Photovoltaic-thermal window achieves 3.6% electrical efficiency, provides hot water at 50 C
Scientists have developed a window that uses a semi-transparent amorphous silicon PV layer. The group tested the system in London at different inclination angles and found it can achieve a maximum electrical efficiency of 3.6% and a maximum thermal efficiency of 17.6%.
Bringing clean African electrons to Europe
A raft of ambitious interconnection projects has been announced to bring African electrons to European shores. While there are financial and supply chain challenges to overcome, the renewables potential on offer across North Africa is exciting investors.
Solargain digital twin integrates condition monitoring, quality assurance
Above Surveying, a U.K.-based services and software company, announced adding large-scale PV condition monitoring to its Solargain digital twin tool as a result of its partnership with Kiwa PI Berlin and 2DegreesKelvin.
How to combine off-grid agrivoltaics with large-scale hydrogen production
Scientists in the United Kingdom have simulated how a 1 GW off-grid agrivoltaic facility may be used to fuel hydrogen fuel electric cell vehicles across Australia, California, China, Nigeria, and Spain. Their techno-economic analysis showed that the proposed combination could provide a levelized cost of hydrogen ranging from $3.90/kg to $8.13/kg.
Panasonic powers UK factory with solar-driven hydrogen fuel cell generators
Panasonic has launched a solar-powered hydrogen fuel cell project at its factory in Cardiff, Wales, with the microwave assembly now operating on renewable energy.
The Hydrogen Stream: BMW, Exolum bet on H2 logistics
BMW Group says it will switch its Regensburg plant logistics to hydrogen by 2026, replacing electric vehicles with hydrogen-powered forklifts and tugger trains, while Exolum has launched a new business line to offer integrated logistics solutions across the hydrogen value chain
UK records 1 GW of new solar in 12 months as pipeline swells
Government data records 17.2 GW of deployed solar capacity in the United Kingdom at the end of October 2024. Planning applications for three plants with combined capacity exceeding 1.8 GW submitted in November 2024, suggesting potential for greater additions in the future.
The Hydrogen Stream: UK scientists call for strict rules for H2 leakage
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies says addressing hydrogen leakage across the supply chain is crucial to making hydrogen a sustainable energy vector. Italy, meanwhile, has unveiled its national hydrogen strategy, with a focus on its role in the Mediterranean.
‘The crop people don’t understand the PV aspect’
University of Exeter academic Aritra Ghosh tells pv magazine a multidiscipline approach is required to unlock the full potential of agrivoltaics. Discussing a new paper comparing static and tracker agrivoltaics systems in the United Kingdom, the researcher argues better understanding of microclimates under modules and how PV affects crop biochemistry is needed.
UK government expands heat pump grant scheme
The UK government will make GBP 295 million ($308.4 million) in grant funding available to homes switching from gas boilers to heat pumps in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Meanwhile, forthcoming reforms will allow air-source heat pumps to be installed without the need to submit planning applications.
