Author: solarenergy

S’tile has launched fully customized solar panels for repowering and renewing rooftop PV systems, with exact-fit replacements or higher-efficiency upgrades tailored to each project. December 10, 2025 Emiliano Bellini French solar energy company S’tile has unveiled a new solar panel solution for repowering and renewing rooftop PV systems at the Energaia fair in Montpellier, southern France. “We develop customized solar panels to replace modules in existing photovoltaic systems,” says a spokesperson pv magazine. “If the original system has strict size limitations, we redesign the panels to exactly match the dimensions and electrical properties required. In repowering projects, this also allows…

Architectural rendering courtesy of the City of Manchester, Connecticut. Eaton has announced it will provide a 370 kW solar microgrid for the new Manchester Public Library in Connecticut, helping the structure achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) ready status. The newly built library will implement network-interactive renewables, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging, maximizing energy savings and reducing pressure on the local electricity grid. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the project aims to achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) status. Using his “Buildings as a grid” approach that enables flexible energy systems, Eaton enables the city of Manchester to strategically balance…

UNSW researchers have discovered that annealing copper-plated contacts in heterojunction solar cells only produces localized voltage. Their analysis also showed that at typical annealing temperatures around 200 C, the chance of silicon fracture is very low. December 10, 2025 Emiliano Bellini A research team from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Sydney-based solar technology company SunDrive investigated the impact of annealing copper (Cu) contacts in heterojunction (HJT) solar cells and found that this process is unlikely to cause small fractures. “We assessed the thermomechanical stress induced by the annealing of the Cu-plated contacts on the pyramidal surface of…

By pv magazine USA Community solar allows renters and homeowners without the resources to invest in rooftop solar to enjoy the benefits of clean, low-cost electricity. Many states have developed policies that support community solar, but not all policies are created equal. ILSR finds that states with the strongest solar policies prioritize four central principles: tangible benefits for participants, flexible ownership structure, synergy with other renewable energy policies, and access for all residents. They should also allow ownership of non-utility solar projects, because according to ILSR, utility-owned programs are not community solar, but just another way for profitable utilities to…

2026 Defense authorizations highlight the need for U.S.-made solar photovoltaics in satellites to compete with foreign adversaries, writes Rob Gardner, vice president, congressional and regulatory affairs, of the SEMA Coalition. December 10, 2025 Rob Gardner By pv magazine USA When you think of solar energy, I imagine your thoughts go straight to a field of panels or a roof. What if I told you that you’re not looking highly enough at the power that can be unleashed with American-made solar energy? War fighters, who depend on satellites and increasing surveillance dronesdepend on solar energy generation. Solar energy does almost universal…

The highly automated research line of the Dutch research institute offers tailor-made, flexible solar semi-finished products to partners developing integrated PV applications. December 9, 2025 Valerie Thompson The Dutch research institute Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) recently demonstrated to the public in Eindhoven, Netherlands, its highly automated research line for tailor-made, flexible, lightweight solar PV laminates, created to provide its partners with semi-finished products for integrated PV (IPV) applications. The mass customization line is developed to combine customized PV semi-finished products with mass production volume to reduce costs. “By investing in this mass customization research line and supporting…

Researchers in China developed a monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using a steric-complementary interface design, achieving a certified efficiency of 32.12% and improving long-term stability. This strategy optimizes the molecular fit in the perovskite lattice, improving both charge transport and device lifetime. December 9, 2025 Emiliano Bellini A group of researchers led by China Soochow University has fabricated a monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a interface design based on steric complementarity, aimed at improve device efficiency and reliability. Steric complementarity defines how well the three-dimensional shapes of two molecules fit together without causing steric clashes, which are spatial overlaps…

By Brad Kramer December 8, 2025 This edition of Projects weekly shines a spotlight on a Kia assembly plant in Georgia that has added a sun canopy that also provides hail protection for new cars. In addition, Ameresco built a solar roof and carport system for a school district in California. Finally, Terra-Gen has secured $383.3 million in project financing for its Lockhart III & IV solar project in California. Kia plant adds solar and hail protection to Georgia plant A team of engineering, construction and technology providers is delivering one of the largest dual-purpose solar hail protection projects in…

BayWa re has completed financing for the Jacumba Valley Ranch (JVR) Energy Park solar and storage project in San Diego County, California, which was first announced in 2021. Construction is now underway on the 127 MW projectdirect current solar, a 280 MWh storage project, and the system is expected to come online next year. “Today, BayWa re Americas celebrates the culmination of years of collaboration with our partners and stakeholders. Our team, local officials, permitting and financing partners, and our EPC and construction teams shared a clear goal: to deliver a reliable, cost-efficient energy project that adds new capacity to…

Emmvee Energy has signed a long-term supply agreement with a domestic buyer for the supply of 4.5 GWp of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells. December 9, 2025 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Emmvee Photovoltaic Power said its subsidiary, Emmvee Energy, has signed a long-term supply agreement with a domestic buyer for the supply of 4.5 GWp TOPCon crystalline silicon solar cells. The contract includes a total contracted offtake of 4.5 GWp and will be executed over a period of five years, from December 2025 to 2030. Emmvee Photovoltaic Power reported consolidated revenue of INR21.6 billion ($240 million)…