Toshiba claims 8.4% efficiency for transparent cuprous oxide solar cell
The record efficiency was achieved by engineering the cell with reduced copper(II) oxide (CuO) and copper (Cu) impurities in the thin-film deposition. It showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.13 V, a short-circuit current of 10.63 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 0.696.
Latvian plan to exempt big energy consumers from renewables surcharge approved by EU
The Baltic state has offered energy-intensive, international-facing industries up to an 85% discount on a surcharge levied on electricity consumers since May 2017 and made the scheme wider ranging this year, in a move approved by the European Commission.
Another big battery ready to join Dutch grid
Swiss battery manufacturer Leclanche and Dutch energy storage specialist S4 Energy have completed work on a 10 MW hybrid energy storage system located in Heerhugowaard, North Holland. The system will serve the frequency containment reserve market as the Dutch grid continues to face serious congestion issues.
Three strategic M&A transactions announced in the US
Through three different transactions, AES acquired Community Energy Solar, Stem Inc bought AlsoEnergy, and Enphase took over 365 Pronto.
India added 1.3 GW of rooftop solar in first nine months of 2021
Rooftop installations to the end of September were at their highest for a nine-month period. The nation’s cumulative rooftop PV generation capacity had reached 6.7 GW by that point.
Australia prepares for first solar ‘upcycling’ facility while recycling operations expand
As Australia stares down a deluge of worn out solar panels, recycling – and indeed upcycling – programs are grinding into gear. In Victoria, a site has been found for Australia’s first facility to recover and reuse solar module materials, while Reclaim PV has extended its manufacturer partner and pickup location lists.
India’s first green hydrogen microgrid
NTPC Limited has selected California-headquartered Bloom Energy’s electrolyzer and hydrogen-powered fuel cell technologies for the nation’s first green hydrogen-based microgrid, which will be powered by a floating solar array.
Iron flow battery PV microgrid for fire-prone California
ESS announced the integration of its long-duration batteries for a microgrid project commissioned by San Diego Gas & Electric to mitigate and increase resilience to wildfires.
The Hydrogen Stream: Storing hydrogen in offshore caverns
Engie unit Tractebel is developing the technology. Elsewhere, the European Commission has approved, under state aid rules, a €900 million German scheme to support investment in green hydrogen production for EU consumption and Spanish company H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies is developing a project to generate up to 1,000kg per day of electrolytic hydrogen in California.
France announces results of commercial and industrial PV tender
The French government has allocated 324 MW in its latest procurement exercise. Average prices were €76.66/MWh for large power plants (500 kWp-8 MWp) and €87.25/MWh for projects below 500 kWp.
