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Full Black edges past Back Contact as module prices ease in September

September PV Index: module prices ease as demand edges up

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All four module segments slipped in September 2026, with TOPCon bifacial at €0.114/W. sun.store’s purchasing managers’ index rose to 67 from 65, just below its historical average of 68.

The cradle of the Renaissance and host city for December's Integrated Photovoltaics Conference

Italy – Florence to host conference on solar in the built environment

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The IPV Conference will gather architects, planners and researchers at the Chamber of Commerce on 3 and 4 December to examine how photovoltaics can be integrated into buildings, infrastructure and vehicles.

Queuing in London traffic, but at least it‘s not at £2 a litre

With diesel at £2 a litre, UK electric car sales hit a record

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Almost 100,000 electric cars were registered in September, according to New AutoMotive, but ministers are still weighing a softer 2030 target of as little as 50 percent.

Parking garages are attractive assets that enhance their worth through solar facades.

Solar Investors Guide #5 – Solarised parking and charging

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The era of petrol and diesel dominance is drawing to a close. Mobility is transitioning to electric, with millions of private electric cars, company fleets, and commercial vehicles creating new demands on the energy supply. Filling stations, parking garages, and parking lots now represent opportunities to provide EVs with solar power.

Built and running, but how effectively? That is the data question

Europe has built the batteries, and now has to run them well

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A record 27.1 GWh of battery storage was added across the continent in 2025, but many operators still cannot see how their assets perform. Stephan Rohr of TWAICE argues that operational data will define the market’s next phase.

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What is photovoltaics?

Photovoltaics (PV) refers to the generation of electrical energy from sunlight. At the heart of this process are the solar-active semiconductors known as solar cells, which capture sunlight and convert it directly into electricity.

From a technical standpoint, a PV system or solar installation functions as a generator. Here, individual solar cells are combined into a solar module, which is protected from the elements. These modules are then assembled into a larger solar generator, which can be mounted on rooftops, façades, open ground or specially designed structures. The electricity generated is direct current (DC), which is converted into alternating current (AC) by an inverter. This AC power can be used directly on site or fed into the public grid via the building’s connection. The electricity is typically supplied to the local utility or grid operator.

Larger PV systems installed on open land are often called solar parks. These feed power into the grid via dedicated transformers and switchgear. In many countries special Acts and regulations govern remuneration for solar power, whether via feed-in tariffs or market premiums for direct sales to third parties.

Self-consumption can be increased by using solar power for heating water, room heating, air conditioning or refrigeration. Battery storage systems help by storing surplus solar electricity for later use. These so-called solar batteries improve system reliability, especially when solar output dips.

Not all incoming sunlight is converted into electricity. The conversion rate depends on the intensity and wavelength of the incoming light spectrum. This ratio between usable electrical output and the maximum available solar radiation is known as efficiency.

The performance of a solar generator or storage system is defined by its output. When multiplied by the number of sunshine hours, this gives the solar yield – the amount of electricity generated per day, month or year. In addition to charging and discharging power, solar batteries are also rated by their capacity, or the amount of energy they can store. Power is measured in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW), while energy and yield are expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or megawatt-hours (MWh). (HS)