US-based Complete Solaria rebrands as SunPower
Complete Solaria says it acquired SunPower’s assets for $45 million after its bankruptcy, then sold its shingled module patents to Maxeon, which is now owned by China’s TCL Group.
Austria launches €60 million rebate program for rooftop PV in 2025
Austria has opened applications for its €60 million ($68.3 million) rooftop PV rebate program for 2025, with a second-round “Made in Europe” bonus offering 20% more funding for projects using European-made components, says OeMAG.
Home batteries have same probability of catching fire as other appliances
New research from Germany shows that home batteries have much lower chances of being hit by fire than electric vehicles and most home appliances. The researchers warned, however, that fires in residential storage systems can be more dangerous than those of burning tumble dryers.
Rhoss launches reversible heat pumps
Conceived for industrial applications, the novel heat pumps can reportedly deliver hot water at 65 C from -10 C up to 35 C of external air, and hot water at 55 C down to -20 C of external air. Their coefficient of performance reaches up to 3.60.
Net metering policies see significant revision in states across the U.S.
The recent 50 States of Solar report from NC Clean Energy Technology Center identifies three trends in state policy activities and the top five distributed solar actions in Q1 2025.
California proposes break to rooftop solar contracts, raising average bills $63
Over one million California homes that invested in rooftop solar may have their net metering contracts rescinded under the proposed bill AB 942.
Germany’s PV installations down sharply in March
Germany installed just 787.2 MW of new PV capacity in March – the lowest monthly total since December 2022.
Dutch utilities to test lower tariffs during solar production peaks
Dutch utilities Eneco and Delta Energie will test lower electricity tariffs for consumers – regardless of PV system ownership – who shift consumption to periods of peak solar generation. The pilot aims to encourage flexible demand during midday hours.
Fire risks in industrial rooftop solar systems due to poor installation
Clean Energy Associates (CEA) has inspected more than 600 industrial PV systems and has found widespread safety risks, largely stemming from poor installation practices, but many issues are easily identifiable and fixable.
Fronius launches hybrid inverters for residential, commercial applications
The Austrian manufacturer said its new hybrid inverters can increase the usable output of the PV system to up to 150%. They are available in six version with rated AC power ranging from 15 kW to 33.3 kW.
