Author: solarenergy
Total corporate financing in the solar industry reached $22.3 billion in the first nine months of 2024, down 23% year-over-year. Mercom Capital Group says global uncertainties are eroding investor confidence, but an increase in debt financing and the resilience of newly announced large-scale project financing are bright spots for the sector. October 17, 2024 Patrick Jowett According to figures from Mercom Capital Group, total corporate financing in the solar sector amounted to $22.3 billion in the first nine months of 2024. The total figure, which includes venture capital/private equity, public market and debt financing, represents a 23% year-over-year decline compared…
A policy document from SolarPower Europe and the Nature Conservancy says clear policies are needed at EU level to define, incentivize and scale up nature-inclusive solar projects. October 17, 2024 Patrick Jowett A new one policy document calls for a cross-sectoral EU policy framework to support the development of nature-inclusive solar farms that mitigate the effects of climate change and contribute to nature’s recovery. The article, published by SolarPower Europe and the Nature Conservancy, defines nature-inclusive solar energy as projects that avoid the conversion of protected natural areas, are developed on land with low biodiversity value and contribute to biodiversity…
Solis USA recently announced the UL9540 listing of the S6 Hybrid Energy Storage Inverter with a new battery partner, Pytes. UL 9540 is a safety standard for energy storage systems (ESS) and equipment that can be connected to a local electrical grid or used as a standalone application. UL 9540 also specifies sizing and installation requirements for the design and construction of ESS. It defines electrical, mechanical, fluid containment and environmental performance testing, as well as system safety testing. “Solis’ technology and quality enable us to meet the standards and requirements of battery suppliers. This continues to grow our open…
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through its Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced an $861.3 million loan guarantee to finance the construction of two photovoltaic (PV) farms equipped with battery storage and two stand-alone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Puerto Rico. The facilities will be located in the municipalities of Guayama (Jobos) and Salinas and will help deliver clean, reliable and affordable power to communities throughout Puerto Rico. The borrower is Clean Flexible Energy, an indirect subsidiary of The AES Corporation (AES) and TotalEnergies Holdings USA, which is operated…
The new coating, developed by scientists in Poland, uses transparent silicone epoxy modified with functionalized octaspherosilicates. The researchers created five samples, each with a different combination of chemicals, and found that ice adhesion was reduced by up to 43%, while the freeze delay time was increased by up to 70 times. October 17, 2024 Lior Kahana A group of scientists from Poland have developed a new anti-icing layer for PV panels. The new coating is based on transparent silicone epoxy modified with two or three functionalized octaspherosilicates (OSS). Octaspherosilicates are a class of organosilicon compounds with a customizable structure that…
The system can reportedly reduce electricity costs in aquaculture. It consists of an open pond, a mechanical paddle wheel, a motor and power transmission system, a motor speed control circuit, a 100 W photovoltaic module and a 12 V battery with a capacity of 60 Ah, an inverter and a 10 W battery. -A charge controller. October 17, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Scientists from the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) and Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) in Iran has designed a PV system for the co-production of microalgae and electricity. They explained that aquaculture facilities typically have high…
Researchers from Canada’s Western University reviewed eighteen case studies in thirteen US states and found an economic case for disconnecting from the grid in some areas with high solar radiation and high electricity rates. They say economic networks and utility death spirals are becoming salient issues in the US. October 17, 2024 Patrick Jowett People living in solar-heavy locations in the United States could be better off financially cutting ties with the grid and generating electricity using hybrid systems based on solar energy, batteries and generators, according to new research. The research paper “The threat of the disappearance of the…
The £5 million loan is the first of its kind in Europe. Image: Westmill Solar Westmill Solar Co-Operative has completed Europe’s first ever cross-border cooperative solar energy investment for a community energy project. In collaboration with a number of energy cooperatives in Spain, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom, Westmill Solar Co-operative has entered into an innovative financing agreement with REScoop Mutual for European Communities Investing in a Sustainable Europe (MECISE). Westmill Solar Co-Operative has secured the £5 million loan over ten years to refinance the 5MW Westmill Solar community energy project in Oxfordshire, England. This new injection of funding…
JinkoSolar says it has supplied 3 GW of modules for two Acwa Power projects in Saudi Arabia, using the n-type Tiger Neo series 78 and series 66 solar panels. October 17, 2024 Patrick Jowett Chinese solar panel manufacturer JinkoSolar will supply approximately 3 GW of its tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar panels to Saudi Arabia after signing a supply agreement with Acwa Power. The contract includes two sub-projects within the Saudi PIF4 project group, which is supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The first, the 1.2 GW Haden photovoltaic solar power plant, will use JinkoSolar’s n-type Tiger…
The battery industry is experiencing a seismic shift with advances in prismatic cell technology, led by companies like Cornex, which promise to reimagine energy storage solutions. October 17, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Image: pv magazine/John Fitzgerald Weaver By ESS news We are in the middle of a battery revolution. Multiple layers of intertwined learning curves are converging, creating substantial market changes: falling prices, advancing technologyAnd scaling capabilities. These elements combine to produce ever greater technological marvels. A recent Cornex exhibition at RE+ in Anaheim prominently featured a key aspect of this revolution: prismatic battery cells. Cornex showed a range of lithium…