France concludes C&I rooftop PV tender with average price of €0.09648/kWh
The French authorities have concluded a commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop PV tender with an average price of €0.09648 ($0.1108)/kWh. The government allocated 300.9 MW of PV capacity in total.
Japanese utility uses Sharp PV-linked home batteries for grid balancing
Japanese utility Tohoku Electric Power is using Sharp’s residential batteries and AI-powered energy management systems to balance grid demand and optimize household solar energy use. Customers in the program can earn points redeemable for local products.
Four-year testing finds heat pumps run efficiently even in older homes
Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have tested various types of heat pumps in existing buildings across Germany over four years, finding that the systems achieved seasonal performance factors between 2.6 and 5.4. The team also showed that PV-driven heat pumps can boost self-consumption rates, particularly when paired with battery storage.
Florida utility on pace to reach 93 GW solar, 50 GW storage by 2045
While utilities in neighboring states are “dabbling” with solar, Florida Power & Light is combining solar and storage as a “workhorse” technology, said a nonprofit executive.
Morocco distributed solar potential pegged at 28.6 GW
Morocco could install up to 28.6 GW of distributed solar, producing 66.8 TWh of electricity and creating a $31 billion market, according to new research that calls for rapid regulatory action to unlock this potential.
Sonnen launches trade-in program for old solar battery storage systems regardless of condition or manufacturer
The initiative by the Allgäu-based company targets owners of photovoltaic storage systems installed before the end of 2020. The value of the trade-in bonus depends on the capacity of the new Sonnen battery. Sonnen describes the campaign as a “targeted growth initiative in a new market segment.”
GoodWe debuts PV-driven heat pump water heaters
The Chinese manufacturer said their new residential heat pump water heaters deliver a coefficient of performance of up to 4.2, with a heating capacity ranging from 4.5 kW to 5 kW. The units are available with water tanks in 200 L, 300 L, and 500 L sizes.
Italy seizes solar investment portal over €80 million scam
The Italian authorities have frozen bank accounts and seized assets linked to a transnational network accused of defrauding about 6,000 investors through a fake PV investment scheme.
Storm systems suppress Northern Europe’s October solar output
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that autumn storm systems have dominated large swathes of Europe in October, driving a clear split between northern regions where solar output declined and southern areas that enjoyed relatively favourable conditions.
South Korea introduces standards for photovoltaic-thermal modules
The country’s National Institute of Technology and Standards said the new standards apply to modules that combine photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies in a single device, noting that separate standards for each technology already exist.
