The best renewables combination for off-grid power supply
Scientists in India have proposed a model to design an off-grid, hybrid energy system based on a combination of solar, wind, biomass, biogas and fuel cell, linked to storage, for electrifying a cluster of three village hamlets in the Indian state of Karnataka. The model is implemented through the HOMER software and a genetic algorithm.
Agrivoltaic beekeeping project in Spain
Endesa plans to set up beekeeping projects at two of its PV plants. The pilot initiative will include the cultivation of 3 hectares of plants that will be pollinated by bees.
Indonesia has 18.2 MW of solar under net metering
Most of Indonesia’s deployed capacity comes from industrial PV systems, at 7.7 MW, while residential PV installations stand at just 5.1 MW. The authorities introduced improved net metering provisions earlier this year.
African utilities wary of threat from renewables
The rise of clean energy and prosumers, net metering and greenhouse gas regulation all figure among the bogeymen as far as national electric companies are concerned.
Akuo deploys 44 mobile solar units in Madagascar
Each unit contains 200 pre-assembled and pre-wired photovoltaic panels and can be deployed in 30 minutes.
UK enters the solar space race
The government has commissioned a study into the feasibility of generating solar power in space and beaming the energy down to earth now that commercial space launches have changed the rules of the game.
More land restrictions for solar in Taiwan
PV developers will no longer be allowed to deploy solar on salt flats in ecologically sensitive areas in Chiayi County and the city of Tainan.
Danish fund backs 5 GW Australian renewable hydrogen project
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Hydrogen Renewables Australia have agreed to develop the 5 GW Murchison Renewable Hydrogen Project in Western Australia. It will use PV and wind to produce hydrogen fuel for export to Japan and South Korea.
New panel cleaning tech based on nano-coating and mechanical vibration
Researchers in Egypt have tested a new solar module cleaning technique for solar arrays in arid regions. They claim that the combination of nano-coatings with vibration mechanisms on the backs of modules can reduce manual cleaning requirements.
Solar park built on rough wooden structures in France
French cooperative Céléwatt and engineering company Mécojit are building a new, 250 kW solar park in southwestern France. The solar panels are installed on a raw wood structure, sourced from the surrounding forests, to promote local employment and a regional natural resource.
