Monitoring

French energy giant Engie recently commissioned a solar module testing facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a region which has the world’s highest solar radiation. Thore Müller – head of bifacial PV R&D and solar services at Engie Laborelec, talked to pv magazine about the advantages of testing panels, inverters and cleaning systems in hot, arid environments.

Also in the brief: nearly 1 MW of solar has been installed on the roof of a 300,000-square-foot Kroger bakery facility, a big-rig driver installing solar on his truck, camouflage for solar panels and more.

In hopes of creating a grid that is modular, flexible and more resilient than the current one, LF Energy has launched its Digital Substation Automation Systems initiative, which looks to make interoperable substations that are both hardware and software agnostic.

According to the most recent EIA Monthly Energy Review, non-fossil generation sources accounted for 20% of all energy consumed in 2019, the highest mark in history.

While solar modules are often defined first and foremost by their capacity, higher module capacity doesn’t necessarily translate to a more efficient system, or even a longer-term yield. Understanding this and reflecting this idea onto customers can be key to delivering the right technology.

Also in the brief: a letter calling for electric grid infrastructure, transportation and equity and environmental justice has been delivered to key members of the House, Clir Renewables has secured a $1.25 million loan with Silicon Valley Bank, 580 businesses call on congress to include clean energy in a the next stimulus package and more.

The Germany-based PV monitoring software startup has released this in-depth industry comparison just three months after announcing its intent to expand its user base tenfold by 2023.

Solar assets are underperforming far more frequently than official energy estimates would suggest, according to the industry experts who contributed to KwH Analytics’ 2020 solar risk assessment report.

Featuring a monitoring system that tracks system performance, a comprehensive operating platform and stackable system design, Fluence claims its new solution is capable of reaching gigawatt-sized deployments while driving project costs down as much as 25%.

Successful community solar development requires harmonizing construction, financing, and subscriber acquisition and management. Digital management platforms can give developers the tools to precisely manage these aspects and get the most out of their projects.