France raises size limit for solar FITs from 100 kW to 500 kW
The French government has decided to reduce the planned degression rates for feed-in tariffs, in addition to raising the size limit for projects.
Solar secures 95.5 MW in Italy’s third renewables auction
The Italian authorities have awarded four solar projects in yet another undersubscribed renewables tender, with the nation’s top clean energy association criticizing the auctions for being uncompetitive. The lowest price for PV came in at €0.064 ($0.075)/kWh.
Chemical assist for stable perovskite cells at 23% efficiency
Scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have developed a new ‘chemical innovation’, for the deposition of perovskite solar cells onto a substrate. The method is shown to produce cells at better than 23% efficiency, that remained stable after 500 hours testing at a raised temperature.
Ferrocene-based electrolytes for heat-resistant redox flow batteries
German scientists have developed a new electrolyte material that can cope with temperatures of up to 60 C. The material is based on ferrocene, an organometallic molecule known for good redox stability that is commonly used as an internal standard for electrochemical measurements.
Agrivoltaics for pear orchards
Belgian researchers are testing agrivoltaic power generation in a pear orchard. The first pilot project features specially designed 185 W solar panels with transparent backsheets, conventional silicon cells, and a 21% efficiency rate.
DSM exits coatings business in €1.6bn deal
Dutch materials company DSM has sold its resins and functional materials businesses, which encompass its anti-reflective and anti-soiling solar glass coating products. That will mean a focus on module backsheets in DSM’s Advanced Solar business unit.
EU on track for 2030 renewables target – but could do more
With the SolarPower Summit 2020 taking place this week, organizer SolarPower Europe has assessed the plans drawn up by member states would mean the bloc sourcing 33.1-33.7% of its energy from clean power by the end of the decade, with the help of 19 GW of new solar per year.
Germany breaches 52 GW mark with 409 MW of new solar in August
The first eight months of the year have brought 3.2 GW of new generation capacity, compared to 2.7 GW in the same period of last year.
Solar dominates Germany’s first ‘innovative renewables’ tender
Only one of the 28 hybrid renewable energy plants allocated in the oversubscribed exercise did not feature solar, and PV took all the awards in the single-technology section of the procurement round.
Sizing standalone solar-plus-storage with nomograms
A Spanish-Dutch research group has created nomograms for PV system sizing that not only offer a standard calculation tool but also provide additional information about what-if scenarios with higher-level knowledge about price of modifications and limitations of project sites.
