Botswana seeking companies to deploy off-grid solar projects
Botswana Power Corp. (BPC) is seeking local companies to develop small-scale PV plants for off-grid power, as part of the government’s efforts to expand access to affordable electricity.
JA Solar to invest in solar manufacturing hub in Oman
JA Solar has revealed plans to invest CNY 3.957 billion ($542 million) to build a factory in Oman with 6 GW of solar cell capacity and 3 GW of PV module capacity.
Bifacial perovskite solar can achieve bifaciality of 90% when tilted at 20 degrees
New research from India has shown that bifacial perovskite solar cells can achieve a 2% higher power conversion efficiency with a tilt angle of 20 degrees. The scientists also developed a bifacial perovskite solar cell for applications in both tandem or single-junction PV devices.
New model to generate high-resolution annual solar energy potential maps
Researchers in Iran have used digital elevation models to improve the accuracy of solar energy potential maps. Their model is intended to identify the best areas for solar panel deployment in urban areas.
Sterling and Wilson wins $141 million deal for 500 MW solar project in India
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy has won an engineering, supply (excluding PV modules), and construction contract for a 500 MW (AC) solar PV plant in the Indian state of Gujarat, including three years of full operations and maintenance support.
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.
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.
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 of 175% and cumulative 19.4 GWh deployed in November alone.
‘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.
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.
