The long read: Structural solar matters
While it comes with clear performance advantages, the move to larger module formats has created plenty of confusion since it began in 2019. As the dust settles and standards emerge, pv magazine caught up with Hongbin Fang, director of product marketing at Longi Solar, to discuss the latest on wafer and cell dimensions.
Perovskite: The disruptive element
Perovskite solar cells have the potential to produce more energy at significantly lower costs than conventional silicon PV cells. Efforts are underway to speed up their commercialization by addressing issues such as limited stability.
Massive pumped-hydro storage facility comes online in Switzerland
The Nant de Drance facility began commercial operations on July 1 and is currently one of Europe’s largest pumped-hydro storage stations.
Jakson enters utility-scale battery storage, green hydrogen markets
Noida-headquartered Jakson has roped in Sterling & Wilson Solar’s former global CEO, Bikesh Ogra, to lead a new venture that will focus on green hydrogen, utility-scale battery storage, and solar.
Agrivoltaics adding value to crops with low agricultural yield
A group of 35 French agricultural entrepreneurs decided to change their agricultural practices to adapt to the low quality of their groundwater and chose agrivoltaics as a way to compensate for crop yield losses.
German consortium plans to build world’s largest heat pump
Basf and Man Energy announced a plan to build a 120 MW renewables-powered heat pump for steam production at an industrial site operated by Basf in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, Germany. The feasibility study for the project should be completed by the end of this year.
GAIL launches funding scheme for renewable, electric-mobility startups
Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL), a state-owned natural gas supplier, has started accepting proposals from startups in the renewable energy and electric mobility sectors for equity investment under its “Pankh” initiative.
Acme to build 1.5 GW green hydrogen project in Tamil Nadu
Indian developer Acme will set up a green hydrogen and ammonia project in Tamil Nadu with 1.5 GW of electrolysis capacity and 1.1 million tons of ammonia synthesis, powered by a 5 GW solar plant.
IH2A chalks out roadmap to accelerate hydrogen commercialization in India
The industry body proposes building at least 25 scalable green hydrogen projects with a cumulative electrolyzer capacity of 150 MW by 2025. The industry can then apply the expertise and experience gained from these first-generation projects to build gigawatt-scale projects in the 2025-30 period.
Recycling options for PV panels, batteries could drive circular economy, says NREL
Renewable hardware that lasts longer and uses fewer materials could bolster recycling efforts and help to build an effective circular economy for solar and battery technologies, says the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
