EC announces European Solar Charter to support PV manufacturing
The European Commission has proposed the European Solar Charter (ESC) in response to the challenges facing the continent’s solar manufacturing industry. The document sets out a series of voluntary actions to be undertaken to support the EU photovoltaic sector and bears no mention of EU trade tariffs or restrictions on cheap solar panel imports.
European study shows continent exports solar waste
Europe’s solar boom is hiding its waste through exports, according to a new study. Instead of recycling, as expected under European regulations, vast amounts of solar panel waste are exported, undermining sustainability goals. The researchers suggest a digitized value chain as a potential fix to work toward a circular economy.
Making the case for concentrated solar power
Dismissed by many in the solar industry as an overly-complex, outdated technology, concentrated solar power (CSP) is set for a comeback thanks to a scaled-down, modular approach.
Turkish solar module manufacturer launches production in Texas
Elin Energy says it has an agreement with key US distributors and will begin with 1 GW of annual PV module production, with plans to increase to 2 GW within 18 months.
Spanish installer tests vertical rooftop PV array based on conventional panels
Sud Renovables has installed a pilot vertical rooftop PV system on one of its facilities in Barcelona, Spain. The array features two 500 W bifacial modules from US-based SunPower and two microinverters from Enphase Energy.
Dracula Technologies, STMicroelectronics unveil photovoltaic illuminometer
France’s indoor organic PV specialist Dracula Technologies and Swiss-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics demonstrated a battery-free illuminometer at the Embedded World trade fair in Germany last week.
France to tender 240 MW of solar capacity along highways
The French authorities plan to launch a series of tenders to deploy PV systems along highways, starting this month.
Adjusting oxygen distribution in Czochralski silicon crystal growth
Researchers in Taiwan have discovered that in polysilicon production the crucible angular speed affects the oxygen concentration near the crucible wall, which in turn affects the wafers’ mechanical and electrical properties. They simulated a Czochralski process for an ingot with a diameter of 200 mm diameter and a length of 700 mm.
US median residential solar price hits $2.80/W, with 8-year payback period
EnergySage says market figures from the second half of 2023 show moderate declines in the cost of solar and energy storage.
Rechargeable magnesium batteries for grid-scale storage
Researchers in Japan have developed a novel cathode material for rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) in the form of rocksalt oxide. This new material reportedly enables efficient charging and discharging even at low temperatures.
