California community solar proposal ‘virtually ensures’ no new projects
A proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has drawn criticism from industry groups, who say it fails to support a viable market for community solar.
U.S. scientists build copper-contacted TOPCon solar cell with 24.3% efficiency
The TOPCon solar cells with fabricated with screen-printed, fire-through copper rear contacts and silver front contacts, using laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) to significantly reduce contact resistivity. Optimized copper cells achieved 24.3% efficiency, comparable to Ag-contacted cells, with excellent stability.
Batteries reshape solar pricing in California market
Aurora Energy Research has found that energy storage is raising the value of negatively priced solar electricity by up to $42/MWh in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) wholesale market.
Vertical rooftop PV debuts in the U.S.
Norwegian vertical solar specialist Over Easy Solar has installed its first rooftop vertical solar installation in the U.S. market. The 100 kW system, combined with a green roof in New York, is expected to deliver around 120,000 kWh annually depending on factors including albedo, azimuth and local shadowing.
Which power markets are most impacted by the Middle East conflict?
Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis explores how 13 of the world’s leading power markets are impacted by the current fuel crisis, with those most reliant on fuel imports facing the greatest risk exposure. The consultancy says the average cost of generation is set to increase by $2.30/MWh across these 13 markets if a de-escalation of the conflict enables fuel price moderation in the latter half of 2026, increasing to an average of around $8.30/MWh if current elevated price levels persist through the year.
Bluetti launches EnergyPro 13K home storage system in US
Chinese battery manufacturer Bluetti has launched its next-generation whole-home battery backup system in the United States, introducing the EnergyPro 13K Energy Storage System (EP13K).
Inverter-based resource performance history leads to US regulatory change
Three new NERC standards — PRC-028, 029 and 030 — are designed to improve grid reliability
Agrivoltaics 101: How solar and agriculture can thrive on the same land
Land scarcity does not necessarily have to limit ground-mounted PV deployment. With clever design tailored to each unique site, agrivoltaics can thrive and turn Europe’s scarce agricultural land into dual use land that hosts clean energy production for communities. Find out how in this pv magazine Webinar.
PV-driven hydraulic hydro storage may hit $0.022/kWh LCOE in the U.S.
An international study has demonstrated that utility-scale solar PV paired with hydraulic hydro storage (HHS) could reach an LCOE as low as $0.022/kWh in select U.S. regions. The system could provide GWh-scale, cost-competitive, and highly reliable long-duration storage, capable of powering large commercial districts with minimal environmental impact.
Colorado House passes legislation to legalize plug-in solar for renters
The Colorado House of Representatives has passed a bill to legalize plug-in solar systems for renters and multifamily residents, establishing a regulatory framework for portable arrays that connect directly to standard home outlets.
