Learnewable uses AI-based insights to detail local solar opposition before developers invest time or energy in projects.

A new report from the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) Task 17 outlines how photovoltaic systems can be effectively integrated with electric vehicle charging infrastructure through optimized sizing, intelligent control, and site-specific design.

As primary silver grades decline and solar demand surges, the industry must transition from viewing retired panels as waste to treating them as high-grade mineral reserves essential for the energy transition.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that January in South America featured dramatic weather contrasts with persistent floods and cloud cover in northern regions sharply reducing solar irradiance, while extreme heat, drought and wildfires in the south boosted sunlight yet also generated aerosol smoke that complicated irradiance outcomes. Severe storms, tornadoes and industrial fires further punctuated the month’s highly variable irradiance patterns across the continent.

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.

Austrian researchers analyzed commercial ethylene vinyl acetate–polyolefin–ethylene vinyl acetate (EPE) solar encapsulants and found that products sold under the same label can have significantly different material structures and performance. While EPE offers better moisture barriers and thermal resistance than EVA and is rapidly gaining market share, the study warns that its long-term reliability and behavior vary widely and require deeper investigation.

Researchers reviewed 110 studies on cold thermal energy storage in liquid-air energy storage, finding that cold storage performance has a far greater impact on system efficiency than previously assumed. While phase change materials offer high theoretical efficiency gains, simpler packed-bed sensible heat systems are currently the most mature and cost-effective option, with further experimental validation needed to bridge the gap to large-scale deployment.

US companies SolSource Solutions and TriBeam Financial have launched a prepaid residential solar and storage financing product designed to unlock federal tax credits of up to 40%.

Estimates indicate Japan added between 5.8 GW and 6 GW of solar last year, likely taking the country past 100 GW of cumulative solar capacity. Last year’s installations were led by the commercial and industrial market, while the residential sector also saw increased demand.

The Industrial Accelerator Act says solar projects awarded through public procurements or other public support schemes would need to feature Europe-made solar inverters and cells within three years after the act becomes law. For battery energy storage systems, similar requirements would be introduced using a phased approach from one year after the act enters force.

Enel Colombia has started transmitting power from its Atlántico solar project near Sabanalarga and Usiacurí, Colombia, featuring more than 403,000 panels and an investment of around $200 million.

The Bom Jardim PV complex, a 439 MW solar installation in Icó, Brazil, has begun test operations on four of its 10 plants, with full commercial commissioning expected by December 2027.

The Chinese manufacturer has launched its third-generation Vertex S+ G3 dual-glass TOPCon modules for residential and commercial applications. The new products feature upgraded module architecture and a temperature coefficient if -0.26% per C.

The EU’s third cross-border solar tender is offering a share of €54.9 million ($63.8 million) to solar-plus-storage projects in selected Bulgarian districts and ground-mounted solar projects in Finland, with funding provided by Luxembourg. The deadline for applications is September 1.

The Chinese manufacturer expanded its P Class portfolio with two new shingled-module series for residential and commercial rooftop installations. Both lines feature high-density, multi-busbar shingled cells for improved shade tolerance and long-term reliability with 30-year warranties.

The research team developed the perovskite solar cell with a spin-coated bilayer tin oxide electron transport layer that boosts charge extraction, achieving a 4.52% efficiency and improved stability.

Researchers in Türkiye have developed a passive anti-soiling coating for PV panels using oleic acid–modified aluminum oxide nanoparticles applied via spray coating. Laboratory and field tests showed the coating reduced dust accumulation and initially boosted daily energy output, though performance declined under prolonged environmental stressors.

Sigenergy has launched a 2.68 kWh balcony storage system with four MPPTs and up to 4 kW of PV input. The scalable LFP solution offers 800 W grid output, 1.2 kW backup power, and expansion up to 18 kWh per tower.

EcoFlow has unveiled the single-phase Ocean 2 all-in-one battery inverter at Key Energy in Rimini. The system features a more compact 5 kWh LFP battery stackable up to 30 kWh and offering 100% depth of discharge, 3.4 kW discharge power, and IP66 protection.

The systems deliver outlet water temperatures up to 74 C, operate in ambient temperatures from -25 C to 43 C, and can be cascaded in groups of up to 16 units for larger commercial applications.

The Iraqi Customs Authority has cut customs duties on solar energy systems from 33% to 5% – covering PV panels, inverters, cables, and lithium batteries – to accelerate solar adoption, following financing support from the Central Bank of Iraq.

Group Surya has launched a 500 MW G12R solar module production line in Odisha, India, with plans to double capacity to 1 GW within months.

The new heterojunction solar module concept is based on co-extruded EVA/POE/EVA (EPE) encapsulant with UV downshifting (UV-DS) films, which convert harmful UV light into blue light, protecting cells and slightly boosting short-circuit current by 1.5–1.75%.

Researchers at ICMS in Seville have developed a hybrid perovskite solar cell that generates electricity from both sunlight and raindrops, using the photovoltaic and triboelectric effects. A fluorinated CFₓ polymer layer enables water resistance, triboelectric energy harvesting, and high light transparency without reducing solar cell efficiency.

Researchers from South Korea improved solar panel dust detection by using SMOTE and stable diffusion (SD) augmentation, with SD boosting detection accuracy from 76.5% to 98.9% while preserving spatial realism.

Norway’s Photoncycle has raised €15 million ($17.4 million) to develop a seasonal home energy storage system that converts excess solar power into ammonia-based hydrogen for winter use.

With 600 MW of installed capacity and 2,400 MWh of storage, the Huai’an Salt Cavern project is now the world’s largest compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility, surpassing the 300 MW/1,500 MWh project commissioned earlier this year that previously held the title.

Argentina’s Energy Secretariat has opened a national and international tender for battery energy storage systems (BESS) at grid-constrained nodes outside the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, targeting about $700 million in investment.

The Natec Home has a nominal capacity of 7.68 kWh and a power output of 3.8 kW, and allows parallel connection of up to 15 units. The reference price is set at €3,990.

Daikin has introduced two new propane heat pump lines for industrial and district heating applications, combining monobloc units from 20 kW to 85 kW with modular systems scalable up to 2 MW.