Author: solarenergy
Huaneng has commissioned the 5.43 GW Xiaowan Hydropower-Solar Hybrid Project in Yunnan, combining 4.2 GW of hydropower and 1.23 GW of solar energy under a coordinated “hydro-solar intelligent control” system that integrates 16 PV installations. April 27, 2026 Emiliano Bellini China’s state-owned energy company Huaneng Group today awarded the contract for the Huaneng Xiaowan Hydropower-Solar Hybrid Project in Yunnan Province, southwest China. The facility is operated by the company’s subsidiary Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Co., Ltd. at the Xiaowan Hydropower Station. It has a total installed capacity of 5.43 GW, including 4.2 GW hydropower and 1.23 GW solar energy. Huaneng…
The Chinese manufacturer said its TOPCon-compatible hybrid back-contact solar cell achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 28.0%. The result was confirmed by the German Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). April 27, 2026 Vincent Shaw Chinese solar panel manufacturer Trina Solar announced yesterday that it has achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 28.00% for its new TOPCon-compatible hybrid back-contact solar cell (THBC), with the result certified by the German Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). The company said this achievement marks the first time a large-area 210R crystalline silicon cell has exceeded the 28% threshold, setting a new…
Chinese customs data shows an increase in March as buyers rushed their shipments ahead of April’s tax rebate change. April 27, 2026 Vincent Shaw China’s exports of solar panels rose sharply in March, with customs data showing one of the strongest monthly shipment increases in recent years. According to data cited by Reuters According to China Customs, solar panel exports reached a record high in March 2026, rising 125% month-on-month and 67% year-on-year in value to $3.61 billion. Reuters attributed the spike to a combination of factors, including the upcoming end of China’s PV export tax credits on April 1,…
The Australian Energy Market Commission says introducing a new distribution planning framework and implementing improved data reporting will help reduce the curtailment of rooftop solar. April 27, 2026 Patrick Jowett The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is proposing to modernize its distribution network planning, which it says will help reduce the curtailment of rooftop solar. A design rule released earlier this week proposes to replace the existing distribution annual planning report with a distribution network plan. The plan would be published every five years and cover a 20-year time frame, with distribution network service providers also required to provide annual…
In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, provides outlooks for June-August 2026, which indicate mostly neutral to positive solar radiation globally, with stronger gains in regions such as Australasia, South Asia, West Africa and Central America – patterns consistent with a developing El Niño. Negative deviations are limited and mainly early in the season, while Europe and the US show modest or mixed signals, with improvements or neutrality dominating as the season progresses. April 24, 2026 Solcast The seasonal outlook for June, July and August 2026 indicates largely neutral to positive solar radiation conditions in many…
Solar power set a new generation record on Britain’s electricity grid during a week when carbon-free supply also hit a record high. The new records come as the grid operator expands demand-side flexibility markets in anticipation of lower summer demand due to strong solar radiation. April 24, 2026 Matthew Lynas According to data from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), UK solar power generation exceeded 15 GW for the first time on April 23. Historical generation data available through NESO’s GB Generation mix dashboard shows that 15,147 MW of solar energy was generated as of 11:30 am on April 23.…
Airengy Ltd., listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire a 51% stake in Green-Go, an Israeli PV developer and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor with expertise in agrivoltaic energy. April 24, 2026 Brian Public Tel Aviv, Israel Image: Shai Pal, Unsplash Airengy wants to enter the Israeli solar engineering and construction market with a planned majority stake in Green-Go. The deal comes as developers position themselves for new opportunities within Israel’s emerging agricultural framework. Ra’anana-based Airengy said the transaction would create a third pillar of its business alongside its compressed air…
Four Republican lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday aimed at preserving certain tax credits for clean energy projects. The “US Energy Dominance Act” aims to extend the effective length of energy efficiency, clean hydrogen and renewable energy tax credits, including the Investment Tax Credit (48E) and the Production Tax Credit (45Y) for commercial and eligible residential solar projects. “Amid rising electricity costs and tens of billions in clean energy projects being canceled and postponed across this country, this is a modest – but smart – step back in the right direction,” said Bob Keefe, executive director of E2, in a press…
Norwegian researchers have developed a multi-pyranometer method to more accurately estimate global tilted radiation (GTI) in the Arctic by separating beam, diffuse and reflected solar components. This approach was validated in the world’s northernmost settlement and was found to outperform conventional models in high-latitude conditions and improve the design of PV systems for extreme environments. April 23, 2026 Lior Kahana A research team from Norway has proposed a new method to estimate global tilted radiation (GTI) in the Arctic. The approach uses measurements from a 25-pyranometer array developed by the team to reconstruct the components of solar radiation: direct beam,…
A new report from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) estimates that building facades can offer up to 36 GW of technical solar PV potential, representing a significant but largely untapped resource. However, high costs, regulatory complexity and lower performance compared to roof systems limit widespread adoption, making facade PV currently a niche solution for specific building types. April 23, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Building-applied photovoltaic solar energy (BAPV) on facades could unlock significant additional solar capacity in the Netherlands, according to a new study by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The study highlights that while facade PV is unlikely to compete…