Technology and R&D

American researchers are proposing to use steel zip ties to attach solar modules to fences in animal farms as a low-cost racking solution for agrivoltaic applications. They found the proposed approach is technically and economically viable, provided careful wind load tests are conducted on the fences.

A US-Spanish research team studied the ecological effect of a solar photovoltaic array located on a managed grassland plot using a hydraulic and soil hydrology model and field measurements. They found minimal effect on the plants’ carbon-water cycling, which they attributed to plant photosynthetic traits changing to take advantage of the dynamic shading under the panels.

Hithium, a Chinese manufacturer of lithium-ion stationary energy storage systems, has announced a Series C funding round consisting of more than CNY 4.5 billion ($622 million). It will primarily use the funds to expand production capacity, procure advanced equipment, and conduct R&D.

While the French Constitutional Council is preparing to issue new provisions to support the deployment of new nuclear reactors this summer, nearly 800 scientists gathered around a platform to call for the end of the new nuclear program.

Slovenian solar manufacturer Bisol is offering new solar panels with outputs of 320 W and 410 W. Front efficiencies range from 16.4% to 17.3% and the temperature coefficient is -0.34% per degree Celsius.

India’s Prasham Greens has designed water-draining clamps to get rid of accumulated water from the edges of solar panels after rain and water-based cleaning.

Data monitoring from 85 PV power plants built in Czechia between 2009 and 2010 show delamination plays a crucial role in significantly reducing their expected lifetime. The scientists behind the research explained that the main cause for the reduced lifetime was due not only to a poor estimation of the technical possibilities of the PV panels at the time of planning and installation, but also to a profit-led approach aimed at lowering the costs of the projects.

Ausgrid has installed its first pole-mounted battery energy storage system as part of a trial to more effectively manage growing penetration of rooftop solar and periods of peak demand.

LEAG, Germany’s second largest energy supplier, is planning a power-to-X project to produce hydrogen, store waste heat, generate electricity, and supply buses with hydrogen. The plant will also have a thermal solid-state storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 MWh.

India’s WindStream Energy Technologies has developed a hybrid wind-solar street light system for hilly, coastal, and rural areas.