North America

IHS Markit released a white paper in which the analyst outfit shared some predictions for the power electronics market. First and foremost, inverters will become smarter, and after some power outages in key markets, these devices are gearing up to take on more grid stabilizing tasks, which hitherto had been reserved for synchronous generators.

Researchers in Arizona have used the Suns-VoC characterization method for indoor solar cell testing to monitor PV installations. The method can also be used with outdoor distributed-generation and large-scale solar arrays.

Scientists in Canada have created a greenhouse that is exclusively heated by solar panels. The rooftop PV system is not connected to the grid, but is linked to four batteries with a total capacity of 5.56 kWh.

Like Airbnb, but monetizing spare energy: “The first big step toward opening the door to a massively transactive grid.”

Scientists in the United States have conceived a new process to apply a low-cost organic pigment to perovskite solar cells. The new technique is claimed to increase the efficiency of the devices by around 1.2% and also to improve the cells’ stability.

The PV industry can’t claim to be a clean energy source if it leaves a trail of hazardous waste.

Looking to answer one of the year’s big questions concerning solar technology, energy consultancy DNV GL was invited by Trina Solar to compare the performance of its modules based on the 210mm wafer with the 166mm and 182mm dimensions also introduced recently. The analysis revealed an advantage for modules incorporating the largest wafer, based on simulation of bifacial systems at two locations in Spain and the United States.

We wanted to know what the grid would look like, and cost, if we stopped ignoring the benefits of distributed energy resources and optimized their integration through a better modeling process. We found that when you use better planning models and scale both local solar and storage, as well as utility-scale solar and wind, you maximize cost savings and unlock the path to the lowest cost grid.

The former company has laid off its remaining employees and locked up its offices, leaving dozens of customers and sub-contractors asking what comes next.

While Donald Trump grapples with the result of the election, Europe’s highest officials have moved on, and demonstrated new optimism for the four years ahead by setting a preliminary agenda for cooperation aimed at president-elect Joe Biden with key topics including work on renewables, battery storage and carbon pricing.