UK government mandates solar panels for new homes in England
Future Homes Standard to include solar panel mandate for new homes, UK government confirms. New building regulations are expected to make PV a requirement for almost all homes, with only “rare exceptions” where impact would be negligible, according to UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Novel photovoltaic technique to charge patterns for droplet manipulation
Scientists have used photovoltaic charge lithography to imprint surface charges on passive dielectric substrates by shining a halogen lamp onto iron-doped lithium niobate. The technique may support next-generation microfluidic, biomedical, and chemical applications.
Testing 54 different combinations of solar-assisted heat pumps
Researchers in Germany have modeled dozens of indirect-expansion solar-assisted heat pump systems using photovoltaic-thermal panels for single-family homes in Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. Simulations accounted for local weather, electricity use, and thermal demand.
Germany registers 130 hours of negative day-ahead power prices in May
Germany registered 130 hours of negative day-ahead power prices in May, driven by midday solar oversupply, as PV output regularly outpaced demand. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) says prices dipped below €1/($1.14)MWh for 160 hours.
Aerocompact introduces tool-free PV mounting system
Austria’s Aerocompact says its new PV mounting system can be installed on foil, bitumen, gravel, and concrete rooftops. It can reportedly withstand wind loads of up to 1.7 kN/m2 and snow loads of up to 3.5 kN/m2.
Hewer launches pre-assembled unit for heat pump retrofit, installation
The UK-based heating solutions provider has developed a pre-engineered and ready-to-install unit compatible with most of the residential heat pumps available in the market. It can be placed underneath a standard hot water cylinder and transfer heat from the pump via a plate exchanger to the central heating indirectly.
Eternal Sun acquires Wavelabs
Netherlands based PV module testing equipment supplier Eternal Sun today announced that it has acquired German company Wavelabs, which also supplies flash testing equipment to the solar industry. The acquisition creates a new company, Wavelabs Eternal Sun Gmbh, headquartered in Leipzig, Germany and operating as a 100% subsidiary of Eternal Sun Group. The new owner plans to continue operating the two companies under their respective brand names, with Eternal Sun focused on testing PV modules and Wavelabs on cells.
Danish energy sector probes removes concerns about solar involvement
A Danish trade group has ruled out any link between suspicious components found in local energy equipment and recent reports of compromised solar inverters in the United States, narrowing the scope of an ongoing cybersecurity investigation.
Birds thriving, breeding successfully in Germany’s solar parks
Larks and other bird species are flourishing in Germany’s solar parks, where breeding success exceeds that of many other habitats. These PV project sites are becoming valuable refuges, benefiting both wildlife and the surrounding environment.
Spain blackout probe stalls amid utility data disputes, voltage issues
The European panel investigating Spain’s April blackout has reported stalled progress due to noncooperation from utilities, hindering efforts to pinpoint causes amid disputes over voltage irregularities and data access.
