Author: solarenergy

“The MENA region – the next hot energy storage market?” I asked in an article in October 2017. It took a little longer than I expected, but seven years later it’s time to replace the question mark with an exclamation point. It is indeed warm. November 19, 2024 Florian Mayr By ESS news The MENA region is beginning to witness a dramatic increase in large-scale battery energy storage system (“BESS”) projects, accompanied by rising renewable energy penetration. This happened at a pace that seems to have surprised many market analysts. In the past, forecasts for the MENA region showed a…

Ossila, a UK-based supplier of scientific equipment and materials, has launched a new version of its slot die coater for research laboratories. It is suitable for teams working on thin-film solar photovoltaics in the feasibility testing phase. November 19, 2024 Valerie Thompson Scientific equipment and materials supplier Ossila has launched a new version of its slot diecoater for PV research labs working on the feasibility of scaling up thin-film devices. Compared to a previous version of the product, it reaches a higher hob temperature, up to 140 C, and has a larger coating surface. “Slot-die coating is the gold standard…

Scientists will create solar lasers for space power, inspired by nature An international collaboration, including researchers from Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University, has announced a groundbreaking approach to harnessing solar energy in space by converting sunlight into laser beams. This technology aims to enable long-distance energy transmission between satellites, from satellites to moon bases and possibly back to Earth. The team draws inspiration from natural photosynthesis: how plants, bacteria and other organisms convert light into chemical energy. The project will integrate naturally derived photosynthetic structures as part of the laser system design. The potential impact of this innovation extends to powering future…

The Penobscot Nation has been selected Sunnova Energy International to deploy a 500 kW battery energy storage system (BESS) for the tribe’s community and commercial facilities. This BESS will better prepare Maine’s electrical grid for adverse weather events. The system will capture excess solar production, estimated at 549,678 kWh per year, and provide resilience through load management. The microgrid can supplement on-site generation and continue to restore the BESS without grid support, providing a continued source of renewable energy during grid outages. “The Penobscot Nation is particularly vulnerable to multi-day outages when severe weather occurs due to our location on…

The European Commission, Austria, Lithuania and Spain have announced new financial support measures for the development of renewable hydrogen, as the European Union prepares for the second auction of the European Hydrogen Bank. November 19, 2024 Sergio Matalucci The European CommissionAustria, Lithuania and Spain have announced new financial support for the development of renewable hydrogen. The three Member States will participate in the ‘auctions-as-a-service’ program as part of the European Hydrogen Bank’s second auction, which was launched on December 3. “In addition to the €1.2 billion in EU funding from the Innovation Fund, the three EU Member States will deploy…

Executives from Fidra Energy and Sungrow during a signing ceremony for the deal. Image: Fidra Energie. Battery energy storage system (BESS) developer Fidra Energy has joined forces with energy storage system supplier Sungrow to support the growth of Fidra’s BESS portfolio. Sungrow will supply two Fidra Energy projects in the UK with liquid-cooled Power-Titan 2.0 BESS units and provide long-term maintenance services for both sites. The first location where the PowerTian 2.0 systems are expected to be installed is the Thorpe Marsh project in South Yorkshire. Once completed, the site will house a 1.4 GW BESS with a 2-hour duration,…

The kit includes four solar panels, a power controller, dual maximum power point trackers, two batteries with expandable storage, a microinverter and a smart meter current transformer. November 19, 2024 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA Zendure has announced that it has launched its SolarFlow Kit for customers in North America. SolarFlow Kit is a “plug-and-play” residential solar energy solution that debuted on the European market in 2023. The kit includes a rugged 1640W solar panel consisting of four solar panels, a power controller called the Hub 2000 and dual Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT) rated at up to 1,800W.…

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed on a $160 million financing package for two solar projects in southeastern Azerbaijan, totaling 760 MW. Abu Dhabi-based Masdar is developing the project together with a subsidiary of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (Socar). November 19, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Hikmat Gafarzada, Unsplash The ADB has signed loans totaling $160 million to finance two solar energy projects in southeastern Azerbaijan. The 445 MW Bilasuvar and 315 MW Neftchala solar power plants will be developed by Masdar in collaboration with Socar Green, a subsidiary of Socar. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy approved the construction…

GRYD’s PPA with Good Energy allows it to sell excess solar energy from its network to the supplier. Image: GRYD Energy. Good Energy will purchase excess power generated by three Cornish homes fitted with free solar energy systems in a partnership with GRYD Energy. Renewable energy supplier and service provider Good Energy has signed an export-only energy purchase agreement (PPA) with UK solar technology company GRYD Energy, meaning the former’s customers can receive clean energy generated by homes across the country in GRYD’s decentralized smart solar network. The properties involved in the PPA are believed to be the same three…

Renewable energy is constantly evolving, with new technologies emerging to challenge and complement traditional solar panels. One innovation that’s been gaining attention is thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. These cells represent a fascinating intersection of thermal energy and photovoltaic technology, offering unique advantages and applications in the world of solar power. What Are Thermophotovoltaic Cells? Thermophotovoltaic cells are devices that convert heat into electricity. They work on a principle similar to traditional solar cells, but instead of capturing light from the sun, they capture infrared radiation emitted by hot objects. The basic concept behind TPV cells is straightforward: A heat source raises…