Author: solarenergy

China’s PV manufacturing sector is running at full capacity ahead of an April 1 export tax change, contributing to module price increases of 20% to 30% in parts of the supply chain and increasing risks for price-sensitive commercial and utility-scale European projects in early 2026. January 19, 2026 MARTIN SCHACHINGER, PVXCHANGE.COM I would like to start the new solar year with a brief overview. 2026 is already shaping up to be a year of radical change, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. Last year ended relatively quietly, especially in terms of module prices, which remained largely stable…

The Abu Dhabi-based developer has secured $225 million ($193.6 million) to develop a 300 MW solar power plant coupled with 75 MWh of energy storage in Uzbekistan, as part of its commitment to deploy 2 GW of renewables in the country. January 19, 2026 Patrick Jowett Future Energy Company of Abu Dhabi (Masdar) announced it has reached financial close of a 300 MW solar energy storage project and 75 MWh battery energy storage project Uzbekistan. Masdar will design, build and operate the Guzar solar-plus-storage project, located in the southern Kashkadarya region, under a public-private partnership agreement with JSC National Electric…

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars said on Tuesday it was halting operations at an under-construction battery factory and laying off all 75 employees there after failing to find a partner for the company. Volvo Cars, majority-owned by Chinese conglomerate Geely, last year took full control of NOVO Energy, a subsidiary it previously shared with Northvolt, a battery maker that went bankrupt in March. Northvolt’s failure, one of the biggest in Swedish corporate history, highlights the difficulties for EU battery makers facing high costs and Chinese competition. Last month, the European Commission said it would provide 1.5 billion euros ($1.76 billion) to…

FranklinWH Energy Storage announced its participation in two battery programs serving Arizona residents. FranklinWH partners with EnergyHub to… Salt River Project (SRP) Battery Partner Program and the Arizona Public Service (APS) Storage Rewards Pilot. Homeowners with a FranklinWH system can receive financial incentives to help utilities manage electricity demand during peak periods while ensuring their homes remain powered during power outages. “When outages occur in Arizona, especially during the summer, the impact can be immediate and severe,” said Justin Hopkins, senior director of strategic accounts at FranklinWH. “These programs provide homeowners with a way to stay connected and reduce their…

Rajasthan Solar Park Development Co. Ltd. (RSDCL) has floated a tender inviting bids for the development of 2,450 MW of State Transmission Company (STU) connected solar PV capacity, combined with 1,600 MW/6,400 MWh of battery energy storage systems at the Pugal Solar Park in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. The projects are carried out on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. January 16, 2026 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Rajasthan Solar Park Development Co. Ltd. (RSDCL) has floated a tender inviting bids for the development of 2,450 MW State Transmission Company (STU) connected solar PV projects, combined with 1,600 MW/6,400 MWh battery…

Facebook parent company Meta has signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the Greyhound A Solar project being developed by Origis Energy in West Odessa, Texas. The 303 MWdirect current/240 MWAC The project is expected to be commercially operational by mid-2026. “We are pleased to partner with Origis Energy and deliver an additional 240 MWAC of solar energy to the local electricity grid. With this partnership, we continue to match 100% of our electricity consumption with clean energy to support our data center operations,” said Urvi Parekh, Director of Global Energy, Meta. The Greyhound A joins a larger energy infrastructure…

Scientists have analyzed the competition between solar photovoltaics and agriculture for land use in Spain by studying 134 different crops in 15 regions. Using a real options framework, they found that falling solar costs and high irradiance in southern Spain could make solar more profitable than agriculture by the mid-2040s, highlighting growing land use competition. January 16, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina By pv magazine Spain According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture for 2024, photovoltaic parks cover an area equivalent to 0.2% of the country’s usable agricultural land and 0.12% of the total land area. In the same…

SunPower has signed a letter of intent for the acquisition of an all-stock transaction Cobalt energy systems of Mountain View, California, a $35 million company with 96 employees. “Cobalt is famous here for designing and installing solar systems for Silicon Valley moguls, often 100-panel (45 kW) systems with as many as 20 batteries,” said TJ Rodgers, CEO of SunPower. “Cobalt has a 23-year history, was the first SunPower Elite Dealer in the U.S. and has received multiple SunPower Excellence Awards for customer service. We started by deploying SunPower technology in premium homes and are now expanding to larger jobs at…

The renewable energy sectors are inherently industries that benefit from gender diversity and inclusion. Success depends on collaboration, creativity and solving complex problems across multiple disciplines. Teams with diverse perspectives are better equipped to generate innovative solutions, anticipate customer needs and manage the technical, commercial and regulatory challenges of major projects. In my experience, combining strong technical expertise with empathy and clear communication, qualities often enhanced by diverse teams, leads to stronger stakeholder relationships, better risk management and ultimately more successful and resilient project outcomes. Diversity and inclusion also contribute directly to the overall resilience and long-term success of the…

After an ordeal of almost two years, some answers have been found in the TOPCon intellectual patent lawsuit between Maxeon and Canadian Solar. In March 2024, Maxeon alleged that Canadian Solar had infringed three patents related to the production of TOPCon solar panels: patent nos. 8,222,516 (the ‘516 patent), 8,878,053 (the ‘053 patent), and 11,251,315 (the ‘315 patent). ‘516 patent: solar cell with front contact and shaped transmitter ‘053 patent: solar cell with front contact and shaped transmitter ‘315 patent: Solar cells with improved lifespan, passivation and/or efficiency The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled…