PV outperforms wind, piezoelectric energy in street lighting
Scientists in Thailand have assessed which technology between PV, wind, or piezoelectric energy is better for powering street lighting and have found solar is the winning tech, as it proved both economically and technologically feasible.
Planting turf, clover beneath solar plants can increase soil organic carbon
Scientists have analyzed whether planting turf and clover beneath solar panels can increase soil organic carbon, after measuring the results from a commercial plant in Japan. They tested more than 20 areas in the power plant and found that soil organic carbon increased.
Cooling PV modules with porous silicon-carbide ceramic, PCM
Researchers in Iran developed a passive solar module cooling method using silicon carbide porous ceramic. When combined with phase change materials, the technique reportedly boosts panel performance by up to 7.4%.
PV module cleaning should be included in green building standards
Scientists in Sudan have called for the inclusion of PV module cleaning operations in green building standards to address a key maintenance gap in renewable energy systems. It would target improved system performance in environments where dust and soiling pose persistent challenges.
IPS unveils 8.1 MWh utility-scale BESS
IPS has developed an 8.1 MWh utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) housed in a 20-foot container with an integrated 4 MW inverter. The Bulgarian manufacturer says it aims to meet growing demand for efficient, large-scale energy storage solutions.
Turkish sensor maker debuts pyranometer for PV plants
Turkey-based Seven says its new product can measure irradiance in a range of 0 W/m² to 4,000 W/m², with a resolution of 0.1 W/m². It can also measure humidity and temperature.
Biwatt releases 4.5 kWh sodium-ion battery
The Chinese manufacturer said its new IP65-rated product has a lifetime of 5,000 cycles. Up to four batteries can be stacked together, with total storage capacity reaching 72 kWh.
How to integrate solar-plus-storage with heat pumps
Scientists in Spain have simulated a system that uses both power-to-heat-to-power thermal batteries and lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. The hybrid system reportedly achieved a 7% lower LCOE compared to a PV system relying solely on lithium batteries, while simultaneously increasing PV self-consumption by up to 20%.
Solis launches new hybrid inverters for C&I solar
The Chinese manufacturer said its new product is the world’s largest wall-mounted hybrid inverter. The series includes three models, with AC outputs of 80 kW, 100 kW, or 125 kW.
IBC Solar launches mounting systems for rooftop, facade PV systems
Germany’s IBC Solar has developed two new mounting systems for rooftop and facade PV installations: the WallFix system, made of aluminum and stainless steel, and the AeroFix G3.1, designed for modules up to 3 square meters.
