China

While lithium ion battery prices are falling again, interest in sodium ion (Na-ion) energy storage has not waned. With a global ramp-up of cell manufacturing capacity under way, it remains unclear whether this promising technology can tip the scales on supply and demand.

Datang has kicked off the procurement process for 16 GW of solar modules, including 13 GW of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) panels, 2 GW of passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) modules, and 1 GW of heterojunction products.

Developed by a research group in China, the two-terminal all-perovskite tandem device utilizes a 23.11%-efficient single-junction top cell relying on an optimized Sn-Pb perovskite material. The perovskite-perovskite cell was also able to retain 95.7% of the initial efficiency after being stored in a glovebox for 2,200 h.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) and State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) may ramp up PV curtailment to clear up space for new renewables projects that are struggling to obtain grid connections. Only up to 5% of PV output can currently be curtailed from solar plants, but the authorities are trying to decide whether to take a greater percentage of generation offline.

Elevated metro stations may highly benefit from rooftop solar power generation combined with battery storage, new research from China suggests. The scientists proposed a system design that promises a payback time of 10.2 years without including the option of injecting surplus power into the grid.

Bluetti has unveiled a new portable, weatherproof power station featuring a lithium iron phosphate battery with 1,536 Wh of power capacity and a rated output of 2,400 W.

Researchers in China have developed a new chemical bath deposition technique to deposit tin oxide on a perovskite cell’s flexible substrate without requiring a strong acid. The resulting cell has achieved a certified efficiency of 24.90% and remarkable stability.

GCL SI says it will track carbon emissions from polysilicon production to module assembly and shipping. Each module will have a QR code revealing its specific carbon emissions, protected by blockchain tech to prevent tampering. It says this will offer transparency in preparation for looming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) rules.

Solplanet, a China-based inverter manufacturer, says its new three-phase hybrid inverter series includes four versions with power ratings of 25 kW to 40 kW. They feature efficiencies of up to 98.4% and a maximum input voltage of 1,100 V.

Astronergy has announced a 1 GW solar module deal with China National Petroleum Corp. The order is for its ASTRO N-Series modules, which feature its tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) 4.0 cell technology.