NREL launches international consortium to advance high-tech mirrors used in concentrating solar plants
Goal is to reduce cost of heliostats by 50% and accelerate U.S. manufacturing
Plastic for solar panels?
Three companies are swapping out aluminum and glass in favor of plastic to save weight and add flexibility. We look at the pros and cons.
FTC touts tracker capable of withstanding 120 MPH winds
The Voyager+ can withstand category 3 hurricane winds and also tackles the challenges of low wind speeds that have historically been an issue for 2P trackers.
Wallbox to produce EV chargers in Texas
The facility will be the first in the United States for the company and could produce 290,000 units annually by 2027.
DOE grants aim to drive down inverter costs, advance PV fire prevention tech
Several of the projects also aim for lower costs for PV module materials or PV racking, as well as for lower defect rates on module assembly lines.
Tigo launches rapid shutdown device for modules up to 700W
The Tigo TS4-A-S allows for rapid shutdown, monitoring and is safely operable from -40°F to +185°F.
Sunrise brief: Solar deployment needs to accelerate by 3-4x: Biden administration
Also on the rise: Solar imports are being detained by border agents, First Solar breaks ground in its 3.3GW Ohio plant, and partners turn to blockchain to help expand module recycling efforts.
China made 14 GW of solar modules in June – and more than 80 GW in six months
The nation produced 57% more solar cells in the first half of this year than in the same period a year earlier.
Partners turn to blockchain to expand solar module recycling
The technology is being developed in Japan and should be able to inspect solar modules to provide data on traceability and components used.
Sunrise brief: The path steepens to 80% renewables by 2030
Also on the rise: Sandia develops a grid-scale battery storage technology, NREL researchers write code to make legacy inverters smarter, and take a moment to admire these solar panels.
