Renewables covered almost 60% of German electricity demand in 2023
New statistics from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) show that PV systems in Germany generated around 59.9 TWh of solar power in 2023, with 6.4 TWh used for home consumption.
Norway deployed 300 MW of solar in 2023
Norway reached 597 MW of cumulative installed PV capacity at the end of 2023. The authorities have attributed the record growth the country has posted over the past year to the successful connection of two large-scale PV plants.
Italian startup unveils 350 W balcony TOPCon solar modules
Fly Solartech Solutions Srl’s new 60-cell modules have a power conversion efficiency of 17.87% and a temperature coefficient of -0.27% per degree Celsius. The company offers the panels with 300 W, CEI-021-certified microinverters featuring 96.5% peak efficiency.
Lebanon introduces peer-to-peer renewable energy trading
The Lebanese parliament has ratified a new law that allows peer-to-peer renewable energy trading between private sector entities, in addition to enshrining net metering in the country’s legal system for the first time.
Homeowners improving solar-plus-battery payback period with VPPs
Virtual power plants (VPPs) coordinate home energy resources, dispatching power to the grid at key times of high electricity demand in exchange for compensation.
PV-driven liquid air storage system for buildings
An international research group has developed a PV-driven liquid air energy storage (LAES) system for building applications. Simulations suggest that it could meet 89.72% of power demand, 51.96% of heating demand, and 11% of cooling demand in a PV-powered building.
High pressure stalls El Nino’s expected solar boost in eastern Australia
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that eastern Australia’s behind-the-meter normalized generation has fallen by 10% to 15% year on year.
California rooftop PV companies face high risks, says insurer
Solar Insure tells pv magazine USA that the financial stability of rooftop solar companies in California is now in question. Despite this, a state appeals court recently reaffirmed a number of anti-solar decisions.
European research consortium aims to clear hurdles for BIPV adoption
A group of companies and research institutes are developing tools, technologies, and methods in a four-year project to promote building-integrated PV (BIPV), with the goal of clearing the path for mass deployment.
More PV installers looking for orders, system prices under pressure
This year is ending with a new record, but installation companies are looking for orders again, says Tim Rosengart, managing director of the Selfmade Energy supply platform. His figures show how falling module prices and the new market situation are putting pressure on PV system prices.
