Ideal Energy commissions AI-enabled flexible HJT pilot line for space
China-based PV equipment supplier Ideal Energy (Shanghai) Sunflower Semiconductor has completed an AI-enabled pilot line for ultra-thin, flexible heterojunction (HJT) solar cells, targeting lightweight power systems for space and near-space applications.
China completes first full-scale underwater pumped storage trial at 65 m depth
DEC’s “Dongchu No. 1” prototype completed more than 100 charge-discharge cycles at 65 meters depth in a freshwater lake.
More PV manufacturers expected to adopt copper metallization in 2026
Rising silver prices are pushing PV manufacturers toward copper-based metallization, with DK Electronic Materials targeting 2026 for large-scale deployment of high-copper paste solutions, while Fraunhofer ISE warns efficiency trade-offs remain unacceptable.
Guyana plans three utility-scale solar parks
The three new utility-scale projects in region ten of Guyana, with a combined capacity of 15 MW, form part of wider plans to deploy 33 MW of large-scale solar with accompanying energy storage across four of the country’s regions.
The impact of sand erosion on mounting structures in large-scale PV plants
Researchers in Spain have tested the erosion resistance of common galvanized coatings using both free-falling sand and forced-air sand-impingement methods. The study found that continuously galvanized steel coatings showed the lowest erosion rates, outperforming HDG and Zn-Al-Mg coatings.
Global solar corporate funding reached $22.2 billion in 2025
While global solar corporate funding in 2025 fell to the lowest level recorded since 2020, deal count rose to its highest level since 2017. Mercom Capital Group says investors favored smaller, lower-risk, execution-ready projects last year amid policy uncertainty, trade pressures and higher financing costs.
First Solar wins key round in TOPCon patent dispute
The U.S. federal patent office rejected separate challenges from JinkoSolar, Canadian Solar and Mundra Solar to invalidate intellectual property that First Solar claims is fundamental to the manufacturing of crystalline silicon solar cells.
EU to ban Chinese inverters? – Commission proposal in Cybersecurity mulls ‘high-risk vendors-list’
The European Commission is revising its Cybersecurity Act. While presenting the proposals in European Parliament, the commission’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said dependency on a very limited number of solar inverter suppliers could “pose a significant security risk.”
Pexapark records 24 European PPAs for 1.4 GW in December
Swiss analytics firm Pexapark says last year Europe’s announced power purchase agreement capacity and deal count fell by approximately 13% and 19% year-on-year, respectively.
Omani polysilicon factory reaches financial close
United Solar Holding has secured more than $900 million to complete the financing required for its 100,000 MT polysilicon manufacturing facility in Oman. Production is expected to begin during the first quarter of this year.
