Author: solarenergy

Adding to its growing fleet of utility-scale solar generating facilities, Entergy Arkansas has announced the start of commercial operations at the Walnut Bend Solar Energy Center. The 100 MW solar project is located in Lee County, east of Brinkley, Arkansas. Entergy Arkansas has acquired Walnut Bend from Invenergy, a leading private developer, owner and operator of renewable energy solutions. Invenergy led the development, engineering and construction of the facility. “Walnut Bend will be a valuable addition to our generation fleet, which in turn complements our diverse mix of generation sources that have powered life in Arkansas for more than 100…

Hoymiles announced it officially inaugurated its first overseas manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy. Located in the Vynmsa Industrial Park, just six kilometers from the airport, the 6,700-m2 facility is equipped with comprehensive production resources, including dedicated PCBA, materials and finished goods warehouses. With a current workforce of 170 employees, the facility is designed to maximize both production efficiency and quality. The factory will focus on producing microinverters, such as the HMS-2000-4T and HMS-2000DW-4T series, for both residential and commercial solar applications. With an initial annual production capacity of 500,000 units,…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineOPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a brief overview of the major price trends in the global PV industry. September 20, 2024 OPISCell prices were considered stable in the week through Tuesday as the Chinese market remained closed from September 15 to 17 for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Prices for FOB China Mono PERC M10 cells and TOPCon M10 cells remained stable at $0.0354/W, while prices for FOB China Mono PERC G12 cells were assessed unchanged from week to week at $0.0372/W on default of trading activity.Demand was sluggish as market participants were sidelined…

Germany-based Sun-X says it has patented a contamination sensor for PV modules that accurately measures dirt levels, detects yield loss and assesses optimal cleaning times. September 20, 2024 Marian Willuhn By pv magazine GermanyGermany-based Sun-X has received a patent from the European Patent Office for a sensor that detects the contamination level of PV modules.The Sunsoric sensor uses a light source that shines over the surface of the PV module. Dust and dirt particles on the glass reflect light differently than a clean window, and a receiving diode captures this difference for calculation.According to Sun-X, the sensor’s algorithm can assess…

rPlus energies The founder of the Green River Energy Center, a 400 MW solar energy storage and 400 MW/1,600 MWh battery storage project in Eastern Utah. Green River Energy Center, one of the largest solar and storage projects under construction in the country, will supply power to PacifiCorp under a power purchase agreement. Credit: rPlus Energies “This project is being built in rural Utah, by the people of rural Utah and for all of Utah. When rural Utah thrives, the entire state thrives,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said at the groundbreaking. “Today we’re not just breaking new ground – we’re…

The European Commission has given the green light to a €1.2 billion state aid program in Poland that will provide direct subsidies to companies producing solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and other renewable equipment components. September 20, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Guillaume Périgois, UnsplashThe European Commission has approved a €1.2 billion scheme to support investments in renewable equipment in Poland.The aid will provide direct subsidies to companies in Poland producing batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolyzers and carbon capture equipment. It will also support companies that manufacture components or raw materials needed for the production of renewable equipment.Support…

CBS hopes that the collaboration with Triodos Bank will unlock even more investment potential from larger financiers. Image: Solar energy for schools. Ethical investor Triodos Bank UK has provided a £3 million loan to the Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society (CBS). The Solar for Schools CBS will use the senior debt, combined with crowdfunding bond financing, to expand its network of solar-powered schools across the UK. It currently owns and operates more than 150 rooftop installations, but has more than 100 schools on its waiting list. Solar Options for Schools develops and manages the projects for Solar for Schools…

Solar energy on track for another record year: report The solar industry will grow by almost a third by 2024, exceeding forecasts, as it adds 593 gigawatts of additional capacity, most of it in China, according to a report released Thursday by think tank Ember. “This is an increase of 29 percent compared to the previous year, and maintains strong growth after an estimated increase of 87 percent in 2023,” the report said. “Once again, solar is growing faster than people expected as it establishes itself as the cheapest source of electricity globally,” said Euan Graham, electricity data analyst at…

Golden Solar New Energy Technology says its subsidiary, Golden Solar (Quanzhou), has launched a CNY659 million ($93.4 million) joint heterojunction (HJT) solar venture with Longi and JP-Solar Power. September 20, 2024 Valerie Thompson and Vincent Shaw Image: Radiotrefoil, Wikimedia CommonsGolden solar energy technology said its subsidiary, Golden Solar (Quanzhou), has launched a joint venture with module manufacturer Longi and JP-Solar Power, a manufacturer of HJT solar cells and modules. The new company will leverage Golden Solar’s HJT back-contact intellectual property. The CNY659 million company is 52.51% owned by JP-Solar, with Golden Solar (Quanzhou) holding 27.31% and Longi 20.18%.China Electricity Construction…

German software company Autarc launched a platform for residential heat pump projects, which includes design, planning and customer project management functionality. It uses LiDAR imaging to enable heat load and hydraulic balance calculations, as well as visualizations. September 20, 2024 Valerie ThompsonGerman startup Autarc has launched an online platform to make it easier for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals to sell, design and install residential heat pump systems. The software supports the heating planning process, including heating load calculations per room, hydraulic balancing and system design.In addition to project planning and design steps, it enables documentation for regulatory…