Risk vs. reward: Optimizing energy yield with 182mm wafers
The shift to larger wafer formats has been by far the most important trend in the PV supply chain over the past year. While other sizes are also being introduced to the market, the 182mm product is initially expected to represent the largest share. And it is viewed by many as the optimal way to ensure considerable gains in energy yield whist minimizing disruption to supply chain and end markets. We’ll delve into these claims surrounding modules based on the 182mm wafer, taking a closer look at Jinko’s Tiger pro module series.
Stochastic fractal search algorithm to measure parameters of PV modules
An international research team has used, for the first time, a powerful metaheuristic and a nature-inspired algorithm to improve the estimation of the parameters of PV cells and modules. The algorithm imitates the natural phenomenon of growth and uses the diffusion process, based on random fractals.
Turkey sets fixed tariff for licensed PV projects
Large scale PV projects selected in public tenders held by the Turkish authorities will be awarded a 10-year tariff of TRL0.32/kWh ($0.044). The tariff will be indexed to inflation and dollar-euro exchange rate.
Israeli government wants to boost development of agrivoltaics
The Israel Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture have decided to implement a pilot research program to assess the feasibility of agrivoltaic projects in the country. The possibility of combining PV and agriculture in a land with limited land availability and increasing energy demand is considered a win-win solution by the government.
The weekend read: KSA reforms, but will PV prosper?
Long-term observers of solar deployment in Saudi Arabia can point to almost a decade of disappointment. But that is not to say that no progress has been made, and regional renewables champion ACWA Power has built a solid track record. Indeed, recent reforms to the national utility may give rise to new hopes.
Solar-powered hydrogen for Masdar City
Masdar is launching a pilot green hydrogen project in the United Arab Emirates. In a recent conversation with pv magazine, two company officials described the project and explained how the hydrogen will be used for road transport, aviation and shipping in Masdar City.
Sterling and Wilson commissions 25 MW solar project in Oman
The Indian multinational said the project is its second PV installation in Oman, following the completion of a 125 MWp solar plant in June.
Compressed air storage to be more than just hot air in Israel
Solar-linked projects will be developed by domestic firm Augwind and will feature underground storage tanks. One of the systems will be built by French energy giant EDF and will feature a 20 MWh compressed air storage system and 5 MW solar array.
Storing oversized large scale PV with molten salt storage
Scientists from Israel and France have proposed a PV-plus-thermal-storage (PV-TS) concept that may be applied in regions with low direct solar beam radiation and high levels of global solar radiation. They estimated that the grid penetration rate of a large scale PV plant, when combined with molten salt storage, may rise from around 30% to up to 95%.
Sumitomo reveals hydrogen plans in Australia, Oman
Sumitomo has signed a contract with an EPC for a PV-powered green hydrogen plant in Queensland, and has also started a feasibility study for a gray-green hybrid hydrogen project in Oman.
