Author: solarenergy

PowerChina is building three hybrid solar microgrids in Suriname, combining solar panels, energy storage and diesel backup to power 25 remote villages across the country. December 12, 2024 Patrick Jowett The construction of three hybrid solar power plants for 25 villages in Suriname is underway. In December, work began on a solar system in Daume to provide electricity to 16 villages, another in Cajana for seven villages and a third in Galibi for two villages. The three locations are located in the Sipaliwini district in Central Suriname and the Marowijne district on the northeastern coast. The structures are part of…

The French company says its Inelio thermal battery can store solar energy in the form of heat for heating and cooling applications, as well as for domestic hot water production, while maximizing self-consumption. It is said to be able to provide a hot water temperature of up to 65 C. December 12, 2024 Emiliano Bellini France-based FHE Group this week presented its thermal battery Inelio at the Energaia trade show, currently taking place in Montpellier, southern France. “Our thermal battery can store solar energy in the form of heat for heating and cooling applications, as well as for domestic hot…

Stellantis and Chinese company CATL are planning a $4 billion battery factory in Spain Auto giant Stellantis and Chinese manufacturer CATL said on Tuesday they would build a $4.3 billion factory in Spain to produce batteries for electric vehicles, the latest attempt to boost Europe’s troubled EV-powered car industry . They said they aim to start production at the site in the northern city of Zaragoza by the end of 2026. It could reach “up to 50 GWh of capacity, depending on the evolution of the electricity market in Europe and the continued support of the authorities in Spain and…

An international research team has fabricated an inverted perovskite solar cell with an electron transport layer passivated with amidinium ligands instead of ammonia ligands. The device not only performed superiorly compared to reference cells treated with ammonium, but also showed remarkable stability. December 9, 2024 Valerie Thompson An international team of scientists has developed an inverted perovskite solar cell that uses a novel amidinium passivator for the perovskite electron transport layer (ETL). Inverted perovskite cells have a device structure known as “pin”, where hole-selective contact p is at the bottom of the intrinsic perovskite layer i with electron transport layer…

Hitachi Energy’s Nostradamus AI solution enables users to make better decisions by generating accurate predictions for solar and wind power generation, market prices and load forecasts. December 10, 2024 Uma Gupta Hitachi Energy has launched Nostradamus AI, a new breed of AI-based energy forecasting software designed to improve accuracy by up to 20% over some industry benchmarks. The software helps optimize energy investments, refine trading strategies and maximize revenue opportunities, while improving operational efficiency, resource planning and regulatory transparency. “Advanced forecasting is essential for effectively managing a company’s energy portfolio strategy, allowing operators and analysts to quickly make informed decisions…

Empower New Energy, a Norwegian solar energy investment platform, has signed a $50 million agreement with Egyptian independent energy producer Engazaat to finance a portfolio of renewable energy projects in Egypt. December 11, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Make new energy possible That of Norway Make new energy possible And Egypt’s Engazaat has signed a $50 million investment agreement. The deal will finance Engazaat’s renewable energy project portfolio in Egypt, including full financing for a 40 MW solar portfolio. The two companies said the projects are backed by 25-year power purchase agreements with leading commercial and industrial customers and will support…

In its ongoing revision of Sec. 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced today increased rates on certain tungsten products, wafers and polysilicon. Tariffs on tungsten products will increase to 25% effective January 1, 2025, and tariffs on solar wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50%. “The tariff increases announced today will further weaken the PRC’s harmful policies and practices. These actions will complement the domestic investments made under the Biden-Harris administration to advance a clean energy economy while increasing the resiliency of critical supply chains,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. The Sec.…

Waaree Energies has signed a developer order for the supply of 1 GW tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) 580 W bifacial glass PV modules. December 10, 2024 Uma Gupta Image: Waaree Energies, pv magazine By pv magazine India Waaree Energies, India’s largest solar panel manufacturer, has revealed that it has secured an order to supply 1 GW of solar panels to an undisclosed developer. The company will supply its TOPCon 580W bifacial glass modules. Delivery of the module will take place in calendar year 2025. The financial terms of the supply agreement were not disclosed. Waaree, recognized as a tier-1…

After significant pressure from Vote Solar and other organizations, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) agreed to reconsider the “Grid Access Charge,” which unfairly imposes higher electricity prices on households that have chosen to install solar panels. Despite strong opposition, the ACC is on course to confirm its decision to require rooftop solar customers to pay a Grid Access Charge at its December 17 meeting. The Grid Access Charge was instituted in February 2024 when the ACC voted 4-1 to approve a rate increase for Arizona Public Service (APS) customers, leading to higher bills for private taxpayers. At that same meeting,…

The UK government has announced a new business model for hydrogen, based on switchable power deals available for carbon capture technologies. December 10, 2024 Matthew Lynas The UK government has said it will create a new subsidy scheme for hydrogen-to-power (H2P) plants. The support will be based on the support of the Dispatchable Power Agreement (DPA) introduced for CO2 capture. H2P factories will also gain access to the UK capacity market “as soon as practicable”, the government announced. More details on support for H2P are expected in spring 2025, but initial plans point to a grant based on elements of…