New guidelines for albedo measurements aim to reduce uncertainties in bifacial PV yield estimates
Spanish researchers have defined practical guidelines for short-term ground-based albedo measurements that reportedly entail a maximum of 1.5% yield uncertainty contribution for utility scale bifacial solar PV plants.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: GCL-Si opens 20 GW solar cell factory
GCL-Si says it has commissioned a new 20 GW solar cell factory that will supply n-type TOPCon cells to its module facilities in Hefei, Anhui province, and Funing, Jiangsu province.
New solar window prototype based on kesterite photovoltaic cells
A research team in China combined solar power generation from kesterite thin-film generation with a nickel-cobalt bimetal oxide (NiCoO2) electrochromic window. The proposed prototype not only realizes the function integration of self-power and intelligent solar radiation adjustment, but also extends its function to energy storage.
RCT Solutions secures order for 10 GW solar module factory in Canada
RCT Solutions says it will provide its module production equipment for CAD 3 billion ($2.26 billion) in a 10 GW solar module factory in Manitoba, Canada. The Manitoba provincial government said in a statement that the facility will be fully integrated.
First Solar announces fifth US factory
First Solar has revealed plans to open its fifth factory in the United States. The new facility is expected to add 3.5 GW of annual production capacity at a cost of $1.1 billion.
Module prices revert to descending trajectory after a brief rally
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.
RENA announces 1.8 GW sale for new TOPCon equipment
German company RENA Technologies has announced the first sales of a new tool for silicon cell manufacturing. The tool is used for etching/removal of unwanted material on one side of a solar cell, and will be integrated into the gigawatt-scale production of an unnamed manufacturer in South Asia working with TOPCon technology.
Is the EU doing enough to establish a solar manufacturing supply chain?
Compared to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed by Joe Biden’s administration in the US, the EU’s approach to establishing solar manufacturing appears slow and lacking in clarity. In this blog post, I will explore the EU’s renewable energy policy, specifically its emphasis on solar manufacturing, and evaluate whether Brussels is doing enough to establish a European solar supply chain.
Marubeni, Hamada enter solar panel recycling business
Japan’s Marubeni and Hamada have launched Rexia Corporation to offer solar panel recycling and reuse services across the country, diverting material from landfill and giving a second life to older panels.
Residential heat pump based on finned coil evaporator, PVT collectors
Scientists in Italy have developed a 5 kW direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump that uses alternatively two different evaporator technologies. The cooling of the PV module unit by CO2 evaporation increases power production by 8%.
