The weekend read: Enhanced solar module appearance and power output
Enhanced module appearance and power output can be achieved by a smart cell interconnection technique Longi is employing in its Hi-MO5 module series. But as with all new technologies, there are potential pitfalls.
Weekly Round-Up: Floating PV in Spain, Albania, unsubsidized solar in Germany, Portugal
Albanian utility KESH has secured funding for its 12.9 MW floating solar plant and, in Spain, the Port of Malaga is planning a 2.1 MW floating facility. Construction began on two unsubsidized solar plants in Germany and Portugal. Enel and Sterling & Wilson will build two large solar plants in Peru and the US, respectively.
REC postpones investment decision for 4 GW French solar factory to second quarter
The chosen location is Hambach, in the northeastern region of Moselle. The planned investment is €680 million.
Monograin layer solar cell with 6.4% efficiency
The lightweight and flexible cell was built by Estonian researchers with microcrystalline powders. The device is claimed to be the most efficient solar cell fabricated with a semiconductor compound known as Cu2CdGe(SxSe1−x)4.
Key energy proposals from the US administration and Congress
It’s been a busy two months since Joe Biden became U.S. president. Here are highlights of key initiatives on the energy and clean-tech fronts.
French photovoltaic greenhouse delivers 3.1 GWh and 4 tons/hectare of asparagus in one year
The solar greenhouse was built by French developer Tenergie in 2017 and last year recorded a remarkable performance in terms of both agricultural ane electricity yield.
Greece’s recovery plan to invest €10bn in clean energy
The Greek government has published its plan for a post-Covid economic recovery. The strategy aims to mobilize at least €10 billion towards the green energy sector, with the prospect of further EU loans on top.
Commercial HJT solar cells could hit 26% efficiency by 2030
Arvind Shah, a professor at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, and Meyer Burger former Chief Innovation Officer Sylvère Leu recently spoke to pv magazine about the future of heterojunction PV modules. They said the tech is mature and can now compete on cost with PERC panels in projects – particularly in hot, humid environments.
Sweden hits 1 GW milestone
The Scandinavian country saw the installation of more than 400 MW of PV systems last year. The Swedish solar market keeps being driven by rooftop PV.
Australia may host GW-scale PV module factory
Australia’s Sun Cable is planning a factory that could produce PV modules for the world’s biggest solar+storage project – the Australia-ASEAN Power Link.
