Author: solarenergy
In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that the US Midwest experienced exceptional conditions with insolation up to 10% higher than normal year-round, while areas along the Gulf Coast and much of the West Coast received slightly less than average sunshine knew. January 10, 2025 Solcast 2024 presented regional contrasts of solar radiation in the United States. The Midwest experienced exceptional conditions with insolation up to 10% above normal year-round, while areas along the Gulf Coast and much of the West Coast suffered slightlybelow average sunshine. According to analysis using the Solcast APIERCOT and PJM…
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) reflects on the need for tangible DEI practices and inclusive leaders who understand the meaning of equality and diversity to create inclusive environments that recognize individual needs and systemic barriers. Addressing these aspects is crucial to boost innovation, creativity and resilience and to meet the challenges of our sectors in the energy transition. January 10, 2025 Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) As we welcome the new year and visualize the industry’s upcoming challenges and opportunities, this is a perfect opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and explore how we can increase diversity,…
Research examines the effect of wildfire smoke on solar energy generation in the US New findings from Colorado State University show that while wildfire smoke is increasingly blanketing much of the United States, its long-term impact on solar energy generation remains relatively minimal. The study, published in Nature Communications, highlights that the reduction in average solar photovoltaic output due to wildfire smoke is generally modest, except in areas immediately surrounding active fires, where dense smoke plumes dominate. Despite recent intense wildfires, photovoltaic energy generation in the US has shown stability even during extreme events. The CSU-led team used a mix…
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting says TTF gas futures reached their highest settlement price since October 2023 in early January 2025, sending electricity prices higher in several major European markets. January 10, 2025 Patrick Jowett Image: AleaSoft Energy forecast According to AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, the first week of January saw an increase in electricity prices in some major European markets, but a decrease in prices in others. AleaSoft noted an increase in weekly average electricity prices in the Italian, Scandinavian, Portuguese and Spanish markets compared to the previous week. The consultancy recorded a decline in average prices on the Belgian, British, Dutch,…
At CES, AI-powered garbage trucks reduce the risk of battery fires From laptops to EVs, lithium-ion batteries have fueled phenomenal growth in the 21st century, but companies face a significant drawback: increased fire risk. At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), companies unveiled a next-generation garbage truck designed to detect these highly flammable batteries. The innovation comes as the careless disposal of smartphone batteries, electric toothbrushes and other gadgets has become an acute problem at recycling centres. The owner of a New Jersey recycling plant that caught fire early Thursday pointed to batteries as the likely cause. In the United…
The PV market in the European Union (EU) has experienced remarkable growth, driven by the urgent need to transition to renewable energy and enhance energy security. Solar energy has emerged as a cornerstone of EU’s strategy to achieve its climate goals and reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports. These efforts have been supported by policy measures, including financial incentives and revised renewable energy targets from EU member states, making solar PV deployment a key priority across the continent. In 2024, the EU set a new growth benchmark for PV installations, fueled by rising energy demand and increased investments in renewable…
EQT announced that EQT Transition Infrastructure has agreed to acquire Scale Microgrids, a developer, buyer, owner and operator of microgrids and distributed energy resources for commercial and industrial, EV fleet, data center, municipal, university, hospital and agricultural customers , developers and communities , from Warburg Pincus and other existing shareholders. Headquartered in Ridgewood New Jersey, Scale’s portfolio consists of approximately 250 MW of operating and under-construction assets, with an additional 2.5 GW of near-term pipeline. Scale deploys a variety of technologies, including solar, battery storage, natural gas generators, fuel cells and cogeneration, and its portfolio represents one of the largest…
Discovery of green batteries turns waste into treasure The batteries used in our phones, appliances and even cars rely on metals such as lithium and cobalt, sourced from intensive and invasive mining. As more products begin to rely on battery-based energy storage systems, moving away from metal-based solutions will be critical to facilitating the transition to green energy. Now a team from Northwestern University has transformed an organic industrial waste product into an efficient storage medium for sustainable energy solutions that could one day be deployed on a much larger scale. This is the first time that a waste molecule…
Anker introduced an off-grid perovskite umbrella and cooler with battery energy storage at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. January 10, 2025 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA Anker introduced a new solar-powered umbrella at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The umbrella is integrated with thin and foldable perovskite solar cells and supports 100W power via USB-C and XT-60 ports. Perovskite solar cells are an emerging technology that offers an alternative to conventional silicon-based solar cells. While silicon solar cells today have a maximum efficiency of about 24% and a theoretical limit of about 30%,…
An international study led by Flinders University in Australia has advanced nanoscale chemistry to further develop the sustainable and efficient generation of hydrogen from water using solar energy. January 10, 2025 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia An international research team has discovered a new class of kinetically stable ‘core and shell Sn(II) perovskite’ oxide solar material, which could in the future be a potential catalyst for the critical oxygen evolution reaction in producing pollution-free hydrogen energy. Combined with a water splitting catalyst developed by US-based Baylor University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Paul Maggard, the research paves the…