CFD tests show wind resistance in vertical rooftop PV systems
Norwegian startup Over Easy has validated the wind resistance of its vertical PV system for rooftops by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Wind tunnel tests conducted by I.F.I. Institut für Industrieaerodynamik GmbH confirm that the system can function without ballast or fastening to the rooftop.
PV system collapses on roof of sports facility in Spain
The mayor of Bilbao, Spain, has attributed the recent collapse of a local sports center’s roof to heavy rains and the presence of numerous solar panels, according to local news outlets.
Gautam Solar to add 500 MW of TOPCon panel production capacity
India’s Gautam Solar is expanding its solar module production capacity to 1 GW by adding a 500 MW tunnel-oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) manufacturing line from Jinchen. The new line will start production by September.
Portugal launches floating solar tender
Portugal will auction off five projects with a combined capacity of 4.5 MW. They require a total investment of around €4.3 million ($4.6 million).
Australia’s largest commercial microgrid goes online
Australia’s largest grid-connected urban microgrid has been officially commissioned with a new rooftop solar-powered system on Ikea’s store in Adelaide. It already delivers more than 70% of the store’s energy needs and provides grid support for the South Australian network.
Sheep grazing team to reduce solar mowing costs by more than 44%
About 70 Katahdin breed sheep were dropped off at the Oberlin College campus in Ohio last week. They will graze through mid-June, stomping grass and weeding the solar field in a move aimed at reducing operations and maintenance costs.
Solar module prices hit 2-year low
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a new report focusing on core benchmarks for PV prices, deployment, and imports.
Anti-soiling PV coating delivers 3% boost in energy production
A study conducted in the semi-arid weather conditions of Ben Guerir, Morocco, evaluated the performance of antistatic and hydrophobic coatings for photovoltaic solar panels. After nine months of operation, the PV panels with coatings developed by Portuguese company ChemiTek produced an average of 3% more energy than the uncoated ones.
Slenergy emerges as new one-stop solar shop for Europe
A new solar company has entered the PV market, pv magazine learned this week at SNEC in Shanghai. The company sells everything from PV modules and inverters to racking and wallboxes.
Unprecedented numbers, size, market growth for China’s SNEC show
The world’s largest solar event has expanded to accommodate the remarkable growth of China’s PV industry, which remains unfazed by future oversupply and international competition. Analysts and market players say Chinese PV demand could reach 130 GW.
