Poweron unveils new hybrid inverters for residential solar
The Indian manufacturer has introduced wall-mount hybrid solar inverters with nominal power ratings of 3.68 kW, 4.6 kW and 5 kW. The inverters are compatible with both lead-acid and Li-ion battery.
Scientists make first attempt to design solar cells based on kusachite
Indian scientists have designed a thin-film solar cell that uses a mineral made of binary copper(II) and bismuth(III) oxide. They identified a cell design with a tin sulfide buffer layer that offers efficiencies close to 27.7%.
Birla Carbon joins project to develop lithium battery-grade graphite from biocrude
The carbon black solutions manufacturer has embarked on a collaborative project to develop lithium battery-grade graphite sustainably using renewable feedstocks.
Qcells, European consortium launch production line for tandem silicon-perovskite solar cells
South Korea-based Qcells and a research group led by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have established a pilot manufacturing line for silicon-perovskite tandem cells in Thalheim, Germany. The project aims to speed up the technology’s mass manufacturing and market penetration.
Sunova Solar releases 575 W n-type PV panel with 22.2% efficiency
Sunova Solar is offering five versions of its new solar panels, with power outputs from 555 W to 575 W and efficiencies ranging from 21.4% to 22.2%. They have a temperature coefficient of -0.31% per degree Celsius.
Floating PV for water pumping, desalination
An irrigation community has built a 786 kW floating solar array on a small water reservoir in Murcia, Spain. The facility will provide power for a solar water pumping system, a desalination unit, and the community itself.
NREL updates interactive chart of solar cell efficiency
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a new, interactive version of its research cell efficiency chart for a range of PV technologies.
Longi claims world’s highest efficiency for silicon solar cells
Longi said it has achieved a 26.81% efficiency rating for an unspecified heterojunction solar cell, as confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH).
NTPC seeks 461 MW of solar modules for Shajapur PV projects
NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has invited bids from manufacturers to supply a cumulative 460.55 MW DC capacity of crystalline PV modules for its Shajapur solar projects in Madhya Pradesh. The modules must be rated a minimum of 530 Wp each. Bidders have until Dec. 19 to lodge their interest.
Elusive longevity
The expected lifetime of PV inverters is significantly shorter than that of modules. In many projects, inverter replacement is included in financial calculations from the start, despite the high costs. Research is being conducted into the causes of faults to develop more durable inverters and components. But plant design can already improve the lifespan of inverters in use today, reports pv magazine Germany’s Marian Willuhn.
