Sunfolding looks to disrupt the tracker industry with air pneumatics
With $32 million in series B funding and an ever-growing project pipeline, air-based tracker startup, Sunfolding, is hoping to increase its hold in the tracker market with tech that’s simple, light and can be installed on terrain previously thought untouchable.
Intense pulsed light processing for 23.0%-efficient silicon heterojunction solar cells
Scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) have used intense pulsed light (IPL) processing for the development of a busbarless silicon heterojunction solar cell. ILP processing is roll-to-roll technique for rapid thermal processing of various thin films.
Hydro-PV microgrid in Patagonia
In a national park in Chile, a hydropower plant has been combined with a solar system and battery storage to replace diesel generation.
Ecuador kicks-off 60 MW solar tender
The government is seeking proposals for 200 MW of renewable energy capacity including two 30 MW solar parks to be constructed in either Santa Elena or Guaya provinces.
Solar is essential to build the France of 2030
KilowattSol CEO Xavier Daval has criticized the absence of references to solar in the French government’s post-Covid recovery plan, which has allocated €30 billion to the energy transition. The head of the PV technical advisory says solar must become more central to France’s strategic choices and China must not be allowed to retain its near-monopoly on PV panel manufacturing.
CIGS cells for micro-concentrator PV devices
Scientists have developed a new micro CIGS cell by using an area-selective electro-deposition process as a material-saving technique. It has a conversion efficiency rate of 5.2% and a high open-circuit voltage.
SNEC 2020 CEO Series – Interview with Liu Zhifeng, Vice GM of Jolywood
Jolywood is one of the few PV manufacturers, who has placed its bet on TOPCon technology. Instead of focusing on the simplicity of the production process, Jolywood believes the conversion rate is more critical. With years of efforts, the company has established its leading position among TOPCon players. During the SNEC 2020 in Shanghai, pv magazine had the opportunity to interview Liu Zhifeng, Vice General Manager of Jolywood, and listened to his views on some hot topics, especially the cell tech route.
Belgium’s first floating PV project comes online
The plant was installed by developer Floating PV NV on five hectares of a lake created by sand extraction and owned by sand and minerals company Sibelco in Dessel, Antwerp province.
Bhutan launches ground-mounted PV tender
The national utility has kicked off a procurement round to build the country’s first major PV project.
Neoen secures PPA for part of Australian wind-solar-storage project
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has awarded a power purchase agreement in its fifth renewables reverse auction. The deal relates to a portion of a project consisting of 1.2 GW of wind, 600 MW of solar, and 900 MW/1,800 MWh of battery storage.
