Afreximbank backs 1 GW floating solar project in Zimbabwe
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has committed $4.4 million to finance bankability and feasibility studies for a proposed 1 GW hybrid floating solar project on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
Drop in haze, pollution contributes to China’s solar generation in July
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that reduced atmospheric haze helped solar irradiance surge to around 40% above the July average in Northeast China.
Non-stop solar innovation despite module oversupply
It’s no secret that prices throughout the solar supply chain have been at rock bottom over the past 18 months. Alex Barrows and Molly Morgan of CRU Group explore how the market reached the imbalance that caused PV prices to crash, what this has meant for innovation, and how it might affect future technology transitions.
RWE secures environmental nod for 1,277 MWh solar-storage project in Chile
German utility RWE has secured environmental approval for its Los Durmientes project in Chile’s Antofagasta region, which combines a 243.6 MW solar plant with a 255.4 MW/1,277 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
Impact of hydrogen on silicon solar cell degradation
German researchers have reviewed recent studies on hydrogen-related degradation in silicon solar cells. They said the work is timely, with n-type silicon dominating production and antimony-doping emerging.
China’s polysilicon rally enters fourth week, defying market fundamentals
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.
‘Soft-connected’ floating PV for offshore scenarios
An international research team has tested a floating PV system with a “soft-connected” configuration under offshore conditions, using six modular pontoons linked by elastic bar elements to simulate mooring lines and connection ropes.
Tesla taps LG Energy for US storage batteries in $4.3 billion deal
Tesla has selected LG Energy Solution (LGES) to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for its US energy storage products in a deal reportedly worth $4.3 billion, according to South Korean media.
Passive solar module cooling tech based on atmospheric water harvesting
Researchers in India have developed a cooling technology that uses calcium chloride for atmospheric water harvesting. The system reportedly improves PV module yields by up to 18%.
Australia may install 220,000 home batteries under subsidy scheme
Australia is on track to surpass 2024 home battery installation records, with July data from SunWiz indicating that up to 220,000 units could be deployed in the first year of the federal Cheaper Home Batteries subsidy.
