Grid balancing costs up 10% in Great Britain, may hit GBP 8 billion in 2030
Transmission infrastructure buildout essential to curb rising cost of balancing Great Britain’s electricity grid, according to electricity system operator. New report finds thermal constraints were main driver of increased balancing costs, with planned outages in Scotland coinciding with high wind outturn.
Canada’s largest off-grid solar project breaks ground
The Anahim Lake Solar Farm in British Columbia, Canada, will provide the Ulkatcho First Nation with renewable energy, reducing the remote community’s use of diesel for electricity generation by almost two-thirds.
UK energy sector edging toward gender balance, but barriers remain
Women in Solar+ Europe – WiSEu Network attended the launch of POWERful Women’s Annual State of the Nation Report this week, where leaders and changemakers called for faster action to close the gender gap in energy.
Nicaragua starts work on 70 MW solar plant, largest to date
China Communications Construction Co. has begun building the 70 MW Enesolar-3 solar plant in Nicaragua, which will supply power to state water utility Enacal and cover about 40% of its electricity needs. The PV project is the largest in the country to date.
Shifting cloud patterns boost solar potential in the Amazon
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that solar irradiance levels across the Amazon Basin were 10% higher than the long-term average during April and May, reflecting a decadal trend towards drier conditions in the region.
Improving solar cell performance with melanin, porous silicon powder
Researchers in Mexico have enhanced optoelectronic and solar cell performance by combining melanin with porous silicon powder. The compound improved photocurrent generation by boosting the luminescence of the silicon material.
Solar hydrogen could be produced at 4.23$/kg in Saudi Arabia
New research from Saudi Arabia shows that PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), or hybrid PV-CSP systems could significantly reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen. CSP offers higher capacity factors, but PV-driven electrolysis provides the lowest projected cost for hydrogen production.
DEWA’s Mohammed bin Rashid solar park capacity hits 3.8 GW
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) says it has added 800 MW of solar to its flagship Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park this year alone. By the end of the decade, the site’s cumulative capacity is set to reach 7.26 GW.
Solar companies adapt in changing times
pv magazine USA speaks with Solar Insure’s Dean Chiaravallotti about how solar companies can adapt business models, innovate product offerings, and deploy strategic tools to remain competitive in a shifting US market.
Coupling heat pumps with district heating
Researchers in Sweden have analyzed the impact of a hybrid heating system combining heat pumps and district heating on five real buildings. The analysis showed that residents were able to save up to €2,768 ($3,159) compared to a scenario without source coupling.
