US residential solar set for a record-breaking year — despite, and because of, 2020
With folks housebound by Covid-19 restrictions and more conscious of their home energy needs, April proved a banner month for companies generating digital leads through their own accelerated transition to a new way of working.
EBRD provides €75m for 204 MW of solar near Greek coal plants
The development lender will supply three-quarters of the funds as Hellenic Petroleum aims to raise €100 million for a reported 18 solar sites in the nation’s coal heartland.
France’s ‘virtual power line’ takes shape
Nidec has deployed a 12 MW/24MWh storage system for French grid operator RTE. The battery – part of a 72 MWh project to prevent grid congestion in peak demand periods – is in an area with abundant renewables, including wind.
Floating solar nearing price parity with land-based US solar
Four years ago, there were just two floating solar arrays in the United States. But by the end of this year, there will be more than 20.
Australian utility to deploy 100 MW/200 MWh of storage at old power plant
The state government of Western Australia is expanding its range of solar-smoothing energy storage systems with plans to deploy a big project at the old Kwinana fossil fuel power station near Perth.
Copper metallization process reaches pilot production in Germany
Scientists led by staff from Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE have demonstrated a new laser printing process in pilot production, which could replace silver paste and screen printing in solar cell manufacturing. The system is said to offer much more flexibility in the layout of contact fingers on the cell surface and a wider choice of metallization materials.
Another bumper year sees green bonds push through $1tn mark
Sustainability-linked debt financing is experiencing ever increasing popularity and the success of green bonds has driven other products linked to social performance and other sustainability criteria. The total volume of such investments to date passed the $2 trillion point this year.
Improving outdoor I-V curve measurements with PV module irradiance sensors
Japanese scientists have replaced common pyranometers with PV module irradiance sensors to measure the I-V curves of crystalline silicon PV modules. The sensors provide highly precise outdoor measurements, the researchers said.
South African platinum mine tenders for 10 MW of solar
Developers have until October 20 to submit bids with the Marula Platinum Mine having lost patience with unreliable power supply from the troubled state electric utility.
India tenders for Himalayan off-grid solar and storage
The Solar Energy Corporation of India has issued a call for expressions of interest to supply clean energy to isolated off-grid communities and warned components will probably have to be transported manually.
