New robots for PV plant inspections
The Antecursor II robot autonomously inspects upper and lower solar panel structures for thermal anomalies, with more than 30 hours of autonomy.
Solutions needed to future-proof big solar amid weather-related risks
Extreme weather is a growing risk to solar farms. Future-proofing through advanced technologies, leveraging data from novel sources, and accepting risk is vital, but rarely achieved today for a number of reasons. Insurers, lenders, developers, contractors and manufacturers recently came together in Melbourne, Australia, to discuss solutions to the intractable problem of weather risk.
Dutch startup offers film that enhances efficiency of specialty PV modules
Mito Solar, a Dutch developer of lightweight PV modules, has developed a laminate film to boost the power generation capacity of specialty solar panels, such as those installed on solar racing cars and boats. The company claims the film may improve a module’s power conversion efficiency by up to 1%.
Solar wafer prices marginally rise, supported by currency exchange rate
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.
REC closes Norwegian polysilicon production facilities
Solar manufacturer REC blames high electricity prices for the recent closure of two Nordic polysilicon production facilities.
Solar module prices may reach $0.10/W by end 2024
Tim Buckley, director of Climate Energy Finance, speaks to pv magazine about the current steep trajectory of solar module prices. He estimates that PV panels prices will end up dropping by 40% this year and predicts the closure of old technology and sub-scale solar manufacturing facilities, both in China and globally.
New design for kesterite-kesterite tandem solar cells promises 24% efficiency
Scientists in China have designed a kesterite-kesterite solar cell with an optimized structure that may potentially achieve efficiencies nearing those of crystalline silicon PV devices. They improved the performance of the two subcells by adjusting band alignment at interfaces, selecting proper buffer layers, and adding a double layer to both devices.
Soltec introduces hail defense algorithm for solar trackers
Hail losses in the United States exceeded $1 billion in 2021.
Solar potential of tough terrain
Nextracker has specifically designed solar tracker solutions for the challenges of the Indian landscape, by addressing issues such as undulating terrain and fluctuating irradiance conditions at utility-scale sites, Vice President and Managing Director Rajeev Kashyap tells pv magazine.
The solar module surplus: EUPD Research considers Europe’s warehouse woes
As solar module prices continue to drop to record lows, amid global oversupply, questions are being asked about how much inventory is sitting in European warehouses and when normal levels will return. With numerous estimates and assumptions swirling, EUPD Research’s Markus A.W. Hoehner and Ali Arfa have looked closely at the numbers in an attempt to provide a transparent view of the issue.
