India exempts some solar projects from domestic content requirements
India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has exempted solar projects from domestic content requirements if they are commissioned by March 31, 2024. The move provides developers with the flexibility to source modules at more cost-competitive rates, according to Indian ratings agency ICRA.
Australian startup using second-life Nissan Leaf EV battery packs for storage
Relectrify, an Australian battery technology startup, has secured approval from the International Electrotechnical Commission for its ReVolve energy storage product, which opens the way for it to globally scale up its cell-level control tech.
Used, resold PV module prices aligned with general market, says US supplier
EnergyBin has released its annual PV module price index, which shows that module prices have fallen from their 2022 peak – but they are still more expensive than they were in 2020.
ACWA Power secures PPAs for 1.4 GW of solar, 1.5 GWh of storage in Uzbekistan
ACWA Power says it will develop three PV projects in Tashkent and Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It will also install storage capacity in Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand.
Bosch unveils propane heat pump for residential applications
Germany’s Bosch has developed an air-source heat pump that uses propane (R290) as the refrigerant. It can produce between 3.9 kW and 6.7 kW of heat, and domestic hot water to a temperature of up to 75 C. It says the heat pump can be paired with rooftop solar to maximize self-consumption.
US-made solar panels could cut emissions by 30%, says study
Reshoring crystalline silicon PV panel manufacturing to the United States by 2035 could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and energy consumption by 13% from 2020 levels, according to scientists from Cornell University.
Solitek to build 600 MW solar module factory in Italy
Solitek has revealed plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Benevento, Italy.
Huasun claims 23.30% efficiency, 723.97 W output for utility-scale solar panels
Huasun’s new PV modules have an open-circuit voltage of 49.46 V, a short-circuit current of 17.57 A, and a fill factor of 83.29%. Germany’s TÜV SUD has confirmed the results.
Midsummer develops 24.9% efficient 4T tandem perovskite-CIGS solar cell
Midsummer and researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), say that their new tandem PV cell is suitable for the company’s Duo production equipment, which makes 56 mm x 156 mm CIGS cells on a flexible stainless steel substrate.
Iberdrola using dogs, robots to monitor solar plants
Iberdrola is using a springer spaniel in a solar park to smell electrical problems that could lead to power cuts. It is also using a robotic dog to detect and analyze faults in substations.
