Cooling down solar modules by increasing space between panel rows
A US research team claims to have demonstrated that increasing the spacing of solar panels between rows improves PV system efficiency and economics by allowing airflow to cool down the modules. The method could improve a project’s LCOE by as much as 2.15% in certain climates.
UK-backed Neev Fund invests $25 million in Hygenco
Haryana-based Hygenco plans to develop and rapidly scale up multiple green hydrogen facilities across India in the next two years.
Automating maintenance for solar power plants
Robotics is evolving to ease the maintenance of solar power plants. From drones combined with thermal imaging to the robotic cleaning crew for large-scale solar PV plants, automation and robotics are constantly evolving for the cleaning and maintenance of PV plants.
Photovoltaic-thermal solar tiles
Germany’s Paxos is currently testing the solar tile in a testing facility connected to an air heat pump. The panel can provide heat and electricity at the same time, while also improving the heat pump’s coefficient of performance by around 25%.
Jakson Green to develop $2.8 billion green ammonia and green hydrogen project in Rajasthan
Jakson Green, a new energy platform backed by Jakson Group, will set up a 365,000 tons per annum green hydrogen and green ammonia plant in Rajasthan. It will develop the plant, along with an integrated hybrid renewable power complex, in phases with a cumulative investment of about INR 22,400 crore.
PCM-based thermal battery to store solar power via heat pump
Norway’s SINTEF has designed a heat storage system based on phase change materials (PCM) that can support PV generation and peak shaving. The battery’s container hosts 3 tons of liquid biowax based on vegetable oil and is now beating performance expectations at a pilot facility.
Hitachi Energy to supply power transformers for India’s largest solar energy park
Hitachi Energy will provide made-in-India power transformers for NTPC’s upcoming 4.75 GW solar energy park in Gujarat.
TOPCon solar cell achieves 24.2% efficiency via new plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition tech
A team of international researchers has simplified the deposition of thin film layers in the commercial production of TOPCon solar cells. Via a tube-type industrial plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (PEALD) technique, they were able to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 22.8% in a 60-cell, 613 W TOPCon module.
RenewSys unveils 590 W bifacial solar module
India’s RenewSys has unveiled its DESERV Extreme series of bifacial modules, with front-side power outputs ranging from 565 W to 590 W. The modules are built with half-cut, mono PERC cells.
GreatCell achieves 32% efficiency for inorganic perovskite solar cell
Australian manufacturer GreatCell has built a cell with roll-to-roll coating technology. It designed it without a hole transport layer (HTL) and used carbon composite back contacts, which offer excellent electrical conductivity.
