German developer commissions nation’s largest solar carport
Germany has brought a 17 MW photovoltaic carport online in Riedstadt, Hesse, spanning 76,000 square meters. It is expected to generate about 17 GWh per year, according to project developer Nawasol.
European solar manufacturing ‘considerably behind’ NZIA targets, says EU observatory
A report from the Clean Energy Technology Observatory finds that while the EU is a technology leader in PV inverters, trackers and mounting structures, its manufacturing capacity in solar ingots, wafers, cells and modules falls far behind targets set by the Net Zero Industry Act.
Plenitude tests perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules in utility-scale installation pilot
The Italian renewable energy company said it will validate Swift Solar’s 28% efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem technology in a utility-scale project.
Longi achieves 33.35% efficiency for flexible perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell
The Chinese manufacturer said the tandem device was developed through a dual-buffer layer strategy that improves interfacial adhesion while preserving efficient charge extraction. The efficiency result was certified by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
South Korea sets 2030 goal for perovskite-silicon tandem solar panels
South Korea has allocated KRW 33.6 billion ($22.8 million) for R&D on perovskite-silicon tandem solar technology with a goal of commercializing 28%-efficient modules by 2030, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Photonic curing could accelerate transition to copper-metallized solar cells
Researchers in the United States have developed a photonic curing technique using laser sintering to rapidly heat and cure copper pastes on temperature-sensitive solar cell substrates without causing thermal stress. The process purportedly produces dense, low-porosity copper layers with strong adhesion to indium tin oxide, achieving low bulk and contact resistivity.
Somalia launches tender for solar-storage systems at health facilities
A tender is open in Somalia for the installation of off-grid solar-plus-storage systems at 22 selected healthcare facilities in the country’s North Eastern State. The deadline for applications is Jan. 15, 2026.
Naturgy, BlueNewables build 1 MW offshore solar plant in Spain
Naturgy and BlueNewables are developing a 1 MW floating solar installation off Spain’s Mediterranean coast, with two 500 kW units designed for open-sea operation and scheduled to begin testing in 2026.
Kyrgyzstan, Hungary sign $300 million solar development deal
Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency and Hungary’s Electron Holding have agreed to develop up to 300 MW of solar capacity in Kyrgyzstan with planned investments of $300 million.
PV topics dominated the International Solar Energy Society’s Solar World Congress 2025 in Brazil
In its latest monthly column for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) promotes the biennial Solar World Congress (SWC), which took place in Fortaleza-Brazil in November 2025, a few days before the COP30. The SWC scientific program has traditionally been dominated by presentations on solar radiation and solar thermal applications, but this year, photovoltaics was the focus of most of the presentations. This reflects the massive adoption of PV all over the globe, which, at the current pace, will dominate the electricity mix by the end of the decade.
