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Hamburg to deploy large-scale heat pumps in wastewater heat project

Johnson Controls says it will supply four 15 MW heat pumps to the district heating network, in Hamburg, Germany. The new system will be equipped in the city's central wastewater treatment plant as part of a wastewater heat project.
Installations

Deye unveils high-voltage hybrid inverters for rooftop PV applications

Deye’s new three-phase hybrid inverters have efficiency ratings of up to 97.60% and European efficiency ratings of 97.0%. They are available in five versions, with power outputs ranging from 29.9 kW to 50 kW.
Markets & Policy

Futurasun acquires solar perovskite startup

Futurasun, an Italian module manufacturer, has acquired Rome-based Solertix. It now aims to bring its perovskite-based solar cell technology closer to commercial production.
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AI or not AI for fault prediction and climate risk assessment in solar plants: misconceptions and facts

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Approaching bankability for grid-scale energy storage

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Geração distribuída em ano de adaptação

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Grid-forming inverters: What advanced grid functionalities should inverters offer?

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Weather and environmental parameters and PV performance

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Manufacturing

Terrain-following solar tracker with a pneumatic twist

Sunfolding’s new TopoTrack rows are reportedly 10 times shorter than traditional trackers, and they can provide 20 degrees of variation between trackers, thus improving slope tolerance between rows.
Installations

Solar, wind covered Belgium’s entire electricity demand for the first time

Belgian grid operator Elia announced that solar and wind generation provided enough electricity to cover the country’s entire electricity demand for the first time this Monday.
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Markets & Policy

UK plans to slash VAT on residential batteries

The UK cabinet plans to introduce a new measure to eliminate the value-added tax (VAT) on residential batteries installed after solar panels.
Technology

Calcium metal battery capable of more than 500 cycles

Researchers at Tohoku University in Japan have developed a prototype calcium battery with a long cycle life of more than 500 charge-discharge cycles. The battery was developed using a hydride-based electrolyte and copper sulfide nanoparticle/carbon compo...
Markets & Policy

India launches tenders to assign 1.8 GW of PV capacity

Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (RVUNL) says it is accepting bids for 810 MW of state transmission utility (STU)-connected PV projects in Bikaner, India. In a separate development, Punjab State Power Corp. has issued a request for selection to buy 1...

Press Releases

JinkoSolar Announces Investment in Shanxi Vertical Integrated Factory, Propelling N-Type Technology Forward

JinkoSolar on the first day of SNEC (May 24) said it would more than triple its planned investment at its new Shanxi plant to RMB 56 billion, among one of the largest investments in solar industry history .

LONGi and Zhejiang Thermal Power agree module supply contract for Egyptian project

LONGi has announced the signing of a contract with Zhejiang Thermal Power Construction for the supply of high-efficiency mono PERC bifacial modules to the Kom Ombo project in Egypt.

Canadian Solar’s Recurrent Energy Executes Sale of 100 MWp Solar Power Plant in Ja

Canadian Solar today announces that it has completed the sale of its Japan flagship mega-project, the 100 MWp Azuma Kofuji solar project located in Fukushima prefecture to Japanese investors arranged by Mizuho Securities Co. , Ltd ("Mizuho Fund").

Global greentech pioneer Hopewind enters German market

Listed technology company Hopewind brings its comprehensive energy management solutions to Germany

Opinion & Analysis

Featured

Photovoltaic energy continues to set new records in European electricity markets

Gas and CO2 prices continued their downward trend in the fourth week of May, which led to a general downward trend in prices in European electricity markets and several negative hourly prices were registered, which reached -€400/MWh in Netherlands. The notable exception of the Iberian market, which saw a rise in prices, came from the fall in renewable energy production. During the week, records of solar photovoltaic energy production were reached in Germany, France, and Italy.

Smoke from early fire season impacts irradiance across North America

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, presents the solar irradiance data it collected for North America since early May. The province of Alberta saw close to 100 wildfires raging from the beginning of the month and solar asset operators throughout the impacted regions can expect reduced efficiency from both the irradiance impacts and increased panel soiling.

Cell prices slip, weighed down by sustained falling upstream prices

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.

New episodes of negative or zero prices in European electricity markets

In the third week of May, negative or zero hourly prices were registered in most of the European electricity markets, especially during the weekend. In the Nord Pool market, the value of -€5.67/MWh registered during an hour on Sunday May 21, is the lowest one in history. For the week as a whole, prices decreased in every market, due to the decrease in demand and gas prices, and also to a higher solar and wind energy production than that of the previous week in several markets.

Biofuels vs. solar electricity for urban mobility

Solar electricity will have to compete with biofuels in the urban mobility landscape. Biofuels, however, have a very low energy productivity per hectare, as well as high requirements for fertilizers, pesticides, and water.

Solar dawn

Frank Haugwitz arrived in China in June 2002 as technical adviser to the solar-focused Sino-German Renewable Energies in Rural Areas Program. He has directly observed the nation’s rise to solar superpower status.

Covid-19

Producing the goods

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) is demonstrating how a solar-powered refrigeration unit and dryer could be self-sustaining and improve food security in Kenya.

African PAYG solar companies have hogged 72% of sector’s investment

The first post-pandemic update on the state of the world’s off-grid solar industry has painted a picture of domination by European companies, but highlighted the potential for new startups in West Africa and an increasing use of PV as a backup to unreliable grid supplies.

Off-grid solar continues to expand

The off-grid solar sector has shown resilience in the face of pandemic-related challenges, with 70 million people gaining access to electricity from early 2020 to the end of 2021. However, the ability to pay for solar energy kits has taken a hit.

AfDB announces cheap loans to back off-grid solar in Africa

The African Development Bank has announced that European and US donors will provide $20 million of concessional loans to support pay-as-you-go solar companies in sub-Saharan Africa.

SolarEdge reports record-breaking revenue

With comparisons with a Covid-hit 2020 inevitably offering a string of positive numbers, there was also little to concern the board of the inverter and battery manufacturer from the returns generated in the last quarter.

Solar job numbers kept on rising in 2020

The latest edition of a clean power jobs survey produced by IRENA and the International Labour Organization has stressed the important role which will need to be played by the public sector if the energy transition’s employment benefits are to be shared equally.

Markets & Policy

Featured

Asia takes the lead on floating PV

Floating PV is consolidating as a growth segment for PV demand, mainly driven by supportive policies and incentives extended by governments across the world. A major reason for this push is the limited land availability in many markets. Despite higher equipment prices compared to ground-mounted installations, developers see the opportunity to save on land and O&M costs. The output can also be as much as 30% higher than a ground-mount PV plant, depending on the site and technology used.

African Development Bank seeking consultants for PV manufacturing study

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched an expression of interest for a consulting study on solar manufacturing in the Desert to Power Sahel countries. Interested parties have until June 7 to submit their bids.

Bahrain’s port to host $10 million solar project

The A.P. Moller-Maersk subsidiary says that by installing 20,000 solar photovoltaic panels, it will make Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port the region’s first seaport to be fully powered by renewable energy.

Dutch regulator warns of EMC issues, hacking risks for solar inverters

Most solar inverters in the Netherlands fail electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, posing interference risks and raising the threat of hacking, says the National Inspectorate for Digital Infrastructure (RDI).

Israel launches tender to lease land in Negev desert for solar deployment

The Israeli authorities said new solar projects will be built in Israel’s Ramat Bekaa special industrial zone.

Meyer Burger considering US solar cell production

Meyer Burger says it might launch US solar cell manufacturing, and is now in talks with Sunrun and Sunnova

Installations

Featured

Australia builds big

While the first half of 2022 was one of the busiest periods on record for new wind projects in Australia, with more than 2 GW breaking ground, solar got off to a much slower start with construction on 635 MW of new PV projects getting underway. Rystad Energy’s David Dixon attributes this slowdown to high cost and supply chain challenges and a lack of available power purchase agreements.

US software supplier introduces hail detection solution for solar projects

Hail events have historically posed a considerable risk for utility-scale solar projects, with weather creating up to $100 million in damages at large installations in US states such as Texas.

India’s Livsol unveils wall-mounted battery inverter

India’s Livsol has released 300 VA, 1 kVA, 2 kVA, 3 kVA, and 5 kVA versions of its new wall-mounted lithium battery inverters, with operating voltages of 12.8 V, 12.8 V, 25.6 V, 51.2 V, and 48 V.

Redflow comissions 30 kWh zinc-bromine flow battery project in Australia

Queensland-based flow battery company, Redflow, has commissioned a 30 kWh zinc-bromine flow battery for the Brisbane City Council.

Global investment in clean energy nearly doubles that of fossil fuels

For every dollar invested in fossil fuels, 1.7 dollars are invested in clean technologies. Five years ago, it was a one-to-one ratio, said the International Energy Agency.

European Energy secures approval for 250 MW solar plant in southern Italy

European Energy, a Danish independent power producer, said it will build its new 250 MW close to a substation owned by Italian grid operator Terna in Sicily. It will occupy a surface of around 200 hectares.

Technology

Featured

Copper is the new silver lining

As the PV industry scales to annual terawatt-level production to rapidly curtail the world’s emissions, it will become more challenging to continue the cost reduction trajectory. Increasing module production from current levels of 200 GW to 300 GW to several terawatts each year will consume significantly more material resources than the industry currently uses. This will require consideration of the additional materials to be sourced, writes Alison Lennon, chief scientist at Sundrive Solar and professor at the UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering.

Australian startup reveals 20-layer battery cell based on semi-solid li-sulfur technology

Brisbane-based Li-S Energy has developed a 20-layer battery cell utilizing semi-solid state lithium sulfur battery technology. The company claims the new cell displays nearly double the gravimetric energy density and a comparable volumetric energy density to lithium-ion cells.

Novel design for inverted all-perovskite bilayer solar cells with 24.83% efficiency

An international research team has crafted an innovative solar cell design. By employing a top absorber consisting of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3), a lead-halide perovskite, and a bottom absorber composed of FA0.5MA0.5Pb0.5Sn0.5I3, a perovskite material, the cell maximizes light absorption across a broad spectrum.

Daikin unveils air-to-water heat pump for commercial applications

Daikin Applied Americas has developed an air-to-water heat pump that can produce 91.2 kW of heat and 23.58 tons of cooling. The new device can be used as a cascade system with water-to-water heat pumps, and can switch between cooling and heating modes, depending on temperature requirements.

SPIC unveils TOPCon back contact solar panel with 23.4% efficiency

Chinese manufacturer SPIC Solar says its new PV modules have power outputs ranging from 450 W to 460 W, and power conversion efficiencies ranging from 22.9% to 23.4%.

Pre-fabricated photovoltaic pavement for urban environments

China-based researchers have developed a model for photovoltaic pavement, achieving a potential electrical output of 0.68 kWh/m2 and an efficiency of 14.71%. Through simulations across 255 Chinese cities, they have determined that electricity potential ranges from 0.70 kWh/W to 1.83 kWh/W.

Manufacturing

Featured

Catalyst for an EU comeback

Plans for Europe’s largest-ever PV cell and module factory are taking shape, with equipment orders placed and a projected start date in mid-2024. Enel Green Power has received €118 million ($116.36 million) in funding from the EU Innovation Fund to support the project, out of a total €600 million investment. The EU is hoping it will catalyze further investment in similar projects, and start a high-tech comeback for European solar manufacturing.

NexWafe secures funding to build wafer factory in Germany, announces new factory in Saudi Arabia

German wafer manufacturer Nexwafe is currently trying to commercialize its highly efficient monocrystalline wafer technology.

Chinese PV Industry Brief: Trina to build 25 GW ingot factory, Longi reduces wafer prices by 30%

Longi said today it cut the prices of its wafer products by 30% and Trina announced it will build a 25 GW monocrystalline ingot factory in the Sichuan province. Furthermore, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the Chinese PV industry produced 39.92 GW of solar cells in April, and Datang Group unveiled the results of a tender to procure 8 GW of solar panels.

KAUST claims 33.7% efficiency for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell

The European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) has confirmed the results of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’s (KAUST) new perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell. The 1 cm2 device also achieved an open-circuit voltage of 1.974 V, a short-circuit current density of 20.99 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 81.3%.

CFD tests show wind resistance in vertical rooftop PV systems

Norwegian startup Over Easy has validated the wind resistance of its vertical PV system for rooftops by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Wind tunnel tests conducted by I.F.I. Institut für Industrieaerodynamik GmbH confirm that the system can function without ballast or fastening to the rooftop.

Foldable, textured silicon wafers for flexible heterojunction solar cells

An international research team in China has used Czochralski n-type c-Si wafers from China-based Sichuan Yongxiang to build textured wafers with a thickness ranging from 65 μm to 55 μm. They have used the wafers in heterojunction solar cells ton hit efficiencies close to those of devices cells based on conventional wafers.

Energy Storage

Featured

Cobalt clings on

Cobalt is key for boosting energy density and battery life, but it comes with caveats: expensive, scarce, and linked to unethical mining practices, wild price fluctuations, and a tenuous supply chain. In recent years, battery manufacturers and automakers have intensified efforts to reduce or eliminate cobalt in lithium-ion cathodes. But sometimes, old habits die hard, as pv magazine’s Marija Maisch explains.

The Hydrogen Stream: Norway, Finland take the lead in Europe

Plug Power has revealed plans to develop three green hydrogen production plants in Finland, while Statkraft is set to increase its investments in the German hydrogen market.

Japanese group unveils fuel cell system based on green hydrogen, waste plastic

A Japanese consortium is now testing a 100 kW fuel cell system in Tokyo. The system uses green hydrogen and waste plastic hydrogen to provide heat to an industrial building. The demonstration aims to establish an urban hydrogen energy utilization model that combines global and local hydrogen sources.

Sofar releases lithium iron phosphate battery for utility-scale applications

China-based Sofar has unveiled PowerMaster, a new modular utility-scale battery based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. 

The Hydrogen Stream: Namibia to launch $10 billion hydrogen project

German investors have agreed to back a hydrogen project in Namibia, while Plug Power and Thyssenkrupp Nucera have announced separate hydrogen-related deals in Sweden.

Slenergy emerges as new one-stop solar shop for Europe

A new solar company has entered the PV market, pv magazine learned this week at SNEC in Shanghai. The company sells everything from PV modules and inverters to racking and wallboxes.

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