1100 GW solar and 1000 GW storage now await transmission interconnection
Solar, wind and battery storage accounted for nearly 95% of the capacity in transmission interconnection queues as of year-end 2023, based on preliminary data from Berkeley Lab, presented in a staff report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Maxeon claims 24.9% efficiency for IBC solar panel
Maxeon said it has achieved a 24.9% efficiency rating for a full-scale Maxeon 7 solar panel using its IBC technology. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) confirmed the result.
Potential effect of the 2024 solar eclipse on solar energy production
To compensate for potential loss of solar energy flowing to the grid, grid operators will have to be ready to rely on other sources to ensure grid stability, as was done during the 2017 and 2023 eclipse episodes.
Iron-based redox flow battery for grid-scale storage
Researchers in the U.S. have repurposed a commonplace chemical used in water treatment facilities to develop an all-liquid, iron-based redox flow battery for large-scale energy storage. Their lab-scale battery exhibited strong cycling stability over one thousand consecutive charging cycles, while maintaining 98.7% of its original capacity.
Inverter undersizing not universally effective to reduce soiling losses
An international research team explained that, although inverter clipping is initially effective in mitigating soiling losses, these losses could become more visible with time, as solar module degradation makes clipping less frequent. They also warned that inverter under sizing alone may not be enough to mitigate soiling losses and suggested cleaning as an additional way to reduce them.
Sunrise brief: California cuts interconnection costs for distributed solar developers that agree to export limits
Also on the rise: NABCEP conference 2024 shining bright in Raleigh. KKR and EIG invest more than $1 billion in equity and debt financing in Avantus. And more.
California cuts interconnection costs for distributed solar developers that agree to export limits
By agreeing to limit exports to the grid at peak generation hours, distributed energy resources like rooftop solar and energy storage can now avoid delays and costly infrastructure upgrades.
Sodium-ion batteries – a viable alternative to lithium?
While lithium ion battery prices are falling again, interest in sodium ion (Na-ion) energy storage has not waned. With a global ramp-up of cell manufacturing capacity under way, it remains unclear whether this promising technology can tip the scales on supply and demand. Marija Maisch reports.
Sunrise brief: U.S. energy storage grows 90% year-over-year
Also on the rise: Burns & McDonnell completes 764 MW solar portfolio in Wisconsin, evaluating the profitability of vanadium flow batteries, and more.
Evaluating the profitability of vanadium flow batteries
Researchers in Italy have estimated the profitability of future vanadium redox flow batteries based on real device and market parameters and found that market evolutions are heading to much more competitive systems, with capital costs down to €260/kWh at a storage duration of 10 hours.
