Germany’s power mix boasts more renewables, lower spot market prices – despite nuclear exit
Germany’s shutdown of nuclear power plants in April did not result in a ramp-up of lignite-fired power plants, despite concerns. Instead, there has been a significant increase in the share of renewables in the electricity mix, and the proportion of coal-generated electricity has fallen by more than 20%.
Esdec Solar unveils mounting system for C&I solar
CPX, a unit of Netherlands-based Esdec Solar, has developed a new mounting system with a long-side clamping system for large modules. The manufacturer claims that the new structure reduces the number of required assembly steps.
Open-source online tool to optimize wind-solar projects
Scientists in Spain have developed a tool that optimizes the joint production of wind and solar. It combines data, patterns of solar radiation, and wind speeds over time in specific parts of Europe.
Astronergy announces new TOPCon solar module series
Huang Haiyan, chief sustainability officer for Astronergy, spoke with pv magazine at the recent SNEC trade show in Shanghai about the company’s new TOPCon PV module line and its broader expansion plans.
New method to avoid overvoltage in vertical PV linked to low-voltage grids
A research group in Finland has created a new workflow to prevent voltage rises in bifacial vertical PV systems located at high latitudes. According to their findings, vertical bifacial PV may have a 46% higher power yield compared to monofacial conventional counterparts in the Nordics, while also having an improved temporal match between PV generation and consumption.
Tubesolar files for insolvency
Tubesolar, which specializes in the development and production of photovoltaic thin-film tubes for agrivoltaic applications, has filed for insolvency in Germany. It currently employs around 140 people.
Enecoat, Toyota develop perovskite solar cells for vehicle-integrated applications
Toyota says it will combine EneCoat’s perovskite solar cells and its own in-vehicle technologies for solar panels. Enecoat has developed a perovskite module conversion efficiency of 19.4%.
Cattle agrivoltaics on US ranch
Bear Valley Solar will deploy 240 kW of a 1.5 MW cattle-sited solar field pasture this year, with the first phase of construction ramping up this summer, developer David McFeeters-Krone told pv magazine USA.
Volkswagen France commissions 20 MW solar carport project
Volkswagen France has commissioned a 20 MW solar carport project at its facility in Villers-Cotterêts, In northern France’s Hauts-de-France region.
Sofar unveils new microinverter series
Sofar, a China-based inverter and battery manufacturer, has introduced a new series of microinverters for balcony solar arrays and rooftop PV systems. They have a 97.5% efficiency rating and offer between 500 VA and 2,400 VA of rated power.
