Researchers complete Europe’s first PV soiling loss assessment
A European research group has adapted a soiling model for use across the continent, analyzing scenarios with complete and partial rain cleaning to calculate energy losses and increases in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), marking Europe’s first techno-economic PV soiling assessment.
Why battery energy storage is essential for Germany’s solar targets
While Germany’s battery energy storage sector is booming, developers should be aware of the various hurdles to overcome and could learn lessons from the United Kingdom battery market.
The Hydrogen Stream: Optimal PV-to-electrolyzer ratio in Italy is 1.8-2.1
Italian researchers say hydrogen storage offers more supply-side flexibility than battery storage, while a German consortium has developed a global hydrogen potential atlas for sustainable production and trade.
Fire risk for home energy storage systems is 0.0049%, says German study
RWTH Aachen University in Germany has investigated the safety of battery storage systems and compared it with other household appliances or technologies. The study aims to create a reliable database for classifying fire risk for consumers and regulators.
Photovoltaic-thermal window achieves 3.6% electrical efficiency, provides hot water at 50 C
Scientists have developed a window that uses a semi-transparent amorphous silicon PV layer. The group tested the system in London at different inclination angles and found it can achieve a maximum electrical efficiency of 3.6% and a maximum thermal efficiency of 17.6%.
The Hydrogen Stream: US government, ABI Research predict lower H2 costs
The US government says electrolysis could reduce clean-hydrogen production costs to $1/kg by 2031, while ABI Research claims the global levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) will become cost-competitive by the end of this decade, dropping to $2.50/kg.
Germany’s Solarmax facing bankruptcy
Residential PV storage systems and inverters provider Solarmax is provisionally filing for bankruptcy in Germany but will continue to operate.
German startup offers refurbished solar modules in balcony PV systems
Germany’s Panelretter is now offering German customers plug-in solar devices that use refurbished second-life solar modules. There are three different models with output ranging from 400 W to 810 W. The prices for the complete sets start at €220 ($232).
Global hydrogen atlas shows potential import countries for Germany
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have analyzed the techno-economic potential of importing hydrogen to Germany from Brazil, Morocco, Canada, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
Germany concludes rooftop PV tender with average price of €0.0904/kWh
The German authorities have selected 119 MW projects totaling 259 MW in the nation’s latest rooftop PV tender. The final prices ranged from €0.0745 ($0.0787)/kWh to €0.0969/kWh.
