U.S. startup offers solar kit for VIPV applications
Worksport, a U.S. technology company, has announced a protective cover for pickup trucks fitted with solar PV modules. The kit includes a battery and an inverter and is meant to be a portable power source for leisure activities, such as camping, or as a temporary backup to recharge electronics or small appliances during power outages.
Solar at ‘twice the natural capacity factor of the sun’
Eland Solar 2 and Skeleton Creek are two high-capacity factor renewable power plants moving through development.
New method to repair ribbon busbar interruptions in PV panels
A Spanish research team has developed a set of techniques to repair ribbon busbar interruptions in PV panels without resorting to expensive electroluminescence images. The scientists warned that the proposed approach should not be used with modules that did not pass some basic safety tests.
Aerocompact releases new portrait mounting system
Austrian manufacturer Aerocompact has developed the SN2 Q PLUS solar mounting system, which can support PV modules measuring up to 1,310 mm x 2,500 mm. It has an installation angle of between 5 degrees and 10 degrees.
India launches 1.2 GW wind-solar hybrid tender
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has started accepting bids to build 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid power projects on a build-own-operate basis anywhere in India. The projects must be connected to the interstate transmission system (ISTS). Bidding closes on March 29.
New approach to improve MPPT in partially shaded PV systems operating at high temperatures
The novel methodology is reportedly able to track global maximum power point and reduce power losses in partially shaded PV systems by up to 33%. It uses a backstepping controller (BSC) algorithm to adjust the pulse width modulation signal and a genetic algorithm to compute the BSC gains to achieve an optimal PV system outcome.
US solar up 52% in 2023 as nation deploys 35.3 GW of capacity
BloombergNEF says US clean energy generation grew by 0.9% in 2023. Wind and hydro generation fell, while solar generation grew by 15.4%.
Cadmium telluride solar cell based on indium gallium oxide emitter achieves 17.2%
Developed by the University of Toledo, the cell achived the highest efficiency ever reported for flexible cadmium telluride solar cells to date. The device reached an open-circuit voltage of 861 mV, a short-circuit density of 27.8 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 71.7%.
France hits 20 GW milestone
France added around 3.2 GW of new PV capacity in 2023, with about 955 MW in the fourth quarter alone. The nation hit 20.0 GW of total installed PV capacity at the end of December 2023.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Canadian Solar, Aiko Solar to build new factories
Canadian Solar says its new 14 GW vertically integrated cell and module factory will require an investment of CNY 9.63 billion ($1.33 billion), while Aiko Solar says it will invest CNY 9.97 billion in a 10 GW facility.
