PV-powered offgrid air conditioner for building applications
A British research team has investigated the technical feasibility of an air conditioning unit powered exclusively by solar-plus-storage and has found that two 130 Ah batteries charged by two 400 W solar panels are capable of supporting the system during the night.
US researchers beam solar from space
Caltech’s space solar program began in 2011 when philanthropist Donald Bren donated more than $100 million in support of the project. In the first demonstration of solar energy beamed to earth, his vision is now becoming reality.
China’s January-April solar installations hit 48.31 GW
China reached 380 GW cumulative installed PV capacity at the end of April, according to new figures from the National Energy Administration (NEA).
New high-voltage hybrid inverters for residential applications from China
Auxsol’s new three-phase hybrid inverters have efficiency ratings of 97.8% and European efficiency ratings of 97%. They are available in five versions, with power outputs ranging from 5 kW to 12 kW.
Global solar additions to hit 310 GW in 2024, says IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a new report that solar will remain the main source of global renewable capacity expansion in 2023, accounting for 286 GW. In 2024, the figure is set to grow to almost 310 GW, driven by lower module prices, greater uptake of distributed PV systems, and a policy push for large-scale deployment.
Weekend Read: Flex generation
A new generation of flexible, lightweight modules is entering the market. With back contact technology offering its own form of design flexibility and robustness, the new products could crack a hard-to-address market segment.
Ecoflow unveils new balcony PV system
US-based Ecoflow has announced the commercialization of a balcony solar device with a portable power station for residential applications.
India installs 485 MW of rooftop solar capacity in Q1
India reached 9.3 GW of cumulative installed rooftop solar capacity on March 31, 2023, following the addition of 485 MW in the first quarter of 2023.
Assessing effectiveness of icephobic coatings on PV systems located at high latitudes
A Norwegian research team assessed the snow deposits on photovoltaic panels and the consequent energy losses via the PVsyst software and utilized the so-called Marion’s algorithm (MA) for evaluating the sliding coefficient. It found the coatings may effectively reduce energy losses caused by snow and ice but said the commercial feasibility of these materials should be further investigated.
Germany surpasses 3 million PV systems as demand soars
Germany has achieved a significant milestone, with more than 3 million PV systems now in operation, according to new data from German PV association BSW-Solar. It said the country’s rooftop PV market is experiencing robust demand and the 4 million mark could be surpassed as early as next year.
