What’s new in warranties
PV modules are producing more energy, for longer – and enhanced product and performance warranties are backing them up. Of course, as is so often the case in solar, it’s what is inside the module that counts.
Australia’s solar cliff looms
Some believe Australia has begun to tip over the “solar cliff,” reaching penetrations that are becoming disruptive to the balance of the grid and to the business models of solar companies themselves. Following notable exits from the market, alarm bells are ringing for solar companies to offer more than just solar installations, writes pv magazine’s Bella Peacock.
Inverted ambition
Inverter makers in Europe continue to ship a healthy proportion of the world’s premium string and central inverters, despite shrinking margins as Chinese competition grows. But the Europeans aren’t simply waiting around…
A new day at sunset
For the many millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa who lack access to electric lighting, sunset brings an almost enveloping dark. But Light Libraries is one handy solar-powered program that brings an affordable end to darkness for school students. pv magazine sat down with Sofia Ollvid from SolarAid to discuss how these libraries work.
Lithium’s potential toxic hurdle
European institutions are looking into whether to classify lithium chemicals as a risk to reproductive health, while simultaneously working on new legislation to improve investment conditions for mining, processing, and recycling of strategic raw materials. The two legal developments are ongoing. Sergio Matalucci reports on how industry players say these decisions could have a decades-long impact on Europe’s ability to create a localized supply chain for batteries.
Outside of East Asia
If PV module production can be done in Turkey, it can also be re-established in Europe, argues Peter Fath, the CTO of Kalyon PV. The PV technology veteran discusses how to build a new 1 GW vertically integrated solar factory, from ingots to wafers to cells and modules – including hiring and training 2,000 employees.
Catalyst for an EU comeback
Plans for Europe’s largest-ever PV cell and module factory are taking shape, with equipment orders placed and a projected start date in mid-2024. Enel Green Power has received €118 million ($116.36 million) in funding from the EU Innovation Fund to support the project, out of a total €600 million investment. The EU is hoping it will catalyze further investment in similar projects, and start a high-tech comeback for European solar manufacturing.
A sustainability swan song
Pioneering PV researcher Martin Green has received an abundance of accolades over his 50-year career of fundamental solar research with teams at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). That contribution was further recognized on Sept. 26, when he picked up the WCPEC-8 Award in Milan, Italy. Green spoke with pv magazine about the role of technologies such as PERC cells and his efforts to advance non-toxic thin film semiconductors for the tandem cells of the future.
Automate, foldout for a solar future
While the efficiency of solar cells will always be important, scaling innovation in sustainable cell technology and solar deployment, is the new game in town. With hydrogen exports and production of green metals in its sights, Australia has some breakthrough tech coming down the pike, as pv magazine Australia’s Natalie Filatoff reports.
pv magazine test: November 2021 results
The November 2021 results have arrived from the pv magazine test field in Xi’an, China, alongside analysis from George Touloupas, senior director for solar and energy storage at CEA.
