Articles written by Tristan Rayner

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Applications & Installations
450 MW of BESS planned for Scottish Highlands in three projects In the north of Scotland, multiple new BESS projects are under consideration by the local council, two at up to 200 MW, along with a 49.9 MW project.
Tristan Rayner
Aug 05, 2024
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Applications & Installations
Data center power loads threaten corporate net-zero goals The world’s reliance on the internet, the shift to cloud computing, and the emergence of AI all fuel demand for more and more data centers. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that by 2026, data centers will consume more than 800 TWh annually, more than double their consumption in 2022. Tristan Rayner takes a look at the role that renewable generation plays in powering a digital world.
Tristan Rayner
Jul 27, 2024
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Applications & Installations
Optimizing grid-scale battery placement via quantum computing A computing pilot program, housed within Europe’s largest electricity utility, Iberdrola, found that some quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms matched or outperformed existing benchmarks for optimal placement of grid batteries.
Tristan Rayner
Jul 19, 2024
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Data-driven demand The world’s reliance on the internet, the shift to cloud computing, and the emergence of AI all fuel demand for more and more data centers. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that by 2026, data centers will consume more than 800 TWh annually, more than double their consumption in 2022. Tristan Rayner takes a look at the role that renewable generation plays in powering a digital world.
Tristan Rayner
Jun 10, 2024
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Markets & Policy
European study shows continent exports solar waste Europe’s solar boom is hiding its waste through exports, according to a new study. Instead of recycling, as expected under European regulations, vast amounts of solar panel waste are exported, undermining sustainability goals. The researchers suggest a digitized value chain as a potential fix to work toward a circular economy.
Tristan Rayner
Apr 16, 2024
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The smarter E special: Broken transmission There has been a strong European contribution to solar’s record run as the continent has battled high energy prices and fear of scarcity by piling on modules. Easy wins were won before “grid congestion” was even a well-known phrase, leading to a struggle with electricity system operators to allow grid connections. PV projects are now ready to go but getting their power into the grid is another matter.
Tristan Rayner
Apr 09, 2024
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Applications & Installations
Weekend Read: Gray skies over Californian solar There may be a global solar boom but a drastic revision of California’s net metering program has ruptured the industry overnight and is affecting everyone from installers to financiers to makers of power electronics.
Tristan Rayner
Mar 23, 2024
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Gray skies over Californian solar There may be a global solar boom but a drastic revision of California’s net metering program has ruptured the industry overnight and is affecting everyone from installers to financiers to makers of power electronics, as Tristan Rayner reports.
Tristan Rayner
Mar 11, 2024
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Markets & Policy
Weekend Read: PV goes portable Portable solar generators are making their way from the fringes of solar and energy storage to become a mainstream consumer item. The rise has been charged by a range of factors that have created massive brands. Where did the sector emerge from, who was buying before, who is buying now, and what’s next? Tristan Rayner reports.
Tristan Rayner
Feb 17, 2024
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