Solar panel testing lab Kiwa PVEL has updated its Product Qualification Program (PQP). The revisions address growing concern areas for the global solar industry, including the rise of field failures related to spontaneous glass breakage, frame structural failures and increasingly severe hail events. “Across the industry, we continue to see increasing instances of spontaneous glass… The post Increased product failures leads Kiwa PVEL to update solar panel testing protocols appeared first on Solar Power World.

The RPSLinkIN 480-V battery system from Viridi has received UL 9540 listing from TÜV Rheinland. To achieve UL 9540 listing, Viridi completed UL 9540A testing to the residential, indoor, floor-mounted standard for the pack (RPS50kWh). The system met five performance criteria, with no smoke, gas or fire detected during testing. As a result, Viridi systems… The post Viridi RPSLinkIN energy storage system receives UL 9540 listing appeared first on Solar Power World.

Blue Ridge Power Agency (BRPA) is turning to Lightshift Energy to deploy a portfolio of battery energy storage projects across Virginia in collaboration with Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative (CBEC) and the City of Salem Electric Department, with the potential for more BRPA projects in the future. The first five projects are… The post Lightshift Energy lands BESS portfolio for Virginia electric co-ops appeared first on Solar Power World.

The financing landscape in residential solar has largely become defined by third-party ownership (TPO) as that market segment’s federal investment tax credit (25D) expired at the end of 2025. Leased residential solar projects can still qualify for the commercial investment tax credit (48E), but array ownership is declining from it. “In the better part of… The post Prepaid leases provide pathway to home-owned solar projects appeared first on Solar Power World.

Software company Dominus Foundry has launched Forge, a vertical SaaS platform that combines real-time LiDAR scanning with live proposal generation for commercial roofing contractors, with a dedicated solar vertical rolling out later this year. Powered by the company’s patent-pending Hyperion spatial intelligence engine — backed by a portfolio of 16+ provisional patent filings — Forge… The post Forge software platform uses iPad LiDAR scanning for quick solar design proposals appeared first on Solar Power World.

The U.S. community solar sector reached a historic milestone in late 2025, officially surpassing 10 GWDC of cumulative national installations, according to a new report released by Wood Mackenzie in collaboration with the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). While the market experienced a 25% contraction in 2025 due to a slowdown in mature markets… The post Total community solar in the US reaches 10 GW appeared first on Solar Power World.

Tigo Energy has expanded the availability of its Inverter Power Output Control (IPOC) to the 3.8-kW Tigo EI Inverter designed for smaller residential systems with utility interconnection constraints. IPOC provides installers with the ability to limit the AC power output of Tigo inverters via software during the commissioning process. The ability to reduce the maximum AC… The post Tigo’s smallest inverter can now adjust its AC output to repower legacy solar systems appeared first on Solar Power World.

National residential solar installer Freedom Forever has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. The company was the top residential contractor on the 2025 Top Solar Contractors List, based on kilowatts installed. Freedom Forever listed its estimated assets between $100 million and $500 million. The company’s estimated liabilities are between $500 million and $1 billion. Mosaic… The post Residential solar installer Freedom Forever files bankruptcy appeared first on Solar Power World.

A solar and battery storage project developed and financed by Sunrock Distributed Generation is now in operation at the County Jail in Salinas, California. Funded through a PPA, it is expected to save the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail, more than $12 million over its lifetime. The installation includes a 1.243-MW carport solar… The post California county jail to save $12 million in energy costs with solar carport and Tesla battery appeared first on Solar Power World.

EV manufacturer Rivian announced a partnership with battery recycler Redwood Materials to deploy second-life Rivian battery packs for on-site energy storage at Rivian’s EV manufacturing site in Normal, Illinois. “Electricity demand is accelerating faster than the grid can expand, posing a constraint on industrial growth,” said JB Straubel, Redwood Materials Founder and CEO. “At the same… The post Second-life EV battery packs to provide energy storage to Rivian car factory in Illinois appeared first on Solar Power World.

Suniva announced it will open a second monocrystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing facility in the United States. The company has entered into agreements to set up a 4.5-GW facility in Laurens, South Carolina, with a projected opening in Q2 2027. The site will join Suniva’s existing 1-GW manufacturing site outside Atlanta to bring the company’s… The post Suniva to open second solar cell manufacturing facility in the United States appeared first on Solar Power World.

Opterra Energy Services has completed a $33 million modernization project for the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD) in California. In addition to upgrades to lighting systems and HVAC equipment, the school district also installed 3.1 MW of solar across 12 schools. “This project represents a major step forward for our district,” said Cathy Bogh,… The post California school district installs 3.1 MW of solar across 12 campuses appeared first on Solar Power World.