Shift to 2 kV voltage in solar projects tipped to gain traction
Amid record-low prices for solar modules, the focus of cost reduction for utility-scale solar projects is shifting to non-module balance-of-system (BoS) expenses. A transition from 1.5 kV voltage to 2 kV in solar projects is expected to gain traction through 2030.
Survey captures wide-spread optimism for solar’s future, but respondents divided over AI
Nearly two-thirds of a survey’s respondents said they believe solar will become the dominant energy source in their country. However, the survey also captured many challenges the OEMs, technicians and solar installers face.
Flexible interconnection can generate 176% more revenue for community solar, report finds
A report by the Solar and Storage Industries Institute shows that flexible interconnection, which adjusts solar output based on grid conditions, can offer significant economic benefit to community solar developers.
String inverters best for partially shaded PV systems, says IEA-PVPS
The International Energy Agency (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) has released a technical report exploring innovations and challenges in optimizing the performance of partially shaded PV systems.
U.S. sees a 22% drop in land available for solar sites
Available land in the U.S. for renewable energy sites is continuing to shrink, found a new report by Paces, a renewable-energy project-planning software developer.
DOE seeks experts in renewables siting to advise 13 state collaboratives
To improve renewable energy siting, the U.S. Department of Energy seeks permitting experts to provide technical assistance to state siting collaboratives. DOE expects to fund each collaborative, and to support additional collaboratives in other states.
The use of AI in hydropower plants is creating new challenges
Hydropower has long been used to stabilize the rid and store energy to compensate for the fluctuations of solar and wind power. Its use of artificial intelligence is helping cope with new demands but making it more sensitive to cyber attacks.
U.S. targets 50 gigawatts of solar in 2024
With projections of greater than 8 GW of distributed solar being installed, and more than 40 GW of utility scale solar, the country is projected to grow its solar fleet greater than 25% from its 2023 deployments.
EnerVenue to supply nickel-hydrogen batteries to RWE for pilot testing
RWE plans to cycle EnerVenue’s nickel-hydrogen energy storage technology at its testing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. RWE says it wants to boost its own storage capacity to 6 GW by 2030.
Mercedes-Benz testing new solar paint
Mercedes-Benz said it is now evaluating a 20%-efficient, non-silicon photovoltaic coating that is significantly cheaper than conventional solar modules.
