Solar PV employed around 3.4 million people in 2021
Almost half of the workers were employed in China, around 280,000 in North America, over 260,000 in Europe, and some 50,000 in Africa, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The vast majority of workers were employed in manufacturing and installation of new capacity, with solar jobs paying lower wage premiums than the nuclear, oil, and gas industries.
Agrivoltaics for arable crops
French developer TSE has commissioned its first agrivoltaic pilot project in northeastern France. The 2.4 MW installation spans 3 hectares and is installed on arable land devoted to the cultivation of soya, wheat, rye, barley, and rapeseed.
Yotta Energy unveils new 3-phase microinverters
US manufacturer Yotta Energy said that its two new microinverters are compatible with up to four high-power PV modules. They have a peak efficiency of 96.5% and a nominal maximum power point tracking (MPPT) efficiency of 99.5%.
Shipments of module-level power electronics could hit 100 GW by 2026
IHS Markit said it expects the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands to be the top three markets for cumulative shipments of module-level power electronics in the 2022-26 period. Cumulative shipments are set to hit almost 100 GW by 2026.
PV-powered direct air electrolysis module to produce hydrogen from moisture in air
Scientists in Australia have developed a new way to produce hydrogen using water from the atmosphere. They claim their new module can ensure stable performance and provide green hydrogen for remote areas.
Bslbatt unveils 10.24 kWh battery for residential PV
China’s Bslbatt said its new battery has a rated capacity of 200 Ah. The product comes with a 10-year warranty and can reportedly provide steady operation for up to 6,000 charge cycles.
Solar perovskite tandems and potential-induced degradation
Scientists have found that perovskite solar cells and perovskite-silicon tandems might be vulnerable to potential-induced degradation. They exposed tandem cell devices to PID stress and found that they lost as much as 50% of their initial performance after just one day.
Hydraulic robotic cleaning solutions for ground-mounted solar plants
France’s AX Solar Robot has unveiled two battery-free, hydraulic-powered cleaning solutions for ground-mounted PV plants. It is also distributing a modular battery-powered solution suitable for rooftop installations.
Solinteg launches new residential hybrid inverter series
Solinteg’s new hybrid inverters come in seven versions with nominal power ranging from 3 kW to 9 kW, an efficiency rating of 97.6%, and a European efficiency of 97.0%. They measure 534 mm × 418 mm × 210 mm and weigh 27 kg.
Sharp unveils black-framed 410 W half-cut solar panels
Sharp’s newest PV modules feature white backsheets and are made for the needs of design-oriented customers.
