Cando Solar unveils frameless 450 W heterojunction PV panels with 22.6% efficiency
The Chinese manufacturer says its new frameless heterojunction panels rely on busbarless technology and 210 mm wafers. The new products also feature a temperature coefficient -0.29%/C and weigh only 12.3 kg.
MIT scientists build PV-driven desalination system that reacts to changes in sunlight
The proposed brackish water desalination system uses photovoltaic electrodialysis to enable direct-drive desalination at high production rates. It already operated for 6 months on real brackish groundwater and was reportedly able to use 94% of the extracted PV energy.
Better Energy signs PPA for new solar park in Finland
Better Energy says it has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for its first solar park in Finland. It will build the 38 GW project on a former parking lot in southern Finland.
Czechia planning retroactive cuts to feed-in tariffs for PV systems
The Czech government is trying to retroactively reduce feed-in tariffs (FITs) granted for PV projects between 2006 and 2013. The local solar sector has criticized the move, claiming that it could incite panic among investors.
The impact of sodium, moisture on heterojunction PV module performance
Researchers in France have investigated heterojunction solar module reliability in damp heat environment and have found that sodium ions are the main source of degradation.
Rooftop PV installations could raise daytime temperatures in urban environments by up to 1.5 C
New research from India shows that rooftop PV system may have “unintended” consequences on temperartures in urban environments. Rooftop arrays, for example, may potentially lower nighttime temperatures by up to 0.6 C.
India adds 11.3 GW of solar module capacity, 2 GW of cells in H1 2024
India added 11.3 GW of solar module and 2 GW of cell manufacturing capacity in the first half of 2024, bringing the country’s cumulative production capacities to 77.2 GW for modules and 7.6 GW for cells, according to Mercom India.
Swiss startup offers organic PV-powered asset tracker
Truvami has launched an organic PV-powered asset tracker equipped with localization and sensor technology for battery-free use indoors and outdoors, targeting logistics and manufacturing applications.
CIP building 1.1 GWh standalone battery storage project in Chile
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has approved a final investment decision and started construction of the Arena battery energy storage system (BESS) project, with the aim of supplying energy from the first quarter of 2026.
Energy storage is a solved problem
There are thousands of extraordinarily good pumped hydro energy storage sites around the world with extraordinarily low capital cost. When coupled with batteries, the resulting hybrid system has large energy storage, low cost for both energy and power, and rapid response. Storage is a solved problem.
