Solar gains across Australia defy seasonal cloud forecast
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Australia’s summer has been much sunnier than expected so far, with localized weather events only bringing brief disruptions.
European consortium reuses second life PV panels, EV batteries in agrivoltaics, plug-in solar, low-budget projects
A European team is developing technologies and processes to show how end of life PV panels and electric vehicle (EV) batteries can be used in three distributed energy market segments: agrivoltaics, plug-in PV for households, and low-budget solutions. It will also demonstrate efficient recycling processes for critical raw materials recovered from panels and batteries that cannot be reused.
Spain’s rooftop PV installations hit 1.18 GW in 2024
UNEF, Spain’s PV association, says developers installed 674 MW of industrial PV in 2024, alongside 207 MW in the commercial sector and 275 MW of residential solar installations.
Improving solar cell performance with narrower contact fingers
Fraunhofer ISE researchers have developed a new metallization process that can produce ultra-fine line contacts for solar cells. The proposed technique is based on the so-called LIDE technology and can reportedly help increase overall PV device efficiency.
Huadian, PowerChina switch on 1 GW of solar on salt-alkali tidal flats
Huadian Group and PowerChina have activated a 1 GW solar project on salt-alkali tidal flats in China’s Shandong province, paired with 200 MW/400 MWh of storage. The facility features PV modules installed above brine pools.
Waaree’s 1.6 GW solar factory in Texas starts commercial production
Waaree Solar Americas has started commercial production at its 1.6 GW solar module factory in Brookshire, Texas. It plans to expand the facility’s capacity to 3 GW by fiscal 2026 and 5 GW by fiscal 2027.
Balcony PV systems for cruise ships
Scientists have simulated the installment of PV modules on the balconies of cruise ship cabins. They tested the systems with three DC configurations and simulated them while cruising in the Caribbean and along the Norwegian and Danish coasts.
Solar wafer price rebound nears its limit
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.
Roofit.Solar releases new BIPV panels with narrow roof coverage
Estonia’s Roofit.Solar has developed new building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels with an effective width of 470 mm, offering power outputs of 120 W or 180 W.
Floating solar could reach LCOE of $0.053/kWh in Saudi Arabia
Scientists in Saudi Arabia have assessed the techno-economical feasibility of floating PV plants at three different dams and have found that such projects could have a return on investment of 12 to 13 years.
