Fire test for BIPV façades
Scientists in Norway have assessed how BIPV façades may react to fire accidents following a typical fire test for building façades. They found that flame propagation in the wall cavity is possible, despite the very limited amounts of combustible material, and that flames may propagate on the entire façade very quickly.
Tesla releases API for solar, Powerwall systems, EV chargers
Tesla has released an application programming interface (API) to enable third-party developers to interact with its home energy products.
German grid operator expects new 2023 solar capacity to hit 14.1 GW
Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) says developers likely installed 14.1 GW of new solar capacity in 2023, with more than 260,000 balcony solar modules now in operation.
Meyer Burger unveils black HJT solar panels for balcony applications
Switzerland-based manufacturer Meyer Burger has developed black heterojunction (HJT) solar modules for balconies, featuring 800 W microinverters, smart control units, and mounting systems.
UK solar capacity hits 15.6 GW
UK government statistics show that the country added 871 MW of solar capacity in the first 11 months of 2023. However, the Solar Energy UK trade association says that more than 1 GW of solar was deployed last year.
Texas solar generation surges amidst North America’s contrasting December patterns
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that varied patterns have impacted solar generation across North America in late December. The South experienced up to 30% higher irradiance than the long-term December average, resulting from a persistent Atlantic high-pressure system driving easterly winds. which kept moisture from the Gulf of Mexico offshore.
Energy storage provider Bluetti enters rooftop solar market
Expanding beyond portable and grid-tied batteries, Bluetti has launched its solar installation business in the United States.
Slovakia’s solar additions hit 220 MW in 2023
The Slovak solar market showed encouraging signs of growth last year, according to provisional figures from the Slovak Association of the Photovoltaic Industry. It says the country could add 300 MW of new PV capacity in 2024.
Idaho commission cuts rooftop PV compensation, driving industry concerns
Electric utility commissions across the nation are following the lead of California to cut compensation for rooftop solar generation. Is Idaho the next step in a death march for the industry?
Color characterization technique for BIPV
Scientists in Switzerland have created a new technique to characterize the color of BIPV panels. The method uses an optical fiber spectrometer to detect color characterization signals.
