Author: solarenergy

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives the voice to Nataliia Cherepovska, communications manager at the Polish Menlo Electric. She says that especially in Ukraine, where she comes from, solar energy is more than a green initiative: it is a lifeline. “Solar-powered critical facilities continue to operate even if the power grid goes down, ensuring critical services,” she says. “Solar energy doesn’t just power buildings – it also fuels hope, security and progress.” October 18, 2024 The impact of solar energy extends beyond its environmental benefits. It is a catalyst for social transformation, especially in communities struggling with unreliable…

Avathonthe AI-driven company formerly known as SparkCognition has unveiled a new AI platform that aims to improve several tasks related to industrial businesses – maximizing the uptime of capital-intensive assets, enabling efficient production ramp-up and ensuring the safety of workers in industrial settings. With more than $100 trillion in aging infrastructure and mounting pressures from supply disruptions, labor shortages and evolving security threats, Avathon is poised to meet this moment through AI platforms. “Avathon has an ambitious vision and is investing significant capital to develop solutions that address the full scope of industry challenges, including the necessary energy transition to…

The C&I project, installed by Engie’s subsidiary Sun4business, includes solar panels from Dutch manufacturer Solarge that weigh just 7 kg/m2. October 18, 2024 Valerie Thompson A 2.3 MW rooftop PV plant has been inaugurated at a Belgian factory owned by Sabic, a Saudi Arabia-based chemical company. It was designed, financed and installed by Sun4Busines, the Belgian subsidiary of the French multinational utility company Engie. The factory has 4,600 PV panels made by Solarge, a Dutch module manufacturer opened its first factory in the Netherlands last year. “Sabic sees the use of lightweight solar panels on industrial roofs as an excellent…

Duke Energy’s Lake Placid solar power plant suffered an EF-2 tornado during Hurricane Milton, shredding an array of solar panels while leaving most of the facility intact. October 17, 2024 John Fitzgerald Weaver By pv magazine USA A tornado ripped through a solar power plant in central Florida. Footage released by Duke Energy shows an array of solar panels being torn from the single-axis trackers holding them in place. Local weather reports identified the storm as an EF-2 tornado, with winds between 110 and 130 miles per hour. According to the county sheriff’s department, the tornado struck before Hurricane Milton…

Sandia Evaluates Heat Shields for Mars Sample Return and Titan Missions Sandia National Laboratories’ National Solar Thermal Test Facility uses solar energy to simulate the intense heat experienced during atmospheric reentry and hypersonic flight. The latest tests are intended to support NASA missions, including the Mars Sample Return Campaign, a joint effort with the European Space Agency to bring rock samples from Mars to Earth for analysis. These samples could reveal evidence of ancient life and help prepare for future human missions to Mars. As part of the Mars Sample Return mission, a Sample Retrieval Lander would carry the heaviest…

Battery and inverter manufacturer Redback Technologies has returned from a tumultuous start to the year – including a short period of voluntary administration – with the launch of a new range of solar and energy storage products. October 16, 2024 David Caroll By pv magazine Australia Australia-based Redback Technologies has announced it will launch its next-generation solar and battery energy storage solutions, including single-phase and three-phase options, at the All Energy Australia trade show in Melbourne next week. Included in the new range is the Hybrid battery system which according to Redback Technologies offers greater power capacity with storage options…

Researchers simulated the operation of bifacial PV and reversible proton exchange membrane fuel cells in restaurants in five different US states. Taking into account the varying yields of bifacial PV, they found that the LCOE was only $0.029 per kWh. October 18, 2024 Lior Kahana An international research group has simulated the coupling of bifacial PV panels with proton exchange membrane (PEM) reversible fuel cells (RFC) to power commercial buildings. The simulation was conducted at five locations in the United States: Tucson, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; Denver, Colo.; Dallas, Texas; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. “One of the most surprising results of…

Leadership from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Red Hook Central School District gathered at Mill Road Elementary School to announce the completed installation of three rooftop solar systems at the school’s elementary, middle and high schools. district. The nearly $1.7 million solar panels have a combined DC power of 600 kW and support New York State’s goal to generate 70% of New York’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and transition to a carbon-free energy system by 2040 electricity grid. “NYPA’s partnership with Red Hook schools reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and educating the next generation…

The Institute for Essential Services Reform says Indonesia’s solar industry has suffered a downturn in the past two years, but policy reforms should accelerate solar deployment in the coming years. The think tank’s latest report states that there are currently 16.92 GW of projects in the pipeline across the country. October 18, 2024 Patrick Jowett According to figures from the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), the total installed solar capacity in Indonesia was 717.71 MW in August. The Jakarta-based think tank recently published its “Indonesia Solar Energy Outlook 2025report. Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of IESR, said Indonesia needs to…

An Australian Research Council-funded report co-authored by the Sydney-based University of New South Wales and UK charity SolarAid says the off-grid solar sector should do more to improve its product repair initiatives. October 18, 2024 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia An Australian Research Council-funded report co-authored by the Sydney-based University of New South Wales (UNSW) and UK-based charity SolarAid has said the off-grid solar sector should do more to improve its product repair initiatives. The ‘State of Repair In the Off-Grid Solar Sector’ report states that since the early 2000s, 375 million solar kits have been sold and distributed…