Solar advances across MENA region
The fossil fuel rich Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces mounting pressure to diversify its energy mix. While solar is cheap, it faces significant sociopolitical and economic challenges.
EDF Renewables, SPIC win 1.4 GW of solar projects in Saudi Arabia
A consortium of France’s EDF Renewables and China’s SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Co. (HHDC) has successfully bid for two solar projects in Saudi Arabia’s fifth renewable energy tender. The partners have signed two 25-year power purchase agreements with Saudi Power Procurement Co. for the energy.
The Hydrogen Stream: new model and repository for accurate pre-feasibility studies
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.
A green miracle in the desert
Upon completion, The Red Sea destination will be a role model tourist development with 50 hotels and other amenities powered by 100% renewable energy, thanks to a 400 MW PV power plant supported by a 1.3 GWh battery energy storage system from Huawei.
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell based on copper(I) thiocyanate achieves 31.46% efficiency
A Saudi-Chinese research team has fabricated a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell without a hole transport layer (HTL) in the perovskite top cell. This innovative strategy, based on the co-deposition of copper(I) thiocyanate and perovskite in the top cell absorber, was intended at solving typical issues of HTLs in tandem devices.
Saudi Arabia launches tender for 8 GWh of battery storage in world’s largest deal
World’s largest storage procurement process is underway in Saudi Arabia for 2 GW/ 8 GWh of storage.
3D-printed anti-reflective cover based on aluminium oxide increases PV cell efficiency by 25%
An international team of scientists have combined cyclic-olefin copolymers with a powder of aluminum oxide to create a filament that can be used by a 3D printer to create anti-reflective covers for PV modules. The proposed innovation can reportedly improve PV cell efficiency by over 25%.
KAUST, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin present 31.2%-efficient blade-coated perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell
The perovskite-silicon tandem device has a two terminal configuration and a 2D perovskite layers at the bottom interface. It was able to retain around 80% of its initial efficiency for 1,700 h.
Multiple designs of photovoltaic-thermal collectors
Scientists have modeled eight different kinds of PVT systems, some with a glass covers and some without. They found the worst efficiency was achieved in uncovered systems with parallel round tubes.
Saudi Arabia’s 3.7 GW solar tender attracts lowest bid of $0.0129/kWh
Saudi Power Procurement Co. (SPPC) has announced the shortlisted bidders for the the fifth round of the Saudi Arabian government’s renewable energy tender program.
