Avoiding PV buyer’s remorse
New entrants to solar equipment procurement may be surprised to encounter constantly amended contract terms, index-linked price rises, and near-worthless defect warranties, but they reflect recent supply chain troubles. Clean Energy Associates’ Martin Deak offers a buyers guide.
Tesla misses own expectations for Solar Roof deployments
Three years ago, Tesla said it expected to install 1,000 solar rooftop arrays per week, which would have amounted to 156,000 Solar Roofs in that time period. However, Wood Mackenzie reports that just 3,000 have been installed to date.
Only5mins! – Above and beyond
United Kingdom-based Above’s founder and CEO Will Hitchcock sits down with pv magazine to discuss the solar industry’s growing demand for drone-based aerial inspection and data analysis, the game changing utility of digital twins, and what the future holds for autonomous drone programs.
kWh Analytics launches solar property insurance product
kWh Analytics has started offering protection against physical damages to solar arrays and other renewable energy assets, in partnership with Aspen Insurance.
Volcano proof PV
Panels being covered in volcanic ash can cause several problems – as has been seen recently with ongoing eruption in the Canary Islands. The weight of the ash may be too much for the structure to bear, sharp ash particles or small stones within the ash can scratch module glass, and acids or sulfur compounds contained in the ash can cause corrosion on the backsheet.
After a solar generator caused a house fire, US insurance company wants Amazon to pay
Courts have ruled both ways on whether the online retailing platform can be held liable for selling products that cause damage. The latest case involves a house fire in Minnesota.
DNV GL’s Battery Scorecard 2020 sees manufacturers focus on LFP and fire safety
The third annual scorecard published by the consultant has tested 22 batteries with different chemistries for cycling stability and temperature-dependent behaviour and identified significant product trends.
Entso-E targeted in recent cyberattack
The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity said on Monday that unidentified hackers recently targeted its computer networks.
AXA ramps up pressure on corporate Europe with plans to phase out coal exposure
The French insurance group has revealed plans to phase out its exposure to coal by 2030 in the European Union and the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and by 2040 in other parts of the world.
Put your hands on a floating PV system
A new handbook published by the World Bank and Solar Research Institute of Singapore contains advice on how to plan and build floating PV. The guide is intended to help developers with site identification; feasibility studies; finance; environmental and social issues; procurement and construction; and operations and maintenance.
