Europe

The high amounts of solar and wind power being fed into the Dutch electrical grid cause issues that affect the ability of businesses to expand, according to ELIX CTO Pieter Hofstede, who discusses the growth of energy storage solutions in the Netherlands.

An international research team has fabricated a perovskite solar cell using sulfur-based additives to improve its resistance to moisture. The device not only achieved high efficiency levels but was also able to retain about 96% of its efficiency after 1,000 h.

Mercedes-Benz said it is now evaluating a 20%-efficient, non-silicon photovoltaic coating that is significantly cheaper than conventional solar modules.

The Chinese manufacturer said its new products have a capacity of up to 5.1 kWh and are scalable up to 20.48 kWh. The systems feature a depth of discharge of 90% and can purportedly operate for more than 6,000 cycles.

Reden Solar has launched a 200 MW solar module production line in France, with capacity to produce up to 300,000 modules per year, primarily for its own renewable electricity projects.

The Italian authorities have chosen 540 projects, totaling 1.5 GW, in the nation’s first agrivoltaics tender.

The researchers of the German institute explained that UV-induced degradation may cause larger than expected efficiency and voltage losses in all dominant cell technologies, including TOPCon devices. The scientists expect that silicon nitride layers could be used to enhance TOPCon UV stability compared to PECVD layers typically utilized in PERC and heterojunction cells.

European researchers have told pv magazine that hydrogen production costs are often underestimated in prefeasibility studies, while the South Korean authorities have reported a rise in deals for large-scale hydrogen consumption projects.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice Molly Morgan, Senior Research Analyst at UK-based CRU. She says that mentoring platforms offer aspiring professionals access to relatable role models, providing both inspiration and practical guidance to help them overcome their challenges and thrive in their careers. “A way to address the issue of women making up the minority share in the PV industry would be to encourage more women to enter the world of renewable energies earlier whilst still in academia,” she states.

McLaren Applied Group has purchased Italian inverter manufacturer Fimer for an undisclosed sum through its subsidiary, MA Solar Italy Ltd. The deal, which includes Fimer’s business assets, will help McLaren Applied expand its core operations.