Swiss solar tiles for new and historic buildings – in photos
The product costs around $28 to $30 per square-foot although prices will vary depending on project complexity. Swiss manufacturer Freesuns says its tiles can be used on historic buildings and can cover 100% of rooftops.
HVDC transmission helps wind but may not help solar
A $2.5 billion Midwestern HVDC transmission project to carry mostly wind power has gained major new investments, which help validate the technology. But an HVDC transmission project that would primarily drive more solar capacity is yet to be identified.
Morning Brief: Amazon to add 300 MW of renewables, Falck and ENI partner on development
Also in the brief: tech from the rumored Apple car could find its way to your pocket or wrist, a list of Georgia utilities and other services that will not cut off services due to nonpayment, COVID-19 resulting in a 20% decrease in oil demand and more
Can a transparent solar window harvest enough power to be practical?
Can an organic solar cell material finally be commercialized? Last year, Ubiquitous Energy claimed a world record for efficiency of a “transparent solar cell” with a “certified” 9.8% efficiency.
Hot electrons? Surface plasmons? Thin-film solar innovation marches on
Thin-film solar startup PI Energy didn’t disclose the photovoltaic materials system it’s been commercializing, other than to say that it wasn’t CIGS, CdTe, or perovskites.
Morning Brief: TVA solicits 200 MW of renewables, Sungrow supplies the Wright project
Also in the brief: 14 MW approved in Maine, 20 MW approved in Indiana, a molten aluminum thermal energy storage system and more.
Morning Brief: Goldman Sachs and Telos form solar development outfit, Electrify America invests $2 million in EV chargers
Also in the brief: Powerhome named to Fast Company’s ‘Most Innovative Companies’ list, a Colorado town goes 100% renewable municipal electricity from a solar installation, a Minnesota couple wins a $50,000 prize for a module heating solution and more.
Bifacial PV modules are going mainstream but more field data is needed — and NREL is on the case
Getting the most out of a bifacial module requires a rethink at almost every level of system design and the industry is hungry for field data generated by such systems to better inform energy yield modeling and define the best approaches to maximizing yield at minimal cost. NREL’s three-year study into bifacial performance is beginning to yield results.
Morning Brief: West Virginia legislature votes down bill to legalize solar PPAs, documentary on Alaskan PV microgrid
Also in the brief: Outback Power releases AC coupling feature for Skybox hybrid inverter, BP Solar customers can be compensated for faulty panels, Martha’s Vineyard considers 100% renewable by 2040, and more.
Trina announces 23.3% efficient PERC cell produced on commercial tools
The Chinese manufacturer claims a record — since the device was manufactured on standard commercial production equipment.
