French parliament eases solar mandate for large parking lots
The French National Assembly has passed an amendment to ease rules on outdoor parking facilities, drawing protests from solar and renewable energy stakeholders who warn it undermines climate progress.
Site selection for PV plants on coal gangue hills
Scientists have developed a novel method to identify which hills of coal waste are suitable for the construction of a solar plant. Their technique integrates GIS and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution. They tested the new approach suburban areas of Yangquan City, China.
‘There’s no need to mimic male counterparts or fit outdated stereotypes’
This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Christelle Mirailles, Business Development & Strategy at France’s Equans Solar & Storage. She says women should embrace their uniqueness rather than to conform to traditional leadership molds. “We should champion authenticity and individuality, viewing differences as strengths rather than liabilities,” she states.
Can dimethyl ether replace propane as refrigerant in heat pumps?
New research from Spain has sought to understand if dimethyl ether and ternary mixtures of carbon dioxide, dimethyl ether and butane could represent an alternative to propane in heat pump systems. Their analysis has shown dimethyl ether could be the best alternative to R290, as it offers the highest coefficient of performance values for both cooling and heating, and avoids issues related to temperature glide.
Global PV dataset shows 2019-2022 data
Using Google Earth imagery and 2019-2022 Sentinel-2 datasets, Chinese scientists have developed a two-stage classification framework to obtain the annual global dataset of solar photovoltaic panels at 20-meter resolution from 2019 to 2022.
How to assess bifacial PV system performance on sloped terrains
Scientists have developed a precursor formulation for different PV simulation tools that can help calculate the expected performance of solar farms deployed on hilly slopes. Validation tests against an experimental setup showed an error of less than 3%.
Hidden devices found in Chinese-made inverters in the US, reports Reuters
US officials are reassessing the risks posed by Chinese-made devices in renewable energy infrastructure according to news agency. Reuters cites two unnamed sources, who would only provide a few details.
Italian court rejects law on suitable areas for renewables
Italy’s Lazio regional tribunal has partially invalidated a May 2024 decree defining suitable zones for ground-mounted renewables, forcing national and regional authorities to rethink the policy framework.
UK grid operator streamlines grid connection process for renewables up to 5 MW
Regulator Ofgem approves higher threshold for a transmission system impact assessment requirement applying to distributed generation projects in England and Wales. The move is expected to lower development costs for projects with capacity between 1 MW and 5 MW.
Ireland to launch fifth renewables auction on May 29
Ireland will launch its fifth renewables auction on May 29, with grid operator EirGrid set to finalize the procurement process by Oct. 10.
