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.
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.
Ecoprogetti ramps up solar module production line in Oman
Italy’s Ecoprogetti has delivered a 400 MW fully automated solar module production line in Oman. The facility is the company’s second in the country, which it says equates to a majority share of Oman’s module manufacturing market.
Key takeaways from France’s Energaia trade show
France’s Energaia trade fair drew record crowds and exhibitors last week, underscoring continued investment appetite in solar and storage, even as developers warn that policy delays and a residential slowdown could weigh on activity after 2025.
France pulls reduced VAT status from four DMEGC solar modules
France’s certification body says it has withdrawn eligibility for a lower solar VAT rate from four Chinese-made modules after finding traceability errors that altered their carbon footprint calculations.
