Datang plans 14.6 GW renewables cluster in China
The massive renewable energy complex will include 8 GW of solar, 4 GW of wind, 2.04 GW/8.16 GWh of energy storage, and 2.64 GW of coal-fired power. The project is planned to be located in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and deliver clean electricity to the energy-intensive Jiangsu province.
Armenia allows construction of energy storage systems
Amendments to Armenia’s Energy Law permits the development of energy storage systems for the first time, subject to licensing. Systems smaller than 1 MW, or those above 1 MW designed for self-consumption, are exempt from licensing.
ARTsolar challenges local content compliance in South African solar tenders
A High Court in South Africa ordered the country’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy to deliver full documentation relating to three solar tenders awarded in 2021 and 2022 to local solar manufacturer ARTsolar, after the company questioned if the preferred bidders had followed local content requirements for PV modules set out in the tenders. ARTsolar told pv magazine its legal team is currently reviewing the documentation it has received.
Growatt launches C&I storage system with 95% depth of discharge
Dubbed RISE 261H-XH, the system is available in 50 kW, 63 kW, 85 kW, and 125 kW output configurations. It supports 100% three-phase unbalanced load in backup mode and delivers 160% rated AC overload capacity for 10 seconds.
Large-scale PV could intensify water stress in China’s Tarim Basin
Chinese researchers have found that massive photovoltaic deployment in the Taklamakan Desert could alter regional climate dynamics and worsen water stress in the already arid Tarim Basin, despite the area’s vast solar potential.
Solar capture factors fall across europe as negative price hours surge in key markets
Latest analysis from Pexapark finds strong solar output and weaker demand caused a drop in solar capture factors in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. These countries are also experiencing an increase in the share of solar production under negative price hours.
Continuous-wave infrared laser technology enables damage-free backsheet removal in end-of-life solar modules
U.S. researchers have developed an IR-CW laser-based method to remove backsheets from end-of-life silicon solar modules without damaging the glass or wafers, using controlled heating of the silicon–EVA interface through the front glass. The process enables clean mechanical delamination with preserved device performance and offers a lower-energy, lower-cost alternative to conventional thermal or chemical recycling methods.
Solar Impulse 2 crashes in Gulf of Mexico during unmanned test flight
The aircraft, acquired by Skydweller Aero in 2019 and converted into an autonomous long-endurance platform, crashed after a loss of power. It was equipped with approximately 17,000 photovoltaic cells on its wings.
U.S. Solar developer seeks connection to wrong powerline, delays project five years
The OFW Solar Project in Virginia submitted an application to connect to powerlines run by the wrong power company, instead of a second set of nearby transmission lines, necessitating a total restart of the PJM interconnection process that could push construction back to 2032.
Jolywood starts mass production of low-silver TOPCon solar cells
The Chinese manufacturer said its novel TOPCon cell design enables partial replacement of silver with aluminum paste while maintaining TOPCon-level efficiency of over 27% and compatibility with existing production lines.
