Author: solarenergy

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Program (PVPS) says in its latest report that 2023 was a record-breaking but tumultuous year for solar energy development. It says the manufacturing industry is under pressure from an imbalance between supply and demand, with overcapacity causing prices to collapse. November 4, 2024 Patrick Jowett According to the IEA-PVPS, the global solar sector is achieving record growth but is facing significant pressure, especially in the manufacturing sector. His latest report states: “Trends in PV applications 2024”, that at the beginning of 2024, more than 1.6 TW of PV systems were operational worldwide,…

A research group has proposed a new method to control rates of increase in electricity networks. The control optimization is based on weather, load and production forecast data. The scientists simulated the operation of the proposed technique and achieved a reduction in the ramp rate of up to 76.2%. November 4, 2024 Lior Kahana A research team led by Japan’s Osaka University has proposed a new ramp rate control method using PV module cooling. The ramp rate refers to the rate at which the output of a PV system changes due to environmental conditions over a given time. Controlling this…

Namaste Solar The Maryland Energy Administration today announced the opening of the new Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Commercial Solar Grant Program, which offers major incentives to Maryland businesses and organizations to help pay the costs of solar energy systems that benefit Maryland’s low-to-moderate income, overburdened and underserved communities. “The agency developed the Commercial Solar Grant Program to promote equitable access to commercial-scale solar systems through more meaningful and focused incentives,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “The Commercial Solar Grant Program promotes partnerships with companies and groups led by minorities, veterans and people with disabilities to ensure strong…

A small slowdown in annual revenues is forecast towards the end of the decade, in line with Cornwall Insight’s forecasts for wholesale electricity prices. Image: Light source bp. British consultancy Cornwall Insight has published forecasts that profits from battery storage units will recover by 2026. The company’s GB Battery Revenue Forecast shows that, after “an extended period of underperformance”, annual revenues for 2-hour assets will increase from around £96/kW in 2025 to £108/kW in 2026. Other periods should undergo similar periods. growth, which is attributed to rising wholesale prices, additional price volatility and an increase in renewable energy sources in…

Jeffrey Saltman, partner at U.S. intellectual property law firm Fisch Sigler LLP, recently spoke pv magazine about the increasing number of patent lawsuits between manufacturers of PV modules. He said this increase in lawsuits is mainly driven by industry convergence on tunnel oxide passivated contact technology (TOPCon) and noted that the number of lawsuits is likely to increase in the near future. November 4, 2024 Emiliano Bellini pv magazine: There has been an increase in patent lawsuits in the global PV industry recently. What are the main factors causing tensions between module manufacturers? Jeffrey Saltman: Success often involves patent litigation.…

Canadian Premium Sand (CPS)A glass manufacturer targeting Canada to produce glass for solar panels announced today that it plans to launch a cartridge solar glass factory in the United States as well, capable of producing enough glass for 4 GW of solar panels annually. Credit: Oregon Department of Transportation CPS has completed financing details for its glass manufacturing plant in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada. The site is located north of Winnipeg, north of the Canadian border with Minnesota. The site will create “ultra-clear pattern solar glass” using high-purity, low-iron silica sand from CPS-owned Canadian quarries. The Manitoba site will use local…

The Swiss manufacturer said the cell was developed in collaboration with Echion Technologies, which supplied the niobium-based active anode material. It has greater energy density and faster charging compared to LTO technologies. November 4, 2024 Lior Kahana The XN50 battery cell Image: Leclanché SA From ESS news Swiss energy solutions company Leclanché has released XN50, the world’s first commercial Li-ion cell with a niobium-based active anode material, the company said in a statement. Delivered by Great Britain Echion TechnologiesThe XNO trademark material enables 50% higher energy density than LTO (lithium titanate or lithium titanium oxide) technologies, fast charging and safety…

Servotech Power Systems has developed a new range of solar energy solutions including on-grid microinverters and inverters, hybrid inverters, battery energy storage systems and solar pump controllers. The microinverters feature maximum power point tracking, built-in WiFi and reverse power transmission. November 4, 2024 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Raman Bhatia, founder and director of Servotech Power Systems, has unveiled a number of new solar energy solutions, including on-grid microinverters, hybrid inverters, battery energy storage systems and solar pump controllers. The new products are aligned with Indian government initiatives such as Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM…

Ireland’s total school solar program will deliver up to 24 MW of installed renewable energy in schools, with associated savings of approximately €5.5 million ($5.9 million) per year at 4,000 schools across the country. November 4, 2024 Blathnaid O’Dea The Irish government has said it is expanding its Solar for Schools program to all schools across the country. The scheme was initially announced as a pilot in November 2023 to encourage schools to use clean, cheap energy. Eligible schools can install between 14 and 16 panels, or the equivalent of up to 6 kilowatt peaks of roof-mounted solar. They can…

A Belgian-Dutch research team has defined new design guidelines for solar photovoltaics integrated into buildings or infrastructures. The proposed approach, which was validated through two demonstrators, supports the production of semi-finished products for integrated photovoltaic applications by enabling effective communication between project developers and module manufacturers. November 4, 2024 Emiliano Bellini An international research team has outlined new general design guidelines for integrated photovoltaic (IPV) modules. “Our study introduces a new approach by establishing design guidelines for the production of PV modules tailored for IPV, based on general product requirements rather than relying on commercially available PV modules,” said the…