PV modules with longer lifetimes could slash demand for materials, says NREL
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) says in a new report that PV module lifetime extensions should be prioritized over closed-loop recycling to reduce demand for new materials.
Nearly 4% of US homes have rooftop solar installed
In 2020, 3.7% of US homes generated electricity from small-scale solar arrays, reports the US Energy Information Administration.
Enphase to open new US manufacturing lines
Enphase said in its recent third-quarter earnings call that it will expand solar inverter production in the United States.
Globalized supply chains saved $67 billion in solar panel production costs
A new study has calculated that the globalized PV module supply chain has saved billions for PV installers in Germany, the US and China. It also found that if strong nationalistic policies that limit the free flow of talent and capital were implemented going forward, solar panel costs would be 20-25% higher by 2030.
Cooling down solar modules by increasing space between panel rows
A US research team claims to have demonstrated that increasing the spacing of solar panels between rows improves PV system efficiency and economics by allowing airflow to cool down the modules. The method could improve a project’s LCOE by as much as 2.15% in certain climates.
It’s time to combat utility opposition to solar
As part of Aurora Solar’s Empower 2022 online solar summit, Bernadette Del Chiaro, from the California Solar & Storage Association, will moderate a talk about electric utilities and how they have abused their monopoly position to discriminate against solar in the US. Here, she gives pv magazine a taste of the presentation.
Semi-solid flow battery tech promises to lower production costs by up to 40%
While still using conventional lithium-ion raw materials, 24M’s technology is said to reduce the number of steps required to manufacture battery cells and thereby the cost by up to 40%. The US company’s SemiSolid design is also said to deliver improved energy density, safety and recyclability.
How a centralized monitoring platform makes your solar asset the center of attention
In this pv magazine Webinar, we will discuss the impact of a centralized monitoring platform over the lifetime of a large-scale solar asset. From daily operation and maintenance to medium-term performance reporting and troubleshooting, and ultimately to the benefits accrued over an asset’s lifetime, this webinar pulls out all the stops.
High electricity rates push US homeowners to consider solar
Rising electric rates, grid instability, environmental concerns and decreased solar costs are all reasons for homeowners to go solar, according to a study by Rocket Solar
BIPV solar facade on high-rise building to produce 58 MWh annually
The 25-meter building facade building with 120 solar modules uses SolarEdge optimizers to overcome shading from neighboring buildings.
