Residential solar average payback period is 8.3 years in U.S., said EnergySage
Pricing is beginning to cool slightly, but financing terms have changed from 2.99% to 4.99% for a 25-year loan.
Distributed PV, battery storage curtailment in low-voltage networks
University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers have looked at energy losses in South Australia and have identified average curtailment of 1.5% for distributed PV sites and 0.2% for distributed PV coupled with batteries, but some locations experience generation losses of up to 25%.
PV-powered heat pumps with thermal, electrical storage
Italian researchers have looked at the potential of thermal and electrical energy storage to improve self-consumption rates in buildings when coupled with PV-powered heat pumps. They have concluded that such an approach could yield self-consumption rates of more than 80%.
Jetstream changes drive UK and Spain solar resource higher
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, presents the solar irradiance data it collected for Europe in August. The UK saw on average 110% of normal August irradiance, with values exceeding this in the north. Spain and Portugal received 10-20% more than normal, due to reduced cloud.
Key takeaways from Brazil’s Intersolar South America trade show
The 10th edition of Brazil’s Intersolar South America trade show grew from last year’s event in terms of exhibitors and visitors. The Brazilian solar market is now on track to maintain its position as one of the world’s largest, despite a slight contraction this year.
Coremax unveils 100Ah lithium iron phosphate for rooftop PV
The Chinese manufacturer said its new storage system is intended for use in residential and small commercial PV systems. It features a storage capacity of 30 kWh and a nominal voltage of 51.2 V.
New bio-inspired based algorithm to improve PV output under partial shading
The novel algorithm is based on the behavior of marine animal tunicates and reportedly provides remarkable results in terms of power errors. It was tested in four PV system configurations with five different shade patterns.
Carrier launches new series of high-temperature heat pumps
Carrier, a US-based heating solutions provider, has introduced a new line of high-temperature heat pumps with capacities ranging from 30 kW to 735 kW, with hydrofluoroolefins as a refrigerant.
Australian PV system prices trending into new territory
SunWiz says that 10 kW solar systems in Australia have become cheaper than 6.6 kW arrays on a per kilowatt basis for the first time.
Underground photovoltaic water pumping system with average system efficiency of up to 8.5%
Developed by Egyptian scientists, the PV-powered water pumping system may produce up to 181.8 m3 of water per day. The system consists of two PV arrays with each a capacity of 4.6 kW and a pumping unit made up of a 7.5 kW three-phase alternating current motor, a multistage submersible pump, a deep well, and a 15 kW inverter.
