This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Alba Sande, lawyer at Spanish law firm ASande Legal. She states that, despite progress, women remain underrepresented in the renewable energy industry. "As a woman and a mother, I have often encountered the unspoken assumption that professional ambition must take a backseat to family life, a bias rarely applied to men," she says.

The solar, energy storage, EV charging, and grid infrastructure sectors sit at the heart of the energy transition. What makes these industries particularly suited to, and in need of, gender diversity and inclusion is the nature of the challenge itself. The energy transition demands innovative thinking, long-term vision, and the ability to manage complexity across technical, legal, regulatory, and social dimensions. Gender diversity brings varied perspectives, leadership styles, and problem-solving approaches. Inclusion ensures those voices are heard and valued.

These industries work best when they reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Decision-making becomes stronger when collaboration replaces uniformity. Diverse teams are not only fairer; they are more effective, more resilient, and better prepared to build a sustainable future.

From my experience, diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly linked to the resilience and success of the renewable energy sector. DEI broadens the range of inputs organizations rely on to navigate complexity. Inclusive workplaces foster trust and psychological safety, encouraging open dialogue and the kind of bold ideas that innovation requires. This is essential in a fast-evolving sector like renewable energy, where adaptation is constant. When professionals feel empowered to contribute, retention improves, decision-making becomes more robust, and strategies are better aligned with societal needs. DEI is not separate from business success, it is integral to long-term impact.

Looking back at my own career, I encountered systemic barriers that many women in male-dominated industries will recognise. Implicit biases about how leadership should look and sound, often shaped by traditional models, were persistent. The absence of visible female role models and the lack of structural support, particularly for those balancing care responsibilities, created additional friction. Overcoming these challenges required building strong support networks, staying grounded in purpose, and allowing results to speak clearly. It also meant resisting pressure to “fit the mould” and instead demonstrating that strategic thinking, empathy, and consistency are powerful leadership traits.

Over time, I have observed important shifts in how the industry approaches gender inclusion in leadership. There is greater recognition that diverse leadership is not simply desirable; it is necessary. We are seeing more women in strategic roles and greater openness to flexible career paths. That said, inclusion at senior levels still requires deliberate effort. True progress happens when organisations understand that leadership potential is not tied to a single profile or personal circumstance. Valuing varied life experiences, including those shaped by caregiving, strengthens leadership culture and builds resilience.

Navigating bias and scepticism has been a defining part of my professional journey. As a woman and a mother, I have often encountered the unspoken assumption that professional ambition must take a backseat to family life, a bias rarely applied to men. Yet this is not about choosing one over the other; it is about integration. Early on, I realised that women with young children are frequently expected to prove they are prioritising work in order to be taken seriously. My response was consistency, results, and a clear message: commitment is not gendered.

Even today, driving DEI initiatives at an executive level remains challenging. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces. In my experience, around 80% of strategic meetings still involve only men, particularly when critical decisions are being made. One of the greatest challenges is feeling like an equal, owning expertise, and expressing it with confidence in environments where women are often required to repeatedly prove their competence, while male colleagues are assumed to be capable by default. This imbalance makes DEI both essential and deeply personal to lead.

There are still specific gender dynamics within the energy sector that influence career progression. Women, especially mothers, are more frequently questioned about long-term commitment or availability. There remains an unequal expectation to prove expertise. While these dynamics are evolving, progress is slow. Acknowledging them and addressing them without penalising different life experiences is essential for building an inclusive, high-performing industry.

To young women entering the solar and renewable energy sector today, my advice is simple: believe in your voice and your contribution from day one. This industry needs critical thinkers, communicators, and leaders who reflect the diversity of society. Do not allow outdated assumptions to shape your path. Seek mentors who support your growth and organisations that recognise potential beyond traditional models. Being a woman is not a limitation, even when you are the only one in the room. Trust your expertise, ask questions boldly, and bring your full self to the table. The sector will be stronger for it.

Alba Sande is an administrative and regulatory lawyer specialised in energy, environment, and infrastructure. After several years advising major national and international clients at Clifford Chance Madrid, she founded Asandelegal, a boutique legal practice focused on strategic regulatory support for the energy transition. Her experience includes advising banks, funds, and energy companies on permitting, litigation, and regulatory matters in large-scale renewable energy projects—especially wind, solar PV, and storage. Alba holds a double degree in Law and Economics (ICADE) and a Master’s in Energy from the Spanish Energy Club. She is a regular contributor to industry publications and a speaker at sectoral forums. As a woman and mother working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, she is an advocate for inclusive leadership and visibility of diverse talent in energy law and infrastructure. She believes that legal certainty, diversity, and sustainability must go hand in hand to meet the challenges of the green transition.

Interested in joining Alba Sande and other women industry leaders and experts at Women in Solar+ Europe? Find out more: www.wiseu.network

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that in January most of East Asia experienced normal to above-average solar irradiance, with southeastern China seeing surges due to reduced clouds and low aerosol levels under lingering La Niña effects. In contrast, the Philippines faced below-average irradiance from early Tropical Storm Nokaen, while other regional cities like Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei recorded modest gains.

Most of East Asia recorded normal to above‑normal solar irradiance in January, as weak La Niña conditions continued to influence regional weather patterns. The largest gains were observed across southeastern China, where suppressed cloud formation and reduced aerosol-effects delivered a strong start to the year for solar operators, while unusual early tropical storm activity brought significant rainfall and irradiance losses to parts of the Philippines. With two days left in January at time of publishing, this data uses live data from 1-29 January, and forecasts for 30-31 Jan from the Solcast API.

Irradiance in southeastern China surged well above historical averages in January, with Hong Kong exceeding 25% above average. A dominant Siberian high pressure system, with temperatures in parts of Siberia more than 10 C below normal, extended into western China. The resulting northerly flow delivered drier air into southeastern China, reducing both precipitation and cloud formation. This irradiance pattern aligns with typical La Niña effects, even though the La Niña signal was weak and fading toward neutral by late January. Additionally, lower than normal aerosol levels contributed to above average irradiance in coastal parts of China.

In a continuation of the irradiance and aerosol pattern seen in 2025, many parts of China, in particular low-lying industrial areas saw significant drops in aerosol load and a corresponding increase in available irradiance. Both Hong Kong and Shanghai regions saw significantly lower winter average aerosol loads, than the historical average for winter months from 2007-2026. Whilst this supported the exceptionally high irradiance in Hong Kong through January, Shanghai recorded slightly above-average irradiance, despite experiencing a rare snowfall late in the month. By contrast, Beijing has historically lower aerosol loads, however still saw slightly below-average irradiance due to prevailing cloud levels.

Elsewhere in East Asia, irradiance levels were generally normal to above normal for this month. Seoul and Tokyo recorded irradiance 5–10% above January averages and Taipei saw gains exceeding 10%. Across the maritime continent, irradiance and precipitation anomalies were near normal.

The most significant negative irradiance anomaly in the region was associated with Tropical Storm Nokaen (Ada), which marked an unusually early start to the 2026 Pacific typhoon season. Making landfall in January—the first such occurrence since 2019— Nokaen delivered intense rainfall and heavy cloud cover to the central and northern Philippines. Daily rainfall totals reached up to 200 mm, triggering mudslides and widespread disruption. Irradiance across the northern Philippines dropped by as much as 10% below average, while the southern parts of the archipelago, spared from the worst of the storm, saw irradiance climb to 10% above average.

Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols at 1-2km resolution globally, using satellite data and proprietary AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, enabling Solcast to calculate irradiance at high resolution, with typical bias of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking forecasts. This data is used by more than 350 companies managing over 300 GW of solar assets globally.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

China’s TOPCon cell prices rose for a fourth consecutive week, led by higher production costs from surging silver prices and ongoing discussions around the removal of export tax rebates. In contrast, PERC cell prices declined amid weakening demand, due to the industry’s continued technological shift towards TOPCon cells, according to trade sources.

According to the OPIS Global Solar Markets Report released on January 20, Chinese TOPCon M10 cell prices were assessed 2.24% higher on the week at $0.0547/W Free-On-Board (FOB) China. Meanwhile, FOB China Mono PERC M10 cells fell 2.53% to $0.0463/W over the same period.

Silver prices have surged to record highs, gaining more than 40% year-to-date, driven by rising industrial demand and increased investment flows. Chinese policy developments have also further tightened the market, with authorities introducing export restrictions on silver through 2027.

Under the new framework, only 44 approved companies are permitted to export silver under a quota-based licensing system, requiring exporters to secure approval for overseas shipments.

Market sources said silver prices have become a key variable for cell pricing, as silver now represents one of the largest cost components in TOPCon cell manufacturing. Several sources noted that even if upstream prices soften from Q2 2026, cell and module prices are unlikely to retreat to 2025 price levels should silver prices remain elevated.

Since the start of this year, downstream OPIS TOPCon cell prices have surged 46%, while TOPCon module prices climbed nearly 35%. Upstream cost increases have been more modest, with OPIS China Mono Premium—OPIS' assessment for mono-grade polysilicon used in N-type ingot production—up 0.15% and N-type wafer prices up around 13% over the same period.

This week, upstream polysilicon and wafers segments showed early signs of weakness, with OPIS China Mono Premium and N-type M10 wafers down 2.34% and 2.20%, respectively. In contrast, FOB China TOPCon modules continued to edge higher by 3.48% over the same period.

According to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA), sentiment in the wafer segment remained cautious this week, with upstream and downstream players locked in a stalemate. Despite continued price gains in cells and modules, driven by export tax rebate policy changes and rising silver prices, price increases have yet to effectively transmit upstream.

CNMIA noted that domestic end demand remains sluggish, and under cost pressure, cell manufacturers have become increasingly reluctant to accept high-priced wafers, resulting in few wafer procurement orders.

With downstream demand unlikely to recover meaningfully before the Lunar New Year, and polysilicon prices showing signs of softening, the wafer market is expected to stay weak in the near term, the association added.

Downstream sources added that higher production costs, combined with weak end-user module demand, could limit cell output levels in the longer term.

Market analysts have previously projected China’s installation demand to fall by over 20% in 2026, following the transition from feed-in-tariffs to a market-based electricity pricing mechanism. Furthermore, the planned removal of export tax rebates may weigh on overseas demand, reinforcing a bearish demand outlook for cells later this year, sources said.

OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides energy prices, news, data, and analysis on gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG/NGL, coal, metals, and chemicals, as well as renewable fuels and environmental commodities. It acquired pricing data assets from Singapore Solar Exchange in 2022 and now publishes the OPIS APAC Solar Weekly Report.

This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Melodie de l'Epine, Senior Project Manager/ Head of Research & Innovation at France's Becquerel Institute. She says that ncouraging men to shift from strict hierarchy to informal exchanges fosters more equitable rapport. Women can benefit from noticing how men address each other and consciously joining in, since subtle forms of address strongly shape power perceptions.

Our industries operate in a context of constant fluctuation. Policy frameworks change, market conditions evolve rapidly, and uncertainty is part of our daily reality. This means that, as an industry, we must be creative, adaptable, and resilient. From my perspective, the more diverse our teams are, the wider and more varied their experiences become. This increases the likelihood that we will find the viewpoint, the idea, or the understanding that allows us to adapt with resilience to changing environments. This richness of thought and experience is something our industry greatly benefits from, not only because we need it, but also because we tend to have a higher participation rate of women than many other energy sectors.

Looking back at my own career, the barriers I encountered were often systemic rather than explicit. In France, at least, I have found that respectfully encouraging men to move away from a strictly hierarchical viewpoint and into more informal exchanges has been incredibly useful in creating more equitable rapport. I would encourage women to be attentive to how men address each other and to consciously include themselves in this form of address. It is subtle, but forms of address underpin human perceptions in powerful ways.

At the same time, my knowledge and understanding have often been underestimated. In those situations, a willingness to raise my hand and demonstrate what I know has been fundamental in my roles. It is not easy to be visible, particularly when you feel you need to prove your competence, but learning to have confidence in myself was an important lesson in my professional development.

In terms of gender inclusion in leadership, I have observed meaningful shifts over time. Working in fields and jobs that have meaning and contribute to the greater good has often been a preferred pathway for women, and renewable energy clearly aligns with this motivation. However, reaching leadership roles has historically been hindered by several factors: the lower share of women in management positions, unconscious bias, and the commitment many women continue to have to home responsibilities. A generation of more accessible parental leave for fathers, alongside legislation mandating greater representation of women, is beginning to change this dynamic. I am thankful that in France, some major companies have clearly demonstrated their trust in women in leadership positions, ENGIE being one example.

I have also seen very tangible impacts from having diverse leadership teams. In my experience, diverse leadership has demonstrated that caring for the holistic wellbeing of employees and team members is both acceptable and beneficial. Women, at least in my experience, tend to be able to express this care more easily than men. I have seen women leaders identify and propose accommodations for employees experiencing stressful or difficult conditions at home much more regularly, often drawing on personal experience. The outcomes have been very positive, particularly in terms of anticipating work deadlines and making room for quality deliverables despite complicated availability.

An inclusive environment has also played an important role in my own career progression. I have teenagers, and when they were born and throughout their younger childhood, I was able to adapt my working hours and durations to be compatible with my care plans. That flexibility meant that I could concentrate fully on work when I was at work, without guilt, because I was also able to give my children the time I wanted to give them. French legislation has, of course, enabled this across the board. However, what truly made a difference was the attitude of my employer. This flexibility was welcomed as an opportunity to experiment with new people and new roles, rather than being seen as a constraint, and that made a significant difference to my experience.

For young women entering the solar and renewable energy industry today, my advice is grounded in experience. I believe we can change people’s perceptions by expecting the best of them. Expect men to treat you as their equal, and demonstrate this expectation through the way you work with them. Grow your own confidence—others cannot do it for you—and be conscious of your achievements. Know that you are valuable, that you can and will learn, and that a task is only undoable until you learn how to do it. Finally, do not hesitate to ask for advice and support from other women. We have been there too.

Mélodie de l’Épine is Head of Research & Innovation at the Becquerel Institute France, where she leads strategic analysis, market research and innovation programmes in photovoltaic energy. Recognised as a leading expert in the French PV sector with over 25 years of experience, she has previously coordinated the photovoltaic unit at HESPUL and contributed to national and institutional working groups on grid connection, support mechanisms and energy policy. Today, Mélodie works on European innovation projects spanning new PV technologies, manufacturing and operations, while also engaging in international collaborations, where she is co-manager of Task 1 for the International Energy Agency’s PVPS Programme. She regularly publishes market analyses and contributes to national and international reports on PV power applications, helping shape strategic insight into market trends and policy developments. 

Interested in joining Mélodie de l’Épine and other women industry leaders and experts at Women in Solar+ Europe? Find out more: www.wiseu.network

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reveales that last year extreme Canadian wildfires drove aerosol levels around 30% above normal, sharply reducing solar irradiance across Canada and even impacting Europe, while the Congo Basin also saw worsening aerosol conditions. In contrast, China and South America experienced unusually low aerosol levels, supporting stronger solar irradiance due to cleaner air, reduced fires, and favorable climate and policy conditions.

Aerosol anomalies in 2025 reveal the outsized impact of Canadian wildfires on solar conditions, with smoke and particulates from one of the worst fire seasons in the country’s history driving major reductions in solar irradiance across Canada and beyond. While Canada saw a marked increase in aerosol loading, China and South America experienced anomalously low levels, supporting stronger irradiance conditions. Meanwhile, the Congo Basin registered worsening aerosol conditions, highlighting growing concerns for central Africa's solar outlook, according to analysis using the Solcast API. Aerosols impact solar irradiance by scattering and absorbing solar radiation as it passes through the atmosphere, when calculated this effect is called ‘aerosol extinction’.

Across Canada, 2025 aerosol extinction values were around 30% above climatological norms, indicating significantly higher levels of sunlight absorption and scattering by particulate matter. This spike is directly linked to the extreme wildfire season, with the total burned area in 2025 reaching twice the 10-year average. The timing of the peak fire activity, which aligned with the high-irradiance months of May and June, compounded the impact on solar conditions.

Smoke plumes from Canada were transported across the Atlantic by prevailing westerly winds, impacting solar production as far as Western Europe, where they overlapped with Spain's worst wildfire season in over a decade, further amplifying the regional aerosol burden.

Despite having a higher aerosol load than other solar generation regions, China experienced one of its cleanest atmospheric years in recent history. Aerosol extinction anomalies were approximately 20% below the recent climatology, driven by a combination of favourable meteorological patterns and continued reductions in industrial emissions. These conditions supported a strong irradiance performance throughout the past year when irradiance was already tracking 30% above average.

South America also recorded a notable improvement in aerosol conditions following a turbulent 2024. Anomalies in 2025 were generally 20% to 30% below average, allowing for clearer skies across the region. Solar production in Brazil, benefited from reduced smoke associated with a 45% reduction in burned areas within the Amazon Basin, as detected by the DETER satellite system. This significant decrease is part of a broader post-Bolsonaro shift in environmental management, further supported by La Niña-associated wetter conditions that helped suppress fire activity.

Meanwhile, the Congo Basin experienced worsening aerosol conditions, with extinction anomalies 20% to 30% above climatology. Unlike the declining trends in Saharan dust seen across northern Africa, this spike in aerosols is attributed to increasing fire activity within wet forest regions. The number of active fires in these forests has doubled over the past two decades, largely due to a combination of hotter, drier weather and anthropogenic factors such as conflict or agricultural-driven deforestation

Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols at 1-2km resolution globally, using satellite data and proprietary AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, enabling Solcast to calculate irradiance at high resolution, with typical bias of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking forecasts. This data is used by more than 350 companies managing over 300 GW of solar assets globally.

In all ages, humankind decided to spend considerable amounts of the available productivity on special monumental projects. Managing climate change and rebalancing within the planetary boundaries is such an activity. The enormous energetic productivity of solar PV may evolve as the central pillar to create a sustainable civilization.

Since civilizations have existed, monumental projects have been undertaken, such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, the Gothic cathedrals, or the Apollo programme. Substantial labour and resources were invested in such projects, ranging from 0.5% up to 10% of the available productivity in the respective society, and lasting between a few years and more than a century. Such monumental projects can be grouped into five categories: culture, infrastructure, technology, war and conflict, and disaster response. A recent study from Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz Institute Erlangen Nürnberg for Renewable Energies and LUT University entitled Marshalling our productivity to create a sustainable global civilization investigated monumental projects and their link to excess productivity.

Since the industrial revolution, unprecedented wealth around the world, along with an enormous increase in life expectancy, reduction of infant mortality, reduction of starvation, freeing people from poverty, and creating unparalleled standards of living for many. These benefits were made possible by an ever-increasing use of fuel. At the same time, excessive fossil fuel consumption has led to various repercussions, in particular environmental destruction and climate change.

Reaching a global net-zero emission energy system can be considered a monumental project. Depending on different sources, such as McKinsey, BNEF, the International Energy Agency, or the United Nations, the required annual expenditures to achieve this goal may lie between 0.7 and 1.3% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) to be allocated for a few decades. Such expenditures are in the range of accepted societal choices in the past, for instance the military spending during the Cold War (3% of GDP of the United States for decades, for example) or the Belt and Road Initiative (an estimated 0.75% of GDP of China).

Solar PV gaining ground in the energy system driven by sustainability

The ongoing global energy transition has various facets, with solar PV at its core reaching over 70% of all newly installed power capacity in the world in the recent past as the fastest ramping energy source since the industrial revolution, and positioning solar PV as a prime energy supply solution around the world. Plummeting costs of solar PV and additional renewable energy technologies, complemented by growing battery storage, form the basis of a comprehensive electrification. Since the mid-1990s, global energy transition studies regularly find the contribution of solar PV to the global energy supply by mid-century to be in the order of about 70%.

The energetic sustainability of solar PV has been improved since the invention of the silicon solar cell. The rate at which solar panels have improved over time has been consistent and high for decades. For example, the energy required to make a solar panel has been reduced by 14% every time installations doubled between the 1970s and the 2010s. This learning has been enabled by continuously rising efficiencies, an increase in technology lifetimes, and a reduction in the use of materials per rated power output, as summarized in a recent publication by international PV experts. The energy payback time for PV systems ranges globally between 0.44 – 1.42 years and in Europe between 0.89 – 1.24 years depending on location. The low payback time also results in a large value for the energy returned on investment – a PV system that is operated for 30 years generates between twenty and seventy times the energy that was needed for its production. The lifetime of PV systems may be further increased up to 50 years in the longer term. System-level studies have shown that the energetic sustainability of solar PV remains robust even when accounting for additional energy investments required for batteries, complementary renewable energy technologies, and curtailment, both at global and regional scales.

Rebalancing withing safe and just planetary boundaries enabled by solar PV

Solar PV may emerge as the key driver for a sustainable civilization. This would mean supplying all humans with all needed energy for the highest standards of living, which is estimated to require 150-200 TW_p of solar PV installations by the end of this century. A comprehensive Solar-to-X Economy across energy sectors will become a major characteristic in many regions around the world. The upper limit of the range of solar PV installations would even include the energy demand for massive carbon dioxide removal activities to rebalance civilization within safe und just planetary boundaries, which equals to about 10 – 12% of global primary energy supply and may cost about 0.4 – 0.7% of the global GDP to return to 1.0℃ with about 350 ppm of atmospheric CO₂ concentration. In this way, PV installations could help in powering carbon dioxide removal to avoid global GDP loss of about 8% if the unintended consequences of our productivity are not addressed. Reaching permanent climate safety and its respective investments can be regarded as a highly profitable venture of civilization in the row of monumental projects in history. The high energetic productivity of solar PV is a major driver to reach a sustainable civilization.

Authors: Christian Breyer, Ian Marius Peters, and Dominik Keiner

This article is part of a monthly column by LUT University.

Research at LUT University encompasses various analyses related to power, heat, transport, desalination, industry, and negative CO₂ emission options. Power-to-X research is a core topic at the university, integrated into the focus areas of Planetary Resources, Business and Society, Digital Revolution, and Energy Transition. Solar energy plays a key role in all research aspects.

Energy storage for homes — anchored by hybrid inverter systems — will lead the next phase of solar growth in India. Not as an upgrade, but as a necessity for a nation building toward energy independence by 2047.

From pv magazine India

Every major shift in India’s energy story has started quietly — inside homes.

Before policy frameworks, before megawatt targets, before national missions, it is the household that first feels the strain: flickering lights during voltage dips, appliances restarting after outages, work disrupted by power interruptions, and the growing discomfort of energy uncertainty in an otherwise digital, always-on life.

Rooftop solar promised freedom from this uncertainty. And to a large extent, it delivered. But as solar adoption has scaled, a deeper truth has emerged: energy generation without energy control is only half the solution. The next phase of India’s solar growth will not be led by panels alone—it will be led by storage, intelligence, and integration.

This is where hybrid inverter systems step in.

India’s power grid today faces a different kind of pressure than it did a decade ago. Solar generation peaks during the day, often when household demand is low. This creates reverse power flows, voltage fluctuations, and localised grid stress — especially in high rooftop penetration zones.

The result is paradoxical: more solar on rooftops, yet less predictability inside homes.

Traditional on-grid systems shut down during outages. Diesel generators still require manual or delayed switchover—often 30 seconds to several minutes, which is enough to disrupt production, damage sensitive equipment, or break workflow continuity. In an economy where households and small institutions are deeply integrated into productivity, this gap is no longer tolerable.

India doesn’t just need more solar. It requires solar that behaves intelligently.

Policy shift

The direction is becoming clearer. Initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Yojana are not just about expanding rooftop capacity; they signal a move toward distributed, household-level energy resilience. Storage is no longer an afterthought — it is the stabilising layer that allows solar to scale without destabilising the grid.

This matters because India’s economic structure is fundamentally household-driven. Nearly 60% of GDP comes from households, whether through consumption, home-based work, small enterprises, or services. If households are unstable from an energy perspective, the economy absorbs that instability.

As India moves toward its ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047, energy independence will not be achieved only through large power plants or grid-scale storage. It will be built home by home.

Hybrid inverter systems are often misunderstood as just “inverters with batteries.” In reality, they are something far more consequential.

They act as the operating system of the home energy ecosystem — orchestrating solar generation, battery storage, and grid interaction in real time. Instead of passively responding to power availability, hybrid systems actively decide how energy should flow, where it should be stored, and when it should be used.

In doing so, they transform solar from a generation asset into a living, adaptive energy system.

By 2026, hybrid inverters have emerged as the intelligent core of home energy—moving solar adoption beyond installation toward optimisation, resilience, and long-term value.

Hybrid systems

Energy Independence That Actually Works – Hybrid systems ensure seamless continuity during grid outages by switching instantly to stored energy. There is no downtime, no manual intervention, and no reliance on fossil-based backup. For households, this changes the meaning of reliability.

Self-Consumption Becomes the Priority – Instead of exporting excess solar at low compensation and buying power back at higher tariffs later, homes can store energy and use it when it matters most. This shift — from grid dependency to self-optimisation — is central to the next solar phase.

Economic Resilience in a Changing Tariff Landscape – As electricity tariffs rise and demand-based pricing becomes more common, hybrid systems could protect households by using stored solar during peak periods. Energy becomes predictable — even when prices are not.

Built for the Future, Not Just Today – Hybrid architectures are modular by design. Homes can start small and scale—adding batteries, EV charging, or higher solar capacity over time. This adaptability is critical in an era where energy needs are evolving rapidly.

What makes this moment different is maturity.

Modern hybrid systems are powered by advanced software and AI-driven energy management, capable of learning usage patterns, forecasting weather, and optimising storage behaviour. High conversion efficiencies minimise losses, while grid-support features such as voltage and frequency stabilisation allow homes to act as micro-balancing units for the grid.

In effect, households move from being passive endpoints to active contributors in energy stability.

India’s 2047 Vision

India’s long-term energy ambitions are bold: massive renewable capacity, reduced fossil dependence, and eventual net-zero alignment. But these goals cannot be met through generation alone.

Storage — especially decentralised storage — will define success.

Hybrid inverter systems enable exactly what India needs at scale:

• Rooftop solar growth without grid instability
• Reliable power in regions with fluctuating supply
• Reduced dependence on diesel and backup fuels
• Smarter energy behaviour aligned with economic growth

They support a future where millions of homes are not just consuming power, but managing it responsibly and intelligently.

Beyond the policy frameworks and technical advantages lies a simpler truth.

Hybrid systems mark the transition from “having solar” to living with energy confidence.

They offer that assurance — not through excess capacity, but through intelligence and balance.

And that is why energy storage for homes — anchored by hybrid inverter systems — will lead the next phase of solar growth in India. Not as an upgrade, but as a necessity for a nation building toward energy independence by 2047.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

China’s TOPCon module prices rose for a third consecutive week, as market participants continued to digest the impacts of export rebates removal and higher cell prices. Beyond spot prices, prices along the forward curve have also edged higher, reflecting expectations that recent policy shifts could feed through to forward pricing.

According to the OPIS Global Solar Markets Report released on January 20, the Chinese Module Marker (CMM), the OPIS benchmark assessment for TOPCon modules from China, rose 12.75% on the week to $0.115/W Free-On-Board (FOB) China.

OPIS FOB China TOPCon module forward curve indications for Q2 2026 loading cargoes were assessed at $0.120/W, up 14.29% on the week. Forward prices for Q3 2026 loading cargoes moved higher to $0.121/W, rising 15.24% on the week.

Q4 2026 loading cargoes rose 10.42% week-on-week to $0.106/W while Q1 2027 loading cargoes saw the steepest increase of 13.5% to $0.109/W.

According to one tier-1 producer, silver prices will remain a key variable. Even if upstream polysilicon prices were to soften from April onward, module prices would struggle to fall back to end-2024 levels of around CNY0.70 ($0.10)/W as long as silver prices stay at current levels. The producer added that buyers have largely accepted the higher price levels and expect the uptrend to persist.

However, some trade sources pointed to a lingering “wait and see” sentiment in the market, largely driven by uncertainty around upcoming policies, particularly China’s anti-monopoly measures, which may be limiting the full transmission of recent price increases.

While these measures are primarily focused on the polysilicon segment and the proposed consolidation platform, downstream market participants told OPIS they could also have implications for cell and module markets, where major producers have been operating under strict production and sales coordination arrangements for over a year.

Several producer sources said this could unintentionally intensify production and price competition in an industry already grappling with significant overcapacity. However, they noted that clearer regulatory guidance would still be needed before manufacturers adjust their production and sales strategies.

In early January, the Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation initiated a meeting with major polysilicon producers and the China Photovoltaic Industry Association to address monopoly risks and outline rectification requirements related to anti-monopoly compliance. The rectification measures are due to be submitted to the State Administration for Market Regulations (SAMR) by Jan. 20.

Under the proposed framework, companies are prohibited from reaching agreements on production capacity, utilization rates, sales volumes and pricing. Capital contribution ratios should not determine market allocation, output or profit distribution, and any form of coordination or communication on prices, costs, production and sale volumes is not allowed.

Meanwhile, high inventory levels and downstream oversupply remain a headwind, making it difficult to justify current price levels, sources said. One tier-1 producer noted that the cell and module segments are likely to remain challenging in 2026, noting that it is difficult to pinpoint a clear price ceiling amid ongoing policy uncertainty, while further price increases could also weigh on power plant investment decisions.

A developer source said uncertainty remains elevated, with any further price gains dependent on the market acceptance of current module prices. The source added that while suppliers continue to push for increases, it may be difficult for module prices to keep rising given current electricity tariffs, as most new PV projects are priced through market-based mechanisms rather than guaranteed feed-in tariffs (FiTs).

Major Chinese PV manufacturers are expected to release their financial results for 2025 in the coming weeks, with several already signalling another difficult year in 2025 amid oversupply across the value chain and persistently weak prices. Depressed module selling prices and tighter trade conditions have continued to squeeze margins, with some companies reporting wider losses in Q4 2025 versus Q3.

OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides energy prices, news, data, and analysis on gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG/NGL, coal, metals, and chemicals, as well as renewable fuels and environmental commodities. It acquired pricing data assets from Singapore Solar Exchange in 2022 and now publishes the OPIS APAC Solar Weekly Report.