Author: solarenergy
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has a proposed decision in the Community Solar Proceeding (A.22-05-022), which all but ensures that no community solar projects will be developed at a time when the state faces rising energy prices, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). CPUC Headquarters. Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin “With this proposed decision, which destroys any chance of a viable community solar program in the state, the CPUC has squandered a golden opportunity to help lower energy bills for Californians who desperately need relief from skyrocketing electricity prices,” said Stephanie Doyle, director of state affairs for SEIA…
A German-Turkish research team has developed a solvent-free method using ultrasonic cavitation to delaminate crystalline silicon PV modules at end-of-life, completely separating the glass and front EVA layer while partially releasing c-Si fragments. The proposed approach achieved a delamination efficiency of 82.2% on a mass basis, highlighting ultrasonic cavitation as a sustainable alternative for PV module recycling. April 9, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) and Turkey’s Ege University have developed a new approach for end-of-life delamination of photovoltaic modules, using ultrasonic cavitation to completely separate the glass and the front layer…
This week, a new British record for solar power generation was achieved two days in a row, with generation reaching 14,414 MW at 11:30 am on the morning of April 7. The day before, the record for solar energy generation was set at 14,082 MW at noon on April 6. At the time of the record generation on April 7, solar power generation covered 35% of Britain’s electricity consumption. This comes at a time when the government has approved the largest Nationally Important Power Generation Infrastructure Project (NSIP) of its time in power, the 800MW Springwell solar power station. The…
Rystad Energy says capital expenditures for data centers will reach $770 billion by 2025, matching the level of investment in photovoltaic infrastructure and surpassing upstream oil and gas. April 9, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina By pv magazine España According to Rystad Energy, global investment in data center infrastructure reached $770 billion by 2025, surpassing upstream oil and gas spending and reaching levels comparable to the broader energy sector. The analysis highlights a structural shift in global energy investment flows, with data centers emerging as a major new source of demand. Since 2024, capital expenditures on data centers have exceeded solar…
A new UNSW study shows that laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) can increase industrial TOPCon solar cell efficiency by improving contact properties and reducing recombination losses. By combining optimized ignition conditions with LECO contact ‘repair’, the approach balances recombination and resistance, providing conventional TOPCon cells with a practical path to compete with PV technologies that offer higher efficiency. April 9, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A new study from researchers at University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Chinese solar cell specialist Laplace suggest that laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) could deliver further efficiency gains in industrial TOPCon solar cells, potentially boosting performance above…
In the first monthly column for pv magazineExperts from British consultancy Ricardo, part of the WSP Group, explain how Britain will soon allow cheap plug-in solar panels of less than 800W to be installed without a qualified electrician, making home solar more affordable and accessible. Expected to hit the market in summer 2026, these portable systems could significantly boost household solar adoption while complementing the country’s broader renewable energy growth. April 9, 2026 Ricardo Cheap plug-in solar panels will soon be legal in Britain as the government moves to increase access to renewable energy. Systems under 800W no longer needs…
Brazil installed 2.3 GW of solar capacity in January and February, with centralized generation more than doubling while distributed growth slowed. April 8, 2026 Livia Neves By pv magazine LatAm Brazil added 2,331 MW of solar capacity in January and February 2026, with growth driven by utility-scale installations despite a slowdown in distributed generation. According to data from the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), distributed generation accounted for 1,145 MW of new capacity in the two-month period, while centralized generation contributed 1,186 MW. Distributed solar additions fell 37% compared to the same period in 2025. In contrast, centralized solar capacity…
A Japanese-Chinese team developed a titanium molten salt redox flow battery, using abundant titanium ions and molten salt electrolytes to enable high-voltage, fast, and stable grid-scale energy storage. The system exhibits high efficiency of over 97%, strong cycle stability and improved cost and scalability compared to vanadium-based batteries, with further optimization underway. April 8, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A Japanese-Chinese research team has titanium molten salt redox flow battery (TMSRB) that uses titanium ions as the redox active material and molten salt as the electrolyte. The TMSRB is intended for use in grid-scale energy storage and is designed to provide higher…
China’s Sigenergy has announced an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, with its shares open to retail investors until April 13 and backed by major international asset managers. April 8, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt By pv magazine Deutschland Sigenergy has announced plans to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and offer more than 13.5 million shares to investors. The Chinese PV company said it will price the shares at HKD324.20 ($41.40) each, with the private subscription period open until April 13 at noon. Investors must subscribe to at least 100 shares. Trading is expected to begin on April 16.…
The latest analysis from Wood Mackenzie examines how 13 of the world’s major energy markets are being affected by the current fuel crisis, with the markets most dependent on fuel imports most at risk. The consultancy says average generation costs in these 13 markets will increase by $2.30/MWh if a de-escalation of the conflict allows a moderation in fuel prices in the second half of 2026, and rise to an average of around $8.30/MWh if current high price levels persist throughout the year. April 8, 2026 Patrick Jowett The Middle East crisis has divided global energy markets into winners and…