France lowers grid fee for solar up to 500 kW, heat pumps
According to the new provisions introduced by the French government, owners of PV systems with a capacity of up to 500 kW will pay a grid fee that is 40% of the current rate. As for heat pumps, their owners will pay only 20% of the fee.
Around 40% of Brazil’s wind, PV capacity is under private PPAs
According to a study by CELA Clean Energy Latin America, there are currently approximately 10.7 GW of solar photovoltaic and wind projects under bilateral PPAs in the Latin American country.
Snow, ice-repellent coating for solar panels
Researchers in Sweden are currently testing three kinds of coatings — hydrophobic, superhydrophobic and slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces. The goal of the new technology is to halve ice adhesion compared to standard modular glass and ensure 96% light transmittance.
Italian research agency ENEA launches call for innovative agrivoltaics
The agrivoltaic facility may have a capacity of 1 to 3 MW and will have to be designed to comply with landscape requirements and the agricultural practices of NeoruraleHub, which applies a blue economy model to agriculture.
POLO-IBC solar cell with 23.7% efficiency
Scientists in Germany have developed two kinds of solar cells based on n-type doped electron-collecting poly-Si on oxide (POLO) junctions with aluminum-alloyed p+ contacts. Both devices are claimed to be possible upgrades of PERC technologies. The best-performant cell is an IBC device showing a power conversion efficiency of 23.71%, an open-circuit voltage of 711.5mV, a short-circuit current of 41.3mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 80.9%.
Concentrating solar power with heat storage could compete with batteries
For short-term storage in a 100% renewables grid, thermal energy storage located at concentrating solar power plants could compete with batteries, according to a new study using an idealized grid model. Seasonal storage needs could best be met with power-to-gas-to-power technology.
Fortum wins 200MW solar project in India
Fortum has secured a deal to build a solar project under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam, at a fixed tariff of INR 2.29 ($0.030)/kWh.
Goldman Sachs activates 390MW of PV, 561MWh of storage in California
The Slate solar and storage project began development in 2015 and is now one of the largest facilities of its kind in California.
New solar tiles from Denmark
Danish BIPV specialist Dansk Solenergi has added two more tiles to its product range – an 18.15%-efficient dark grey panel and a 16.7%-efficient terracotta product. Both panels have an operating temperature coefficient of -0.34% per degree Celsius.
World’s largest solar tree record smashed
With a PV panel surface area of 309.83 sq.m, the solar tree is officially certified by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the largest solar tree in the world.
