Author: solarenergy
The European Union’s executive body is drawing up a plan to more closely connect the energy systems of EU member states, including a commitment to accelerate key interconnection projects. Proposals have been welcomed by leading solar and energy storage trade bodies. This move comes as several EU countries are lagging behind the 15% interconnection target for 2030. December 10, 2025 Matthew Lynas The European Commission has unveiled a series of network infrastructure upgrade proposals aimed at enabling better energy flow between EU member states, as it urges member states to take a first-come, first-served approach to offering connections. Subject to…
The French mounting system provider offers an 8 kg PV roof system made from recycled plastic. The system is said to simplify installation and reduce tension, with integrated cable guides and clip-on connectors supporting panels up to 1,180mm. December 10, 2025 Emiliano Bellini French mounting system supplier Snapsun, part of recycled plastic supplier Cifra, has presented a new rooftop PV mounting system made exclusively from recycled plastic materials. “The SnapSun product stands out for several innovative features,” said the company’s R&D manager, Paul Blanchard pv magazine. “Firstly, it is made from recycled plastic, making it environmentally friendly. Secondly, it has…
By Brad Kramer December 9, 2025 According to a new report, the US solar industry added 11.7 GW of new capacity in the third quarter of 2025, but permitting and political roadblocks could jeopardize 73 GW of future installations. The solar industry marked its third-largest quarter on record, pushing total installations above 30 GW this year. Despite moves in Washington focused on renewable energy, solar and storage were responsible for 85% of all new energy added to the grid in the first nine months of the Trump administration. According to the US Solar Market Insight Q4 2025 report Released today…
Commercial renewable energy investor Ampyr Distributed Energy has raised £50 million in so-called mezzanine financing from US asset manager Franklin Templeton. The funds will support the development, construction and operation of Ampyr’s pipeline of corporate and industrial (C&I) solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Britain, as well as its “expanding pipeline of business acquisitions”. Mezzanine financing is a hybrid financing instrument that combines debt and equity and allows lenders to convert the latter into the former. “We are extremely excited about the growth of on-site renewable energy,” said Will Devenney, head of infrastructure debt at Franklin Templeton.…
Renolit France has introduced the Alkor Bright reflective membrane for dual-sided rooftop PV systems, offering high solar reflectance and durability for flat or sloping roofs. The membrane helps keep buildings cooler and at the same time increases the energy yield of double-sided solar panels. December 10, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Renolit France, the French arm of German supplier of plastic films, sheets and polymer-based products Renolit, has unveiled a new reflective membrane for dual-sided rooftop PV systems at the Energaia fair in Montpellier, southern France. “Our Alkor Bright membrane is produced in Spain and stored in Belgium,” says Julien Ertel, Sales…
Britain could gain between 135,000 and 725,000 jobs from the energy transition with the right policy, planning and skills programs in place by 2030, according to a new report from the government’s Energy Security and Net Zero committee. The report ‘Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy’ states that the UK energy transition will create ‘winners and losers’ among the workforce as energy sector companies shift their activities from fossil fuels to low carbon technologies, but that there is room for ‘smart policies and spending’ to seize opportunities. Minister of Energy in October Ed Miliband announced the Clean Energy Jobs…
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…