The futurology of solar power: robots, hackers, 5G, cheaper modules, repowering, and really cheap electricity
Module efficiencies will continue to increase, while the price of an individual module will stay the same. Not only will this hardware produce more power, it’ll work far longer — with predictions of 30-year module warranties, roughly the projected lifetime of gas assets.
Hardware and Services Brief: Cold rated lithium ion, fencing, a creative installation in Miami, more!
S-5! working with a metal roofing company to install two unique products on one site, SMA has launched a containerized medium voltage transformer that ties directly to their big inverters, and – so far – module pricing is flat in China. Send your hardware and service announcements USA-Editors@pv-magazine.com
Takeaways from a strong Q4 for ‘the new SunPower’
A rare profitable quarter has anchored an even rarer profitable year for SunPower, as confidence in the decision to split off the company’s module manufacturing business into Maxeon Solar Technologies rises.
Government report says Trump’s solar tariff has accomplished little
The U.S. ITC has released a report highlighting changes in the domestic solar cell and module manufacturing industry, showing that while there has been an increase in domestic module manufacturing, the overall program’s success, relative to the $740 million in tariffs, has created little measurable benefit.
Jinko Solar, China dominate module shipment totals again in 2019
Jinko shipped 14.2 GW of modules in 2019, up 33% from the previous year, the high mark in another year dominated by Chinese manufacturers.
Let the solar games begin — more innovation on the Intersolar show floor
Plenty of innovative hardware at the show that isn’t a module, battery or racking — as well as services and the Solar Games.
What’s the efficiency of a Tesla glass tile solar roof?
It depends. We attempt to do the math. Maybe it doesn’t matter.
Italian PV panels destined for recycling were instead smuggled to Syria and Africa
Illegally re-badged panels were sold to Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Turkey and Syria. Italian authorities found 60 tons of panels.
New SunPower: Focusing on building the world’s highest efficiency PV modules at Maxeon Solar
In part 2 of our interview, the SunPower brain trust talks about scaling-up its high-efficiency PV technology in a way that it has not been able to do in the past — now that it has cash and a definitive focus.
Innovative solar modules on the show floor at Intersolar San Diego
In sunny San Diego for Intersolar 2020, we’re seeing a new idea on tracking rooftop solar modules, diodes moving to the cell level, two types of building integrated solar products, and some solar hot water.
