China

Researchers in China have applied a machine learning technology based on temporal convolutional networks in PV power forecasting for the first time. The new model reportedly outperforms similar models during all seasons.

The organic cell retained 89% of its initial performance after being immersed in water for four hours and survived a washing machine cycle. The researchers plan to develop the technology further, with an end goal of using it for wearable devices.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) says developers installed 345.5 GW of solar throughout the world in 2023. China mainly drove the surge, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all new renewable energy, but IRENA says more equitable growth will be needed to hit 2030 deployment targets.

The Chinese manufacturer said its new heat pump has a coefficient of performance of up to 5.3 and a maximum heating capacity of 16 kW. It can reportedly achieve a topwater output temperature of 80 C.

Maxeon has filed a lawsuit against Canadian Solar in a US court, claiming patent infringement on an unspecified TOPCon solar cell technology.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) says that the nation’s cumulative PV capacity hit 646.2 GW at the end of February.

The Chinese manufacturer said its new heat pump has a coefficient of performance of 4.2 at 7 C and a maximum heating capacity of 9.1 kW. It can reportedly achieve a topwater output temperature of 75 C.

Chinese polysilicon manufacturer Xinte Energy has reported a lower full-year net profit for 2023 due to falling polysilicon prices.

BASF and Worldlight have developed a new PV module frame based on polyurethane. The manufacturers claim that the new solution offers superior insulation and a longer lifespan than aluminum frames.

The Chinese module manufacturer announced the first shipments of its new ASTRO N7s ZBB-TF modules to Europe. The product has a power output of up to 460 W and a temperature coefficient of -0.29% per C.