Sandra Enkhardt
Fire risk for home energy storage systems is 0.0049%, says German study
RWTH Aachen University in Germany has investigated the safety of battery storage systems and compared it with other household appliances or technologies. The study aims to create a reliable database for classifying fire risk for consumers and regulators.
PV industry faces consolidation, says JinkoSolar
JinkoSolar has begun converting its production to n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) products to stay competitive, says Frank Niendorf, the company’s general manager for Europe. He predicts that several market players in the value chain will exit the market soon.
Germany’s solar market faces price wars, consolidation
A series of inquiries to residential PV installers has revealed a tough consolidation phase in Germany’s solar installation market. With an increasing number of installers offering solar arrays at very low prices, competition is intensifying as companies vie for fewer orders.
Meyer Burger set to begin production at US module factory
Meyer Burger will start production at its US module factory as it relocates its core operations from Germany to the United States. It is launching production of heterojunction solar modules and securing financing for a new cell plant.
Tesla launches Powerwall 3 in UK & Germany
Almost ten years after the “Powerwall 1,” US EV giant Tesla has launched its home battery system, Powerwall 3, in the United Kingdom and Germany. The Powerwall 3 is being officially presented at The smarter E Europe this week.
German startup offers plug-and-play 2.46 kW PV system
Wattando has developed a new rooftop PV solution that can be easily connected to a household’s power network via an AC connection. The system uses existing infrastructure and reportedly reduces installation work and time.
ITRPV says solar module prices fell 50% in 2023
The new edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), published this week, reveals that the world’s installed PV capacity reached 1.6 TW at the end of last year. The learning curve, which reflects average module prices relative to cumulative shipments, is 24.9% for the period from 1976 to 2023.
Europe’s largest PV plant goes online
Hansainvest Real Assets has switched on Europe’s largest solar plant – a 605 MW installation in Saxony, Germany. The project spans 500 hectares and operates under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Shell Energy Europe.
Meyer Burger announces 500 layoffs at German PV module factory
Meyer Burger says it plans to lay off 500 people at its PV module factory in Germany, but some employees might be relocated within the company. It says about 400 workers will lose their jobs.
Trina Solar launches all-black 450 W solar modules
Trina Solar has developed all-black, 450 W solar modules, featuring n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells, with a power conversion efficiency of 22.5%.
