Author: solarenergy
The Serbian government gives the green light to the disputed lithium mining project The Serbian government on Tuesday gave permission to restart operations at a disputed lithium mining project in Rio Tinto, days after a court ruling overturned measures to halt the project. “The government… is taking measures to restore the rule of law in the state that existed before the adoption of the regulation that was declared unconstitutional,” a Serbian government statement said. The decision follows a Constitutional Court ruling last week, which said a 2022 government decision to revoke permits granted to the Anglo-Australian mining giant was “not…
Despite global overcapacity, several factors may contribute to a slight increase in solar panel prices in Brazil, with shipping costs and tax exemption quotas on imported PV modules playing a key role. July 18, 2024 Lívia Neves and Alessandra Neris By pv magazine BrazilAccording to PV InfoLink, Brazil imported approximately 10.1 GW of PV modules between January and May. This capacity, worth $1.2 billion, exceeds the $1.13 billion import quota set by Brazilian authorities for a 9.6% import duty exemption on solar panels from January to June 2024.The next round of duty-free import quotas is set at $1.014 billion from…
Mission Solar has developed solar panels for C&I, utility-scale PV projects. The American manufacturer now offers large format bifacial solar panels for larger projects. July 17, 2024 Ryan KennedyBy pv magazine USAMission Solar Energy, a solar panel manufacturer that has recently focused on the residential market, announced that it has expanded its offerings with a new line of solar panels designed for commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale project applications.“Mission Solar Energy is excited to re-enter the C&I/utility segment,” said Sam Martens, chairman of Mission Solar Energy. “We have a history in this area and launched our business by supplying…
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) has announced a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $861.3 million in clean flexible energy. The loan guarantee will finance the construction of two solar PV farms equipped with battery storage and two standalone battery energy storage systems in Puerto Rico. The facilities will be located in the municipalities of Guayama (Jobos) and Salinas and will help provide clean, reliable and affordable power throughout Puerto Rico. The borrower is an indirect subsidiary of AES Corporation and TotalEnergies Holdings USA and is managed under a joint venture agreement…
Community support for solar energy development is the key to allaying fears about solar energy development. Image: Tridos Bank UK. A new report from solar industry trade body Solar Energy UK provides guidance to help solar farm developers build positive relationships with local communities. The 52-page ‘Community Engagement Good Practice Guidance’ report, released yesterday (July 17), contains a wealth of case studies demonstrating best practice for developers when dealing with people living near proposed solar farms. The report covers the entire life cycle of a development, from design to decommissioning. These guidelines are specifically aimed at developers of solar farms…
Jupiter International has received $36 million to expand its PV manufacturing activities, including the construction of a 1.8 GW solar cell facility, as well as a joint venture with AmpIn Energy for 1.2 GW each of integrated solar cell and module capacity. July 18, 2024 Uma Gupta Image: Chirayu Trivedi, UnsplashBy pv magazine IndiaJupiter International, an Indian solar cell manufacturer, said it has secured an investment of about $36 million led by the ValueQuest SCALE PE fund.The investment will boost Jupiter International’s solar cell capacity expansion and module production. It includes setting up a 1.8 GW solar cell facility and…
Advanced monitoring solutions company OnSight Technology has unveiled its new rooftop fire and smoke detection system, OWL. With AI capabilities, OWL will improve fire safety in various facilities, especially those with solar installations. Fire incidents pose significant risks, particularly in facilities with extensive solar infrastructure. Research indicates that fire durations exceeding five minutes can increase damage by 3.6-times and harm by 1.5-times. OWL addresses these concerns by providing real-time alerts for fire, smoke and abnormal heat signatures, ensuring rapid response and minimizing potential damage. OWL uses advanced AI algorithms to process data locally, ensuring rapid detection and response. Equipped with high-resolution…
Kinematics, a manufacturer of solar tracker drive systems, has shipped the first round of its newest product, the ST Series. Representing years of research, development and engineering, the ST Series features a maintenance-free, grease-free dry bearing design that delivers 20 to 50% more holding torque than Kinematics’ HE Series. In other words, it is a smaller drive that can be used in similar applications to previous models. A close-up of a Kinematics ST-series slew drive deployed on a single-axis solar tracker. “Created with a deep understanding of solar tracker customer needs, the Kinematics ST Series Actuator is redefining performance and…
A research group, including scientists from Chinese module maker Longi, has developed an undoped monocrystalline heterojunction cell that uses the promising MXene compound for the hole transport layer. The experimental device achieved an efficiency of 12.2% and was able to maintain approximately 86% of its original efficiency after 105 days of exposure to the ambient environment. July 18, 2024 Emiliano BelliniA group of scientists led by China’s Lanzhou University and Chinese solar module manufacturer Longi have designed an undoped heterojunction silicon solar cell based on a hole transport layer, based on a functionalized two-dimensional titanium carbide known as Ti3C2Tx or…
First Solar today debuted its new research and development (R&D) innovation center in Lake Township, Ohio. The Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation is dedicated to the late James “Jim” F. Nolan, a former member of First Solar’s Board of Directors and the architect of the company’s cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor platform. The facility covers 1.3 million ft2 and includes a pilot production line that enables the production of full-size prototypes of thin-film and tandem PV modules. Prior to operating the Jim Nolan Center, First Solar utilized a production line at the Perrysburg facility for its late-stage product development efforts.…