The future of net metering in Pakistan
A report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) sets out policy recommendations for the government of Pakistan if it is to replace net metering with net billing.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Longi, TCL Zhonghuan raise silicon wafer prices
Longi has raised silicon wafer prices to CNY 1.15 ($0.16) for N-G10L wafers and CNY 1.30 for N-G12R wafers, while TCL Zhonghuan has increased its prices to CNY 1.15 for G10N wafers, CNY 1.30 for G12RN wafers, and CNY 1.50 for G12N wafers.
New coating prevents plant growth on underwater solar cells
The US Navy has funded Danish research on preventing biofouling while maintaining visible light transmission on underwater solar cells. The top solution uses ultra-low concentrations of nano-sized, seawater-soluble pigments. Power generation stayed close to 100% after 13 weeks underwater.
New residential storage system from Germany with 12,000 charging cycles
German manufacturer EKD says its new Ampere.StoragePro E3 battery uses lithium-iron phosphate cells and can be cascaded to reach up to 231 kWh.
Japan suspends incentives for 342 agrivoltaic facilities
The Japanese authorities have suspended feed-in tariffs (FITs) and premiums for 342 agrivoltaic projects due to violations of new agricultural land regulations. Analyst Makoto Tajima tells pv magazine that this move could hinder the development of agrivoltaics in land-scarce Japan.
South Africa’s 7th renewables procurement round highly oversubscribed
South Africa’s latest auction is the first to be held under a December 2022 government plan to procure 14,771 MW of new generating capacity.
Lightweight mobility with vehicle-integrated photovoltaics
A European consortium of commercial and research groups is developing lighter weight, solar-powered, cost-conscious, three and four-wheel prototype vehicles for passengers and cargo. The $13.4 million project aims for a platform that has standardized components, including the battery, powertrain, and solar PV parts, as well as support for end-of-life, maintenance, and refurbishment.
New process to recover silver from end-of-life solar cells achieves 98% efficiency
Scientists have used hydrometallurgical and electrochemical processes to recover pure silver from solar cells. The proposed technique also utilizes a method known as electrodeposition-redox replacement, which reportedly increases the silver recovery rate.
Scientists design dichalcogenide solar cells based on tungsten diselenide
The researchers outlined a “scalable” manufacturing process that reportedly results in a tungsten diselenide film with an efficiency of up to 22.3%. The proposed technique could facilitate the mass production of high-efficiency multilayer WSe2 solar cells at low cost.
Helexia secures €60 million to expand solar projects in multiple countries
Helexia, a solar rooftop and PV carport specialist, has announced the completion of a €60 million ($67.1 million) incremental financing facility. The funds will support a portfolio of 290 solar rooftop and carport projects in Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
