Hardware Brief: 26.5¢/W modules, new silicon carbide inverters, dual axis tracker 4 year ROI, drones!!
Modules and inverters and trackers, oh my! PV InfoLink sees as low as 21¢/W modules on the spot market, Kaco has released a series of 1000V and 1500V inverters between 87 and 150 kW, Mechatron’s dual axis tracker took the place of a carport, and Drone Magnetic Survey Company has figured out that there’s a niche finding old wells and metal under solar fields!
Sometimes there’s so much solar panel beauty in the world
America’s beauty, Solaria’s all black shingled module, has a future set on higher efficiencies, better integration into a home’s natural look, and a fully designed system from the ground up as time of construction.
Federal grants aim to spark investment in U.S. solar manufacturing
Seven early-stage solar manufacturing firms have won U.S. Department of Energy grants to develop prototypes, which they could use to help attract private investment. DOE’s 21 PV research and development grants may hold more interest for established manufacturers.
SunPower splits in two
The company’s transformation from a manufacturer to the 2nd-largest residential solar company in the United States is complete with it spinning off of its high-efficiency cell and module production into a new company, in partnership with Chinese wafer maker TZS.
Big banker thinks “world’s” largest *rooftop bifacial* solar panel install is worth it
JP Morgan Chase has completed a 2.8 MW rooftop bifacial solar panel installation, using Prism Solar modules, on their Columbus, Ohio location that will meet 18 percent of the site’s electricity usage.
Hardware brief: modules at 30¢/W, Enphase selling direct, solar+water, more!
It’s Friday, and Friday is the day you get to see new gear! Ideal Energy has put out a great white paper on a solar+storage demand charge management project, 8minute Solar Energy talks up their advanced solar power plant software partners, and Northern Reliability Company shows off the beautiful energy storage gear they assemble.
Hardware brief: Module pricing falling, Enphase at 450W, sexy solar panels get $3.2 million, more!
We were gone till November, now we’re here. The US Air Force is researching space based solar power, SimpliPhi has discounts on energy storage products for Californians, and ESS Inc has raised $30 million to help roboticize a 1 GWh/year capacity factory to build flow batteries in Oregon!
California power shutdown certified solar homes from SunPower?
SunPower met or exceeded 3rd quarter guidance, though it fell short of profitability by $15 million on $476 million in revenue. The company revealed that they have ~40,000 new home pre-orders for the California solar mandate market, and their Equinox home storage system launches in Q1.
Hardware brief: Minimalist racking, optimized car charging, a 10 GWh/year battery factory & more!
Got new hardware tips? Send them to USA-Editors@pv-magazine.com. Mono-PERC module pricing is still nudging downward, Energy Toolbase has integrated Chint energy storage solutions into its software, and Jinko has a new module.
First Solar is sold out through mid-2021
The thin film PV maker reported solid third quarter results, following on the opening of its massive 1.3 GW factory in Ohio.
