Author: solarenergy

Software company Aether Energy has launched in Europe to support residential and commercial rooftop solar PV installers, from pre-sales to after-sales and energy monitoring. It recently secured seed capital to finance its plan to expand its operations. November 7, 2024 Valerie Thompson Aether Energy, a US-based startup with operations in France, has launched a subscription-based software platform for solar installers to support their pre-sales, design, engineering, after-sales and monitoring business activities. energy at home. The software is based on a unique combination of technologies, such as spatial modeling, computer vision, computer-aided design (CAD) and large language modeling (LLM), according to…

A machine learning model identified Na[Mn0.36Ni0.44Ti0.15Fe0.05]O2 as the optimal composition to achieve the highest energy density for sodium ion (Na-ion) devices. November 7, 2024 Blathnaid O’Dea Image: Ra Boe, Wikimedia Commons By ESS news Scientists from Japan’s Tokyo University of Science (TUS) and the Nagoya Institute of Technology, and from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, have developed a machine learning method to optimize the energy density of Na-ion batteries. The research brings Na-ion batteries one step closer to becoming a commercially viable alternative to lithium-ion devices. Lithium-ion currently dominates the battery market, but lithium’s relative scarcity and high…

GoodWe has developed a residential solar carport with Polaris PV panels (BIPV) integrated into the building. The carport, which is available in 4.8 kW and 8.0 kW variants, is designed to accommodate one or two vehicles respectively. November 7, 2024 Emiliano Bellini GoodWe BIPV, part of the Chinese PV manufacturer GoodWe, has launched a new solar carport for residential applications. “Our new carport has a built-in waterproof structure that requires no glue for a neat finish,” a company spokesperson said pv magazine. “The modular system is highly adaptable and can accommodate different living environments and slopes with adjustable post heights,…

The solar industry has seen remarkable advancements in technology processes recently. One of the most exciting developments is the integration of 3D printing into solar manufacturing. This approach is reshaping how we produce solar panels and components, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and more sustainable practices. What is 3D Printing? 3D printing is a process of creating three-dimensional objects by layering materials based on digital designs. This technology has found applications in various industries, from aerospace to healthcare, and now it’s making waves in solar manufacturing. The process begins with a digital 3D model, which is then sliced into…

With the Republican White House, Senate and House of Representatives up for grabs, core policies for the solar industry may be repealed. November 7, 2024 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA Republicans have won political victories, electing President Donald Trump, securing the Senate and potentially gaining a majority in the House of Representatives. While the DOW Jones industrial average rose 3% to record highs in the post-Election Day trading session, solar and clean energy stocks have fallen heavily. At the time of writing, the Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) is down 11%, major US manufacturer First Solar is down 12%, inverter…

The proposed farm would have delivered a net biodiversity gain of 50%. Image: West Burton Solar Project. Solar PV developer Island Green Power has seen a development consent (DCO) decision postponed by the UK government for its 480MW West Burton project in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The examination process for the Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP) concluded in May 2024, with the Planning Inspectorate passing on their recommendation to the Minister in early August. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, then had three months to make a decision on whether to proceed with development and…

According to the National Commission for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CEREFE), Algeria had 437 MW of solar power generation capacity at the end of 2023. The country has an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and a global horizontal irradiation of almost 1,700 kWh/m²/year in the north and 2,263 kWh/m²/year in the south. Nevertheless, almost 100% electrified Algeria generates 99% of its energy from domestic gas. Solar energy has long been limited to research projects and the electrification of villages too remote to connect to the electricity grid. Of the 11 MW of solar energy added in…

Kiwa PI Berlin has resolved inverter faults at a PV installation in South Africa through a root cause analysis. The project encountered up to 130 failures involving insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). November 7, 2024 Pilar Sanchez Molina A 95 MW PV plant in South Africa, owned by an independent power producer active in several markets, has experienced recurring inverter failures, according to Kiwa PI Berlin. Between 2022 and 2023, the plant recorded more than 130 failures related to insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in field replaceable units (FRUs). The inverter failures affected both energy production and operational costs due…

Researchers in Japan have developed an optimized hydrogen gas measurement using the TDLAS technique. Reportedly, it can achieve a detection range of hydrogen gas concentration from 0.01% to 100%. The group said it could improve the safety of hydrogen and therefore its adoption. November 7, 2024 Lior Kahana Scientists from Japan have developed a new method for measuring hydrogen gas, using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) at different pressures and a high-pressure gas cell. TDLAS is widely used for gas analysis, but has previously had difficulty quantifying low hydrogen concentrations due to its lower absorption compared to other gases…

The latest solar cost model from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that residential solar prices have increased, commercial solar is becoming cheaper and utility-scale prices are remaining flat. The addition of batteries increases costs by $1.75/W for residential projects and $0.75/W for larger installations. November 6, 2024 John Fitzgerald Weaver By pv magazine USA The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has released an update Cost model for PV systems for 2024 (PVSCM) data, revealing shifting price trends in the solar industry. Residential solar prices are up, commercial prices are down, and utility-scale prices remain flat.…