LONGi, JinkoSolar, REC Group respond to Hanwha Q-Cells IP suit
All three companies say the patent infringement claim is without merit, and LONGi has provided technical details as to why its PERC isn’t based on Hanwha Q-Cells’ patent.
Stronger steel means less steel for solar power foundations
An analysis of solar farm foundations suggests that using grade 80 versus grade 50 steel can save $2,000-$10,000/MWdc by using less steel, while still resisting corrosion.
pvMB 3/7/19: PanelClaw Partners with Yotta, China plans a space-based solar station…and more!
Hey evrybody, the weekend is nearly here, but what’s already here is your Thursday edition of the pvMB. Today we’re taking a look at San Diego Gas and Electric’s time-of-use billing, Microsoft purchasing 74 MW of solar energy in North Carolina, HellermannTyton releasing First Solar module-specific wire hardware and everything else that matters today in solar.
SunCast with PVEL’s “secret weapon”: Tara Doyle
The latest episode of SunCast brings an interview with the chief commercial officer of the brilliant researchers at PVEL, Tara Doyle.
Uncle Sam supporting cheap gallium arsenide, 30% efficient perovskite, and more
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy has awarded $50,000 to 20 teams that advanced to the semifinal stage of the American Made Solar Prize. The teams will now have 90 days to design a proof of concept.
pvMB 3/6/19: Hawaii stays at 27% renewables, GameChange Solar ups production capacity
Happy Hump Day and welcome to your Wednesday edition of the pv magazine USA morning brief. Today we’ll check out a GreenPeace co-founder comparing the Green New Deal to the End Times, ASU dominating the Solar Energy Technology Office awards, GRID Alternatives’ “Solar Spring Break” program and everything else interesting in the industry today.
Hanwha Q-Cells sues to keep Jinko, Longi and REC Group out of the U.S. market
The Korean/German solar manufacturer has filed patent infringement lawsuits against the three companies in the United States, and is seeking to bar them from importing solar products for the U.S. market. Hanwha Q Cells claims its three rivals have used its patented solar cell passivation technology to increase the performance of their products.
The next big thing: grid-tied batteries. How to maximize value
In this op-ed for pv magazine, Mike Mendelsohn & Dr. Allison Weis of Ascend Analytics break down the value of battery storage and the profitability of this tech.
Inertia, frequency regulation and the grid
The old system of regulating frequency on electricity grids with the help of the inertia provided by large spinning masses is under threat by the rise of wind, solar, and batteries. But what will replace inertia-based control, and how will the transition work?
Can you hack the grid using an inverter?
Maybe. But you’d be better off using a laptop. And no, Huawei inverters aren’t going to cause a blackout.
