JA Solar named 'Top Performer'. (Image source: JA Solar)

JA Solar, a global leader in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, again is recognised as a 'Top Performer' in the 2025 PV Module Reliability Scorecard released by PV Evolution Labs (PVEL), a globally respected independent testing laboratory

The company’s DeepBlue 4.0 Pro module (model JAM66D45/LB) delivered outstanding results across multiple reliability test sequences, earning JA Solar this distinction for the tenth time.

This designation recognises JA Solar’s long-standing commitment to product quality and performance.

PVEL’s Reliability Scorecard, based on its Product Qualification Program (PQP), is widely regarded as an industry benchmark.

The program subjects PV modules to rigorous laboratory and field tests that simulate long-term operating conditions, thus helping buyers evaluate real-world durability and reliability.

In this year’s evaluation, the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro achieved strong results in a series of demanding tests, including thermal cycling, damp heat, mechanical stress, potential induced degradation, and light- and temperature-induced degradation.

The results validate the module’s ability to maintain high performance and structural integrity under a variety of environmental stressors.

“The fact that we were named a Top Performer by PVEL for the tenth time is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Aiqing Yang, executive president of JA Solar.

“It reflects our unwavering focus on quality and our drive to deliver reliable, high-efficiency products to global partners operating in increasingly diverse and challenging environments.”

The DeepBlue 4.0 Pro is already widely adopted in global markets, earning praise for its energy yield, long-term reliability, and adaptability.

Building on its success, JA Solar introduced application-specific solutions tailored to harsh climates—environments ranging from deserts to offshore to alpine to typhoon-prone regions—as well as specialised use cases such as anti-glare, lightweight, and fire-resistant modules.

With a decade of recognition from PVEL and a strong track record across global benchmarks, JA Solar is positioned to shape the next phase of the PV industry.

As the energy transition accelerates, the company is focused on advancing product reliability, expanding scenario-based solutions, and supporting the evolving needs of utility, commercial, and residential markets worldwide.

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JA Solar receives recognition for DeepBlue 4.0 Pro

Burundi's Jiji hydro plant. (Image source: AfDB)

President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has officially inaugurated the Jiji hydroelectric power station, located in the southern province of Bururi

It forms a component of the US$320mn Jiji and Mulembwe Hydropower Project, which includes associated transmission lines and substations.

Including the Mulembwe plant, set to be operational in the coming months, the two new Burundian power facilities will have a total installed capacity of 49.5MW and an estimated annual output of 235 gigawatt-hours of clean energy.

The combined output will supply electricity to 15,000 households, 7,000 businesses and 1,700 industrial facilities, providing a vital boost too for key industry sectors such as healthcare, education, agribusiness and ICT.

“2025 marks a new era in Burundi’s energy development. Just as water is essential to life, energy is crucial to development,” said President Ndayishimiye.

“I am convinced that this new source of available energy will enable new businesses to develop and transform production from different sectors.”

Funding for the project was sourced through a wide variety of multilateral institutions, led by the World Bank which provided US$149mn in financing.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) provided a further US$22mn in support, the European Investment Bank (EIB) US$36.6mn, and the European Union (EU) US$95mn.

The Government of Burundi and the Société d'électricité du Burundi (REGIDESO) also contributed US$16.7mn.

The World Bank's representative in Burundi, Hawa Cisse Wagué, said the Jiji hydropower plant and infrastructure would be transformative to the nation’s economic prospects.

“This infrastructure is like a solution for the economic and social development of Burundi. It represents a fundamental lever for improving access to energy for our populations, industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.”

During the construction phase, the project created several hundred jobs, stimulating the local economy and strengthening technical capabilities in the energy sector.

Edward Claessen, head of the EIB's regional hub for East Africa, highlighted the significance of the project’s renewable credentials, thereby reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.

“Our funding for this project was part of the European Union's strategy to develop clean and sustainable infrastructure in Africa, and it is also aligned with decarbonisation efforts, which businesses need to grow.”

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Gary Bradshaw of Omniflex outlines key needs for remote monitoring. (Image source: Omniflex)

Power grids, water systems, and various industrial operations often stretch into isolated regions where regular in-person supervision is not viable. In these cases, remote monitoring offers a practical solution — but only when the equipment is specifically built to endure the surrounding conditions

Gary Bradshaw, director at remote monitoring specialist Omniflex, outlines the technical demands of deploying such systems in harsh and inaccessible locations, and illustrates their use through a project with a major South African electricity utility.

Monitoring infrastructure in remote areas is fraught with challenges. These environments are frequently subject to extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, humidity, dust, and electrical storms — all of which can compromise the performance and durability of monitoring equipment. Complicating matters further is the lack of readily available maintenance; deploying technicians to these areas involves considerable time, effort, and cost.

Another major hurdle is the absence of consistent power supply. With no mains electricity, these monitoring systems are reliant on batteries or, where feasible, solar power. Therefore, efficient energy usage is critical, along with pre-emptive battery replacement to prevent system failure and data loss.

Communication is also an obstacle. Remote locations often lack mobile network coverage, and traditional wired connections are cost-prohibitive to install. In such cases, radio and satellite communication are typically the only viable alternatives.

These issues are compounded by concerns about the longevity of monitoring systems. Many commercially available monitoring products are built with planned obsolescence, requiring full system replacements every few years. For hazardous and difficult-to-access sites, this poses both financial and safety concerns.

“For installations in remote and dangerous locations, this is not practical as sending engineers out to regularly replace equipment presents all the same challenges as in-person monitoring and equipment maintenance in terms of cost and risk. For these systems, remote monitoring equipment should ideally maintain full serviceability and compatibility for decades to minimise the need to dispatch engineers and technicians.”

Eskom’s remote monitoring evolution

In the early 1990s, South Africa’s electricity supplier Eskom faced operational difficulties in overseeing its remote assets, particularly 11kV and 22kV distribution lines that passed through isolated rural terrain. Frequent storms brought lightning strikes and fallen branches, which often triggered the auto-reclosers and sectionalisers, disrupting supply.

Restoring these services meant engineers had to navigate long distances — often at night and in hazardous conditions — just to diagnose and manually reset equipment. The problem was exacerbated by poor telecom infrastructure in those regions, causing delays in reporting and response.

To address this, Eskom partnered with Omniflex to implement a remote monitoring system capable of continuous, centralised supervision. The solution involved deploying Maxiflex remote terminal units (RTUs), mounted on power line poles and equipped to operate independently in the field.

“Maxiflex is a modular product that can be configured to suit a wide range of applications and its hot-swappable I/O modules enable maintenance without powering down the system, minimising any associated downtime.”

“The Maxiflex pole-mounted RTUs were mounted directly on power line poles alongside switching devices and interfaced to a central control centre over unlicensed radio bands for secure 24/7 monitoring. This solution allowed operators to receive real-time fault alerts and enabled them to remotely isolate line sections or reset devices without dispatching engineers.”

This was among the earliest deployments of Maxiflex and set the stage for its adoption in various critical infrastructure environments. Since then, the system has been employed in diverse applications globally — from nuclear radiation monitoring in the UK to alarm management and event sequencing in sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, and utilities.

OEPA aims to support transformative projects such as rooftop solar installations, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and grid improvements

Octopus Energy has launched its first African energy fund, the Octopus Energy Power Africa Fund (OEPA), which aims to drive major investments in clean energy projects across sub-Saharan Africa

This initiative marks a significant milestone in Octopus Energy’s global mission to expand access to renewable energy. It was officially announced on June 18, 2025, at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town.

The OEPA is designed to both fund and unlock opportunities that accelerate the adoption of affordable, homegrown, green energy solutions across Africa, a continent with nearly 40% of the world’s renewable energy potential. Despite this abundance, Africa currently attracts only 2% of global clean energy investment.

Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, the OEPA aims to support transformative projects such as rooftop solar installations, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and grid improvements.

The fund was launched with an initial investment of US$60mn, with a target to raise US$250mn over the next three years. Octopus Energy is establishing a model for unlocking green investments in emerging markets through partnerships with investment specialists such as Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers (PRIM). This model also provides opportunities for investors who want to support Africa’s energy transition.

Africa’s energy market is growing rapidly, driven by its unparalleled solar and wind resources. These vast renewable energy assets position the region as a potential global leader in clean energy. The OEPA aims to harness this potential by mobilizing the funding necessary to deliver reliable power to communities and businesses across the continent.

Octopus Energy has already made meaningful progress in the African renewable energy sector. It has invested in MOPO, a solar battery innovator that powers off-grid homes and businesses in Africa. The OEPA is also developing Sierra Leone’s first wind farm on Sherbro Island through a partnership with Akuna Group, bringing clean energy to areas without dependable electricity access.

With the launch of this fund, Octopus Energy takes a major step toward delivering affordable, sustainable energy to millions across Africa and supporting a greener, more resilient energy transition.

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO at Octopus Energy Generation, commented, “Africa is abundant with clean energy potential – enough to build the next-generation renewable powerhouse and a greener, fairer future fuelled by sunshine and wind. By partnering with local experts, such as Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, we aim to accelerate that future and create new green pathways.”