Western Europe

Meyer Burger is now prioritizing the establishment of new module and cell production facilities in the United States, driven by favorable market conditions in the country.

Levante is now offering foldable solar panels with the same performance of rigid panels. The portable modules are available in 330 W and 500 W versions.

New Geisli Energi AS is backed by Norsk Hydro’s renewable energy unit Hydro Rein and the state-owned OVF (Norwegian Church Endowment) and will develop up to seven solar energy projects totaling 655 MW in Norway in the first phase.

Italian scientists have developed a flexible indoor perovskite solar cell with 32.5% efficiency. Their design uses a PET substrate combined with a tetrabutylammonium bromide layer over the perovskite absorber. This additional layer effectively reduces defect density and enhances the stability of the underlying 3D perovskite structure.

Norway’s NorSun, a monocrystalline silicon wafer supplier and ingot manufacturer, has raised NOK 90 million ($8.5 million) to support its projects.

A Dutch-German research team has used a unique method to detect silver shortages in the PV industry. By mapping the silver supply chain from 1995 to 2021, they have identified distinct supply patterns and associated risks.

Siemens says it plans to set up an 800 MW utility-scale inverter factory in the US state of Wisconsin. The facility will focus on the production of string inverters.

GreenAkku says that its 24 kg exposed concrete base for solar arrays enables the installation of PV systems on flat rooftops and in gardens, without the need for additional substructures or drilling.

ITM Power says it has restructured its business to shift its focus from hydrogen refueling to PEM electrolysis tech, while Stahlwerk Thüringen and gas network operator Ferngas have agreed to connect the Unterwellenborn steel mill in Germany to a hydrogen network by 2027.

Overirradiance conditions may affect the operating performance of photovoltaic plants, the stability of the electrical grid, and the efficiency of inverters. A research team has warned these effects are currently not being given proper consideration by the solar industry.