Author: solarenergy
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…
Scientists have designed a new control approach for water-to-water heat pumps that use carbon dioxide. They relied on a virtual heat pump for their tests. The coefficient of performance (COE) improved by up to 14.6%. January 2, 2025 Lior Kahana Scientists led by China’s Dongguan University of Technology have proposed a new control approach for water-to-water heat pumps that use carbon dioxide (CO2) as a coolant. The model-based optimal control (MC) was tested with a typical control mechanism (TC) via a virtual heat pump, improving the COE by as much as 14.6%. “An efficient optimization strategy for the MC of…
Zanzibar’s state-owned company is holding a tender for the development of an 18 MW solar project at the southern end of the archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. The application deadline is January 31, 2025. December 31, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Markus Spiske, Unsplash Zanzibar Electricity Corp. (ZECO) has launched a tender for the design, supply and installation of a solar power plant with a capacity of at least 18 MW. It will be located in Makunduchi, one of the southernmost cities on the islands of Zanzibar, an autonomous region of Tanzania. According to the tender detailsThe chosen developer will…
By Brad Kramer November 12, 2024 Independent energy producer Navisun and North Carolina-based solar developer Queen City Solar have worked together to develop community solar in Maryland. The companies formed a structured co-development partnership that is already advancing 30 MW of community solar energy to benefit energy communities and consumers across the state. The partnership between Queen City Solar and Navisun not only supports the development of more solar energy, but also serves as an example of the potential for well-structured partnerships between startup developers and long-term owners. Queen City Solar will leverage its strong landowner relationships and development expertise…
By SB staff November 14, 2024 Standard solar energy has acquired the 25 MWdc Windhub Solar B solar project from Balanced rock power (BRP), a developer specializing in large-scale renewable energy projects in the western United States. The solar project, located in Kern County, California, and connected to the Windhub Substation, will provide renewable energy to Southern California Edison. This project aligns with the utility’s goal of delivering 100% carbon-free energy by 2045 and helps meet California’s growing demand for renewable electricity. “This acquisition is another example of our successful partnerships with innovative developers like BRP, allowing us to efficiently…