Author: solarenergy
Steel frame solar panel manufacturer Origami Solar has announced that after months of independent testing at CFV Labs and the Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC), the company’s steel frames have passed frame-related industry standard tests, including IEC 61215 static mechanical load tests and IEC 61701 Salt Spray Corrosion Test and continuity test of equipotential bonding. These tests prove that module manufacturers considering switching from imported aluminum frames to domestic steel frames can pass the certification tests without any problems. CFV performed both required static load testing and optional test-to-failure testing. In the static mechanical load tests, modules with Origami’s steel…
The Indian government has reinstated the so-called Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) mandate from April 1, 2024. This move creates a non-tariff barrier for Chinese products. April 30, 2024 Uma GuptaBy pv magazine IndiaIndia’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has reintroduced the system ALMM mandate from April 1, 2024. Only solar products and manufacturers on the MNRE-approved ALMM are eligible for government-backed projects. The policy was introduced by the MNRE to protect the domestic industry from dumping of Chinese products.The ALMM mandate gives domestic manufacturers the opportunity to serve a significant market by creating a non-tariff…
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), sales of electric three-wheelers (e-3W) in India surpassed 580,000 units in 2023, compared to 320,000 vehicles sold in China. April 29, 2024 Uma Gupta Image: Kultar Ruprai, UnsplashBy pv magazine IndiaOne in five three-wheelers sold globally in 2023 would be electric, and almost 60% of them were sold in India, according to a new report from the IEA.The report, “Global prospects for electric vehicles,” attributes the increase in e-3W sales in India to government subsidies under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) program and the resulting reductions in the…
By taking advantage of its abundant natural gas reserves, Saudi Arabia can easily produce hydrogen through processes such as Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), paving the way for the immediate development of hydrogen cities while building green hydrogen production capabilities, says Alberto Boretti, a New Zealand-based independent scientist.Saudi Aramco can leverage these resources to provide low-cost hydrogen solutions, making the concept of a hydrogen city financially viable and immediately attractive, Boretti said in a letter first published by the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Saudi Aramco recently announced plans to set up a hydrogen hub in Jubail Industrial City, about 100…
Image: Solar media In this episode, Finlay Colville, head of research at PV-Tech and Solar Media, discusses how the UK solar market is faring compared to other global markets, and what policymakers could do to push the sector further. Colville will be the Global trends impacting the UK solar market in his keynote op British suntop on June 4-5, 2024 at Novotel London West. The conversation will include exclusive insights into the impact of the UK Solar Taskforce, how the national market compares to the US and European solar markets, and Colville’s thoughts on Scotland’s recent retreat from its 2030…
By SB staff April 3, 2024 The United States Department of Agriculture is investing more than $120 million in this project renewable energy projects in 44 states. The funding is aimed at lowering energy costs, generating new revenues and creating jobs for America’s farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers and small rural businesses.Most projects are funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, through the Rural Energy for America program. This initiative advances President Joe Biden’s “Investment in America” agenda to grow the U.S. economy by increasing competition in agricultural markets, lowering costs and expanding clean energy.“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to…
At a time when energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important, solar panels are a brilliant solution. As a homeowner in Colorado Springs, investing in solar panels for your home can be a game-changing decision. But why is buying and installing solar panels a smart choice?
Freedom Solar Power announced the largest commercial solar installation in the greater Houston, Texas area in partnership with Stainless Structurals, a supplier specializing in the design, production and distribution of stainless steel solutions. The 1.97-MW installation was completed in March 2024. The Stainless Structurals rooftop installation encompasses over 4,000 solar panels across 118,000 ft2 of roof (a half-mile) to power a more sustainable and self-sufficient future for Stainless Structurals by offsetting energy usage by 78% and saving the company $4.8 million over the next 25 years. The initial motivator for this facility improvement project was to find a thermal barrier…
The operation and maintenance (O&M) of a utility-scale solar project is largely self-explanatory: keep the solar panels clean, monitor the health of the inverter, maintain the grounds, and check the tracker mechanisms for wear and tear. Maintaining large-scale lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) installations requires different skills, although they are largely hands-off and do not require weather-related maintenance. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to monitor, as BESS projects actually generate a huge amount of data. Asset managers can help portfolio owners sort through the mountains of data to ensure batteries are operating optimally. Software company Power factors optimizes…
With the frequency and severity of climate change disasters increasing steadily year by year, millions of lives are affected worldwide, and news outlets report new thresholds being broken with monotonous but dire regularity, and if that wasn’t enough climate change is driving a growing mental health crisis. Studies over recent years show significant increases in climate change anxiety worldwide. According to Google’s data, searches related to “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety” increased by 4,590% from 2018 to 2023. A nationally representative survey by the EdWeek Research Center found 37% of teenagers feel anxious when thinking about climate change. And if the direct…