Author: solarenergy

Helen, a Helsinki-based energy company, has unveiled plans for a large-scale district heating plant complex. Germany’s MAN Energy Solutions is supplying a 33 MW air-to-water heat pump, the largest ever used for a district heating plant, using ambient air and renewable electricity to generate heat. September 3, 2024 Patrick JowettEnergy company Helen is building a large-scale heating plant complex in Patola, a district of Helsinki, Finland.The location will have an industrial-scale heat pump and two 50 MW electric boilers. Once operational, it is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 56,000 tonnes per year. Construction will begin at the end of…

On August 30, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for 48E(h)the Clean Electricity Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act. The program promotes cost-effective clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian lands, in affordable housing, or that directly benefit low-income households. The proposed rules are a major step forward in implementing the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, lowering costs for underserved communities and households and ensuring they share in the benefits of the growth of the clean energy economy. The 48E(h) Clean Electricity…

Voltalia will build and develop Ørsted’s new Irish solar park. Image: Ørsted. Voltalia, an energy services provider, will undertake the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for Danish renewable energy company Ørsted’s 128MW development in County Carlow, eastern Ireland. Voltalia already has a strong presence in Ireland, with a pipeline of 540 MW of projects operational and under construction. In August last year, the energy producer was selected to build and service several solar projects totaling 230 MW across Ireland, signing a 15-year agreement with independent energy producer Power Capital Renewable Energy. “We are pleased with this first collaboration with…

In what is likely a first for a silicon solar panel manufacturer operating in the United States, Canadian Solar has just announced that it has partnered with SolarCycle to offer recycling services to its U.S. customers. SolarCycle will serve as Canadian Solar’s preferred recycling partner, while Canadian Solar will offer recycling services at the time of purchase. Canadian Solar customers can now secure recycling services when they purchase their panels. “By including upfront recycling services to add to the price of a solar panel, Canadian Solar is moving the entire industry forward to ensure we are truly sustainable, from cradle-to-cradle.…

The US Department of Energy has announced $62 million for 20 projects to accelerate hydrogen technology, while international researchers have revealed how hydrogen injection into existing natural gas infrastructure could impact 115 million gas meters in the European Union. September 3, 2024 Sergio MatalucciThe US Department of Energy has announced nearly $62 million for 20 projects in 15 states to advance clean hydrogen technologies. The majority of the funds, $40 million, will develop and demonstrate low-cost, standardized hydrogen fueling stations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The government will also provide $8.5 million to develop gaseous and liquid hydrogen fueling components…

EDF Renewables’ Longfield Solar Energy Farm gained 299 MW in AR6. Image: EDF Renewable Energy. The results of the sixth auction round (AR6) of the government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) program have been released by the Department for Net Zero and Energy Security (DESNZ). A total of 93 ground-based solar projects, with a combined capacity of 3.3 GW, scored support. AR6 did indeed get the highest budget ever for a round of funding, which reached a total of £1.5 billion after the Labor government announced a £500 million increase on July 30. Strong market involvement meant competitive pricing, which resulted…

Researchers have analyzed the viability of floating PV in terms of net present value, internal rate of return and LCOE. They have involved 25 European countries in their work, including Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. September 3, 2024 Lior KahanaA group of scientists from Italy and Spain have analyzed the impact of changing economic conditions on the viability of floating PV (FPV) projects in 25 European countries. Namely, they focused on the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of floating PV installations across the European region. While NPV shows how…

Solis announced the launch of two new string inverters for the US and Canadian markets: the 60 kW, 208 V models and the 125 kW, 480 V models. The new 60 kW and 125 kW string inverters complement Solis’ existing range, which runs from 25 kW to 125 kW. This comprehensive portfolio is designed to meet diverse energy needs and includes several key features: Fuse-free design: Both inverters feature a fuse-free architecture, reducing points of failure and increasing system reliability and longevity. Low start-up voltage: The inverters offer one of the lowest start-up voltages in the industry, maximizing energy production.…

California installed 24,202 electric vehicle chargers in the first half of 2024, bringing the total to more than 150,000. September 3, 2024 Anne FischerBy pv magazine USACalifornia has surpassed 150,000 public and shared private chargers installed statewide, including 137,648 “Level 2” chargers and 14,708 fast chargers. In addition to the public network, the state estimates there are more than 500,000 private home chargers installed across the state.Of the 48,000 chargers added to the dataset since the end of 2023, 24,202 new chargers were installed in the first half of 2024. The remaining 23,142 chargers will be installed and identified through…

The French government says the country installed 1.05 GW of new solar power in the second quarter, bringing the country’s cumulative installed PV capacity to 22.2 GW at the end of June. September 3, 2024 Gwénaëlle Deboutte Image: Etienne Girardet, UnsplashBy pv magazine FranceThe French Ministry of Ecological Transition reports that 1,056 MW of new PV systems have been connected to the electricity grid between April and June 2024. In comparison, the country added 1,054 MW in the first quarter of this year and 812 MW in the second quarter of 2023.As of June 2024, France’s total installed PV capacity…