Cooling down solar modules by increasing space between panel rows
A US research team claims to have demonstrated that increasing the spacing of solar panels between rows improves PV system efficiency and economics by allowing airflow to cool down the modules. The method could improve a project’s LCOE by as much as 2.15% in certain climates.
Smart Alarms – A step up in O&M efficiency unlocking portfolio expansion
Even the remote monitoring of PV plants requires a number of trained staff to achieve the highest yield and avoid revenue losses. From overgrowing vegetation to soiling, worn cables and connectors, and malfunctioning power electronics, the list of things that can go wrong at a PV plant is long. In this pv magazine Webinar, we will explore how monitoring system provider meteocontrol has designed its newest software, VCOM Cloud Smart Alarms, aimed to avoid these pains.
World’s largest salt cavern compressed air storage project breaks ground
Construction has started on a 350 MW/1.4 GWh compressed air energy storage project in Shangdong, China.
Space-based solar power for terrestrial energy needs
The Cassiopeia solar project aims to use the sunlight collected by a space satellite for terrestrial energy needs. The electricity generated would be converted to radio frequency microwave radiation transmitted to an antenna on Earth. The initial LCOE would be €48 ($47.8)/MWh, according to a UK study.
The Hydrogen Stream: Singapore sees hydrogen supplying up to half of its power needs by 2050
The Southeast Asian country considers hydrogen as a key potential decarbonisation pathway, seeing business opportunities in three related specific fields: finance, shipping and aviation. Meanwhile, Evos, Hydrogenious, and Port of Amsterdam bet on thermal oil benzyl toluene for delivery of hydrogen before 2028.
PV InfoLink forecasts polysilicon prices to be halved by end of 2023
The consulting firm expects prices to decline gradually through the first semester of 2023, followed by an accelerated decline in the second half of the year, with prices falling from the current CNY 300 ($36.64)/kg to below CNY 150/kg by the end of 2023. Polysilicon production capacity may increase from 500 GW in 2022 to 975 GW next year.
The mobility rEVolution: Volkswagen taps quantum computing for battery research
Foxconn is looking to leverage its manufacturing expertise and become a major EV maker, Rolls-Royce has unveiled its first fully electric motor car, and BMW has pledged to invest $1.7 billion to build EVs in the U.S..
Weekend read: Strategies for battery procurement
The worst effects of the pandemic may have passed but supply chain disruptions continue to be felt across the world. The effects of the war in Ukraine are also evident to all of us in our daily lives, from commodities to energy, food supply chains and beyond. The disruption in the battery energy storage system (BESS) supply chain is no different, writes Cormac O’Laoire, senior manager of market intelligence at Clean Energy Associates. Indeed, as the cost of raw materials such as lithium climbs, battery prices are being driven materially higher, on some accounts by 20% to 30%, rendering some projects uneconomical.
The Hydrogen Stream: Penta-Ocean opens factory exclusively powered by solar, hydrogen
Japan’s Penta-Ocean has opened a new factory powered by a 670 kW PV system and fuel cells. Plug Power, meanwhile, has revealed that it will provide fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and fueling infrastructure to FreezPak Logistics.
Learning from PV module manufacturing nonconformities
In this pv magazine Webinar we will examine nonconformities reported during the PV module manufacturing process. We will define manufacturing nonconformities, analyze which ones are frequently found in production, and investigate on their distribution along the manufacturing line.
