Fothermo debuts immersion heater for excess PV power
The German company said its new device features a DC input supporting up to 3 kW of photovoltaic power. The heating output can be continuously adjusted between 0 W and 1,000 W. Priced at €549 ($635) including VAT, the heating element is designed for hot water storage tanks with capacities of up to 500 L.
AI powered solar forecasting helps UK grid operator reduce balancing costs
Open Climate Fix says its Quartz Solar tool saves Great Britain’s grid operator GBP 30 million ($39 million) per year through more accurate forecasting, which reduces the reserve capacity needed for balancing the electricity system. The non-profit company has used machine learning techniques with satellite, weather and historical generation data to reduce forecasting errors by half.
LG Chem, Sinopec to jointly develop sodium-ion battery materials
From ESS News China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and South Korea’s LG Chem have signed a joint development agreement to advance key materials for sodium-ion batteries, as the technology moves closer to mass commercialization. Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on developing cathode and anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, targeting applications in […]
All low-cost PV monitoring systems at a glance
A group of scientists in China conducted a comprehensive review of existing low-cost photovoltaic monitoring approaches. They found that only 11 out of 88 studies related to PV monitoring incorporate machine learning. The researchers urge the scientific community to place greater emphasis on lightweight machine learning solutions and smartphone-based integration.
New Python-based tool optimizes PV plant deployment on hilly terrain
Researchers in India have developed a novel layout design tool to identify the optimal locations for solar panel installation on undulating terrain. The tool consists of two components: a filtering module that excludes unsuitable land patches, and an algorithm that determines the optimal distribution of panels across the remaining usable area. The approach was demonstrated on a test site in India.
Protecting the grid from extreme weather
IEC Standards help to make the grid more resilient as the impact of climate change intensifies.
Swiss researchers develop snow model to optimize PV system design in alpine regions
The researchers have used computational fluid dynamics-based modelling of snow patterns in an effort to establish best practices to mitigate snow accumulation in alpine PV plants.
From scale to strength: How India’s solar industry is forced to become a global premium player
EUPD Research explores India’s rapid solar manufacturing expansion, its growing export potential, competitiveness relative to China, and the evolving trade and sustainability dynamics shaping global PV markets.
High pressure boosts eastern solar as storms hit North America’s northwest
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that North America experienced a highly variable solar performance in October, as a strong high-pressure system boosted irradiance across the eastern regions while cooler, cloudier conditions reduced solar potential in the Pacific Northwest.
Aermec debuts modular heat pump for residential, commercial buildings
The Italian manufacturer said its new WWMG heat pump system has a coefficient of performance of up to 4.98 and an energy efficiency rating of 16.30 BTU/Wh.
