Opinion & Analysis

As the global transition toward sustainable energy intensifies, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) has emerged as a critical innovation in merging renewable energy with architectural design. The recently published guidebook “Building-Integrated Photovoltaics: A Technical Guidebook,” edited by IEA PVPS Task 15 experts Nuria Martín Chivelet, Costa Kapsis, and Francesco Frontini, offers a comprehensive resource for architects, engineers, and urban planners looking to integrate BIPV into the built environment. This article explores the book’s key insights, including applications, challenges, and future pathways.

Digital adoption across the renewable energy value chain reveals a stark imbalance. Operations and maintenance (O&M) has embraced digitalization most enthusiastically, with SCADA systems and IoT-enabled devices revolutionizing efficiency through real-time monitoring and resource optimization. However, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) processes remain surprisingly under-digitized despite their critical importance.

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.

Australia’s rapidly growing solar PV industry faces mounting cyber risks that no operator can afford to ignore. PV systems rely on intricate supply chains, incorporating hardware and software from multiple vendors. Each link in this chain – be it a component manufacturer, a software provider, or a maintenance contractor – can introduce potential entry points for cyberattacks.

The Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) could achieve a green open access (OA) capacity of around 40 GW by 2030, provided that transmission bottlenecks are resolved, and no other significant obstacles emerge. This will represent approximately one-third of green OA capacity in India by 2030.

As of Feb. 28, 2025, India’s installed solar capacity stands at approximately 102.57 GW, contributing significantly to its renewable energy mix. To meet the 500 GW target, solar energy will need to contribute nearly 300 GW.

For India to achieve its 600 GW clean energy goal, rooftop solar must become a national priority. By learning from global success stories, addressing financial barriers, and implementing robust policies, India can unlock the full potential of decentralised solar energy.

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.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, has achieved a historic milestone with 10 lakh homes now solar-powered as of 10th March 2025.

The energy storage market is rapidly evolving with cutting-edge battery technologies leading the way. Ongoing advancements are improving lithium batteries’ safety and longevity, further solidifying their position as the preferred choice for solar energy storage systems. Other promising developments are solid-state batteries, flow batteries, and sodium-ion batteries.