From the archive · Semiweekly Newsletter
Everybody is going domestic
Creator: Jason A. Weeks, Ph.D.Connect on LinkedIn ↗
TLDR · What matters most
- The key development: The US added 17.1GW of renewable energy in Q2 2026, while its project pipeline reached a record 204.6GW, according to the American Clean Power Association. Supporting detail: The industry brought online 17,058MW of new utility-scale solar, battery storage and land-based wind capacity in the second quarter of 2026, up 45% from the same quarter in 2025, according to ACP’s 2026 Q2 Clean Power Qua…
- The key development: SMT Energy and FlexGen have announced the start of operations of a 160MW/320MWh energy storage facility Houston, Texas, US. Supporting detail: Announced 9 September, the Houston IV battery energy storage system (BESS) project joins more than 12 projects from SMT and FlexGen built to support the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
- The key development: The Chinese storage supplier will source Samsung SDI cells to maintain delivery capability to the U.S. Supporting detail: The source confirmed that Sungrow and Samsung SDI are moving forward with the cooperation, but declined to disclose the expected procurement volume, contract value, supply schedule or other commercial terms.
- The key development: MN8 Energy is building a solar + storage system that will provide dispatchable capacity to the PJM grid serving Google’s data centers in the West Virginia region. Supporting detail: The solar project is expected… The post West Virginia solar project to pair lithium BESS with zinc long-duration energy storage appeared first on Solar Power World .
- The key development: Volta Foundation’s July 2026 report ‘Where Batteries Can Win in Data Center Applications’ shows the two areas where battery energy storage systems (BESS) are winning, four where it is competing and two areas where it’s losing out to other technologies in th… Supporting detail: The post How competitive is BESS for data centers, really?
BESS Technology
How competitive is BESS for data centers, really?
Volta Foundation’s July 2026 report ‘Where Batteries Can Win in Data Center Applications’ shows the two areas where battery energy storage systems (BESS) are winning, four where it is competing and two areas where it’s losing out to other technologies in th…
- Volta Foundation’s July 2026 report ‘Where Batteries Can Win in Data Center Applications’ shows the two areas where battery energy storage systems (BESS) are winning, four where it is competing and two areas where it’s losing out to other technologies in the data center market.
- The post How competitive is BESS for data centers, really?
- appeared first on Energy Storage .
Ore Energy’s iron-air technology: LDES applications, trade-offs, deployments and next-gen cells
We look at the iron-air battery technology of startup Ore Energy, including how it works and technology developments it is pursuing.
- We look at the iron-air battery technology of startup Ore Energy, including how it works and technology developments it is pursuing after a recent US$43 million fundraise.
- Netherlands-based Ore Energy has been developing its technology over the last few years and raising money along the way.
- In a recent funding round, Ore Energy secured US$43 million of Series A funding to take its iron-air BESS technology to the next level of commercialisation.
- This latest funding round brings the total raised by Ore Energy to US$61 million.
- The funding will help Ore Energy establish its first manufacturing facility, with plans to reach GWh-scale manufacturing by 2028.
India’s largest utility NTPC and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet pilot sodium-ion battery storage
Two pilot deployments of sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery storage technologies are currently being solicited in India.
- India’s largest utility company, NTPC, which is partially state-owned and operates around a quarter of the country’s grid-connected power plants, has followed up recent pilots of other non-lithium energy storage technologies with a Na-ion pilot.
- NTPC issued invitations for expressions of interest (EOI) through its tender portal yesterday (9 September), to develop and install a grid-connected sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS).
- The BESS would be deployed at NTPC facilities, whether thermal power stations or offices, and its technical performance, safety, reliability, degradation, operational characteristics and techno-commercial viability would be assessed.
- Submissions will be accepted until 15 October 2026.
- The pilot is intended to trial the potential of Na-ion for further large-scale BESS sites across NTPC’s portfolio.
CATL upgraded to AAA, Wärtsilä downgraded to BB in Bankability Report Q2 update
Solar Media Market Research has provided its Battery StorageTech Bankability Ratings Report Q2 update, with a few notable ranking changes.
- The global battery energy storage market is entering a new phase, with shifting cell prices, intensifying competition and rapid international expansion reshaping the supplier landscape.
- The latest Battery StorageTech Bankability Ratings Report for Q2 highlights these changes, with CATL upgraded to AAA on the back of strong growth in its energy storage business, while Wärtsilä has been downgraded to BB amid persistently low orders and changes to its energy storage business.
- The changes underline how quickly supplier risk profiles are evolving as the BESS market matures.
- Financial performance, exposure to battery-cell costs, manufacturing scale, and the ability to compete in increasingly international markets are becoming critical factors in assessing the long-term bankability of storage providers.
- The Report’s methodology has been updated to place greater emphasis on battery cell production in response to changing market dynamics, particularly the recent spike in lithium carbonate prices.
Data Centers
Op-ed: Energy storage is cheap to build, expensive to run
Demand from hyperscalers and data centers is rising quickly, while interconnection delays are stretching multiple years across utilities.
- As a result, commercial and industrial customers and large energy buyers are turning to one of the few resources that can be built and energized quickly, which is battery energy storage systems (BESS).
- The economics of BESS… The post Op-ed: Energy storage is cheap to build, expensive to run appeared first on Solar Power World .
Manufacturing
Nordic ROUNDUP: Flower, Volvo and Delta Capacity launch BESS projects
Sweden-based Flower is building a project in Germany, Volvo is launching one in Sweden and Delta Capacity has secured a toll for one in Finland.
- A roundup of large-scale BESS news from in and around the Nordic region, with Sweden-based Flower building a project in Germany, Volvo launching one in Sweden and Delta Capacity securing a toll for one in Finland.
- Sweden-based battery energy storage system (BESS) platform Flower has stared building a 100MW/400MWh project in Bergedorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- The four-hour system will be Hamburg’s largest battery storage facility and the largest BESS located within a major German city, Flower said.
- The news comes ahead of the Energy Storage Summit Germany 2026, which runs in just a few working day’s time, on 15-16 September 2026 in Berlin (use our code ESN20 for a 20% discount on tickets).
- The start of construction on the Hamburg project was marked in a ceremony yesterday (9 September) attended by numerous stakeholders including Katharina Fegebank, Second Mayor of Hamburg and Senator for Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture.
A Battery Can Be Compliant and Still Not Be Ready to Ship
September 10, 2026 | When I review a battery shipment, I do not start by asking, “Do we have an SDS and a UN 38.3 test summary?”
- I start with a more awkward question: “Do all these documents describe the same battery?”
- That distinction sounds small until a product moves from engineering into logistics.
- Imagine a fictional but realistic handoff.
- The commercial order names model BX-48.
- The UN 38.3 test summary covers a family called BX Series.
ARRAY Technologies opens its largest factory in New Mexico
Solar tracker and racking producer ARRAY Technologies has opened a new $50 million manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- The 216,000-sq-ft facility, which is roughly three-times the size of ARRAY’s prior Albuquerque site, expands its domestic manufacturing capabilities and will support approximately 300 jobs across production, assembly, design, engineering, customer service and other functions.
- Founded… The post ARRAY Technologies opens its largest factory in New Mexico appeared first on Solar Power World .
- Key reported scale or value: 50 million.
Broader Lithium-ion
Sungrow turns to Samsung SDI battery cells to sustain its energy storage business
The Chinese storage supplier will source Samsung SDI cells to maintain delivery capability to the U.S.
- The Chinese storage supplier will source Samsung SDI cells to maintain delivery capability to the U.S. Chinese inverter and energy storage supplier Sungrow plans to procure battery cells from South Korea’s Samsung SDI for use in its energy storage systems, primarily to support deliveries to the U…
- The source confirmed that Sungrow and Samsung SDI are moving forward with the cooperation, but declined to disclose the expected procurement volume, contract value, supply schedule or other commercial terms.
- Sungrow and Samsung SDI did not respond to this publication’s requests for comment by the time of writing.
- The confirmation follows reports in South Korea that Samsung SDI is negotiating a major lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supply agreement with a global energy storage system supplier.
- South Korean electronics industry outlet The Elec reported earlier this month that the proposed agreement would run for three years, with annual supplies amounting to several gigawatt-hours and a total contract value in the trillions of Korean won.
Raw Materials & Supply Chains
CATL, EVE Energy lead Chinese manufacturers’ battery storage cell price hikes
A new wave of cell price hikes is sweeping the battery energy storage industry.
- Major manufacturers have initiated price increases.
- Major manufacturers have initiated price increases, with smaller producers quickly following suit.
- CATL led the charge by raising the price of its 314Ah storage cells from RMB 0.414/Wh (US$0.062/Wh) to RMB 0.423/Wh.
- Meanwhile, EVE Energy announced that effective 1 September 2026, a 2% consumption tax surcharge will be added to the base price of all domestic battery products.
- Export-bound products will be eligible for tax rebates, ensuring price parity between domestic and export markets.
Projects & Operations
FlexGen, SMT Energy commission 320MWh Texas BESS in just six weeks, as ERCOT grid faces record demand
SMT Energy and FlexGen have announced the start of operations of a 160MW/320MWh energy storage facility Houston, Texas, US.
- Developer SMT Energy and Software-focused energy storage system integrator FlexGen have announced the start of operations of a 160MW/320MWh energy storage facility in Houston, Texas, US.
- Announced 9 September, the Houston IV battery energy storage system (BESS) project joins more than 12 projects from SMT and FlexGen built to support the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
- Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services were provided by Irby Construction Company.
- In February 2025 SMT secured a US$135 million funding for the Houston IV project , then in May, SMT and utility CenterPoint Energy broke ground on the project .
- SMT and FlexGen highlighted that Houston IV was commissioned in six weeks, “cutting the time of deployment by 3x from the original timeline.”
US adds 17.1GW of clean power capacity in record Q2, ACP reports
The US added 17.1GW of renewable energy in Q2 2026, while its project pipeline reached a record 204.6GW, according to the American Clean Power Association.
- The US clean power industry added 17.1GW of utility-scale solar, battery storage and land-based wind capacity in Q2 2026, while the project pipeline reached a record 204.6GW, according to the American Clean Power Association (ACP).
- The industry brought online 17,058MW of new utility-scale solar, battery storage and land-based wind capacity in the second quarter of 2026, up 45% from the same quarter in 2025, according to ACP’s 2026 Q2 Clean Power Quarterly Market Report.
- The quarter marked the strongest second quarter and first half of a year on record for clean energy deployments, with cumulative clean power capacity reaching 387,606MW, enough to power 83.2 million American homes.
- Utility-scale solar accounted for the largest share of Q2 additions, with 7,405MW commissioned, representing 43% of new capacity additions.
- Land-based wind installations reached nearly 5GW, while 4,685MW/17,177MWh of battery storage was added.
West Virginia solar project to pair lithium BESS with zinc long-duration energy storage
MN8 Energy is building a solar + storage system that will provide dispatchable capacity to the PJM grid serving Google’s data centers in the West Virginia region.
- The 86-MW solar project will pair 100 MWh of zinc-based long-duration energy storage from Eos along with 280 MWh of lithium-ion energy storage.
- The solar project is expected… The post West Virginia solar project to pair lithium BESS with zinc long-duration energy storage appeared first on Solar Power World .
Second-life BESS firms B2U, Moment and Rebaba advance project operations, US compliance, and new financing
Second-life BESS firms B2U, Moment and Rebaba are advancing project operations in Texas, US compliance, and new financing in Europe.
- Second-life battery energy storage system (BESS) firms B2U, Moment and Rebaba are advancing project operations in Texas, US compliance, and new financing in Europe, respectively.
- Second life energy storage firm B2U Storage Solutions has put its 28MWh Bexar Martinez BESS project into commercial operation near San Antonio, Texas, US.
- Announced 9 September, the Bexar Martinez project is connected within utility CPS Energy’s service territory and built from repurposed electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
- It is the second site in Texas where B2U has developed and equipped its patented second-life BESS cabinets.
- The company claimed that projects using its technology receive “significantly higher returns than those available from other domestic BESS vendors.”
Energy Storage Canada recommends Ontario to unlock BTM battery capacity ahead of electricity supply crunch
Energy Storage Canada (ESC) has recommended establishing a Distributed Reliability Track for BTM and distribution-connected energy storage.
- Trade association Energy Storage Canada (ESC) has recommended establishing a Distributed Reliability Track for behind-the-meter (BTM) and distribution-connected energy storage in the country’s most populous province, Ontario.
- The recommendation comes from ESC’s Unlocking Distributed Storage Resources: Diversifying Ontario’s Procurement Strategy to Include DERs report, authored with research support from Ontario-based energy storage and software firm Peak Power, released 2 September.
- The report outlines how to execute commitments made in Energy for Generations, Ontario’s Integrated Energy Plan.
- That plan acknowledges that distributed energy resources (DERs) deliver undervalued benefits to the grid and calls for compensation structures that properly reflect those contributions.
- According to ESC’s report, Ontario faces a critical electricity supply crunch driven by surging demand, citing the Ontario Independent System Operator’s (IESO’s) projected 65% growth by 2050 and the 2026 closure of the 2,100MW Pickering Nuclear station.
UK ROUNDUP: BESS planning approvals, acquisitions and optimisation deals with Field, Eelpower & EDF
BESS news in brief from the UK market featuring Field, Eelpower and EDF, as reported by our colleagues at Solar Power Portal.
- BESS news in brief from the UK market, featuring Field, Eelpower and EDF, as reported by our colleagues at Solar Power Portal.
- This edition of news in brief brings you BESS news from the UK market featuring Field, Eelpower and EDF, as reported by our colleagues at Solar Power Portal.
- UK battery storage developer Field’s 400MW High Marnham battery energy storage system (BESS) in Nottinghamshire has secured what the developer described as “irrevocable planning consent” from Bassetlaw District Council.
- Field had targeted April 2025 for submission of the planning application to Bassetlaw District Council.
- Construction of the High Marnham project is expected to begin in 2028 and take around two years to complete, subject to final approvals.
‘At least six months ahead of go live’: OptiGrid on the ideal onboarding runway for battery storage systems
In this interview with ESN Premium, Sahand Karimi of OptiGrid discusses how BESS warranties and constraint management shape trading behaviour In this interview with ESN Premium, Sahand Karimi of OptiGrid discusses how BESS warranties and constraint manageme…
- In this interview with ESN Premium, Sahand Karimi of OptiGrid discusses how BESS warranties and constraint management shape trading behaviour In this interview with ESN Premium, Sahand Karimi of OptiGrid discusses how BESS warranties and constraint management shape trading behaviour Sahand Karimi…
- Battery storage warranties and long-term service agreements can distort trading behaviour if optimisation platforms fail to account for them properly.
- This is according to Sahand Karimi, CEO and co-founder of Australia-headquartered battery storage optimisation software and market intelligence platform OptiGrid, speaking to ESN Premium following the company’s selection by Vena Energy to optimise the 408MW Bellambi Heights battery energy storage…
- Arguing that capturing full value requires an optimiser capable of accounting for offtake obligations and other constraints, Karimi says the underlying issue extends well beyond any single project’s commercial terms.
- “All batteries have warranties and long-term service agreements that they need to take into account when you’re optimising their trading,” he says.
Sonnedix secures US$1.3 billion for Chile renewables portfolio
Sonnedix has secured US$1.3 billion refinancing covering 1GW solar and wind and 117MW BESS under construction in Chile.
- Independent power producer (IPP) Sonnedix has secured a US$1.3 billion refinancing in Chile, covering 1GW of operational solar PV and wind capacity and financing 117MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) that are currently under construction.
- The transaction is the company’s largest refinancing in Chile to date and will support the expansion of its renewable energy and storage pipeline.
- The refinancing covers assets across Chile and is backed by a combination of investment-grade private power purchase agreements (PPAs) and regulated revenues.
- Axel Thiemann, CEO of Sonnedix, said: “This record refinancing demonstrates the ongoing confidence our partners have in our ability to execute at scale, and in our commitment to driving sustainable, long-term solutions that support the energy transition.
- This milestone is a testament to the hard work and exceptional commitment of our Chilean teams, our partners and our global network.”
Oracle seeks 2GW of renewables for New Mexico data centre complex
Oracle is seeking proposals for 2GW of solar PV, wind and “other renewable technologies” to power its data centre operations in New Mexico.
- US technology giant Oracle is seeking proposals for 2GW of solar PV, wind power, geothermal and “other renewable technologies” to power its data centre operations in New Mexico.
- Oracle is seeking projects that can be operational between 2027 and 2031, and said it would “prioritise and fund” projects that are delivered “on an accelerated timeline”.
- It said the request for proposals (RFP) was open to developers with projects in New Mexico, and applicants will be considered on criteria including “capacity and growth potential, expected delivery timing, project maturity, technical viability, and ability to support Oracle’s long-term energy com…
- “New Mexico has an extraordinary opportunity to grow its renewable energy resources and create lasting value for communities across the state and Oracle wants to help accelerate that growth,” said Mahesh Thiagarajan, executive vice president, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
- The projects will support Oracle’s so-called “Project Jupiter”, an AI data centre complex near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
U.S. clean power additions jump 45% in Q2 2026, reaching 388 GW cumulative capacity
Developers added a record 17.1 GW of new utility-scale clean power capacity in the second quarter, pushing the national development pipeline past 200 GW despite ongoing federal permitting and review delays.
- The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released its Q2 2026 Clean Power Quarterly Market Report , tracking record deployment rates as developers work to meet rising U.S. electricity demand.
- Industry developers brought 164 utility-scale solar, energy storage, and wind projects online in the second quarter, adding 17.1 GW of new capacity to the grid, marking a 45% year-over-year increase and establishing the strongest second quarter and first half on record for the sector.
- Cumulative clean power capacity in the United States has reached nearly 388 GW, which ACP estimates is sufficient to supply more than 83 million American households.
- Utility-scale solar led deployment activity during the quarter with 7.4 GW commissioned, followed by nearly 5 GW of land-based wind and 4.7 GW of battery energy storage additions.
- The quarter marked the strongest second quarter on record for land-based wind deployment, driven primarily by Pattern Energy commissioning its 3.65 GW SunZia Wind project in New Mexico.
Suniva raises US$825 million for 4.5GW solar cell facility in South Carolina
Suniva has raised US$835 million to support the development of a new 4.5GW cell manufacturing facility in South Carolina.
- US solar cell manufacturer Suniva has raised US$835 million in debt and equity finance to support the development of a new 4.5GW passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) cell manufacturing facility in Laurens County, South Carolina.
- The company first announced the project in April , which will significantly expand its operational cell manufacturing capacity from 1GW to 5.5GW.
- At the time, Suniva said it would invest US$350 million in the facility, but this week said that the project would represent an approximately US$600 million investment.
- Suniva is currently building the facility, having already completed work on the shell of the building, and the company expects to complete work in 2027 ahead of starting commercial operations in 2028.
- “We look forward to helping the United States and the administration achieve its important goal of US energy independence,” said Suniva CEO Tony Etnyre.
FTC Solar begins solar tracker shipments for 330MW PV project
FTC Solar has begun shipments of solar tracker systems for the 330MW Fraser Coast solar project in Queensland, Australia.
- US-based solar tracker manufacturer FTC Solar has begun shipments of solar tracker systems for the 330MW Fraser Coast solar-plus-storage project in Queensland, Australia.
- Fraser Coast also includes a 180MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and is expected to begin operations in 2028.
- The project is being developed by Global Power Generation (GPG), the power generation subsidiary of Naturgy Energy Group, which holds a 75% stake in GPG, while the remaining 25% is held by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) through its infrastructure investment arm, Wren House Infrastructure Manag…
- “This project will represent the largest solar hybrid battery project ever built by GPG in Australia, providing another proof of our long-term commitment to the country,” said Shaq Mohajerani, chief development officer, GPG Australia.
- The project is Naturgy’s second hybrid solar-plus-storage project in Australia.
Repurposed EV batteries now delivering 28 MWh of grid services to ERCOT
B2U Storage Solutions has completed its second energy storage project in Texas that uses repurposed EV batteries.
- The Bexar Martinez BESS project near San Antonio is now delivering 28 MWh of grid services to ERCOT within CPS Energy service territory.
- B2U now operates 50 MWh of repurposed energy storage in Texas.
- The company also has… The post Repurposed EV batteries now delivering 28 MWh of grid services to ERCOT appeared first on Solar Power World .
PV Solar
Japan’s Idemitsu sets up U.S. lab for space-grade CIGS solar cells
The Japanese oil refiner says its development laboratory in South Carolina will conduct prototypes of space-grade copper indium gallium-selenide solar cells as it works toward commercialising the technology.
- Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. has established a development laboratory for space-grade copper indium gallium-selenide (CIGS) solar cells in the United States.
- According to an update published by the company, the laboratory, located at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Oasis facility, is the first of its kind.
- Idemitsu says it plans to rapidly conduct prototyping and evaluations of space-grade CIGS solar cells based on identified market needs and technical requirements.
- It will also use the U.S. lab to enable evaluation and reliability validation and provide technical analyses and proposals for customer requirements.
- “Insights gained from the U.S. market will be quickly fed back to Idemitsu’s research and development activities and incorporated into product development and mass-production technology development in Japan,” the company’s statement explains.
Safe harbour surge sees US add 11.4GW new solar PV in Q2 2026
The US added 11.4GW of solar PV capacity in Q2 2026, a 45% year-on-year increase, according to data from SEIA.
- The US added 11.4GW of solar PV capacity in Q2 2026, a 45% year-on-year increase, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
- The additions were driven “almost entirely” by the utility-scale solar sector, SEIA’s report said, which added 9.6GW between the start of April and July.
- This was a 61% year-on-year (YoY) increase and a 54% increase from Q1 2026.
- Residential PV installations were 995MW, down 12% YoY; corporate and industrial (C&I) additions were 638MW, up 11%; and 231MW of community solar was installed, a 14% decline compared with the same period last year.
- The concentration on utility-scale developments was a direct response to the Trump administration’s phaseout of tax credits for renewable energy deployments from 4 July 2026 and the “safe harbour” period that requires projects are placed in service.
Create Energy subsidiary SOL Components secures patent for QuickGrip solar mounting rail
SOL Components, a subsidiary of Create Energy, has secured a patent for its QuickGrip solar panel rail, which uses integrated indexing tabs and fold-out brackets to accelerate module mounting on utility-scale single-axis trackers.
- Tennessee-based solar equipment provider Create Energy has announced that its subsidiary, SOL Components, has been granted a U.S. patent for a specialized solar panel rail system.
- The patent, titled “ Solar Panel Rail ,” was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Sept.
- 1, 2026 and covers the mechanical design behind SOL Components’ QuickGrip technology, which aims to cut labor requirements and eliminate loose hardware during mechanical tracker installation.
- The patent filing details a hat roll-formed high-strength light-gauge steel rail engineered to mount directly to tracker torque tubes.
- A key feature of the design involves preassembled panel rail brackets that are nested during shipping and unfold on site without tools.
GameChange files patent infringement lawsuit against Nextpower over tracker tilt angle
GameChange Solar has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Nextpower, alleging infringement of US Patent 12,449,161.
- GameChange Solar, a subsidiary of US energy infrastructure company GameChange Energy, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against US solar solutions provider Nextpower in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.
- GameChange alleges that Nextpower’s products infringe on US Patent 12,449,161, which is owned by GameChange Solar and covers solar tracking systems that can rotate 60-80 degrees from a horizonal plane when the array is exposed to winds of more than 70mph.
- GameChange Solar filed for the patent in September 2020, and the patent was assigned to the company in October 2025, with GameChange founder Andrew Barron Worden and chief engineer Scott Van Pelt named as the inventors of the technology.
- While GameChange did not specify which Nextpower trackers are in violation of this patent—saying only that the company’s “products infringe on one or more claims of this patent”—it said that it is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages as part of the lawsuit.
- “We take our intellectual property seriously, and we will act to defend the innovations that set our products apart,” said GameChange CEO Phillip Vyhanek.
EU policymakers push to increase ‘Made in Europe’ requirement for solar under IAA
The three EU Parliament rapporteurs on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act are calling for increased European content in solar modules.
- The European Parliament’s three co-rapporteurs on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) have completed their draft report, with Renew Europe’s Christophe Grudler highlighting measures aimed at strengthening EU industrial competitiveness, resilience and economic sovereignty.
- Their draft report proposes raising the share of Made in Europe and low-carbon products required in strategic sectors to 50% by 2036, directing public procurement towards European manufacturers and low-carbon production.
- It also proposes expanding the definition of strategic materials to include plastic for construction, alongside steel, aluminium and cement.
- For net-zero technologies, the report calls for increased EU content requirements covering products including solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps and nuclear power plants, with the aim of strengthening European manufacturing capacity and reducing external dependencies.
- The proposals also seek to introduce stricter definitions and component-level requirements to prevent companies from circumventing EU content rules through limited local assembly or other arrangements.
Jinko follows JA in dropping ‘solar’ from name
JinkoSolar has become the second major Chinese PV producer to remove “solar” from its name to reflect its evolving business activities.
- The company’s board has approved a name change from its current full title, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., to Jinko Holdings Limited.
- The renaming follows a similar move by JA Solar earlier this year , which rebranded as “JA” to convey its broader clean energy business activities.
- Under the new moniker, which is still subject to shareholder approval next month, Jinko said it would operate through two “complementary engines of value creation”.
- The first encompasses the same integrated solar and energy storage activities that have been JinkoSolar’s core business focus to date.
- The second main area of activity will be strategic investment in high-growth areas related to technological innovation, industrial upgrading and the energy transition.
Inox signs 800MW solar module supply deal with ‘leading’ US developer
Inox Solar Americas has signed an 800MW module supply agreement with what it describes as a 'leading US renewable energy developer'.
- US manufacturer Inox Solar Americas has signed an 800MW module supply agreement with what it describes as a “leading US renewable energy developer”.
- Inox said that it would supply its Vega Series of bifacial passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) modules to two utility-scale solar PV projects, with a respective capacity of 300MW and 500MW, in Colorado and Georgia.
- These modules are to be built with Galaxion cells and have a conversion efficiency of 21.32%.
- Inox expects to begin module deliveries next year.
- Both the Vega modules and Galaxion cells were initially developed by Boviet Solar, which is headquartered in Vietnam.
Recycling and replacing critical metals ‘key’ to sustainable solar growth – IEA PVPS
Solar PV will play a major role in global demand for critical minerals in the coming decades, according to a report.
- Solar PV will play a major role in global demand for critical minerals in the coming decades, according to a report from the International Energy Agency Photovoltaics Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS).
- The report – Primary and Secondary Material Flows for the Future Global Deployment of Silicon-based Photovoltaic Systems – found that PV deployment growth will play a major part in future demand for critical materials, but technological advances and material recycling methods could lessen its imp…
- The report modelled the consumption of aluminium, copper, indium, lead, silicon, silver, gold, tin and zinc in scenarios ranging between 29TWp and 75TWp of global solar deployments by 2050.
- Dr Malte Vogt, from the Photovoltaic Materials and Devices group at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, who co-authored the report, told PV Tech : “We expect solar PV to be the main electricity source of the 21 st century.
- While PV uses a lower material volume than the existing fossil-based electricity system, it requires different kinds of materials – so for materials like silicon, indium, silver, copper or tin, we expect it to be a key demand factor.”
ITC expiration led to surge in solar installs in Q2 2026
The United States had a strong quarter for solar installations, adding 11.4 GW of new electricity generating capacity in Q2 2026.
- This is up from 7.8 GW installed in Q1 2026 and 7.5 GW installed in Q2 2025.
- The country now has enough operating solar capacity to power more than 50 million American homes, representing… The post ITC expiration led to surge in solar installs in Q2 2026 appeared first on Solar Power World .
Tools, Data & Guides
SOL Components issued patent for mounting rail used on solar trackers
Solar tracker manufacturer SOL Components was issued a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Sept.
- 1 for QuickGrip, a device used for mounting modules on single-axis tracker systems.
- “This patent reflects the ingenuity and dedication of our engineering, product development, and operations teams,” said Dean Solon, Founder and CEO of Create Energy,… The post SOL Components issued patent for mounting rail used on solar trackers appeared first on Solar Power World .