Germany registers 130 hours of negative day-ahead power prices in May
Germany registered 130 hours of negative day-ahead power prices in May, driven by midday solar oversupply, as PV output regularly outpaced demand. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) says prices dipped below €1/($1.14)MWh for 160 hours.
New soiling chamber for testing of dust buildup in solar modules
Scientists in India have designed a new soiling chamber that is capable of emulating the soiling conditions of a given geographical location in a shorter time frame, hosting larger panels compared to conventional setups. The new chamber can be used to estimate soiling losses and cleaning costs for potential solar power plant sites, to improve existing soiling models, to investigate how factors like tilt angle affect soiling, and to evaluate the effectiveness and durability of anti-soiling coatings.
Aerocompact introduces tool-free PV mounting system
Austria’s Aerocompact says its new PV mounting system can be installed on foil, bitumen, gravel, and concrete rooftops. It can reportedly withstand wind loads of up to 1.7 kN/m2 and snow loads of up to 3.5 kN/m2.
Hoarfrost-inspired technique to improve MPPT in PV systems under partial shading
Scientists in China have introduced developments to the RIME optimization method, which takes inspiration from the developmental course of hoarfrost in nature. They have compared it to other MPPT algorithms and found it to be faster and to improve power output.
‘I wish I had known earlier that impostor syndrome is common’
This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Krystyna Kacperska, Marketing Director Europe at Germany-based SegenSolar. She says she never labeled her leadership style, but she always strove to lead authentically. “That includes vulnerability. I lead the same way I live: solution-oriented, assertive, empathetic, and open. I care deeply about what happens at work, and while I’m still learning to set boundaries and disconnect, I know that caring makes me a stronger leader,” she states.
Brazil solar imports slow as new China trade routes open
Brazil’s solar imports fell 33% to $722 million in the first four months of 2025 amid project delays and oversupply, as new trade routes began cutting costs and freight times to the country’s North and Northeast regions.
High pressure ridge splits Australia’s solar output in Autumn
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that irradiance across large portions of eastern Australia fell by up to 20% below the seasonal norm in autunm.
Solar wafer prices decline 22.78% since April peak
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.
Coldplay, Kardinia Energy roll out printed solar during concert at Stanford Stadium
The rollout marks one of the largest live-event deployments of mobile solar today and offers a high-profile test for organic, ink-based photovoltaics.
Birds thriving, breeding successfully in Germany’s solar parks
Larks and other bird species are flourishing in Germany’s solar parks, where breeding success exceeds that of many other habitats. These PV project sites are becoming valuable refuges, benefiting both wildlife and the surrounding environment.
