The impact of laser-assisted firing on TOPCon solar cell performance
UNSW and Jolywood studied the thermal stability of laser-assisted fired TOPCon solar cells during module fabrication and high-temperature stress, identifying hydrogen-related defect dynamics as the key factor behind degradation and recovery. They found lamination causes temporary efficiency losses that self-recover under light exposure, while optimized LAF can restore degraded contacts, providing practical guidance for reliable module manufacturing and testing.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: PowerChina launches 31 GW solar procurement
China Power Construction Corp. (PowerChina) has launched a 31 GW solar module tender for 2026 projects, split across n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), heterojunction (HJT) and back-contact (BC) technologies as part of a wider 97 GW renewables and grid equipment program.
Gokin Solar launches new back-contact solar module series
Gokin has launched back-contact solar modules ranging from 480 W to 780 W for residential, C&I and utility-scale projects. The series supports 1,500 V systems and reaches efficiencies of up to 24.8%.
Germany brings world’s first supercapacitor STATCOM online
Germany has connected the world’s first supercapacitor-based STATCOM to the grid, with Siemens Energy and transmission system operator TenneT positioning it as a blueprint to replace fossil-fuel generators in providing instantaneous reserve and reactive power.
China National Petroleum Corporation achieves 25.05% efficiency for inverted perovskite solar cell
The Chinese energy and oil company said the cell can be used as a top device in perovksite-silicon tandem configurations. The result was confirmed by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT).
French renewables tender awards all 507.7 MW to solar
The French government says PV swept its latest technology-neutral auction, with 36 projects totaling 507.7 MW awarded in the fourth round as prices fell and agrivoltaics gained ground.
Táctica Industrial unveils off-grid PV system for modular green hydrogen
Spanish renewables specialist Táctica Industrial says its off-grid photovoltaic system produces green hydrogen at about €400 ($470)/kW using modular alkaline electrolysis without inverters or grid connection.
Inlyte proves out first full-scale iron–sodium battery system in factory test
According to Inlyte, the tested unit incorporates what it describes as the world’s largest sodium metal chloride battery cells and modules built to date, with each module capable of storing more than 300 kWh of energy.
China module market watches 2026 export rebate signals as polysilicon consolidation platform company is registered
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.
Interspace single-axis agrivoltaics has lowest environmental impact in Europe
A group of scientists has simulated fixed vertical, interspace and overhead single-axis as well as overhead dual-axis agrivoltaic systems for 30 years and has found interspace single-axis system emerged as the most environmentally favorable configuration in Europe.
