NextPower leads Wood Mackenzie tracker rankings as US, China dominate
Wood Mackenzie ranked NextPower as the world’s top PV tracker manufacturer in the first half of 2025, with companies headquartered in the United States, China and Spain occupying all top 10 positions.
China TOPCon solar module prices ease after 4-week rally on silver pullback, holiday slowdown
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
Astronergy adopts quarter-cut cell design, boosting TOPCon module efficiency and reliability
The company’s new ASTRO N7 Pro PV modules achieve 2% higher cumulative energy yield over the project lifecycle compared to conventional previous-generation modules, according to Astronergy Head of Global Product Management Baohua He.
Global BESS capacity tops 250 GW, overtaking pumped hydro for first time
Rystad Energy says it expects global battery energy storage system (BESS) additions to exceed 130 GW/350 GWh in 2026, led by China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany.
Vietnam more cost-competitive than India in cell, PV module production, says IRENA
IRENA’s latest report finds that energy use and material intensity across the solar PV manufacturing supply chain will decline through 2030. The analysis also shows Vietnam remains more cost-competitive than India due to lower electricity prices, while high energy and labour costs keep Australia and Germany less competitive.
The transition to back contact follows market trend toward long-term solar project sustainability
Module quality, reliability, and proven field performance are at the core of bankability assessments and investment decisions for solar PV projects, according to Chao Jia, President of LONGi Europe for DG. He says this is why advanced module technologies like back contact are gaining relevance.
SAJ introduces a 1500 V C&I hybrid energy storage solution
When combined with SAJ’s high-efficiency MPPT algorithms, the system delivers a 4.5% boost in overall energy conversion efficiency. The manufacturer also plans to release a 1250 V version.
Data center survey reveals majority believe renewables and BESS are the ideal energy mix, power issues start in 2027
54% of respondents cited “energy availability and redundancy” as the single greatest obstacle to successful data center development between now and 2030.
Silver price drops sharply, falls back below $80 an ounce
After hitting an all-time high of $121.65/oz on Jan. 29, silver prices have tumbled to $79.44/oz, with analysts warning of a potential drop toward $50/oz.
Solar-plus-storage for data centers: not a simple switch
Renewables and storage could reliably power data centers, but success requires active grids, coordinated planning, and the right mix of technologies. Hitachi Energy CTO, Gerhard Salge, tells pv magazine that holistic approaches ensure technical feasibility, economic viability, and energy system resilience.
