Brazil falls short of its battery storage potential
The Brazilian Association of Energy Storage Solutions gathered executives to debate applications that could solve systemic challenges facing the Brazilian electricity sector. The issue, they argue, goes beyond a “BESS vs. thermal or renewables vs. energy security” debate, but involves finding the best combination of security, price, ‘renewability’, and flexibility.
Europe creates map to locate available capacity in power grids
The new pan-European digital platform is designed to enhance transparency and improve access to information on the hosting capacity of European electricity grids, including both transmission and distribution networks.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Polysilicon prices remain flat amid supply-demand rebalancing signals
Polysilicon prices stayed flat in China as production and demand moved closer into balance, easing recent supply–demand pressures.
Slovakia plans to develop energy communities
Director of the Slovak Association of Sustainable Energy, Ján Karaba, told pv magazine solar is expected to become one of the key technologies used within future energy communities in Slovakia but said regulatory improvements will be essential to unlock the full potential of decentralized solar energy.
New metric assesses innovation readiness in agrivoltaics
A study from Türkiye has introduced the Agrivoltaic Innovation Index (AII), a composite scientometric tool designed to assess innovation readiness in agrivoltaics beyond traditional publication and citation metrics. The index evaluates research across four dimensions – conceptual, translational, network, and societal – and shows that high publication volume does not necessarily correspond to higher innovation readiness.
Colombia regulates transmission capacity allocation to speed up energy project connections
The measure aims to reduce grid connection delays and ease congestion in the National Interconnected System (SIN) amid rising electricity demand.
Iran conflict boosts interest in short-term PPAs in Europe
According to Montel, energy consumers in Europe are seeking to hedge against price volatility and supply shocks amid rising geopolitical tensions. The report said the hedging value is highest in short-term PPAs.
Utility-scale solar expansion has little impact on U.S. crop prices
Research from Indiana University suggests that concerns over the impact of solar development on US agricultural production are largely exaggerated, with prices for maize, soybeans and wheat expected to increase by less than 5.6% if the build out of utility-scale solar on cropland is consistent with historical patterns.
Meeting the challenges of long life time PV on buildings
As Europe’s first generations of integrated PV systems age, researchers and industry actors are only beginning to explore the long-term realities of maintenance, compatibility and repair.
How to prevent stray voltage from harming livestock in PV-equipped dairy farms
Stray voltage is unwanted electrical potential differences in barns that can cause small shocks to livestock, especially dairy cows, through damp floors, metal equipment, and water systems, leading to stress and reduced productivity, and in some cases even to death. While PV systems are sometimes blamed, experts told pv magazine that the real causes are faulty or poorly designed grounding and electrical infrastructure, and that proper equipotential bonding is key to prevention. With attentive design, these risks to animal health can be avoided.
