German home battery sales collapse but larger systems on the rise
German energy storage sales are shrinking, especially home systems, but commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale numbers are rising and the Federal Association of Energy Storage Systems (BVES) wants faster permitting and better regulation.
Atmoce launches ‘extra’ low-voltage batteries for residential PV
The new batteries have a nominal DC voltage of 26.5 V and a maximum DC voltage of 28.8 V, with the operating AC voltage range being 176-276 V. Their nominal battery capacity is 280 Ah and the rated battery energy is 7 kWh.
Zendure launches new residential batteries
The US-based company unveiled a battery designed for balcony applications and a storage system for rooftop PV systems. Both products are AI-powered.
Technical guidebook for building-integrated photovoltaics
As the global transition toward sustainable energy intensifies, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) has emerged as a critical innovation in merging renewable energy with architectural design. The recently published guidebook “Building-Integrated Photovoltaics: A Technical Guidebook,” edited by IEA PVPS Task 15 experts Nuria Martín Chivelet, Costa Kapsis, and Francesco Frontini, offers a comprehensive resource for architects, engineers, and urban planners looking to integrate BIPV into the built environment. This article explores the book’s key insights, including applications, challenges, and future pathways.
Brazil’s PV capacity hits 55 GW
Brazil has installed 37.4 GW of distributed solar and 17.6 GW of large-scale PV capacity to date.
Agrivoltaics for radicchio
An Italian research team has found that radicchio seedlings grown in a lab-scale greenhouse with a perovskite solar PV roof exhibited faster growth and larger leaves than the bare glass reference. In addition, simulations of such a PV roof revealed a positive energy balance, satisfying the energy demands of a typical greenhouse located in Italy.
Panama installs 143.4 MW of new solar in 2024
Panama built 143.4 MW of new solar in 2024, bringing its total installed PV capacity to 695.55 MW by the end of the year.
Israel plans two different tariffs for rooftop solar under net metering
Israel is considering two new tariff rates for selling excess electricity from home solar installations back to the grid. The first will offer a higher rate for the first five years, before dropping beneath the current rate, while the second will link the tariff to inflation. A consultation is open until April 4.
Dual-component controller for three-phase solar inverters can reduce overshoot to less than 0.33%
An international research team has conceived a dual-component controller for three-phase inverters that can reportedly achieve faster settling times, reduced overshoot and more stable current tracking compared to conventional controllers.
Thermocold launches new air-to-water heat pumps
The Italian manufacturer said its new heat pumps use R454B as a refrigerant and have coefficient of performance of up to 3.35.
