Author: solarenergy
The Chinese manufacturer has launched an “Australia-specific” variant of its Vertex S+ modules with a power of 515 W and a maximum efficiency of 24.65%. The lower voltage design reportedly allows for more flexible string sizing, allowing installers to optimize system layouts for a range of inverter configurations. May 6, 2026 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia Trina Solar has unveiled a new variant of its Vertex S+ module series, designed to deliver higher output within standard rooftop restrictions and tailored for the Australian residential, commercial and industrial (C&I) market. The company said the Australia-specific module supports systems up to…
The Indian manufacturer is investing approximately $420 million to expand its manufacturing footprint, in addition to efforts to promote high-efficiency PV technologies through its partnership with ISC Konstanz. May 6, 2026 Uma Gupta Image: pv magazine/AI generated By pv magazine India Indian PV manufacturer Solex Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gujarat government to build a 5 GW solar cell manufacturing facility and a 10 GW battery energy storage systems (BESS) factory in the state, with a planned investment of INR 4,000 crore ($420 million). The company plans to develop the 5 GW plant in two phases:…
Argentina’s distributed generation sector is expanding rapidly due to higher electricity rates, lower equipment costs and shorter payback periods for solar projects of approximately 3 to 4 years. Growth has accelerated since 2019, reaching more than 4,000 user generators and 143 MW installed, with strong private sector adoption. May 9, 2026 Luis Ini By pv magazine Latam Argentina’s distributed generation (DG) sector is experiencing strong growth, driven by recent electricity rate adjustments and improving project economics. “As of today, we have the wind at our backs in Argentina,” said Argentinian electrical engineer and PV specialist Martín Ponsá. pv magazine. He…
Chinese energy storage manufacturer Sunwoda has become the latest to complete a large-scale fire test (LSFT) in the presence of independent observers, after setting fire to its “5 MWh Liquid Cooling ESS” product. Now tasked with meeting relevant international standards such as UL 9540A and CSA C800, Sunwoda said it had conducted the test in “a more rigorous format than the typical real-world implementation” as it aimed to validate its product. The test itself was conducted with a configuration of five actual full-scale 5MWh Liquid Cooling ESS systems, including one initiating unit and four target units, with a minimum distance…
Powered by a select group of high-capacity manufacturers, including T1 Energy and Canadian Solar, Texas is expected to produce more than 15 GW of solar PV modules by 2026, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. silicon production and serving as the main hub for the inaugural Solar Manufacturing USA conference in Austin in September. May 7, 2026 Finlay Colville By pv magazine USA Solar PV module production in Texas is expected to exceed 15 GW by 2026, making the state the clear leader today in the drive to ramp up domestic production in the United States, potentially accounting for…
A new report from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity examines the potential for data centers to become flexible assets in the European electricity system, as well as how network planning and network security can be managed. May 9, 2026 Blathnaid O’Dea The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has warned that Europe’s transmission system operators may be forced to reduce renewable energy penetration if growing demand for data centers is not properly managed. The organization that represents grid operators across Europe published a report on May 8 outlining the benefits of system flexibility…
The CEA 2026 Manufacturing Quality Report shows that yield rates vary widely depending on the age of solar panel assembly facilities, with mature Chinese companies approaching 100% and US outliers reaching 30%. May 9, 2026 John Fitzgerald Weaver By pv magazine USA Intertek CEAs Global PV Manufacturing Quality Report 2026 suggests that much work remains to be done to improve the quality of solar panel production. The report states that more than 70% of factories in the 2025 factory audits were rated in the lowest two levels – C or D – and none achieved an A+. Source – Intertek…
The $200 million investment will bring the company’s total domestic production capacity to 6 GW by the end of 2026. May 8, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA SEG Solar, a Houston-based manufacturer, has announced plans to establish a new 4 GW solar panel manufacturing facility in its hometown of Houston, Texas. The expansion builds on the company’s existing footprint of 2 GW and is expected to bring total domestic production capacity to approximately 6 GW. Commercial activities at the site are expected to start in the third quarter of 2026. The 46,4511 m2 facility represents an investment of…
Colorado becomes the latest state to approve plug-in solar (also known as balcony solar) after Governor Jared Polis signed it HB26-1007 in law. Credit: UL The legislation led by Representatives Lesley Smith and Rebekah Stewart and Sens. Cathy Kipp and Matt Ball will make it cheaper and easier for Colorado families, including renters and apartment dwellers, to power their homes with solar energy. The bill passed both houses of the Colorado Legislature with bipartisan support. The new law creates a pathway that allows the use of plug-in solar energy devices, establishes critical safety standards for those products, and eliminates unnecessary…
Day-ahead markets in the EU-27 remained below zero for 1,223 hours in the first quarter of 2026. That’s more than double the 593 hours recorded in the first quarter of 2025 and more than ten times the recent low of 119 hours in the first quarter of 2022. This total masks differing national stories. Spain alone accounted for 347 of those hours, while Finland and Sweden returned to zero after big increases last year. In April 2026, Germany cleared 123 of the 720 sub-zero hours, and on the same days, day-ahead generation forecasts and actual delivered production diverged most sharply.…