The European Commission has awarded €400 million to 65 industrial heat decarbonization projects in 10 European countries under the Innovation Fund's first heat auction. These projects aim to deploy electrified and renewable heat technologies in energy-intensive industries such as pulp and paper, glass, and steel, with the goal of avoiding over 6.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and producing 16.3 TWh of decarbonized heat in their first five years of operation. The funding, sourced from EU Emissions Trading System revenues, requires projects to reach financial close within two years of signing grant agreements. This initiative is considered a pilot for the future Industrial Decarbonization Bank under the Clean Industrial Deal.
Author: Pv Magazine
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DAS Solar, UNSW build tunnel back-contact solar cell with 27% efficiency, lower silver content
Researchers from UNSW and DAS Solar have developed a zero-busbar metal grid optimization approach for tunnel oxide passivated back-contact (TBC) silicon solar cells, reducing silver consumption by 3-4 mg/W. The first TBC cells produced using this technique have achieved efficiencies exceeding 27%. The ZBB design cuts silver paste consumption significantly, supporting large-scale industrialization of TBC solar cells. DAS Solar has begun mass production of ZBB TBC cells with silver consumption of approximately 6 mg/W and peak conversion efficiency exceeding 27%. The cell design includes textured front surface with passivation layers and relies on p-type and n-type polycrystalline silicon at the rear side. The article also discusses the benefits of larger busbar segmentation and efficient current routing in improving solar cell efficiency, comparing ZBB cells with pad-based cells. The study found that ZBB cells offer at least a 0.1% efficiency gain over pad-based cells, with potential for further improvement with reduced silver paste consumption. DAS Solar introduced a circuit-model-based method to detect hot-spot risks in TOPCon back-contact modules, addressing limitations of existing approaches.
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Fujiyama Power to set up 1.2 GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing facility in India
Fujiyama Power Systems is planning to establish a 1.2 GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh, India, to enhance its presence in the on-grid rooftop solar segment. The facility, set to commence commercial production in the first quarter of fiscal year 2028, will be financed through debt and internal accruals. This expansion is aimed at reducing cost volatility, securing DCR-compliant solar cell supply, improving margins, and solidifying the company's position in India's rooftop solar market. Being included in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's ALMM-II list positions Fujiyama Power Systems to benefit from the increasing demand for DCR solar panels under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
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Europe creates map to locate available capacity in power grids
Capacitypedia is a new pan-European digital platform launched by ENTSO-E and the DSO Entity to improve transparency and access to information on the hosting capacity of European electricity grids. It aggregates data from transmission and distribution system operators across Europe, aiming to help developers, utilities, investors, and industrial users locate and compare capacity availability. The platform focuses on improving visibility of grid capacity for renewable energy projects, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Capacitypedia includes an interactive map showing countries providing public information on grid capacity and promotes a standardized interpretation of hosting capacity across Europe.
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New metric assesses innovation readiness in agrivoltaics
The Agrivoltaic Innovation Index (AII) developed by researchers at Firat University evaluates research-driven innovation in agrivoltaics across four dimensions and distinguishes innovation readiness from general research performance. European and East Asian nations rank higher in AII tiers, while countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of South and Southeast Asia exhibit lower overall AII values due to weak diffusion mechanisms and collaboration structures. The AII can help governments identify gaps in technology and knowledge sharing to create policies addressing weaknesses in research, with countries like Burkina Faso, Benin, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, and Niger showing high AII scores despite fewer published papers, indicating focused projects addressing urgent local needs. These nations could benefit from international cooperation and support to further develop agrivoltaic innovation clusters.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/22/new-metric-assesses-innovation-readiness-in-agrivoltaics/
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Solar and wind generated more electricity globally than gas power for the first time in April
In April 2026, a new global record was set as electricity generated from wind and solar reached 531 TWh, surpassing gas-fired power plants supplying 477 TWh for the first time. This milestone, with wind and solar accounting for 22% of global electricity generation compared to gas at 20%, is reshaping the global power mix and weakening the case for imported gas. The sustained growth in renewable energy is increasing pressure to accelerate deployment, even amidst recent energy crises. This shift highlights the importance of prioritizing renewable energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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European PV avoided €10 billion in gas imports since escalation of Iran conflict
European photovoltaics have been instrumental in generating enough electricity since early March to avoid €10 billion in gas imports, with daily savings averaging €110 million. This increase in solar power generation is due to expanded photovoltaic capacity, reaching 65 GW in 2025. Renewable energy sources collectively met 46.4% of Europe's electricity demand in 2025, with wind and solar surpassing coal- and gas-fired power plants for the first time. The energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has cost the EU €1.7 trillion to date, highlighting the importance of investing in and expanding renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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Researchers develop perovskite solar cells about 50 times thinner than conventional devices
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed ultra-thin perovskite solar cells that are 50 times thinner than conventional designs using a vacuum-based thermal evaporation process. These cells can generate energy under diffuse light and are semi-transparent, making them suitable for integration into building windows and facades. The technology offers advantages such as simple manufacturing processes, low temperatures, and the ability to absorb specific wavelengths while remaining transparent. The cells have shown promising conversion efficiencies and could potentially generate hundreds of MWh per year when installed on glass-facade buildings. The researchers are working on scaling up production and exploring applications in sustainable architecture, with a focus on enhancing the stability, durability, and scalability of the thermal evaporation process for potential commercialization.
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Australia installs 400,000 home batteries in 10 months for 11.2 GWh
Australia has seen a surge in consumer-led energy storage with over 400,000 batteries installed in the past 10 months, totaling 11.2 GWh of storage capacity. The Cheaper Home Batteries program by the Australian government has been successful in promoting the adoption of rooftop solar and cleaner energy systems. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen highlighted the positive impact of the program on reducing energy bills and supporting the grid. The initiative offers up to 30% discount on battery installation costs, with a tiered scheme based on battery size to encourage households to choose the right-sized battery. The program aims to deploy over 2 million batteries by 2030, contributing to a cleaner and more reliable energy system in Australia.
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EVs equipped with vehicle-integrated PV could cover up to 80% of their electricity needs
A research project led by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has shown that vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) can significantly reduce strain on power grids, especially in the logistics sector with high electricity demands. Passenger cars in Central Europe could generate up to 55% of their electricity needs through onboard solar generation, while in Southern Europe, this could rise to 80%. VIPV systems have the potential to reduce charging costs, decrease the need for external charging infrastructure, and lower electricity demand from the European grid by 15.6 TWh by 2030 if all new vehicles sold between 2024 and 2030 were equipped with VIPV.