Author: solarenergy

SEG Solar has invested $60 million in a new solar module factory in Houston, Texas. August 12, 2024 Michael PuttréBy pv magazine USASEG Solar has opened a new PV module manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. The automated factory line has an initial capacity of 2 GW of n-type panels per year, with plans to expand to 5 GW by 2030.“We have invested $60 million here in Houston,” said Jun Zhuge, Chief Operating Officer of SEG Solar, as he addressed an audience composed mainly of customers, partners and local officials gathered for the opening. “We’re not just talking.”The fully automated production…

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is looking for advisors to map solar energy in seven of its member states: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda. The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is August 30. August 14, 2024 Patrick Jowett Image: Nicolas Jehly, UnsplashIGAD is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to execute assignments as part of Desert-to-Power’s (DtP) East Africa Regional Energy Project (EAREP).EAREP is the second phase of DtP and aims to develop and harmonize a regional renewable energy policy for the East African Sahel countries.IGAD plans to recruit national advisors in seven of…

Argentine lithium a boon for some, a downfall for others Anahi Jorge, 23, works for a lithium mining company in Argentina and earns four times the salary of a local government worker in her village of Susques. And while she welcomes the income of around $1,700 a month – a fortune for most in economic crisis-wracked Argentina – she laments the impact on critical water supplies in her city and the wider Jujuy province. “Lithium is good and bad at the same time,” Jorge told AFP. “The water issue is harmful to us, but (lithium) is good for the people…

A new Dutch home battery has a new twist on old technology: gel lead-acid batteries, for safe operation. August 14, 2024 Tristan RaynerBy ESS newsSS4U, a new company from parent company TSS4U, a Dutch off-grid solar energy specialist and engineering firm, has launched a new battery designed for residential use. It is based on the technology of old-is-new: lead-acid, with a twist.The battery is a gel-lead-acid implementation, developed in collaboration with VDL Groep, a diversified Dutch manufacturer in the fields of energy, mobility, technology and more. It features an integrated charging system designed by ESS4U, which optimizes battery life and…

California is regularly seen as a leader in clean energy, and no area of the country has more solar or energy storage deployments. Remarkably though, the attachment of batteries to residential solar installations has been low — until recently, only 10% of home solar systems in California also had batteries. New net-metering rules in the state are dramatically changing the solar + storage landscape though, and solar installers are keeping busy with the new normal. In 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission enacted an overhaul of the state’s net-metering program. Since April 15, 2023, any new solar installation feeding energy…

Anza has announced a new product and subscription offering that provides developers, IPPs, EPCs, utilities, investors and independent engineers with on-demand access to the solar industry’s most advanced real-time data and software platform. With access to data and insights from more than 95% of the U.S. module offering, solar buyers and developers can easily minimize risk, save time, reduce lifetime project costs, and make optimal project decisions. “Anza’s subscription offering sets a new standard in the industry,” said Mike Hall, CEO of Anza. “Developers and those responsible for purchasing solar energy no longer have to make assumptions based on outdated…

Tongwei has made a CNY5 billion ($698.9 million) bid to acquire Chinese solar module maker Runergy. If successful, the transaction will be the largest merger and acquisition deal in the PV sector this year. August 14, 2024 Vincent Shaw Tongwei, a vertically integrated solar manufacturer in China, has signed a “capital increase agreement” with China-based module maker Runergy, its major shareholders, and Chinese state-owned investment management company Jiangsu Yueda Group.The deal outlines a multi-step acquisition process. Initially, Jiangsu Yueda will inject CNY1 billion ($139.7 million) into Runergy. Tongwei will then conduct due diligence, audits and valuations before completing the capital…

Nautilus Solar Energy has announced that it has expanded its strategic partnership with EnergyMark, a Williamsville, New York-based energy supplier and solar subscription manager. After a year of successful collaboration, the two companies have expanded their deal from approximately 17 MW to 24 MW, from seven projects to ten projects in National Grid’s utility footprint. The partnership will be celebrated on September 4, 2024 at the newly powered community solar farms in Grand Island, New York. The continued partnership aims to bridge the gap for local small to medium commercial businesses that have historically been left out of the community.…

QuickBOLTa division of Quickscrews International Corporation, has released QB RibRider, a solar-powered mount for exposed fastener, trapezoidal and ribbed metal roofs. The QB RibRider from QuickBOLT. The QB RibRider has an adjustable base that fits different rib widths, heights and angles, making it compatible with multiple roof profiles. It includes 75mm factory-applied butyl pads for weather resistance and a rotating L-bracket for 90 or 180° mounting. RibRider is attached with screws that require low torque to attach to metal roof profiles. “The RibRider is a solid choice for roofs with visible fasteners. We focused on making it adjustable and easy…

The journey to a net zero future by 2050 is a significant undertaking. To achieve this goal, annual energy generation is estimated to need to double and low-carbon energy generation to quadruple. That is a monumental task, which will require a huge deployment of renewable technology. The government plans to accelerate the pace of decarbonization and has estimated that its mission to deliver clean energy by 2030 will require at least a doubling of current onshore wind capacity, and a three- to four-fold increase in current offshore wind and solar energy capacity. Government initiatives such as the Contract for Difference…