Emiliano Bellini
Common failure mechanisms for solar connectors
Sandia National Labs researchers have created a new dataset on the rates and types of rooftop PV connector failures. Their analysis has shown that tight wire bending radius, extra dirty connectors, and loose nuts are the most common failure causes in 6,276 connectors deployed between 2014 and 2017 across seven U.S. regions.
All back-contact perovskite solar cell designs at a glance
Scientists from Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United States have investigated existing back-contact perovskite solar cell architectures and have proposed a strategy to help reach commercial production.
Confused about PV connectors? Words matter
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Labs have created a new nomenclature for PV connectors to reduce confusion amongst installers and developers, while improving deployment practices. They catalogued a sampling of twenty-five commercially available 4 mm connectors.
Carrier launches new air-to-water heat pumps for commercial applications
Carrier, a U.S.-based heating solutions provider, said its new AquaSnap 30RQM heat pump system can deliver a water temperature of up to 60 C. The modular system features a heating capacity of 70 kW to 1,125 kW and a cooling capacity of 77 kW to 1,237 kW.
U.S. scientists claim 15-fold performance increase for solar thermoelectric generator
A research team have fabricated a solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) that is reportedly 15 times more efficient than current state-of-the-art devices by concentrating on the managing the hot and the cold sides of the device rather its semiconductor materials.
Carrier launches new heat pump for residential, light commercial use
Carrier, a U.S.-based heating solutions provider, has introduced a new heat pump system featuring a cooling seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER2) of up to 29.7 and a heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF2) of up to 12.2.
U.S. Customs seizes 300 pounds of meth hidden in solar panels
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 146 kg of methamphetamine concealed in a recent shipment of solar panels at Los Angeles International Airport.
Lennox launches residential heat pump with space-saving design
Lennox said its new EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump uses R-454B as the refrigerant and has a size ranging from 2 tons to 5 tons.
Lennox launches residential heat pump with space-saving design
The company said its new EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump uses R-454B as the refrigerant and has a size ranging from 2 tons to 5 tons.
Despite low gas prices, solar, wind remain cheapest sources of power in U.S.
Renewables remain cost-competitive in the United States despite rising natural gas competitiveness, according to Lazard’s 2025 “Levelized Cost of Energy+” report, which estimates combined cycle gas at $0.048/kWh to $0.107/kWh, solar at $0.038/kWh to $0.212/kWh, and nuclear at $0.141/kWh to $0.220/kWh.
