Solar PV employed around 3.4 million people in 2021
Almost half of the workers were employed in China, around 280,000 in North America, over 260,000 in Europe, and some 50,000 in Africa, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The vast majority of workers were employed in manufacturing and installation of new capacity, with solar jobs paying lower wage premiums than the nuclear, oil, and gas industries.
Switzerland launches tender to assign free-of-charge areas for PV along highways
The Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) started yesterday the selection process to assign these areas free of charge to solar developers. Interested developers will have time until February 24 to express their interest in these surfaces.
Longi achieves 26.12% efficiency for gallium-doped p-type heterojunction solar cell
The result, confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), was achieved on a heterojunction solar cell based on an M6 wafer.
Pakistani regulator clarifies net metering proposal
A consultation about raising the level of payments made for excess household electricity injected into the grid appears to have prompted fears it could raise solar power prices across the board.
India’s Jreda launches tender for 2 MW canal-top solar project
Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has invited bids to build a 2 MW grid-connected solar project on top of the Sikdiri Canal in the Ranchi district. Bidding closes on October 6.
Jinergy unveils all-black solar module series for rooftop PV
The all-black series includes a monofacial PERC module with an efficiency of up to 20.86% and an n-type heterojunction product with an efficiency of 21.68%. Both products feature all-black integrated design, with black backsheet, black busbar, black frame and black encapsulant material.
Canadian pension fund invests in Mahindra’s renewables arm
Mahindra Group has agreed to sell a 30% equity stake in Mahindra Susten to the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for around $300 million. The two parties have also agreed to set up an infrastructure investment trust so Mahindra Susten can strengthen its solar, hybrid energy, and integrated storage businesses, as well as its round-the-clock green energy plants.
Wafer scale microwire solar cell with 21.1% efficiency
Korean scientists have built a wafer scale radial junction solar cell with tapered microwires and a surface passivation layer made of aluminum oxide. The device showed the highest power conversion efficiency among the previously reported microwire solar cells.
Dubai launches tender for 900 MW solar project
The PV plant is the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
FTC Solar unveils new self-powered tracking system
United States-based engineering firm FTC Solar has unveiled a new self-powered solar tracking system which it says requires up to 36% fewer foundations than existing technologies and enables an estimated 5% greater energy output for a given parcel of land.
