UK solar generation hits record 15 GW as gas falls to historic low
Solar set a new generation record on Great Britain’s electricity grid during a week that also saw zero-carbon supply reach an all-time high. The new records come as the grid operator expands demand-side flexibility markets in anticipation of lower summer demand driven by strong solar irradiance.
Developing El Niño points to stronger solar conditions across Australasia and South Asia
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, provides a June–August 2026 outlook indicating mostly neutral to positive solar irradiance globally, with stronger gains in regions like Australasia, South Asia, West Africa, and Central America—patterns consistent with a developing El Niño. Negative anomalies are limited and mostly early-season, while Europe and the U.S. show modest or mixed signals, with improvements or neutrality dominating as the season progresses.
Colombia reopens long-term energy contracting with new renewables auction
Colombia has launched a 15-year auction scheme to procure solar, storage, and hybrid capacity, with delivery starting in 2030. The mechanism introduces time-of-use products and aims to improve reliability while expanding renewable energy uptake.
France streamlines renewables environmental permitting with new provisions
Published in the French Official Journal on April 22, a new decree aims to speed up the handling of appeals against strategic environmental projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector. It introduces direct access to administrative courts of appeal and tightens rules on deadlines and procedures for challenging projects.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: DKEM seeks cash injection to scale up gigawatt-level production of copper metallization paste
DK Electronic Materials (DKEM) plans to raise up to CNY 3.0 billion (USD 413 million) via a private placement to fund PV paste, metal powder expansion, R&D, and debt repayment. The company is advancing high-copper PV paste toward volume production for TOPCon 3.0 cells.
Japanese scientists build all-perovskite tandem solar cell with 30.2% efficiency
The four-terminal tandem device relies on FAPbI₃ nanoparticles and a spectral splitting design, combining a 24.4% wide-bandgap top cell and a 21.5% narrow-bandgap bottom cell to reach 30.2% efficiency. The system improves light utilization by directing different wavelengths to optimized subcells.
How BIPV façades behave under enclosure fire conditions
A group of scientists in China constructed a specialized compartment to test the thermal breakage and fallout of BIPV façades under enclosure fire conditions. They examined three different types of BIPV modules and found that tempered-glass PV panels exhibit superior thermal and mechanical resistance to breakage.
China wafer declines narrow as demand-side regulation lifts market sentiment
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.
Inside PV Manufacturing: Midsummer’s CIGS factory in Italy
The Swedish thin-film solar specialist produces 50 MW of modules at its Bari facility, using its proprietary DUO system for cell manufacturing. The company says it sources all materials from the EU and other countries in the global North.
Saatvik Green Energy enters transformer manufacturing
Indian solar manufacturer Saatvik Green Energy has acquired an 80% stake in Jaipur-based Melcon Transformers and Electricals, expanding into power transmission equipment. The move strengthens its position in a segment closely tied to India’s growing renewable energy sector.
