Industry newsUS
EDP Renewables breaks ground on 250 MW Arkansas solar project for Meta
EDP Renewables North America started construction on the 250 MW Cypress Knee Solar project in Arkansas, which will sell power to Meta under a long-term contract signed in May. Completion is expected in 2028, and the deal brings Meta's contracted solar with EDPR to 545 MW. Several hundred workers are expected at peak construction.
Why it matters for site owners
Big tech buyers keep signing long solar contracts, which supports demand for reliable plant operations over decades.
Grid & utilitiesUS
Energix starts commercial operation of 152 MW Border Basin solar plant in Ohio
Energix Renewables began commercial operations at its 152 MW Border Basin project in Hancock County, Ohio, selling power into the PJM market. The plant pushes Energix's operating PJM solar portfolio past 1 GW, with another 800 MW under construction. Stem supported design through commissioning and runs the site's monitoring and controls platform.
Why it matters for site owners
New PJM plants show demand for solar near the Northeast grid, and for monitoring tools that keep large sites performing after handoff.
Industry newsUS
Faropoint begins its first New Jersey rooftop community solar project in Fair Lawn
Industrial property owner Faropoint started building a 1.6 MW rooftop community solar system on its Fair Lawn, N.J., warehouse, the first of 16 projects totaling more than 10 MW. Fifteen of the projects are in the state's Community Solar Energy Program, with at least half of each project's capacity reserved for low- and moderate-income households. Advisor SolarKal helped pick developers able to use federal incentives before they phase out.
Why it matters for site owners
Commercial roof owners in the Northeast can earn income from community solar, but rooftop arrays need ongoing inspection to protect both the roof and the output.
Trade, Tariffs & Industry WatchUS
Grid equipment makers raise cost and supply concerns over federal foreign-component ban
An August executive order lets the Energy Secretary block, and even order removal of, foreign-made bulk power system equipment judged a national security risk, with DOE rules due by Dec. 24. In comments to DOE, many stakeholders backed the security goal but asked for risk-based standards, phased compliance and vendor prequalification. NEMA warned supply chains for many electrical products are nearing a breaking point.
Why it matters for site owners
Tighter rules on imported transformers and substation gear could lengthen lead times and raise costs for solar interconnection and upgrades.
Markets & financeInternational
European solar module and inverter prices rose across every category in October
Marketplace sun.store's PV Index shows all module and inverter categories rose in October after two months of falling module prices. Full Black modules jumped 13.3% while TOPCon bifacial modules rose 1.5% and remained cheapest at about €0.116 per watt. Hybrid inverter prices climbed roughly 9% in both size bands even as buyer demand dipped.
Why it matters for site owners
Rising global module and inverter prices can raise the cost of replacement parts and repowering work for existing sites.
Markets & financeUS
Sunrun's Q3 solar installs drop 15% as battery attachment hits a record 75%
Sunrun installed 204 MW of solar in the third quarter, down 15% from a year earlier, while 75% of new customers added batteries. Its networked storage fleet reached 5 GWh, and revenue rose to nearly $1.1 billion. The company narrowed full-year cash generation guidance to about $200 million.
Why it matters for site owners
Solar is increasingly sold with storage, so owners should expect batteries to become a standard part of site maintenance plans.
Markets & financeUS
SolarEdge meets Q3 revenue target but forecasts a sharp fourth-quarter drop
SolarEdge reported third-quarter revenue of $326.1 million, at the midpoint of guidance, with margins helped by a one-time tariff-related benefit. It guided fourth-quarter revenue to $245 million to $275 million and gross margin to 17% to 21%, citing weaker year-end demand. The CEO said the company is cutting costs and narrowing its focus.
Why it matters for site owners
Owners with SolarEdge inverters and optimizers should watch the company's health, since it affects long-term warranty and parts support.
O&M & reliabilityInternational
Kiwa PVEL: most solar panels tested since 2022 fell short of their nameplate power
Kiwa PVEL compared factory flash-test results with manufacturer ratings for 9,828 module samples tested from January 2022 to September 2026. The median shortfall widened to about 2% from mid-2024 to mid-2025 and has hovered near 1% for the last three quarters. The lab links the gap to outdated TOPCon ratings and looser tolerances during the industry downturn.
Why it matters for site owners
Owners buying modules should verify rated power through independent batch testing, since a shortfall cuts revenue and complicates warranty claims.
Policy & politicsInternational
Turkey awards 785 MW of solar in latest YEKA tender at fixed 20-year price
Turkey's energy ministry selected 11 solar projects, from 44 bids, totaling 785 MW across nine provinces, with sizes from 25 MW to 200 MW. Winners get 3.25 euro cents per kWh under 20-year offtake agreements, the same price as last year's round. Turkey is targeting 120 GW of solar and wind by 2035.
Why it matters for site owners
Large government tenders abroad keep up global demand for modules and trackers, which affects equipment availability and pricing in the U.S.
Industry newsInternational
Trina Solar in early talks to sell majority control of its TrinaTracker unit
China's Shenzhen Nanshan Power is seeking a 51% to 70% stake in TrinaTracker in a cash deal, with Trina Solar keeping 30% to 49%. Trina says the talks are preliminary and depend on due diligence and approvals, with no guarantee of a final agreement. The company says it wants to focus on its core solar and storage businesses during an industry downturn.
Why it matters for site owners
TrinaTracker also operates in North America, so owners with its trackers should watch for any changes in ownership, support or warranty terms.
Industry newsUS
Sunraycer buys 325 MWac of Illinois and Missouri solar projects in MISO
Maryland-based Sunraycer Renewables acquired two utility-scale projects from Apricus Energy: 175 MWac Gem City in Adams County, Illinois, and 150 MWac Mighty Mississippi in New Madrid County, Missouri. Both are in the final phase of MISO interconnection, with construction set for early 2028 and operation in 2029. Sunraycer plans to use safe-harbored equipment.
Why it matters for site owners
Developers are using safe-harbored equipment to protect their tax credit eligibility, a tactic that can affect which panel and inverter models sites end up running for years.
Markets & financeUS
rPlus Energies secures up to $450 million credit facility for Western solar and storage
rPlus Energies closed a three-year revolving credit facility of up to $450 million, led by CIBC and syndicated to six other banks. The facility is backed by nearly 1 GW of operating assets, including the Green River Energy Center and Pleasant Valley Solar 2 in Idaho. It will fund new solar and battery projects in the American West.
Why it matters for site owners
Banks are still lending against operating solar plants, which shows that well-maintained, steadily producing assets keep their value as collateral.
