China polysilicon prices fall over 13% year-to-date as below-cost selling persists
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.
New simulation platform lets energy operators train against realistic cyberattacks
Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer FKIE institute developed PowerRange, a virtual simulation platform that helps power grid operators safely test cybersecurity measures and respond to realistic cyberattacks. The platform supports both traditional and renewable grids, offering immersive training across IT, OT, and control systems while highlighting the importance of coordination, communication, and practical defense strategies.
NanoMalaysia unveils sodium-ion prototype surpassing 300 Wh/kg
The new prototype ranks among the most advanced sodium‑ion battery systems reported worldwide.
Lightweight PV modules could unlock more than 85 GW of untapped rooftop potential in Europe
In its second monthly column for pv magazine, the Becquerel Institute explains that Europe has vast commercial and industrial rooftops suitable for solar, but decades-old structural limits block conventional PV panels, creating an 85 GW untapped potential. Lightweight PV modules, commercially available and up to 50% lighter, can unlock this constrained market, meeting regulatory, economic, and technical needs for solar deployment across the continent.
China commissions first urban underground vanadium flow battery system
China has deployed its first 1.25 MW urban vanadium flow battery (VFB), supporting peak AC loads and offering a safer alternative amid tighter lithium-ion storage regulations in dense urban environments.
Aiko launches 545 W back-contact solar module with 25% efficiency
The Chinese manufacturer said its new back-contact module delivers up to 545 W and over 25% efficiency in a compact rooftop format for residential, C&I, and off-grid applications.
Survey highlights technology shift in utility-scale solar
Bifacial PV modules, string inverters and advanced trackers are becoming the preferred technologies in utility-scale solar project design, according to new data from RatedPower.
Water-spray cooling can improve PV module efficiency by 28% in arid environments
An Algerian research team has developed a smart water-spray cooling system for PV panels that activates only when temperatures exceed a set threshold, boosting efficiency while minimizing water use in desert conditions. The system raised power output and reduced module temperatures, offering similar efficiency to continuous cooling but with far lower water consumption, pump operation, and costs.
Longi launches fire-resistant solar module for rooftop PV
The Chinese manufacturer has launched a fire-resistant version of its Hi-MO X10 module for distributed PV applications, featuring back-contact technology and up to 24.8% efficiency. The company says the module adds enhanced fire-safety design to address rooftop PV risks such as hot spots and DC arcing.
Chemical incidents halt Silfab Solar factory as US probe begins
South Carolina regulators and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are investigating Silfab Solar’s Fort Mill manufacturing plant after releases of potassium hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid within the same week.
