Author: solarenergy
Global solar energy resources were redistributed in the first half of 2026 as blocking patterns early in the year and the disruption of the Northern Hemisphere’s polar vortex gave way to the development of El Niño conditions from April onwards, analysis using the Solcast API. Much of Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central Africa had irradiance 5 to 10% above the long-term average, while most of Canada, Mexico, South Africa, North Africa, parts of western Russia, and Central Asia were 5 to 10% below average. Most of Europe saw significantly more solar energy than normal in…
Chile’s installed renewable energy capacity reached 20,006 MW in May 2026, equivalent to 52% of the country’s total generation capacity, according to the June monthly report published by the National Energy Commission (CNE). Of this total, 12,184 MW corresponds to photovoltaic solar energy, which represents approximately 61% of the installed renewable energy capacity. Nearly all clean energy capacity is connected to the National Electric System (SEN), totaling 19,964 MW. The remainder will be distributed between the Aysén Electric System (30 MW) and the Magallanes System (12 MW). In addition to solar PV, the operational renewable energy fleet includes 6,310 MW…
China has published three mandatory national standards on energy consumption and energy efficiency in the photovoltaic sector, establishing a new compliance framework for polysilicon, silicon wafers, PV modules and inverters. The standards were released on June 27, 2026 and will become effective on January 1, 2027. The standards are called GB 29447-2026, “Standard of energy consumption per unit of polycrystalline silicon and germanium products”; GB 47835-2026, “Standard of energy consumption per unit of monocrystalline silicon products”; and GB 47834-2026, “Minimum permitted values of energy efficiency and energy efficiency classes for crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and inverters.” Unlike previously discussed recommended…
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has granted a development consent (DCO) to Firma Energy and ib vogt’s 150MW Dean Moor solar project, which is expected to be built between Gilgarran and Branthwaite in Cumbria.The project will be developed by FVS Dean Moor Ltd, a joint venture between Leeds-based solar developer Firma Energy and the UK arm of German solar developer ib vogt. The company has not given a timetable for when it expects to complete the construction work, but has indicated in documentation accompanying the project application that it expects Dean Moor to continue operating for…
Oil and gas giant Shell has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with UK public charging network Ubitricity to supply the company with electricity generated at its Iddenhsall solar project, currently under development in Cheshire.The Iddenshall solar farm was initially developed by Anesco, with a capacity of 17.6 MW, and Shell first announced plans to acquire the project in 2022. as part of a broader initiative to acquire 100 MW of solar capacity from the developer. The deal with ubitricity will last ten years and will help meet the power demand of Britain’s 14,600 public charging points. The charging network…
The energy sector is undergoing a significant shift from globalization to localization, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, energy storage, electric vehicle charging and grid infrastructure. While technologies can be developed globally, their successful implementation increasingly depends on understanding local market conditions, regulatory frameworks and customer needs. The energy sector is not completely abandoning globalization; global finance, knowledge sharing and technology transfer remain crucial. In this context, diversity, regardless of gender, culture and professional background, is not just a social objective, but a practical necessity. Diverse teams are better equipped to navigate complex local environments, anticipate challenges and deliver…
Developers of NSIPs are concerned about the potential for a change of government in the coming years, according to speakers at the Clean Power 2030 Summit in London earlier this week.Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband has granted Development Consent Orders (DCOs) to 29 large-scale renewable energy projects since becoming Energy Minister in 2024 – not without controversy and opposition. Solar projects with a capacity of more than 100 MW qualify as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) and are approved by DESNZ over the heads of local government.But changing political circumstances mean that the approval…
Grid operators in the United States are facing an unprecedented dual challenge: rising electricity demand from data centers and frequent extreme weather events. These grid stresses are forcing a structural shift in the U.S. energy market, and decentralized generation capacity, aggregated under virtual power plants (VPPs), is starting to go mainstream. As demand for electricity increases in the United States, the pace of grid infrastructure expansion is proving too slow and capital-intensive to meet this moment alone. Instead, a regulatory and technology shift is transforming millions of distributed energy resources (DERs) into utility-quality infrastructure. VPPs are transitioning from small-scale pilot…
By Martin McConnell July 2, 2026 Supplier of power conversion systems SPOC energy and the University of Alabama have worked together to deploy a DC microgrid system at the school Alabama Mobility and Strength (AMP) Center. The megawatt-scale microgrid, which SPOC officials are calling the “next generation,” aims to strengthen the school’s research efforts in energy innovation and electrification. The containerized energy system will serve as a test and development unit for other megawatt-scale microgrids in the US, and function as an energy storage and power distribution asset. Moreover, the microgrid is AI-ready, say SPOC representatives. The installation reflects the…
Following a successful, record-breaking auction of the latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) in Allocation round 7 (AR7), the industry is already looking forward to the next one later this year and gathered earlier this week at the Clean Energy Summit 2030 to discuss this and what can be improved compared to the previous CfD.Panelist Shane Power, director of investments at renewable energy asset manager NTR, highlighted how the UK’s auctions are crucial to getting projects built and the “huge gap between the levels you can secure from a revenue contract perspective, both in terms of absolute pricing and term” for…