Author: solarenergy

At Bluewave, integrating solar technology with traditional agricultural practices is not just a concept, it is the new standard. Jesse Robertson-DuBois, director of sustainable solar development, shares insights on agrivoltaic solar’s transformative journey within the industry. August 1, 2024 John Fitzgerald WeaverBy pv magazine USA“We have taken a deep dive into agrivoltaic energy, it is now our default land use option in our solar panels,” said Jesse Robertson-DuBois, Director of Sustainable Development at Bluewave. pv magazine USA.“The first approach to a project is: ‘How can we accommodate agrivoltaic energy?’ It’s the first thing we do during development. Sometimes that turns…

Researchers from Hong Kong are improving the efficiency and durability of solar cells Photovoltaic (PV) technologies, which convert light into electricity, are increasingly used worldwide to generate renewable energy. Researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a molecular treatment that significantly improves the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells, potentially accelerating large-scale production of this clean energy source. The research team identified critical parameters that determine the performance and lifetime of halide perovskites, a next-generation photovoltaic material known for its unique crystal structure. Their findings were published in Science. Led by Assistant Professor…

Italy’s latest capacity market auction catalyzed 233 MW of new capacity, with the lion’s share of projects secured by EP Produzione in two battery storage developments. August 1, 2024 Marija Maisch Image: UniEnergy Technologies, Wikimedia CommonsBy ESS newsItaly’s latest capacity market auction for power to be delivered next year saw 42.2 GW of capacity allocated, according to data published by transmission system operator Terna. This concerns almost 37.6 GW of existing capacity, approximately 233 MW of new capacity and 4.36 GW of capacity from abroad.While Terna did not announce how much battery storage capacity was catalyzed by the auction, Rome-based…

The Austrian manufacturer said its new heat pump is an ideal solution for industrial and district heating market segments. The system features an advanced rotor system, utilizing diffusion bonding technology, which is said to enable higher temperature increases and greater manufacturability thanks to fewer components. August 1, 2024 Valerie ThompsonAustrian heat pump specialist Ecop Technologies has launched its latest high-temperature industrial heat pump, a 700 kW system with output temperatures up to 200 C.The system is designed for the recovery and reuse of waste heat and supports applications such as process steam, washing, cooking, distillation and pasteurization, as well as…

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said it is still reviewing more than 1,100 public comments regarding its May 28 announcement to change Section 301 tariffs on a range of Chinese products, including a new focus on sun products. President Biden directed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to add or increase tariffs on certain Chinese products, including: Electric vehicles – increased to 100% by 2024 Solar cells (assembled or not into modules) – increased to 50% in 2024 Lithium-ion batteries for non-electric vehicles – increased to 25% by 2026 Steel and aluminum products — increased to 25% by…

Smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies has cracked the construction markets in the Middle East and India after signing a five-year deal with Qatar’s largest glass and facade manufacturer. August 1, 2024 Ev FoleyBy pv magazine AustraliaWestern Australia-based integrated solar glazing technology company Clearvue Technologies has added Aluminum Technology Auxiliary Industries (Alutec), Qatar to its growing global list of licensed manufacturers and distributors.Under the agreement, Alutec will produce and distribute ClearvuePV Solar Vision Glass, a product that integrates solar technology into building facades to improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and will receive distribution rights for Clearvue’s building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions…

Vaisala, a Finnish supplier of weather, environmental and industrial measurement products, began construction on a state-of-the-art U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Colorado, that would demonstrate sustainability – and S-5! solar energy attachments helped the company achieve its goals. Vaisala’s new headquarters in Louisville, Colorado features a vertical solar project mounted to the building’s facade with S-5! metal roof attachments. The project would construct a new building that would be seamlessly integrated with the existing one, creating an indoor-outdoor campus. Inspired by the minimalist design of the Scandinavian headquarters, the new structure embodies modernity and prioritises eco-consciousness. Specifically, the project achieves net-zero…

In 2022, the residential solar market set its fifth consecutive quarterly growth record in the United States. This shows that homeowners generally recognize the benefits of solar panels. While encouraging, the same cannot be said for residential batteries – yet. In fact, a recent FranklinWH survey of 1,000 U.S. adults revealed that more than half (56%) of consumers will admit they aren’t familiar with the benefits of residential energy storage. Setting the stage: Identifying the common misconceptions While the responsibility to educate homeowners falls on the entire industry, installers and solar professionals must be prepared for kitchen table conversations about…

Portugal’s Ministry of Energy has allocated €99.75 million ($107.6 million) for grid flexibility and energy storage projects to be installed by the end of 2025. August 1, 2024 Marija Maisch By ESS newsPortugal is trying to promote flexibility and balance its energy system with energy storage, as the country continues to break records in solar energy production. To that end, the country’s Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday that it has allocated €99.75 million ($107.6 million) in an effort to support 500 MW of energy storage projects.Eligible projects can receive up to €30 million and can be developed at both…

The new framework, called SolarNet+, would calculate the PV potential of cities not only by finding the orientation of roofs in spatial images, but also by identifying superstructures such as windows or chimneys. It was tested using aerial photographs from Munich and Brussels and found to be superior to reference frames. August 1, 2024 Lior KahanaA group of scientists from Germany have developed a new deep learning-based method for the potential of city-scale PV rooftops based on aerial imagery. The novelty of the proposed technique consists in the possibility of considering superstructures on roofs.“Those parts of the roof surface may…