Off-grid solar appliance repair training a must for remote communities
An Australian Research Council funded report co-authored by Sydney-based University of New South Wales and UK-based charity SolarAid says the off-grid solar sector should do more to enhance its product repair initiatives.
JinkoSolar supplies 3 GW of modules in Saudi Arabia
JinkoSolar says it has supplied 3 GW of modules for two Acwa Power projects in Saudi Arabia, using its n-type Tiger Neo series 78 and series 66 solar modules.
Optimal tilt angle for bifacial PV deployed on white-painted ground surfaces
Scientists in India have analyzed the performance of a bifacial PV module installed on a white-painted ground surface and have found a 30-degree tilt angle outperforms all other inclinations angles in terms of power output.
Octaspherosilicates-based anti-icing coating for PV systems
Developed by scientists in Poland, the new coating uses transparent silicone-epoxy modified with functionalized octaspherosilicates. The researchers have created five samples, each with a different combination of chemicals, and have found that ice adhesion was reduced by up to 43%, with freezing delay time growing by up to 70 times.
Fraunhofer ISE, TMU build ‘aquavoltaic’ system for microalgae production
The system can reportedly reduce electricity costs in aquaculture. It consists of an open raceway pond, a mechanical paddle wheel, a motor and power transmission system, a motor speed control circuit, a 100 W photovoltaic module, and 12-V battery with a capacity of 60 Ah, an inverter, and a 10-A charge controller.
Freesuns brings PV to Swiss heritage buildings
Swiss module manufacturer Freesuns has installed 33,300 of its solar roof tiles on three historical buildings in the Swiss town of Neuchâtel.
Japan’s Toyo plans 2 GW solar cell factory in Ethiopia
Tokyo-based Toyo Co. says it will invest $60 million in a new 2 GW solar cell factory in Ethiopia, to mostly serve the US market.
Sweden’s first large-scale agrivoltaic park inaugurated
Production is now underway at Sweden’s first large-scale agrivoltaics park, owned and operated by Svea Solar. A power purchase agreement is in place with a local vertical farmer for the electricity produced, while the farm underneath the solar panels will produce rapeseed, ley and wheat on a rotational basis.
TNO researchers build world’s first bifacial PV window
The new multifunctional PV window concept aims to produce electricity while providing over-heating protection for better indoor thermal and visual comfort. It consists of an insulating glazing unit with bifacial crystalline silicon solar cells strips and embedded venetian blinds that act as reflectors for the rear side of the cells.
Organic PV module based on ultra-narrow interconnections achieves record-breaking efficiency of 16.1%
New research from China shows that ultra-narrow interconnections may considerably improve organic PV performance. The scientists built a 11.08 cm2 panel with an impressive geometric fill factor of 98%.
