IEA-PVPS calls for better data collection on floating PV
A recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) says limited long-term data on floating solar is creating uncertainty and hindering adoption.
Azerbaijan inks three solar agreements with Chinese companies
The three projects comprise a 160 MW solar plant, a separate 100 MW solar facility and a 100 MW floating solar array with 30 MWh of accompanying battery energy storage. They will be implemented by Chinese companies working in collaboration with Azerbaijan-based developers.
Japan’s Toyo begins production at 2 GW solar cell plant in Ethiopia
Toyo Co. has started production at its 2 GW solar cell facility in Ethiopia, with plans to deliver more than 80 MW of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells by the end of April before scaling capacity to 4 GW.
Solar module prices unaffected by tariff chaos
Martin Schachinger, founder of pvXchange.com, says the European PV market has remained unaffected by the disruptive effects of the Trump administration’s new tariff policy.
Germany allocates 2.63 GW in latest utility-scale PV tender
Germany’s latest auction for utility-scale solar concluded with prices ranging from €0.0399 ($0.0455)/kWh to €0.0488/kWh. The procurement exercise was significantly oversubscribed.
Moldova maintains rejection of four bids from renewables auction
Moldova has upheld the disqualification of four bids in its first renewables auction, citing inexperience, non-compliant bank guarantees, and missing prior approvals. The tender committee says it plans to assess the remaining bids by the end of the month.
New web tool helps find best tilt angle for south-facing bifacial PV plants
An international research team has created a new model that finds the best tilt angle for south-facing bifacial PV plants across Europe. The scientists also considered the Alpine region to examine the impact of mountains on optimal tilt angles.
TU Delft researchers build 23.4%-efficient heterojunction solar cell with localized front contacts
Researchers at the Delft University of Technology have developed a top-down processing method localized the front contact in heterojunction solar cells. The new technique reportedly improves a cell’s short-circuit current density enabling higher power conversion efficiency.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: New solar additions hit 59.71 GW in Q1
China installed 59.71 GW of new solar in the first quarter of 2025, with 20.24 GW in March alone. National power generation capacity reached 3.43 TW, with solar accounting for 950 GW of the total.
Spain hits first weekday of 100% renewable power on national grid
Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable energy for the first time on April 16, with wind, solar, and hydro meeting all peninsular electricity demand during a weekday. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand and 61.5% of the grid mix.
