Wind tunnel tests show spacing between panels is key to reduce soiling
Scientists have placed four PV panels in a 21-meter wind tunnel and run different tests regarding tilt angles, mounting height, spacing, and incoming flow direction. They found that when the spacing between panels exceeds twice the panel height, the mutual influence on dust deposition becomes negligible.
Open-source dataset for rooftop PV generation in urban environments
A group of scientists has developed an open-source dataset comprising three years’ worth of data from Hong Kong’s largest behind-the-meter rooftop solar power project. Power generation was collected at 5-minute intervals, and meteorological data at 1-minute.
US bans five Chinese PV firms under Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), the US authorities have banned five Chinese companies from providing products and services in the United States.
U.S. scientists building magnetocaloric heat pump with high system power density
Developed at the U. S. Ames National Laboratory, the novel magnetocaloric heat pump utilizes gadolinium as the working medium and reportedly matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance. The system is based on a packed-particle bed active magnetic regenerator, a magnetic source composed of permanent magnets and high permeability magnetic steel.
Solis releases three-phase string C&I inverters with fuseless design
The Chinese inverter said its new inverters have an MPPT current of up to 54 A and support more than a 150% DC/AC ratio. The new products also feature a maximum efficiency of 98.8% and a European efficiency rate of 98.3%.
Tunisia launches 200 MW solar tender
The Tunisian authorities have launched tenders for two 100 MW solar plants.
European consortium develops perovskite-CIGS tandem modules for distributed solar PV
A European project aims to develop flexible tandem perovskite-CIGS solar technology to make 25%-efficient 100 cm2 modules with a variety of substrates for decentralized solar PV applications. The project entails using processes that are scalable for roll-to-roll production.
U.S. startup offers solar-oriented software for site-specific weather, variability scenarios
Sunairio has launched software that features high-resolution historical climate data and high-resolution future climate models to provide insights into site-specific risks. It recently raised venture capital to expand into new markets for its solar and wind portfolio-oriented software.
A closer look at Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi’s 2 GW desert wonder
The 2 GW Al Dhafra solar park covers an area of 21.5 square km in the sandy outskirts of the suburb Dhafra near Abu Dhabi. pv magazine visited to get the lowdown on the plant’s specs and how it is contributing to the local energy landscape.
Adani Green Energy hits 11.6 GW of operational renewables capacity
Adani Green Energy commissioned 3.13 GW of renewable energy capacity – 2.69 GW of solar and 438 MW of wind power – in the April-December 2024 period, taking its cumulative operational capacity to 11.6 GW.
