Middle East

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) have reached financial close on a 1.8 GW solar project – the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates. Masdar was chosen to build and operate the project after submitting a bid of $0.016/kWh – the park’s lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) to date.

An international research team claims to have achieved optimal passivation in inverted perovskite solar cells by applying thin layers of low-dimensional perovskite on top of a 3D perovskite film. The resulting cell achieved an open-circuit voltage of 1.19 V, a short-circuit current density of 24.94 mA cm2, and a fill factor of 85.9%.

A Turkish research team has tested a hemispherical shell-shaped organic active layer for photovoltaic applications. The group found the shape maximizes light absorption and angular coverage when compared to flat-structured cells, suggesting the structure would be beneficial for applications requiring flexible light capture such as wearable electronics.

Researchers led by the Imperial College London have analyzed the effects different kinds of air-to-water heat pumps will have on the UK energy system, based on their coefficient of performance and price. They also identified a point of diminishing returns, after which it is more cost-effective to invest in centralized energy generation and storage.

An online platform taking inquiries into a subsidy program for residential solar heaters and PV systems has gone live in Jordan. The program will cover more than 30% of installation costs and aims to benefit around 7,000 targeted households.

Scientists in the Middle East have simulated the use of different building-integrated PV systems on Dubai’s high-rise buildings. They found that for buildings with more than seven floors, BIPV may be superior to rooftop power generation.

Bahrain has launched a 100 MW solar tender. The authorities aim to build a PV plant in the Al Dur area of the nation’s Southern Governorate through the procurement exercise, which is being conducted by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA).

Saudi Power Procurement Co. (SPPC) has announced the selected bidders for the the fifth round of the Saudi Arabian government’s renewable energy tender program.

Scientists have proposed to use PV energy and heat pump-driven HVAC system in greenhouses conceived to grow tomatoes in the Mediterranean area. The system was found to have a payback time of only 2.9 years in southern Spain.

Scientists from Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have conceived a new experimental setup to conduct hail impact tests for photovoltaic modules. The first tests showed that monocrystalline panels lose less efficiency than their polycrystalline counterparts with the same number of busbars.