Manufacturers are integrating polymer-based frames into mass production, optimizing for rooftop and bifacial modules, and creating hybrid frames for challenging climates. The goal is consistent: reduce total cost of ownership without compromising durability.

Live fire tests aim to demonstrate physical containment technology.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, reports that pessimism in the global polysilicon market has deepened, driven by a persistent oversupply that exceeds buyers’ total monthly purchasing volumes. Several global polysilicon buyers have confirmed maintaining substantial inventories, which has contributed to the current subdued trading activity.

US-based software provider Solesca presents new ways of handling PV system unavailability and solar module degradation. Engineers have a key role to play in this evolution, ensuring more accurate and reliable energy predictions for solar projects.

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, powering everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, residential PV storage systems, and, more recently, mitigating curtailment in large-scale wind and solar power plants. EVs are driving large-scale demand for Li-ion batteries which will result in substantial volumes of spent batteries in the near future. This scenario highlights the potential for repurposing EV batteries for second-life stationary applications, which could maximise their value before recycling. However, to fully realise this opportunity, several economic, technical, and regulatory challenges must be addressed and resolved.

Energy is not merely a utility for lighting and basic operations; it also functions as a critical instrument of geopolitical influence. When access to power is disrupted or strategically weaponized during times of conflict, the economic consequences can be severe and far-reaching. 

While generation capacity from renewables has grown steadily, and commendable strides have been made to reduce the cost of solar PV cells for example, our ability to store, intelligently manage and distribute that energy still remains a massive challenge. This gap isn’t just a technical bottleneck, but also a strategic vulnerability that requires much attention across the entire renewable energy value chain.

The U.S. International Trade Commission has activated steep duties to offset what it deems improper trade practices supporting U.S. solar imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Obsolescent technology, serial defects, maintenance difficulties, and grid connection limitations are all creating unique risk management problems for North American solar.