Chinese solar industry may reach 500 GW module capacity by year end
According to Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory (AECEA), this huge capacity may not be met by actual demand in the global market. Furthermore, the consultancy reveals that solar module prices should reach a price level of up to RMB 1.75 ($028)/W by the second half of the year, and that in 2021 new PV additions totaled 53 GW with more than half of this capacity being delivered by distributed generation.
Four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell with 15.5% efficiency
Researchers in India have built the 4T device with top and bottom cells based on large-area semi-transparent perovskite cells with copper metal contacts. Copper has been used instead of expensive gold with the aim of reducing the cell’s overall cost.
How artificial intelligence can be used to identify solar panel defects
Solar farm operators are turning to AI-powered inspection to speed up the inspection process and improve accuracy. They use algorithms that can automatically detect solar panel defects from images.
Unsubsidized solar projects proliferate in Poland
Four new PV developments have been announced this week, adding to a growing list of renewable energy projects in the coal-dependent Eastern European country.
Residential heat storage system uses PV electricity for space heating, hot water
France-based FHE Group has developed a 2.5 kWh storage device that can store electricity as heat during the day and release this heat at night to power a heat pump for space heating and hot water. According to the manufacturer, it can retain over 95% of its initial performance after 20,000 cycles.
Solar-plus-storage for mineral water producer in Cambodia
The system delivered by French energy giant TotalEnergies will power Kulara Water’s bottling facility in Siem Reap Province.
India’s REIL opens bids to supply 200,000 silicon PV cells
Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments is accepting bids from Indian manufacturers to supply five-busbar monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon solar cells rated for a minimum of 4.62 W. Bidding closes on Jan. 27.
Turkey added 1.14 GW of PV capacity in 2021
According to official statistics from grid operator TEIAS, the country’s cumulative PV capacity reached 7.81 GW at the end of December.
TOPCon vs PERC
TOPCon solar cells are on their way to fully compete with PERC solar products, according to recent research from Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE. Efficiency gains for the TOPCon concept, however, are necessary to help it capture more market share, as production costs remain higher than those for PERC tech. A series of cost-driven strategies to make TOPCon modules advance were outlined in the study.
Photovoltaic skylight for the Port of Malaga
The solar skylight has a peak power of 20kW. It is made up of 70 crystalline silicon photovoltaic glass modules of different sizes and shapes.
