Magazine Archive 07-08 – 2024 | Treasure islands

Agriculture accounts for 21.5% of Brazil’s gross domestic product and 27% of its emissions. PV companies are now targeting an industry that represents 14% of the nation’s small-scale installations. With credit incentives and growing familiarity with the technology, agribusinesses and solar specialists are discovering new opportunities for collaboration.

The Chilean solar market is booming but as curtailment grows, a hybrid approach to generation is gaining ground. Storage project announcements are coming thick and fast as colocation with wind turbines offers cost efficiency and a smoother generation profile. Meanwhile, new capacity mechanism rules could take Chile one step closer to runaway battery growth.

Does the PV sector need to rethink its approach to quality? Attendees at this year’s pv magazine Focus sessions, part of The smarter E Europe show in Munich, seemed to think so. Experts from fields such as modules and energy storage discussed ways the industry could improve.

Tongwei Solar expects to have more than 100 GW of annual solar cell production capacity in 2024, placing it among the largest of China’s vertically integrated PV manufacturers. pv magazine spoke to Guogiang Xing, chief technology officer of PV business at Tongwei, about the company’s new R&D center in Chengdu, which includes a 1 GW pilot line for upgrades and new products.

Adapting to market volatility, Runergy transitioned from its start as a technical services provider to establishing a vertically integrated industrial chain. Tang Jun, president of Runergy, explains how this strategy is not only good for the company but the industry as a whole.

Multijunction solar cells exhibit huge potential for higher conversion efficiency, and deposition techniques will be crucial to unlocking the power of perovskite tandem devices.

At this year’s record-breaking SNEC show in Shanghai, pv magazine spoke with Bao Yang, Trina Solar’s president of global marketing. The Changzhou-based manufacturer, now celebrating its 27th anniversary, has built a strong reputation as a top-tier module maker known for its quality and reliability.

Amid significant environmental concern about the impact of more widespread lithium mining, various methods of extracting the battery material from brine could offer a cleaner solution – and reignite a historical Cornish industry.

UP Catalyst is an Estonian startup that transforms CO₂ into carbon nanomaterials and graphite for electric vehicle batteries. pv magazine spoke to Sebastian Pohlmann, the company’s chief technology officer.