Roadmap to achieve CIGS solar modules with efficiencies above 20%
Japanese scientists have described the steps that need to be taken to improve the average efficiency of CIGS solar modules, from around 18.5% at present to more than 20%. They presented all of the critical technical factors that are currently holding the tech back from broader market adoption.
Floating PV for water pumping, desalination
An irrigation community has built a 786 kW floating solar array on a small water reservoir in Murcia, Spain. The facility will provide power for a solar water pumping system, a desalination unit, and the community itself.
Proposed HVDC ‘macrogrid’ to transmit low-cost, renewable power in US
A grid-modeling company has proposed an underground high-voltage DC transmission overlay for the continental United States. It could potentially help to reduce climate pollutants and electricity costs, in addition to facilitating solar and wind deployment.
Permitting issues for solar on agricultural land in Romania
The Romanian government has reportedly rejected almost all permit requests for large-scale solar projects. Law firm Vlăsceanu, Nyerges & Partners claims that the authorities are misinterpreting new rules designed to streamline the permitting process for small projects and support solar on agricultural land.
Zucchetti unveils 5 kWh high-voltage battery for three-phase storage applications
Zucchetti’s new battery features a nominal capacity of 5.12 kWh and a nominal voltage of 400 V. It says it is suitable for C&I and residential PV systems.
Denmark, Sweden, Finland could add 12.8 GW of solar by 2030
The Nordic region is set to become a European renewables powerhouse, according to Rystad Energy. It says Finland, Sweden and Denmark could collectively install up to 12.8 GW of new solar by 2030.
Novel soiling loss measurement system for PV installations
An international research group has developed new technology to measure soiling losses in PV installations, by using a simple pocket light. They said the new system offers similar performance to their reference devices.
Axpo deploys PV system in sun-tracking satellite dish
Swiss utility Axpo has built a PV system inside the dish of a disused satellite run by data-center operator Leuk TDC. Satellite dishes can be used to produce solar power, as they can be flexibly aligned to the sun.
BayWa, Velux sign Europe’s first agrivoltaics-linked PPA
Germany’s BayWa r.e. and Denmark’s Velux have announced the first agrivoltaic corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) in Europe. BayWa will build two solar parks in Spain to power Velux’s operations, with capacities of 60 MWp and 56 MWp. One of them will partly be an agricultural PV project.
Italy’s Key Energy positions agrivoltaics, utility storage as new market drivers
The latest edition of Key Energy, Italy’s top solar event, shows that the nation is once again poised for growth. It also shows that incentive schemes can turn agrivoltaics and large-scale storage into market drivers like rooftop and ground-mounted PV.
