The future leaves
signals in time.

Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute has formed a PV technology alliance with seven domestic companies to develop a local supply chain for tunnel oxide passivated contact back-contact (TBC) solar cells, and is promoting a laser-assisted silver-coated copper electrode technology that could cut cell production costs by 8%.

A U.S. startup has launched a pilot program for flywheel energy storage with a capacity of 200 kWh. Individual Pulsar units are expected to achieve a capacity of 500 kWh with a 125 kW discharge rate.

Spanish olive oil producer Acesur has begun constructing a 3.65 MW agrivoltaic plant in Jaén, Spain. This project features elevated solar modules above an existing olive grove and includes a 3 MWh battery storage system to supply power to the company's nearby packaging facility.

Researchers in China and Italy developed a framework to assess fire risks in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades, identifying electrical and material-related hazards as key factors and highlighting rapid shutdown, ignition prevention and fire-spread suppression as priority safety measures.

According to pv magazine, development finance institutions from Norway and Denmark have acquired a 49% stake in a 500 MW solar project in the Philippines.

Zinc hybrid cathode battery and storage system maker Eos Energy Enterprises has released preliminary Q3 results, reporting its highest quarterly revenue to date alongside a narrowing gross margin loss.

US utility Dominion Energy plans to build 3.5GW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) over the next 20 years, according to its recently filed integrated resource plan (IRP).

German distribution system operator Netze BW has introduced an automated grid assessment process for rooftop PV systems up to 15 kW. The system can issue binding grid connection approvals in five minutes, down from an average of 12 days, provided sufficient grid capacity is available.

Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, has inaugurated a production line at its Bordeaux facility to develop and manufacture solid-state batteries targeting aviation and space applications. According to the company, energy density is up to 50% higher than conventional lithium-ion technology.

Uruguay's state-owned power utility plans to procure electricity from three privately developed solar plants, each with 33 MW of grid injection capacity, under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), totaling 99 MW.

Genesis Energy has officially opened its first grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), a 200MWh facility at Huntly Power Station on New Zealand's North Island.

Ecoprogetti CEO Laura Sartore told pv magazine that while the US and India strengthen domestic solar supply chains, Europe may need a different approach: a network of medium-sized manufacturers balancing financial viability with production flexibility. She suggested ideal factory capacity ranges from 1 GW to 3 GW.

JinkoSolar has introduced a 510 W all-black residential rooftop solar module based on its new TAC cell technology. The dual-glass panel features a reported efficiency of 25.52%, a power density of approximately 255 W/m², and a 40-year product and performance warranty.

China has proposed stricter efficiency standards for solar cells and modules, with technology-specific thresholds for TOPCon, HJT and BC products. The draft rules also tighten polysilicon production requirements and strengthen oversight of manufacturers, as Beijing moves to improve quality and address excess capacity.

Solar grazing provides developers with a cost-effective solution for land stewardship and vegetation management, in addition to other potential benefits.

A top investor has predicted that SpaceX will acquire Tesla at a price of $420 per share within the coming weeks. This prediction relates to ongoing discussions regarding a potential merger between the two companies.

The COO of Oyster Renewables stated that India must move beyond VGF subsidy support to establish a commercially viable BESS market. The discussion also covered India's BESS growth, domestic manufacturing ambitions, and supply chain resilience.