Solar windows cut emissions, energy use by 40% in glass skyscrapers
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has modeled the benefits of PV in highly glazed skyscrapers.
Enel Green Power confirms plans to build 3 GW solar module factory in US
Enel, which already runs a solar factory on the Italian island of Sicily, said its new US plant with be its second global PV manufacturing facility.
Longi claims world’s highest efficiency for silicon solar cells
Longi said it has achieved a 26.81% efficiency rating for an unspecified heterojunction solar cell, as confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH).
Weekend read: Elusive longevity
The expected lifetime of PV inverters is significantly shorter than that of modules. In many projects, inverter replacement is included in financial calculations from the start, despite the high costs. Research is being conducted into the causes of faults to develop more durable inverters and components. But plant design can already improve the lifespan of inverters in use today, reports pv magazine Germany’s Marian Willuhn.
China Brief: SNEC postponed to May
SNEC, the world’s biggest solar event, has been postponed for the third time this year. Yingfa Group, meanwhile, inaugurated a 20 GW cell factory in Sichuan province and GCL Tech said it plans to produce raw materials for EV batteries.
Roadmap to achieve CIGS solar modules with efficiencies above 20%
Japanese scientists have described the steps that need to be taken to improve the average efficiency of CIGS solar modules, from around 18.5% at present to more than 20%. They presented all of the critical technical factors that are currently holding the tech back from broader market adoption.
Floating PV for water pumping, desalination
An irrigation community has built a 786 kW floating solar array on a small water reservoir in Murcia, Spain. The facility will provide power for a solar water pumping system, a desalination unit, and the community itself.
PV Hardware opens new solar tracker factory in Saudi Arabia
PV Hardware (PVH), a solar tracker and mounting systems manufacturer, has opened a new factory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is expected to produce 8 GW of trackers and solar structures per year, mainly for projects in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Taiwanese consortium develops easily recyclable solar module
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and United Renewable Energy (URE) have developed a solar panel that can be easily dismantled to simplify the recycling process. They claim that 96% of the materials in the panel can be recovered, including all of the solar cells and front glass.
1Komma5° to enter solar module business with full-black TOPCon product
Germany’s 1Komma5° says it will exclusively use polysilicon from Europe or the United States to make the TOPcon solar cells for its full-black modules. It is aiming for market launch in the second quarter of 2023.
