AI identifies a $14bn solar problem
How do you know when an inverter or module is under-performing? Monitoring services should shed light on problems but AI-driven digital asset manager Raycatch says much information is hidden behind a wall of “noise.” Breaking that wall with advanced data analysis could unlock billions of cost savings.
Focus on temperature to reduce LCOE, says new study
A new model to assess the role of module temperature in PV power plant economics, developed by scientists in Saudi Arabia, finds that keeping modules cool could be an even more effective strategy to increasing energy yield than pursuing further gains in cell efficiency. The model finds that reducing module temperature by three degrees has a similar impact on energy yield to a 1% increase in conversion efficiency.
Turkish government unveils details of upcoming 1 GW PV tender
The Turkish government has revealed the tender’s five-day schedule between March 8-12. It also specified how much capacity each of the 36 cities reached by the procurement exercise will have.
Perovskite solar cell with cesium-titanium dioxide nanotubes
A global research group has developed a perovskite PV cell with titanium dioxide nanotubes doped with cesium. It purportedly offers better short-circuit current and power conversion efficiency than cells without cesium nanoparticles. They say it has optimal thermal stability under temperatures up to 800 C.
Sensorless fault-detection method for rooftop, large-scale solar
Turkish researchers have developed an algorithm to distinguish faults and changes in PV plant output. The sensorless method only uses electrical data gathered from the DC inputs of inverters. They tested it on 8.5 MW of ground-mount PV at nine sites, as well as 8.2 MW across 18 rooftops.
Renewables compete with coal and shale oil as Jordan pursues energy independence
The kingdom has had a ban on new large scale clean energy projects since January 2019 as Covid-19 exacerbated a situation in which generation capacity already outstripped supply. Lifting that embargo, and re-starting renewables auctions would be a step in the right direction, according to IRENA.
Solaredge records pandemic progress despite tough final quarter
Full-year revenues nudged up despite tough comparisons with the end of 2019 for the final quarter of last year. The inverter maker expects to log revenues of $385-405 million in the current three-month window.
Sustaining the grid of the future: the role of central inverters complemented with advanced PPC/EMS
In this pv magazine Webinar, we’ll take a closer look at Sungrow’s SG3125HV-30 central inverter, its ability to connect storage on the DC-side and, together with the Inaccess PPC/EMS, the litany of grid ancillary services – like voltage control, power frequency control, fault management and integration on weak grid algorithms.
Israel reveals bidders for 300 MW solar-plus-storage tender in Negev Desert
The Israeli authorities have selected 24 bidders for the tender’s final phase. Construction of the solar-plus-storage facility is planned for late 2021, and completion in 2023.
Augwind’s compressed air tech for renewables storage
Augwind CEO Or Yogev recently spoke to pv magazine about the Israeli company’s new storage solution for the renewables sector. The underground compressed-air storage specialist recently secured 166 MWh of capacity in Israel’s latest solar+storage tender, and plans to take equity stakes in all five projects.
