US developer secures 15-year PPA for 400 MW of PV, 180 MW/540 MWh of storage
8minute Solar will build the Rexford 1 Solar & Storage Center in central California, with the Clean Power Alliance serving as offtaker.
Heating up the heterojunction-LID discussion
Scientists led by the University of New South Wales have looked into the long-term degradation of silicon-heterojunction. Their findings suggest that illumination at high temperatures could actually improve cell efficiency, but also risks activating multiple light-induced degradation mechanisms if not carefully controlled.
France wants 6.5 GW of hydrogen capacity by 2030
Government ministers Barbara Pompili and Bruno Le Maire today unveiled a national strategy for carbon-free hydrogen to the French Association for hydrogen and fuel cells and other major players in the state’s hydrogen economy.
Panama to hold October renewables auction
Selected projects will secure five-year power purchase agreements and will have to begin commercial operation on January 1.
Power-to-heat for district heating may drive wind and solar
Researchers say the technology could help drive clean energy deployment in countries with limited grids or in isolated, coal-based energy systems. According to their model, Kosovo could see a strong increase in wind and PV capacity if power-to-heat is coupled with thermal energy storage for fixed-capacity district heating.
Titanium oxide nanofluid-based cooling technique for PV panels
Indian and Malaysian scientists have developed a new cooling system featuring an assembled back-channel attached on the rear sides of solar panels, to channel flows of titanium oxide and water. They used a 0.6% nanofluid concentration – the optimum value of nanoparticle concentration in water.
Windbreak walls for solar parks
Iasol has developed a new way to protect solar plants in windy conditions. The Spanish developer said the solution barely has an impact on project costs or output, while preventing expensive damages.
Gambia seeks consultants for 150 MW solar-plus-storage project
The transnational West African Power Pool is seeking consultants for an environmental impact study as well as transaction advisors for a project under development since October.
Texas will outshine California in 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cast a cloud on industries around the world, but the U.S. utility-scale solar segment is still growing, writes IHS Markit solar analyst Maria J. Chea. Around 3 GW of solar PV is set to be installed this year in Texas alone, but opportunities also abound across several other southern U.S. states.
New solar+storage concept for Himalayan villages
U.K. thin-film PV specialist Power Roll is testing a new solar+storage system that can be manufactured for just $0.03/W. It can be deployed on a wide range of non-load-bearing buildings, including agricultural structures and warehouse rooftops.
