Author: solarenergy

Avangrid, a member of the Iberdrola Group, has teamed up with a fifth-generation Oregon rancher to graze sheep on two solar farms in Oregon and Washington, launching what is likely the largest “sun grazing” operation in the region. Solar grazing is a vegetation management method used at solar energy facilities that uses grazing livestock, such as sheep, instead of machinery. Sheep are effective at limiting the growth of weeds and vegetation, reducing the risk of wildfires and replacing the use of gas-powered machinery. Avangrid began this effort last year with a pilot project at Pachwáywit Fields, Oregon’s largest operating solar…

By pv magazine USAIn the first part of this series, pv magazine assessed the productive lifespan of solar panels, which are quite resilient. In this part, we explore residential solar inverters in their different forms, how long they last, and how resilient they are.The inverter, a device that converts the direct current produced by solar panels into usable alternating current, can come in a number of different configurations. The two main types of inverters in residential applications are string inverters and microinverters. In some applications, string inverters are equipped with module-level power electronics (MLPE) called DC optimizers. Microinverters and DC…

(Photo: GreenSpark Solar) Catalyze has selected an EPC contractor GreenSpark solar energy to build ten community solar projects in New York State, totaling 60 MW. The projects will be funded in part by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority through the NY-Sun program. “Community solar is one of the best ways to bring the energy transition to lower-middle-income communities, a movement that GreenSpark is incredibly passionate about,” said Kevin Schulte, CEO of GreenSpark Solar. “We are excited to support Catalyze’s success in bringing community solar projects online in New York and look…

The third edition of the Sinovoltaics Financial Stability Report rankings lists India-based Abhishek Corp, Insolartion Energy, Waaree Renewable Technologies and Solex Energy, all based in India, followed by US-based First Solar as the top five. Six additional manufacturers entered the global rankings. July 24, 2024 Valerie ThompsonSinovoltaics, a Hong Kong-based technical compliance and quality assurance service company, has released its third quarter earnings Ranking of PV module manufacturers, which has a global reach and includes 65 panel suppliers, 6 more than the previous ranking. The report can be downloaded for free. Results are calculated based on publicly available information from…

Whitbread will receive energy from a variety of solar and wind sources. Image: Pixabay EDF Energy has signed a three-year supply agreement with Whitbread PLC, owner of many well-known hospitality brands including Premier Inn, to supply the company with approximately 340 GWh of energy from solar and wind sources. The agreement is part of Whitbread’s sustainability initiatives. The company’s ‘Force For Good Sustainability Program’, which has received Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) validation, aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 99.6% by 2040 and reduce scope 3 emissions by 90% by 2050. Raghav Singh, director of large businesses at…

Sustainable energy project developer Catalyze has selected GreenSpark solar energy to build and develop 10 projects in New York with a total capacity of 60 MW. The partnership will expand Catalyze’s community solar portfolio in New York, which currently includes the Amherst solar project and additional sites acquired through a recent transaction with BW solar energy. In addition, it will support ongoing initiatives funded with $100 million in funding NY Green Bankfocused on advancing community solar projects across the state. The community solar projects will be funded in part by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).…

Matthew Pennycook, the minister who approved the plans on behalf of the Secretary of State, has been vocal in his support for the development of solar energy in Britain. Image: Cero Generation / Enso Energy. The Secretary of State, Matthew Pennycook, has granted planning permission for a 23MW solar project with 57MW of battery storage to be installed in Warwickshire. It will be operational for 40 years and a revised application for the solar and storage project was submitted in October 2022 by Enso Green Holdings. Enso Energy is a renewable energy developer that recently co-developed the first off-site solar…

Researchers in Malaysia have proposed a new approach to identify the optimal power size ratio to balance PV energy capture with inverter cost. The calibrated model is said to accurately reflect the relationship between inverter efficiency and real-world system behavior. July 24, 2024 Emiliano BelliniResearchers from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka have outlined a techno-economic optimization approach to define the appropriate power sizing ratio (PSR) for inverters used in grid-connected PV systems.The PSR is the ratio between the rated power of the inverter and the total rated power of the connected PV modules and is crucial for maximizing energy yield and…

Maldives is accepting bids from developers to install 15 MWP of solar systems on selected islands under a design, build, finance, own, operate and transfer. The deadline for applications is October 22. July 24, 2024 Patrick Jowett The Ministry of Finance of Maldives is accepting bids for the development of 15 MWP grid-tied solar systems on selected islands of the country.The tender has been split into two lots. The first is for a 2 MW ground-mounted solar system covering the islands of L. Hithadhoo, L. Kunhandhoo, L. Maibaidhoo, L. Maamendhoo, L. Maavah and L. Dhanbidhoo. The second is for a…

A Dutch and American research team performed optical and electrical simulations to understand loss mechanisms in two terminal (2T) tandem cells based on perovskite and commercially available copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) cells, and then established a roadmap to increase efficiency through four key changes. July 24, 2024 Valerie ThompsonA research team led by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has outlined a roadmap for the optimization of monolithic perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells and found that these PV devices can reach a practical efficiency limit of 26.69%.Using TCAD Sentaurus and GenPro4 modeling software, the scientists performed optical and electrical simulations of the…