Author: solarenergy
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to María Santa María, head of projects at BayWa re Iberia. She says diversity and inclusion deserve to be central to a company’s hiring practices and board representation. She also argues that organizations and industry stakeholders have much to gain by explicitly and openly prioritizing equity and inclusion to create a more inclusive environment for women and other underrepresented groups. May 31, 2024 Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu)In many ways, the solar and energy storage industry tends to be more open to women than some traditional industries. And curiously, the green…
Giant lithium partnership created in Chile Chilean copper giant Codelco signed a deal with SQM on Friday to nearly double the private mining company’s current extraction of lithium, a key mineral for the global transition to cleaner energy. Codelco is the world’s largest copper producer, and SQM is a leader in lithium, also known as “white gold.” The agreement provides for the creation of a public-private partnership “that will take responsibility for the production of refined lithium in the Salar de Atacama from 2025 to 2060,” the companies said in a statement. The Salar de Atacama, in the desert of…
From pv magazine 05/24Around 20 years ago, when the global PV industry was in its infancy, China’s involvement in it was minimal. Technological expertise was concentrated in the Western world, particularly in the universities and technology companies of Europe. At that time, PV power plants were a rare sight across China’s vast landscape.Fast forward to the present day and the industry’s landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. Data from trade body the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) reveal that China’s share of global production capacity for key components such as polysilicon, silicon wafers, solar cells, and PV modules exceeded 80%…
A team of researchers developed a methodological framework for assessing solar potential at airports and applied it to seven Indian airports. They found the greatest potential at an airport in Raipur, central India, where they say an array of at least 21 MW could be installed without compromising customer experience or safety. May 31, 2024 Patrick JowettA team of researchers has created a methodological framework that assesses the potential of installing solar energy at airports.In the research paper “Greening of airports: a methodological framework for assessing sites and assessing solar energy potential,” published in Results in technologyAccording to the researchers,…
The Pantymoch site in Port Talbot, Wales, is another part of Recurrent Energy’s growing UK portfolio. Image: Returning energy. Recurrent Energy, a global solar and energy storage developer and a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, has announced the sale of its 49.9 MWp Middle Road solar project in Harbury, Warwickshire, to Centrica Business Solutions. The subsidy-free project, which will be built this summer, will be put into use in 2025. The Middle Road project is just one part of Recurrent Energy’s growing UK pipeline, which has more than 2.6 GWp of solar PV and 6.7 GWh of battery storage projects. This…
The European Commission has approved €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) for hydrogen projects, investing in thirteen initiatives under the fourth Major Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), to advance hydrogen technology in mobility and transport applications . May 31, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Guillaume Périgois, UnsplashThe European Commission has approved a fourth IPCEI to support research, innovation and industrial deployment in the hydrogen value chain.The IPCEI Hy2Move project was jointly prepared by Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain. Member States will provide up to €1.4 billion in public funds, approved by the commission under EU state aid rules,…
The White House today announced a joint policy statement and new principles for responsible participation in voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), which the administration said “codifies the U.S. government’s approach to advancing high-integrity VCMs.” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack signed the principles and declaration, along with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy John Podesta, National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. The White House said the signed Principles and Statement “represent the U.S. government’s commitment to advancing the responsible development of VCMs, with clear incentives and guardrails to ensure…
By using 600% less voltage to produce hydrogen, a research team from the University of Illinois at Chicago has developed a new method of splitting water. May 31, 2024 Ryan KennedyResearchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) have developed a new method to produce hydrogen gas from water using solar energy and agricultural waste such as manure or peel. The researchers said the method reduces the amount of energy needed to make hydrogen fuel by 600%. The results are presented in the study “Sub-volt conversion of activated biochar and water for H2 near-equilibrium production via biochar-assisted water electrolysis”, which…
The Vermont Public Utility Commission has issued the required update to the state’s net metering program. As a result of the adjustments, future net metering systems that apply for permits on or after August 1, 2024 will see a small net decrease in compensation – less than three-quarters of a cent – compared to what existing systems receive today. Most existing net metering systems will see compensation increase by 7.33% due to concurrent statewide electricity rate increases. Every two years, the commission must recalculate the value of the bill credit that net metering customers receive for the energy produced by…
New company for AC and smart modules Solvari has announced that its Solvari SR solar panel for the residential market meets UL/CSA 61730 and UL 2703 certification testing. Solvari has also completed testing through NREL to ensure a 25-year performance life. The Solvari SR AC module has pre-installed brackets on the corners and includes a pre-attached microinverter. The frameless panel has a power of 365 W with an efficiency of 20.22%. It weighs 57 lbs and measures 70.61 by 42.38 inches. The microinverter is a BDM-300 with a white label from NEP. Solvari SR can also be designed as a…