Author: solarenergy
The Bath leisure center receives government funding from SPSF for rooftop solar energy. Image: Viridian Solar Bath & North East Somerset Council has received £173,166 in UK government funding to install solar energy on top of the Bath Sports & Leisure Centre. The council has applied for this funding from Phase II (Capital) of the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF), which funds capital investments to improve the energy efficiency of public facilities with swimming pools. A photovoltaic (PV) system of up to 212 kWp will be installed on the central roof of the leisure center, subject to approval by…
Irish authorities have presented a new scheme that will allow homeowners to borrow between €5,000 and €75,000 for a period of up to ten years, at low interest rates. Heat pumps, solar energy and solar boiler installations are all eligible for the scheme. April 25, 2024 Patrick JowettThe Irish government has launched a home energy upgrade loan program to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient.The €500 million scheme has been announced as the first of its kind in Ireland. It offers homeowners the opportunity to borrow between €5,000 and €75,000 with a term of up to 10 years…
Solar Power World has dedicated its March 2024 coverage to installation tips for solar contractors big and small. You can read the rest of our Q&As in the magazine and online here. For insight into the “installation aid” segment, SPW talked with Brad Knudsen, product marketing manager at Scanifly, about how drones and advanced aerial imagery have transformed residential solar design and installation. How does using drones and aerial imagery help solar contractors in eventual hands-on installation? Using photogrammetry-derived measurements from geotagged drone data ensures that final designs and engineering documents are perfectly accurate — no change orders or revisions…
On April 25, 1954, American researchers presented the first prototype of a usable solar panel. The return at the time was around 6%. A lot has happened since then. April 25, 2024 pv magazineBy pv magazine GermanyExactly 70 years ago today, scientists from Bell Labs in the US state of New Jersey presented the first practical ‘solar battery’ to the public. The New York Times reported at the time that “this invention could mark the beginning of a new era – harnessing the virtually limitless energy of the sun for human civilization.”However, it took decades for this vision to become…
The project combines solar energy, onshore wind energy and battery storage. Image: Fred. Olsen renewable energy sources. Oslo-based sustainable developer Fred. Olsen Renewables has unveiled plans to develop a hybrid onshore wind, solar and battery energy storage project in Scotland. The project, which can generate 100MW of green energy, will be located in the Scottish Borders region and will involve the implementation of a £7 million community fund. Fred. Olsen has submitted plans for the Lees Hill Renewable Energy Park to the Scottish Government, with the project already under public consultation since 2022. The submitted proposals include six turbines up…
The photovoltaic industry is literally built on steel. As a critical component of racking and trackers for solar PV systems, a reliable steel supply is a necessity for the transition to solar energy. And as a material, steel is the most sustainable choice for mounting systems that ensure fair production a third of emissions per kilo of aluminum. The steel industry is also working on sustainability in other ways, for example by using protective coatings made with vegetable oils instead of fossil fuel oil. But the sustainability relationship is not one-sided: solar energy is also becoming increasingly important for the…
CPS America has announced updates on recent product launches for the US market. The 350 kW, 800 VAC The three-phase string solution was certified in September 2023 and is now in stock and available for US projects from 2 MW to 2 GW. “A high energy density solution is available for 1,500 VDC These applications allow site owners to invest in the future of their solar energy project. Granularity, efficiency and ease of maintenance are all baked into the product, allowing systems to minimize downtime and maximize revenue through energy harvesting,” said Anton Patton, senior product and application engineering director.…
Infinity Rack, an American producer of solar canopy structures based in North Carolina, has developed a modular building-integrated PV (BIPV) framing system. The patent-pending design works with any framed solar panel to create a mechanically watertight solar roof. Infinity Rack is currently shipping the roofing system as well as its proprietary modular structures: the SunLounge watertight solar pergolas and pavilions, as well as the SunPark, SunPark XL and SunPark Cantilever solar carports, nationwide. A SunLounge solar canopy by Infinity Rack. These structures have a modular design allowing for a number of possible configurations as well as 14 pre engineered kits…
Harmony Energy’s Pillswood BESS (above) was one of the “best performing GB” in 2023. Image: Harmony Energy. Battery storage developer Harmony Energy has received new funding from sustainable bank Triodos to help finance its expansion across Europe. The credit facility of up to £10 million will help accelerate the development activities of Harmony Energy, which has a global pipeline of more than 11 GW. It currently has 516 MW (1,032 GWh) of operational capacity from BESS, with a further 268 MW (536 MWh) under construction. This is Triodos Bank’s first standalone loan to the energy storage sector in Great Britain.…
Greek renewable energy developer Elica SA is seeking consultants for two desktop studies related to an electricity interconnection project between Greece and Egypt. The submarine connection will transport green energy to Europe via a 3 GW HDVC connection. April 25, 2024 Patrick Jowett Two calls for expressions of interest from consultants have been issued for the latest studies on an electrical interconnection project between Egypt and Greece to transport green energy. The so-called GREGY project is managed by Elica SA, a subsidiary of Greek infrastructure investor Copelouzos Group. Once completed, a 3 GW HVDC connection between the two countries will…