Opinion
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The decision points that make or break solar projects
An IEA-PVPS report warns that treating technical and economic solar project decisions separately poses financial risks, advocating instead for cost-effective “quality gates” during early development. Through a structured decision matrix and real-world case studies, the report highlights how proactive planning—such as utilizing mobile testing labs and defensive weather strategies—prevents downstream failures and operational budget strains.
Jul 07, 2026
‘Pivot, learn and continue’
This week, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Tuğçe Gür, Supply Chain Manager at Germany’s RCT Solutions. She says true inclusion means fairness, trust, and opportunity: evaluating people on capability, giving visibility and responsibility, and supporting growth through feedback, learning, and leadership access—not just encouragement.
Blocking, El Niño and extreme events redistribute solar resource in 2026 so far
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that, in the first half of 2026, solar irradiance was broadly above average across Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central Africa, driven by shifting atmospheric patterns transitioning from early-year blocking and polar vortex disruption to developing El Niño conditions. Elsewhere, conditions were more mixed: Canada, Mexico, South Africa, North Africa, parts of Western Russia and Central Asia saw 5–10% deficits, while Asia, Australia, and parts of the Americas experienced strong regional variability influenced by cloud, rainfall, cyclones, dust, and smoke events.
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When the rivers ran warm: how a heatwave thinned France’s nuclear export cushion
UK-based engineering and professional services consulting firm WSP explains how a late-June 2026 heatwave forced France to cut output at river-cooled nuclear reactors as the Rhône, the Garonne and the Seine approached their thermal limits. The afternoon surplus that France exports to its neighbours fell from 11–12 GW to under 3 GW within days, even though the month’s total exports remained normal. The episode shows how rising river temperatures can become a recurring constraint on French nuclear output.
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Solar can outcompete grid power in rural India
A new study finds that solar-based distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems can supply electricity in rural India at lower cost than conventional grid power when projects are tailored to local demand, storage, and grid conditions. It recommends Village Energy Plans (VEPs) as the foundation for scaling reliable, cost-effective DRE deployment through integrated planning and stronger utility participation.
The Leadership Lens: Highlighting the double standards shaping leadership in the energy transition
This week, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) shares key insights from its flagship breakfast workshop at Intersolar Europe 2026, where professionals across the solar and storage sectors explored the double standards that continue to shape women’s careers. From visibility and credibility to motherhood, networking, and organisational culture, the discussion highlighted the barriers still in place — and the leadership behaviours, allyship, and structural changes needed to build a fairer, stronger energy transition.
East Asia’s sunny May lifts coastal irradiance above average as El Niño builds
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that clear skies driven by a persistent high-pressure system pushed May solar irradiance well above average across coastal East Asia, including Japan, Korea, eastern China, Taiwan, and the northern Philippines, with Japan seeing some of the strongest gains.
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