More postponements due to Covid-19
The list of major solar industry events put on hold due to the Covid-19 virus is lengthening. Today, Solar Solutions Amsterdam became the latest event planned for this month and next which the organizers must reschedule for later in the year.
Italian firm finalizes acquisition of ABB inverter business
Italian inverter maker Fimer has completed its purchase of ABB’s manufacturing and R&D sites in Finland, India and Italy, along with 800 employees in 26 countries. Fimer said the combined business will ship more than 7 GW of inverters this year.
What’s cooking in Eni’s PV lab?
Researchers at the Italian oil group are trying to improve organic photovoltaics and luminescent solar concentrators and a new supercomputer with sophisticated algorithms will help them with the solar energy puzzle.
A graphene-doped tandem perovskite cell with 26.3% efficiency
Italian researchers have added graphene to the titanium dioxide electron selective layer used in a perovskite cell to increase chemical stability. The two-terminal cell was made by stacking two sub-cells which were fabricated and optimized separately.
Is thin-film best for offshore PV?
Superior hydrodynamic properties, more robustness in high seas and a much reduced logistics requirement support the case for thin-film over crystalline silicon, pontoon-mounted alternatives, according to an Indo-Italian research group.
Italian car factory to add 15 MW of solar and 850 charging points
Carmaker Fiat Chrysler is bringing solar power to its Mirafiori manufacturing hub in Turin. A rooftop array will be installed by the auto giant with EDF-owned energy company Edison. French group Engie will install electric vehicle charging points in the car park.
FuturaSun launches glass-glass mono module
The Italian manufacturer said the product has a 30-year performance warranty and strong resistance to adverse weather. The 330 W panel has a claimed efficiency of 19.78% with FuturaSun reporting the 325 W and 320 W versions have efficiencies of 19.48% and 19.18%, respectively.
Eni completes solar project on chemical industry site
The Italian oil super major says its latest, 31 MW facility takes it to 80 MW of installed capacity across 13 solar plants in five Italian regions. Some 70% of the power generated by the new project will be used by Eni chemicals subsidiary Versalis.
Power Ledger wins contract with Italian energy utility
Australian peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading pioneer Power Ledger has won a lucrative contract with Alperia SpA, one of Italy’s largest renewable electricity utilities.
Italian PV panels sent for recycling were instead smuggled to Syria and Africa
Illegally re-badged panels were sold on to Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Turkey and even Syria. Italian authorities found 60 tons of panels which will be examined.
