photovoltaics

Glare from a nearby solar park forced temporary runway closures at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, prompting Dutch authorities to order the removal of about 78,000 PV modules and apply anti-reflective film to others. The solar park operator, however, decided to replace all the panels. The largest portion of the removed, near-new modules have since been acquired by BM Energy and are expected to be redeployed in projects where glare is not a concern.

Scientists have simulated a solar-powered hydrogen production system comprising 32,050 photovoltaic panels, a pumping system, a seawater reverse-osmosis desalination unit, an electrolyzer, and a hydrogen storage tank. Operation of the system in Oman could potentially yield a levelized cost of electricity of $0.05/kWh and a levelized cost of hydrogen of $9.5/kg.

An EU-funded project is introducing a heat pump on subscription model designed to increase the uptake of heat pumps in rented accommodation, with pilot actions planned in Austria, France and Greece.

The Dutch competition regulator rules feed-in costs for home solar are not unreasonable. It is calling on energy suppliers to charge feed-in costs uniformly to make it easier for consumers to compare contracts.

With the new line becoming operational, the company’s total solar module manufacturing capacity has increased to 10.3 GW.

Market pressure in the solar and storage sectors often favors low-cost solutions, but long-term success depends on balancing price, quality, and reliability for assets designed to operate for decades. Numerous examples, from low-grade silicon modules to residential hydrogen and redox flow storage, show how technically ambitious products can fail when costs, complexity, or durability are misjudged.

Mexico’s energy ministry has approved 20 new renewable energy projects, 15 of which are solar, following an October decree regulating private sector investments in the country’s energy sector.

China’s commerce ministry has raised a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding India’s solar subsidies, claiming they give the country’s domestic industry an unfair advantage and harm Chinese interests.

In its latest monthly column for pv magazine, IEA PVPS shows that with climate-specific site selection, robust design, proper installation, and proactive O&M, most PV systems can be made resilient and remain reliable despite intensifying weather risks.

Italian energy group Eni and solar manufacturer FuturaSun have launched SunXT, a new startup focused on developing and producing perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules, building on FuturaSun’s research expertise.