Smarter homes with solar+storage by Sonnen
The Sonnen ecoLinx adds home automation skills, via powerful industry partner tools, complementing the company’s energy storage, grid management and microgrid expertise.
Scientists claim 10% saving for black silicon cell production with dry etching
Researchers from Michigan Technological University and Finland’s Aalto University say they have demonstrated that the cost per unit of power of black silicon PERC cells could fall 10.8%, despite an increase in cell processing cost.
US triples energy storage installations, residential grows 10X to become largest sector
Wood Mackenzie projects that the U.S. energy storage market will reach well over $500 million in sales this year, following on 61.8 MW / 156.5 MWh of installations during the second quarter. Residential storage has grown at 61% per quarter since Q1 2017.
Grid-connected battery energy capacity grew 68 percent last year
A utility survey shows battery storage capacity growing sharply, including solar + storage installations in several states. Looking ahead, FERC Order 841 could spark extensive new storage for grid services, helping more utilities become familiar with storage and its benefits.
Silfab unveils US manufacturing site with $40 million investment in Itek Energy
Canada-based Silfab Solar has invested US$40 million in U.S. solar PV module manufacturer, Itek Energy, LLC’s Bellingham, Washington production facility.
RBI Solar integrates, literally and figuratively, SolarBOS
Gibraltar Industries, owner of solar racking company RBI Solar, of Cincinnati, OH has acquired balance of system designer SolarBOS, of California.
Battery materials producer Livent Corp. goes public
The lithium supplier is banking on both its substantial history and new developments in the rapidly growing the electric vehicle market.
Elon Musk scraps plan to take Tesla private
The company’s shares have returned to a level slightly above where they were prior to the August 7 announcement.
Report shows Tesla’s battery gigafactory booming
The report found over 3,200 employees working at the factory at the end of 2017, and $3.7 billion in invested in the plant.
Researchers propose doubling today’s solar panel efficiency using two weird tricks
By double stacking a perovskite-silicon solar cell and using the cell in a glass-on-glass bifacial solar module, scientists model that a 30-36% efficient solar module can be attained.
