Author: solarenergy
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated all claims of two TOPCon solar cell patents previously filed by Trina Solar against Canadian Solar subsidiaries. April 17, 2026 Emiliano Bellini The headquarters of the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia, United States Image: Coolcaesar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chinese-Canadian PV manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued final written decisions invalidating all claims of two TOPCon solar cell patents previously filed by the China-based competitor. Trina Solar. “This ruling reinforces Canadian Solar’s long-standing, successful track record in…
Hoshine Silicon reported 2025 revenues of CNY20.499 billion ($2.82 billion) and a net loss of CNY2.991 billion due to solar disruptions and impairments. Meanwhile, polysilicon and wafer prices continued to decline in mid-April due to high inventories and weak demand. April 17, 2026 Vincent Shaw Hoshine Silicon reported 2025 revenues of CNY20.499 billion ($2.82 billion) and a net loss attributable to shareholders of CNY2.991 billion ($411 million). The company attributed the loss mainly to a severe disruption of its PV business, which resulted in significant shutdown and operating losses, as well as CNY1.699 billion in impairment charges on PV-related and…
Researchers in the UK have found that, when used correctly, thermostatic radiator valves can reduce energy consumption for space heating with air source heat pumps by 6 to 8% without affecting system efficiency. TRVs should be used carefully in well-designed, balanced systems with at least one open flow path because they serve primarily as a secondary aid to room-level comfort control and not as a substitute for good heat pump design and operation at low supply temperatures. April 17, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the University of Salford in the UK have investigated how thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) could improve…
South Korea has extended investment tax credits to solar panel manufacturing facilities that meet carbon footprint thresholds, in the latest step in a policy path that increasingly uses purchasing and tax measures to support domestic manufacturers. April 16, 2026 Brian Publicover South Korea has expanded its fiscal support framework for low-carbon solar panel production, clarifying that facilities producing PV modules with carbon emissions of 655 kg CO₂/kW or less are eligible for investment tax credits under revised enforcement rules that came into effect on April 1. This was reported by the Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA). The electric times this…
BMW Group tells pv magazine its iX5 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) will enter series production in 2028 using a third-generation fuel cell system co-developed with Toyota, but says hydrogen pump prices will need to match those of diesel for the vehicle to succeed commercially. April 16, 2026 Brian Publicover BMW Group has confirmed that the iX5 Hydrogen FCEV will enter series production in 2028, powered by a third-generation fuel cell system developed in collaboration with Toyota Motor, which BMW says delivers greater efficiency, higher output and lower energy consumption compared to previous iterations. BMW Group said improvements in…
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) cyber attacks are an important category of cyber threats that target digital and cyber-physical systems that rely on network availability, especially when systems rely on continuous communications for monitoring and control. In these attacks, a target system, server, or network is overwhelmed by a massive amount of traffic generated by multiple compromised devices. Rather than intercepting communications like other types of attacks, DDoS attacks aim to deplete system resources, making services unavailable to legitimate users. As a result, operators may lose visibility and control over critical infrastructure. DDoS attacks can also target PV systems and solar power…
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has appointed Authentic Renewable Energy and Eco-Friendly Energy Network Corp. (GREEENC) formally registered as an ecozone enterprise for the production and export of PV modules, with the European Union as its main target market. April 16, 2026 Brian Publicover PEZA, a Philippine government investment promotion agency, has signed a registration agreement with GREENC, paving the way for the company to manufacture, assemble and export PV modules from an industrial park in Batangas province, south of Manila. PEZA signed the agreement this week at its headquarters, with Director General Tereso O. Panga and GREENC President…
Germany could break the gigawatt hour barrier for the first time on a monthly basis. So far in March, approximately 45,000 new residential photovoltaic storage systems have been registered in the market master data register. April 16, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt By pv magazine Germany The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) manages Energy Charts, which present easily digestible data from the German Market Master Data Register. This is the official system that registers storage assets ranging from utility-scale battery installations to commercial and residential systems, including small balcony solar power plants and plug-in storage devices. Energy Charts show…
Researchers have analyzed the biomass and nutritional value of grasses and legumes for grazing dairy cattle, which grow on agrivoltaic fields. The results showed that forage quality in agrivoltaic environments can be maintained or even improved. April 16, 2026 Lior Kahana A research team from the University of Minnesota in the United States has investigated the impact of agrivoltaic installations on the yield and nutritional quality of grasses and legumes for grazing dairy cattle. “This study is one of the first to evaluate forage biomass and forage quality of multiple grass and legume species grown under different agrivoltaic solar panel…
A study comparing power purchase agreements and solar self-generation in Brazil’s open market shows that direct investments in photovoltaic plants can reduce costs by as much as 32.9%, with solid returns but higher risk exposure. While regulatory exemptions significantly improve project economics, self-generation remains sensitive to costs, market prices, and policy changes that can impact long-term viability. April 16, 2026 Livia Neves By pv magazine Brazil Researchers from the Federal University of Ceará and the Federal University of São João del-Rei assessed contracting strategies in Brazil’s Free Contracting Environment (ACL), comparing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with self-production of solar photovoltaics…