The energy storage decade has arrived, says BNEF
BloombergNEF says falling battery costs and “surging” renewables penetration make energy storage a “compelling flexible resource in many power systems.”
Enel secures EU funds to scale up Italian heterojunction PV module factory to 3 GW
An unspecified sum is being provided by the European Union to help Enel become a large-scale PV panel manufacturer. The Italian company secured the funds through the Innovation Fund
Mobile storage for diesel-free solar plant construction
A 245 kWh mobile storage solution from Swedish manufacturer Northvolt was connected to an operational section of a PV plant under construction in Sweden to replace diesel power generators. According to the project developer, around 500 kW of the operational capacity of the solar park will be enough to power the site’s operations through the battery.
Iberdrola announces winners of agrivoltaic contest
The Spanish energy company received 110 proposals from 32 countries. Three of the four selected projects are aimed at deploying agrivoltaic solutions.
New optimizations for a 24.5% efficient heterojunction solar cell
Scientists in Germany analyzed the main sources of performance loss in a silicon heterojunction cell, and developed several optimization strategies to improve overall performance. By adding a second layer of amorphous silicon at the rear of the device, and a magnesium fluoride anti-reflective layer, they were able to boost cell efficiency by around 1% to reach 24.51%.
European consortium develops pilot line for complete PV module recycling
A European consortium consisting of Italian energy agency Enea and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, among other entities, has developed a plan to build a low-emissions pilot line to recover critical and precious metals such as silicon, indium, gallium and silver. The line will be designed to reintroduce new materials and new products into the production cycle.
The solar facade with a golden glow
A 163 kW solar façade is powering the new building of Basel’s Office for Environment and Energy in Switzerland. Swiss manufacturer Megasol provided special modules on 3D fused glass for the vertical BIPV installation.
Soluna unveils 20kWh battery for residential and commercial applications
The Chinese manufacturer says the battery has a depth of discharge of 95%. It will be available for sale starting from Q1 2022.
New solar tile from Brazil
Developed by Brazilian construction materials provider Eternit S.A., the tile has a nominal power of 9.1 W and an average monthly generation capacity of 1.15 kWh. It is available in five colors and two versions with a classic or reinforced design.
Fire risks for rooftop solar
A recent study by Clean Energy Associates showed that 90% of inspected rooftops had significant safety and fire risks. Here’s how to protect your solar asset.
