Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its research partners say that various types of tree pollen can reduce solar panel efficiency by more than 15%. Unlike the immediate improvements assumed to follow heavy rain, recovery of performance post-pollen season is gradual. Post-rain manual cleaning can boost performance by 5% to 11%.

Scientists have used remote sensing to analyze the effect solar farms have across 116 sites worldwide. They found that the cooling effect is higher during the daytime, with albedo decreasing by 0.016 for most facilities.

Researchers in China have developed an optimized version of the whale optimization algorithm that reportedly indentifies the optimal area ratio of rooftop PV systems and solar collectors used in combination with air source heat pumps. They demonstrated that the installation area of photovoltaic modules and collectors affects both the power side and the thermal side.

P.G. Solar Greener says that its new panels have a thermal capacity of 1,280 Wh. They can reportedly achieve an overall dual electrical efficiency of 26%, due to an embedded cooling technique.

Chinese module maker DAS Solar says it aims to raise $351.7 million through an initial public offering (IPO). It will use the funds to expand its cell and module capacity.

The market for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is evolving, necessitating the development of a comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluation methodology. IEA-PVPS Task 15 developed a cross-sectional evaluation tool, designed for architects, developers, and other stakeholders involved in BIPV projects. Through a step-by-step process, this methodology addresses economic, energy-relevant, environmental, and visual performance, providing a robust tool for comparing and optimizing BIPV installations.

The Italy-based solar module manufacturer said it is progressing with its previously announced transition from module manufacturer to a vertically integrated manufacturer with 12 GW of cell capacity. It also said the project to build a module factory in Italy is going through a “complicated process.”

Qcells says it will supply 12 GW of modules, along with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, under a new eight-year agreement with Microsoft.

Auxin Solar, a PV module manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Commerce and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in relation to a pause on tariffs and alleged antidumping violations.

A Dutch team in a 4×4 electric Skoda journeyed across Africa powering part of the expedition with the solar panels they brought with them.