Technology and R&D

A new EUPD Research report shows that a PV system can cover 39% of the power demand of an electric vehicle, but this potentially rises to 80% if storage is included.

The new floating structures can be made of light, reinforced concrete or similar materials, and are claimed to withstand 6m high waves. They can be utilized with standard photovoltaic modules that are currently available on the market.

Smart Power India, a unit of the Rockefeller Foundation, has supported the installation of 9.2 MW of renewables-based minigrids at more than 300 sites across India. Jaideep Mukherjee, CEO of SPI, recently spoke to pv magazine about the importance of minigrids and barriers to deployment.

New modeling by Monash University researchers has shown that the cost of green hydrogen with solar PV could satisfy the Australian government’s economic stretch goal of AUD 2 ($1.50) per kilogram by as early as 2030.

Rooftop solar is just the start, as energy storage, smart electrical panels, and EV chargers enter the mainstream for solar owners. Here’s a guide to matching your solar array with some of the most popular accessories.

Mark Jacobson, director of the atmosphere/energy program at Stanford University, has developed roadmaps for 143 countries to meet 100% of their energy demand from power generated by wind, water, and sunlight. In every case, these roadmaps promise major reductions in energy costs, while mitigating the effects of climate change and air pollution. pv magazine checked in with Jacobson for a look at the energy transition’s bigger picture.

The United States Department of Energy is providing $14 million for a research center for perovskite solar technology. Led by Sandia National Laboratories, the center’s work will focus on establishing standard testing protocols as well as ensuring the long-term reliability of perovskite cells and the bankability of companies setting up to produce them.

The German energy storage business has invested an unspecified amount in compatriot Stercom Power Solutions, which offers the ability to transfer electricity, untethered, from a magnetic coil to a receiver coil on the underside of new-energy vehicles.

Plus, the Norwegian government is set to devote €2.5 million into a joint venture trying to develop liquid organic hydrogen carrier solutions for shipping by the middle of the decade.

At this year’s SNEC event in Shanghai, China, pv magazine took the opportunity to talk with GoodWe founder and chairman, Daniel Huang. He outlined the key PV inverter trends he expects to see over the coming years and discusses growth from a domestic company to a multinational player with offices across the world. Overall, he abides by three key ingredients for business success.