PowerChina wraps up record 102 GW solar equipment procurement tender
China Power Construction Corp. (PowerChina) says it has concluded the largest procurement tender in solar industry history, involving 51 GW of PV modules and 51 GW of inverters. The tender results, published on Nov. 13, set a new record for scale and industry involvement.
Gibraltar opens tender for rooftop solar arrays
The Gibraltar government is seeking developers to install rooftop solar systems at selected sites across the British Overseas Territory. It will also consider proposals for solar canopies and floating solar as part of the tender. The deadline for expressions of interest is Jan. 24, 2025.
Spanish researchers find revamping modules and inverters is the most profitable strategy
A group of researchers have carried out a techno-economic analysis of three revamping strategies for an operating photovoltaic power plant in southeast Spain. They found the highest production value by installed power is obtained when both the modules and inverters are replaced.
Self-powering greenhouse based on PV, BESS, hydrogen
Scientists have designed a greenhouse system that involves a battery energy storage system, hydrogen production and storage, as well as a semi-transparent PV array. The system was optimized for maximal net present value and minimal dependency on the grid.
Belgian startup raises $2.5 million for grid orchestration software
Powernaut’s software balances local generation from decentralized devices such as solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps with the needs of the power grid.
Fraunhofer ISE developing copper metallization for tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells
The German research institute said it is currently exploring three copper metallization methods: Screen printing, FlexTrail printing and rotary printing. The proposed technology is reportedly compatible with either TOPCon or heterojunction bottom cells.
First phase of 2 GW/11 GWh solar-plus-storage project in Chile nears completion
Spanish company Grenergy says the 105 batteries that will complete the first phase of the Oasis de Atacama solar and storage project have arrived at the Chilean port of Iquique. The project, to be developed over seven phases, is set to have a total storage capacity of 11 GWh alongside 2 GW of photovoltaics.
Waaree Energies, IIT Bombay collaborate to drive perovskite solar R&D
Waaree Energies says it has agreed to support IIT Bombay in creating an advanced fabrication and characterization setup to develop high-efficiency perovskite solar cells.
Improving vertical bifacial PV system performance with free-space luminescent solar concentrators
New research from the Netherlands shows that using free-space luminescent solar concentrators could be used to considerably increase bifacial solar module performance in vertical residential setups. The scientists are confident that a variety of bifacial PV systems incorporating this technology can be designed and deployed in the future.
PV Hardware’s new solar tracker withstands winds up to 238 km/h
Spain-headquartered solar tracker company PV Hardware has developed a tracker product able to withstand severe cyclonic winds up to 238 km/h, as well as a fixed tilt system which can withstand winds up to 288 km/h.
