Author: solarenergy

Philippine authorities have deployed the country’s largest solar-powered irrigation system, with more than 1,000 solar panels and two submersible pumps. The system will benefit more than 200 farmers and is the first of its kind to be constructed over an irrigation canal, thereby preserving agricultural land. June 10, 2024 Patrick JowettThe Philippines has deployed a solar-powered irrigation system in Isabela province, in the northeast of the country. The PHP65.7 million ($1.1 million) project was built between July 2023 and February 2024 and features more than 1,000 solar panels. It can produce 739,200 W of power for its two submersible pumps,…

The portfolio consists of five buildings built or under construction, with a combined solar energy generation of 132 GWh per year. Image: UK renewables. British Solar Renewables (BSR) has completed its first portfolio financing. The facility is funded by Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Lloyds Bank. The portfolio consists of five assets built or under construction in the UK and Australia, with a combined solar energy generation of 132 GWh per year. They will benefit from contracted income from AR5 from Contracts for Difference (CfD) utilities and corporate PPAs. BSR will deliver, build, own and operate its pipeline of projects,…

The Austrian government has introduced incentives for PV systems of more than 35 kW that are equipped with modules produced in Europe. The measure aims to create new jobs and support the energy transition, by offering a 20% higher subsidy for eligible projects. June 10, 2024 Sandra Enkhardt Image: Gryffindor, Wikimedia CommonsBy pv magazine GermanyThe Austrian government has decided to introduce a ‘Made in Europe’ bonus for PV projects of more than 35 kW with solar panels produced in Europe.“The government decision strengthens job creation and supports the energy transition,” Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Minister of Climate Protection Leonore Gewessler…

Elewit, the technology platform of Spain’s Red Eléctrica de España (REE), has unveiled plans to build a hybrid storage project in the Canary Islands, with an 18.8 MVA virtual synchronous compensator and a 16 MW hybrid solution based of ultracapacitors. June 10, 2024 Pilar Sanchez Molina By pv magazine SpainElewit, the technology platform of Spanish grid operator REE, said it plans to build one of the world’s first systems that it claims will function as a virtual synchronous compensator. The company’s Hesstec unit is building the factory in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.“This will be the largest system of this type, at…

Taiwanese manufacturer Winaico said its latest bifacial, n-type, glass-glass TOPCon compact modules are available in a 435W aluminum frame version and a 430W all-black version. The module efficiency is up to 22.30%. June 10, 2024 Valerie Thompson Taiwan-based Winaico has unveiled a new series of solar panels based on n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPcon) technology.“No perfluorinated or polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) are used in the manufacturing process,” the manufacturer said in a statement.The manufacturer offers the new WST-NGX Glass-Glass-Series in two versions with aluminum and black frames respectively. Both products measure 1,722 mm x 1,134 mm x 35 mm and…

(Photo: PunCoffee) The trees on a coffee farm owned by Pun Coffee Co Ltd. “Planting trees is the first step in our plan to develop green-labeled coffee and sell carbon credits,” said Luong Ngoc Tram, CEO of the company. When the competition for the best specialty coffees of 2024 ended at the end of April with Pun Coffee winning the first prize, Tram and her husband returned to their routine work in the sunny and windy house on Pun Hill. While classifying Arabica beans, Tram told VietNamNet that she has been attached to coffee plant for several years, the specialty…

A new partnership will explore the feasibility of co-locating a closed-loop hydroelectric storage facility with solar energy at the site of a former gold mine in Moose River in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Atlantic Mining, owner of the mine, and Natural Forces, a renewable energy company with an operating capacity of 300 MW in Canada, are optimistic that the project will be feasible. June 10, 2024 Marija Maisch Access to the Moose River Gold MinesImage: ProjectHorizons, Wikimedia CommonsFrom pv magazine ESS news placeAustralian mining company St Barbara has announced that its Nova Scotia-based arm Atlantic Mining will work…

By pv magazine USAAs the United States reassesses its shrinking manufacturing base in relation to China’s growing influence and considers the global geopolitical landscape, solar panel import tariffs continue to play a critical role in shaping the industry. Solar panels are now the world’s leading source of new energy, and international relations often depend on energy politics. This is illustrated by the current war in Europe, which was caused by Russia using its gas resources to slow the continent’s response to the invasion of Ukraine, leading to a massive increase in photovoltaic energy adoption across the continent.Since October 10, 2012,…

Researchers in Australia have developed a new class of solid electrolytes for rechargeable aqueous zinc-iodine batteries, enabling longer life and high efficiency. Symmetrical cells using this electrolyte have demonstrated excellent cycling performance, maintaining stability for approximately 5,000 hours at room temperature, while all-solid ZnI2 batteries exhibit more than 7,000 cycles with capacity retention of more than 72.2%. June 10, 2024 Marija MaischFrom pv magazine ESS news placeRechargeable zinc iodine (ZnI2) batteries have received much attention due to their inherent advantages, including natural abundance, low cost, safety, and high theoretical capacity. However, their limited lifetime remains a major challenge for practical…

Flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell achieves new efficiency record This study is led by Dr. Xinlong Wang, Dr. Jingming Zheng, Dr. Zhiqin Ying, Prof. Xi Yang and Prof. Jichun Ye of Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Despite the remarkable progress made in rigid perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, with reported efficiencies as high as 33.9%, the use of flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells has remained elusive. The difficulty lies in improving light absorption in ultrathin silicon bottom cells while maintaining mechanical flexibility. The research team successfully demonstrated the first flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell using…