Author: solarenergy

Empact Technologies, a provider of IRA compliance management software and services, and Crux, the sustainable finance company, jointly announced a new partnership. The partnership allows Crux to connect project developers and tax credit buyers directly to Empact for tax credit compliance, and Empact to connect project developers to the Crux platform to monetize project tax credits. The IRA will provide an estimated $1.2 trillion in stimulus by 2032. The portability of federal clean energy tax credits has created a new market mechanism to finance clean energy projects, opening doors for both traditional players and buyers of non-traditional tax credits to…

The new solar cell uses tungsten sulfide as a field layer on the back surface. According to the makers, this layer can be incorporated into conventional CIGS solar cells to improve their efficiency and reduce the cost of the absorber material. September 17, 2024 Emiliano BelliniResearchers from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in India have proposed a new copper-indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cell structure using tungsten disulfide (WS2) as the back surface field (BSF) layer.BSF layers consist of a higher doped area at the back of the solar cell and are often used to increase the voltage of a…

The practical issue of taking apart a dead PV system and moving the components to their next destination has received less attention than recycling and second life applications. In the United States, Decom Solar offers dismantling for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects. pv magazine spoke to Decom Solar co-founder Stephen Burns for an update. September 17, 2024 Mark Hutchinspv magazine: Can you tell me something about Decom Solar and its work?Stephen Burns: Before I started Decom Solar, I worked in the solar energy sector for a project developer for 10 years. At that time, we started seeing clients requesting…

Norway’s REC Silicon says it has completed construction of the restarted Moses Lake plant and will ship its first commercial polysilicon from the site in mid-October. September 16, 2024 Patrick Jowett REC Silicon, a Norwegian producer of silane gas and silicon, has said it will make its first commercial shipment of ultra-high purity polysilicon from its newly restarted Moses Lake facility in Washington state in October.The company said the plant is “running well” and meeting production volumes for commercial shipments, with impurities reduced to customer acceptable levels.However, shipping has been delayed until mid-October due to a final qualification step by…

Molecular adjustments increase the efficiency of organic solar cells Organic solar cells (OSCs) offer a promising alternative to traditional inorganic solar cells, thanks to features such as tunable chemistry that allow scientists to fine-tune their properties for better performance. Researchers in Japan have now used this tunability to achieve higher energy conversion efficiency in OSCs. A recent study published in ‘Angewandte Chemie International Edition’ by researchers from Osaka University reports the development of a new organic semiconductor that surpasses the energy conversion efficiency of standard models. OSCs are lightweight, flexible and can be mass-produced at relatively low cost, making them…

The US Trade Representative has decided that it will expand tariffs on solar energy components, batteries, semiconductors, steel and electric vehicles from China. September 16, 2024 Ryan KennedyBy pv magazine USAThe U.S. Trade Representative decided to maintain Section 301 tariffs on goods shipped from China. The rates include 25% on batteries and steel, 50% tariffs on semiconductorsand a 100% tariff on Chinese EV imports. The agency said many of the tariffs will take effect on September 27. The Section 301 tariffs categorize semiconductors into two main groups: polysilicon for solar panels and silicon wafers, which are often used in computers.…

Array technologiesa global provider of utility-scale solar tracking, has integrated 77° stowage options for its tracker systems, providing new protection against both hail and wind conditions. As the solar industry and insurance partners increasingly need risk management strategies due to the increasing frequency of multi-million dollar hail damage, the need for reliable and effective hail mitigation has never been greater. By placing the tracker-compatible modules at a high angle, the risk of damage from approaching hail is significantly reduced. “Array continues to invest in new technology in the name of preparation, ensuring our trackers are built to thrive in any…

Researchers in the United Kingdom have presented a new heat pump system that can prevent heat input from being reduced during defrosting operations. The proposed concept can reportedly perform defrosting operations while ensuring continuous heating by condensing the refrigerant in the matte evaporator. September 16, 2024 Emiliano BelliniA group of researchers from the University of Glasgow and the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom have presented an experimental flexible heat pump concept that can perform a defrost operation while avoiding a reduction in heat supply when the refrigerant condenses in the frozen evaporator.The novelty of the proposed approach consists…

Envertech says it has developed microinverters for PV systems that support up to 60 modules, allowing up to four modules per unit with separate maximum power tracking. September 16, 2024 Ralph DiermannBy pv magazine GermanyChina-based power electronics manufacturer Envertech has developed new microinverters for residential PV systems with up to 60 modules.Envertech said the microinverters offer benefits in fire protection, installation, yield, maintenance and longevity. Each module has its own Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), which improves electricity production in shaded areas. String inverters, on the other hand, reduce the efficiency of the entire system if one module is in…

The government agreed an enterprise value of £630 million to acquire the ESO from National Grid, subject to customary closure arrangements. Image: National Network. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced last week (September 13) that the government has acquired National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO). From October 1, the UK’s energy system will be in public hands, overseen by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), which will be chaired by former E.ON CEO Dr Paul Golby. DESNZ says NESO will work with Great British Energy to deploy renewable energy and help connect new generation projects to…