Western Europe

An international research group has developed a novel technique enabling the creation of contacts at low temperatures. The novel contact types are reportedly able to enhance cell efficiency by up to 3%.

France added around 3.2 GW of new PV capacity in 2023, with about 955 MW in the fourth quarter alone. The nation hit 20.0 GW of total installed PV capacity at the end of December 2023.

GCK Mobility has secured French government approval for the first homologation of a hydrogen-retrofitted coach for series production, while Forvia and Air Liquide have agreed with FAW Jiefang to equip heavy-duty trucks with liquid hydrogen storage systems in China.

Researchers in Sweden have developed a new PVT module using an aluminum alloy structure between the thermal absorber and the photovoltac cells. This architecture reportedly reduces thermal expansion by 20%, thus increasing the chances of mitigating cracks in the PV unit.

The German research institute is investigating the use of commercially available vacuum-based evaporation equipment to manufacture perovskite thin films and contacts layers in the fabrication of perovskite-silicon tandem cells.

Prosolarbirds has designed a harmless device to prevent birds from perching on the panels and soiling them with excrement. It is a rotating device, without a motor, that is activated by a slight breeze, and whose movement prevents birds from landing.

Spain’s government has submitted a new incentive scheme to a public consultation. It is designed to support the development of a clean-tech supply chain in the country, including the production of batteries.

Engineers in Spain have developed a PV system solution that uses steel cables as a mounting structure. They say it is deployable in different scenarios with limited space.

Italy’s long-awaited operational rules for energy communities are expected to spur development in the segment, which has only experienced limited growth volumes thus far.

Highfield Solar has achieved financial close for a 93 MWp solar plant in Ireland, securing €65 million ($70.6 million) of debt financing. Installation of the project’s grid-connection infrastructure has already begun, with construction of the actual solar array to be finished by September 2024.