Author: solarenergy

Bechtel has been selected by Rio Tinto to design and build the Copperton Phase 2 Solar project, which will support operations at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott open-pit copper mine in Utah. Solar panels at the first solar project outside the copper mine in Utah. Credit: Rio Tinto “We are pleased to build on our long-standing partnership with Rio Tinto by expanding into clean energy,” said Scott Austin, Bechtel General Manager Renewables & Clean Power. “This project demonstrates climate commitments in action, and we look forward to working together on this innovative renewable energy solution.” When completed in late 2025, the Copperton…

PowerChina has launched a 52 GW procurement plan for 2025, which includes solar panels, inverters and 16 GW of energy storage systems. November 14, 2024 Vincent Shaw Chinese energy and infrastructure developer PowerChina has announced its 2025 procurement plan, aiming to acquire 51 GW of solar panels and inverters, along with 16 GWh of energy storage systems (ESS) for its renewable energy projects. The solar tender is divided into three lots, covering self-financed and contracted projects with n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and heterojunction (HJT) modules. Inverter procurement is split into centralized and string inverters, and the energy storage…

Maxeon Solar Technologies today released an update on its Mexico-assembled solar panels that have been held at the U.S. border by Customs & Border Protection (CBP) for months. CBP reviews solar panel supply chains at all import points and ensures compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Although Maxeon says the company has “completely and transparently mapped its supply chains” and has no documented link to forced labor in China, CBP continues to detain Maxeon panels originating from its assembly plants in Mexico due to “a lack of sufficient documentation to compliance.” Maxeon outgoing CEO Bill Mulligan commented:…

If approved, construction could begin as early as 2029. Image: Andreas Gücklhorn via Unsplash Renewable energy developer Low Carbon has announced plans for a 500MW solar and energy storage project in Kent. The company announced yesterday (November 13) that it is in the early stages of developing the South Kent Energy Park project proposals and has begun the first phase of community outreach. The early engagement with the local community near the village of Old Romney will run from November 12 to December 20, 2024, with local people invited to share their feedback online and at in-person events during this…

China Three Gorges Corp. has nearly completed a 180 MW offshore solar power plant, designed to be typhoon-proof, off the coast of China. November 14, 2024 Emiliano Bellini said PowerChina it has completed about 70% of the Dongshan Xingchen offshore photovoltaic power plant near Zhangzhou, China’s Fujian province. The 180 MW project, covering 203 hectares, will be China’s first offshore PV installation designed for high wind speeds and the first project on the Fujian tidal flats. China Three Gorges Corp., a state-owned enterprise, will own and operate the facility. “The annual average wind speed in the area is 5.2 m/s…

Tech’s green wave hits rough waters Tech entrepreneurs have been selling the dream that we can save the planet without changing the way we do things for years, but the current focus on innovation is dividing experts and investors. The tech industry loves splashy world-saving ideas and spends billions on the hunt for new energy sources, often clashing with calls from activists and experts to simply use less energy. This week’s Web Summit in Lisbon, one of Europe’s biggest technology events, gave top billing to a Californian company called Twelve, which claims it can make sustainable jet fuel from the…

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) will review the final initial decision made in August regarding a patent infringement investigation involving Shoals Technologies Group connectors. Voltage LYNX On August 30, the ITC made its initial determination of violation of Sec. 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, finding that Voltage infringed patents for solar panel connectors related to Shoals’ Big Lead Assembly (BLA) connectors and wiring harnesses. The ITC found that the voltage Sec. 337 by importing infringing LYNX trunk bus products into the United States. This is related to Shoals patent No. 11,689,153. But now the ITC will reassess…

A study by the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems shows that deploying color-matched solar panels on the roof or facade of a building further increases the social acceptance of building-integrated photovoltaic solar energy (BIPV). November 14, 2024 Patrick Jowett Matching the color of solar panels to the roof or facade of the building on which they are installed could further increase the social acceptance of building-integrated solar photovoltaics (BIPV), according to new research. The joint research by the Institute of Psychology of the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems…

Purchasing platform Anza has expanded its platform capabilities to enable solar panel buyers to find domestic solar panels for their projects. Anza has more than 95% of the module supply market on its platform, giving developers real-time visibility into all available solar panels, including domestically produced products from 10 manufacturers for delivery in the 2025-2026 period. Nine additional US suppliers are being tracked. Anza’s extensive platform features enable real-time updates on the availability of new domestic modules. The Anza platform also provides data-driven insights to determine whether a domestic content module is worth the price premium and whether it is…

The site could have a capacity of as much as 750MW. Image: Mariana Proença via Unsplash Solar energy developer Green Nation has announced plans to develop a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) for solar and energy storage in South Yorkshire. The Whitestone Solar Farm, which will be located between Rotherham and Doncaster, is currently in the early stages of development. The first public consultation will start on November 18 and run until January 17, 2025. A representative of the project confirmed that Solar energy portal that the eventual development could supply up to 750 MW to the National Grid, while…