Solar 101: ‘Goldilocks’ your PV project to make it just right
Too big? Too small? Just right? Many factors need to be considered when deciding how large or small to make your rooftop solar array.
China set to mandate solar on at least 20% of residential roofs in pilot counties
State body the NEA has given its provincial offices until July 15th to suggest counties where a solar mandate – which rises to at least half of all government roofspace – can be rolled out. Selected companies will be awarded whole-county contracts.
‘Residential batteries are less profitable than selling excess power to the grid’
Although self-consumption of solar power is the optimal economic approach, the expense of household batteries at present outweighs the increased ability they offer to use electricity generated on the roof. Whether aggregated ‘virtual batteries’ offer better returns is an open question, due to lack of electricity company transparency.
A solar pavilion for India’s rooftops
India’s energy transition will not succeed without rooftop PV and roll-out is hindered not only by a lack of household finance, but by the fact many of the nation’s flat roofs are enjoyed by residents. Germany’s international development agency has proposed a solution.
Solar water pumps – cheaper, easier but routinely underestimated
Australia’s Commodore Independent Energy Systems has evaluated how much customers save by using solar water pumps compared to diesel or mains-connected pumps.
Nanoparticles enable completely clear, industry-sized solar windows
Australian company ClearVue Technologies says it has a fully transparent, scalable, industry-ready solar window in production. It claims that it’s now just 18 months away from cracking 5% efficiency, thanks to a research partnership.
Electrification could drive 51 GW of solar in Canada by 2050
And that figure is based on a less ambitious climate change policy than the one Ottawa has committed to since the North American Renewable Integration Study started, in 2018.
Kehua unveils high-voltage battery for residential applications
The device has a maximum power output of 6 kW and a storage capacity of 8.2 kWh. The product comes with IP65 protection and its operation is guaranteed for 10,000 cycles.
East African renewables developers and investors need matchmaking
Lack of grid capacity and renewable energy institutions are a common lament in sub-Saharan Africa but there is no lack of cash to invest, nor eligible projects in East Africa, as a recent event heard; the problem lies in marrying the two.
New three-phase hybrid inverter series from Sunways
The new hybrid inverter series has an efficiency of up to 98.2% and a European efficiency of up to 97.4%. The device offers multiple connections with a maximum of 10 units in parallel to expand the AC output power.
