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Chinese PV Industry Brief: CHN Energy buys 10 GW of solar modules at $0.15/W

CHN Energy has acquired 10 GW of solar modules at $0.15/W in its most recent solar module procurement round. The state-owned company says it bought 3.21 GW of panels from Longi, 740 MW from Tongwei, 2.49 GW from Astronergy, and 3.56 GW from JinkoSolar.
Energy Storage

The Hydrogen Stream: Brazil reveals $3.6 billion hydrogen production plan

Brazil has announced a $3.6 billion hydrogen production plan, Adnoc has launched a green hydrogen refueling-station pilot in the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union has moved forward on the establishment of EU-wide hydrogen rules.
Markets & Policy

India’s Waaree secures US order for 1.5 GW of TOPCon solar modules

India's Waaree has signed a three-year deal with Acciona to supply 1.5 GW of TOPCon solar modules for the Spanish developer's PV installations in the United States from 2024 to 2026.
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Markets & Policy

Maharlika Consortium wins Philippines microgrid tender

The Philippines Department of Energy says the Maharlika Consortium – representing three companies – will develop two microgrid hybrid solar and diesel generator power plants for "underserved" communities located on Panlaitan island and the island of ...
Installations

Japan’s 18th solar auction concludes with lowest bid of $0.053/kWh

Japan’s latest procurement exercise was open to PV projects above 250 kW in size. The lowest price came in at JPY 7.94 ($0.053)/kWh, with 105 MW of allocated capacity.
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Installations

Renewables helping China to halve power prices compared to US, Europe

Wood Mackenzie says in a new report that China could install 230 GW of PV and wind capacity and export more than 200 GW of solar panels in 2023. Unlike Europe and United States, the country is avoiding the high curtailment of PV and wind.
Markets & Policy

Solarwatt announces 85 layoffs

German module manufacturer Solarwatt blamed market disruptions and very low module prices for its decision to lay off 10% of employees at the end of the year.
Markets & Policy

Polysilicon prices could hit all-time low by year-end

Bernreuter Research says in a new report that it expects polysilicon prices to soon dip below the historical low of $6.75/kg, which was reached in June 2020. It says global polysilicon capacity could hit 2.75 million metric tons (MT) by the end of Decemb...

Press Releases

ENERGAÏA 2023: The definitive gathering for professionals, with ALL forms of renewable energy

The only trade show in France that deals with all renewables, EnerGaïa will be held on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 December in Montpellier. The event, which has doubled in size in the space of two years, will this year welcome more than 14,000 professionals, 400 exhibitors and nearly 100 talks, round tables, workshops and pitches from key experts in the sector, addressing the new energy challenges in France and abroad.

Weiheng Ecactus C&I Energy Storage System is IEC 62619 and IEC 63056 certified by Intertek

Recently, the commercial and industrial liquid-cooling all-in-one energy storage system (ESS) TIANWU-AIO-L 100kW/233kWh developed by Weiheng Ecactus has been granted IEC 62619 and IEC 63056 certification by Intertek.

Hanersun Inked MoU with Solfácil to Supply 400MW of N Type PV Modules for Brazilian Distribution Generation Marke

This week, Hanersun announced the signing of a Memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) with Solfácil, one of the largest Brazilian solar fintech, to supply HITOUCH 5N modules for a total capacity of 400MW.

Astronergy module products certify their reliability in floating solar scenario

Seeing the three-month safe and stable operation of Astronergy n-type TOPCon PV modules at China’s first deep-sea floating PV empirical base since August this year, the great performances of Astronergy products in aspects of power, conversion efficiency, salt spray resistance and water resistance gained one more certificate remarks the company’s products’ strength in the floating solar scenario.

Opinion & Analysis

Featured

Casting the net for solar recruits

Solar-industry companies need to forget ideas about office-based roles and look far afield to source the recruits necessary for the energy transition – and then they need to keep them loyal by offering a rewarding career.

U.S. solar has less thanks to give, as El Niño pattern develops

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that, in November, weather patterns have started to resemble the characteristic El Niño signature, with low pressure in the northwest Pacific, and an enhanced subtropical jet stream spreading from the Pacific across the southern United States.

Solar wafer prices marginally rise, supported by currency exchange rate

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.

Workforce dilemma casts long shadow

Solar industry expansion is racing ahead but shortages of skilled labor could derail progress. Long-term solutions are required to support further growth. Benoit Ribeaud, partner at Everoze, explores how a workforce bottleneck is affecting the solar industry and calls for more action to alleviate recruitment pressure.

The solar module surplus: EUPD Research considers Europe’s warehouse woes

As solar module prices continue to drop to record lows, amid global oversupply, questions are being asked about how much inventory is sitting in European warehouses and when normal levels will return. With numerous estimates and assumptions swirling, EUPD Research’s Markus A.W. Hoehner and Ali Arfa have looked closely at the numbers in an attempt to provide a transparent view of the issue.

With China PV modules reaching record low prices, is there a chance for local PV manufacturing elsewhere?

From the International Solar Energy Society’s perspective, and the vision of a world with 100% renewable energy for everyone used wisely and efficiently, PV module production should not become an oligopoly and should not be concentrated in one corner of the world.

Markets & Policy

Featured

Chad launches tender for engineer to oversee 30 MW PV plant construction

The Republic of Chad has started accepting applications for a consulting engineer to supervise the construction of a 30 MW (AC) ground-mounted solar power plant – with a 60 MWh storage system, 90 kV line and 90/33 kV substation – near the national capital, N’Djamena.

Performance parameters for residential heat pumps linked to PV, storage

German researchers measured a PV-powered heat pump with battery storage in a single-family home in Freiburg, Germany, for a period of a year. It features smart grid-ready tech that adjusts operations based on the grid.

Sparc Hydrogen tests prototype photocatalytic water-splitting reactor

Sparc Hydrogen has successfully tested a green hydrogen tech prototype and is now advancing to a pilot plant study near Adelaide, Australia.

US EIA says solar power will surpass hydropower by 14% in 2024

Solar capacity has rapidly grown in the United States, while manufacturing costs have fallen, prompting the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) to predict that PV will generate 14% more electricity than hydroelectric facilities in 2024.

Toyo Solar inaugurates 4 GW TOPCon solar cell factory in Vietnam

Toyo Solar, a subsidiary of Vsun Solar, commissioned a 4 GW TOPCon cell factory, completing the first phase of an 8 GW manufacturing facility in Vietnam.

Serbia’s Domi Eko commissions 150 MW TOPCon solar module factory

The factory is located in Velika Plana, central Serbia. The production equipment was provided by Italian manufacturer Ecoprogetti.

Installations

Featured

AEG releases 445 W all-black TOPCon solar module with 22.27% efficiency

AEG is offering three versions of its new all-black solar panels, with power outputs of 435 W to 445 W and efficiency ratings ranging from 21.5% to 22.0%. They feature 108 half-cut monocrystalline cells with n-type technology.

New multilevel PV inverter concept based on switched capacitors, single DC input

Scientists in India have developed a 500 W seven-level inverter prototype based on switched capacitors. The device is reportedly able to achieve a high efficiency despite switching, conduction, and capacitor voltage ripple losses.

Pexapark says European developers secured 1.6 GW solar PPAs in October

Power purchase agreement (PPA) prices decreased by 1.9% on average in Europe in October, according to Pexapark. It says that 36 deals with a combined capacity of 1.6 GW were closed for the month.

France adds 2.2 GW of solar in first 9 months of 2023

France installed 2.2 GW of solar in the first nine months of 2023, bringing the nation’s cumulative installed PV capacity to 19 GW by the end of September.

EU Commission approves €5.7 billion Italian scheme for energy communities

The European Commission said last week it has greenlighted a €5.7 billion ($6.24 billion) scheme for Italy to develop renewable energy communities up to 1 MW in size.

Infinite Turbine debuts heat pump turbine for homes, businesses

Infinite Turbine has developed a heat pump turbine for residential and commercial applications, using PV or alternative electricity sources for simultaneous cooling and hydraulic power. The tech can be retrofitted with existing CO2 heat pump systems for air conditioning, hot water, and process heat.

Technology

Featured

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells provide extra protection against reverse-bias degradation

An international research team demonstrated that monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem cells do not suffer the same degree of reverse bias degradation that is typically seen in perovskite single junction solar cells under partial shading. They explained that the tandem devices are “protected” by the silicon subcell.

Studer unveils 3-phase distribution cabinet for solar-plus-storage

Switzerland-based Studer says its new infra product can include up to 24 kW of solar and 30 kWh of battery storage. The system has two 12 kW inputs for solar panels and uses 5 kWh batteries from Italian manufacturer Weco.

Dutch startup unveils 600 W two-module residential rooftop PV system

Netherlands-based developer of lightweight PV systems, Rable Group, claims its new rooftop PV solution can be installed in 20 minutes without the need for special permitting or modifications to the fuse box.

First attempt to build back-contact micrometric III-V photovoltaic cells

An international research group has utilized through-substrate-vias to create 3D interconnections in III-V solar cells with a triple-junction architecture. The novel cell design was found to have a low shading factor of below 3% and a 6-fold increase in wafer area use compared to cells based on 2D interconnects.

China’s State Grid commissions 1.2 GW pumped hydro project

State Grid Corp. of China has commissioned a 1.2 GW pumped hydro project, featuring three 300 MW turbines.

Australian startup begins work on agrivoltaic project with thermal storage

Graphite Energy, a thermal storage company, is building a facility in Australia to demonstrate how renewable energy and agriculture can co-exist through agrivoltaic and greenhouse systems.

Manufacturing

Featured

AmpIn Energy to build 1.3 GW solar cell, module factory in India

AmpIn Energy Transition says it plans to invest $372 million to set up more than 600 MW of renewable energy projects and an integrated 1.3 GW solar cell and module factory in eastern India.

Chinese PV Industry Brief: Polysilicon prices continue to slide

Polysilicon prices fell by as much as 3.23% in China this week, according to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA).

Retrofit solution to convert rooftop PV systems into photovoltaic-thermal arrays

Scientists in Korea have proposed a simple methodolgy to tranform existing PV systems into photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) arrays. They claim the new design offers a cheaper alternative to expensive PVT systems, while enabling easier and faster deployment.

New robots for PV plant inspections

The Antecursor II robot autonomously inspects upper and lower solar panel structures for thermal anomalies, with more than 30 hours of autonomy.

Solutions needed to future-proof big solar amid weather-related risks

Extreme weather is a growing risk to solar farms. Future-proofing through advanced technologies, leveraging data from novel sources, and accepting risk is vital, but rarely achieved today for a number of reasons. Insurers, lenders, developers, contractors and manufacturers recently came together in Melbourne, Australia, to discuss solutions to the intractable problem of weather risk.

Dutch startup offers film that enhances efficiency of specialty PV modules

Mito Solar, a Dutch developer of lightweight PV modules, has developed a laminate film to boost the power generation capacity of specialty solar panels, such as those installed on solar racing cars and boats. The company claims the film may improve a module’s power conversion efficiency by up to 1%.

Energy Storage

Featured

Weekend Read: BESS lessons learned

Taking a rigorous approach to inspection is crucial across the energy storage supply chain. Chi Zhang and George Touloupas, of Clean Energy Associates (CEA), explore common manufacturing defects in battery energy storage systems (BESS') and how quality-assurance regimes can detect them.

The Hydrogen Stream: Germany, Italy plan hydrogen pipeline to North Africa

Germany, in collaboration with Italy, has revealed plans to import hydrogen from Northern Africa.

Weiheng Ecactus releases 233 kWh all-in-one battery system

Weiheng Ecactus has unveiled its new Tianwu battery system, with 233 kWh of capacity and 100 kW of output, giving users the flexibility to connect up to 10 units in parallel.

Reconductor existing transmission to ‘unlock’ renewables, says UC Berkeley study

Large-scale reconductoring of existing transmission lines could cost-effectively double transmission capacity within existing rights-of-way, a study says. Renewable energy projects near reconductored transmission lines could more easily interconnect.

EU launches first green hydrogen auction with ceiling price of €4.50/kg

The European Union has launched its first green hydrogen auction with a maximum price of €4.50 ($4.91)/kg. The approved projects will receive subsidies for a decade, alongside revenue from hydrogen sales, and must start production within the next five years.

High-resolution model to identify hourly usage patterns of residential heat pumps

Developed by scientists from the UK and Spain, the new model uses high spatiotemporal resolution weather data and data from heat pump field trials. It finds “significant regional differences” compared to a British nation-wide estimation.

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