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Gallium-doped zinc oxide enables 24.92%-efficient HJT solar cell

Researchers have used room-temperature reactive plasma deposition to produce indium-free transparent electrodes for silicon heterojunction solar cells. Optimizing the oxygen content during deposition enabled a conversion efficiency of 24.92%, with silver-coated copper contacts.
Lior Kahana
12 minutes ago
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First Solar opens 1.7 GW module plant in South Carolina

First Solar’s latest US plant will complete production of thin-film solar modules manufactured at overseas sites, with annual capacity set to increase from 1.7 GW to 3.4 GW by mid-2027.
Ben Zientara
27 minutes ago
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US customs frees detained Ethiopian solar cells as duty probe continues

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released shipments of Toyo’s Ethiopian-made solar cells, while a separate US Department of Commerce inquiry into whether cells from Ethiopia circumvent duties on Chinese solar products continues.
Brian Publicover
3 hours ago
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Researchers develop molecular locking strategy for organic solar cells

Small-area organic solar cells featuring the molecular locking strategy achieved a power conversion efficiency of 20.4%, while larger-area modules reached a record active-area efficiency of 18.8%. 
Patrick Jowett
4 hours ago
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Ground-mounted solar used 2,798 hectares of land in Italy in 2025

Ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) installations accounted for 27% of Italy’s land consumption in 2025, according to the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA).
Massimiliano Tripodo
5 hours ago

Opinion & Analysis

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What 11 islands reveal about the real bottleneck in renewable mini-grids

An IEA-PVPS report examining 11 islands finds that achieving nearly 100% renewable electricity depends as much on strong leadership, community engagement, financing and early planning as on technology. While proven technical solutions vary widely, successful transitions require tailored grid design and sustained institutional support, making replication especially challenging for smaller, remote and lower-income islands.
IEA-PVPS
11 hours ago
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Anker Solix S5000 deep-dive review: 5 kWh on wheels, tested through a real power outage

An engineer and home-energy enthusiast tests out the Anker Solix S5000 in California hillside, and documents it all in a deep dive review for ESS News.
Andrew Riha
11 hours ago
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Creating value in the turmoil: Electric mobility supporting solar and storage

Europe’s energy transition is accelerating as solar power, battery storage, and electric vehicles converge into an integrated system, with EV batteries increasingly providing grid flexibility through vehicle-to-grid technology. The profitability of solar and storage will increasingly depend on combining multiple revenue streams from energy trading and grid services, requiring supportive regulation and sustainable remuneration models.
Becquerel Institute
Oct 27, 2026
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‘When it is your turn, open the door for the woman coming next’

This week, Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Italian independent renewable energy consultant Giulia Muia. She says a resilient energy sector depends not only on diversified energy sources but also on diverse voices, perspectives, and inclusive leadership that drive innovation and better decisions. Empowering women, listening to different experiences, and creating space for emerging talent are essential to building a stronger, more sustainable renewable energy future.
Women in Solar+ Europe
Oct 24, 2026
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PV+ articles

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Racking it up to experience

Demand for solar rooftop racking systems in Europe has either slowed or changed over the past year, depending on who you ask. Either way, the mood is cautious among European mounting and racking system providers, likely due to a downturn in the commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop solar market, as businesses have less cash available for solar installations.
Blathnaid O’Dea
12 hours ago
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Retrofits on the rise Down Under

Australia’s push to accelerate electrification while meeting an 82% renewable energy target and retiring coal-fired power plants, both by 2030, is driving the retrofitting of co-located battery energy storage systems (BESS) at existing grid-scale solar farms. Ev Foley of pv magazine Australia reports.
Ev Foley
24 hours ago
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Distributed outlook

India’s installed solar capacity has grown from less than 5 GW in 2016 to more than 165 GW today. While ground-mounted mega projects have led with a contribution of over 120 GW, rooftop solar is rapidly catching up, contributing more than 30 GW as of August 2026. Instead of adding capacity, the next decade will focus on where this capacity is located, how it interacts with the grid, and the flexibility it can provide. Shantanu Roy of CSTEP, a research-based think tank in India, expects this to open more doors for distributed solar.
Shantanu Roy
Oct 28, 2026
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Shining light on Australia’s largest rooftops

Australia’s commercial and industrial (C&I) segment could be seen as a forgotten part of an otherwise pioneering solar market. The opportunity is huge, but regulatory barriers remain. Rob Potter, head of policy and advocacy at the Smart Energy Council, examines the potential upsides of C&I solar and energy storage, and calls for a unified strategy to support deployment.
Rob Potter
Oct 27, 2026
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Floating renewables to power data centers

Mocean Energy wants to begin commercial deployments of offshore data centers from 2030. Cameron McNatt, CEO of the Scotland-based startup, explains that its system is modular. Each unit is connected via low-Earth orbit satellite communications and generates between 500 kW and 1 MW without a grid connection. The floating data centers will be combined with Mocean’s existing offshore power system, which includes floating solar and batteries and has completed 18 months of full-scale offshore testing.
Blathnaid O’Dea
Oct 27, 2026

Highlights

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Chilean solar plant offline for two months following cyberattack

A 103 MW solar plant and its 98 MW/312 MWh battery storage system in northern Chile have remained offline for two months following a reported cyberattack. The cause and extent of the incident remain unconfirmed, with no timeline announced for restoring operations.
Luis Ini
11 hours ago
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European solar startups raise €82 million in January-August

Analysis by Avnet Silica says energy security remains the most significant driver of investment in European solar startups today as financing levels begin to increase after reaching an all-time low last year.   
Patrick Jowett
Oct 28, 2026
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Algeria inaugurates 300 MW solar project

The 300 MW solar plant, located in the eastern province of El Oued, is Algeria’s largest operational PV project to date.
Patrick Jowett
Oct 27, 2026
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China’s solar installations fall 54% year on year despite September rebound

China installed 110.83 GW of new solar capacity in the first nine months of 2026, down 53.9% year on year, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA). Despite the sharp decline, third-quarter installations exceeded year-earlier levels, suggesting a recovery in deployment following changes to the country’s renewable electricity pricing mechanism.
Vincent Shaw
Oct 27, 2026
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Technology & Products

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Racking it up to experience

Demand for solar rooftop racking systems in Europe has either slowed or changed over the past year, depending on who you ask. Either way, the mood is cautious among European mounting and racking system providers, likely due to a downturn in the commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop solar market, as businesses have less cash available for solar installations.
Blathnaid O’Dea
12 hours ago
View article

First Solar opens 1.7 GW module plant in South Carolina

First Solar’s latest US plant will complete production of thin-film solar modules manufactured at overseas sites, with annual capacity set to increase from 1.7 GW to 3.4 GW by mid-2027.
Ben Zientara
27 minutes ago
View article

Renault, EDF plan vehicle-to-grid charging offer for 2027

Renault Group and EDF will launch a home charging service in France in summer 2027, combining electric vehicles, bidirectional charging stations and smart charging management for private customers buying Renault, Alpine and Dacia models.
Marie Beyer
9 hours ago
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DJI Power launches new Auro 2000 Elite as its most compact 2 kWh power station

DJI has launched the Power Auro 2000 Elite, a compact 2 kWh LFP power station delivering up to 2.2 kW peak output, with solar integration and expandable storage up to 12 kWh.
Tristan Rayner
11 hours ago
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DartSolar unveils expandable vehicle solar array with up to 2 kW output

DartSolar LLC, a Los Angeles-based solar equipment manufacturer, has announced that pre-order deliveries for its expanding vehicle-mounted solar system will begin in December 2026. The modular hardware is engineered to supply off-grid power for passenger cars, light trucks, and recreational vehicles.
Ryan Kennedy
11 hours ago
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Towable 80 kW hydrogen generator brings clean power off-grid

A lightweight, zero-emission fuel cell system designed for rapid 20-minute site deployment.
Ryan Kennedy
11 hours ago
View article

Anker Solix S5000 deep-dive review: 5 kWh on wheels, tested through a real power outage

An engineer and home-energy enthusiast tests out the Anker Solix S5000 in California hillside, and documents it all in a deep dive review for ESS News.
Andrew Riha
11 hours ago
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Markets & Policy

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Distributed outlook

India’s installed solar capacity has grown from less than 5 GW in 2016 to more than 165 GW today. While ground-mounted mega projects have led with a contribution of over 120 GW, rooftop solar is rapidly catching up, contributing more than 30 GW as of August 2026. Instead of adding capacity, the next decade will focus on where this capacity is located, how it interacts with the grid, and the flexibility it can provide. Shantanu Roy of CSTEP, a research-based think tank in India, expects this to open more doors for distributed solar.
Shantanu Roy
Oct 28, 2026
View article

US customs frees detained Ethiopian solar cells as duty probe continues

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released shipments of Toyo’s Ethiopian-made solar cells, while a separate US Department of Commerce inquiry into whether cells from Ethiopia circumvent duties on Chinese solar products continues.
Brian Publicover
3 hours ago
View article

Ground-mounted solar used 2,798 hectares of land in Italy in 2025

Ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) installations accounted for 27% of Italy’s land consumption in 2025, according to the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA).
Massimiliano Tripodo
5 hours ago
View article

Botswana kicks off floating solar tender

A tender is open in Botswana for the development of floating PV systems on dams belonging to the country’s Water Utilities Corporation. The deadline for applications is November 19.
Patrick Jowett
6 hours ago
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Spain solar PPA prices fall to €30.93/MWh as BESS gains ground

Average prices for standalone solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) in Spain fell 7.7% year on year to €30.93 ($34.46)/MWh in the third quarter of 2026, while hybrid solar-and-storage contracts reached €48/MWh. Rising development costs and renewable energy curtailment are increasing interest in battery storage.
Pilar Sánchez Molina
7 hours ago

Applications & Installations

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Retrofits on the rise Down Under

Australia’s push to accelerate electrification while meeting an 82% renewable energy target and retiring coal-fired power plants, both by 2030, is driving the retrofitting of co-located battery energy storage systems (BESS) at existing grid-scale solar farms. Ev Foley of pv magazine Australia reports.
Ev Foley
24 hours ago
View article

Western Australia moves to legalize plug-in solar on German model

A draft technical standard out for consultation in Western Australia is based on Germany’s plug-in solar specification and would class balcony systems as ordinary electrical appliances.
Ev Foley
6 hours ago
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Scatec secures $217 million for Egypt smelter solar-plus-storage plant

A solar and battery project in Egypt will supply state-owned Egypt Aluminium under a 25-year, sovereign-guaranteed power purchase agreement as the smelter seeks to meet trade-related environmental standards.
Brian Publicover
7 hours ago
View article

Chilean solar plant offline for two months following cyberattack

A 103 MW solar plant and its 98 MW/312 MWh battery storage system in northern Chile have remained offline for two months following a reported cyberattack. The cause and extent of the incident remain unconfirmed, with no timeline announced for restoring operations.
Luis Ini
11 hours ago
View article

UK government approves nearly 2 GW of co-located solar in October

Four projects in nationally significant infrastructure project planning pipeline granted planning permission by secretary of state. All four projects include battery energy storage systems.
Matthew Lynas
Oct 28, 2026
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Togo opens consultation on large-scale solar tender

Togo is inviting stakeholders to provide feedback on draft documents relating to development of a large-scale solar project, ahead of launching a competitive tender. Comments can be submitted until November 9.
Patrick Jowett
Oct 28, 2026
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Itaipu studies up to 1 GW of solar to support Paraguay’s power grid

Simulations of PV plants connected at three points in Paraguay’s electricity network found that specialized controls could dampen inter-area power oscillations, while the study also recommends battery storage to improve system response.
Luis Ini
Oct 28, 2026
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  • Visit our comprehensive Events Calendar to mark your schedule with the latest happenings in the photovoltaic and energy storage sectors.

Research & Development

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Spacebound silicon

Solar has a long history in powering satellites and space exploration, and high-powered devices based on multijunction PV cells made from “III-V” materials such as gallium arsenide or indium gallium phosphide have supplied this niche market as far back as the 1960s. But those devices are made with rare materials and complex processing, limited to small batches produced at high cost.
Mark Hutchins
Oct 06, 2026
View article

Gallium-doped zinc oxide enables 24.92%-efficient HJT solar cell

Researchers have used room-temperature reactive plasma deposition to produce indium-free transparent electrodes for silicon heterojunction solar cells. Optimizing the oxygen content during deposition enabled a conversion efficiency of 24.92%, with silver-coated copper contacts.
Lior Kahana
12 minutes ago
View article

Researchers develop molecular locking strategy for organic solar cells

Small-area organic solar cells featuring the molecular locking strategy achieved a power conversion efficiency of 20.4%, while larger-area modules reached a record active-area efficiency of 18.8%. 
Patrick Jowett
4 hours ago
View article

Researchers improve heating uniformity in PV module laminators

Scientists combined aluminum magnetic shielding with zone-specific current control to reduce uneven heating in an induction-powered PV laminator. A full-scale prototype achieved a temperature spread of approximately 3.1 C across 13 monitored locations.
Lior Kahana
9 hours ago
View article

European solar startups raise €82 million in January-August

Analysis by Avnet Silica says energy security remains the most significant driver of investment in European solar startups today as financing levels begin to increase after reaching an all-time low last year.   
Patrick Jowett
Oct 28, 2026

Sponsored Content

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Sponsored

Sunkean advances copper-to-aluminum jumpers for PV DC systems

The manufacturer has developed a copper-to-aluminum jumper solution for PV DC-side applications, addressing conductor material costs, field installation efficiency, and the long-term reliability of copper-to-aluminum connections in utility-scale solar projects.
Sunkean Cable
Oct 28, 2026
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Sponsored

Sigenergy launches the SigenCube C&I BESS

With a 30% reduction in overall footprint, support for heavy industrial machinery during critical surges, and noise levels below 60 dB at one meter, the system is designed to address the core challenges of commercial deployments.
Sigenergy
Oct 27, 2026
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Sponsored

LONGi unveils intelligent manufacturing base in Suzhou to advance solar-storage integration

The new base features upgraded manufacturing capabilities that reduce fault-related downtime losses by 75% and shorten the time needed to close quality issues by more than 50%.
LONGi
Oct 22, 2026
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Sponsored

SAJ Electric builds global image with “Relentless Energy” at its core

SAJ Electric is making a deliberate strategic shift from selling products overseas to building a global brand that is competitive beyond price. It’s recent activities in Australia illustrate the shift.
SAJ Electric
Oct 09, 2026
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