Average silver price up 21% in 2024, says Silver Institute
Demand for silver in the PV industry hit 197.6 million ounces in 2024, according to a new report from the Silver Institute. It says the average silver price stood at $28.27 per troy ounce last year, up from $23.35 in 2023.
China identifies major high-purity quartz deposits for PV industry
China has identified two new high-purity quartz deposits as it seeks to localize supply for solar and semiconductor production and reduce dependence on US imports
Fraunhofer ISE developing heterojunction solar cells with silver consumption of less than 2 mg per W
Researchers at the German institute are seeking to reduce silver use in heterojunction PV devices under the umbrella of an extensive research projects. Among their recent achievements there is the fabrication of a heterojunction cell that requires a minimal silver consumption of only 1.4 mg per W.
CATL unveils 587 Ah battery energy storage cell
The competition in the development of large-capacity cells is heating up, with the industry’s top player stepping up to shape the new standard in the battery energy storage space.
Fire risks in industrial rooftop solar systems due to poor installation
Clean Energy Associates (CEA) has inspected more than 600 industrial PV systems and has found widespread safety risks, largely stemming from poor installation practices, but many issues are easily identifiable and fixable.
Hithium debuts 587 Ah cell and 6.25MWh storage system
The Chinese manufacturer said that several battery energy storage system integrators have already started incorporating the 587 Ah cell into their platforms and believes this new specification is well-positioned to become an industry benchmark for lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based energy storage systems.
Sungrow releases modular inverter for utility-scale solar
The Chinese manufacturer said its new product uses inverter units with an output of 800 kW, of which 12 can be connected in parallel. It can work in weather of up to 52 C.
Fronius launches hybrid inverters for residential, commercial applications
The Austrian manufacturer said its new hybrid inverters can increase the usable output of the PV system to up to 150%. They are available in six version with rated AC power ranging from 15 kW to 33.3 kW.
Belgian grid operator warns of PV overproduction, curtailment in spring
Belgian grid operator Elia says that rapid solar fleet growth is driving earlier seasonal overproduction peaks, raising curtailment risks this spring. It plans to expand flexibility measures to stabilize the high-voltage network.
Thornova offers solar module composite frames
Chinese manufacturer Thornova says that its new composite frames offers advantages in terms of stability, corrosion, and chemical resistance. Installation is also easier because no grounding is required.
