North America’s bid to onshore rare earth supply
With electric vehicle (EV) adoption set to turbocharge demand for rare earth elements in Canada and the US this decade, attempts are being made to loosen the region’s dependence on China for the sourcing and processing of such critically important energy transition materials.
Raptor Maps points to growing problem of PV system underperformance
Raptor Maps analyzed 24.5 GW of large-scale solar assets and determined that power losses due to equipment anomalies nearly doubled from 1.61% in 2019 to 3.13% in 2022. At the module level, cell and diode anomalies were the most common issues, it said.
Agrivoltaics can provide food, energy for growing world population
Cornell University researchers have discovered that soybeans planted beneath 3.9-meter-high solar modules can positively affect panel temperatures and the microclimates of farms.
Weekend Read: Light weight
When it comes to gravity batteries, pumped-hydro storage is the gold standard, but its cost and topography-specific limitations are driving innovations ranging from freight-train braking to super-dense liquids. We consider whether any of the new technologies can punch above their weight.
Forecasting model to manage renewables-powered grids
Scientists in South Korea have developed a forecasting model to better manage electric grids with high penetration of intermittent renewables. The model was tested using historic data from Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) grid in the United States, and shown to accurately forecast the availability of renewable energy resources up to one day in advance.
Second-life EV batteries as grid-scale storage
Smartville has secured $5.9 million from the US Department of Energy to scale its second-life battery program.
Solar tower of power shows benefits of vertical installations
Three Sixty Solar, a commercial and utility-scale solar developer, published a report this week that provides background on its vertically mounted solar system’s initial 16 months in operation.
Guide to understanding solar production losses
Aurora Solar offers guidelines to make the most of a solar installation by avoiding losses.
US solar developers take on module manufacturing risks
Multiple deals over the last six months have shown that solar panel manufacturers are using long-term solar module supply agreements with developers to drive factory finance.
Lightsource bp expands First Solar module supply plan to 8.3 GW
Lighsource bp has ordered 4 GW of US-made thin-film solar panels, adding to the 4.3 GW it ordered in 2021. Silicon Ranch, meanwhile, expanded upon its master supply agreement with First Solar, which includes a 4 GW transaction announced in April 2022.
