Articles written by Mark Hutchins

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Kiwa PVEL UV test chamber
Module quality on the edge Module manufacturers have struggled for more than two years with oversupply and prices often falling below production cost. Cost-cutting measures – such as reduced encapsulant thickness, thinner glass and thinner frames – can have widespread impacts on initial module quality and long-term performance. Recent test results for commercial products are raising concern.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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Rewiring global energy security In today’s geopolitical landscape, the most credible path to national, economic, and energy security is rapid electrification powered by renewables and smart grids, argues Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA).
Mark Hutchins, pv magazine
Apr 02, 2026
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Secure in solar Mark Hutchins introduces the April 2026 issue of pv magazine Global, featuring updates on recent disruptions to the global energy supply, and what solar can do to ensure resilience in these times.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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Image shows an offshore oil platform with flare burning.
Reframing energy In a new report, energy think tank Ember sets out an alternative way to look at the energy system, which it argues better takes into account the electrification of various industry sectors, along with other changes shaping the future of the energy system. pv magazine spoke with Ember Principal Daan Walter about why taking the perspective of a consumer rather than a supplier offers a better understanding of the energy system and its changing shape.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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On the road with pv magazine Meet the pv magazine team around the world in April and May 2026.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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Polysilicon furnaces - large silver silos inside a factory room.
Ramping up for global poly demand February 2026 marked the start of production at United Solar Polysilicon’s (USP) new polysilicon factory in the Sohar Port and Free Zone of Oman. As the factory ramps up to its full 100,000 metric tons (MT) of capacity, pv magazine spoke with USP chief financial officer Binyam Giorgis about how a polysilicon factory at this scale outside China could influence the global solar supply chain, and the challenges it will face in ramping up and securing long-term demand.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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Inspirational winners What does it take to win a pv magazine Award? Catch up with the inspirational pv magazine Awards 2025 winners, who brought innovation to the foreground with new products, projects and initiatives with real market impact. Quality was on display across each category and each trophy awarded was thoroughly well deserved. Congratulations once again to pv magazine Award 2025 winners.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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Aerial view of a PV system surrounded by forested land.
Stemming the tide Managing flood risk at a PV site requires a complex understanding of the surrounding land, local infrastructure, and weather patterns. pv magazine spoke with Hossein Ghoveisi, hydrology lead, and Brett Beattie, director of civil engineering at Castillo Engineering, about how a detailed flood risk assessment at an early stage can help avoid problems later on.
Mark Hutchins
Apr 02, 2026
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Markets & Policy
US solar’s push for domestic bliss Incentives in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 drove a wave of new solar manufacturing announcements, and the country now has more than enough module capacity to meet domestic demand for several years. Policy shifts have created uncertainty, but continued tax credits and a focus on domestic industry have US manufacturers planning to expand cell and component production.
Mark Hutchins
Mar 06, 2026