New environmental, social and governance obligations for solar and storage
As renewable energy deployment accelerates, the industry falls under an intensifying spotlight. Developers and financiers face mounting pressure to prove credible environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance across the solar and battery storage value chains.
Improving solar inverter design with silicones
Inverters must withstand the high levels of heat generated when operating, otherwise system performance and reliability could be at risk. Cody Schoener of Dow Performance Silicones argues using silicone-based materials for inverters can improve thermal management and fire protection, while offering thermal stability, environmental resistance, electrical isolation and support for operational efficiency.
Cadmium telluride vs. crystalline silicon in agrivoltaics
Canadian researchers investigated how the transparency of cadmium telluride and crystalline silicon solar panels affects lettuce growth in agrivoltaic systems. They found that 69%–transparent silicon panels increased lettuce yield by 3.6%, whereas cadmium telluride panels led to a reduction in yield.
Why small-scale, non-utility solar is important
Behind-the-meter solar for homes, businesses, and communities comes with numerous benefits, said a paper from Stanford engineering professor Mark Jacobson.
What makes a solar project pollinator-friendly?
As corporate buyers and registries add biodiversity metrics to renewable energy credits, pollinator-friendly solar is emerging as a differentiator in the REC market.
Sofab Inks achieves 22.2% efficiency in mini inverted perovskite solar panel
The U.S. startup said the 30 x 30 cm perovskite solar cell device featured its tin oxide electron transport material produced in a sheet-to-sheet slot die coating process.
PJM grid region needs 16 GW of storage by 2032, says Brattle study
“Without decisive action” to add storage, “millions of homes and businesses could face costly and dangerous reliability risks,” said the trade group sponsoring the study. “Hundreds of storage projects are stalled in PJM’s interconnection queue,” it added.
BLUETTI launches new residential energy storage and sodium-ion portable power solutions
The company’s new EP6K ESS provides a flexible and affordable solar battery system for homes with existing solar rooftops, while the Pioneer Na delivers advanced sodium-ion power for extreme cold and winter storms.
High-rise buildings could soon use gravity energy storage, say researchers
Researchers in Canada have proposed using gravity-based energy storage in high-rise buildings, in combination with photovoltaic facades, small wind turbines, and lithium-ion batteries. Their modeling indicated that this hybrid system could achieve a levelized cost of energy ranging from $0.051/kWh to $0.111/kWh.
The “Kelley Blue Book” for energy assets could improve circularity in the solar sector
Seattle-based urban mining startup Buckstop uses an AI-powered appraisal model to instantly value end-of-life solar panels.
