Author: solarenergy

The Clean Power Action Plan, set out by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on December 13, sets a target of reaching 45GW-47GW of solar energy capacity by 2030. Image: DESNZ. Trade association Solar Energy UK (SEUK) says it expects solar energy generation to “significantly exceed” the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan target. In what the UK government is calling the most ambitious reforms to the country’s energy system in a generation, setting out a plan to achieve clean energy by 2030, the Clean Power Action Plan builds on pathways set out by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). SEUK criticized NESO’s…

The Chinese company says its three-phase Hienergy series can be linked to PV arrays up to 8.5 kW, with battery storage up to 40.8 kWh. December 16, 2024 Lior Kahana The HIENERGY series Image: Midea Hiconics By ESS news Midea Hiconics, the solar storage and inverter subsidiary of Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer Midea Group, has released a new series of three-phase all-in-one home energy storage systems. The latest product line, called the Hienergy Series, combines a solar inverter and battery storage units. “This new system offers simple and quick installation, without the need for cables between batteries, making it easy…

Montenegro’s Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has raised the bar for its first battery energy storage tender. December 16, 2024 Marija Maisch By ESS news In a groundbreaking move for state-owned companies in the Balkans, Montenegro’s largest electricity company EPCG plans to launch a large-scale tender for battery energy storage by the end of 2024. “By the end of this year, EPCG will open a public call for the supply of 300 MWh of battery systems,” Milutin Djukanovic, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EPCG, said last Thursday. In September, EPCG said it aims to provide 185 MWh of battery…

PXP Corporation recently raised JPY1.5 billion ($9.98 million) in a round led by Japan’s Softbank Corp. to move forward with its plan to build a 25 MW chalcopyrite module factory. December 16, 2024 Valerie Thompson PXP Corporation, a Japanese startup company developing flexible chalcopyrite photovoltaic modules, announced that it has raised JPY 1.5 billion ($9.98 million) through a Series A venture capital round led by Japan’s SoftBank Corp., a publicly traded telecommunications and media technology company. Chalcopyrite (CuGaSe2) has an energy bandgap of 1.7 eV and has so far been used in solar cells with a limited fill factor and…

Daikin Europe NV, a subsidiary of Japanese heating systems manufacturer Daikin, has introduced a new residential air-to-water heat pump line for single-family homes. The systems use propane (R290) as a refrigerant and have outdoor unit dimensions of 1,122 mm x 1,330 mm x 600 mm. Their power ranges from 6 kW to 14 kW and their seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) ranges from 3.6 to 5.5. “Thanks to the industry-leading heating capacity of the Daikin Altherma 4 H, the heat pump can deliver hot water up to 75 C,” the manufacturer said in a statement. “The largest available unit of…

The Morocco-based solar street lamp manufacturer has launched Gamma, a programmable off-grid solar PV lighting system that delivers up to 23,040 lumens. The system is suitable for roads, industrial sites, intersections, pedestrian areas and parking lots. December 16, 2024 Valerie Thompson Agamine Solar, a Morocco-based manufacturer of integrated solar street lighting, has launched Gamma, its new programmable off-grid LED lighting system that delivers up to 23,040 lumens. The system is suitable for roads, industrial sites, intersections, pedestrian areas and parking lots. All four versions of Gamma have an efficiency of 198 lm/W and programmable light control. The Gamma model features…

UCF researcher receives $3.8 million grant to develop solar energy storage system Solar power can be plentiful in Florida’s hot and muggy climate, but can be intermittent in bad weather and inconsistent during the night or during peak usage. To keep the power grid reliable, UCF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering associate professor Like Li is developing a new energy storage system that can reserve solar energy for future use. The project is supported by a three-year, $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office. “The goal is to contribute to the global clean…

Discussions at the Sustainable Solar Europe event, held yesterday in Brussels, show that clearly recorded and available information is key to ensuring sustainable and ethical practices throughout the solar energy supply chain. And clear standards for the accuracy and relevance of this information are needed to ensure everyone is working toward the same goal. On this day, such a standard was also launched in the Supply Chain Traceability Standard of the Solar Stewardship Initiative. December 13, 2024 Mark Hutchins Sustainable Solar Europe, an annual event jointly organized by trade association SolarPower Europe and event organizer SolarPromotion, took place yesterday in…

Solar plasma technology increases the sustainability of seed germination Seed senescence poses a significant challenge to agricultural industries and seed banks, often leading to lower germination and weaker seedling growth. This issue not only affects economic stability, but also hinders efforts to preserve genetic diversity. Researchers at the University of Arkansas, led by Dr. Jun Zhu, have introduced an innovative solution: a solar-powered plasma water generator designed to rejuvenate old seeds and promote stronger seedling development. The study, published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, presents a transformative, cost-effective approach to improving seed germination. At the heart of this…

A Terrasmart Innovation Engineer looks at ways to overcome weather challenges, especially when installing solar in Midwestern states. December 9, 2024 Ameer Abuhamdeh By pv magazine USA Freeze freeze is one of the most common problems in the Midwest and especially in Illinois, which is prone to freezes due to the combination of bitter winters and unique soil composition. Because frost heave is the process by which soil expands after it absorbs water and then freezes, Illinois and other states with periods of freezing temperatures for extended periods are especially vulnerable. It’s not possible to completely prevent the physics of…