Author: solarenergy
The nation’s largest proposed solar project, Sunstone Solar, received final discretionary approval from the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). The approval was the final step in the state’s review and public engagement process and gives approval to the project owner Pine Gate renewable energy sources to continue construction of the 1.2 GW solar and 1.2 GW storage project. “Oregon’s energy facility permitting process is one of the most rigorous in the entire country,” said Ben Catt, Chief Executive Officer of Pine Gate Renewables. “The recent unanimous approval of the permit is a testament to how our team has worked…
The future location of the Broomloan BESS, close to Ibrox Stadium. Image: Root force Root-Power, a battery energy storage system (BESS) developer, has been granted planning permission for a 50MW/100MWh BESS in Scotland. Glasgow City Council gave its approval to the Broomlan Road BESS project, which will be located in the center of Glasgow, at a meeting in October. The site, a former shipping container storage site located close to Ibrox Stadium, will accommodate up to eight BESS containers, as well as a 33kV/600V BESS transformer, a 33kV substation and other associated infrastructure. Development of the project began in late…
Dimension Energy has completed construction of the largest third-party community solar project in the United States. Located in Inyokern, California, this project will produce 44 MW of clean energy and serve a diverse group of residential and commercial customers in the Southern California Edison service area. Beneficiaries include more than 2,000 households, supportive housing organization the Redwood Family Care Network, municipal facilities in the cities of Long Beach and Corona, and commercial buyers such as AT&T and Crown Castle. As California continues to struggle to develop a scalable community solar program that can affordably and effectively serve residents, Dimension has…
The International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Program (IEA PVPS) is launching a new Task 20: Energy Hubs for Green Hydrogen. This joint effort with the IEA’s Wind and Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programs (TCPs) aims to advance the integration of wind, solar and hydrogen technologies into hybrid energy systems that efficiently and sustainably produce green hydrogen. Task 20 will run from 2025 to 2028 and will focus on the practical, technical, environmental and societal challenges associated with hybrid energy hubs, providing actionable insights for their implementation on a global scale. December 6, 2024 IEA-PVPS Hybrid energy hubs combine renewable energy…
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a €400 million ($420 million) loan to Czech utility ČEZ to modernize and expand the Czech electricity distribution network. The upgrades are expected to help absorb up to 5.5 GW of new renewable capacity. December 4, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Jan Baborak, Unsplash The EIB lends €400 million to a Czech energy company ČEZ Group for the modernization and expansion of the country’s electricity distribution network. ČEZ said it plans to reconstruct networks, install remotely controlled energy supply systems and build infrastructure that can integrate solar and wind energy with financing. The modernization…
The new Labor government has expressed a much more positive attitude towards solar energy projects than its predecessor. Image: British Government. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed to streamlining the approval process for 150 major infrastructure projects, as the government reiterates its commitment to clean energy. Unveiling the Government’s Plan for Change yesterday (December 5), Starmer said: “We will streamline the approval process in the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill. If I go through that reform, I can announce another new goal. Not only 1.5 million homes, but also 150 major infrastructure projects, a milestone that will triple the…
Solar power stands at the forefront of innovation in the renewable energy sector. As we push the boundaries of sustainability, a new player has emerged on the scene: Quantum Dot Solar Cells. These microscopic marvels are set to transform the solar industry, offering new potential for harnessing the sun’s energy. What Are Quantum Dot Solar Cells? Quantum dot solar cells represent a cutting-edge technology in photovoltaics. At their core, they utilize tiny semiconductor particles called quantum dots. These nanocrystals, typically ranging from 2 to 10 nanometers in size, possess unique optical and electronic properties that make them ideal for solar…
The tandem cell was devised by a research team from Germany’s University of Potsdam and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is based on a perovskite bottom cell with a wide band gap and an organic top device with a narrow band gap. The researchers used a compound known as cyclohexane 1,4-diammonium diiodide for surface passivation. December 6, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the University of Potsdam in Germany and the Chinese Academy of Sciences claim to have achieved a record-breaking energy conversion efficiency of 25.7% for a tandem solar cell based on a wide bandgap perovskite bottom cell and…
German authorities have selected 119 MW projects for a total of 259 MW in the country’s latest rooftop PV tender. Final prices ranged from €0.0745 ($0.0787)/kWh to €0.0969/kWh. December 6, 2024 Sandra Enkhardt The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has published the results of the country’s ninth tender for rooftop PV projects ranging in size from 300 kW to 1 MW. The agency assessed 209 bids with a total capacity of 434 MW and selected 119 projects, with a total of 259 MW. Final prices ranged from €0.0745 ($0.0787)/kWh to €0.0969/kWh. The final average price was €0.904/kWh. Most of the…
British battery supplier Echion Technologies has partnered with Australian Switch Technologies to demonstrate its ultra-fast charging technology in a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 series off-road vehicle. December 6, 2024 Ev Foley Image: Echion Technologies By pv magazine Australia UK-based battery supplier Echion Technologies has collaborated with the Perth-based company EV services company Switch Technologies is demonstrating its patented active node material technology for fast charging in a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 series off-road vehicle. The companies worked together for nine months to develop new XNO battery modules and packs to hybridize the Land Cruiser. They have now begun an extensive…