Author: solarenergy

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said it is still reviewing more than 1,100 public comments regarding its May 28 announcement to change Section 301 tariffs on a range of Chinese products, including a new focus on sun products. President Biden directed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to add or increase tariffs on certain Chinese products, including: Electric vehicles – increased to 100% by 2024 Solar cells (assembled or not into modules) – increased to 50% in 2024 Lithium-ion batteries for non-electric vehicles – increased to 25% by 2026 Steel and aluminum products — increased to 25% by…

Smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies has cracked the construction markets in the Middle East and India after signing a five-year deal with Qatar’s largest glass and facade manufacturer. August 1, 2024 Ev FoleyBy pv magazine AustraliaWestern Australia-based integrated solar glazing technology company Clearvue Technologies has added Aluminum Technology Auxiliary Industries (Alutec), Qatar to its growing global list of licensed manufacturers and distributors.Under the agreement, Alutec will produce and distribute ClearvuePV Solar Vision Glass, a product that integrates solar technology into building facades to improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and will receive distribution rights for Clearvue’s building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions…

Vaisala, a Finnish supplier of weather, environmental and industrial measurement products, began construction on a state-of-the-art U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Colorado, that would demonstrate sustainability – and S-5! solar energy attachments helped the company achieve its goals. Vaisala’s new headquarters in Louisville, Colorado features a vertical solar project mounted to the building’s facade with S-5! metal roof attachments. The project would construct a new building that would be seamlessly integrated with the existing one, creating an indoor-outdoor campus. Inspired by the minimalist design of the Scandinavian headquarters, the new structure embodies modernity and prioritises eco-consciousness. Specifically, the project achieves net-zero…

In 2022, the residential solar market set its fifth consecutive quarterly growth record in the United States. This shows that homeowners generally recognize the benefits of solar panels. While encouraging, the same cannot be said for residential batteries – yet. In fact, a recent FranklinWH survey of 1,000 U.S. adults revealed that more than half (56%) of consumers will admit they aren’t familiar with the benefits of residential energy storage. Setting the stage: Identifying the common misconceptions While the responsibility to educate homeowners falls on the entire industry, installers and solar professionals must be prepared for kitchen table conversations about…

Portugal’s Ministry of Energy has allocated €99.75 million ($107.6 million) for grid flexibility and energy storage projects to be installed by the end of 2025. August 1, 2024 Marija Maisch By ESS newsPortugal is trying to promote flexibility and balance its energy system with energy storage, as the country continues to break records in solar energy production. To that end, the country’s Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday that it has allocated €99.75 million ($107.6 million) in an effort to support 500 MW of energy storage projects.Eligible projects can receive up to €30 million and can be developed at both…

The new framework, called SolarNet+, would calculate the PV potential of cities not only by finding the orientation of roofs in spatial images, but also by identifying superstructures such as windows or chimneys. It was tested using aerial photographs from Munich and Brussels and found to be superior to reference frames. August 1, 2024 Lior KahanaA group of scientists from Germany have developed a new deep learning-based method for the potential of city-scale PV rooftops based on aerial imagery. The novelty of the proposed technique consists in the possibility of considering superstructures on roofs.“Those parts of the roof surface may…

Install, the parent company of rooftop solar mounting companies such as IronRidge, Esdec and PanelClaw, has acquired Schletter Group, a German supplier of solar mounting systems. Schletter’s current shareholders, Avenue Capital Group and Robus Capital, will become minority shareholders in Enstall to support the company’s long-term strategic plans, in partnership with existing shareholders Blackstone and Rivean Capital. Schletter’s headquarters in Germany. Schletter “On behalf of the Enstall team, I would like to welcome all Schletter employees to the Enstall family,” said Stijn Vos, CEO of Enstall. “Schletter is Germany’s long-standing solar installation champion, with a strong reputation for quality and…

Nautilus Solar Energy announces the opening of the first community solar project developed on a former Defense Used Land (FUDS). Located near the Northeastern Industrial Park in Guilderland, Albany County, New York, this innovative initiative demonstrates the transformation of a liability into a significant environmental asset. The 2.8 MW project will provide clean energy to more than 260 New York households and anchor subscribers in National Grid’s utility footprint. “The successful development of this community solar park on a FUDS site sets a new precedent in sustainable energy projects. It is a proud moment for Nautilus as we contribute to…

Between January and May 2024, the value of imported solar cells and modules fell to just under €605 million compared to the same period last year, and the value of exported PV products also fell to €216 million. For the first quarter, the Federal Statistical Office reports a drastic drop in the number of modules manufactured in Germany to just under 495,600. August 1, 2024 Sandra EnkhardtBy pv magazine GermanyIn 2023, Germany imported almost €3.6 billion worth of PV systems, mainly solar cells and modules. Compared to the previous year, the value fell by 12.5%, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis)…

Anna Perry, CEO of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, emphasized the importance of a sustainable organisation. Image: BEC. Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC) is working with Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) to build a 240 kWp rooftop array at the airbase. According to the groups, the plant is expected to produce more than 200,000 kWh annually, reducing annual bills for the air ambulance charity. It is part of the South West Local Solar Scheme (SWLSS) project pipeline. “It is really exciting to see the project at GWAAC becoming a reality,” said Helen Martin, CEO of BEC. “Through the solar installation…