Germany’s new solar installations hit 790 MW in August
Germany’s new solar installations surged to 790 MW in August, contributing to 10.23 GW of newly installed PV capacity for the first eight months of this year.
Scientists create setup to measure wave-induced power losses in floating PV
Researchers have measured the power loss of a 50 W panel stationed in a 30-meter wave tank. Based on ten different scenarios, they were able to draw an empirical equation for the prediction of power loss, with the highest loss being measured at 12.7%.
India’s stored potential
Renewable Energy Expo India (REI) returns to Greater Noida at the start of October, for what will be its 17th edition. For the second year running, The Battery Show India will run concurrently with REI. pv magazine had the chance to catch up with Julian Thomas, Senior Project Director at show organizer Informa Markets, to discuss why electric vehicles and energy storage are now the key to India’s energy transition.
Inside solar panel decommissioning
The practical matter of taking a dead PV system apart and moving its components to their next destination has received less attention than recycling and second-life applications. In the United States, Decom Solar is offering decommissioning for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects. pv magazine spoke to Decom Solar co-founder Stephen Burns for an update.
France’s 2021-23 PV auctions show price increase despite lower panel costs
The French energy regulator says in a new report that France allocated about 5.55 GW of PV capacity through its auction mechanism for large-scale solar between 2011 and 2013. Despite falling solar module prices, the auction mechanism did not lead to cheaper PV electricity or lower project costs.
End of net metering not a threat to residential solar profitability
The Netherlands is preparing to end its net-metering scheme, prompting two Dutch research institutes to study the potential impact on PV system profitability. They found that increasing self-consumption rates from 30% to 60% would keep profitability levels stable.
Ampin, Sumitomo set up renewables venture
Ampin Energy Transition and Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. have formed a joint venture company, Ampin C&I Power, to develop renewable energy sources in India.
Drone-based electroluminescence services for rooftop PV
Solevi, a German electroluminescence (EL) inspection company, has launched drone-based electrical inspection services for rooftop solar installation in Germany with plans to automate further and expand geographically.
Typhoon Yagi triggers significant drop in solar production across Southeast Asia
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports the Typhoon Yagi caused a significant reduction in solar power generation across key cities in Vietnam, China, and the Philippines, with some areas reporting their lowest irradiance days on record for September.
Taiwan installs 2.7 GW of new solar in 2023
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) says the island added 2.7 GW of new solar capacity last year, bringing its total capacity to 12.41 GW by December 2023. Feed-in tariffs for installations up to 100 kW continue to drive the market.
