Author: solarenergy

The UK’s RECAI score for offshore wind technology was 59.5, the second highest globally after the US. Image: EY. The latest Renewable Energy Country Attraction Index (RECAI) from Ernst & Young (EY) has placed the UK battery energy storage systems (BESS) market third globally. The RECAI is a biannual report that ranks countries based on how attractive their renewable energy sector is for investment. The report places Britain sixth, a step forward partly attributed to increased government funding for the Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme, which received more than £1 billion in the most recent round of auctions (AR6). According…

In May 2024, high-efficiency panels, mainly glass-glass modules equipped with tunnel oxide passivated contact cells (TOPCon), started to converge in price with the mainstream offering, writes Martin Schachinger of pvXchange. Production volumes for these negatively doped ‘n-type’ cells and modules have ramped up in China, while the increasingly restrictive customs situation in the United States may already be having an impact. For the European market, increasingly lower prices for the latest module technology would indicate that demand would continue to rise without a number of disruptive factors. June 24, 2024 Martin Schachinger, pvXchange.comIn Europe, large stocks of modules will still…

The system will have a capacity of 360MW. Image: GridBeyond. Solar energy and energy storage developer Elements Green has secured planning permission for its Staythorpe battery energy storage system (BESS). The project will have a peak capacity of 360 MW, a storage capacity of 720 MWh and a planned operational life of 40 years. Elements Green has set a target date of 2026 for the system to be operational. The plans include several elements that aim to benefit the community. These include more than 12 hectares of land dedicated to creating woodlands and flower meadows, planting 129 trees and creating…

At Intersolar in Munich, pv magazine spoke with Jenny Chase, solar analyst at BloombergNEF, about incredibly low polysilicon prices, massive overcapacity and increasing consolidation. According to Chase, there will be enough polysilicon capacity to produce 1.1 TW of solar panels this year, but global demand for modules is expected to be around 585 GW. “That’s a pretty big delta,” she said, noting that the solar industry also needs to prepare for a range of “negative feedback mechanisms,” such as negative prices and excess solar energy. June 24, 2024 Jonathan Gifford Jenny Chase and pv magazine editor with the great Jonathan…

Researchers from Iraq have used computational fluid dynamics to simulate the operation of a 100W panel with ground cooling. The proposed technique was reportedly able to reduce panel temperatures by as much as 28% while increasing power generation by as much as 6.5%. June 24, 2024 Lior KahanaA group of Iraqi scientists have investigated the use of energy from the ground to cool PV panels and found that this solution could result in a significant reduction in the module’s operating temperature.The researchers simulated a setup with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) algorithms. CFD is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses…

LG Electronics USA is expanding his relationship with financing company Synchrony, independent LG Pro Dealers will offer a financing program to help homeowners purchase the Home 8 energy storage system. The private label credit card program offers competitive deferred interest, fixed payment and equal monthly payment promotion options for the Home 8 ESS to help customers afford energy storage. “Synchrony makes energy independence easy – for LG Electronics, for our installer partners and for homeowners interested in the Home 8 ESS,” said Chris Ahn, Senior Vice President of LG Electronics USA. “This partnership gives dealers and installers the tools they…

In the second interview in a series held at Intersolar 2024, pv magazine spoke to Karen Tang, editor-in-chief for Europe at Singapore-based market research firm OPIS, about the strong pressure on prices across all segments, including the downstream business. She defined the current market situation as “unhealthy” and “bleak” for the PV industry, although she acknowledged that overcapacity also makes solar energy extremely competitive compared to all other energy sources. Tang also expects pressure on electricity and gas prices to continue this year. June 24, 2024 Jonathan Gifford Karen Tang and pv magazine editor with Jonathan Gifford at the pv…

Energizer solar energya licensee of Energizer Holdings, will distribute its solar products to the North American market through its headquarters in California ATG E power. “Energizer Solar’s product range has already made waves in the renewable energy sector and has achieved notable success in Australia and Europe,” said Nicholas Sweeney, co-founder of Energizer Solar. “Our comprehensive solar ecosystem, designed with both homeowners and installers in mind, transforms the way energy is managed and consumed.” Energizer Solar’s product range includes energy storage systems, solar inverters, EV chargers, as well as portable power stations and foldable solar panels designed for outdoor activities…

At least 22 people, most of them foreigners, were killed in a massive fire at a South Korean factory that produces non-rechargeable lithium batteries in the city of Hwaseong, just south of Seoul. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. June 24, 2024 Marija Maisch From pv magazine ESS news placeAt least 22 people were killed in a fire at a primary lithium battery factory in South Korea on Monday morning, local officials said.The fire broke out at a factory of battery manufacturer Aricell in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi province, about 50 kilometers southwest of Seoul.After nearly five hours, the…

Israel’s Ministry of Energy says it will exempt hybrid solar inverters from purchase taxes and customs duties. It is argued that these policy mechanisms will help during energy crises. June 24, 2024 Lior Kahana Hybrid solar inverters are needed to install storage-plus-solar systems. The ministry said it hopes this move will boost storage systems. Solar users can take advantage of the tax cuts now, buy inverters and install storage systems later.The ministry also suggested that users of solar-only systems purchase hybrid solar inverters with operational storage capabilities. This allows electricity generated during the day to be used during network outages…