IEA lowers 2025-30 forecast for solar growth
The International Energy Agency has cut its 2025–30 renewables forecast by 5%, citing lower solar additions, though PV still represents nearly 80% of 4.6 TW expected growth.
IEA-PVPS warns soiling costs solar industry billions per year
The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme says dust, pollution, and debris on solar panels reduce output by 4% to 7% worldwide, costing the industry billions of dollars annually and making tailored mitigation increasingly urgent.
Scientists boost organic solar cell efficiency using polymer zwitterions
Chinese and US researchers have together developed electroactive polymer zwitterions to modify zinc oxide interlayers in organic solar cells. Their work was found to passivate defects in organic solar cells, helping to improve device performance and stability.
Malaysian partners to develop 1.5 GW of solar
Subsidiaries of Gentari and Gamuda will develop 1.5 GW of solar with battery storage in Malaysia to supply hyperscale data centres under the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme, supporting the country’s push to expand clean energy and meet rising tech-sector demand.
Indonesia announces 100 GW solar, storage minigrid plan
The new initiative features plans for 1 MW solar minigrids tied with 4 MWh of accompanying battery energy storage, to be deployed across 80,000 villages, alongside 20 GW of centralised solar power plants.
Philippines completes first MW-scale floating solar array
The Philippines has completed its first megawatt-scale floating solar array, a 4.99 MW installation on the Malubog reservoir, with plans to expand to 50 MW to power a copper mine. In Mindanao, work has begun on a 99 MW solar plant backed by about $120 million in green financing from HSBC.
Global average solar LCOE stood at $0.065/kWh in 2024, says IRENA
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s latest report finds little change in the global average levelised cost of electricity for utility-scale solar plants year-on-year, while the global average total installed cost of utility-scale solar projects fell by 11%.
Japanese projects to pilot solar on low load-bearing roofs, BIPV windows
A partnership between PXP Inc and Tokyo Gas Co is working on developing film-type chalcopyrite solar cells for industrial roofs with low load-bearing capacity. Elsewhere, a coalition of partners is installing inner windows featuring perovskite solar cells at Tokyo’s Telecom Center Building.
Photovoltaic inventions increase seventeen-fold in three decades
The European Patent Office says China has overtaken other countries in photovoltaic patent filings over the past 15 years, while European startups and universities retain a lead in agrivoltaics and niche solar applications.
Malaysian utility unveils hydro-floating solar, hydrogen hubs
Tenaga Nasional Berhad says the newly-announced hybrid hydro floating solar hub and green hydrogen hub will position Malaysia as a regional leader in the green hydrogen value chain.
