Author: solarenergy

Scientists spent months measuring two fixed panels and two single-axis modules to determine their site-specific heat dissipation factors. These local results indicate a 3.3% improvement in energy production compared to the standard factors used in PVSyst. October 25, 2024 Lior Kahana Researchers from South Africa’s Stellenbosch University have conducted a long-term experiment to study the heat dissipation factors in fixed-tilt (FT) and single-axis tracked (SAT) PV modules. “The novelty of our research lies in the development of heat dissipation factors for SAT open-rack PV systems,” said corresponding author Dr. Hannes Pretorius. pv magazine. “While previous studies have quantified heat dissipation…

New efficiency record set for environmentally friendly nanocrystal solar cells As climate change accelerates the shift to renewable energy sources, solar cells are becoming increasingly important. For example, solar energy generation in Spain grew by 28% in 2023 compared to the previous year, contributing to 20.3% of the country’s total energy mix. However, despite their widespread use, solar cells still rely on materials that are not always environmentally sustainable. Expanding solar technology to a wider range of applications, such as powering buildings, infrastructure and vehicles, requires the development of flexible, lightweight and cost-effective solar cells. Colloidal silver bismuth sulfide (AgBiS2)…

New U.S. incentives are supporting solar manufacturers and encouraging domestic build-out of the earlier stages of the solar supply chain. October 23, 2024 Anne Fischer By pv magazine USA The US Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 sets out the question supply-side incentives to encourage solar energy production in the United States in the form of production tax credits for manufacturers and investment tax credits for developers using domestic content. Although these incentives have led to a rush of investments Among major global solar component suppliers, a large portion of investment is focused on the final parts of the solar supply…

Farming has come a long way since the days of manual labor and horse-drawn plows. Today’s farmers use advanced technology to maximize crop yields while minimizing resource use. Two key innovations that have revolutionized modern agriculture are irrigation systems and solar panels. When combined, these technologies create a powerful synergy that can boost farm productivity, reduce costs, and promote environmental sustainability. The Basics of Irrigation Systems What is Irrigation, Anyway? At its core, irrigation is simply the controlled application of water to crops to aid their growth. It’s an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years – think of…

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to María Mura, Head of Southern Europe Origination at Spain-based Nadara. She says the pressure to be excellent comes from the higher level of criticism women in leadership face. “Women are challenged not only by their peers and superiors, but also by themselves, pushing to prove that they have achieved success not by accident or accident, but through undeniable competence and hard work,” she says. October 25, 2024 Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) Having worked in the energy sector for over a decade, I can confidently say that women in the…

High interest rates, excess inventory in warehouses and falling parts prices have created a perfect storm for solar distributors since October 2023. Frank Jessel, CEO of BayWa re Solar Trade, explains how the industry can embrace true digitalization to better navigate this volatility. October 25, 2024 Frank Jessel From pv magazine 24/10 Normalized solar demand after June 2023, following previous peak years, meant solar equipment distributors faced high inventory levels as prices fell. While the solar industry is expected to grow 7.31% annually through 2029, module prices have continued to decline. New ways must be found to deal with fluctuating…

Belfast Solar I (Source: Syncarpha Capital) Syncarpha capitalBelfast Solar I’s community solar project has been approved to operate since earlier this month. Located adjacent to Belfast Municipal Airport, the project supplies energy directly to Central Maine Power (CMP), which benefits CMP customers through the state’s Net Energy Billing Program. The project covers 13 hectares and consists of three fixed tilting, ground-mounted arrays with a total capacity of 4.6 MW. The company says Belfast Solar I is designed to avoid wetlands and comply with Maine’s Stormwater Management Chapter 500. It marks Syncarpha’s sixth operational community solar…

Huge US lithium mine receives government approval A massive lithium mine in the Nevada desert received final government approval Thursday in a project the miner says will quadruple U.S. production of a mineral crucial to the renewable energy revolution. Operations at Rhyolite Ridge will produce enough lithium to supply the batteries for more than 370,000 electric vehicles annually, Australian operator Ioneer said. The plant will create 500 construction jobs over the next few years and 350 jobs over the decades of extraction, the company said. “There are few deposits in the world that have the impact of Rhyolite Ridge,” said…

The project has therefore reached the phase of preparing the subsidy agreement. The next step will be the preparation and signing of the grant agreement with Cinea, the granting authority, to formalize the financing of €21 million. October 25, 2024 Sergio Matalucci Italian solar company FuturaSun’s FENICE project, aimed at building a high-efficiency photovoltaic module factory in Italy, has passed the selection phase of the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment (CINEA) as part of the non-repayable financing of the European Union. Union’s Innovation Fund. “The new factory will produce more than 7.6 GW of high-efficiency photovoltaic…

A map of the proposed Buckland development. Image: Windelenergie. Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent Energy and Windel Energy have submitted a construction application for a 150 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The Buckland BESS will be located on 13.5 hectares of land west of the village of Buckland Ripers, near Weymouth in Dorset. The proposed site is directly adjacent to the already operational Nottington Lane Solar Farm, a 5 MWp project owned by Wessex Solar Energy. If approved, the development would be connected to the electrical grid through the nearby Chickerell substation. Prior to this application, pre-application surveying work has…