Opinion & Analysis

China’s PV manufacturing sector is operating at full capacity ahead of an April 1 export tax change, contributing to module price increases of 20% to 30% in parts of the supply chain and raising risks for price-sensitive European commercial and utility-scale projects in early 2026.

The centralized cloud model is now under strain. India alone is estimated to have reached roughly 2,070 MW of data center capacity by the end of 2025, up from about 1,255 MW in 2024, driven by AI adoption, 5G rollout, and video led consumption, even as power, land, and network constraints become more visible. At the same time, global data center markets are grappling with power constraints, rising energy costs, and land limitations, making the continued expansion of a few large hubs increasingly inefficient.

Energy storage for homes—anchored by hybrid inverter systems—will lead the next phase of solar growth in India. Not as an upgrade, but as a necessity for a nation building toward energy independence by 2047.

The federal government has unveiled new details of its plan to create a $1.2 billion critical mineral reserve. Three minerals will initially be the focus: antimony, gallium and rare earths (a group of 17 different elements).

Once considered isolated incidents, spontaneous glass breakages in solar modules are becoming more frequent, highlighting the limits of some manufacturing choices and the need for closer quality control.

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.

Setting up solar projects in harsh terrains is more than an engineering challenge—it is a test of planning, adaptability, and execution discipline. As India’s solar capacity continues to expand, the next 100 MW of installations will increasingly come from regions where conditions are difficult but potential remains high.

A new generation of sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery cells has been launched as an alternative to the virtual monopoly of lithium-ion (Li-ion). Although the technology is unlikely to displace significant Li-ion market share, recent improvements make Na-ion a viable solution for certain niche applications, with potential for wider usage if cost becomes competitive.

Smart grids represent a fundamental shift in how electricity networks are planned and operated. By leveraging digital technologies, real-time communication, and automation, smart grids enable utilities to respond dynamically to changing grid conditions. For India, this transformation is critical to maintaining reliability while integrating large volumes of solar and wind power. 

High solar irradiation, expanding wind corridors, improving transmission infrastructure, and declining storage costs position India to be one of the largest contributors to incremental global renewable capacity additions by 2030. This also strengthens India’s role as a long-term hub for renewable project execution talent.