Gas costs drive European electricity prices upward
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting says it recorded weekly average electricity prices in excess of €70 ($75.90)/MWh in all major European markets last week, except for the Nordic market, as gas prices reached their highest level so far this year.
Perovskite solar cell built with slot die coating achieves 19.17% efficiency
A team from Jeonbuk National University in South Korea used slot die coating (SDC) to produce uniform high-quality perovskite films, which they used in a perovskite solar cell that achieved 19.17% efficiency and lab cell-sized modules that achieved 17.42% efficiency.
Rooftop solar leads Q3 renewables growth in Australia
Rooftop solar led renewable generation in Australia in the third quarter of 2024, accounting for 38.5% of the total, compared to grid-scale solar at 18.3% and wind at 13.4%. New capacity in the connection phase rose 36% and battery projects grew 87% from the same quarter in 2023, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
Chinese PV Industry Brief: TCL Zhonghuan, Maxwell post Q3 results
TCL Zhonghuan has reported a net loss of CNY 2.998 billion ($420 million) for the third quarter of 2024, while Hunan Huamin Holdings posted a CNY 187.5 million loss, and Maxwell Technologies disclosed a modest rise in net profit for the July-September period.
Cincinnati Zoo completes 2.8 MW solar carport
Terrasmart has designed and manufactured a racking system for a 2.8 MW solar carport project at Ohio’s Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The site’s owners claim it is the largest publicly accessible solar array in the United States, providing shade for up to 800 vehicles.
CALB sues CATL for patent infringement as battery rivalry escalates
Chinese battery manufacturer CALB has sued rival CATL for patent infringement. It is seeking damages significantly higher than the total CNY 700 million (€91 million) that CATL previously claimed in six patent infringement cases it filed against CALB.
New sun simulator, light-soaking tools for perovskite solar cells, modules
MBJ Solutions, a German testing equipment specialist, recently launched two new products for developers of perovskite and perovskite silicon tandem devices. The MBJ Steady State Sun Simulator is designed for cells and small perovskite module research, and the MBJ Light Soaking Unit is for aging tests and preconditioning.
India should invest in friendly nations for critical minerals, says IEEFA
India should invest in resource-rich, friendly nations to source critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, says the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Space Solar secures letter of intent from Reykjavik Energy
UK startup Space Solar has reached an agreement with Reykjavik Energy with a view to supplying 30 MW from space-based solar in 2030. Co-CEO Sam Adlen tells pv magazine the next steps include ground-to-air transmission demonstration and a kilowatt-scale solar satellite in orbit in three years’ time.
Strategies to ease US grid strain as electric heat pumps boost renewables
Wider use of electric heat pumps to heat buildings creates a larger market for renewable energy, but also presents challenges, which can be met through building insulation and weatherization, cold climate heat pumps, thermal energy storage systems, and higher-voltage distribution grids, according to a new report by Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG).
