Bolivia introduces net metering for rooftop PV
The new provisions came into force on March 24. Net metering tariffs will have to be established by the energy regulator.
Solar still largely underestimated
Two recent studies have separately shown that many scenarios assessing global decarbonization pathways are still predicting too-low future PV capacity and too-high LCOEs for the solar technology. The researchers analyzed scenarios provided by scientific researchers, government bodies and non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the European Commission, the Indian government, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), among others.
Italy installed 625 MW of PV in 2020
The Italian PV market saw a year-on-year decrease in new PV installations last year. Residential PV systems up to 20 kW in size still accounted for the largest share, at around 250.4 MW of capacity.
Renewables could provide Australia with grid security, study shows
New research shows that renewables plus batteries could offer Australia’s electricity grid the same energy security as coal and gas generators, prompting calls for regulatory changes.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: More module and glass capacity
Risen Energy is planning to add 6 GW of module capacity to its factory in Jiangsu province and Flat Glass wants to add six production lines to its facility in Zhejiang. Meanwhile, JA Solar says it shipped 15.88 GW of solar products last year.
German start-up develops anti-reflective film claimed to improve PV module performance by 10%
German start-up Phytonics has developed the film by taking inspiration from nanostructures in plants. In solar cells, the film enables a broader absorption spectrum and a higher angle of light-incidence tolerance.
MIT scientists reveal method to identify stable perovskites
U.S. researchers are using a data fusion approach to identify the most stable perovskites for PV cells. Their machine-learning method combines perovskite test results with first-principles physical modeling to identify the best candidates.
OCI increases production capacity at Malaysian polysilicon factory
OCI has revealed plans to invest $55 million to expand production at its Malaysian manufacturing facility from 30,000 to 35,000 metric tons.
JinkoSolar unwraps 415 W PV panel for rooftop applications
The new, Tiger Pro 54HC panel is based on a 182mm, 54-cell design and exhibits an efficiency of up to 21.3%. The manufacturer claims the new product is particularly suitable for residential projects in high snow or high wind load areas.
Tigo launches optimizer for high-power modules
The IEC certified product has a maximum wattage of 700 W, a maximum current of 15 A, and a maximum voltage of 80 V.
