Weekend Read: Barren soil for agrivoltaics
PV has real potential on agricultural land in Italy, where multinationals and entrepreneurs alike share an enthusiasm for solar innovation. This is being hindered by a piecemeal approach to regulation.
Weekend read: High time for solar
Cannabis prohibition drove a culture of clandestine production in the past and solar helped growers to cultivate it at remote, off-grid sites. Now, as a global commercial cannabis market emerges, solar has an even bigger role to play.
GoodWe releases 315 W BIPV panels with 17.4% efficiency
GoodWe will initially sell its new 315 W building-integrated PV (BIPV) modules in Europe and Australia. They measure 2,319 mm × 777 mm × 4 mm and weigh 11 kg.
Customizable sticker to turn solar panels into advertising billboards
An Italian startup has created a fully recyclable sticker that can be used to cover solar panels on rooftops or facades. It replicates high-definition images that can help to improve the aesthetics of solar arrays or turn PV facades into advertising billboards.
Solar windows cut emissions, energy use by 40% in glass skyscrapers
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has modeled the benefits of PV in highly glazed skyscrapers.
TÜV Rheinland offers certification for building-integrated PV
Germany’s TÜV Rheinland has defined safety and quality guidelines for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules to bring more transparency to the market.
Reflective coating to reduce solar tile temperatures
Australian scientists have tested different reflective coatings in solar tiles and have found that they could improve the performance of building-integrated PV devices by up to 6.6%. They are currently working with building product manufacturers to bring their tech closer to commercial production.
New solar tiles from Germany
Creaton and Autarq have developed a modular solar tile for complex rooftops. The product is reportedly compatible with all common PV inverters.
New photovoltaic tiles from Estonia
Estonian startup Solarstone has developed two solar tiles with an efficiency of up to 19.5% and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.41% per C. It recently secured €10 million in funds to expand sales across Europe.
Solar window generates electricity, thermal energy
A research team in Hong Kong has built a solar window that can generate power on the external side via a luminescent solar concentrator and thermal energy on the internal side via transparent solar absorbers.
