Fraunhofer CSP presents 380 W solar module prototype built with diodegradable parts
In the module prototype, all components that are not directly used to convert light into electricity are made of biodegradable or recyclable materials or renewable raw materials. The module is the result of the E2 – E-Quadrat project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Varta launches Varta.wall DC high-voltage battery
Varta says it now expects high demand for its Varta.wall DC high-voltage battery. It initially presented the product at Intersolar 2022, but has struggled with its market introduction.
Senec ramps up LFP battery exchange, launches new products
EnBW subsidiary Senec has begun equipping existing residential battery storage systems with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells in response to several fires. It is also launching two new LFP battery storage systems.
New residential storage system from Germany with 12,000 charging cycles
German manufacturer EKD says its new Ampere.StoragePro E3 battery uses lithium-iron phosphate cells and can be cascaded to reach up to 231 kWh.
EUPD Research expects 11 GWh of home storage to be added in Europe in 2024
According to the Bonn-based analysts, the momentum for home battery storage systems with a capacity of up to 20 kWh is driven by emerging markets such as Poland and Hungary. In Germany, however, they expect a 5% drop in new installations compared to the previous year.
German PV installations fell to 946 MW in May
The slight growth was mainly due to large commercial and ground-mounted systems. The Federal Network Agency also corrected new installation figures for April upwards from 1,040 to 1,177 MW.
SMA lowers sales and earnings forecast for 2024
SMA Solar Technology AG is significantly lowering its forecast for the current fiscal year. Accordingly, sales are expected to be between €1.55 and €1.7 billion instead of between €1.95 and €2.22 billion. The new EBITDA target is €80 to €130 million instead of €220 to €290 million.
Golf courses consume more land than PV in Germany
Christian Victor, an X (formerly Twitter) user, has published a new map showing land consumption in Germany. It reveals that open-cast mines occupy more square meters than ground-mounted solar arrays and wind farms combined.
Wacker Chemie’s sales, earnings fall in tough market
German chemical group Wacker Chemie says its sales fell 22% year on year to €6.40 billion ($6.9 billion) in 2023. Its polysilicon division contributed EUR 1.6 billion to sales, down from EUR 2.29 billion in the preceding year.
Germany hits 356,000 heat pump installations in 2023
Heat pump sales in Germany rose by more than 50% for the second year in a row in 2023, according to new figures from Bundesverband Wärmepumpe (BWP).
