Cyprus curtails more than half of renewables, including residential solar
Cyprus curtailed more than half of its potential renewable power in early 2025, including record residential solar cuts, as grid limits and a lack of storage strain its energy transition. Without swift investment in flexibility, analysts warn the country risks eroding public trust and delaying decarbonization.
New cooling gel could raise PV module efficiency by 12%
Researchers in Saudi Arabia have developed a hydrogel composite that absorbs moisture in solar modules overnight and facilitates evaporative cooling throughout daylight hours. The system has undergone lab tests and outdoor experiments on two continents.
Testing 54 different combinations of solar-assisted heat pumps
Researchers in Germany have modeled dozens of indirect-expansion solar-assisted heat pump systems using photovoltaic-thermal panels for single-family homes in Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. Simulations accounted for local weather, electricity use, and thermal demand.
Drinda, Schmid Pekintas to build 5 GW solar cell plant in Turkey
Chinese solar cell maker Drinda and Turkey’s Schmid Pekintas Energy have revealed plans to jointly develop a 5 GW n-type solar cell facility to bypass EU trade barriers.
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell built with hybrid blade coating achieves 27.8% efficiency
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems report producing perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with open-circuit voltages exceeding 1.9 V as the result of a two-step hybrid evaporated/blade-coated process for perovskite films.
Reducing PV module temperature with air convection
Scientists have analyzed how forced convection PV, free convection with finned plate PV, and forced convection with finned plate PV can reduce solar module temperatures under the climate conditions of Lebanon.
Cyprus switches on first significant battery system
The Apollon PV Park has commissioned a 3.3 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and solar project, in a milestone for Cyprus.
Turkey opens anti-dumping probe into Chinese PV frames, junction boxes
The Turkish authorities claim to have found evidence of dumping practices by Chinese PV junction boxes and frames manufacturers, which allegedly caused substantial damage to domestic producers.
Sinovoltaics updates solar module supply chain map for Europe
The latest report from the technical compliance and quality assurance company added several new producers but also noted several plant closures acorss the region. It said the current nameplate capacity for the region stands at 21 GW for modules, 3.2 GW for cells, and 1.5 GW for ingots.
Iraq inaugurates 2 MW solar array at government palace
Iraq has installed a 2 MW solar array at a key government building as part of a broader effort to transition state facilities to renewable energy. The project supports the country’s push for sustainable power use across its public sector.
