India's rooftop solar program, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, has rapidly expanded to support over 5 million households with a cumulative capacity of 14.8 GW in just over two years. With $8.6 billion in funding, the program is adding around 100,000 households every six days, leading to nearly 1.9 million households reporting zero electricity bills and over 1.2 million households earning income from selling surplus electricity. The highest monthly rooftop solar deployment was recorded in July 2026, showcasing the significant pace of installations. Furthermore, the program has fostered the growth of a nationwide rooftop solar ecosystem, with over 34,000 registered vendors and more than 232,000 people trained in the rooftop solar value chain.
Author: Pv Magazine
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Romania’s solar capacity exceeds 8.5 GW
Romania has rapidly increased its solar capacity, with 1.8 GW added since January, bringing the total to over 8.5 GW. The country is on track to reach its 2030 solar target of 10 GW by 2027, driven by factors such as good irradiation levels, a supportive renewable energy framework, and available funding opportunities. Solar now accounts for the largest share of Romania's energy system, providing a reliable source of power during extreme conditions like droughts. Romania plans to replace its solar rebate scheme with support for prosumers installing batteries in the near future, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable energy practices and aligning with global efforts to increase renewable energy adoption and reduce carbon emissions. The country is also investing in battery energy storage systems to further strengthen its resilience.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/04/romanias-solar-capacity-exceeds-8-5-gw/
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Clean energy offers least-cost path to meeting US electricity demand
Peak electricity demand in the United States is projected to increase by 24% by 2030, driven by data centers, industrial growth, and electrification. A report from Electricity and Energy Innovation (EEI) suggests that meeting this demand with clean energy is more cost-effective than with fossil fuels. The report compares two scenarios, one with increased fossil fuel use and one with accelerated deployment of clean energy, finding that the clean energy approach would save $5 billion annually by 2030. The clean energy scenario also provides a hedge against fuel price volatility and uncertainty in demand growth. States like Illinois and Indiana are taking steps to remove barriers to clean energy acceleration, such as improving permitting processes and addressing interconnection challenges. Utilities are urged to validate cost inputs against market data and consider source procurement to optimize resource utilization. Overall, clean energy confidence remains high despite challenges in the energy sector.
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Dutch researchers present power management system for PV, batteries, heat pumps, EVs
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have developed a power management system that optimizes photovoltaic systems, battery storage, electric vehicles, and heat pumps. The system participates in energy markets, provides frequency restoration reserve services, manages congestion, and allocates battery capacity. Using a two-level optimization framework, the system was evaluated for managing grid congestion and participating in the frequency reserve market, showing that combining battery storage with ancillary services provision is beneficial in reducing costs and increasing benefits. Additionally, a new optimization framework suggests that installing a single large Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near the main grid connection yields greater benefits for frequency regulation, as centralized storage reduces power losses and capital costs, leading to higher earnings.
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Morocco hosts Africa’s first battery manufacturing plant
Morocco is set to open Africa's first battery gigafactory in the Kenitra Atlantic Free Zone, with a $7 billion investment. The plant will produce lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for automotive and stationary storage sectors, with an initial capacity of 10 GWh per year, increasing to 100 GWh long term. Supported by a €100 million loan from the African Development Bank, the project aims to meet the growing regional demand for electric mobility. Gotion High-Tech views the Moroccan site as a strategic link for exports to Europe and integration into regional industrial chains.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/03/morocco-hosts-africas-first-battery-manufacturing-plant/
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Solar-plus-storage-driven heat pumps can reduce grid electricity use by 59.89%
Researchers from the University of Palermo developed a model to assess building performance with heat pumps and PV systems under different demand response strategies, finding that dynamic price-based strategies had mixed results on indoor environmental quality and energy savings. The study evaluated the impact of adjusting electricity consumption based on energy prices and grid constraints, with four DR strategies assessed and DR4 identified as the most effective in reducing electricity demand. Structural modifications to DR4 were found to improve building performance. Additionally, the integration of envelope insulation, night-time ventilation, thermal energy storage management, and a PV-B system in office buildings can significantly increase cooling capacity ratio, reduce annual electricity consumption by up to 28.22%, and lead to grid electricity savings of up to 59.89%.
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Sierra Leone switches on solar-storage project
Sungrow has commissioned a solar-plus-storage project in Sierra Leone, the first national-scale power generation project connected to the country's grid in nearly a decade. The project, which includes a solar array and a 35 MWh energy storage system, aims to address the country's low electricity access rates and frequent power outages of up to 18 hours. Sungrow's PowerTitan Series ESS was utilized for emergency response strategies, supporting the government's initiative to increase national electricity access rates from 16% to 36%. This project highlights the potential of solar-plus-storage solutions in improving energy access and reliability in developing countries like Sierra Leone.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/31/sierra-leone-switches-on-first-solar-storage-project/
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UK solar capacity hits 22.8 GW as market prepares for plug-in launch
In June 2026, the UK experienced a significant increase in solar installations, adding 132 MW of capacity and bringing the total solar capacity to 22.8 GW. New regulations on plug-in solar are expected to make entry into the distributed solar market easier, potentially creating opportunities in the rental sector. The UK saw a 2.2 GW increase in solar capacity in the year leading up to June 2026, with plans for new utility-scale plants, including the largest operational UK solar farm. The government secured 4.9 GW of capacity in the seventh CfD allocation round, indicating a positive trend towards more solar capacity coming online in the future.
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Chinese researchers build 29.71% perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell based on sulfide
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a tandem solar cell combining a perovskite top cell and a CIGS bottom cell to improve stability and efficiency. Using a coordination-engineering approach with an organic sulfur-containing compound, the top cell achieved an efficiency of 22.21%, while the integrated tandem device reached 29.71% efficiency. The cells retained over 91% of their initial efficiency after 2000 hours of operation, making them among the most efficient perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells reported. This new method for creating stable wide-bandgap perovskites shows promise for improving optoelectronic properties and stability under various stressors, ultimately contributing to more reliable and cost-effective solar energy solutions in the fight against climate change.
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Indonesia signals start of 100 GW solar initiative
Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has announced a 100 GW solar power project, with 80 GW targeted for decentralized solar systems in villages and 20 GW for centralized solar. The Institute for Essential Services Reform is in support of this initiative and suggests integrating it with the Village Electrification Program to boost rural economic growth. Achieving the 100 GW target will necessitate substantial investment and backing from financial institutions and the private sector. Indonesia has already exceeded 1 GW of solar capacity in 2025, indicating progress towards their renewable energy goals.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/30/indonesia-signals-start-of-100-gw-solar-initiative/