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Solar industry
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- 1Germany's solar output tops all of last year by end of September●Deutschland hat 2026 bereits 90,2 Terawattstunden # Solarstrom erzeugt. Damit liegt die Produktion schon Ende September
Germany has already generated 90.2 terawatt hours of solar power in 2026, according to the Federal Association of the Solar Industry. That means production by the end of September has surpassed the full-year total for 2025, which stood at 90.0 terawatt hours. The association credits an unusually high number of sunshine hours and the continued expansion of solar capacity for the record pace.
- 2
New figures show the world added around 690 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, according to reporting by pv magazine. The total underscores the continued rapid expansion of solar energy worldwide, as installations keep outpacing forecasts driven by falling costs and strong demand in major markets. Industry observers are weighing what the record-scale buildout means for grids, fossil fuel demand and global climate targets.
- 3Longi sets 28.29% world record for silicon solar cell efficiency▼Longi sets 28.29% world record for single-junction silicon solar cell efficiency
Chinese solar manufacturer Longi has set a new world record of 28.29% efficiency for a single-junction silicon solar cell, according to pv magazine USA. The figure marks a milestone for crystalline silicon photovoltaics, pushing closer to the technology's theoretical limits. Industry observers see such records as key to lowering solar power costs and strengthening Longi's position in the fiercely competitive global panel market.
- 4Why India's solar manufacturing is a big success story▼Why India’s solar manufacturing is a big success story
Reports highlight India's rapid rise in solar manufacturing, crediting domestic production policies for building a homegrown industry capable of supplying solar panels at scale. India has become one of the world's fastest-growing solar manufacturing hubs, reducing reliance on imported Chinese modules while creating jobs and supporting its clean energy targets. Commentators point to it as a model for how emerging economies can industrialise around renewables.
- 5
Scientists have produced solar power from panels placed 10 metres underwater, according to a report by Euronews. The experiment suggests solar panels can work effectively below the sea surface, where water cools the equipment and space is abundant. If scalable, underwater solar could open new sites for renewable energy generation, though costs, maintenance and efficiency underwater remain open questions for the industry.
- 6US solar module prices expected to jump 40% after tariff ruling▼Anza expects at least a 40% spike in U.S. solar module prices after Section 232
Anza, a renewable energy procurement firm, projects that U.S. solar module prices will rise by at least 40% following the imposition of Section 232 tariffs. The trade measure, which covers imported solar components on national security grounds, is expected to significantly raise costs for developers and slow project pipelines across the American solar industry.
- 7
Questions are being raised over whether the rapid expansion of solar power in the United States is finally losing momentum. Analysts and readers are debating the state of the industry, its growth trajectory, and what factors could be holding back new installations after years of strong gains.
- 8America's Battery Boom Shifts From Cars to the Power Grid●America’s Next Battery Boom May Be About the Grid, Not Cars
A new report argues the next wave of American battery demand will come not from electric vehicles but from grid-scale storage, as utilities add batteries to balance growing amounts of wind and solar power and to stabilize an aging electricity network under rising demand from data centers. Industry watchers see this as a structural shift in where battery manufacturing and investment will flow next.
- 9Fossil Fuel Industry Shifting Goalposts as Renewables Succeed●The Fossil Fuel Industry Keeps Shifting the Goalposts How denial tactics have evolved as renewable energy succeeds... Th
An analysis of fossil fuel industry messaging argues that climate denial tactics have evolved as renewable energy outperforms past predictions. It highlights a 2013 Australian Senate debate in which Barnaby Joyce dismissed a 5% solar target as impossible, contrasting that claim with how far solar has since grown. The piece frames this as a pattern of moving goalposts rather than engaging with evidence.
- 10
Solar combined with battery storage is making its strongest case yet in Texas, according to energy industry reporting. The state's growing power demand and grid strain are driving interest in solar-plus-storage systems as a reliable alternative, and the argument is being closely watched by energy markets and policymakers elsewhere.
- 11Land Scarcity Pushes Solar Power Into Unlikely Spaces▼Space Squeeze Forces Solar Power Into Tight Corners
Reports highlight how shrinking availability of open land is pushing the solar industry to install panels in tighter, less conventional spaces. As large-scale solar farms compete with agriculture and development for ground, developers are turning to rooftops, car parks, and other constrained sites. Commentators in the energy press say land constraints are becoming a defining challenge for solar expansion worldwide.
- 12Underwater Solar Panels Tested in South China Sea▼Underwater Solar Panels Tested at Ten Metres in the South China Sea
Researchers have tested underwater solar panels at a depth of ten metres in the South China Sea, according to an industry report. The trial explores whether photovoltaic systems can generate usable power below the surface, where light is weaker but conditions are more stable. Details on efficiency results and which institution led the test have not been released, leaving the technology's practical prospects uncertain.
- 13NextPower Says Solar and Storage Demand Defies Policy and Grid Hurdles▼Nextpower Sees Solar, Storage Demand Powering Through Policy and Grid Challenges
NextPower says demand for solar power and battery storage remains strong despite policy uncertainty and grid connection bottlenecks. The company's outlook suggests the clean energy buildout is continuing through regulatory headwinds, reinforcing confidence among investors and industry watchers that renewables growth will hold up even as permitting and infrastructure issues persist across major markets.
- 14TOYO begins solar panel deliveries under $240 million US supply deals▼Solar panel deliveries have begun under about $240 million in U.S. supply deals with TOYO.
Solar panel deliveries have begun under supply agreements worth roughly $240 million between TOYO and U.S. buyers. The milestone marks the start of shipments under the contracts, which support American solar project pipelines amid growing demand for domestically supplied panels. The announcement drew attention from energy and markets watchers tracking TOYO's expansion in the U.S. solar supply chain.
- 15
German energy company RWE has commissioned a new 9.5-MW solar farm in the state of Hesse. The project adds to RWE's growing renewables portfolio as Germany continues its push to expand solar capacity and cut reliance on fossil fuels. Energy industry outlets reported the startup, highlighting the utility's ongoing investment in photovoltaic plants across the country.
- 16Florida veteran says solar panels doubled her electric bills▼Florida Army veteran was promised 'zero' electric bills. Instead, she says solar doubled costs
An Army veteran in Florida says she was promised zero electric bills when she signed up for residential solar panels, but her costs instead doubled. Her account adds to growing complaints about aggressive door-to-door solar sales tactics, misleading savings claims, and long-term financing contracts that leave homeowners paying more than expected, prompting calls for better consumer protections in the fast-growing rooftop solar industry.
- 17Solar Projects Too Complex for Standard Solutions▼Solar projects are becoming too complex for standard solutions
Trade coverage in the solar sector argues that photovoltaic projects have outgrown off-the-shelf engineering approaches. Growing project scale, varied grid requirements, and site-specific conditions are making one-size-fits-all designs harder to apply, pushing developers and equipment makers toward more customised planning, equipment and system integration as the industry matures.
- 18Irish solar farm excavation reveals medieval settlement▼Irish solar project archaeology uncovers medieval settlement and iron-working site beneath farmland
Archaeological work ahead of a solar energy project in Ireland has uncovered a medieval settlement and an iron-working site buried beneath farmland. The finds, made during pre-construction surveys, show the clean-energy development doubled as a significant historical discovery, shedding light on early industry and daily life on the site.
- 19
Trials are underway in Australia on wireless telecom towers wrapped in solar panels, a design that could let towers generate their own power and cut reliance on the grid. Industry coverage is focused on whether the solar-wrapped approach can withstand real-world conditions and how much energy it could realistically produce for network operators.
- 20Tongwei unveils 24.5%-efficiency rooftop solar module▼Tongwei launches TNC 2.0 FULLX G12R-48 rooftop solar module with 24.5% efficiency
Chinese solar manufacturer Tongwei has launched the TNC 2.0 FULLX G12R-48, a rooftop solar module built on its tunnel oxide passivated contact (TNC) cell technology. The company says the panel reaches 24.5% efficiency, a figure that would place it among the more efficient mainstream rooftop products on the market. The announcement adds to intensifying competition among Chinese module makers racing to commercialise higher-efficiency cell formats.
- 21Intersolar Mexico reports strong visitor growth at close▼Intersolar Mexico closes with remarkable visitor growth
Intersolar Mexico has closed its latest edition with a notable increase in visitor numbers, according to PV Tech. The trade fair for solar energy, held in Mexico, saw attendance grow markedly compared with previous editions. The result points to strengthening interest in Mexico's solar sector, with industry players and observers highlighting the event's momentum amid the region's ongoing energy transition.
- 22Key takeaways from Solar & Storage Live UK in Birmingham●Key takeaways from Solar & Storage Live UK, Birmingham
The UK's largest solar and energy storage exhibition took place in Birmingham, bringing together industry figures from across the renewable energy sector. pv magazine reported the main takeaways from the event, covering developments in solar technology, battery storage and the policy landscape shaping the UK's clean energy transition.
- 23Q ENERGY Opens 11 MWp Solar Farm in France's Marne▼Q ENERGY Inaugurates 11 MWp Solar Farm in France's Marne Department
Renewable energy developer Q ENERGY has inaugurated an 11 MWp solar farm in the Marne department in northeastern France. The facility adds new photovoltaic capacity to the region's energy mix and marks another step in France's push to expand solar power. Industry outlets reported the opening as part of ongoing solar development activity across the country.
- 24CertainTeed launches Landmark PWR solar roofing system▼CertainTeed release new solar roofing system Landmark PWR
Building materials manufacturer CertainTeed has released Landmark PWR, a new solar roofing system. The product combines solar power generation with traditional asphalt shingle roofing, allowing homeowners to generate electricity without separate mounted panels. The announcement is drawing attention in the solar and construction industries as rooftop solar continues to expand in residential markets.
- 25TCL Solar launches back-contact double-glass module line▼TCL Solar launches new back-contact, double-glass module line
TCL Solar has introduced a new line of back-contact, double-glass solar modules, expanding its photovoltaic product portfolio. Back-contact designs eliminate visible front contacts to improve efficiency and aesthetics, while double-glass construction boosts durability and weather resistance. The launch positions the Chinese manufacturer to compete in the high-efficiency residential and commercial solar market as demand for premium modules grows.
- 26CertainTeed Launches Landmark PWR Solar Solution▼CertainTeed Expands Solar Solutions With Launch of Landmark PWR
Building materials manufacturer CertainTeed has announced the launch of Landmark PWR, a new product expanding its solar solutions lineup. The announcement was reported by LBM Journal, a publication covering the building materials industry. The move signals CertainTeed's continued push into residential solar and roofing-integrated energy products for the construction market.
- 27Suntech showcases solar and storage products at UK trade show▼Suntech highlights PV and energy Storage at Solar & Storage Live UK
Suntech presented its photovoltaic modules and energy storage solutions at Solar & Storage Live UK, one of Britain's main renewable energy trade events. The company's focus on combined solar-plus-storage offerings reflects growing demand in the UK market, where installers and developers are increasingly pairing panels with batteries as grid connection costs rise and households seek energy independence.
- 28UK solar buyer quoted £400 for bird protection after asking▼UK solar buyer told bird protection isn't discussed unless asked, then quoted £400
A UK homeowner shopping for solar panels says installers told them bird protection is not discussed unless the customer specifically asks, then quoted £400 to add it. The exchange has raised concerns about transparency in the solar industry, with critics arguing that protections for nesting birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act should be standard information rather than an optional upsell.
- 29Space-Based Solar Power Market Poised to Scale Up by 2035▼Space Based Solar Power Market To 2035: Energy Security Demand Drives Scale-Up - News and Statistics
A new market outlook projects growth in space-based solar power through 2035, driven by rising demand for energy security. The report points to expanding investment and development in the sector as countries look to diversify energy sources. Interest in the technology continues to build as governments and industry weigh its potential role in future energy supply.
- 30Swelect launches hybrid solar inverter range for commercial use▼Swelect launches hybrid solar inverter range for C&I applications
Indian solar equipment maker Swelect has launched a new range of hybrid solar inverters aimed at commercial and industrial customers. The product line is designed to combine solar generation with battery storage, helping businesses cut grid dependence and manage energy costs. The launch was reported by pv magazine Global.
- 31ABB launches new meter socket for solar installations▼ABB launches the Microlectric® BS225M-TCVCN meter socket to support growing demand for solar energy
ABB has introduced the Microlectric BS225M-TCVCN meter socket, a new product aimed at supporting the growing demand for solar energy. The launch adds to ABB's electrical equipment range and is designed to accommodate solar installations connected through the metering point. The announcement has drawn attention within the energy sector as solar adoption continues to expand.
- 32Zhongtian Hechuang Tenders Hydrogen Testing Center in Inner Mongolia●Green Hydrogen Project Tracker — Zhongtian Hechuang Wushenqi Wind and Solar Power Hydrogen Production Project Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Testing and Evaluation Center Tender, Investment of 65.13 Million Yuan
Zhongtian Hechuang has opened a tender for an electrolysis hydrogen production testing and evaluation center at its Wushenqi wind and solar power hydrogen production project in Inner Mongolia, with an investment of 65.13 million yuan. The project is part of China's expanding green hydrogen build-out, converting renewable power into hydrogen at scale. Industry watchers are tracking progress as a sign of momentum in the country's hydrogen sector.