France

The solar efficiency leader remains on track to complete its planned split into two independently focused pure-play solar companies by the end of the second quarter.

France’s Sunbooster has developed a technology to cool down solar modules when the ambient temperature exceeds 25 C. The solution features a set of pipes that spread a thin film of water onto the glass surface of the panels in rooftop PV systems and ground-mounted plants. The cooling systems collect the water from rainwater tanks and then recycle, filter and store it again. The company claims the technology can facilitate an annual increase in power generation of between 8% and 12%.

Also in the brief: The coronavirus response reduced electricity demand in every country across Europe last week

Also in the brief: Enphase ships storage; homeless encampments using secondhand solar; big batteries.

Also in the brief: Why has the number of K-12 schools powered by solar doubled in just three years? $89M energy storage pilot starts work in France, plus — a mighty wind.

Total will be acquiring 676,000 shares worth about $31 million, according to SEC filings. 

Executive and boardroom moves in solar, storage, project development, cleantech, utilities and venture capital.

The efficiency of the cell, made with a standard M2 wafer, was raised 0.7% by using an improved busbar-free screen printing metallization based on heterojunction processes developed with manufacturing equipment provided by Swiss specialist Meyer Burger.

Some 15 countries are able to lay claim to the status of being members of solar’s “gigawatt club” in 2019, according to projections from BloombergNEF. To kick off 2020, pv magazine’s global team of correspondents and editors have highlighted 10 fast-growing solar markets to evaluate where the opportunities, and potential risks, lie.

The Total-owned French battery maker has acquired Go Electric, a major player in military and C&I microgrids in North America.