Persistent wildfires in Canada create cross-continental solar drag
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires has continued to suppress irradiance levels across Canada and the Eastern US into June, with impacts stretching as far as Europe.
New accelerated aging test for perovskite solar cells
To assess ion migration-induced degradation modes via accelerated ageing of perovskite solar cells, an international research team investiagted using electric forward bias and dark storage approach.
Pocket-sized tool to identify composition of solar panel polymer backsheets, encapsulants
German researchers developed a novel pocket-sized instrument to rapidly identify the composition of solar panel polymer backsheets and encapsulants in the field. The hardware is near-infrared absorption spectroscopy (NIRA) sensor-based.
Solar-aviary projects come online in France
French renewables producer Unite has completed two solar-aviary projects selected by France’s Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) in recent tenders for innovative PV solutions.
Comparing thermal runaway behavior of sodium-ion, lithium-ion batteries
Scientists in Germany have analyzed the thermal runaway behavior of sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries inside a 10-L reaction vessel. They have thermally abused 30 samples, each under a different state of charge level, and have found that both types suffered from runaway when the charge is at least 50%.
New platform enhances grid integration, real-time geospatial metering
Singapore-based EDMI, a subsidiary of Japan’s Osaki Electric, has launched NEOS Solution, a next-generation electricity grid platform designed to orchestrate distributed energy resources (DER) and enable real-time meter monitoring during blackouts.
Daikin launches new single-zone heat pumps for residential use
The new Oterra 115V heat pumps use difluoromethane (R32) as the refrigerant and have a heating capacity of 9,000 BTU/h to 12,000 BTU/h.
Hungary’s largest battery storage facility comes online
MET Group has switched on Hungary’s largest battery, a 40 MW/80 MWh system, at the site of a power station near Budapest.
Solar module prices falling with no clear trend in sight
Solar module prices in Europe have fallen by up to €0.01 ($0.01)/W this month, according to pvXchange.com, as the PV market shows resilience amid policy uncertainty and geopolitical risks.
Iberdrola’s 500 MW Núñez de Balboa PV plant reportedly caused Spain blackout
Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica de España (REE) says a PV project in Badajoz was responsible for Spain’s massive power outage on April 28. Media reports have now revealed that the solar plant is the 500 MW Núñez de Balboa photovoltaic facility, which is owned by Iberdrola.
