Design for circularity
Lithuanian PV manufacturer SoliTek provides an update on its investigations into solar panel design for circularity. In addition to addressing recycling technologies, they assessed solutions for higher circularity, and qualitatively evaluated the impact of these solutions to select the most promising way forward.
pv magazine test: February 2022 results
We are pleased to present the next batch of energy yield results from the outdoor test field in Xi’an, China. In this issue, we present the monthly results for February 2022, alongside additional analysis from George Touloupas, the senior director of technology and quality at CEA.
Big battery breach
In September 2021, not long after a fire at the Victorian Big Battery made international headlines, Neoen’s original “Big Battery” – the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia – was sued by the Australian Energy Regulator for failing to provide all of the frequency control ancillary services it had agreed to offer. The case is now before Australia’s Federal Court, where the judgement could set an important precedent for network operations in Australia, as well as the transition to large-scale batteries.
Back to the future with BESS
Bearing witness during battery energy storage system manufacturing can reveal potential failure points and is crucial given the industry’s relative immaturity, argues Frédéric Dross, the vice-president of strategic development for quality assurance provider STS. And much can be learned from the early days of solar.
The burning question
Until thermal runaway is no longer a problem, early detection of failing battery cells will remain critical for active countermeasures that can literally save lives. To this end, US-based Amphenol has been working on its REDTR gas sensor platform, which can detect initial flammable gas venting from cell failures within lithium-ion battery enclosures. pv magazine sat down with Brian Engle, business development manager for the Amphenol Advanced Sensor Division, to dissect the technology and evaluate the safety improvement opportunities it offers.
From south to north
European traders have sought to source green energy from sunny North Africa for many years. While most efforts have floundered, the current geopolitical environment and the rise of green hydrogen could make it a reality. Efforts to export green hydrogen from Africa to Europe are underway, but it will not be simple.
Evolving standards for supply chain traceability
Investors and purchasers of photovoltaic equipment want to ensure that the products they source comply with increasingly stringent environmental, social and governance policies. Over the past 18 months, the sourcing and refinement of polysilicon in PV modules has come under international scrutiny due to suspicions of forced labor in the industry. PI Berlin’s Steven Xuereb discusses supply traceability audits the company has conducted. It has assessed the risk that modules might involve supply chains out of line with legislation or corporate ESG policies, and the risk of imports being seized or blocked.
Investor perspective
The urgency to mitigate climate change and the need for more energy independence in many countries will boost demand for renewable energy to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, trade conflicts, the logistics crisis, and insufficient supplies of raw materials have disrupted supply chains for the past two years. This has resulted in higher prices for solar equipment, challenging the predictability of on-time delivery and the quality of products. Sebastian Petretschek, TÜV Rheinland’s global head of PV power plants, examines the key issues in module procurement for investors.
Final thought: Keeping up with the future
Ulrike Jahn, senior project manager, VDE Renewables
