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The EU and US are leading efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of PV manufacturing through targeted import tariffs. As well as supporting decarbonisation efforts, such policies could also promote geographic diversification in the solar supply chain and greater supply resilience, writes Michael Parr of the Ultra Low Carbon Solar Alliance.

Ember Climate suggests that the EU will need to invest at least €58.4 billion a year on transmission and distribution grids.

The foundations of a solar project offer multiple opportunities for driving down system costs. Arash Yazdani of PRI Engineering describes some of the key steps involved in investigating the specific conditions of a project site and developing a foundation design that will stand the test of time.

Juan Monge, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, says the EPBD timeline is plausible, although “the devil is in the detail”. 

The module procurement tenders of China's state-owned enterprises have always been a barometer, revealing the fierce competition within the industry over everything from module technology to pricing.

PV Tech Power spoke with Lukas Jakisch of PV testing company TÜV Rheinland about the developments and challenges facing the sector.

Cost and risk factors can make countries facing energy access issues the most difficult for developers to build solar projects, despite their huge potential. Tom Kenning reports on two plug-and-play solutions that may provide a solution in off-grid locations.

Quarterly reports from China’s big-five PV module producers highlight the challenges PV manufacturers face in maintaining profitability.

Replacing outdated inverters can significantly boost the yield of a PV power plant and rectify equipment failures. Jörn Carstensen of Germany-based greentech looks at the technical, financial and logistical considerations involved in a successful inverter repowering project.