Philippines publishes list of qualified bidders for 11.6 GW renewables auction
The government of the Philippines is set to hold the country’s second renewables auction on June 19.
PV-powered offgrid air conditioner for building applications
A British research team has investigated the technical feasibility of an air conditioning unit powered exclusively by solar-plus-storage and has found that two 130 Ah batteries charged by two 400 W solar panels are capable of supporting the system during the night.
China’s January-April solar installations hit 48.31 GW
China reached 380 GW cumulative installed PV capacity at the end of April, according to new figures from the National Energy Administration (NEA).
Sonnen connects heat pumps to virtual power plant in Germany
Sonnen has introduced a new software solution to seamlessly integrate heat pumps into private household energy supplies and enhance grid stability. The company’s initial partner is heat pump manufacturer NIBE, but additional partners are expected to join in the future.
Maxeon claims 24.7% efficiency for IBC solar panel
Maxeon said it has achieved a 24.7% efficiency rating for a full-scale Maxeon 7 solar panel using its IBC technology. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) confirmed the result.
Brazil hits 30 GW milestone
The country has added 15 GW of new PV capacity since January 2022. In 2023 alone, it deployed 4.4 GW of new solar power, of which 3.15 GW comes from distributed generation and 1,24 GW from utility scale PV.
PV Cycle recommends excluding PV panels from WEEE directive
PV Cycle has published a position paper stating that PV panels do not fit with the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. It is calling for the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for all renewable energy products and equipment in the European Union.
First attempt to repair glass-damaged solar panels
A Dutch research group has used a series of techniques from the automotive industry to develop a novel methodology to repair glass in double-glass solar panels. Their experimental work represents the step towards transforming glass-damaged solar panels from waste into valuable products.
Hungary cements position in solar gigawatt club
Hungary, one of Europe’s gigawatt-scale solar markets, is a hub of bustling activity. However, government policy shifts and grid constraints are casting a long shadow over growing demand for solar energy. pv magazine recently spoke with Ádám Szolnoki, the president of the Hungarian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MANAP), about the latest market developments.
Terrain-following solar tracker with a pneumatic twist
Sunfolding’s new TopoTrack rows are reportedly 10 times shorter than traditional trackers, and they can provide 20 degrees of variation between trackers, thus improving slope tolerance between rows.
