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Hanwha Qcells shuts down 3.5 GW solar factory in South Korea

Hanwha Qcells has closed its 3.5 GW solar factory in South Korea as part of plans to optimize its PV module production capabilities amid a stagnant domestic solar market.
Installations

Industry pushes for ‘agricentricity’ at Agrivoltaics2023

At the Agrivoltaics2023 conference in France this week, companies such as solar developers and mounting system suppliers called for a more central role for agriculture, amid ongoing legislative and commercial developments. However, uncertainties remain o...
Markets & Policy

EU lists 166 cross-border energy projects to receive rapid support

The European Commission announced yesterday that 166 cross-border projects will be afforded streamlined permitting and regulatory processes, and be eligible for EU financial support, as part of a new push for the European Commission to reach its European...
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Curated by our editors, Roundtables Europe ’23 unites the powerhouse minds in the European solar industry, sparking discussions among top experts, analysts, and stakeholders. Join the virtual event on December 5 & 6!

 

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L’apport des onduleurs strings ultra-puissants pour le solaire à grande échelle

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Balancing the books on big solar’s weather risk

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Minimizing partial shading yield losses

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Além da geração solar distribuída: soluções integradas de energia para o cliente final

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Achieving domestic content tax incentives with solar trackers

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The value of standard module formats in the n-type era

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Markets & Policy

TotalEnergies acquires minority stake in UK-Moroccan solar-wind interconnector

TotalEnergies says it has invested GBP 20 million ($25 million) in Xlinks’ 11.5 GW hybrid solar and wind facility in southern Morocco. Xlinks aims to transport power to Great Britain through 3,800 kilometers of underwater cables.
Installations

Workflow for integration of BIPV in historical buildings

Italian researchers have outlined a four-step method to assess the technical feasibility of building-integrated PV (BIPV) projects in historical buildings. They applied the proposed approach to a courtyard building from the 16th century in the historical...
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Manufacturing

Imec integrates silicon heterojunction solar cells into curved surfaces

Imec has successfully integrated silicon heterojunction PV cells into curved surfaces, resulting in a 6% efficiency increase compared to passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) half cells. The cells are suitable for applications in vehicle-integrated ...
Markets & Policy

Limited success for large-scale PV auctions in Austria

The Austrian authorities have only used 35% of their 2023 budget for large-scale solar auctions thus far.
Markets & Policy

Engie starts building 400  MW of solar in India

Engie has secured a 400 MW solar project through competitive bidding in an auction by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL). The project is set for commissioning by the second quarter of 2024.

Press Releases

Over 420 European organisations warn of irresponsible trade defence measures on solar products

Europe’s climate and energy security targets are being put at risk by the irresponsible consideration of trade defence measures on solar products. Ahead of a high-level European Solar PV Industrial Alliance meeting with Commissioner Thierry Breton, 429 European solar companies have joined a call to EU authorities to take trade defence measures off the table.

The Vital Role of ENcome Energy Performance in Advancing the Photovoltaic Sector Through Effective O&M Services

In the ever-evolving landscape of renewable energy, photovoltaic (PV) systems have emerged as a key player in sustainable power generation. With its significant contributions to reducing carbon footprints and enhancing energy independence, PV systems require consistent upkeep to ensure optimal performance.

RECOM Technologies and 18 times World Champion Michalis Zambidis join forces for a more sustainable future.

RECOM Technologies and Greek kickboxer Michalis Zambidis (Iron Mike) collaborate, contributing to a more sustainable future through the installation of photovoltaic systems. 18-time World champion kickboxer Michalis Zambidis and the global renewable energy company, RECOM Technologies, have initiated a strong partnership aimed at eliminating energy costs in businesses and residences.

PV monitoring comparison: AlsoEnergy and Amperecloud

The Berlin-based company Amperecloud is adding another provider to its software comparison.

Opinion & Analysis

Green hydrogen and its water use problem

The climate crisis threatens water management and the water crisis in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 2023 illustrates the damage new industrial projects could cause if not thoroughly assessed. With green hydrogen projects gaining international prominence, it is vital they are properly planned.

Renewable energy has MIBEL recording lowest Euro prices in the final week of November

Strong solar and wind meant MIBEL recorded the lowest energy prices compared to the other major European markets in the final week of November, according to data collected by Aleasoft Energy Forecasting.

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.

Markets & Policy

Featured

New model to predict defrost cycles, behavior of air-sourced heat pumps in cold weather

UK-based researchers have developed a novel method to estimate the amount of defrost cycles a heat pump will experience in the winter and how much energy it would require to implement the cycles. The results of their simulation showed a strong relationship between the number of defrost cycles and the ambient temperature.

Italian-Tunisian interconnector secures €307 million from EU

New model to assess solar irradiance on east-west vertical bifacial PV systems

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148123016373#fig4

Netherlands’ TNO tests integrating ground-mounted solar systems in dairy farming

A multi-year research project in the Netherlands is assessing the potential of dual-use solar PV, integrating crops for dairy farming with solar PV using single-axis tracking, vertical PV, and bifacial modules. 

Greece accepts applications totaling 288 MW in second storage tender

Greece’s energy regulator has published a call for the country’s second energy storage tender to take place in February next year.

Are Europe’s major solar associations divided, again?

An article published in French newspaper Le Monde recently sparked a war between two prominent European PV associations – the decades-old SolarPower Europe and the three-year-old newcomer the European Solar Manufacturing Council. pv magazine looked into the matter to unpick the potential long-term impact the rift could have on the sector.

Installations

Reducing PV module temperature with beeswax, paraffin wax

Scientists in Iraq have applied two different kinds of phase-change materials to lower the operating temperatures of PV panels. Their experiment showed that beeswax are paraffin wax are particularly effective in achieving this goal, even when they are combined togheter.

Hybridizing anaerobic digestion with photovoltaic-thermal energy

Scientists in Spain have proposed to combine anaerobic digestion plants with photovoltaic-thermal panels and have found that this combination may achieve an LCOE of $0.045/kWh across several locations in Europe and North America.

Researching submerged solar cells by attaching them to migrating seals

American scientists have attached solar cell assessment modules to four seals. They found that in most conditions, PV can power marine wildlife telemetry modules.

LG launches residential air-to-water propane heat pump

The new product utlizes propane refrigerant with a lower global warming potential and has a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of over 5. According to the manufacturer, it can achieve a flow temperature of 75 C and 100% heating output at outside temperatures of -15 C.

New solar installations to hit 413 GW this year, says BloombergNEF

BloombergNEF says historically low module prices will drive the global solar industry to record installations in 2023.

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.

Technology

Featured

Day-ahead forecasting for commercial PV with battery storage

A research group in South Africa has developed a novel method for PV output forecasting in commercial buildings. The proposed approach is purportedly able to accurately forecast the output power of a PV plant using real-time weather data.

Weekend Read: Connecting HJT

The application of busbarless cell interconnection approaches could unlock the potential of heterojunction (HJT) technology, primarily by reducing the historically high silver usage of negatively-doped, “n-type” cell technology. As a key patent expires, a wave of applications may very well be on the horizon.

France’s INES building first TOPCon panels for space applications

France’s National Solar Energy Institute (INES) – a division of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) – is developing ultra-thin TOPCon solar devices for space missions, in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).

GCL claims 18.04% efficiency for perovskite solar panel

The China National Institute of Metrology has certified the result. The manufacturer claims it was able to increase the panel efficiency from 16.02% to 18.04% in a few months.

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.

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.

Manufacturing

Featured

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 December, with just 200,000 MT of the total outside of China.

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.

Energy Storage

Featured

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 Mindoro.

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.

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.

Japanese scientists develop high energy density cobalt-free lithium-ion battery

The new battery concept has purportedly an energy density that is 1.6 times higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries.

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.

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.

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