India’s GUVNL seeks 1 GW of solar
Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL) has issued a tender to procure up to 500 MW of solar power, on top of an additional 500 MW. Bidding closes on May 18.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Hoshine expands PV glass output, Tongwei raises cell prices
Hoshine plans to expand PV glass production, while Tongwei is raising PV cell prices, with a particular focus on monocrystalline cells. Maxwell Technology has secured a 4.8 GW production line order from India’s Reliance Industries, while JA Solar has reported a net profit increase of 35% for 2021.
Morocco allocates 333 MW in Noor II solar tender
Amea Power, Taqa Maroc, Enel Green Power and Voltalia were the main winners of Morocco’s solar procurement exercise.
Panasonic combines fuel cells, batteries, PV to power factory in Japan
Japan’s Panasonic claims its new pilot solar-plus-hydrogen facility marks the first attempt to create a factory powered by 100% renewables, via the full-scale use of hydrogen.
Eging releases 685 W TOPCon PV module with 22.05% efficiency
Chinese manufacturer Eging has unveiled a new line of bifacial TOPCon solar panels based on n-type wafers and 210 mm cells. The modules have a temperature coefficient of 0.31% and efficiencies ranging from 21.24% to 22.05%.
Ultra-thin perovskite-organic tandem solar cell with 24.0% efficiency
Researchers in Germany have built a perovskite-organic solar cell with low interfacial losses and a high open-circuit voltage. The device achieved an open-circuit voltage of 2.15 V, a short-circuit current of 14.0 mA cm−², and a fill factor of 80%.
Smarten launches 2.4 kW hybrid PV power conditioning unit for offgrid applications
Smarten has released the Superb 3050 hybrid solar power conditioning unit (PCU) for offgrid applications. The 2.4kW product is priced at INR 19,999 ($260).
The mobility rEVolution: Honda ups the ante on EVs, solid state batteries
In other news, further Covid-19 lockdowns in China continue to negatively impact the EV battery supply chain and broader industry, Porsche is testing V2G capabilities, and Israeli startup Electreon announces extension of its wireless dynamic EV charging project in Sweden.
To speed interconnection, consider public control of grid operators, says US law professor
To speed the interconnection of utility scale solar and storage, “maybe we want somebody running the show that has more of an interest in getting all these resources in the grid,” said law professor Shelley Welton in a webinar for “100% clean energy states.”
Brazil’s Cemig launches another wind, solar auction
The Brazilian energy company will award 10-year and 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to projects exceeding 50 MW in size through this new procurement exercise.
