ArcActive targets Australia with ‘re-engineered’ lead-acid battery tech
ArcActive, a New Zealand-based battery tech specialist, plans to set up a factory in Australia within 18 months. It says the facility will be able to produce 30,000 lead acid-based residential energy storage systems per year.
French PV module maker Systovi goes into liquidation
Systovi has gone into liquidation, as the commercial court in Nantes, France, has issued an order to do so, citing the solar panel manufacturer’s failure to find new investors, despite its 80 MW of panel manufacturing capacity.
India releases draft guidelines for residential rooftop solar subsidies
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released draft guidelines for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana scheme, which aims to install rooftop solar plants in 10 million households, with subsidy support from the central government.
Sunman launches glass-free balcony solar modules
The Chinese manufacturer said its new frameless module can be installed on a balcony through nylon cable ties, without the need for any mounting structure. The new product features a power output of 200 W and a power conversion efficiency of 16.2%.
Spanish installer tests vertical rooftop PV array based on conventional panels
Sud Renovables has installed a pilot vertical rooftop PV system on one of its facilities in Barcelona, Spain. The array features two 500 W bifacial modules from US-based SunPower and two microinverters from Enphase Energy.
US median residential solar price hits $2.80/W, with 8-year payback period
EnergySage says market figures from the second half of 2023 show moderate declines in the cost of solar and energy storage.
Australian residential buildings hold 48.5 GW of untapped PV potential
Australia has firmly established its status as a global leader in residential solar deployment, with 35% of all homes already equipped with rooftop systems. However, new figures from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) reveal that there are almost 50 GW of “untapped PV potential” on residential buildings across the country.
European Solar sees warm, cloudy end to winter, linked to record temperatures
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that in March most European solar operators and grids saw less solar irradiance and production than normal, due to enhanced westerly winds bringing moist air off a relatively warm Atlantic ocean. Large areas of the continent saw irradiance down 10% to 25% below normal for March.
Maxeon unveils TOPCon solar module series for rooftop PV
Maxeon said its new Sunpower Performance 7 panel series features a power conversion efficiency of up to 22.7% and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.29% C.
New guide helps US homeowners to go solar
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have published an open-access guide to rooftop solar and battery energy storage that covers costs, incentives and policies.
