World’s largest sodium-ion battery goes into operation
The first phase of Datang Group’s 100 MW/200 MWh sodium-ion energy storage project in Qianjiang, Hubei Province, was connected to the grid.
France’s Carbon choses locations for R&D center
Carbon, a French PV module maker, says it will invests €33 million ($35.4 million) in a new R&D center.
Photovoltaics for hydroponic greenhouses
Researchers in Iran have investigated the operation of a real solar-powered greenhouse in the Alborz province and have found that only 4% of the greenhouse’s roof needs to be covered with PV modules to meet demand for lighting and pumping water.
Google invests in Taiwanese solar developer New Green Power
Google has made a capital investment in Taiwan-based New Green Power, in a deal that grants the US company the rights to procure up to 300 MW of solar assets.
Romania mandates energy storage for prosumers
Romania’s parliament has adopted a bill mandating prosumers with PV systems with capacities from 10.8 kW to 400 kW to install energy storage systems.
Fraunhofer develops tandem module for direct hydrogen production
Three Fraunhofer institutes in Germany have developed a tandem module for direct hydrogen production, as a modular, flexible alternative to large electrolyzers. PV is an additional power supply.
KAUST builds perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with 31.5% efficiency
The Saudi research institute said its new four-terminal tandem device has achieved the highest efficiency ever reported for perovskite-based 4-T and triple-junction tandem solar cells to date. The key feature of the cell is the hole transport layer of the top perovskite cell, which was engineered with self-assembled monolayers.
Property owners look to large-scale solar to revitalize land
Renewables developer Lodestone Energy will build a 220 MW solar farm on one of New Zealand’s iconic high-country grazing properties, with the landowners targeting the PV facility to help rehabilitate redundant land.
CSIRO partners with Google to prototype grid-forming inverters
Scientists from Australia’s national science agency and the electricity research and development arm of Google have developed a new ‘smart’ inverter they claim is almost twice as fast and about 50% more efficient than existing commercial inverters.
Belgian wildlife park hosts world’s largest wooden solar carport
Belgian energy company Perpetum Energy has built a 40 MW solar carport at Pairi Daiza, a privately owned zoo and botanical garden in Hainaut, Belgium. It said the total investment reached €40 million ($43 million) investment.
