French testing body flags durability risks in TOPCon solar modules
Accelerated testing by French certification body Certisolis finds wide performance divergence and design vulnerabilities in tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar modules that current international standards do not capture.
Albania reviewing solar project proposals totaling 135 MW
Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has received three proposals for utility-scale solar parks totaling 135 MW, each to be developed without subsidies or concessions.
Mexico sanctions former Baja California governor over failed solar contract
A Mexican state court has barred former Baja California Governor Jaime Bonilla from public office as investigations continue into a canceled utility-scale solar project.
South Africa adds 890 MW of solar to seventh renewables bid window
The South African government has turned unallocated wind project capacity from the country’s seventh renewables procurement exercise into approved solar projects for the second time. The move takes the total amount of solar approved under the bid window to over 3.9 GW.
Bhutan tenders 120 MW solar project
Bhutan’s authorities are seeking a developer to design, supply, install, test and commission a 120 MW solar farm. The deadline for applications is Jan. 26, 2026.
Tunisia switches on largest solar project to date
UAE-based Amea Power has completed a 120 MW solar project in Tunisia, the country’s first above 100 MW.
Chinese scientists unveil thermoacoustic ultra-high temperature heat pump prototype
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a thermoacoustic Stirling heat pump prototype that offers high thermal performance, a peak coefficient of performance of 1.68, and potential applications in high-temperature industrial processes, enabling zero-carbon heating for sectors like petrochemicals and metallurgy.
The impact of transparent conductive electrodes on perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell performance
An Oxford researcher has found that transparent conducting electrodes can reduce perovskite–silicon tandem solar cell efficiency by over 2%, with losses linked to electrical resistance, optical effects, and geometric trade-offs. Using a unified optical–electrical model, the scientist showed how careful optimization of TCE stacks, coatings, and cell design is critical to closing the gap toward the 37%–38% efficiency frontier.
JA Solar expands into energy storage with new subsidiary
The Chinese PV manufacturer is stepping up its energy storage push with a new Beijing subsidiary capitalized at RMB 300 million ($42 million).
Longi backs Carbon’s shift to GW-scale solar production in France
France-based startup Carbon plans to partner with Chinese manufacturer Longi and adopt back-contact (BC) solar technology as it revises its roadmap for a gigawatt-scale solar module factory.
