South Africa moves forward with plans to split Eskom into separate entities
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is moving forward with plans to split Eskom into three separate entities. NERSA has granted the National Transmission Company of South Africa the authority to function independently from Eskom, while South Africa’s National Treasury is working on a bill to address the troubled national utility’s ZAR 423 billion ($23 billion) debt burden.
Kosovo launches tender to build 100 MW solar plant
Kostt, Kosovo’s market operator, has launched a tender for the construction of a 100 MW solar plant. It will offer a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to the selected developer.
Renewed efforts to build solar cells from moondust
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has been awarded $35 million in funding from NASA to improve the company’s commercial solution that produces silicon from lunar regolith. The US spatial agency’s first efforts to build solar cells based on lunar regolith date back to 2005.
Suriname sets up auction scheme for renewables
Suriname is now seeking consultants for its new auction scheme to procure renewable energy. The nation has only deployed 12 MW of PV to date.
Australian developer plans 2.6 GW solar farm for green hydrogen project
Provaris Energy has advanced its Tiwi H2 green hydrogen export project for the Tiwi Islands in Australia’s Northern Territory, with the design feasibility report for the proposed solar farm and transmission system now complete.
Enphase lowers revenue guidance as US residential solar stagnates
Microinverter supplier Enphase is slipping in share price as revenues dip. It has announced a $1 billion stock buyback program.
Laser optimization for half-cut solar cells
Scientists in Korea examined the parameters of laser ‘scribe and break’ processes used to cut silicon cells, in search of optimizations to reduce damage caused at the cut edges. They also found that varying encapsulant thickness or even adding a supportive rail across the back of a module can help reduce performance loss caused by cell cutting damage.
Adani raises $394 million for 10 GW fully integrated solar fab
Adani New Industries Ltd. (ANIL) has raised $394 million from Barclays and Deutsche Bank to support the working capital requirements of its integrated solar module manufacturing facility.
New guidelines for albedo measurements aim to reduce uncertainties in bifacial PV yield estimates
Spanish researchers have defined practical guidelines for short-term ground-based albedo measurements that reportedly entail a maximum of 1.5% yield uncertainty contribution for utility scale bifacial solar PV plants.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: GCL-Si opens 20 GW solar cell factory
GCL-Si says it has commissioned a new 20 GW solar cell factory that will supply n-type TOPCon cells to its module facilities in Hefei, Anhui province, and Funing, Jiangsu province.
