Survey: How should smart grids be implemented?
PV integration in smart grids is a complex but highly relevant issue, with various aspects to be considered to develop different scenarios. Researchers in the IEA-PVPS Task 14 program are conducting a survey to collect opinions from peers in the PV branch to perform such an analysis.
SC Solar signs PV production equipment deal in India, Jinchen increases capacity
SC Solar has secured a $41.78 million supply contract from India’s Reliance, while Jinchen Machinery has announced plans to raise CNY 1 billion ($148.6 million) to expand its capacity and develop new heterojunction cell and module production lines.
Ecuador pre-selects 345.3 MW of solar in renewables auction
The lowest bid for PV in Ecuador’s latest procurement exercise was $0.0498/kWh. The pre-selected developers may secure 25-year power purchase agreements.
TotalEnergies announces results of vertical agrivoltaic pilots in France
French energy giant TotalEnergies studied the impact of solar panels on crops in order to develop a repository of agronomic benefits. The initial results show an increase in agricultural yields on field crops and a reduction in water stress.
India installed almost 14 GW of solar in 2022
India installed 13,956 MW of solar between January and December 2022. This included 11.3 GW of utility-scale PV, about 1.9 GW of rooftop solar, and nearly 700 MW of off-grid/distributed capacity.
US startup unveils portable solid-state lithium-ion battery for residential use
California-based Yoshino Technology has developed portable batteries using solid-state Li-NCM cell technology. The four variants come with power outputs of 330 W, 660 W, 2,000 W, and 4,000 W.
GameChange releases new solar tracker
US tracker manufacturer GameChange Solar’s latest product launch follows its recently announced decision to increase its annual domestic manufacturing capacity to 24 GW.
European joint venture to produce solar panels in Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s Socom and Belgium’s Evocells have announced plans to merge. The new company, Solarcells, will open a 50 MW solar panel factory in Luxembourg by the end of this year, with plans to potentially double its annual output by 2026.
Brek unveils 400 kW silicon carbide string inverter
Brek Electronics has applied its silicon carbide composite architecture in its new 200 kW and 400 kW inverters.
The case for flywheel storage in the Philippines
An international research team is assessing the potential of flywheels for renewables storage in the Philippines. They considered the use of a flywheel energy storage system developed by US-based Amber Kinetics.
