CEA identifies major safety concerns in 97% of audited rooftop PV systems
Clean Energy Associates (CEA) has performed a safety audit on more than 600 rooftop PV systems and has found that 97% of installations have major safety concerns. It says that 49% of sites have grounding issues, 47% have damaged modules, and 41% have cross-mated connectors.
New technique to repair solder interconnection failures in solar panels
Researchers in Japan have developed a repair technique for solar modules with damaged busbars and solder ribbons. They claim the new method can be implemented on site, without removing the panels from the array.
Known unknowns
Historic meteorological data is typically used to assess solar farm yield and secure project finance, but with climate change beginning to affect every aspect of society, past weather data may no longer be a reliable guide. Everoze Partner Nastasia Pacaut looks at how PV projects can be future-proofed in a changing climate.
Solar to reach ‘unassailable position’ as cheapest electricity source, says DNV
Solar’s levelized cost of electricity will reach $30/MWh in 2050, as global capacity surges, said DNV.
Germany’s average residential PV prices rose by 10% to €1,557/kW in Q2
According to EUPD Research figures, PV system prices for single-family homes in Germany rose slightly in the second quarter of 2023. Despite falling module prices, analysts do not expect costs to fall significantly in the coming months. Prices also depend heavily on installation context, component selection, and region, which is why price comparisons with average figures, such as those used by Enpal in emails to private households, are not particularly meaningful.
New interactive map of PV projects in Portugal
Observatório Fotovoltaico is mapping PV projects across Portugal, with information on installation size, year of commissioning, exploration type, and developer. The free tool already includes around 1,000 projects, corresponding to 60% of the country’s total installed capacity.
Protecting solar cells from UV light
Scientists in France tested the effectiveness of various encapsulant materials, used to laminate solar cells into modules, at protecting cells and other components from damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. Their findings show that encapsulants with additives specifically designed to absorb UV light tend to turn yellow over time, which can contribute to various other problems with performance.
All solar cell efficiencies at a glance – updated
The research group led by Professor Martin Green has published Version 62 of the solar cell efficiency tables. There are 21 new results reported in the new version, a record number for the Tables.
Lunar Energy announces new residential energy storage system
US-based Lunar Energy offers batteries, hybrid inverters, and shutdown devices.
EDF commissions utility-scale floating solar plant in France
EDF’s new 20 MW floating solar project is built close to an EDF hydropower dam near Lazer, in southern France.
