Netherlands approves grid fees for rooftop PV system owners
The competition regulator in the Netherlands says that the grid fees that big energy suppliers are applying to PV system owners are legitimate. Solar customers currently pay between €100 ($107) and €697, depending on the system size.
Powering homes with PVT energy, Stirling engines, battery storage
UK scientists have proposed a way to combine photovoltaic-thermal energy with Stirling engines and battery storage in residential buildings. Despite the high upfront costs, they said the cost-effective hybrid co-generation system could significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Solar to contribute over 60% of new U.S. electricity generation in 2024
Despite this growth, fossil fuels dominate U.S. electricity. A 3% increase in total electricity generation across the U.S. is expected to be served primarily with solar, said a report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Electricity prices decrease in most European markets
Prices in the majority of major European electricity markets fell during the first week of May, according to analysis from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting. The exception was in the Iberian market of Portugal and Spain, but prices remain lower there than anywhere else.
Malaysian government launches incentive scheme for residential solar
The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation in Malaysia is teaming up with private and public partners in the country to offer citizens financial incentives and discounts when adopting solar. It follows a government rebate scheme introduced in April.
Buildings can offer gigawatts of new peak capacity as ‘batteries’
Modeling shows that shifting just one-third of the electricity consumption of commercial and institutional buildings in Australia to the middle of the day, coinciding with peak solar supply, would create almost 12 GW of new peak capacity in the National Electricity Market.
Sonnenkraft unveils 400 W TOPCon panel for terracotta red rooftops
Austrian manufacturer Sonnenkraft has developed a terracotta glass-glass module that aesthetically blends in with tiled roofs. It has an efficiency rating of 20.02%.
Switzerland records 600 MW of subsidized PV projects in Q1
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy says the number of PV installations registered for subsidies with Pronovo, a Swiss government agency, rose 81% year on year in the first three months of 2024.
South Australia tests energy-smart homes to ease pressure on grid
An “Australian first” demonstration of aggregated flexible demand in residential settings will be rolled out in South Australia, with the state’s principle electricity distributor to deliver smart energy upgrades for 500 households as part of a pilot program to coordinate power usage and support the grid.
Korean researchers build vertical solar panels with low reflection losses
The modules are equipped with Maxeon solar cells and a microprism sheet that reportedly upholds a transmittance exceeding 99%. The microprism array is imprinted onto a PET sheet using the roll-to- roll embossing technique.
