Solar pavement with conventional modules for the Port of Valencia
Spanish start-up Solum has installed the first solar pavement in a port area in Valencia as part of the strategy set by Puertos del Estado for the complete decarbonization of port areas by 2030.
CdTe heterojunction solar cells based on antimony selenide back surface field layers
An international research group is seeking to increase the efficiency of heterojunction cadmium-telluride solar cells by applying back surface field (BSF) layers made of antimony selenide. It claims the addition of this compound may raise CdTe cell efficiency by around 9% and has the technical potential to reach efficiencies over 40%.
Italy allocates 32.2 MW of solar in fifth renewables auction
The auction was, once again, largely unsubscribed. The Italian authorities selected eight solar projects planned in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Sicily. Enel Green Power was the largest winner with seven projects. The lowest bid came in at €0.0685/kWh.
Valoe announces IBC solar cell order for specialist applications
Czech specialist module manufacturer Fill Factory has signed up to take €500,000 worth of Valoe’s inter-digitated back contact cells under a one-year supply contract.
Spain plans auction to grant grid access capacity to 1.3 GW of renewables
The auction is intended at providing the missing capacity resulting from the closure of the Andorra thermal power plant in Teruel.
Baywa re acquires French renewable energy developer Enerpole
Enerpole is based in Carcassonne in the south of France and brings to the German company a portfolio of 600 MW projects, including nearly 300 MW of solar and 300 MW of wind.
Canadian BIPV module supplier unveils two solar tiles
Both products are based on 22%-efficient CIGS solar cells and are manufactured in Asia. One of the two devices has a flat design and power output of 80 W and a second product features a nominal power of 30 W and an undulating design.
Australian state bans door-to-door sales for solar companies
Victoria’s state government has introduced new rules for solar businesses and energy retailers banning door-to-door sales of products and announcing penalties of up to $1 million for retailers that wrongfully disconnect the electricity of vulnerable Victorians.
Using excess heat from PV modules for lithium-extraction process
Canada-based Enertopia filed provisional patents for technology that it said could boost PV system output by 10% or more and reduce panel heat stress.
Australian study labels green hydrogen cost projections as ‘too conservative’
A new study commissioned by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation has indicated renewable hydrogen is already approaching cost competitiveness with that produced using fossil fuels but some in the industry say the government-owned green bank’s figures are much too conservative.
