Author: solarenergy
EDF Renewables’ Longfield Solar Energy Farm gained 299 MW in AR6. Image: EDF Renewable Energy. The results of the sixth auction round (AR6) of the government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) program have been released by the Department for Net Zero and Energy Security (DESNZ). A total of 93 ground-based solar projects, with a combined capacity of 3.3 GW, scored support. AR6 did indeed get the highest budget ever for a round of funding, which reached a total of £1.5 billion after the Labor government announced a £500 million increase on July 30. Strong market involvement meant competitive pricing, which resulted…
Researchers have analyzed the viability of floating PV in terms of net present value, internal rate of return and LCOE. They have involved 25 European countries in their work, including Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. September 3, 2024 Lior KahanaA group of scientists from Italy and Spain have analyzed the impact of changing economic conditions on the viability of floating PV (FPV) projects in 25 European countries. Namely, they focused on the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of floating PV installations across the European region. While NPV shows how…
Solis announced the launch of two new string inverters for the US and Canadian markets: the 60 kW, 208 V models and the 125 kW, 480 V models. The new 60 kW and 125 kW string inverters complement Solis’ existing range, which runs from 25 kW to 125 kW. This comprehensive portfolio is designed to meet diverse energy needs and includes several key features: Fuse-free design: Both inverters feature a fuse-free architecture, reducing points of failure and increasing system reliability and longevity. Low start-up voltage: The inverters offer one of the lowest start-up voltages in the industry, maximizing energy production.…
California installed 24,202 electric vehicle chargers in the first half of 2024, bringing the total to more than 150,000. September 3, 2024 Anne FischerBy pv magazine USACalifornia has surpassed 150,000 public and shared private chargers installed statewide, including 137,648 “Level 2” chargers and 14,708 fast chargers. In addition to the public network, the state estimates there are more than 500,000 private home chargers installed across the state.Of the 48,000 chargers added to the dataset since the end of 2023, 24,202 new chargers were installed in the first half of 2024. The remaining 23,142 chargers will be installed and identified through…
The French government says the country installed 1.05 GW of new solar power in the second quarter, bringing the country’s cumulative installed PV capacity to 22.2 GW at the end of June. September 3, 2024 Gwénaëlle Deboutte Image: Etienne Girardet, UnsplashBy pv magazine FranceThe French Ministry of Ecological Transition reports that 1,056 MW of new PV systems have been connected to the electricity grid between April and June 2024. In comparison, the country added 1,054 MW in the first quarter of this year and 812 MW in the second quarter of 2023.As of June 2024, France’s total installed PV capacity…
Italy-based Italgam has developed a new technology to prevent pigeons from nesting under rooftop solar panels. The EVO 2.0 solution uses brushes that fit between the back of the panels and the roof. September 3, 2024 Lara Morandotti By pv magazine ItalyItalian startup Italgam Srl has developed a new bird protection solution for rooftop PV systems.The EVO 2.0 solution consists of brushes between the back of the panels and the roof. The brushes are available in two types with different diameters depending on requirements.The bristles, made of polypropylene treated with anti-UV to prevent crystallization, protect the panels, while the steel…
Just three years after forming, residential solar installer Lumio has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company expects the process to take two months and will continue operations as usual in the interim. Prior to the bankruptcy filing, Lumio entered into a stalking horse asset purchase agreement with an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors wherein White Oak would acquire nearly all of Lumio’s assets for $100 million. “Today’s announcement marks an important step forward for Lumio and a continuation of our deliberate efforts to position the business with the strategic, operational, and financial foundation to operate at the forefront…
According to their makers, the solar panels have an energy conversion efficiency of 10.8% and “sufficient” tensile strength and impact resistance. The research group said it used natural fiber composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) backing sheets. September 3, 2024 Emiliano BelliniAn international research team has developed a solar panel that uses a backsheet made from a natural zeolite polyester resin as an alternative to conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) backsheets.According to the makers, the proposed innovation is intended to reduce the environmental impact of PET backsheets and improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the solar…
The Chinese manufacturer said its new all-in-one storage system has a rated voltage of 51.2 V and a capacity of 100 Ah. It also features a built-in 5 kW inverter and an RS485 communication interface for real-time monitoring. September 3, 2024 Emiliano Bellini Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery manufacturer Vartrer Power has unveiled a new all-in-one storage system intended for residential and commercial building applications.The battery has a nominal voltage of 51.2 V and a capacity of 100 Ah. “Each battery module has a capacity of 5 kWh, and users can connect 1 to 6 modules in parallel, expanding…
Australian PV module manufacturer Tindo Solar has released a new n-type bifacial solar panel with a power of 425 W and a conversion efficiency of 21.8%. September 3, 2024 David CarollBy pv magazine AustraliaAustralia’s Tindo Solar has launched its new Walara range, including the 425W G3P module which it says is the first range of Australian-made solar panels with locally designed and manufactured n-type and bifacial technologies.“The Walara series represents a significant leap forward in Australian solar technology,” said Richard Petterson, CEO of Tindo. “Our goal was to create a product that is an evolution of our previous panels, created…