Author: solarenergy
The Saudi Power Procurement Company has announced its list of 33 prequalified bidders for its massive 2 GW/8 GWh BESS tender. January 2, 2025 Tristan Rayner Saudi Arabia has stepped up its targets for renewable energy generation capacity with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 Image: Nextracker By ESS news The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has released a list of 33 prequalified bidders Tender for 2 GW/8 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).. The tender, structured as a build-own-operate model, attracted major international players including Masdar, ACWA Power, EDF, TotalEnergies, Jinko Power and more. Prominent…
As the penetration of variable renewable energy increases, the curtailment of solar PV generation will only increase. Because curtailment will almost always be cheaper than investing in new transmission capacity or new grid-scale storage, curtailed energy must be rewarded so that PV investment decisions can include curtailment as one of the flexibility options for grid operators. January 2, 2025 International Solar Energy Association (ISES) Solar PV is experiencing unprecedented growth on a global scale. According to studies by IRENA, IEA, GEM, WNA and GWEC, the world’s total installed solar capacity exceeded nuclear capacity in 2017, wind capacity in 2022 and…
In the United States, the rise in solar energy project proposals is meeting growing opposition from communities raising concerns about Not in My Backyard (NIMBY). Researchers at Columbia University are monitoring local bans on renewable energy projects. In the past year alone, state bans increased 111%, local bans increased 16%, and contested projects increased 29%. These objections often stem from misinformation about sustainable energy projects and skepticism about the economic benefits. However, successful partnerships between engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies and solar developers are paving the way to overcome these challenges. Partnerships demonstrate how aligning community education, local workforce…
The reason given for the closure is the inability to “improve the levels of some important impurities” and it would not be able to deliver a quality product in the time required by the company’s main customer. January 2, 2025 Anne Fischer REC Silicon’s Moses Lake manufacturing facility in the United States Image: REC Silicon By pv magazine USA REC Silicon has announced it is ceasing production at its Moses Lake, Washington, plant that produces polysilicon used in solar energy production. The reason given for the closure was the inability to “improve the levels of some key impurities,” according to…
Cubico’s 50MW Owl’s Hatch solar PV installation, the company’s largest UK solar project to date. Image: Cubico Sustainable Investments. Cubico Sustainable Investments (Cubico) will begin construction of its first battery storage project in Britain after signing agreements with Tesla. Global renewable energy investor Cubico said this morning that a battery supply agreement (BSA) and long-term service agreement (LTSA) have been signed with Tesla for the 47.5MW/95MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Dorset. Cubico’s Mannington BESS is the investor’s first project in a 3.6 GW global pipeline to enter service. The company said the pipeline includes 1.3 GW of…
Gareth Simkins, senior communications advisor for Solar Energy UK, reflects on the past year’s progress in the solar sector. It’s fair to say that the good times are here again for the solar industry. More capacity is expected to have been added this year than any other year since subsidies ended – and the policy gains have been huge. As Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband has been a strong voice for the sector. Just weeks after the election, he spoke of a “solar roof revolution” and denounced nonsensical claims about solar farms. “Credible external…
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Program (PVPS) highlights key performance indicators (KPIs) for PV systems in its latest report. It calls for clear KPI definitions and standardized data processing to improve system efficiency and reliability. January 2, 2025 Patrick Jowett IEA-PVPS has called for standardized definitions of KPIs for operational PV systems to eliminate potential biases. The Task 13 report: “Best practice guidelines for using economic and technical KPIs”, outlines calculations and applications of the most important technical and contractual KPIs for the operation of PV systems. KPIs are essential for evaluating PV systems in terms of…
Authorities in China’s Jiangsu province have launched an offshore solar energy development plan (2025-30), targeting 27.25 GW from 60 projects. The plan aims to connect 10 GW of offshore solar to the grid by 2027, with a target of up to 20 GW by 2030. January 2, 2025 Vincent Shaw The Jiangsu provincial government has launched a marine solar development plan (2025-30), aiming to expand the region’s coastal solar capacity with 60 projects totaling 27.25 GW. The plan sets ambitious targets to build 10 GW by 2027 and up to 20 GW by 2030. Major development sites have already been…
Researchers in China claim to have built a perovskite solar cell that can effectively reduce ion migration and provide superior stability. The device uses an ultra-thin membrane made of a polymeric material known as PDTBT2T-FTBDT (D18), which is said to provide conformal coverage on the surface of the perovskite film due to its high fluidity. January 2, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Scientists from Huaqiao University in China have designed a perovskite solar cell that uses a hole-selective interlayer that inhibits ion diffusion to increase the device’s stability. Ion migration is considered the main cause of instability for perovskite solar cells. It…
The Korean manufacturer said its new products are now available in the North American market and are suitable for multi-unit homes, apartments, new construction and renovations. The systems work with new AI technology and reportedly perform better when connected to a PV system. January 2, 2025 Emiliano Bellini South Korea’s Samsung has launched new residential air-to-water heat pumps for heating and domestic hot water (DHW). homes, apartments, new construction and multi-unit renovations. “Following availability in Europe, Samsung plans to target the North American market with its air-to-water heat pump – which features a sleek design, AI Home and reliable performance…