First Solar could have $5 billion impact on U.S. economy by 2026
A study commissioned by First Solar analyzed the company’s actual and forecast U.S. spending in 2023 and 2026 when the company expects to have 14 GW of annual nameplate capacity across Alabama, Louisiana, and Ohio.
Italy publishes operating rules for energy communities
Italy’s long-awaited operational rules for energy communities are expected to spur development in the segment, which has only experienced limited growth volumes thus far.
Hope at the end of turbulence
Growing demand for solar products is colliding with the hesitant shipment strategies of manufacturers, according to pvXchange’s Martin Schachinger.
Highfield Solar secures financing for 93 MW of solar in Ireland
Highfield Solar has achieved financial close for a 93 MWp solar plant in Ireland, securing €65 million ($70.6 million) of debt financing. Installation of the project’s grid-connection infrastructure has already begun, with construction of the actual solar array to be finished by September 2024.
UK installers Stratford Energy, Bannister Ventures merge to strenghten services
The two UK companies are joining forces to consolidate and develop opportunities in the residential and commercial energy solutions market.
Fully printable flexible perovskite solar cell achieves 17.6% efficiency
Developed by scientists in Canada, the 0.049 cm2 solar cell was built in ambient air fabricationand with a reactant known as phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTACl). It achieved an open-circuit voltage of 0.95 V, a short-circuit current density of 23 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 80%.
Enhancing PV performance with graphite-based thermoelectric generator
Indian scientists have built a PV system coupled with a thermoelectric generator using graphite as a heat dissipator. The graphite-based system achieved a higher output and temperature gradient than a reference system without heat dissipation.
Malta extends FITs, rebates for residential solar and batteries
Malta has extended its feed-in tariffs (FITs) and a rebate scheme to support the adoption of residential solar and battery energy storage systems for another year. The authorities will start accepting applicants for the two initiatives again from Feb. 23.
Premier Energies unveils 590 W TOPCon bifacial PV modules
Premier Energies says its n-type TOPCon bifacial glass-backsheet modules are available in power outputs of 555 W to 590 W, with an efficiency rating of up to 22.83%.
Saharan dust drops irradiance across Europe
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Saharan dust carried by Atlantic winds passed over Europe via the Iberian Peninsula. This caused irradiance drop particularly in Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany.
