Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

For decades, the “energy trilemma” – balancing energy security, affordability, and environmental sustainability – has shaped how nations think about energy strategy. For much of the Global South, it has served as a practical compass. But today, that compass may no longer be sufficient.

The Dutch research institute has presented what it describes as the world’s first perovskite-based roof tile, achieving up to 13.8% efficiency on standalone modules and 12.4% when installed on a curved surface. The flexible modules were produced using TNO’s experimental roll-to-roll platform,

Agricultural exporter Aroma Agrotech’s subsidiary opens fully automated TOPCon solar module production line in Karnal, Haryana, with an annual capacity of 1.2 GW.

This strategic airlift was undertaken to ensure uninterrupted PV module manufacturing and supply for customers across utility-scale and commercial & industrial (C&I) segments, supporting critical project timelines.

Median solar module pricing in the United States reached $0.28 per watt as the market adjusted to intensified trade enforcement and new Foreign Entity of Concern compliance requirements, according to the Q1 2026 Quarterly Pricing & Domestic Content Report from Anza.

An IEA-PVPS report finds that solar power above 60° North is not only viable but rapidly expanding, driven by cold-climate performance gains, bifacial technologies, and rising energy security needs. While challenges like extreme seasonality, snow, permafrost, and scarce data remain, Arctic PV is emerging as a critical—and technically distinct—frontier for global solar deployment.

Researchers in Brazil tested second-life polycrystalline PV modules for two years and found they retained 87–88% of their original power, with minimal degradation and stable performance. Despite strong sustainability and circular economy benefits, economic incentives remain limited due to the declining cost and short warranties of new state-of-the-art silicon PV modules.

Researchers in Turkey optimized electrospray cooling for PV panels, achieving optimal power output with minimal water use and a compact, energy-efficient setup. Their study identified irradiance, flow rate, voltage, and nozzle distance as ideal parameters.

The amended FDI policy for investments from countries sharing land borders with India aims to attract capital and technology for critical solar components—such as cells, wafers, and polysilicon—while retaining strategic control of assets with domestic entities. Industry experts say it could accelerate renewable energy infrastructure and manufacturing, but it also carries risks, including pricing pressure, making careful regulatory oversight essential.

Achieving a system cost of $0.65/W through the secondary market and do-it-yourself assembly demonstrates a viable pathway for US plug-in solar to provide immediate utility bill relief to renters and apartment dwellers.