Solar drone inspection provider Raptor Maps secures $22 million in funding
The Boston-based firm provides solar inspection software-as-a-service, powered by machine learning and drone aircraft imagery.
Hybrid thermionic-photovoltaic converter for applications in thermal energy storage, waste heat recovery
A Spanish-Italian research group has developed a solid-state thermal-to-electric energy converter based on hybrid thermionic-photovoltaics (TIPV) for different applications. It consists of a three-terminal TIPV device made with a tungsten (W) thermionic cathode, a PV/anode structure made of an indium phosphide (n-InP) anode, and a photovoltaic cell based on indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs).
Bluetti launches 350 W portable solar module
The new product relies on 23.4%-efficient solar cells and features a short-circuit current of 10.8 A. It can be folded into a briefcase and is claimed to be an ideal solution for camping and outdoor activities.
Solar inverter fault detection techniques at a glance
New research has categorized all existing fault detection and localization strategies for grid-connected PV inverters. The overview also provides a classification of various component failure modes and their potential causes in a tabular form.
War in Ukraine pushes solar PPA prices in Europe up to €0.038-€0.074/kWh
Renewables-linked PPA prices have shot up nearly 30% in a year, especially due to the war in Ukraine, according to the latest Levelten Energy report.
Chile tenders 2,700 hectares for wind, solar deployment
The allocated land will be used for either wind or solar power projects. Interested developers will have time until May 25 to submit their project proposals.
JSW Energy switches on 225 MW solar plant in India
The project is part of a plan to deploy 958 MW of solar and wind projects for the group’s unit JSW Steel, which will buy power from these facilities under 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs).
EU adopts directive allowing reduced VAT on several goods, including solar panels
The Directive No. 2022/542 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 5. According to the new provisions, member states will be free to apply a VAT rate of 0% to 5%.
India may miss 2022 solar target of 100 GW by 27%
A new report by JMK Research and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) says India is likely to miss its 2022 solar target of 100 GW by about 27 GW, mainly due to the underwhelming growth of rooftop solar. While utility-scale solar is on track to achieve nearly 97% of the 60 GW installed capacity targeted by 2022, rooftop solar will be 25 GW short of the 40 GW mark.
Turkey’s 1 GW PV tender attracted, so far, a lowest bid of $0.0257/kWh
The Turkish Ministry of Energy has completed, thus far, only the tender’s first 300 MW tranche, and the three winning bids ranged from $0.0257/kWh to $0.0293/kWh
