Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

The Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) has introduced a fire safety test that simulates a fire starting on the roof membrane beneath a PV system. The researchers noted the importance of realistic construction methods, including factors such as anchors, adhesives, membrane welding, and ballast use.

Scientists in Spain have used genetic algorithms to optimize a feedforward artificial neural network for the prediction of energy generation of PV systems. Genetic algorithms use “parents” and “offspring” solutions to achieve better results in subsequent generations.”

TU Delft researchers have investigated for the first time the effect rear irradiance has on the optimal bandgap energy and thickness of the perovskite cell in a bifacial two-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem module. Their findings show that bifacial tandems have over a 25% gain in energy yield compared to bifacial single junction modules and up to 5% gain compared to monofacial tandem modules.

Jupiter International says it will invest INR 20.05 billion ($231.4 million) to build a solar factory in India. The facility will produce 4.2 GW of solar cells and 3.6 GW of modules per year.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Idemitsu Kosan says it plans to start building a 2 MW agrivoltaics facility in Japan later this year, following the successful conclusion of a 45 kW pilot project. The company has developed a proprietary agrivoltaics system based on tracker technology.

Scientists in China placed a 0.5 mm thick aluminum foil between the solar cell and the EVA, and between the EVA and the glass layer. The two experimental modules were compared to a reference module and were found to dissipate heat and increase the in-plane temperature uniformity.

Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer Cincon has launched a new ultra-wide and high-input voltage DC-DC converter series to provide component safety and protection in solar PV inverters, solar trackers, and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Solar module prices in Europe rose this week for the first time in months, says Bart Wansink, CEO of Search4Solar, a European sales platform for PV products. He tells pv magazine that prices could climb quickly in the coming weeks.

An international team of floating PV specialists and researchers is working on affordability, sustainability, and reliability, as well as applying the latest technologies, to accelerate adoption.