Author: solarenergy
Paxos Solar has developed a new glass-glass PV tile that can be integrated with heat pumps, using Longi’s back-contact solar cells. The 44W, 59.5cm x 48cm tile can also produce heat for residential systems. September 16, 2024 Cornelia LichnerBy pv magazine GermanyPaxos Solar, a German specialist in building-integrated photovoltaic solar energy (BIPV), has developed a new solar tile that not only generates electricity, but also produces heat for heat pumps.The tile is a small glass-glass module measuring 59.5 cm x 48 cm and provides a power of 44 W. Approximately 4.3 tiles would be installed per square meter, giving a…
This development is the largest standalone BESS approved in Scotland. Image: Apatura Energy. Energy storage specialist Apatura has been granted planning permission for a 700 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Inverclyde, Scotland. Once completed, the Aunchetiber BESS will be Scotland’s largest standalone BESS, while it will also be the largest project for which Apatura has received approval for its 10GW pipeline. The BESS will be sited on approximately 16.39 hectares of land near Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, with consent for the construction of 240 BESS units, 140 BESS transformers, 280 BESS inverters, three 33 kV switch rooms, a 400…
A research team from the Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST) in South Korea has designed a wireless, transparent solar cell and module with all electrical contacts placed on the back. A 16 cm² module achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 14.7% and successfully charged a smartphone using natural sunlight. September 16, 2024 Patrick Jowett Researchers from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have fabricated a new transparent solar cell and module.The team’s design consists of an all-back-contact (ABC) configuration, with all electrical contacts…
China’s Ministry of Commerce has described the recent decision by the US Trade Representative’s office to increase tariffs on Chinese solar energy components, batteries, semiconductors, steel and electric vehicles as “typical unilateralism and protectionism.” It added that the tariff increases will hurt American businesses and consumers. September 16, 2024 Patrick Jowett China’s Commerce Ministry has urged the United States to reverse its decision to raise tariffs on Chinese goods.The U.S. Trade Representative’s office late last week confirmed plans to increase tariffs to 25% on Chinese batteries and steel, 50% on semiconductors and 100% on electric vehicle imports from China. Most…
Sitetracker, a provider of deployment management software, showcased a host of new features at RE+, the largest clean energy conference in North America. These improvements are already helping various renewable energy providers improve the creation and development, engineering and construction, operation, maintenance and asset management of solar, storage, wind and EV charging infrastructure. At the conference, Sitetracker demonstrated features that standardize renewable infrastructure implementation, including project schedules, budgets and change orders, construction management, regulatory compliance, leases, mobile applicability and reporting/dashboarding. Sitetracker will also showcase its GIS Link solutions, which integrate with deployment operations technology, providing unprecedented opportunities to efficiently share…
Researchers in China have discovered that a special type of hygroscopic hydrogel, made from polyacrylamide polymer and lithium chloride, can reduce the temperature of PV panels by up to 7.5%. They also developed a mathematical model to analyze the operational mechanisms and factors responsible for cooling performance. September 16, 2024 Emiliano BelliniScientists at South China University of Technology have developed a passive cooling technology for solar modules that uses a Hygroscopic hydrogel as a coolant. Hygroscopic hydrogels are a new type of absorbent materials that offer extreme water absorption, efficient water collection and release kinetics, and low desorption enthalpies.In the…
Brazilian authorities say they plan to hold a large-scale energy storage auction in 2025, potentially creating a market for large-scale storage facilities in the country. September 16, 2024 Livia Neves By pv magazine BrazilBrazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has announced plans to open a public consultation for an auction of capacity reserves focused solely on battery storage, scheduled for 2025.Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira stated that in addition to this auction, the government also plans to hold a previously planned auction for spare capacity from thermal and hydroelectric sources in 2024. He said the purpose of the battery auction is…
The new method uses the YOLOv8 framework, which integrates an attention mechanism and a transformer model. It was tested on a dataset of 4,500 electroluminescence images against several other models and the results were up to 17.2% more accurate. September 16, 2024 Lior KahanaScientists from China have developed a new deep learning method for detecting defects in PV cells. When analyzing electroluminescence (EL) images, the new system uses the YOLOv8 convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, integrating an attention mechanism and a transformer model.“To further improve the accuracy, I think we can start by optimizing the model structure and training the…
Ampin Energy Transition and Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. have formed a joint venture, Ampin C&I Power, to develop renewable energy sources in India. September 16, 2024 Uma Gupta Image: Ampin Energy TransitionBy pv magazine IndiaJapan’s Sumitomo Corp. has entered the Indian commercial and industrial renewable energy market in partnership with India’s Ampin Energy Transition.The two partners have formed a joint venture, Ampin C&I Power, to develop renewable energy sources in India and supply electricity to commercial and industrial customers under power purchase agreements (PPAs). The company will create a portfolio of 1 GW of renewable energy assets, with a total project…
Converting seawater into freshwater using solar energy technology Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed an innovative and energy-efficient desalination device that converts seawater into drinkable water using solar energy. The device uses a natural evaporation process, inspired by the way trees transport water, to provide a sustainable source of fresh water. Desalination is becoming increasingly important for coastal and island states that face increasing concerns about water scarcity due to population growth and rising water consumption. According to the UN’s World Water Development Report 2024, approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water, underscoring…