Gautam Solar unveils 450 W M10 solar module for rooftop applications
Indian manufacturer Gautam Solar has introduced 450 Wp mono PERC modules for rooftop PV installations. The modules feature 120 half-cut cells based on M10 wafers and offer a power conversion efficiency of up to 21.28%.
Novel production process for solar-grade silicon
The SisAl Pilot project produces solar-grade silicon from Spanish quartz without using coal and with zero CO2 emissions. The company behind the project claims that the process is cheaper and more sustainable.
Portugal switches on first solar-to-hydrogen plant
The Portuguese Fusion Fuel and Ballard Power have announced the successful commissioning of the H2Évora plant on Portugal The grid-connected pilot project will produce an estimated 15 tons of green hydrogen per year.
Neighborhood battery plan to maximize solar benefits in Australia
The government of the Australian state of Victoria has unveiled an ambitious plan to install 100 battery energy storage systems by the end of 2026, as part of a broader strategy to support the rollout of more rooftop solar.
Agrivoltaic solar tracker uses cables instead of buried steel
Rute Foundation Systems says its Rute Suntracker system – designed for utility-scale, high-clearance solar – could potentially reduce steel use by 30%.
French startup reveals rooftop system with PV panels, mini wind turbines
French startup Unéole has developed a rooftop system that combines solar and silent wind turbines. It claims its system can produce 40% more energy than standalone rooftop solar arrays. It is now testing the device, with plans to commercialize it by 2023.
Gallium doping for 24.47%-efficient p-type heterojunction solar cells
French scientists have studied the fabrication of silicon heterojunction cells with p-type wafers. With the adoption of gallium doping, the p-type products could come close to matching the performance of their n-type counterparts. But optimal doping levels will be key to advancing this tech, said the researchers.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Longi, JA Solar, Yingli share 1.05 GW of panel orders
Longi, JA Solar and Yingli have agreed to collectively supply 1.05 GW of solar panels to China Southern Power Grid, while Daqo New Energy has secured board for a planned $700 million share repurchase program.
Max Planck spinoff making metal mesh electrodes for lithium-ion batteries
The Max Planck Institute for Medical Research has produced batene fleece, a fine metal fleece, to act as current collectors in batteries, making them safer and more energy dense. Its Batene GmbH spinoff, backed by €10 million ($10.02 million) of seed funding, is now bringing the tech to market.
Hydrogen-producing rooftop solar panels nearing commercialization
KU Leuven researchers have developed rooftop panels that capture both solar power and water from the air. Like traditional PV modules, hydrogen panels are also connected, but via gas tubes instead of electric cables. The researchers are now preparing to bring the tech to the mass market via a spinoff company.
