India launches 2.4 GW of renewables tenders
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has kicked off 2.4 GW of renewables tenders, including a 1.2 GW procurement exercise and a 1.2 GW round.
Study finds excessive row spacing has limited effect on improving PV system performance
Scientists in China have tested the influence of panel row spacing in increasing a PV system performance in a full-scale outdoor PV array experimental platform. They found that larger row spacing plays a limited role in improving thermal convection, observing that solar irradiance and wind speed are the key parameters for optimal PV system design.
Australian hydrogen developer hits purity high in testing
Natural hydrogen explorer Gold Hydrogen says it has uncovered 95.8% pure hydrogen at its Ramsay Project on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula as it seeks to tap into growing demand for the gas as a clean energy source.
Italian startup develops 20.7%-efficient mini perovskite solar modules with 99.6% geometrical fill factor
Solertix claims to have reduced yield losses in cell-to-module scaling by utilizing ultranarrow interconnection of 19.5 μm. It also says the proposed interconnection technique may be used to achieve a 30% efficiency in area-matched 4T tandem designs featuring a perovskite module over a silicon cell.
CPUC’s revised proposed decision could destroy community PV in California
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is set to vote on a revised proposed decision that fails to seize on the opportunity to create a vibrant community solar market.
United Kingdom closes in on 16 GW installed solar capacity
The latest government installation figures reveal a slower start to the year for the United Kingdom, with small-scale installations accounting for the majority of additions. As the UK General Election approaches, there are calls from industry for the next government to act quickly on the issues hindering capacity expansion.
Japanese researchers build 14.3%-efficient bendable, waterproof organic solar cell
Researchers from Japan’s Riken Center for Emergent Matter Science have fabricated an organic solar cell that has achieved waterproofness without reducing flexibility. At 3 micrometers thick, it is thought to be the first cell of its kind to survive a washing machine cycle and retain efficiency after multiple cycles.
Poland’s new capacity market auction could hamper storage deployment
The draft parameters for this year’s capacity market auction in Poland could make the rollout of battery energy storage systems (BESS) much more difficult. The document proposes a significant reduction to the BESS derating factor that could be particularly harmful for longer duration storage systems.
Are the days of cheap finance for Chinese solar over?
The Chinese PV industry has benefited from the availability of substantial finance over the past two decades, supporting the development of the renewable, zero-carbon capability essential for meeting the goals of the Paris climate agreement. Easy access to finance has led to unsustainably low prices and unnecessary losses, however, impacting China’s ability to sustain support for renewable energy systems. As the nation expands clean power installations and enhances grid-balancing capacity, maintaining consistent financial support has become more challenging.
