Author: solarenergy

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reports that U.S. companies are deploying record levels of solar and energy storage, according to the organization’s annual publication.Solar energy means doing business” report. “Some of the world’s largest industrial and data companies continue to turn to solar and storage as a reliable, low-cost way to power their operations,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA. “These industry giants are investing in solar energy through a wide range of applications, including on-site and off-site installations, on carports, combined with storage, or even as an anchor tenant for a community solar project.” Top…

Researchers in China have fabricated a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell that uses an indium oxide sputter buffer layer to protect the perovskite absorber and electron transport layer from potential damage due to the electrode deposition process. The new layer not only provided this protection, but also exhibited strong optical and electrical properties. November 20, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China have fabricated a semi-transparent perovskite-silicon tandem four-terminal solar cell (4T) based on an upper perovskite cell containing an indium oxide (In2O3) sputter buffer layer (SBL) deposited via a low-cost approach for industrial applications. SBLs are used…

ICRA, an Indian credit rating agency, says India could add 22 GW of solar capacity in fiscal 2025 and 27.5 GW in fiscal 2026, bringing the country’s total installed PV capacity to 131.5 GW by March 2026 coming, compared to 82 GW on March 31. 2024. November 20, 2024 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India ICRA, an Indian credit rating agency, said India’s renewable energy capacity could rise to 250 GW by March 2026, up from 201 GW by September 2024. This growth will be driven by an 80 GW project pipeline, following enhanced tendering in 2024. Solar capacity will…

Spanish researchers have designed an agrivoltaic system that integrates hydroponic towers. The modular setup, consisting of stackable 20 cm rings, creates a structure up to 2.5 meters high, optimized for growing approximately 80 plants per square meter. November 20, 2024 Pilar Sanchez Molina By pv magazine Spain The Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group (EM&D) of the National University of Colombia (UNAL) has developed a prototype system that integrates solar panels with hydroponic towers, allowing vegetables to grow using rainwater. “In this way, every square meter can be used to produce food and generate energy at the same time,” the…

Freight costs are rising as companies rush to import goods ahead of higher tariffs that newly-elected US President Donald Trump has promised on Chinese and European products. November 19, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Image: Catherin Kerrs, Unsplash Xeneta, a Norwegian platform for comparing sea and freight rates, has warned that spot rates for container shipping could rise following the recent re-election of Donald Trump as the next US president. “Trump has promised blanket tariffs of up to 20% on all US imports and additional tariffs of 60% to 100% on goods from China,” the company said in a statement. “Data from…

Researchers in Canada have developed an open-access online tool that reportedly allows homeowners to realize significant savings when deploying rooftop PV systems. The tool is claimed to provide accurate construction engineering calculations while ensuring compliance with building regulations. November 19, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from Canada’s Western University have developed a… open source online tool to streamline the engineering Ananalysis process for the deployment of a PV system on roofs. “The tool could be easily adapted to other countries,” said the study’s lead author, Joshua M. Pearce pv magazine. “The snow load in Canada combined with regulations in Ontario means…

Xcel Energy is now delivering carbon-free electricity from one of the nation’s largest solar projects to customers in the Upper Midwest, marking a major milestone in the company’s clean energy transition and the first of several major investments at the Sherco location in central Minnesota. “Our progress at Sherco Solar shows that we’re not just talking about the future of clean energy, we’re building it,” said Bob Frenzel, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy. “This is the first large-scale solar facility we own and operate, and it is an important milestone on Xcel Energy’s journey to achieve our carbon-free…

JA Solar says it has launched a hydrogen business with the establishment of JA Hydrogen, a new unit based in Beijing with a registered capital of CNY 100 million ($13.8 million). November 19, 2024 Vincent Shaw YES solar energy said it has established JA Hydrogen in Beijing under its subsidiary JA Solar Investment (China) Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of CNY 100 million. The new company will operate as a unit of the group in the hydrogen energy sector. Since 2019, several leading Chinese solar companies, including Sungrow, Longi Green Energy and Trina Solar, have launched similar hydrogen-focused subsidiaries.…

The US Treasury Department and the IRS announced this today final regulations for the direct wage provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that will help entities that co-own clean energy projects access clean energy tax credits. Before the Inflation Reduction Act, many entities—such as state and local governments, tribes and territories, public school districts, rural electric cooperatives, and tax-exempt organizations such as churches, hospitals, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits—could not take advantage of tax credits for clean energy because they had little or no federal tax liability. Direct payment allows these entities and organizations to access the full value…

“The MENA region – the next hot energy storage market?” I asked in an article in October 2017. It took a little longer than I expected, but seven years later it’s time to replace the question mark with an exclamation point. It is indeed warm. November 19, 2024 Florian Mayr By ESS news The MENA region is beginning to witness a dramatic increase in large-scale battery energy storage system (“BESS”) projects, accompanied by rising renewable energy penetration. This happened at a pace that seems to have surprised many market analysts. In the past, forecasts for the MENA region showed a…