Author: solarenergy

European researchers are developing miniaturized space propulsion technology that is free of propellants and based on electrodynamic compounds integrating perovskite-copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) tandem solar cells. It is intended to maneuver satellites in space or deorbit without relying on heavy propellants on board. January 9, 2025 Valerie Thompson A European consortium is developing miniaturized space propulsion devices that operate without propellants. They are based on electrodynamic cable technology that integrates perovskite-copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) tandem solar cells. A recently launched project known as ETCOMPACT, short for Compact and Propellant-less Electrodynamic Tether, aims to develop a ‘green’ propulsion system that can be used for de-orbiting…

Starting up robot labor RoboForce has announced that it has raised $10 million in early-stage funding and will debut its technology at the Intersolar conference in San Diego next month. The company is using the funding to come out of stealth and deploy its Robo-Labor to early customers this year, for whom robots can fill labor shortages in harsh outdoor conditions, complete the most dangerous tasks in hazardous work environments, and improve project efficiency and costs maximize. savings. With an accuracy of 1mm when performing fine motor skills such as picking, placing, pressing, twisting and connecting, the Robo-Labor features all-terrain…

Croatia plans to allocate €25 million to public sector solar power plants and heat pumps, in addition to a €10 million residential solar tender, as part of a €652 million renewable energy and decarbonisation package . January 8, 2025 Patrick Jowett Image: Chris Curry, Unsplash Croatia plans to launch two solar tenders in 2025, according to the country’s indicative annual figures publication plan for the year, which is now available on the website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition (MZOZT). The plan includes a €10 million public appeal to install residential solar panels in the second quarter…

Germany installed 16.2 GW of solar energy in 2024, bringing its total PV capacity to 99.3 GW at the end of December 2024, according to the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). January 8, 2025 Ralph Diermann Image: Charlie Wilde, Pixabay By pv magazine Germany According to the Bundesnetzagentur, Germany will have deployed 15.2 GW of new PV systems by 2024. The country added 14.28 GW in 2023, 7.19 GW in 2022, 5.26 GW in 2021, 3.94 GW in 2019, 2.96 GW in 2018 and 1.75 GW in 2017. As of December 2024, it was operating Germany has more than 4 million…

A new investigation into anti-dumping/countervailing duties (AD/CVD) could impact domestic production and deployment of lithium-ion energy storage and EV batteries in the United States. In December 2024, the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP) filed petitions with the Dept. of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission to obtain AD/CVD on the import of battery anode materials from China. AAAMP says China’s dominance in active anode material (AAM) production has prevented the domestic market from setting up competitive operations. “Chinese industry’s use of unfair pricing is hurting American businesses and workers,” said Daniel Pickard, group leader of international trade and…

Indian float glass manufacturer Gold Plus Glass has commissioned a new PV glass factory with an installed production capacity of 109,500 tons per year. January 8, 2025 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Gold Plus Glass Industry, India’s second largest float glass manufacturer, has announced the commissioning of its new production facility in the Indian state of Karnataka. It said it has expanded its float glass capacity and diversified its portfolio by entering the solar glass segment with the new facility. The Karnataka plant commenced commercial operations in June 2024, with a phase-wise installed float glass production capacity of 584,000…

A case study analysis from Norway’s Over Easy Solar found that vertical rooftop solar panels outperform conventional rooftop PV systems during the snowy months. According to the company, energy yields in Norway were up to 30% higher in the winter months. January 8, 2025 Lior Kahana Vertical rooftop solar panels perform better than conventional systems during the snowy months, Norway’s Over Easy Solar has discovered. The company, which produces vertical PV units, said it conducted a case study study in Oslo and found the output of the vertical panels remained consistent into early spring, even after fresh snowfall. “Our data…

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has expanded the scope of potential solar energy development on federal lands, opening several western states to gigawatts of PV deployment. Credit: Alliant Energy In January 2024, the Department of the Interior released an update to the Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, also known as the Western Solar Plan, formalizing processes for solar construction on federal lands west of the Rocky Mountains . The Western Solar Plan was published in 2012 and initially opened designated federal lands in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico to solar energy development. This latest update to…

The final application is expected to be submitted by the end of 2025. Image: Statkraft. Renewable energy developer Statkraft has announced that it has submitted a scoping report for an upcoming national solar energy infrastructure project (NSIP). The Mylen Leah solar project is a proposed 500 MW solar PV power plant to be located in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Plans for the development were unveiled in September 2024 and Stakraft expects the final application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in late 2025, with final planning approval or refusal expected sometime in…

Researchers have proposed using a hybrid version of the so-called Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) algorithm for maximum power point tracking in PV systems operating under highly fluctuating environmental conditions. The new method also integrates the hill climbing algorithm, which simulates the process of climbing a mountain and is said to help find the best possible solution to a given problem. January 8, 2025 Emiliano Bellini An international research team has developed a hybrid Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique for PV systems operating in partial shade or rapidly changing atmospheric parameters. The proposed hybrid MPPT algorithm combines the advantages of…