Hydraulic robotic cleaning solutions for ground-mounted solar plants
France’s AX Solar Robot has unveiled two battery-free, hydraulic-powered cleaning solutions for ground-mounted PV plants. It is also distributing a modular battery-powered solution suitable for rooftop installations.
Solar covered 25% of August power demand in Netherlands
The remarkable performance of PV in the Netherlands in August was due to more sun, higher generating capacity, and falling energy demand.
Norwegian Crystals proceeds with 6 GW PV ingot plans
Norwegian Crystals said it has secured all relevant permits for a new manufacturing facility in Norway. Construction is expected to start by the end of this year. The factory will have an initial capacity of 3.6 GW by 2026 but will eventually reach 6 GW at a later stage, according to the company.
Belgium’s Flanders region mapping PV potential of landfill sites
The Flemish Public Waste Agency said that solar energy deployment is one of the options on the table for the reuse of landfill sites.
UK council has finance decisions removed after splurge on solar projects
The local authority in Thurrock, England, has had control of its financial decisions passed to neighboring Essex County Council after racking up debts of more than GBP 1 billion ($1.1 billion) over four years, including more than GBP 800 million invested in solar bonds.
The Hydrogen Stream: Condensed hydrogen on smooth surfaces can sharply exceed liquid hydrogen density
A German-US research team has shown that hydrogen condenses on smooth surfaces at a very low temperature, forming a super-dense monolayer that reduces the volume to just 5 liters per kilogram of H2. Dutch researchers, meanwhile, have published a new study on hydrogen storage in porous rocks, and Itochu said it is moving forward with hydrogen plans in Japan and South Africa.
Solar tech theft rising in Germany amid supply bottlenecks
The Saxony State Criminal Police Office in Germany has blamed the energy crisis and growing solar demand for an increase in the theft of modules and inverters.
Storing renewables with seawater batteries
Scientists in Germany have studied how seawater batteries could be used for renewables storage and desalination.
Dutch agency investigates cybersecurity of PV inverters after hack
Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands launched a probe after a hacker gained access to PV systems operated via a monitoring tool from China’s Solarman. A company spokesperson told pv magazine that the problem has since been resolved.
Solar companies consider reduced income to help UK households
Solar Energy UK members have made positive noises about a plan to shift historic, fixed-payment incentive contracts over to contracts-for-difference deals, which would limit the profits they would receive from soaring energy prices.
