Offshore floating PV demonstrator to go online on Belgium’s North Sea coast
The SeaVolt consortium says it will launch an offshore floating PV demonstrator off the Belgian port of Ostend. The main companies – Tractebel, DEME, Equans and Jan De Nul – say the anchored floating array will collect data for at least a year to scale up the tech.
Building to last in the Global South
PV initiatives should be designed to last, as several well-meaning off-grid solar projects for the developing world have floundered over the years.
Belgian startup offers custom CIGS solar foils
Enfoil is developing a CIGS thin film custom manufacturing business, targeting building-integrated PV applications, such as powering sensors or track & trace sub-systems in trucks. The company is a spinoff of Hasselt University and imec, the Belgian research institute.
PV-driven controlled farming tech for non-electrified areas
Scientists from India conceived a new system for crop growth in remote areas with no connection to the power grid. It consists of a PV panel, add-on module hardware (AOMH), a battery, step-down DC-DC converters, system power devices, automation, and sensor elements. For climate control, it also comprises a water pump, a ventilation fan for CO2 assimilation, sprinkler foggers, and drop irrigation solenoids.
Using shunts to spot PV module degradation
Scientists in Ireland investigated the effect of shunt resistance on a PV cell’s electrical performance. The group says its finding could potentially lead to the development of models for early detection of various forms of cell degradation, allowing for intervention to repair or replace components before major power losses occur.
PVcase raises $100 million to fuel expansion
PVcase, a Lithuania-based solar project software company, raised $100 million to expand the market for its platform and extend its capability.
Meyer Burger builds 2 GW solar cell factory in US
Meyer Burger plans to start a 2 GW cell factory in Colorado in the fourth quarter of this year.
Japanese real estate firm starts residential solar hydrogen project
Sekisui House-W is testing a pilot project consisting of a residential PV system, a small-sized electrolyzer, hydrogen-absorbing alloy tanks, and a fuel cell. The company said the hydrogen storage alloys used in the project have higher energy density than battery storage.
Single-junction III-V solar cell based on spalled GaAs substrate achieves 26.9% efficiency
NREL researchers used acoustically spalled gallium arsenide substrate that reportedly reduces electrical shunting, resulting in potentially lower manufacturing costs. The cell achieved an open-circuit voltage of 1.061 V, a short-circuit current density of 29.9 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 84.9%.
Autonomous robots gaining traction with solar installers
Sarcos Robotics and Terabase Energy recently announced key business developments, underscoring how installation robots are increasingly moving from test centers to the field.
