Author: solarenergy

The Chinese manufacturer said its Aster TB250/TB500 system is compatible with both 40 0V and 800 V PV systems. Parallel connection enables scaling up to 3 MW / 8.46 MWh. February 25, 2026 Lior Kahana The Aster TB250/TB500 system Image: AlphaESS By ESS news Chinese storage manufacturer AlphaESS has announced a new battery energy storage system (BESS) aimed at the European commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. The new storage system, called Aster TB250/TB500, is compatible with both 400V and 800V PV systems. “This enables seamless integration into various electrical infrastructures without the need for additional transformers in many scenarios,” the…

In August 2025, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released new guidance regarding safely accommodating solar projects for the investment tax credit (ITC). Safe Harboring allows companies to make a good faith effort to start a solar energy project to secure applicable tax credits that year. Credit: McCarthy Building Companies While utility-scale solar projects could once take advantage of the “5% safe harbor” rule, which only required the project developer to cover 5% of the project cost by a certain date, the federal government changed this to a “physical work test.” For projects larger than 1.5 MW,…

The US Department of Commerce has issued preliminary findings that solar producers in India, Indonesia and Laos have benefited from government subsidies, paving the way for countervailing duties of up to 143.30%. February 25, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A port in India Image: Narendra Modi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 The US Department of Commerce has announced preliminary positive determinations in its countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules imported from India, Indonesia and Laos. U.S. authorities said the investigation found that solar power producers in the three countries have benefited from government subsidies that distort competition…

The German Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE (Fraunhofer IEE) says in a new position paper that large-scale battery storage systems in medium-voltage grids must be technically prepared for future grid-forming operation, with the aim of bridging the gap between current regulations and potential system stability requirements. February 25, 2026 Marian Willuhn By pv magazine Germany The German Fraunhofer IEE has published a new position paper calling for early technical preparation of distribution networks for network-forming functions. Under the term ‘grid-forming readiness’, the authors outline a concept in which large-scale battery storage systems connected to medium-voltage…

SolarPower Europe has released new technical due diligence guidelines for large-scale solar-plus-storage projects, covering the risks, engineering and lifecycle standards for co-located PV and battery systems. February 25, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina SolarPower Europe has published two reports aimed at strengthening best practices for large-scale hybrid projects combining solar photovoltaics and battery energy storage systems. The association said the documents provide a framework for due diligence, risk management and technical standards to ensure technical, financial and operational performance before commercial operation. The first report, “Technical Due Diligence Best Practice Guidelines for Utility-Scale Hybrid Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems”,…

By Charles W. Thurston February 25, 2026 Business Renewables Center Canada (BRC) provided its vision on the solar energy market in Canada for the period 2025-2026 via an open webinar on January 28. While the power purchase agreement (PPA) market in Alberta plummeted in 2025, BRC offers hope for growth in other provinces – most notably Nova Scotia – in 2026. BRC is a Calgary-based renewable energy PPA facilitator that claims more than 90% of renewable PPAs in Canada to date have been executed by a BRC member, either on the buyer or developer side. The agency operates the Deal…

Global industrial company MacLean-Fogg has acquired domestic roll-forming manufacturer OMCO and its solar racking and tracker businesses. “We are excited about this opportunity to take OMCO Solar to the next level, now with the support of a great partner in MacLean-Fogg. We look forward to growing our team and adding even more value to our customers.” said Eric Goodwin, vice president of business development for OMCO solar energy. Following the acquisition, OMCO Solar will continue to operate under its name and retain control of the company. OMCO Solar has produced factory-grade fixed-tilt racking and single-axis trackers for the major commercial…

Shanghai-listed polysilicon maker Tongwei says it plans to acquire 100% of Qinghai Lihao in a stock-and-cash transaction, as consolidation in China’s polysilicon sector increasingly shifts to mergers and acquisitions. February 25, 2026 Vincent Shaw Tongwei said it plans to acquire 100% of Chinese rival Qinghai Lihao in a transaction combining share issuance and cash, in addition to a planned supporting fundraise, according to a Feb. 25 trading suspension notice. Tongwei said the deal is at a preliminary stage. It signed a letter of intent with the proposed sellers – Duan Yong and two limited partnerships, Hainan Zhuoyue Enterprise Management Partnership…

German startup Solarsecure Tech has introduced a gateway designed to disconnect PV inverters from manufacturers’ clouds and block unauthorized remote control commands. February 25, 2026 Marian Willuhn By pv magazine Germany Solarsecure Tech said the SolarSecure Vision gateway is installed at the meter connection point and interrupts direct communication between the inverter and the manufacturer’s cloud. The device analyzes incoming control commands and only forwards signals that are classified as secure or cryptographically authenticated, blocking unverifiable instructions. Legitimate signals from the grid operator, such as power reduction orders under Article 9 of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act, are sent…

Canadian researchers conducted the first nationwide survey of public attitudes toward agricultural voltaics and found strong support across the provinces, with 85.8% of respondents in favor, although preferences varied by configuration. The opposition mainly stemmed from resistance to change, aesthetic concerns and lack of awareness, highlighting the need for public education and updated policy frameworks to enable wider acceptance. February 25, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from Western University in Canada conducted a nationwide survey to investigate community attitudes toward agricultural voltaics. “In this study, we conducted one of the first nationwide assessments of public attitudes toward agrivoltaic energy in Canada,…