2024

New research has shown that solar parks can play a positive role in promoting bird diversity in the agricultural landscape of Central Europe. The scientists said solar farms offer food availability and nesting sites.

The market for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is evolving, necessitating the development of a comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluation methodology. IEA-PVPS Task 15 developed a cross-sectional evaluation tool, designed for architects, developers, and other stakeholders involved in BIPV projects. Through a step-by-step process, this methodology addresses economic, energy-relevant, environmental, and visual performance, providing a robust tool for comparing and optimizing BIPV installations.

The Italy-based solar module manufacturer said it is progressing with its previously announced transition from module manufacturer to a vertically integrated manufacturer with 12 GW of cell capacity. It also said the project to build a module factory in Italy is going through a “complicated process.”

Qcells says it will supply 12 GW of modules, along with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, under a new eight-year agreement with Microsoft.

Researchers in China have assessed the impact of using up to 50% of the Sahara desert for the deployment of large scale solar power plants and have found these may impact the global cloud cover through disturbed atmospheric teleconnections. This, in turn, would impact solar power generation itself in North Africa, Southern Europe, the Southern Arabian Peninsula, India, North Asia, and even Eastern Australia.

The Omani authorities aim to develop a 500 MW solar project in Ibri, in northwestern Oman, where other PV facilities are located.

According to data collected by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, Europe enjoyed large wind production levels at the beginning of the year with France seeing its highest daily value of wind generation ever recorded. On the other hand, during the same period, solar production fell.

Auxin Solar, a PV module manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Commerce and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in relation to a pause on tariffs and alleged antidumping violations.

A Dutch team in a 4×4 electric Skoda journeyed across Africa powering part of the expedition with the solar panels they brought with them.

German developer BEC-Energie Consult has developed a mounting system that uses less material than conventional systems. It claims the new tech can reach 1.45 MW of output per hectare. It can also be used for ground-level agrivoltaic systems.