US: California researchers convert waste heat into electricity
Scientists from the University of California, Riverside, have developed thermoelectric devices, which can transform low-level waste heat into electricity. The scientists theorize that these devices could be used to boost a solar PV system’s output, harnessing heat as well as light from the sun.
Apple claims to be 100% renewable-powered
Technology multinational, Apple Inc. has announced that its global operations are now 100% powered by clean energy. Additionally, another nine of Apple’s manufacturing partners have committed to powering their production with 100% clean energy, meaning a total of 23 suppliers have now made this commitment.
Portugal’s EDP secures contract for 200 MW US PV project
At 200 MW the project is not only by far the largest in the state, but would increase Indiana’s current cumulative solar capacity by more than 70%.
Korea, Japan to retaliate over US solar tariffs
Korea is making good on an earlier promise, and now Japan has joined in. Both nations demand that the Trump Administration reverse the tariffs, or suffer an equivalent volume of retaliatory tariffs.
Large-scale PV: Three markets, three questions
The large-scale solar markets of China, the USA, and Europe have experienced vastly different fortunes over the past couple of years. As China has boomed and the U.S. held steady, Europe has seen growth rates plunge. But nothing is constant in PV, and each of these three vital markets faces a series of unique challenges and opportunities, as pv magazine discovered.
US researchers see expansion in perovskite’s potential
Researchers based at Los Alamos National Laboraory in New Mexico, the U.S., and Rice University in Houston have found that constant illumination ‘relaxes’ the structure of perovskite solar cell material, increasing its conversion efficiency.
Sunlight Financial raises $225M for residential solar loans
The US residential solar finance provider sees the capital covering approximately 9,000 solar loans at $25,000 each.
2018: India second largest solar market on back of 113 GW global installations
With 11 GW, India is set to become the second largest solar PV market in 2018, usurping the U.S., as global demand reaches 113 GW, says IHS Markit. It adds that Q4 will be the biggest quarter in history for installations, with 34 GW expected.
Credit Suisse to launch €500 million green bond issue to back US solar projects
The Swiss bank will utilize the proceeds to refinance construction and operation of U.S. solar projects, and this could be the first of several issuances.
Batteries, inverters, solar cells safe from US Section 301 tariffs
The list of Chinese products that the Trump Administration is considering for duties under Section 301 spares inverters, solar cells and modules, and the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and battery storage to accompany PV.
