Emiliano Bellini
Even if it is cheap enough, efficiency does matter
A British-German research team claims that organic PV technologies may become mature enough to compete with crystalline silicon and thin-film products not only in BIPV, but also in power generation in the electricity market. In order to get there, however, organic PV products will have to achieve higher efficiencies.
Global solar module demand will grow 15% and reach 143 GW in 2021
PV Infolink finds that global solar panel demand may increase by 15% next year — driven by the completion of projects that were delayed by the pandemic.
How temperature affects tandem solar cell performance
New outdoor tests conducted at German research center the Fraunhofer ISE have shown that an increase in temperature affects the performance of a tandem perovskite/silicon solar cell not only because of voltage losses but also because of current mismatch between the two sub-cells.
Canadian Solar to launch 600+ W photovoltaic module
Bigger PV module designs are now hitting the market, but the production of larger, more powerful solar panels is challenging. Canadian Solar is launching its new Series 7 modules with pv magazine in a webinar on Oct. 29. Our editorial team recently caught up with Canadian Solar’s chairman and CEO, Shawn Qu, and director of module R&D, Alan Xu, to discuss the company’s latest efforts to shake up the market.
Nobel Prize-winning auction geniuses want to apply their findings to renewables
Stanford professors Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in economics for developing a new auction theory and new auction formats for goods and services. Their findings were already successfully used in the electricity energy sector and may now meet the challenge on how to better shape clean energy procurements.
World’s largest solar plant goes online in China — 2.2 GW
Huanghe Hydropower Development has connected a 2.2 GW solar plant to the grid in the desert in China’s remote Qinghai province. The project is backed by 202.8 MW/MWh of storage.
Rhode Island economists attempt to put a price on NIMBYism
Researchers at the University of Rhode Island have suggested homeowners are prepared to pay $279 per year to avoid living within a mile of a large-scale solar plant. Other research has contrary findings.
World’s highest utility-scale solar plus storage project
Built in Gangba County, in Xigaze, Tibet, the 40 MW/193 MWh facility was deployed at more than 4,700m above sea level and is functioning as a demonstration project for the ancillary services the technology could offer the Tibetan grid.
Hemlock Semiconductor becomes vertically integrated polysilicon maker
The U.S. polysilicon manufacturer has acquired DuPont’s trichlorosilane business, in a move that will help it cut production costs and control supply.
NREL projects up to 7.5 TW of global, hydro-linked floating PV potential
A study into the benefits of linking solar with hydro in a full hybrid system configuration has found global potential of 7,593 GW, for an estimated annual power generation of 10,616 TWh and a 20% reservoir coverage.
