Author: solarenergy
By means of SPW | December 2, 2024World of solar energy is proud to unveil today its first winning class of top products for the solar and storage industries. The 2024 Top Products competition celebrates the most innovative and important products available to the U.S. market. “Our judges had a lot of work ahead of them, assessing many entries in both the residential and large-scale markets for their originality, market promise and benefits to installers and developers,” said Kelly Pickerel, editor-in-chief of World of solar energy. “The 2024 Top Products winners represent all areas of project development, from software to…
The new TopoSmart+ software allows users to find the most cost-effective topography and design plan to install the company’s Genius Tracker solar mounts in a given location. December 3, 2024 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA GameChange Solar has announced the release of TopoSmart+, a project analysis software tool to minimize topography costs and support solar installations on uneven terrain. The TopoSmart+ tool aims to help developers optimize costs related to leveling, steel poles and optimal tracker heights. The tool provides a detailed 3D modeled plan, generating detailed grade plans for configuration with the company’s Genius Tracker solar mounting system.…
The financial sector is increasingly supporting battery energy storage systems (BESS), but transparent regulations are needed to keep investments going. This was one of the resounding messages of the second BVES Investor Summit, held in Berlin on Wednesday. December 2, 2024 Marija Maisch By ESS news Infrastructure investors are used to stable income, but for BESS, high volatility means high upside potential, and there is still work to be done to reconcile the two. The good news is that financiers are increasingly interested in supporting BESS. However, because batteries are still a relatively new asset class and are often hampered…
An India-based research team has increased the energy conversion efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized indoor solar cells based on co-sensitized organic dyes. The best indoor PV devices achieved 40% efficiency under 4000 lux fluorescent lighting and 10.40% under standard AM 1.5G one solar lighting. December 2, 2024 Valerie Thompson A group of scientists led by India’s National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) claims to have improved the stability and efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells for indoor PV applications. This type of solar cell, also called a Grätzel solar cell, named after its inventor, EPFL professor Michael Grätzel, is…
The researchers from the German institute explained that UV-induced degradation can cause larger-than-expected efficiency and voltage losses in all dominant cell technologies, including TOPCon devices. The scientists expect that silicon nitride layers could be used to improve the UV stability of TOPCon compared to PECVD layers typically used in PERC and heterojunction cells. December 2, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) have investigated the stability against UV exposure of three types of mainstream solar cell technologies: tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) and heterojunction (HJT). – and…
In November, an omnibus climate bill was signed into law by the governor of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Legislature passes a new climate law that includes business locations, allowing for reformsBoston, MA Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a new climate law in November that prioritizes clean energy siting and permitting, clean energy purchasing and net credits for community solar. The bill was a second attempt after the failed implementation of major climate reforms months earlier. Maryland will soon require contractor applications for a new Solar Access ProgramAnnapolis, Maryland Maryland will soon launch its successor to the Residential Clean Energy Rebate Program,…
Panasonic has unveiled a new version of its Eco Cute CO2 heat pump that produces domestic hot water primarily during the day based on solar radiation data. It integrates a special app to obtain solar energy forecasts for the day and plan the water heating hours for the next day. December 2, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Panasonic recently released a new version of its Eco Cute CO2 heat pump equipped with a solar radiance shift function that adapts daytime hot water (DHW) production to PV energy generation on the roof. The new heat pump system, called Ohisama Eco Cute, uses a…
The new smart solar window combines photoelectric and electrochromic functions. It can produce electricity while regulating the amount of solar radiation entering a building. December 2, 2024 Lior Kahana A group of scientists from China have developed a new smart PV window (SPV) that can produce electricity while simultaneously calibrating the amount of solar radiation entering a building. “Our study proposed an SPV window as well as the operation control strategies to improve building energy efficiency and network friendliness at the same time,” said corresponding author Yutong Tan. pv magazine. “The results showed that, compared to conventional low emissivity (Low-E)…
Following the Commerce Department’s preliminary decision to impose countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of silicon solar cells from Southeast Asia, the federal government has also tentatively decided to impose anti-dumping duties (AD). The trade subsequently conducted separate AD and CVD investigations into solar energy imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam American Solar Energy Manufacturing Alliance Trade Committee submitted the research request earlier this year. The committee, which includes American manufacturers First Solar, Mission Solar and Qcells, claimed that The four Southeast Asian countries are hurting the U.S. solar industry through unfair trade practices. “We welcome these positive preliminary decisions…
Italian manufacturer Ecoprogetti has increased the capacity of a PV production line in Morocco, operated by Almaden Morocco, from 500 MW to 1 GW. December 2, 2024 Patrick Jowett The Italian Ecoprogetti has completed the expansion of a PV production line in Morocco. Located in the city of Al Hoceima, northern Morocco, the facility is operated by Almaden Morocco and now has a capacity of 1 GW, an increase of 500 MW. It is the largest solar panel production factory in Morocco and North Africa. The new line features technology based on tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) G12 18BB half-cut…