest February in 15 years produced solar irradiance deficits of 15–30% across the country’s central and eastern regions.

Australian startup WinDC has partnered with US-based Armada to deploy modular data centers at renewable energy sites, aiming to reduce curtailment and meet rising demand for energy-intensive computing infrastructure.

Kyocera Corporation will begin to supply electricity generated from its solar assets to Cosmo Energy Solutions from next month. It has also entered into a separate power purchase agreement with Cosmo Eco Power for energy generated from a 48 MW wind farm.

A study from the Institute for Essential Services Reform and Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs explores how Indonesia can turn its target of deploying 100 GW of solar from mandate to mobilization.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has opened a Section 337 investigation into tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells, modules, panels, and related products following a complaint by First Solar, naming 47 entities across 11 countries as respondents.

GlobalData says hydrogen capacity could reach 82.3 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) by 2030, while Topsoe has ended supply agreements with First Ammonia.

An international research team developed a multi-stage intrusion detection system that uses supervised and unsupervised AI techniques to detect and mitigate cyber threats in smart renewable energy grids. The system can reportedly achieve high accuracy, low false positives, and real-time detection, outperforming traditional intrusion detection system models.

Designed for commercial and multi-residential buildings, the Aqua‑G EVO heat pump can replace gas boilers, cascade up to eight units, and integrate with Panasonic’s complete HVAC ecosystem.

Germany’s Federal Network Agency will use a new, structured framework developed by Fraunhofer IOSB-AST to classify cybersecurity incidents in the energy sector. The methodology enables comprehensive risk assessments, from initial reports to systemic and economic impacts, supporting consistent evaluation across the entire energy value chain.

Austria’s photovoltaic market slowed in 2025, with around 1,634 MW of new capacity installed, bringing the country’s total PV capacity to approximately 9.9 GW.

Researchers in Canada found that semi-transparent cadmium telluride and low-transparency crystalline silicon solar panels can boost turnip root and leaf yields in agrivoltaic systems by optimizing light quality, distribution, and heat stress. Their study highlights that PV module type, transparency, and spectral transmission must be carefully matched to plant physiology to maximize both crop productivity and renewable energy generation.

Tongwei is partnering with GS-Solar and Golden Solar to develop a large-scale manufacturing facility for hybrid heterojunction back-contact (HBC) solar cells that combine heterojunction passivation, tunneling oxide and polysilicon structures used in TOPCon designs, and the grid-free front-side architecture typical of back-contact technologies.

Due for completion in 2028, the DUB20 data center campus in County Wicklow will feature battery energy storage and solar PV installations capable of generating 6,000 MWh annually. It will be Ireland’s first Green Energy Park, delivered as part of its large energy users action plan (LEAP).

Researchers in Sweden developed a bifacial chalcoprite solar cell using a titanium-doped indium oxide (ITiO) back contact, achieving 68% bifaciality. The device is able to maintain strong front-side performance with around 15% efficiency, 595 mV open-circuit voltage, and 75% fill factor.”

Enphase Energy has introduced an AI software platform in Australia and New Zealand that enables homeowners to reduce energy costs, increase clean energy self-consumption, and control key household appliances.

Researchers in Turkey optimized electrospray cooling for PV panels, achieving optimal power output with minimal water use and a compact, energy-efficient setup. Their study identified irradiance, flow rate, voltage, and nozzle distance as ideal parameters.

Hongyuan Green Energy (Hysolar) says it plans to take control of Wuxi Suntech Solar Power through a court-led restructuring that transfers core assets into a new entity while isolating legacy debt.

The Terawatt PV 100 ranks the top 100 solar manufacturing companies using a new methodology based on production scale, financial strength, and corporate transparency, with Tongwei leading the Q1 2026 list and most top firms headquartered in China. The analysis highlights increasing global supply-chain scrutiny driven by tariffs and ESG mandates, while also showing rising influence from Indian companies and strong positions for key materials and equipment suppliers.

The result was certified by China’s National Photovoltaic Industry Metrology Test Center (NPVM). The cell utilizes a perovskite top device with MBT-ligand-controlled crystallization on a TOPCon silicon bottom cell, achieving a void-free, high-efficiency tandem structure.

SMA Solar Technology AG says revenue declined slightly and losses widened significantly in 2025 due to weak demand and one-off effects from its restructuring program.

A Japanese consortium is piloting agrivoltaics using film-type perovskite solar cells over rice paddies to study energy generation alongside crop production. The three-year project will assess impacts on rice yield, land use, and emissions while testing the technology’s performance and commercial viability.

TransnetBW says its pilot with Octopus Energy shows 700 electric vehicles can deliver grid flexibility within existing redispatch processes, with potential to scale to gigawatt-hour levels.

The Croatian government’s latest set of energy support measures includes new financing for residential solar, batteries and heat pumps, expected to support up to 15,000 applications, as well as an extension of existing electricity price subsidies for homeowners.

Accelerating energy transitions in major economies can create positive spillover effects worldwide, even amid geopolitical tensions, with North America and the Eurozone boosting progress in other regions.

The Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a hybrid photovoltaic–geothermal heat pump system that uses solar electricity to directly power the unit, boosting efficiency and self-consumption. The 8–112 kW ground- and water-source system delivers heating, cooling, and domestic hot water with coefficients of performance often exceeding 4–5, while smart controls and the ground loop act as a thermal battery to optimize year-round performance.

Crusoe and Redwood Energy are scaling a microgrid in Sparks, Nevada, by using repurposed electric vehicle batteries and solar to supply additional modular data centers.