Construction begins on South Africa’s first city-run solar plant
The city of Cape Town, South Africa, has started building a 7 MW solar plant that it will own and operate. It has also launched a tender for a 5 MW/8 MWh battery energy storage system to be built at the same site.
Lebanese sources confirm just one damaged PV array after reports of blasts
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) has reported that “several” solar arrays have been linked to a second wave of electronic-device explosions across the nation, but local sources have thus far only identified one damaged PV system, which they said was likely affected by external factors.
Cando Solar unveils frameless 450 W heterojunction PV panels with 22.6% efficiency
The Chinese manufacturer says its new frameless heterojunction panels rely on busbarless technology and 210 mm wafers. The new products also feature a temperature coefficient -0.29%/C and weigh only 12.3 kg.
MIT scientists build PV-driven desalination system that reacts to changes in sunlight
The proposed brackish water desalination system uses photovoltaic electrodialysis to enable direct-drive desalination at high production rates. It already operated for 6 months on real brackish groundwater and was reportedly able to use 94% of the extracted PV energy.
Better Energy signs PPA for new solar park in Finland
Better Energy says it has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for its first solar park in Finland. It will build the 38 GW project on a former parking lot in southern Finland.
Czechia planning retroactive cuts to feed-in tariffs for PV systems
The Czech government is trying to retroactively reduce feed-in tariffs (FITs) granted for PV projects between 2006 and 2013. The local solar sector has criticized the move, claiming that it could incite panic among investors.
The impact of sodium, moisture on heterojunction PV module performance
Researchers in France have investigated heterojunction solar module reliability in damp heat environment and have found that sodium ions are the main source of degradation.
New Zealand steps up approvals process for large-scale PV projects
Ten large-scale solar farms planned for New Zealand’s North and South islands are among 22 renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 3 GW that have been listed for inclusion in the government’s “one-stop shop” fast-track approvals process.
Rooftop PV installations could raise daytime temperatures in urban environments by up to 1.5 C
New research from India shows that rooftop PV system may have “unintended” consequences on temperartures in urban environments. Rooftop arrays, for example, may potentially lower nighttime temperatures by up to 0.6 C.
Rising gas prices, lower renewables output driving up European power costs
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting says rising gas prices coupled with lower solar and wind production had an upward influence on European electricity prices in most markets last week. France, Portugal and Spain all broke their daily solar production records in October.
