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The Hydrogen Stream: Qatari researchers unveil PV-led desert agriculture system

Researchers in Qatar have proposed a solar-powered freeze desalination and electrolysis system for freshwater and green hydrogen production, while BP says it has made a final investment decision for its 100 MW Lingen Green Hydrogen project in Germany.
Markets & Policy

Chinese PV Industry Brief: Huadian connects second phase of 1 GW project

Huadian says it has connected the second phase of its 1 GW Tengger solar project to the grid in China's Inner Mongolia region, while First Applied Material has extended the construction timeline for its Vietnam film encapsulation project to December 2025.
Markets & Policy

Annual lithium-ion demand surpasses 1 TWh for first time

The big milestone comes on the back of a record month for electric vehicle sales and strong battery energy storage system (BESS) deployment. However, EV demand remains far behind BESS with the latter’s impressive growth reaching a year-on-year increase...
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Special Edition EnergaĂŻa 2024

On the occasion of Energaia 2024 in Montpellier, pv magazine is publishing a special edition on the latest developments in the French photovoltaic market.

 

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Installations

Assessing impact of fire on PV facades

An international research team has analyzed which factors contribute to fire accidents in PV facades and has found that the distance between the wall and the photovoltaic modules plays a crucial role. The scientists also said project developers should at...
Markets & Policy

Bslbatt launches low-voltage integrated battery storage system

China’s Bslbatt has unveiled its latest product: an integrated low-voltage energy storage system that combines inverters ranging from 5 kW to 15 kW with 15 kWh to 35 kWh battery storage systems.
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Installations

Scatec secures financing for 60 MW of solar in Botswana 

Norway’s Scatec ASA has reached financial close on a 60 MW solar plant in Botswana. The project will be developed as section of a broader 120 MW complex in the central part of the country.
Markets & Policy

Walmart, Nexamp to bring 31 community solar projects to five US states

Walmart and Nexamp have agreed to develop 31 community solar projects in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota. They expect to deploy more than 120 MW of solar capacity.
Markets & Policy

Enel to retrofit battery storage at century-old pumped hydro storage plant

Enel will retrofit a battery energy storage system (BESS) at its pumped hydro storage plant in Bergamo, northern Italy. The EU-backed BESS will serve as an additional energy reservoir, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.

Press Releases

KSTAR Goes Bigger in Europe: New Office Open in the Netherlands 

KSTAR is thrilled to announce the official opening of its new office in the Netherlands, located at Kamerlingh Onnesweg 19, 3316 GK Dordrecht, on December 18, 2024.

Technical Leadership! JinkoSolar Tops “2024 China New Growth · Technology Leadership List” by Harvard Business Review 

The Harvard Business Review 2024 New Growth Conference was held. JinkoSolar, as a leading company in the photovoltaic industry, was invited to attend and deliver a keynote speech.

Jinko ESS Partners with Zhejiang Jiayao Electric Engineering Co., Ltd. for Energy Storage Order 

Jinko ESS, a global leading energy storage solutions provider, is pleased to announce a collaboration with Zhejiang Jiayao Electric Engineering Co. , Ltd.

VSUN SOLAR Awarded Bronze Medal in EcoVadis Rating

VSUN SOLAR, a Tier 1 leading solar module provider, proudly announced that it has awarded a bronze Medal from EcoVadis, a global leader in business sustainability assessments.

Opinion & Analysis

Featured

‘Never underestimate the power of a strong network’

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Carol Murphy, Head of Independent Engineering for Onshore Renewables at UK-based OWC. She say, with more women joining the solar sector, it’s easier than ever to connect with peers across roles and organizations. "To any woman looking to enter this field, my advice would be to persevere. No matter the obstacles you encounter, if you’re passionate about a career in solar, there is a place for you," she states.

Global solar module prices stable-to-firm as markets wind down for year end

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Christmas Day forecast delivers solar surprises for some

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that, while much of the Americas will see cloudier weather than normal for the season, particularly in the eastern United States and parts of central Brazil, Europe’s solar outlook is split with high pressure over central regions bringing clearer skies to the Iberian Peninsula. Across Asia, cloud cover is expected for India and the Far East, while Australia’s northern and eastern regions are likely to enjoy abundant sunshine.

Solar advances across MENA region

The fossil fuel rich Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces mounting pressure to diversify its energy mix. While solar is cheap, it faces significant sociopolitical and economic challenges.

Solar trade headwinds

Prices across the solar supply chain remained in bearish territory into the fourth quarter of 2024. Trade and regulatory developments have continued to preoccupy the industry and dampen trading activity.

‘Equity requires addressing structural barriers in hiring and promotions’

This week, Women in Solar Europe gives voice to Eyerusalem Mekuria Wondemu, Project Engineer at Switzerland’s Gruner Stucky SA. She says changes in career paths are slow due to entrenched cultural norms and unconscious prejudices, but growing advocacy and representation drive progress. “Mentorship, continuous learning, and networking are critical,” she states.

Markets & Policy

Featured

China Huaneng secures $2.1 billion equity boost for renewables expansion  

China Huaneng Group has obtained CNY 15 billion ($2.1 billion) in equity financing for its renewable energy subsidiary, Huaneng Renewables, from five major state-owned entities. The deal, the largest renewable equity financing transaction of 2024, will reduce financial pressures for Huaneng Renewables and support its wind and solar projects.

Scientist develops machine-learning method to identify faulty solar panels

A scientist in Sweden has developed a new hybrid local features-based method using thermographs to identify faulty solar panels.

Making Greece’s islands energy self sufficient

Greece is pursuing an ambitious island energy transition program. pv magazine visited the island of Tilos for a firsthand account of how one community has blazed a trail in the energy transition.

Australian water-based battery developer wins state grant for prototype

Allegro Energy has secured a AUD 2.1 million ($1.3 million) grant from the New South Wales state government to develop an Australian-made, water-based battery prototype capable of storing energy for more than 10 hours.

Sonnedix secures €3.25 billion in refinancing for renewables portfolio

Sonnedix has secured €3.25 billion ($3.38 billion) through two refinancing transactions. The renewable energy producer says the transactions will be instrumental in accelerating the growth of its pipeline across Europe.

Pexapark records 18 European PPAs for 1,054 MW in November

Pexapark, a Swiss renewable energy market intelligence provider, says European developers signed 18 power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 1,054 MW in November.

Installations

Featured

UK adds 1.2 GW solar in 12 months, step change needed to hit 2030 target

Government solar capacity figures reveal 2024 additions down on same period in 2023, well below pace required to achieve 45 GW targeted for 2030. Small-scale installations dominate with greater capacity additions needed to achieve clean power goals.

IEA-PVPS calls for harmonized testing, certification for building-integrated photovoltaics

The latest report from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) says the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) industry is facing significant challenges due to a lack of clear testing and certification procedures. It says international consensus and the harmonization of certification processes will be crucial for widespread adoption of the technology.

EU solar installations hit 65.5 GW in 2024, says SolarPower Europe

Solar installations grew 4% year on year in the European Union in 2024, down sharply from 53% growth in 2023. The slowdown coincides with a decline in solar investment, marking the first such drop this decade. SolarPower Europe now forecasts annual growth of 3% to 7% in solar installations from 2025 to 2028.

SDIC Gansu commissions 750 MW CSP-PV plant in China

SDIC Gansu New Energy has commissioned the 750 MW Akesai Huidong CSP-PV plant in Jiuquan, China’s Gansu province, combining a 110 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) tower and a 640 MW solar array to form China’s largest hybrid solar facility.

Germany deploys 1 GW of PV in November

Germany installed 1 GW of solar power in November, bringing its cumulative capacity to 97.55 GW by the end of the month.

ABB to acquire Gamesa’s power electronics, storage business

ABB has agreed to purchase Gamesa’s power electronics and storage business, which produces doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) wind converters, industrial battery energy storage systems (BESS), and utility-scale solar inverters.

Technology

Featured

Inverted perovskite solar cell based on self-assembled monolayer achieves 23.31% efficiency

A research team in China improved the efficiency and stability of an inverted perovskite cell using a co-assembled approach to incorporate self-assembled monolayers at the hole transport layer.

Qcells hits 28.6% efficiency with scalable perovskite-silicon solar cell

South Korea-based solar module manufacturer Qcells has set a new efficiency world record for a commercially scalable perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell, produced at its pilot line in Germany.

Trina Solar hits new 27.08% record for HJT solar cell

Trina Solar has achieved a world-record 27.08% efficiency rating for a new n-type fully passivated heterojunction (HJT) solar cell. The Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin (ISFH) has verified the result.

Canadian scientists build micro III-V solar cells with record-breaking open circuit voltage

The proposed cell is based on indium gallium phosphide (InGaP), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and germanium (Ge) and has an active area of 0.25 mm2. It can be used for applications in micro-concentrator photovoltaics (CPV).

Nexwafe claims 24.4% efficiency for heterojunction solar cell built with its ultrathin wafers

The German wafer manufacturer said the efficiency was achieved with an unspecified M6 HJT commercial production line, without specifying if the result was certified by an independent third party.

BLS plans 1 GW fab to make battery-powered electrolyzers

Battolyser Systems’ (BLS) product is a patented dual-purpose electrolyzer with a battery function.

Manufacturing

Featured

New US solar manufacturer to open 2.5 GW HJT factory

NuVision Solar – a newly formed, US-owned and operated manufacturer – has revealed plans to produce heterojunction (HJT) solar cells and modules.

DMEGC releases 22.9%-efficient lightweight bifacial TOPCon solar panels for limited roof space

DMEGC Solar says its new solar panels weigh only 15.3 kg and have a power output of up to 270 W. The new products combine a double-glass design with TOPCon cell technology.

Chinese PV Industry Brief: Deye to build inverter factory in Malaysia

Deye, a Chinese inverter manufacturer, says it will invest $150 million to build a new production facility in Malaysia.

German institutes unveil facade with PV, weather protection, thermal insulation

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (Fraunhofer UMSICHT) say their new facade combines PV modules, weather protection, and thermal insulation. It eliminates the need for a substructure and uses insulation made from sustainable raw materials.

Sino-American Silicon to halt production at solar cell factory

Sino-American Silicon (SAS) says it will suspend production at its solar cell factory in Taiwan from Jan. 7 to Feb. 4.

TU Delft scientists integrate power electronics for MPPT in solar modules

A research team in the Netherlands investigated how copper planar air-core inductors can yield the required inductor properties to support sub-module power conversion in PV modules. The scientists claim that implementing MPPT at the sub-module level can increase the panel’s tolerance to shade.

Energy Storage

Featured

Stationary storage installations surge to 170 GWh in 2024

With expanding market opportunities and declining costs, stationary battery energy storage installations are surging. Battery makers are awake to the opportunity, says BloombergNEF, as stationary batteries account for an increasing amount of deployed capacity.

XNO ultra-fast charging technology aims to decarbonize mining sector vehicles

Australian industrial battery company Switch Technologies has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first operational vehicle powered by Echion Technologies’ ultra-fast charging XNO technology.

Fraunhofer ISE, EDF developing AI-based heat pump controller

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) and EDF are leading an international consortium developing AI-driven heat pumps that adapt to environmental conditions and learn from changing circumstances.

India to mandate energy storage for solar, wind projects

India is likely to follow in the footsteps of China and mandate the inclusion of battery storage capacity for future wind and solar energy projects.

The Hydrogen Stream: US will focus on blue H2, at least one giga-scale green project will take FID in 2025

Wood Mackenzie says the United States will dominate the blue hydrogen market by 2025, driven by policy shifts and large-scale investments, while Siemens Mobility says it has secured approval for its Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains to begin passenger service in Germany.

Innovation or scam? Epeu Next Level presents hydrogen-plasma heating system

Epeu Next Level unveiled a hydrogen-plasma heating system at a recent event in Germany, its home market. It claims the system can easily replace gas boilers in apartment buildings, but it has failed to explain why it apparently contradicts the first law of thermodynamics.