Author: solarenergy

Customized innovations for fault detection in sustainable electricity grids As renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind generators become an increasingly important part of tomorrow’s electricity grids, new innovations in fault detection are essential. NJIT Associate Professor Joshua Taylor and his team are leading the charge to adapt these technologies to the evolving landscape. Traditional electricity grids rely on fault detection methods suitable for synchronous generation, such as gas-fired power stations. However, these methods fall short when applied to inverter-based renewable energy systems. In synchronous networks, faults are easy to detect due to abrupt changes in voltage, allowing…

The German research institute is working to develop advanced, high-resolution material and thin-film characterization methods that could evolve into a range of simplified and rapid measurement procedures for routine use in intellectual property research. September 2, 2024 Valerie ThompsonThe German Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics (Fraunhofer CSP) is developing a range of high-resolution material and thin-film microscopic and nanoscopic characterization methods for use in the analysis of patent infringements on higher efficiency solar PV products.The work is part of a project known in Germany as IP-Schutz. The project, which will run until March 2027, will provide researchers with the necessary…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that Australia experienced extreme and diverse weather in July and August, resulting in varying solar radiation impacts across the country’s states. August 30, 2024 SolcastUnstable polar vortex conditions and persistent high-pressure systems led to a season of extreme weather events across Australia in July and August, resulting in both record-breaking cold and heat. These dynamic weather patterns had mixed impacts on solar radiation, with significant differences between different regions, according to an analysis using the Solcast API.July was a challenging month for solar across most of Australia’s National…

Researchers discover a surprising way to improve battery performance The very first charge of a lithium-ion battery is more important than it sounds. It determines how well and how long the battery will work from then on – specifically, how many cycles of charge and discharge the battery can handle before deteriorating. In a study published in Joule, researchers at the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center report that giving batteries the first charge with unusually high currents extends their average lifespan by 50%, while reducing initial charge time from 10 hours to just 20 minutes . Just as importantly, the researchers were…

Alaska residents have access to community solar energy thanks to a new law. The federal government announces new efforts to protect residential solar customersWashington, DC The federal government has initiated a multi-agency effort to address predatory business practices in the residential solar industry. The U.S. Treasury Department, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission are encouraging consumers to file complaints, releasing new educational information for homeowners seeking solar energy quotes and more. DOE loan office backs Qcells with $1.45 billion for new solar panel factoryWashington, DC The Dept. Loan Programs Office of Energy announced a conditional commitment for a…

AI-powered process reveals chemical keys to solar energy advances Artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative tool in research, but the inability to explain its decision-making process – often referred to as the “AI black box” – poses a significant challenge. However, an interdisciplinary research team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has addressed this problem by integrating AI with automated chemical synthesis and experimental validation. Their efforts have uncovered the chemical principles that AI used to improve molecules designed for harvesting solar energy. The team’s approach resulted in light-trapping molecules that are four times more stable than the original…

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives the voice to Laure-Aline Baheux, Power & Renewables BL Manager at Omexom – Vinci Energies. She says companies need to ask themselves why they need more women and consider the challenges of recruiting and retaining women. “It is essential to adapt the range of vacancies and career paths. For example, we recognize that women often only apply for jobs if they meet more qualifications than men,” she says. August 30, 2024 Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu)The renewable energy sector has been a journey of growth, learning and overcoming unique challenges. Unlike many…

Stäubli Electrical Connectors has introduced a new product family of large format PV cable connectors. The new BosCon connectors are fully cULus certified to UL 6703 and CSA C22.2 182.5, “Connectors for use in photovoltaic systems.” They are designed for carrying high current in harsh and outdoor environments in the PV power and EV industries. BosCon connectors are specifically designed for electrical balancing systems (eBOS), trunk cables, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and EV charging systems. “We designed the BosCon line to meet the need within the North American PV market to create large format cable connections, both as pre-made…

Swiss-based energy producer MET Group has completed construction of a 23.4 MW solar project in eastern Hungary. It will generate enough energy to power approximately 13,000 local homes and has a life expectancy of 30 years. August 30, 2024 Patrick Jowett MET Group has built its second solar power plant in Hungary, in the eastern city of Kaba.The MET Kaba II solar park is located next to the company’s first solar park in Hungary, which was commissioned in 2021. It has more than 33,000 solar panels spread over 31 hectares. This was stated by a spokesperson for the MET Group…

NASA’s Europa Clipper equipped with huge solar panels for the Jupiter mission NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, the largest ever built for planetary exploration, is equipped with an array of giant solar panels at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. These arrays, each measuring approximately 14.2 meters in length and 4.1 meters in height, are the largest NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission. Their size is crucial to harness the maximum amount of sunlight as the spacecraft explores Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, which is five times further from the sun than Earth. Folded and secured for launch, when deployed…