Technology

Researchers at the American Institute of Physics have used the clear-sky irradiance model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to measure the degradation rates of solar panels at a testing field in Germany over five years. The scientists say the model, when combined with real-world data, offers an efficient tool to evaluate the aging of PV technology.

Developers have until January 17 to submit bid for the grid-connected projects that are to be set up anywhere in India on build-own-operate basis. Tariff ceiling payable to the project developer is fixed at INR 2.78/KWh for 25 years.

Ceiling tariff is revised to Rs 3.30 per unit for distributed solar projects that shall come up across 30 districts for giving day time power to agricultural consumers in the state. Individual project size is limited to 2-10 MW. Bidding closes on January 29.

Multidisciplinary research teams and linkages to industrial partners are highly encouraged. Project duration is 36 months. The deadline for submitting the applications is March 11, 2020.

The platform will help to promote the adoption of rooftop solar PV systems, particularly in the residential consumer segment, as it will incentivize consumers for trading among themselves, in addition to selling to the distribution utility—according to the sustainability thinktank which has also come out with innovative use cases of blockchain for electric vehicles and distributed battery storage.

Spanish researchers have developed an analytical model to optimize the operation of PV water pumping systems. They say simultaneously irrigating different parts of a farm could help minimize costs and maximize energy use. The model was tested on an olive farm divided into four zones in the Spanish province of Almería.

Solar installations in year 2020 are set to exceed 10 GW after a year hit by political uncertainties, module price increases associated with safeguard duty and a fewer number of awarded tenders. The outlook for battery energy storage installations for solar projects, however, is bleak as such combinations in India can cost 3-5 times more in 2020 than standalone renewable projects.

Only Indian manufacturers are eligible to bid for supply of 4.5W, 4.6W and 4.67W multicrystalline silicon solar cells. Quantities to be supplied are 500,000, 500,000 and 300,000, respectively. Bidding closes on January 6.

January 4 is the last date to bid for the plants that are to be developed in capacities of 10 KWp to 50 KWp atop government buildings. Bids must be accompanied with bank guarantee of Rs 750,000.

The university researchers will provide expertise in the operation and management of lithium-ion batteries, environmental test facilities for battery modules and advanced battery analysis techniques.