Author: solarenergy
ABB Motion has unveiled a new solar drive for water pumps, with integrated Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) logic to maximize operation, with input voltage ranging from 225 V to 800 V. April 17, 2024 Lior Kahana ABB Motion, the motor company of Swiss-Swedish electrical equipment manufacturer ABB, has released a new solar power drive for water pumps.The ACQ80 Variable Speed Drive (VSD) system features built-in MPPT logic to maximize energy input from the connected panels.“A key feature is the built-in MPPT logic combined with a wide input voltage range from 225 to 800 VDC,” ABB Motion said in a…
The US-based company announced plans to phase out its residential solar installation sites and close its direct sales unit. April 25, 2024 Ryan KennedyBy pv magazine USASunPower, a provider of residential solar, energy storage and EV charging, has announced it will close business segments as it restructures to reduce costs.The company’s shares are currently trading 96% lower than ever and are down 86% in the past year. SunPower’s revenues reported last December reflected a 28% year-over-year decline, while operating expenses increased and net income resulted in a loss of $123.9 million.The battle reflects a market-wide retreat from the residential solar…
Spain’s Soltec has developed a new dual-row, single-axis tracker with a tracking range of up to 60 degrees, offering compatibility with 60-cell, 72-cell and 78-cell modules. April 19, 2024 Lior KahanaSoltec, a vertically integrated Spanish PV company, said in a recent statement that it has launched a new 125-meter horizontal dual-row, single-axis solar tracking system. The SFOneX system has a tracking range of 55 degrees and there is an option to upgrade this to 60 degrees.“With its self-powered system, equipped with a special panel and a long-lasting battery, the SFOneX guarantees up to four days of autonomous operation without sunlight,”…
Dutch module manufacturer Solarge has raised €3 million in venture capital from new and existing investors to expand its recently opened factory, where it produces lightweight, low-carbon panels for commercial and industrial roofs. April 25, 2024 Valerie ThompsonDutch solar panel manufacturer Solarge has raised €3 million ($3.24 million) to increase production capacity at its recently inaugurated manufacturing facility in Weert. The company produces panels that weigh less than 6 kg/m2 and are made without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These products are suitable for commercial and industrial (C&I) roofs that cannot support heavier, conventional PV installations.“Our current line is 100…
GameChange Solar, a US-based tracker supplier, has announced the construction of a 3 GW tracker factory in Saudi Arabia, with plans for potential expansion to 5 GW in the future. April 24, 2024 Vincent Shaw GameChange Solar, a Connecticut-based provider of solar tracking solutions for ground-mounted PV installations, is partnering with China-based PV manufacturer Jiangsu Zhenjiang New Energy Equipment (JZNEE) to build a 3 GW tracker factory in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.The facility will have an initial capacity of up to 3 GW, with the potential for expansion up to 5 GW. It is scheduled to be commissioned in June 2024.…
The Chinese manufacturer launched two new module series for utility-scale applications. The new products have a temperature coefficient of -0.24% per C and a bifaciality factor of more than 85%. April 25, 2024 Emiliano BelliniChinese heterojunction (HJT) solar module manufacturer Huasun this week launched two new series of solar panels for ground-mounted PV applications.The company said the new products feature zero-busbar (0BB) technology. “Huasun’s approach mainly involves welding and dispensing, combining benefits such as stronger adhesion, improved hot spot resistance and elimination of carrier film,” the company said in a statement. “Huasun uses a simpler two-step screen printing (SP) technology…
From hail storms to flooding, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across the globe. Therefore, solar companies must take certain precautions to protect PV equipment and ensure solar panel durability in extreme weather. “We have a choice to build solar systems that can provide reliable electricity even when we have extreme weather damaging the grid,” said Dirk Jordan, senior reliability engineer for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “Certifications, including education and utilizing the best practices for regional extreme weather, will pay for themselves with cost-saving electricity.” Solar panel durability encompasses weather resistance, mechanical strength, equipment longevity, reliability, resistance…
In light of climate change and rising energy costs, more and more people are turning to renewable energy sources such as solar energy to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy bills. For renters, however, the idea of installing solar panels on a property they don’t own can seem daunting or even impossible. But fear not! Integrating solar energy into one rent apartment is indeed feasible and can benefit both tenants and landlords. In this article, we explore some of the key benefits of solar energy and provide some tips on how renters can integrate solar energy solutions…
Quantum material reaches an efficiency of up to 190% in solar cells Researchers at Lehigh University have developed a material that significantly improves the efficiency of solar panels. A prototype incorporating this material as the active layer in a solar cell exhibits an average photovoltaic absorption rate of 80%, a high rate of photoexcited carrier generation, and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) that can reach 190%. This figure exceeds the theoretical Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for silicon-based materials, advancing the field of quantum materials for solar photovoltaics. This work represents a major advance in sustainable energy solutions, said Chinedu Ekuma, professor…
New organic tandem solar cell with four terminals achieves an energy conversion efficiency of 16.94% ICFO researchers have fabricated a new four-terminal organic solar cell with a tandem configuration with an energy conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.94%. The new device consists of a highly transparent front cell containing a transparent ultra-thin silver (Ag) electrode of only 7 nm, which ensures efficient operation. Organic dual-terminal solar cells (OSCs) represent one of the most promising approaches to address the transmission and thermalization losses in single-junction solar cells. These organic solar cells consist of front and rear subcells with varying band gaps, allowing…