Solarnative to open microinverter gigafactory in Germany
German startup Solarnative has invested €1 million ($ 1.07 million) in a surface-mount technology production line for its new microinverter plant in Germany. It says it plans to ramp up microinverter production from May.
US to add 29.1 GW of large-scale solar in 2023
The US solar market is set to add 29.1 GW of new utility-scale PV and 9.4 GW of storage in 2023, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). If that new capacity goes online as planned, 2023 will have the most new utility-scale PV capacity added in a single year.
Financial close for 20 MW of PV, 5 MWh of storage in Madagascar
Axian has secured MGA 47.1 billion ($10.9 million) to finance a 40 MW solar plant and a 5 MWh storage facility in Madagascar. The installation is the island state’s largest solar park.
Photovoltaic-thermal system based on PCM cooling
Malaysian researchers have developed a system that can absorb heat from PV modules and transmit it to a nanofluid, in order to transform it into thermal energy and use it for different applications. The panels have an overall efficiency of 89%.
Floating PV reduces water evaporation in Brazilian reservoir by 60%
Brazilian and US researchers have evaluated the water evaporation rate of a floating PV system on a Brazilian reservoir. They said that the 130 kW installation reduced evaporation by 60%, and claimed that a 5 MW system could save enough water for 196 people per year.
Romania introduces new rules for energy storage
The Romanian government has issued long-anticipated secondary regulations for the deployment of storage systems.
Southeast Asia’s largest battery goes online
Sembcorp Industries has connected a 285 MWh battery storage system to the grid on Jurong Island, Singapore. It is reportedly Southeast Asia’s largest energy storage system, featuring 800 large-scale lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Argentina launches tender for 500 MW of solar
Argentina has announced its first renewable energy tender since 2019.
Array Technologies to build tracker factory in Australia
US solar tracker supplier Array Technologies plans to set up a factory in Australia, after winning a contract to supply trackers for a 102 MW solar farm in the Australian state of Victoria.
Toshiba exits residential solar business
Japan’s Toshiba says it will now focus on commercial and industrial PV, as well as the development of perovskite solar panels.
