Solar power costs continued to fall in 2021, despite rising panel prices
The average global price of solar kilowatt-hours fell 13% on 2020’s prices, as around two-thirds of the renewables capacity installed last year was cheaper than the lowest-cost fossil fuel alternative.
Energy Toolbase launches PPA generator platform for solar, storage
US commercial, industrial, and non-profit solar developers can now generate power purchase agreements via Sustainable Capital Finance’s developer platform.
Equinor acquires US energy storage developer
Battery storage is key to Equinor’s strategy of supporting its portfolio of offshore wind and upstream oil and gas, as well as future opportunities in the hydrogen and renewables space.
Role of UV in solar cell degradation
US scientists have tested a range of modern cell designs under strong ultraviolet light and have found that many of them, including p-type PERC and n-type heterojunction cells, are more susceptible to degradation than older back surface field designs. They noted that the rear side of bifacial cells may be particularly vulnerable.
US lifts tariffs on solar products from Canada, Mexico
Canada, the United States, and Mexico signed an agreement to lift Trump-era tariffs, after an independent panel said that the duties violated the provisions of existing trade agreements.
Solid-state batteries with bi-layer cell design
Ion Storage System’s $30 million capital raising will go toward scaling up its solid-state battery cell production facility in the US state of Maryland, with aims to produce 10 MWh per year by the end of 2023, for a range of applications.
A single solar panel can offset the carbon emissions of 10 trees
Using broad average values of 48.5 pounds of carbon sequestration per year for a mature tree, versus 0.85 pounds of emissions offset per kilowatt-hour of solar electricity, it’s clear that some tree clearing is acceptable from an emissions standpoint.
Tesla’s solar trailer for range extension
Tesla has unveiled a fold-out solar trailer equipped with nine panels and a SpaceX Starlink satellite internet system.
Water-based zinc-ion battery for stationary energy storage
Salient Energy developed the water-based zinc-ion battery to have the same power, performance, and footprint as lithium-ion systems without the safety risk.
Thin film solar may have carbon intensity advantage over silicon
Thin-film cadmium telluride panels may have a $0.02 to $0.04 per watt carbon cost advantage over traditional polysilicon, said the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in an analysis of embodied carbon, embodied energy, and energy payback.
