Solar

Solarcentury Africa’s 20 MW merchant solar project in northeastern Namibia has reached financial close. Once complete, the project will sell all its power on the South African Power Pool.

Researchers in China and Malaysia simulated a new structure for copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells featuring a tungsten oxide buffer layer and a back surface field kesterite layer. A device simulated with this configuration achieved an open circuit voltage of 1.2 V and a fill factor of 83.37%.

Following Ireland’s most recent renewables auction finalized in late September, the average final price for PV was €0.10476 ($0.12)/kWh, which just a 4% decrease compared to 2023’s auction. pv magazine has spoken with the government, the local PV association and several market operators to understand the reasons behind final high prices.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are funding a 99 MW solar project in southwestern Croatia with a total investment of €62 million ($67.2 million). Construction will begin next year, and commissioning is set for 2026.

The Spanish company said that its new tracker “is designed for maximum adaptability to any terrain.” It works with all PV modules.

Researchers in Canada have created an experimental workbench for aboveground compressed air energy storage. Experimental data calibration reportedly ensured model accuracy with a mean absolute percentage error below 4.0%.

Egyptian researchers have developed a mini refrigerator powered by one to four thermoelectric units at varying voltages. They simulated and tested the system under different conditions, achieving a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) of 77.3%.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to María Mura, Head of Southern Europe Origination at Spain-based Nadara. She says pressure to be outstanding stems from the higher level of scrutiny women face in leadership. “Women are not only challenged by their peers and superiors, but also by themselves, urging to prove that they didn’t achieve success by mistake or by chance, but through undeniable competence and hard work,” she states.

Scientists have measured two fixed panels and two single-axis modules for months to determine their site-specific heat dissipation factors. These local results indicate a 3.3% enhancement in energy production compared to the default factors used in PVSyst.

Trina Solar says it has supplied more than 1 GW of Vertex N 720W series panels for the Jinsha River project in China, with installation expected by year-end. The project aims to generate about 5.1 TWh of power per year.