India tenders 1.5 GW of renewables storage
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has launched a tender to select developers for 1.5 GW of firm and dispatchable power from renewable power projects with energy storage systems. Bidding closes on Sept. 15.
PVC knife-scratch coated fabric to increase albedo, energy yield in bifacial PV
China-based Halead is offering a reflective material for ground-mounted bifacial PV projects, which it claims can increase the annual power production of a solar plant by over 9%. Germany’s TÜV SÜD certified the performance of the solution.
Preheating hydrogen with heat pumps may reduce cost of green H2 for heating by 10%
UK researchers suggested utilizing heat pumps to preheat hydrogen to very high temperatures, which they said could reduce the need for hydrogen by more than 20%. The process is also claimed to have the potential to reduce the European industry’s energy demand by approximately 200 TWh per year.
Financing implementation of solar energy solutions in the Pacific Island countries
The International Solar Alliance said that securing financing for renewable energy projects in Pacific Island Countries (PIC) may be complex due to the need for stand-alone solar energy systems and mini-grids, which to be viable for larger investments would require aggregation at a sectoral or programmatic level to become feasible. In its monthly column for pv magazine, the organization describes the types of finance required to scale technologies.
Cox Energy finalizes acquisition of Abengoa
Cox Energy secured the assets of Abengoa in April 2023. Abengoa began insolvency proceedings for its main business unit in May 2022.
Turnkey solution for self-sufficient electricity, heat supply from hydrogen
Germany-based Ostermeier H2ydrogen Solutions has developed a containerized solution to produce heat and hot water from hydrogen. It includes a photovoltaic inverter, a battery, a heat pump, a heat and cold buffer storage system, an electrolyzer, a compressor, and a fuel cell.
Tata Power secures PPAs for 350 MW of solar projects
Tata Power Renewable Energy will develop 200 MW and 150 MW solar projects for Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL). The installations will be located in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Australian startup builds production line for thermal energy storage blocks
Australia-based MGA Thermal has secured AUD 8.25 million ($5.39 million) from domestic and international investors as it gears up for commercial-scale production of its thermal long-duration energy storage solution.
Energy Vault completes 25 MW/100 MWh gravity-based storage facility in China
Energy Vault has started commissioning a 25 MW/100 MWh energy storage facility adjacent to a wind power facility near Shanghai.
South Africa closes in on 4.41 GW of rooftop solar capacity
News statistics from South African utility Eskom show that the country added 1.82 GW of new distributed-generation PV capacity in the first six months of this year. However, PV analyst Chris Ahlfedlt warns that the published numbers could also include some utility-scale projects.
