Using LiDAR data to improve modeling of PV system tilt, azimuth
Researchers in Sweden have developed a method to use LiDAR data to enable more precise tilt and azimuth modeling of solar PV and solar thermal capacity at a regional or substation level. The model could enable aggregators and grid operators to improve grid planning.
Norway donates $5.5 million for solar at Ukrainian hospitals, schools
The $5.5 million funding package will see 13 solar installations deployed at hospitals and schools across the city of Kharkiv this year, with a combined capacity of 1.1 MW.
French company unveils PVC-based mounting system for C&I solar projects
Renolit Ondex says its PVC-based mounting system is lighter and more impact-resistant than metal or fiber cement supports, while also helping to lower PV module temperatures.
France releases new FIT rates for PV systems up to 500 kW
France’s new feed-in tariffs (FITs) for February to June 2025 range from €0.0839 ($0.0907)/kWh to €0.1295/kWh, depending on system size.
Thin-film solar patents, manufacturing equipment listed for sale
A cancelled factory led to the sale. The solar cells produced by the equipment are “game-changing tech at liquidation values,” said the seller.
Mexico announces battery storage mandate for renewable energy plants
A month after India introduced an energy storage mandate for renewable energy plants and China scrapped its own, Mexico has stepped forward with an ambitious 30% capacity requirement, alongside plans to add a further 574 MW of batteries by 2028.
U.S. solar manufacturing moving onshore and prospering
Efforts to establish solar manufacturing in the United States, on the back of generous Inflation Reduction Act subsidies, have had mixed results. While module assembly facilities appeared swiftly, cell production capacity trails far behind and current policy uncertainty is leaving more questions than answers for solar manufacturers of all sizes.
Electricity prices fall across Europe
Weekly average electricity prices dipped below €85 ($91.56)/MWh across most major European markets last week as France, Germany and Italy all broke records for solar energy production during a single day in March.
‘Flexible work arrangements, paid maternity leave, and childcare support can make a world of difference’
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Elodie Colliard, director of Switzerland’s Green Giraffe. She explained she encountered her fair share of gender-based assumptions and biases. “While the disparities remain obvious and women are still a minority, I take comfort in seeing more of us join the industry, bringing our skills and perspectives to the table,” she states.
Vienna’s largest stadium completes solar array
Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium has completed the installation of a solar array capable of generating 3.8 GWh of energy annually, with full operation expected by the end of the year.
