Testing 54 different combinations of solar-assisted heat pumps
Researchers in Germany have modeled dozens of indirect-expansion solar-assisted heat pump systems using photovoltaic-thermal panels for single-family homes in Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. Simulations accounted for local weather, electricity use, and thermal demand.
Aerocompact introduces tool-free PV mounting system
Austria’s Aerocompact says its new PV mounting system can be installed on foil, bitumen, gravel, and concrete rooftops. It can reportedly withstand wind loads of up to 1.7 kN/m2 and snow loads of up to 3.5 kN/m2.
Hoarfrost-inspired technique to improve MPPT in PV systems under partial shading
Scientists in China have introduced developments to the RIME optimization method, which takes inspiration from the developmental course of hoarfrost in nature. They have compared it to other MPPT algorithms and found it to be faster and to improve power output.
Deploying floating PV on mine pit lakes, tailings ponds
Researchers in South Korea have conducted a literature review on recorded cases of floating PV plants placed on mine pit lakes and tailings ponds, both of which are byproducts of the mining industry. Looking at more than dozens of cases, they have concluded that mine pit lakes generally provide more stable environments for deployment.
Hybrid deep learning model for PV forecasting in scenarios with considerable fluctuations
Researchers in China conceived a new PV forecasting approach that integrates causal convolution, recurrent structures, attention mechanisms, and the Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (KAN). Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms 10 existing forecasting models.
Estimating potential-induced degradation in PV systems used for water pumping
Researchers in Spain have developed a new method to estimated potential-induced degradation (PID) in solar modules used in PV-driven water pumping systems. The proposed approach can detect PID from the open-circuit voltage measurement of the system’s PV module strings.
Reducing PV module temperature with air convection
Scientists have analyzed how forced convection PV, free convection with finned plate PV, and forced convection with finned plate PV can reduce solar module temperatures under the climate conditions of Lebanon.
How to optimize heat exchangers in heat pumps
Scientists have developed a new model for heat exchangers of heat pumps, combining strengths of numerical modeling and machine learning.
Supercharging pumped-hydro stations with floating PV
Scientists have simulated the addition of floating solar panels to Switzerland’s Etzelwerk, an open-loop pumped-storage hydropower plant. Using 10% of the upper reservoir for the solar panels, the research team was able to add about 20% of the energy output.
EU updates Photovoltaic Geographical Information System
The EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) has updated the core technologoy of the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System with the aim of reflecting the dominance of crystalline silicon solar technologies over thin-film counterparts in the global energy market.
