Author: solarenergy
Scientists have developed a new method that uses live video images to detect shadows on solar panels. It uses computer vision techniques such as gamma transform and histogram matching, resulting in performance that is said to be better than conventional techniques, especially in large arrays. September 23, 2024 Lior KahanaA research team in China has developed a new real-time shadow detection method for PV modules. It uses computer vision for this task, with techniques that enhance the information from the live feed to identify the shadow in changing lighting conditions.“This method has a significant reference value for shadow monitoring of…
Imperial Star Solar, which expects to begin manufacturing solar panels at its new Texas factory before the end of the year, has announced that it will source residential aluminum frames from CZT Energy USAan aluminum manufacturing company in Sealy, Texas. The two companies confirmed the collaboration earlier this month at the RE+ trade fair. CZT said it operates five tracker torque tube lines, 60 stamping lines, three roll forming lines, two aluminum frame lines and additional assembly lines. Imperial Star Solar will soon operate a multi-gigawatt solar panel assembly plant in Tomball, Texas. The company plans to use solar cells…
The solar installation at Fera. Image: Fera/Meson Fera Science has chosen electrical specialist Meson Electrical to install a bespoke solar installation on the roof of its York campus. Fera Science is a biotech company specializing in plant and bee health and sustainable agriculture, and the York Biotech Campus includes large roof vents, which require a bespoke solar installation solution. Meson is supplying 342 N-Type solar panels for the roof of the York Biotech Campus, which will produce a power of 150 kWp. The two companies estimate that once the installation is complete, Fera Science will save around £24,000 on its…
Carbon has acquired Photowatt and says it will invest €40 million ($44.6 million) to support its operations. September 23, 2024 Gwénaëlle DeboutteBy pv magazine FranceFrench solar panel manufacturer Carbon has completed the acquisition of PV producer Photowatt from EDF Renouvelables, a subsidiary of French energy giant EDF.Photowatt will be integrated into Carbon’s industrial project, which includes plans for a 500 MW solar panel assembly unit and a photovoltaic cell production facility and 3.5 GW from 5 GW by 2026-2027.Carbon said it will also establish the Carbon Lab, a research center to support its manufacturing operations, with a focus on scaling…
Industry forecasters of solar/storage build-out have highlighted a sharp increase in applications for co-located storage with a medium-term market capacity of more than 20 GW. Image: Public domain image. Irish energy trading and services company ElectroRoute, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi, has announced it will expand its London-based team and expand into the UK. It already operates 1.9GW of assets in Ireland, including more than 250MW of energy storage, and now plans to significantly expand its UK operations in the coming months. It says it is eyeing the co-location market for solar and storage assets as a key long-term growth opportunity.…
Daiwa House, Japan’s largest housebuilder, has developed a new carport made of extruded aluminum profiles. Two versions are available, suitable for four or two vehicles. September 23, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Daiwa House Industry, Japan’s largest homebuilder, has teamed up with Shikoku Kasei Holdings Corp., a building materials supplier, to launch Dream Port, a new PV carport for homes and commercial buildings.The companies designed the carport as a support facility, with integrated rain gutters and no visible wiring or lighting. The new product features extruded aluminum profiles and is available in two versions that can accommodate four and two vehicles.The largest…
China’s Livoltek says it has developed 120 kW electric vehicle chargers with 140 kW input and 100 kWh LFP battery, supporting CHAdeMO, GB/T, CCS1 and CCS2 standards. September 23, 2024 Lior KahanaChinese inverter and battery manufacturer Livoltek has released a new electric vehicle charger with energy storage functionality.The BESS120 DC charging station has a power of 120 kW over two connectors and an input power of 40 kW. It has a 100 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP).“One of the standout features of this charger is its wide operating voltage range, which extends from 200 to 1,000 V DC,” the…
The Association of Solar Energy Industries (SEIA) released a draft industry standard to increase transparency of the solar and storage supply chain and help companies comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) traceability requirements. Standard 101 provides a section that manufacturers and importers can follow to trace the origin of products, from raw materials to finished products. The standard is based on real-world examples of solar product shipments detained and released by customs officials and includes input from manufacturers, developers and third-party auditors. “The U.S. solar and storage industry has an unwavering commitment to ethical business practices,” said Abigail…
Tokyo-based heavy industry manufacturer IHI Corporation has created a thermal utilization system that can convert excess direct current at solar power plants into carbon-free steam. A test project that started in April has consumed all the electricity generated and is running stably, the company said. September 23, 2024 Patrick Jowett Japan’s IHI Corporation says a pilot of a thermal utilization system that converts all previously discarded excess direct current (DC) at solar power plants into carbon-free steam has “demonstrated stable system performance.”IHI says the Renewable Energy Thermal Utilization System economically and flexibly converts renewable electricity into thermal energy and stores…
Researchers in Italy have devised a dual-source heat pump system that uses both a fin coil evaporator and a solar evaporator made with three photovoltaic thermal panels. The combined operation of the two evaporators allows the heat pump to achieve a higher evaporation pressure and coefficient of performance. September 23, 2024 Emiliano BelliniResearchers from the University of Padua in Italy have designed a dual-source heat pump using CO2 as a coolant and a solar evaporator consisting of three PV-T collectors“The main innovation lies in the combined operation of two evaporators, the fin coil and the PV-T collectors, allowing a choice…