2020

MIT scientists have suggested used electric vehicle batteries could offer a more viable business case than purpose-built systems for the storage of grid scale solar power in California. Such ‘second life’ EV batteries, may cost only 60% of their original purchase price to deploy and can be effectively aggregated for industrial scale storage even if they have declined to 80% of their original capacity.

For long-term stability, Discoms need to address operational issues like low billing and collection efficiency and high aggregate technical and commercial losses.

German development agency GIZ has hired DNV GL to study control reserve requirements of India’s southern states. The study—part of the Indo-German Energy Programme—will help ensure efficient and cost-effective integration of large-scale renewable energy supplies in the region.

Indian scientists have developed a hybrid production method combining metal mesh and a metal-oxide layer over a glass substrate which they say brings down production cost by 80% compared to the tin-doped, indium oxide-based technology currently in use.

With the inclusion of battery energy storage into new building codes and safety standards, it’s obvious just how mainstream storage is today.

As per the MoU, the state-owned power producer along with the oil and gas producer shall explore setting up of renewable energy projects in India and overseas, and sustainability, storage, e-mobility and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) compliant projects.

The path to lower solar LCOE can be painful; just ask a PV manufacturer. However, ever-larger crystalline wafers may cause more pain than they are worth, argues Gerry Knoch, the managing director of wet bench provider exateq. For high efficiency, eliminating cross contamination in wet processes is vital and can be achieved – with carriers playing an important role.

All the JinkoSolar PV modules shipped to India during January to March period of 2020 are based on mono PERC technology, comprising full-cell and half-cell modules.

The Italian government has raised the tax breaks it offers for building renovations and energy-requalification projects – potentially including storage-backed rooftop PV systems – to 110%. The new measure is part of the Relaunch Decree, which is a package of guidelines aimed at reviving the Italian economy in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

To earn reasonable returns on solar projects, developers must factor in the various risks and correctly estimate the cost of every component before bidding.