Will your solar plant survive the next storm? How to correctly identify wind load risk for solar installations
Wind load is a critical challenge for both PV modules and trackers – with real consequences for project bankability. In this webinar we will examine how a system-level approach to load testing can protect panels from failure, discuss wind load testing methods that go beyond static standards, and hear how tracker design handles extreme wind events.
First PV plant operating in Poland’s balancing market
The 204 MW Zwartowo solar power plant is the first large-scale solar project authorized to provide balancing services in Poland.
Abaxx Exchange lists world’s first solar irradiance futures contract
The Enwex Germany Solar (GSM) contract, launching April 23, brings exchange-cleared solar irradiance hedging to a market that has until now operated largely over the counter (OTC), a development Munich Re’s weather derivatives team says could broaden participation and formalize risk management.
Maldives’ largest floating solar array goes online
Swimsol says the 2.4 MW floating PV array will supply the resort island of Cheval Blanc Randheli, reducing diesel consumption and saving about $1.5 million in fuel costs. The company’s engineering team told pv magazine how the system will operate.
A closer look at EcoFlow’s three-phase Ocean 2 storage solution
Ocean 2 brings a more versatile large-scale and expandable, modular home storage solution, capable of handling both small and large solar PV input.
European electricity prices increase despite falling gas prices
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s latest analysis finds the weekly average electricity price was above €95 ($111.70)/MWh last week in all major European markets except France, Portugal and Spain. These three countries each set new records for solar energy production for a day in April last Friday, recording 145 GWh, 26 GWh and 213 GWh respectively.
How to operate PV-driven residential heat pumps under time-varying tariffs
Researchers in the United Kingdom developed a scheduling model for residential heat pumps that reduces electricity costs while maintaining thermal comfort under dynamic tariffs and uncertain rooftop PV generation. It optimizes when to use grid power, PV energy, and building thermal storage.
UK tries to break gas link with voluntary long-term fixed price contracts for all renewables
UK solar plants without fixed-price contracts will be offered voluntary long-term fixed-price agreements under a new “Wholesale Contracts for Difference” regime from 2026. The policy seeks to reduce exposure to volatile wholesale prices driven by gas.
Fabricating perovskite solar cells with robotic boxes
An international research team has developed an AI-driven robotic platform that autonomously designs, fabricates, and optimizes perovskite solar cells, completing the full experimental workflow in a closed-loop system. Using the platform, the researchers fabricated and tested more than 50,000 devices, achieving efficiencies of up to 27%.
Italy launches tender for 30 MW of floating PV
The Italian authorities will offer 30 MW of floating PV capacity in its June 8 FER2 auction, reducing the quota after weak participation in the first round.
