ABB launches what it says is world’s fastest EV charger
The Terra High Power charger can charge an electric vehicle (EV) in just eight minutes, thus adding up to 200 km of range, says ABB, which launched the new model at this year’s Hannover Messe.
Indian government mandates stringent quality controls for solar equipment
In a much-awaited move, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has mandated that, effective April 16, 2018, all solar equipment manufacturers will have to register their equipment with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Demand for silver in global PV industry rose 19% in 2017, says Silver Institute
Approximately 76% of silver demand in the solar PV industry was used last year in frontside pastes, while the remaining 24% was used in backside pastes. Comoditization, however, is having detrimental effects on producers’ margins.
SolarWorld Americas comments on duties exemptions for competitors, SunPower
Shortly before the announcement of its acquisition by SunPower, SolarWorld’s former U.S. subsidiary commented on the request by its competitors to be exempt from the new U.S. solar PV import tariffs.
Nigerian universities go off-grid with solar PV, storage mini-grids
Four of Nigeria’s federal universities and university teaching hospitals across the country have signed EPC contracts to develop mini-grid solutions, which will power their facilities and disconnect them from the main electricity grid. A total of 9.3 MW of PV and 5,760 battery cells will be deployed.
The weekend read: On track for quality improvement
China continues to grow in importance as a key source of components for solar trackers produced by the world’s leading tracker companies, in part since improvements in Chinese quality control have advanced significantly over the last few years.
Historic UN deal for shipping industry could lead to solar powered ships
A climate change strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, adopted last week by the United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization (IMO), could boost the electrification of ships using solar PV technology.
US: ESA lays path for 35 GW of energy storage by 2025
National trade association, the ESA has published a roadmap for the adoption of 35 GW of energy storage in the U.S., as well as outlining the benefits of such a move. pv magazine USA spoke with CEO, Kelly Speakes-Backman about storage and the challenges of state-level advocacy at ESA’s annual conference in Boston.
UK researcher’s discovery could push PV into shape
A team of scientists at Warwick University in the U.K. has discovered a method for altering the structure of a semiconductor at the nano level which, it says, could push cell efficiencies of several materials beyond their theoretical limits.
IEA-PVPS: Integration of solar requires improved forecasts, flexibility resources, more storage
In a new report, the association states that urgent action is required for, among other issues, the improvement of solar generation forecasts, the exploitation of storage systems, and the reduction of minimum operation and start-up times for both existing and new thermal and hydro generators.
