Sandra Enkhardt
Swiss manufacturer unveils 500W solar module with 23.2% efficiency
Megasol said the solar module relies on new back-contact technology that is able to reduce internal resistance, ohmic losses and cell spacing.
Plug & play electrolyzer for green hydrogen production from Germany
Developed by Germany-based hydrogen specialist Enapter, the EL 4.0 electrolyzer is based on a patented anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology. Commercial production is currently being prepared at the company’s Italian plant and the first shipments should be made in the summer.
New agrivoltaic system design from Germany
Germany’s Sunfarming is testing the new project design in cooperation with research centers Jülich and the Fraunhofer ISE.
BloombergNEF says global solar will cross 200 GW mark for first time this year, expects lower panel prices
The analyst also forecasts strong growth for the storage business and a significant increase in PPAs for photovoltaic projects in Europe. It also said the newly installed PV capacity for 2021 reached 183 GW.
New hybrid inverter for rooftop PV arrays from SMA
SMA’s new hybrid inverter reaches a maximum efficiency of 98.2% and a maximum European efficiency of 97.5%. It is compatible with DC-coupled high-voltage lithium-ion batteries from leading suppliers, according to the manufacturer.
Solar for railways
Germany’s TÜV Rheinland is investigating how photovoltaics could be used for powering railway traction networks in a 14-month research project.
German PV equipment providers keep recovering, but uncertainties remain
German engineering association the VDMA has reported increasing orders and sales for PV equipment suppliers in the third quarter. China accounted for around 80% of PV production equipment demand during the period.
RWE sells Belectric to Czech utility CEZ
The German Federal Cartel Office is currently reviewing the transaction. RWE confirmed the plan.
Solar tile with anti-glare coating from Switzerland
Swiss manufacturer Megasol said the new product is compatible with the most common tile formats and also available in different colors. Megasol has also developed a coating that eliminates the glare effect of solar modules.
Hybrid wind-solar for highways
Switzerland-based Energy Pier has developed a new concept for hybrid-wind solar projects located along highways. The proposed solution combines a rooftop PV system with small scale wind generators that are installed on both sides of the supporting pillars of the system.
