Solar-plus-storage has a 99.8% capacity value in California
“The energy from solar can consistently charge a 4-hour storage device having the same installed capacity” prior to the hours of peak demand, says a new study.
India’s ReNew Power to build 2 GW factory
The Haryana-based developer will invest up to $266.9 million to set up a new solar cell and module manufacturing facility.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: TCL acquires Zhonghuan, distributed-generation PV soars
TCL, one of China’s biggest electronics manufacturers, has acquired Zhonghuan Semiconductor. The National Energy Administration, meanwhile, reported record growth for the distributed-generation PV segment in June.
Tender launched for 1.07 GW of solar in India
Single developers can bid for any amount of capacity, from 10 MW up to 1.07 GW. The projects will be set up on a build-own-operate basis, anywhere in the state of Rajasthan. The deadline for bids is Aug. 31.
URE announces Taiwan factory disposal
The Taiwanese manufacturer said it has sold its Jhunan Kebei plant to a Taiwan-based maker of masks for semiconductor production. However, it will increase capacity at its manufacturing facility in Tainan by up to 200 MW in the third quarter.
Australian rooftop PV may face grid constraints
The ability to feed electricity from rooftop PV arrays into Australia’s distribution network may be severely limited in the future, as installations appear likely to exceed expectations. A Cornwall Insight forecast sees some 24.45 GW of rooftop solar to be added through 2030 – a rate that accelerates the need for a distribution-level market and may see connections curtailed in the future.
How the cracks are forming
Scientists in the United Kingdom have investigated the formation of cracks in PV cells, confirming that the high temperatures cells are exposed to during soldering for interconnection are a leading cause of cracking. Their findings will aid future research into module reliability and predictions of how cracks are likely to form.
Consolidation in the French solar module industry
Two module manufacturers, Systovi and Voltec Solar, plan to join forces to create a bigger player in the French solar manufacturing space.
New equipment for solar cell metallization
The system can metallize the front and back sides of silicon solar cells with unprecedented precision and speed, Fraunhofer ISE said. The technology is also suitable for components such as printed circuit boards or chip cards.
Foil method for PID test misleading if only one side of bifacial module is stressed
Results from PID stress tests can be misleading when bifacial PV modules are PID-stressed from just one side using the foil method in IEC TS 62804, according to a new study by Belgian researchers. An unintended electric field arises between the non-stressed side of the cell and the grounded interior of the climate chamber, which may have the undesired effect of causing additional PID stress.
