US utility invests in Australian prefab PV system manufacturer
AES, one of the world’s largest power companies, has made a strategic investment in Sydney-based prefabricated solar system manufacturer 5B.
Strategies to prevent overvoltage-induced inverter disconnections
Australian scientists have identified seven methods to prevent PV losses when overvoltage-induced inverter disconnections occur. The methods include battery storage, reactive power inverters, export limits, distribution static synchronous compensators, the replacement of old conductors in power grids, load reconfiguration, and dynamic voltage restoration.
India to hit large-scale PV target of 60 GW by 2022
India’s cumulative renewables capacity will hit 120 GW to 125 GW by December 2022, with solar to account for about 50% of the total, according to a new report by ICRA.
Renewables met half Germany’s power demand in first half
The Federal Environment Agency said clean energy provided 8% more electricity in the first six months of the year than in the same period of 2019. Solar accounted for 28 TWh.
World’s largest solar project for on-site consumption
Utility Iberdrola will provide solar power to the Spanish site of Saudi petrochemical company Sabic, which has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement. The electricity will be generated by a €70 million, 100 MW solar park.
Restrictions for solar on agricultural land may slow PV growth in Taiwan
Taiwan-based TrendForce says the nation added only 410 MW of solar capacity to the end of May, towards this year’s 2.2 GW target. The lower-than-expected deployment volume may be further hampered by new restrictions for PV on agricultural land introduced by the Council of Agriculture this month.
Temperature-based MPPT algorithm to improve PV system efficiency
Researchers in Spain have developed a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm based on just one input parameter – PV module temperature. The algorithm has already shown stability in testing, the scientists claim.
Renewables outpace nuclear and coal in the US
The latest edition of the US Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Monthly report shows renewables generated more electricity through May 31 than coal and nuclear.
How much vertical BIPV is too much?
A French-Italian research group has shown that BIPV facades on buildings can cause a ‘darkening’ effect by reducing light reflectance on nearby installations, dragging down energy production by 11%. The ‘urban heat island effect’ can also weigh on PV system performance, the researchers said.
Bosch, IBC Solar combine smart heating production with PV
The German companies are developing an intelligent energy solution for heating, hot water, energy management and solar power generation in a single coordinated system.
