Author: solarenergy

Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have published a review that considers polycarbonate sheets as an alternative to solar cover glass. Their findings indicate that these new materials have a combination of light weight, mechanical strength, optical transparency and thermal resistance that is worthy of further investigation. October 10, 2025 Valerie Thompson Replacing conventional solar panel glass with polymeric materials can reduce weight, prevent glass breakage and enable new PV applications where low weight is a key requirement, such as building-integrated solar photovoltaics (BIPV) and vehicle-integrated solar photovoltaics (VIPV). Alternative materials, such as polycarbonate sheets (PC),…

EPA has filed a lawsuit over the termination of $7 billion in “Solar for All” subsidies The Environmental Protection Agency was sued Monday for halting $7 billion in “Solar for All” grants aimed at helping low-income communities install solar panels on homes. The group of plaintiffs – made up of solar companies, labor unions and homeowners – filed the lawsuit in federal court in Rhode Island. They accused the EPA of ending the program, in violation of federal law, that would have helped them save on energy costs. Solar for All was expected to save an estimated $350 million annually…

Inner Mongolia has started construction of a 16 GW ultra-high-voltage energy base, combining solar, wind, coal and 5 GWh of storage to supply 36 TWh per year to northern China. October 10, 2025 Vincent Shaw Inner Mongolia, China Image: Svdmole, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Inner Mongolia has started construction of its first ultra-high-voltage transmission energy base with a capacity of more than 16 GW. Located in the central-northern part of the Kubuqi Desert, the project represents a total investment of CNY 98.8 billion (USD 13.59 billion). It will include 8 GW of solar, 4 GW of wind, 4 GW…

The updated French TURPE 7 framework adds an annual injection-withdrawal tax to incentivize battery energy storage system (BESS) operators to balance grid loads during periods of high demand or overproduction. October 10, 2025 Gwénaëlle Deboutte By ESS news The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has developed new grid tariff measures under the TURPE 7 framework to promote the strategic use of electricity storage and improve the integration of renewable energy sources. The “annual injection withdrawal component” introduces revised prices for medium and high-voltage storage facilities and will come into effect on August 1, 2026. The measure aims to optimize grid…

Renewable energy developer Zestec and facilities manager Mitie have announced plans to build a 1.2 MW solar carport at the Legoland Windsor resort.The solar project, which will generate 1.1 million kWh of annual power, will power the resort’s new Woodland Village, which consists of 150 lodges. The facility represents a £35 million investment for Merlin Entertainments and is the company’s first accommodation venue to be certified as carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust.The generation of sustainable electricity on site contributes to the purchase of clean energy through a “green electricity tariff” and expands the role of renewable energy in the…

The US-based manufacturer has announced that it will supply solar energy modules to satellite manufacturer Endurosat from this year. October 10, 2025 Valerie Thompson Solestial, a US-based manufacturer of solar PV technology for space applications, has announced that it will supply its radiation-hardened ultra-thin silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar panels to Bulgarian satellite bus manufacturer Endurosat in 2025. The two will not disclose the initial order size, a spokesperson said pv magazine. But they did say in a statement that the agreement includes an additional option of 7 kW of capacity for future power needs. The Solestial modules will provide primary…

The Australian government has launched the second round of its Hydrogen Headstart program to provide revenue support for large-scale renewable hydrogen projects, while the UK government is seeking industry input on rules for hydrogen-to-electricity participation in its capacity market. October 10, 2025 Sergio Matalucci The Australian government launched the second round of its Hydrogen Headstart program, which will provide revenue support for large-scale renewable hydrogen projects through ‘competitive’ hydrogen production contracts. “Hydrogen Headstart Round 2 is currently open for applications. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) is administering the program, with up to AUD 2 billion ($1.31 billion) available,” said…

Survey of solar energy sites. The solar industry is no stranger to abrupt market changes, and 2025 was no exception. Many solar contractors have a full installation calendar, with customers eager to capture the full value of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in the United States. This urgency means that solar companies must ensure that their post-sales process runs without delays. One of the most crucial steps to keeping projects on a tight schedule is prompt solar permitting and inspections. A stalled or denied solar permit application can take weeks, jeopardize deadlines and strain customer relationships. First pass…

The American manufacturer describes the new rivet solution as an alternative to traditional screwed module connections. October 10, 2025 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia GameChange Solar, a solar tracker and tilt rack solutions company, has launched a rivet connection option for module mounting in large-scale solar farms. The Connecticut-based company said the new rivet solution is an alternative to traditional bolted module connections. Bolted connections between the racking system and the modules can be replaced with rivets to allow an untorqued connection to pre-punched module mounting holes, reducing installation time and eliminating the need for torque checks throughout the…

French renewable energy company Voltalia has started commercial operations on the 45MW Clifton solar project in Dorset, near Yeovil.The successful commissioning of the project brings Voltalia’s operational portfolio in the UK to 134 MW of solar and storage capacity. The company has another 79 MW pipeline under development and has worked with “external customers” to develop 195 MW of additional solar capacity across 23 projects.“We are very proud to have commissioned the Clifton Solar power plant,” said Robert Klein, CEO of Voltalia. “This project reflects our commitment to the UK market and our contribution to the national Clean Power target…