IFC to help Bangladesh with public-private solar partnerships
The lender’s private sector arm will help formulate a tendering process to identify the best suited partners for the development of PV projects in Bangladesh.
EDF seeks mounting structure providers
The renewable energy unit of the French energy giant has made a public call to source mounting structures for the large scale PV projects it wants to build in France up to 2023.
Emirate of Umm al-Quwain launches tender for 500 MW solar park
The UAE Federal Electricity and Water Authority is seeking expressions of interest to enable it to pre-select independent power producers for the project. The plant will be owned 60% by the government of Umm al-Quwain and the electricity authority, with the successful developer owning the balance.
Cape Verde kicks off 10 MW solar tender
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy has issued an expression of interest to pre-qualify developers for two 5 MW solar plants. The facilities will be on the islands of Sal and São Vicente.
The world will add 142 GW of new solar this year
IHS Markit has predicted another year of global solar growth but a peek behind the headline figures shows uncertainty dogging the markets of China and India, two of the most important markets and biggest polluters.
Best-worst method applied to select solar project locations
Scientists at the Beijing Institute of Technology have identified the most suitable areas for solar parks in the Chinese capital using a geographical information system and a new multi-criteria decision-making technique: the ‘best-worst’ method. They claim the approach can help establish technically and economically viable projects.
UK researchers confirm correlation between micro-cracks and hot spots in polycrystalline cells
A research team from the University of Huddersfield used electron microscopy to analyze micro-cracks in 4,000 polycrystalline silicon solar cell samples. The results showed power losses may vary from 0.9-42.8%, and increased temperatures due to micro-cracking may favor the formation of permanent hot spots in the cells.
New lithium-sulfur battery unveiled by Aussie scientists
Scientists at Monash University claim to have developed the world’s most efficient lithium-sulfur battery. They say the new device could enable an electric vehicle to drive more than 1,000km on a single charge.
Repowering solar plants for need – or bigger returns
Alencon’s silicon carbide-based String Power Optimizers and Transmitters enable the repowering of solar plants which need to replace 600 V inverters with newer 1,000 V or 1,500 V gear, or for project owners who wish to maximize electricity generation at aging and imperfect facilities with creative engineering techniques.
Suzuki-led JV to invest $517m in second phase of Indian lithium-ion factory
A joint venture with Japanese peers Toshiba and Denso will make the investment in the Gujarat plant over the 2021-25 period, having pumped $174 million into the first phase of development.
