Author: solarenergy
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has its 1st Quarter 2024 Edition of “The 50 States of Solar.” The quarterly series provides insight into regulatory and legislative discussions and actions in distributed solar policy, with an emphasis on net metering, distributed solar rating, community solar, residential fixed charges, demand and residential, third-party owned and utility-directed solar loads. rooftop solar programs. Policy action in Q1 2024 on net metering, rate design and solar ownership The report shows that 43 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have taken some form of policy action on distributed solar by the…
Solar Power World has dedicated its March 2024 coverage to installation tips for solar contractors big and small. You can read the rest of our Q&As in the magazine and online here. For insight into the “hand-held tool” segment, SPW talked with Mark Kelly, senior product manager at Milwaukee Tool, to learn more about the various tools used in the installation of solar projects, from residential rooftop arrays on up to utility-scale facilities with millions of bolts. Milwaukee recently released a new torque impact wrench developed with input from utility-scale solar installers. What benefits does it bring? Credit: Milwaukee Tool…
Tequs said its new plug-and-play heat pump can provide up to 90C heat for space heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water. The new product is available in eight versions with power ranging from 17 kW to 268 kW. April 25, 2024 Emiliano BelliniNorway-based Tequs launched a new water-to-water, plug-and-play CO2 heat pump for residential and commercial applications.”Our new one heat pumps are modular and can be used in parallel to achieve higher capacities,” says company CEO Joakim Søgård. pv magazine. “The units are pre-filled with CO2 and oil and are ready to use. The machines are very user-friendly thanks…
Baud Resources, a clean technology startup, has developed a gravity energy storage mechanism that uses locally available materials such as sand and industrial waste as payload. The company is building a 100 MWh pilot plant that will reportedly offer storage costs of approximately INR 2.5 ($0.03)/kWh. April 25, 2024 Uma GuptaBy pv magazine IndiaBaud Resources, an IIT Kanpur-incubated deep-tech startup, has developed a new approach to gravity-based energy storage that runs on gravitational potential energy without the need for water, dams or hills, unlike pumped hydro storage.The mechanism can be implemented in any location (plains, desert or sub-zero climate). It…
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…