Algae could boost solar panel efficiency by 4%
A Swedish team has inaugurated a pilot facility to mass produce algae material that can potentially boost silicon solar module efficiency by 4% and thin film by 36%. The algae are added to the encapsulant in silicon-based modules or to the anti-reflective coating on the glass of thin film modules. The team estimates the resulting modules would be 3.9% cheaper.
Nearly 4% of U.S. homes have solar panels installed
In 2020, 3.7% of U.S. homes generated electricity from small-scale solar arrays, as did 1.6% of commercial buildings, reports the Energy Information Administration.
First Solar announces $270 Million investment in R&D innovation center
Despite a less than stellar earnings report, First Solar continues to expand with new manufacturing planned along with dedicated R&D facility to increase learning and reduce downtime on commercial production lines.
Mango Power unveils home and portable battery system
Mango Power has developed a 3.5 kWh battery system that can be expanded up to 14 kWh. The product features LFP battery cells from CATL and can be charged through AC wall outlets, with solar panels, or via electric-vehicle chargers.
Sunrise brief: It’s time to combat utility opposition to solar
Also on the rise: U.S. Army builds further resilience with flow battery pilot project at Fort Carson. Cooling down solar modules by increasing space between panel rows. And more.
Engie acquires 6 GW of solar and battery storage projects
The company announced the acquisition of projects across the ERCOT, PJM, MISO, and WECC territories.
U.S. Army builds further resilience with flow battery pilot project at Fort Carson
The redox flow battery dubbed GridStar Flow is intended to help protect the installation during emergency situations.
Solar tiles connected to an air heat pump
Germany’s Paxos is currently testing the solar tile in a testing facility connected to an air heat pump. The panel can provide heat and electricity at the same time, while also improving the heat pump’s coefficient of performance by around 25%.
Cooling down solar modules by increasing space between panel rows
A U.S. research team claims to have demonstrated that increasing the spacing of solar panels between rows improves PV system efficiency and economics by allowing airflow to cool down the modules. The method could improve a project’s LCOE by as much as 2.15% in certain climates.
It’s time to combat utility opposition to solar
As part of Aurora Solar’s Empower 2022 online solar summit, Bernadette Del Chiaro, from the California Solar & Storage Association, will moderate a talk about electric utilities and how they have abused their monopoly position to discriminate against solar in the U.S. Here, she gives pv magazine a taste of the presentation.
