Author: solarenergy
Western Australia regional energy supplier Horizon Power has officially started trialling a vanadium flow battery in the northern part of the state as it explores how to integrate long-term energy storage into its network, microgrids and other off-grid energy sources. systems. November 25, 2024 David Caroll By pv magazine Australia Horizon Power has commissioned a 78kW/220kWh vanadium flow battery (VFB) at Kununurra in Western Australia as it explores how the technology can best be used to support sustainable energy supplies in regional and remote areas. The pilot project will test whether VFB technology – which proponents say can provide up…
In an industry where half of all signed contracts never make it to installation, a new technology company is helping solar installers dramatically reduce cancellation rates through automated integration and customer engagement. According to a study by NREL, contract cancellations add an average of $0.20/W to system costs, or about $1,400 per project, directly impacting installer margins and consumer prices. “The first two weeks after contract signing are critical,” said Steven Male, co-founder of Pale Blue Dawn. “The data shows that of all customers who cancel or stall, 73% do so in the first 5 days. This insight led us…
Atomic-6 collaborates with Starpath Robotics to develop Lunar Power Tower Atomic-6 has entered into a development contract with Starpath Robotics to design and build a deployable composite tree for Starpath’s advanced solar power generation system. This collaboration brings together Atomic-6’s innovative composite manufacturing techniques and Starpath’s vision for lunar infrastructure development. Starpath Robotics is working to establish robotic mining operations on the moon, with the goal of producing hundreds of tons of liquid oxygen annually for use in refueling and for space industry applications. Long-term plans include scaling up production to tens of thousands of tons per year to support…
Verogy, a solar project developer, completed a 1.1-MWDC rooftop solar installation at real estate investment firm Plymouth Industrial REIT’s 68,000-sq-ft warehouse in Portland, Maine. Credit: Verogy “This collaboration with Plymouth demonstrates the power of partnerships in advancing clean energy initiatives,” said Will Herchel, CEO of Verogy. “We are proud to contribute to Maine’s climate goals and to work with forward-thinking businesses like Plymouth, who are committed to sustainable practices and renewable energy.” The solar array is composed of 2,464 solar panels, with an estimated annual production of 1,203,420 kWh — enough to power more than 111 homes for a year.…
A series of longitudinal studies of three solar pollinator sites in Minnesota have provided evidence of native prairie growth under solar panels, providing both soil benefits and habitat for wildlife and pollinators. November 25, 2024 Patrick Jowett Research led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collected data on the interactions between habitat, pollinators, soil, and solar energy production at three utility-scale solar projects in Minnesota. NREL’s Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural Economies and Ecosystems (InSPIRE) team has been conducting research at the three sites over the past six years. According to the laboratory, this…
Similar to last year, battery energy storage systems (BESS) made up almost all of the new build capacity selected during recent Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) auctions in Belgium. Simon De Clercq, senior research associate at Aurora Energy Research, tells ESS News that there is even more room for BESS players to participate in the tender exercises. November 25, 2024 Marija Maisch Image: Aurora Energy Research By ESS news The Belgian storage fleet is growing rapidly, not least thanks to the ability to secure contracted revenues through the CRM auctions. On the last day of October, grid operator Elia published the…
Researchers from Miyazaki University in Japan have published a technical background paper on testing protocols to address the unique challenges of vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) modules. It contains the background of a new numerical probability model that includes shading, partial shading, dynamic shading, uneven terrain and the curvatures of modules. November 25, 2024 Valerie Thompson Researchers from Miyazaki University in Japan have published a report on progress on reproducible testing and protocols that address the challenges of measuring the performance of curved vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) modules. In the study “Testing and assessment of vehicle-integrated solar photovoltaics: scientific background”, published in Solar…
The Oakley Bush project is now under review by Kettering Council. Image: American Public Power Association via Unsplash Solar and storage developer Buccleuch Group has submitted a planning application for a new solar and storage development near Kettering, Northamptonshire. The Oakley Bush solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project is a proposed 39 MW solar development, with a 10 MW BESS proposed for the site. The scope, which covers 150 hectares of land on the Boughton Estate, could accommodate as many as 130,000 ground-mounted solar panels, positioned approximately 3.5 meters above the ground. According to the application documentation provided…
Scientists in China have devised a perovskite solar cell that uses a silver-based rear mirror to improve light output. The device can reportedly achieve an energy conversion efficiency of more than 27%. November 25, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Scientists from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have designed an ultra-thin perovskite solar cell that uses a Gires-Tournois resonator to improve light absorption. Gires-Tournois resonators are optical standing wave resonators designed for generating chromatic dispersion. They are usually based on a reflective metal mirror and are mainly used in chirping applications such as pulse compression. “Our Gires Tournois resonator structure…
Ecoprogetti has shipped a 300 MW solar panel production line to India’s SAEL, designed for the production of double-sided glass-glass panels using tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) M10 cells. November 25, 2024 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Italian Ecoprogetti has delivered its advanced production line for glass-glass solar panels to Indian SAEL. The line has an annual capacity of 300 MW and is designed for the production of double-sided glass-glass solar panels using TOPCon M10 cells. The production line enables a power of 600 W per panel and operates continuously, installing more than 190 to 200 panels per day.…