UK think tank predicts 593 GW of new global PV installations for 2024
UK-based energy think tank Ember says it expects 593 GW of solar to be added throughout the world this year – 29% more than in 2023. It says 292 GW were installed by the end of July.
GE Vernova releases 2,000 V (DC) utility-scale inverter
GE Vernova has developed a 2,000 V (DC) utility-scale inverter, to be used in a North American pilot operation starting in early 2025. The inverter offers up to 6.0 MVA of output power.
Sweden to lower solar subsidy, scrap tax breaks for electricity micro-production
The Swedish government is considering reducing the subsidy for solar installations and removing the income tax reduction for households and businesses that micro-produce renewable electricity. Svensk Solenergi, Sweden’s leading solar association, has criticized the proposals.
Quebec to run 150 MW solar tender before end of year
The government of the Canadian province of Quebec is calling on utility Hydro-Quebec to run two solar tenders totaling 300 MW – one by the end of 2024 and another by the end of 2026. This marks the province’s first call for solar development on a commercial basis.
Hoymiles commissions microinverter factory in Mexico
Hoymiles says it has commissioned a microinverter factory in Monterrey, Mexico, with an initial production capacity of 500,000 units per year.
EDF, Masdar secure financing for 1.5 GW of solar near Abu Dhabi
EDF Renewables, Korea Western Power Co. (Kowepo), and Masdar have secured financing to build a 1.5 GW solar plant near Abu Dhabi, backed by a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Emirates Water and Electricity Co.
Thin-film tandem solar in the U.S.
Tandem solar-cell technology featuring silicon has been widely researched but materials such as perovskites, paired with established thin-film solar or with other perovskite cells, are pointing to a new development path.
A closer look at backsheet degradation in desert enviromnents
A Qatari research group has analyzed the performance of polyethylene terephthalate backsheets in real outdoor testing conditions in desert areas and has identified the main causes that lead to degradation. These include prolonged exposure to high ultraviolet radiation, high operating temperature cycling, and relative humidity.
World now has five times more PV than nuclear power
Authors of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024 the world had 408 operational reactors producing 367 GW in the middle of the year, which is significantly less than installed capacity predictions for solar by the end of the year and five time less the world’s cumulative PV capacity, which is now approaching 2 TW.
Madrid’s residential solar self-consumption rates hit 30% to 70%
Researchers in Spain have calculated the potential self-sufficiency of rooftop solar in eight districts of Madrid, Spain. They have found that single-family homes can achieve self-sufficiency rates of more than 70%, while urban areas with high-rise buildings reach 30%.
