Author: solarenergy

A team from the University of California, Santa Barbara used ultrafast electron microscopy to capture photocarriers as they diffuse across a heterojunction of silicon and germanium. It is the first time that the movement, which lasts picoseconds, has been captured as a moving image. October 11, 2024 Patrick JowettResearchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara have visualized photoexcited charges traveling across the interface of two different semiconductor materials in a solar cell.In a solar cell, sunlight hits a semiconductor material, causing electrons to move across two different materials, known as the heterojunction, creating a current that is harnessed to…

The US-based long-term energy storage startup has raised more than $1.2 billion to date, making it one of the best-funded players in the space. October 11, 2024 Marija Maisch By ESS newsForm Energy is looking to accelerate the expansion of its 100-hour production of iron-air battery systems in the US based on a $405 million Series F financing round.Announcing the major financing milestone on Wednesday, the company said it brings its total funding to date to more than $1.2 billion.The startup’s latest funding round, led by T. Rowe Price, has also yielded results GE Vernova as a new investor. Existing…

Researchers in Denmark have found that using a large-scale air-to-water heat pump in solar district heating can significantly reduce levelized heating costs. The proposed system configuration was simulated for an existing district heating plant in Denmark and was shown to improve the flexibility of the system in response to energy prices. October 11, 2024 Emiliano BelliniResearchers from the Technical University of Denmark have investigated how large-scale air-to-water heat pumps can be combined with PV-powered district heating systems with the aim of reducing levelized heating costs and improving system flexibility. They explained that air-to-water heat pumps have the ability to produce…

The International Energy Agency says renewables are on track to meet almost half of global electricity demand by 2030, with solar accounting for 80% of capacity growth. October 10, 2024 Patrick JowettThe International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that more than 4,000 GW of new solar energy will be added worldwide by the end of the decade.The agency’s flagship report: “Renewable energy sources 2024,” says the world will add more than 5,500 GW of new renewable energy capacity between 2024 and 2030, to reach a cumulative capacity of almost 11,000 GW. The forecast indicates that solar energy will account for 80%…

China’s solar power is moving from supremacy to oversupply Strong state support and massive private investment have turned China’s solar industry into a global powerhouse, but it faces new headwinds, from punitive tariffs abroad to a brutal price war at home. Officials meeting in Baku next month for the COP29 summit hope to agree on new financial targets to help developing countries respond to climate change, including dumping fossil fuels. Last year, countries agreed to triple global installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. China installs almost twice as much solar and wind energy as all other countries combined. And it…

Researchers from Norway and Germany investigated the influence of impurities in fused quartz crucibles used in the production of silicon PV rods. The results suggest that the most important factors affecting crucible uniformity are sand quality, sand particle size and aspects of the manufacturing process. October 10, 2024 Valerie ThompsonResearchers from Norway and Germany investigated the influence of impurities in fused quartz crucibles used in the production of silicon PV rods, particularly the physical properties and uniformity of hydroxyl impurities.The research was made possible by infrared microscopy and viscosity testing.“Understanding the weaker points in the structure of the crucible could…

BlueWave has started three agrivoltaic community solar projects in Johnstown, New York, totaling 16 MW. October 10, 2024 Anne Fischer By pv magazine USABlueWave, a solar developer focused on agrivoltaics, is entering New York State with three solar projects in the design phase. The installations have a total capacity of 16 MW and are all located in Johnstown, New York State.“We have taken a deep dive into agrivoltaic energy, it is now our default land use option in our solar panels,” said Jesse Robertson-DuBois, director of sustainable development at Bluewave, told pv magazine USA.All arrays will feature herd-friendly agrivoltaic designs…

Intelligent energy management company Eaton has announced a partnership with Lunar Energy to simplify installation and maximize the functionality of home energy storage and solar systems. The integration of Eaton’s new AbleEdge smart circuit breakers with the Lunar System will make it easier for installers and homeowners to deploy solar and storage, manage loads, optimize costs and extend the life of the solar battery system. The joint solutions are expected to be available in early 2025, with Eaton being Lunar Energy’s preferred supplier for load management. Eaton’s AbleEdge smart breakers will add load management functionality to the Lunar System in…

Rayzon Solar currently has 4 GW of PV module manufacturing capacity and plans to add 3 GW by December, followed by another 5 GW by September 2025. This will increase cumulative module capacity to 12 GW per year. The company also plans to build a 1.2 GW cell line by the end of 2025. October 10, 2024 Uma Gupta Rayzon Solar’s new TOPCon modules at REI Expo 2024Image: Rayzon SolarBy pv magazine IndiaGujarat-based Rayzon Solar has revealed that it will expand its solar panel manufacturing capacity from 4 GW to 12 GW per year by September 2025.Vineet Tyagi, head of…

The UK government has unveiled a cap-and-floor scheme to boost investment in long-term energy storage. The first application round is scheduled for 2025. October 10, 2024 Matthew Lynas Image: Sirbatch, Wikimedia Commons By ESS newsThe UK government has announced a new cap-and-floor program to support the rollout of long-term storage capacity, in a bid to encourage investment in both mature and new storage technologies.The energy sector regulator, Ofgem, will act as the authority for the programme, which is expected to open to applicants in 2025. Cap-and-floor schemes work by providing revenue support to developers if their annual gross margin –…