All photovoltaic-thermal system designs at a glance
An international research team has presented all possible system designs and applications for photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technology. Their review includes conventional PV-T collectors, air-based systems, liquid-based installations, water-based collectors, refrigerant-based systems, heat-pipe-based technologies, dual air-water systems, building-integrated PVT arrays, and concentrated PVT collectors.
Netherlands exempts apartments and monuments from 2026 heat pump mandate
The government of the Netherlands has backtracked on its decision to implement a sweeping hybrid heat pump obligation from 2026. Multi-story apartment buildings and listed buildings will be exempted.
Perovskite solar cell achieves 24.3% efficiency, high stability via binary mixed hole transport layer
Researchers in China have built a hole transport layer with a mixed binary configuration integrating the polymer Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and Spiro-OMeTAD. They used it to build a perovskite solar cell that was able to retain 90% of its initial efficiency after 1,200 hours of storage in dark ambient environment.
Chile has 231 MW of storage under construction, PV capacity tops 8.2 GW
As of the end of March, Chile had 4,748 MW of PV projects under construction, 19,832 MW of solar projects approved, and another 4,660 MW under review.
Brenmiller switches on 4 GWh rock-based thermal energy storage system factory in Israel
Brenmiller secured a €7.5 million ($8.2 million) credit facility from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to build the factory.
Solar testing group warns of degradation risk for TOPCon
The Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC) raised the issue of ultraviolet-induced degradation of the trending technology in its PV Module Index 2022.
The Hydrogen Stream: Swiss team sets record solar-to-hydrogen rate
Researchers from Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have unveiled a new solar dish plant design, while Plug Power has delivered its first electrolyzer system to Europe.
LG unveils US residential energy storage system
LG has developed a new energy storage system for the US residential market that combines two 10-hour batteries or 16-hour Prime battery modules in parallel, providing 19.2 kWh to 32 kWh of capacity and a maximum 9.6 kW output from the inverter.
Big PV plants may have positive climate impact in deserts, say researchers
Chinese researchers have discovered that solar plants might reduce evaporation and wind speeds in the Gobi Desert, while also increasing soil relative humidity, according to a series of simulations with different emission scenarios.
Turkey introduces 10-year FIT for solar, other renewables
The Turkish authorities have set a 10-year feed-in tariff (FIT) of TRY 1.06 ($0.0545)/kWh for PV systems that are installed between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2030. Solar projects with Turkish PV components will be given an additional five-year tariff of TRY 0.2880/kWh.
