Author: solarenergy
The proposed farm would have delivered a net biodiversity gain of 50%. Image: West Burton Solar Project. Solar PV developer Island Green Power has seen a development consent (DCO) decision postponed by the UK government for its 480MW West Burton project in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The examination process for the Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP) concluded in May 2024, with the Planning Inspectorate passing on their recommendation to the Minister in early August. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, then had three months to make a decision on whether to proceed with development and…
According to the National Commission for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CEREFE), Algeria had 437 MW of solar power generation capacity at the end of 2023. The country has an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and a global horizontal irradiation of almost 1,700 kWh/m²/year in the north and 2,263 kWh/m²/year in the south. Nevertheless, almost 100% electrified Algeria generates 99% of its energy from domestic gas. Solar energy has long been limited to research projects and the electrification of villages too remote to connect to the electricity grid. Of the 11 MW of solar energy added in…
Kiwa PI Berlin has resolved inverter faults at a PV installation in South Africa through a root cause analysis. The project encountered up to 130 failures involving insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). November 7, 2024 Pilar Sanchez Molina A 95 MW PV plant in South Africa, owned by an independent power producer active in several markets, has experienced recurring inverter failures, according to Kiwa PI Berlin. Between 2022 and 2023, the plant recorded more than 130 failures related to insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in field replaceable units (FRUs). The inverter failures affected both energy production and operational costs due…
Researchers in Japan have developed an optimized hydrogen gas measurement using the TDLAS technique. Reportedly, it can achieve a detection range of hydrogen gas concentration from 0.01% to 100%. The group said it could improve the safety of hydrogen and therefore its adoption. November 7, 2024 Lior Kahana Scientists from Japan have developed a new method for measuring hydrogen gas, using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) at different pressures and a high-pressure gas cell. TDLAS is widely used for gas analysis, but has previously had difficulty quantifying low hydrogen concentrations due to its lower absorption compared to other gases…
The latest solar cost model from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that residential solar prices have increased, commercial solar is becoming cheaper and utility-scale prices are remaining flat. The addition of batteries increases costs by $1.75/W for residential projects and $0.75/W for larger installations. November 6, 2024 John Fitzgerald Weaver By pv magazine USA The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has released an update Cost model for PV systems for 2024 (PVSCM) data, revealing shifting price trends in the solar industry. Residential solar prices are up, commercial prices are down, and utility-scale prices remain flat.…
A pre-assembled conduit manufactured in Australia by Victoria-based balance-of-systems supplier PV Connections has reportedly reduced the installation time of rooftop solar systems by up to 20%. November 6, 2024 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia Melbourne-based PV Connections says the pre-assembled Solarflex pipe could rupture solar system on the roof installation times up to 20%. Designed to minimize the time required to connect the cable on site, the Solarflex is available in 60m 2mm x 4mm, 50m 2mm x 6mm and 30m drums. 4.4mm. They are all equipped with an earth cable, in a UV-resistant, corrugated, self-extinguishing tube. The all-in-one…
Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has advanced a vanadium flow battery (VFB) project to the design phase with the aim of developing a modular, scalable, turnkey, usable battery energy storage system (BESS). November 6, 2024 Ev Foley Image: Australian Vanadium Limited By ESS news AVL’s VSUN Energy subsidiary headquartered in Perth has begun the design phase of a vanadium stream BESS called Project Lumina, which is cost-competitive and creates a market for AVL’s vanadium oxide production. In this second phase of the project, VSUN will develop a construction-ready, detailed design and delivery strategy for modular, commercial, “turnkey,” utility-scale 100 MW VFB…
David Lloyd Leisure’s Dartford site (pictured) was one of the locations selected for a solar installation. Image: Pushing force. Centrica Business Solutions and solar PV developer Push Power have completed the installation of solar PV systems at ten David Lloyd Leisure Clubs across the UK. Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, contracted Push Power to design and install the roof-mounted PV systems. The first wave of installations took place at David Lloyd clubs in Basildon, Solihull, Southampton, Birmingham, Hull, Cardiff, Cambridge, Dartford, West Bridgford and Manchester, and the company notes that more locations will follow in the future. Nine…
New data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) says there is no scenario in which Ireland will meet its solar deployment capacity of 8 GW by 2030. With existing measures, the reality would be more like 5 GW, the government-run group estimates. November 6, 2024 Blathnaid O’Dea Ireland is at risk of falling 2.9 GW short of its 2030 national solar deployment target of 8 GW. This is evident from a new one report published by the SEAI. The group’s government-funded report National Energy Projections 2024 contains key findings from the latest national energy projections, which examine future…
An international research group has proposed a low-cost testing methodology for solar-powered water pumping systems that could reportedly improve water access in developing countries. The new approach enables continuous monitoring of boreholes without additional fuel costs or interruptions to water supply. November 6, 2024 Emiliano Bellini An international research team has proposed a new testing method for photovoltaic water pumping systems (PVWPS) used for domestic water applications and irrigation in developing regions. “No previous studies have proposed such a method for evaluating borehole evolution over the lifetime of PVWPS,” says the lead author of the study. Simon Meuniertold pv magazine.…