Author: solarenergy

Prices across the solar supply chain remained in bearish territory through the fourth quarter of 2024. Trade and regulatory developments continued to concern the sector and dampen trading activity. December 16, 2024 Hanwei Wu From pv magazine 24/12 The Global Polysilicon Marker (GPM), the OPIS price benchmark for polysilicon produced outside China, fell from $22,567 ($0.051)/kg on September 3, 2024 to $22,068/kg on November 5, 2024. The Chinese Module Marker (CMM), the OPIS benchmark for Chinese modules that are FOB (free on board or excluding shipping costs), fell from $0.095/W to $0.087/W over the same period. Price declines were also…

India is likely to follow in China’s footsteps and mandate the inclusion of battery storage capacity for future wind and solar projects. December 18, 2024 Marija Maisch By ESS news India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) could soon introduce new policies mandating the inclusion of battery storage in new solar and wind projects. Speaking at the 21st edition of the Global MSME Business Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), MNRE Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh said the government is planning an initial requirement of 10% of the storage capacity of a renewable power plant in to…

Australian industrial battery company Switch Technologies has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first operational vehicle powered by Echion Technologies’ ultra-fast charging XNO technology. December 18, 2024 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia Switch Technologies, a powerful battery and electric vehicle engineering services provider, has unveiled what it claims is the world’s first operational vehicle powered by British-based Echion Technologies’ proprietary ultra-fast charging XNO active anode material technology. With XNO, lithium-ion batteries can be charged safely and quickly in less than 10 minutes, maintain high energy density even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power over a lifespan of…

Solar installations grew 4% year-on-year in the European Union in 2024, a sharp decline from 53% growth in 2023. The slowdown coincides with a decline in solar investment energy, which is the first decline in this decade. SolarPower Europe now predicts annual growth of 3% to 7% in solar installations between 2025 and 2028. December 18, 2024 Patrick Jowett According to the SolarPower Europe report, developers will have deployed 65.5 GW of solar energy across the European Union by 2024.EU solar market outlook 2024-2028.” The figure reflects annual growth of 4% compared to the 62.8 GW of installations in 2023,…

Solar panels train to adapt to wind conditions Solar energy continues to lead the renewable energy revolution, with photovoltaic solar power plants being a key technology in achieving global NetZero emissions by 2050. These plants convert sunlight into electricity and offer significant potential for generation of clean, renewable energy. Wind plays a dual role in the efficiency and safety of solar energy systems. On the one hand, wind helps maintain panel performance by clearing debris and cooling surfaces, increasing efficiency. On the other hand, extreme wind events pose structural risks, potentially leading to costly damage and long-term system outages. As…

While the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is boosting solar energy production in the United States, raising import tariffs could slow the momentum. The actions of the new Trump administration are difficult to predict at this point. December 16, 2024 Anne Fischer By pv magazine USA With the passage of the IRA, along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, the United States has a strong industrial policy for the first time in about fifty years. More than $265 billion in clean energy investments have been made since the enactment…

The Battolyser Systems (BLS) product is a patented dual-purpose electrolyzer with a battery function. December 18, 2024 Pilar Sanchez Molina BLS plans a sustainable factory that produces 1 GW of Battolysers per year Image: BLS By ESS news Dutch company BLS has received €54.6 million ($57.3 million) from the European Commission’s Innovation Fund to develop a “Battolyser” plant with an annual production capacity of 1 GW in Rotterdam. The construction of the site is supported by partners such as the Port of Rotterdam Authority and automation company VDL. BLS’ patented Battolyser product enables flexible green hydrogen production by integrating battery…

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is expected to strengthen ABB’s position and help it expand in the growing market for high-performance renewable energy conversion technology. “The acquisition will significantly expand ABB’s existing energy conversion product and service offering to renewable energy OEMs and end-users, with new portfolio and technical resources that will support the profitable growth strategy of ABB’s Motion business area,” ABB said in a statement . “The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second half of 2025.” The deal focuses on…

RES applied for the building permit in mid-July 2024. Image: RES. Renewable energy company RES has received council approval for a 49.9 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to be developed in Moray, Scotland. Located on land adjacent to the Berryburn substation and existing transmission infrastructure, the proposed Corshellach Energy Storage System received approval for its development from the Moray Council Planning and Regulatory Services Committee. RES applied for the building permit in mid-July. The BESS will provide network reliability services by storing energy when generation exceeds demand and then releasing it back into the network when demand exceeds generation.…

NuVision Solar – a newly formed American-owned and operated manufacturer – has unveiled plans to produce heterojunction (HJT) solar cells and modules. December 18, 2024 Ryan Kennedy Heterojunction solar cell Image: Radiotrefoil, Wikimedia Commons By pv magazine USA A new U.S.-owned and operated solar energy manufacturing company has announced its formation and entry into the U.S. solar energy market. NuVision Solar said it will open a factory with an annual production capacity of 2.5 GW, producing both solar cells and finished modules. The factory will produce HJT solar cells. The company said it plans to produce bifacial solar panels with…