Merger activity heats up in African commercial solar market
Lagos-based Daystar Power is targeting 400 MW of installed generation capacity by 2025, after being acquired by Shell mere days after the Starsight-SolarAfrica merger announcement.
Dutch government asks energy suppliers to adjust billing practices for net metering
Rob Jetten, the Dutch energy minister, said the nation’s energy suppliers should implement billing practices for net-metered solar on a yearly basis, and not on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Credence Solar unveils 670 W bifacial solar modules
India’s Credence Solar has unveiled the Quasar-Bi line of bifacial PV modules, with power outputs ranging between 650 W and 670 W. The panels are built with 132 mono PERC half cells and 12 busbars.
Longi announces new 415 W solar panel for residential, commercial applications
Longi unveiled a new 54-cell module at RE+ Anaheim last week, with outputs ranging up to 415 W, and an efficiency rating of 21.3%.
Trina Solar introduces new TOPCon solar panels
Trina Solar has unveiled its Vertex N solar panels for commercial, industrial and utility-scale projects, and the Vertex S+ modules for residential installations.
Recom unveils 675 W shingled solar modules
Recom’s new Puma series of solar panels, with 21.7% efficiency and 675 W of maximum output, are ideal for large-scale solar projects. The panels have a temperature coefficient of -0.34% per degree Celsius.
‘The first terawatt of solar PV installed globally took some 70 years to achieve, while the second will likely take only three’
Leading solar researchers from around the world are meeting for the first time in four years in Milan, Italy, for the 8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-8). The first morning has seen prestigious awards bestowed on two scientific leaders and inspirational discussions as to how the “second terawatt” of solar can be installed globally in just a handful of years.
Real barriers to virtual power plants
The technology is available for virtual power plants to be rolled out across the United States, argues Jigar Shah, the director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office. Their implementation could result in a cascade of benefits, including lower electricity costs and wider adoption of distributed energy resources like rooftop PV.
Swiss grid operators to raise surplus solar tariffs by average of 55% in 2023
Switzerland’s grid rates for surplus solar power will increase from an average of CHF 0.101 ($0.10)/kWh to CHF 0.155/kWh in the year ahead, mainly due to rising electricity prices.
Ireland launches rebate scheme for rooftop PV on non-residential buildings
The maximum rebate in Ireland’s new scheme is €2,400 ($2,345) for PV systems up to 6 kW in size. It will remain at this level for 2022 and 2023.
