Author: solarenergy

Norway’s REC Silicon says it has completed construction of the restarted Moses Lake plant and will ship its first commercial polysilicon from the site in mid-October. September 16, 2024 Patrick Jowett REC Silicon, a Norwegian producer of silane gas and silicon, has said it will make its first commercial shipment of ultra-high purity polysilicon from its newly restarted Moses Lake facility in Washington state in October.The company said the plant is “running well” and meeting production volumes for commercial shipments, with impurities reduced to customer acceptable levels.However, shipping has been delayed until mid-October due to a final qualification step by…

Molecular adjustments increase the efficiency of organic solar cells Organic solar cells (OSCs) offer a promising alternative to traditional inorganic solar cells, thanks to features such as tunable chemistry that allow scientists to fine-tune their properties for better performance. Researchers in Japan have now used this tunability to achieve higher energy conversion efficiency in OSCs. A recent study published in ‘Angewandte Chemie International Edition’ by researchers from Osaka University reports the development of a new organic semiconductor that surpasses the energy conversion efficiency of standard models. OSCs are lightweight, flexible and can be mass-produced at relatively low cost, making them…

The US Trade Representative has decided that it will expand tariffs on solar energy components, batteries, semiconductors, steel and electric vehicles from China. September 16, 2024 Ryan KennedyBy pv magazine USAThe U.S. Trade Representative decided to maintain Section 301 tariffs on goods shipped from China. The rates include 25% on batteries and steel, 50% tariffs on semiconductorsand a 100% tariff on Chinese EV imports. The agency said many of the tariffs will take effect on September 27. The Section 301 tariffs categorize semiconductors into two main groups: polysilicon for solar panels and silicon wafers, which are often used in computers.…

Array technologiesa global provider of utility-scale solar tracking, has integrated 77° stowage options for its tracker systems, providing new protection against both hail and wind conditions. As the solar industry and insurance partners increasingly need risk management strategies due to the increasing frequency of multi-million dollar hail damage, the need for reliable and effective hail mitigation has never been greater. By placing the tracker-compatible modules at a high angle, the risk of damage from approaching hail is significantly reduced. “Array continues to invest in new technology in the name of preparation, ensuring our trackers are built to thrive in any…

Researchers in the United Kingdom have presented a new heat pump system that can prevent heat input from being reduced during defrosting operations. The proposed concept can reportedly perform defrosting operations while ensuring continuous heating by condensing the refrigerant in the matte evaporator. September 16, 2024 Emiliano BelliniA group of researchers from the University of Glasgow and the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom have presented an experimental flexible heat pump concept that can perform a defrost operation while avoiding a reduction in heat supply when the refrigerant condenses in the frozen evaporator.The novelty of the proposed approach consists…

Envertech says it has developed microinverters for PV systems that support up to 60 modules, allowing up to four modules per unit with separate maximum power tracking. September 16, 2024 Ralph DiermannBy pv magazine GermanyChina-based power electronics manufacturer Envertech has developed new microinverters for residential PV systems with up to 60 modules.Envertech said the microinverters offer benefits in fire protection, installation, yield, maintenance and longevity. Each module has its own Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), which improves electricity production in shaded areas. String inverters, on the other hand, reduce the efficiency of the entire system if one module is in…

The government agreed an enterprise value of £630 million to acquire the ESO from National Grid, subject to customary closure arrangements. Image: National Network. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced last week (September 13) that the government has acquired National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO). From October 1, the UK’s energy system will be in public hands, overseen by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), which will be chaired by former E.ON CEO Dr Paul Golby. DESNZ says NESO will work with Great British Energy to deploy renewable energy and help connect new generation projects to…

Paxos Solar has developed a new glass-glass PV tile that can be integrated with heat pumps, using Longi’s back-contact solar cells. The 44W, 59.5cm x 48cm tile can also produce heat for residential systems. September 16, 2024 Cornelia LichnerBy pv magazine GermanyPaxos Solar, a German specialist in building-integrated photovoltaic solar energy (BIPV), has developed a new solar tile that not only generates electricity, but also produces heat for heat pumps.The tile is a small glass-glass module measuring 59.5 cm x 48 cm and provides a power of 44 W. Approximately 4.3 tiles would be installed per square meter, giving a…

This development is the largest standalone BESS approved in Scotland. Image: Apatura Energy. Energy storage specialist Apatura has been granted planning permission for a 700 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Inverclyde, Scotland. Once completed, the Aunchetiber BESS will be Scotland’s largest standalone BESS, while it will also be the largest project for which Apatura has received approval for its 10GW pipeline. The BESS will be sited on approximately 16.39 hectares of land near Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, with consent for the construction of 240 BESS units, 140 BESS transformers, 280 BESS inverters, three 33 kV switch rooms, a 400…

A research team from the Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST) in South Korea has designed a wireless, transparent solar cell and module with all electrical contacts placed on the back. A 16 cm² module achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 14.7% and successfully charged a smartphone using natural sunlight. September 16, 2024 Patrick Jowett Researchers from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have fabricated a new transparent solar cell and module.The team’s design consists of an all-back-contact (ABC) configuration, with all electrical contacts…