Author: solarenergy

A World Bank report shows that countries with carbon pricing mechanisms generated a record $104 billion in revenue last year. More than half of the funds went to climate and nature-related programs. Carbon pricing, implemented through carbon taxes or emissions trading systems (ETS), is key to reducing emissions and promoting low-emissions growth. Despite this achievement, the report highlights that current carbon taxes and emissions trading systems remain insufficient to meet the climate targets of the Paris Climate Agreement. While 24% of global emissions are covered by some form of carbon pricing, less than 1% is subject to prices high enough…

Using solar energy to generate heat at high temperatures The production of cement, metals and many chemical raw materials requires extremely high temperatures of more than a thousand degrees Celsius. Currently, this heat is usually obtained from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas, which emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. Heating with sustainable electricity is not an efficient alternative at these high temperatures. Although much of our economy and society will need to become carbon neutral in the coming decades, these industrial processes will likely continue to be powered by fossil fuels for the foreseeable…

The tandem solar cell is based on a perovskite top cell treated with an additive known as 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzylphosphonic acid (pFBPA), which is said to improve energy conversion efficiency and fill factor. The tandem device also integrates a bottom-end heterojunction silicon cell made with a 190 μm thick, 2 Ω.cm, n-type, float-zone, gloss-etched monocrystalline wafer. May 22, 2024 Emiliano BelliniAn international group of scientists led by the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has developed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell that integrates a top perovskite cell based on an absorber treated with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzylphosphonic acid (pFBPA).In the study “Synergistic substrate…

Exploring Renewable Energy Sources Renewable energy sources are types of energy that come from natural processes that are constantly replenished. Unlike fossil fuels, which can run out, renewable energy sources are sustainable and help reduce environmental impact. The main types of renewable energy include solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal energy. Solar Energy Solar energy is one of the most well-known types of renewable energy. It harnesses the power of the sun using solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels are made of photovoltaic cells that absorb sunlight and generate electric current. This energy can be used to…

The African Development Bank is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to conduct a feasibility study for a floating solar project at a dam in southern Zambia. The deadline for registration is June 15. May 22, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Manfidza, WikiMedia CommonsThe African Development Bank has opened a tender inviting consultancy firms to express interest in providing consultancy services for a floating solar project at the Kariba Dam, a hydroelectric power station in Zambia. The dam is located on the Lake Kariba reservoir on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.The selected consultant will be tasked with feasibility studies for…

Sunnova Energy has added QuickBOLT‘s solar roof mounts to its approved vendor list (AVL). This approval allows Sunnova dealers to access QuickBOLT’s innovative and solar mounting solutions. QuickBOLT, a family-owned business, has developed solar mounts for a range of roof covering styles and profiles, from stone-coated steel to composition shingle. “We are excited to bring our industry-leading solar mounts to Sunnova dealers,” said Aaron Robbins, communications manager of QuickBOLT. “Our inclusion on the Sunnova AVL represents another acknowledgment of the simplicity and reliability of QuickBOLT mounting solutions. It’s an important step in our mission to solve problems for solar installers.”…

Researchers in Niger have proposed using photovoltaics to power the operation of evaporative cooling greenhouses. The proposed experimental solution uses locally made pads and is said to be competitive with commercial counterparts. May 22, 2024 Lior KahanaA group of researchers from Abdou Moumouni University in Niger has proposed using photovoltaics to power evaporative cooling greenhouses (ECGs) in Africa’s Sahel region.ECGs are a kind of greenhouse that cools the plants using the natural evaporation process. The evaporation process is carried out by pumping water onto special wet pads while fans push air through them.“Under dry and hot weather conditions in the…

GoodWe Technologies announced that it has been added to the approved vendor list of Sunnova Energy to provide GoodWe’s SMT-US inverter for medium- to large-scale C&I sites. This partnership allows GoodWe and Sunnova to meet the growing demand by commercial and industrial customers that want to stabilize energy costs, take advantage of IRA production and investment credits and benefit from selling clean energy. Already available through Sunnova’s extensive distribution network, GoodWe’s SMT-US three-phase, 50/60 kW inverter provides improved safety and design flexibility, while also improving performance over the system’s lifetime. Meeting safety shutdown standards, the string inverter includes a built-in…

The Cutlass Solar 2 project in Fort Bend, Texas, has been completed and is generating electricity at full capacity. Bechtel built the 218 MW project, which is owned and operated by Sabanci Climate Technologies. “We are excited to get Cutlass Solar 2 up to maximum capacity to deliver more renewable energy to Texans, support America’s energy transition and help achieve the Lone Star State’s goal of becoming the nation’s largest producer of solar energy ,” said Scott Austin, Bechtel General Manager of Renewable Energy and Clean Energy. “Bechtel is proud to partner with Sabanci Climate Technologies in their efforts to…

Only 30% of people had even heard of ‘green skills’. Image: Pexels A report commissioned by UK energy supplier OVO Energy has found that fewer than one in ten people report having received special training in green skills at work, which the company says is a major risk to the rollout of solar energy and other green technology. The research, carried out in partnership with Energy and Utility Skills, found that only 7% of people are developing green skills, while less than one in three (30%) have even heard of ‘green skills’. The report also highlighted the extent of the…