U.K. solar shatters generation record on year’s hottest day
With the temperature reaching 29.5 degrees Celsius, solar panel installations across the U.K. generated a record amount of electricity on Friday, overtaking nuclear for the first time ever.
Italy: study predicts deployment of additional 2.3 GW of PV capacity by 2020
A report published by the Energy and Strategy Group at the Polytechnic University of Milan forecasts that a further 4.4 GW of renewable energy generation capacity could be installed in Italy in the period 2017-2020. Solar and wind are expected to have the largest share.
Quality Roundtable: Rain in the box
Quality issues: A solar power plant investor finds out that neither the warranty of the EPC, nor the warranty of the module manufacturer, was adequate. It would be good to clarify in advance what should happen in the event of a serial defect, and how the term “serial defect” should be defined at all.
Portugal: renewable energy sector wants first auction for large-scale solar and wind
Portugal’s renewable energy association Apren said that Spain has paved the way for further development of renewables on the Iberian Peninsula with its recent 3 GW auction, and that a similar tender is needed to revive the country’s solar and wind power sector.
Sol Voltaics moves toward commercialization for GaAs film solution
Swedish materials company Sol Voltaics announced that it has successfully produced gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowires, bringing its efficiency boosting film a step closer to commercialization.
Innolas receives order for laser machine platform
German equipment supplier Innolas announced that it has received a further order for its ILS-TTnx platform, from an unnamed Asian customer. The tool is suitable for a range of applications in cell technology, but is particularly seen as a cost-effective method for laser contact opening in PERC cells.
Spain to launch another 3 GW renewable energy auction before the summer
In the auction, which will be open to wind and PV power projects, all the projects not chosen in the 3 GW auction held two weeks ago will likely have another chance to compete.
SolarWorld Americas joins Suniva’s trade petition
After originally being cool to Suniva’s petition to the U.S. International Trade Commission for protection from its Chinese competitors, SolarWorld Americas has reversed its stance and joined the complaint as a co-petitioner.
Armenia’s first module factory expected to start production by the end of June
Modules manufactured at the facility will be sold under the brand Solaron. The facility will be owned and operated by local company Profpanel LLC.
Russian researchers develop process for crystalline perovskite film
A research team at Lomonosov Moscow State University has developed a new process to obtain organic/inorganic crystalline perovskite films for solar cells. The team says that the process allows for the development of compositions with optimal stability, and that it’s discovery could give fresh impetus to the research into perovskite solar cells.
