Aerosols affect photovoltaic generation in Europe
The German meteorological service, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and solar forecaster Meteocontrol are investigating how weather events can be better factored in when forecasting solar power generation. The Federal Ministry of Economics is funding the ‘Permastrom’ research project with €2.5 million.
New alliance aims to break 600 W threshold
Chinese manufacturers including Trina Solar, Risen Energy and JA Solar have established a group to design and produce bigger PV modules. The 39-member alliance also includes inverter suppliers including Huawei, Sungrow and SMA.
Israel’s solar-plus-storage tender concludes with final price of $0.0578/kWh
The government assigned 168 MW of capacity through the tender and selected three developers for 11 projects, with capacities of 100 MW, 48 MW and 20 MW.
The world’s sunniest PV testing field
French energy giant Engie recently commissioned a solar module testing facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a region which has the world’s highest solar radiation. Thore Müller – head of bifacial PV R&D and solar services at Engie Laborelec, talked to pv magazineabout the advantages of testing panels, inverters and cleaning systems in hot, arid environments.
Spain moves forward with new renewables auctions
The Council of Ministers has urgently approved royal decrees to regulate the clean energy procurement rounds and procedures for the grid connection of large scale projects.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: 10 GW module-inverter tender and 300 MW in Liaoning
JA Solar began work on a 300 MW solar plant in Liaoning province last week, while state-run Huaneng launched a fiscal 2020 tender for 5 GW of inverters and another 5 GW of PV modules.
Switzerland deployed 332 MW of solar last year
Cumulative solar generation capacity reached 2.5 GW last year, enough to meet 3.8% of electricity demand.
A closer look at Jinko’s 565-585 W panel
The module – which measures 2,411×1,134×35mm, weighs 31.1kg and features 156 p-type monocrystalline cells – is available in five versions with power outputs of 565-585 W and efficiencies of 20.67-21.40%. Jinko says the Pro Tiger series will become the company’s main revenue stream in 2022, surpassing the Tiger 475 W panel.
Solar causes highest power peaks under mixed-cloud conditions
Dutch researchers have shown that power peaks caused by solar generation may be stronger under partial cloudiness than clear skies. According to their findings, mixed-cloud conditions can enhance PV power production due to light reflected off clouds, as well as their intermittent shadows on arrays, which reduce module temperatures.
ArcelorMittal seeks solar PPAs for 150 MW in South Africa
The steel manufacturer aims to sign power purchase agreements for six operational sites in Vanderbijlpark, Newcastle, Vereeniging, Pretoria, Thabazimbi and Saldanha.
