https://turbineandpanel.com/2026-08-20https://turbineandpanel.com/share-home.svg https://turbineandpanel.com/news/cutting-back-contact-topcon/2026-08-20https://turbineandpanel.com/share-cutting-back-contact-topcon.svgCutting Back-Contact TOPCon Solar Cells to Minimize Recombination LossesA research team from the University of New South Wales and DAS Solar has investigated how laser cutting affects the performance of back-contact TOPCon silicon solar cells. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/byd-expands-solar-energy/2026-08-20https://turbineandpanel.com/share-byd-expands-solar-energy.svgBYD Expands Solar Energy Presence in Brazil with New Kit OfferingsBYD has started selling solar energy kits through its 233 dealerships in Brazil, expanding its presence in the country's solar energy market. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/researchers-develop-efficient-semitransparent/2026-08-20https://turbineandpanel.com/share-researchers-develop-efficient-semitransparent.svgResearchers Develop Efficient Semitransparent Organic PV ModulesA research group from Germany and Austria has successfully manufactured semitransparent organic PV modules with high efficiency and aperture area. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/essential-system-testing-long/2026-08-20https://turbineandpanel.com/share-essential-system-testing-long.svgEssential System Testing for Long-Term Solar Project PerformanceComprehensive system testing is crucial for maximizing energy production and extending the operational life of solar systems. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/chinese-automotive-glass-giant/2026-08-19https://turbineandpanel.com/share-chinese-automotive-glass-giant.svgChinese Automotive Glass Giant Announces Vehicle-Integrated Solar RoofFuyao Group, the world's largest automotive glass manufacturer, has confirmed the development of solar sunroof glass incorporating photovoltaic cells, with the capability to manufacture the product... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/automated-screening-decommissioned-pv/2026-08-19https://turbineandpanel.com/share-automated-screening-decommissioned-pv.svgAutomated Screening for Decommissioned PV ModulesA research group in Australia has developed an automated screening method to qualify decommissioned PV modules for second-life applications. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/freyr-energy-launches-silicon/2026-08-19https://turbineandpanel.com/share-freyr-energy-launches-silicon.svgFreyr Energy Launches Silicon Carbide Inverters for Residential Rooftop ApplicationsFreyr Energy has introduced a new range of single-phase solar inverters for residential rooftop applications in India, utilizing silicon carbide technology and digital monitoring features. https://turbineandpanel.com/news/low-concentrator-photovoltaic-receiver/2026-08-19https://turbineandpanel.com/share-low-concentrator-photovoltaic-receiver.svgLow Concentrator Photovoltaic Receiver for Wireless Laser Power TransmissionResearchers from Spain's University of Jaén have developed a low-concentrator photovoltaic receiver that improves optical coupling under static yet inherently non-uniform laser irradiance. https://turbineandpanel.com/news/portugal-works-towards-gw/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-portugal-works-towards-gw.svgPortugal Works Towards 3 GW Battery Storage Target by 2030Portugal aims to increase its battery storage capacity to 3 GW by 2030, up from the initial target of 2 GW, as part of its National Energy and Climate Plan. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/germany-allocates-gw-latest/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-germany-allocates-gw-latest.svgGermany Allocates 2.1 GW in Latest Ground-Mounted PV TenderThe Federal Network Agency has allocated 2.1 GW of PV capacity in the latest tender for utility-scale solar, exceeding the initially planned capacity. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/malta-prepares-second-renewable/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-malta-prepares-second-renewable.svgMalta Prepares Second 2026 Renewable Energy AuctionMalta's energy regulator is preparing to launch a second round of its competitive bidding process for renewable energy projects this year. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/brookfield-la-caisse-finalize/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-brookfield-la-caisse-finalize.svgBrookfield and La Caisse Finalize Acquisition of BoralexGlobal investment group Brookfield and Quebec-based institutional investor La Caisse have completed the acquisition of Quebec renewable energy producer Boralex. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/agrivoltaics-can-reduce-soil/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-agrivoltaics-can-reduce-soil.svgAgrivoltaics Can Reduce Soil Temperatures by More Than 20 CResearchers are studying the effects of agrivoltaic systems on soil temperatures and crop growth in two pilot projects in Italy. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/researchers-model-pathways-global/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-researchers-model-pathways-global.svgResearchers Model 1,708 Pathways for Global PV Waste RecyclingAn international research group has developed a comprehensive framework to evaluate the economic and climate benefits of local versus outsourced PV waste recycling. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/news/study-suggests-two-terminal/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-study-suggests-two-terminal.svgStudy Suggests Two-Terminal Perovskite-Silicon Tandems May Not Deliver Optimal Performance in All...New research indicates that the commercial success of two-terminal perovskite-silicon solar cells will depend on geography and market conditions rather than achieving high efficiencies. https://turbineandpanel.com/news/solar-module-prices-cool/2026-08-18https://turbineandpanel.com/share-solar-module-prices-cool.svgSolar Module Prices Cool Down Amid Europe's HeatwaveAs Europe experiences a severe heatwave, solar module prices are showing signs of cooling down, despite stagnant demand for photovoltaic systems. The decline in prices is attributed to production... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/solar-capacity-tops-terawatts/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-solar-capacity-tops-terawatts.svgSolar capacity tops 3 terawatts, underscoring rapid global growthGlobal photovoltaic installations have crossed the 3 TW mark, with China leading the surge and developing nations poised to increase their share of new capacity in the coming decade. https://turbineandpanel.com/news/ai-agents-streamline-solar/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-ai-agents-streamline-solar.svgAI Agents Streamline Solar Sales and OperationsA new startup called Wave Sales is offering an agentic AI platform to address issues in the residential solar sales process, providing integrations with other popular platforms and planned future... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/zealand-simplify-small-medium/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-zealand-simplify-small-medium.svgNew Zealand to simplify small, medium-sized solar installationsNew Zealand’s government will adopt 15 recommendations to streamline small and medium solar projects, including legalising plug-in panels, faster approvals for installations under 10 kW, and allowing... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/agastya-energy-plans-gw/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-agastya-energy-plans-gw.svgAgastya Energy Plans 12 GW Ingot and Wafer Factory in IndiaAgastya Energy Ltd, part of the Anubhav Agarwal Group, plans to develop a 12 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh, India, with an estimated investment of INR 78 billion. https://turbineandpanel.com/news/us-solar-policy-landscape-5d4b8b/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-us-solar-policy-landscape-5d4b8b.svgUS Solar Policy Landscape Offers 'Good News' Amid OBBBA and Section 232 TariffsThe US solar policy landscape has seen a mix of changes, including the introduction of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and Section 232 tariffs on polysilicon imports. However, experts argue... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/australia-nsw-sets-national-e60674/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-australia-nsw-sets-national-e60674.svgAustralia's NSW Sets National Data Centre Rules with New FrameworkNew South Wales (NSW) has become the first state to detail national data centre rules with a new framework that ties streamlined planning approval to commitments on renewable energy, water use, and... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/solar-eclipse-causes-variable-47904b/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-solar-eclipse-causes-variable-47904b.svgSolar Eclipse Causes Variable Energy Losses Across Europe and North AmericaA recent solar eclipse led to significant but uneven solar energy losses in Europe and North America, with some regions experiencing similar impacts despite differing levels of obscuration. Cloud... https://turbineandpanel.com/news/vikram-solar-expands-solar-dd98ba/2026-08-17https://turbineandpanel.com/share-vikram-solar-expands-solar-dd98ba.svgVikram Solar Expands Solar Manufacturing Capacity in IndiaVikram Solar has inaugurated a new 6 GW solar PV module manufacturing plant in India, increasing its total capacity to 15.5 GW per year. (Source: pv magazine) https://turbineandpanel.com/technologies/2026-08-20 https://turbineandpanel.com/about/ https://turbineandpanel.com/sources-and-methods/ https://turbineandpanel.com/corrections/