Construction begins on 12 MW Swiss alpine PV project
Work has begun on the Swiss Madrisa Solar project, a 12 MW alpine PV installation located at an elevation of 2,000 m near a ski resort of the village of Klosters. It is part of the Solar Express initiative designed to boost domestic winter energy production.
TOPCon IP battle intensifies with Qcells launching infringement notices
Qcells has launched an intellectual property (IP) dispute over alleged unauthorized use of its patented laser-enhanced contact opening (LECO) tech in tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells. The case underscores rising tensions in the PV industry over TOPCon patents.
A copper-bottomed answer to solar’s silver dependence
The solar industry has dragged its heels on the issue of silver-dependence for cell metallization, but China’s Jiangsu Xianghuan Technology (JXTC) is moving into commercial production with a copper plating process that overcomes many of the challenges that have limited interest from cell manufacturers.
Global solar module prices mixed on varying demand expectations
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.
Wind tunnel tests show spacing between panels is key to reduce soiling
Scientists have placed four PV panels in a 21-meter wind tunnel and run different tests regarding tilt angles, mounting height, spacing, and incoming flow direction. They found that when the spacing between panels exceeds twice the panel height, the mutual influence on dust deposition becomes negligible.
Open-source dataset for rooftop PV generation in urban environments
A group of scientists has developed an open-source dataset comprising three years’ worth of data from Hong Kong’s largest behind-the-meter rooftop solar power project. Power generation was collected at 5-minute intervals, and meteorological data at 1-minute.
U.S. startup offers solar-oriented software for site-specific weather, variability scenarios
Sunairio has launched software that features high-resolution historical climate data and high-resolution future climate models to provide insights into site-specific risks. It recently raised venture capital to expand into new markets for its solar and wind portfolio-oriented software.
Optimizing photovoltaic systems: Best practices for economic, technical key performance indicators
As the global solar energy industry grows, so does the need for accurate monitoring of performance and financial viability. The latest report by IEA PVPS Task 13, “Best Practice Guidelines for the Use of Economic and Technical KPIs,” provides a comprehensive framework to address this issue. This article explores the importance, methodologies, and applications of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), with a focus on their role in optimizing PV systems.
Scientists design concentrating PV system equipped with cooling, waste heat recovery tech
Scientists in Iran have designed a CPV system that integrates a paraffin-based nanomaterials cooling system with fin, as well as thermoelectric generators that turns wast heat into electricity. Simulated results demonstrated that, with the cooling system in place, the PV efficiency improves by approximately 16.46% in clean conditions.
Miniature field testing shows alpine PV array performs better than expected
Researchers have constructed a miniature PV field at an altitude of 2,500 m in Switzerland. They tested it across 80 different positioning settings and compared the results to the guidelines provided by the Swiss government for a subsidy program. They found that the simulated yield was underestimated by up to 16%.
