Author: solarenergy
The French TotalEnergies will acquire the German sustainable energy company VSB Group for 1.57 billion euros. It has also agreed to sell 50% of a 2 GW solar plus storage portfolio in Texas for $800 million. December 5, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Oskar Kadaksoo, Unsplash Total Energies has agreed to the acquisition of German renewable energy developer VSB Group from Swiss asset manager Partners Group. The transaction, worth €1.57 billion ($1.65 billion) in equity value and shareholder loans, remains subject to the approval of the applicable merger control authorities. VSB has more than 475 MW of sustainable energy capacity in…
How efficiently solar cells can be made with non-toxic processes Efforts to produce environmentally friendly and efficient solar cells have taken a significant step forward thanks to a new design principle developed by researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden. This approach, detailed in a study published in Nature Energy, investigates how the shapes and interactions of molecules influence the performance of organic solar cells. “With electrification and the development of AI, we are likely to see a significant increase in the world’s energy needs. That electricity must come from environmentally sustainable sources if we are to simultaneously slow climate change,”…
The ‘US Solar Market Insight Q4 2024’ report, published by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, states that domestic module production will match the rapid growth rate of the US solar industry, including increase cell production. December 5, 2024 Anne Fischer By pv magazine USA The push to bring the U.S. solar manufacturing supply chain to our country has come with the challenge of an imbalanced capacity of domestically made modules, cells, wafers and blocks. But the tide could be turning, according to “US Solar Market Insight Q4 2024” report by SEIA and Wood Mackenzie. Domestic module…
EnerVenue specializes in the production of high-efficiency metal-hydrogen batteries and launched its latest generation nickel-hydrogen battery in September 2023. This is the product that will be tested by RWE, which will cycle the energy storage vessels (ESVs) during its tests. opportunity to evaluate their performance characteristics as part of the pilot project. ESVs have a long service life and can be deployed efficiently and flexibly thanks to their configurable product architecture. The latest generation of batteries can last more than 30,000 cycles and can cycle up to three times a day without rest. Depending on the cycle rate, the ESV…
Scientists have used open source models to simulate heat pump rollout scenarios for the year 2030. Additional investments of approximately 54 GW to 57 GW of solar PV capacity in a cheapest solution would enable the installation of 10 million heat pumps by the end of this year. the decade. December 5, 2024 Lior Kahana Researchers from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) have analyzed different scenarios for the expansion of decentralized heat pumps in Germany by 2030. They focused on the role of buffer heat storage in limiting electricity needs and on the effect of different methods…
Waaree Energies has signed domestic orders for the supply of 524 MW bifacial n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar panels. December 4, 2024 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Waaree Energies said it has secured orders for the supply of solar panels totaling 524 MWp, split into batches of 364 MWp and 160 MWp. The awarding companies develop, own and operate sustainable energy projects in India. Waaree Energies said that under the contract it will supply high-efficiency n-type TOPCon bifacial PV modules with a power of 585 Wp, 590 Wp and 595 Wp. Delivery of modules is expected to…
A new protocol to improve the sustainability of flexible solar technology Flexible photovoltaic devices, or FlexPVs, are emerging as key solutions in applications ranging from wearable technology and smart textiles to drones and space systems. Despite significant improvements in efficiency, FlexPVs still face challenges related to the lack of standardized testing protocols for durability and flexibility, hindering their practical application. In response, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) led an international team of 23 experts from 12 countries to develop a uniform testing protocol for flexible solar cells and panels. The initiative, published in Nature Energy, focuses on mechanical performance…
The two research institutes used silver nanowire lattices as an alternative to indium tin oxide for the cell’s transparent electrodes. They claim this is the first time a metal nanostructure has delivered photonic gain in a solar cell. December 4, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the Dutch research institute AMOLF and the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) have developed a tunnel oxide-passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell that uses silver nanowire (Ag NW) grids as transparent electrodes. Due to their optoelectronic and mechanical properties, Ag NW networks are considered a valid alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO)…
Swiss energy company CKW says its new tariff, which calculates prices based on kilowatts, rather than just kilowatt hours, will encourage more targeted use of solar energy during the day. December 4, 2024 Patrick Jowett CKW, a subsidiary of Switzerlandestablished energy company Axpowill introduce a new type of electricity tariff in 2025. The tariff offers incentives to customers to spread their electricity consumption over the day as much as possible to avoid power peaks in the grid. Axpo said in a statement on its website that high and low electricity prices for day and night consumption no longer apply. It…
Voltiris has launched its latest greenhouse pilot project, installing the new wavelength-selective PV system on a vegetable farm in the canton of Baselland. December 4, 2024 Valerie Thompson Swiss-based agrivoltaic specialist Voltiris is offering a new solution based on a patented under-roof dichroic mirror concentrator system that integrates tracking systems and silicon PV panels. The system is specifically intended for greenhouses to improve metrics for heating, electricity costs and CO2 emissions, while maintaining crop yields. The latest pilot project is being carried out in collaboration with the Swiss utility company Genossenschaft Elektra Bazelland (EBL)that offers a solution for leafy green…