Battery storage challenges: Materials, longevity and project management
An academic event held last week in the U.K. presenting the results of two major research projects on energy storage provided an update on the current and future directions of battery storage technology and development.
From the editor: Renewable energy and information pollution
A recent article in Bloomberg View illustrates clearly the mythology and misinformation that abounds regarding renewable energy, which in many cases is spread by the media.
IEA explores paths to PV and wind integration
The International Energy Agency has released a manual for policy makers on the issues involved in the large scale integration of solar and wind power into power grids.
Rocky Mountain Institute issues guide for greener cities
The RMI handbook provides a template to reduce and eliminate cities’ carbon footprints, including solar implementation strategies and examples.
SMA warns of lower annual sales in light of component shortage
Third quarter financial update sees strong growth in Asia but weak U.S. large-scale project demand drags on overall sales. Order backlog increases 25% to $407 million.
ITC hearing coverage part 1: Suniva, SolarWorld double down on trade proposals
As the first half of the Section 201 remedy hearing comes to a close, Suniva and SolarWorld have made a case for a combination of tariffs and either quotas or a 74-cent minimum module price, and foreign governments have sought exemptions.
Solar and nukes
Can high levels of solar and wind coexist with nuclear generation on the grid? The answer is more complicated than you might think.
NREL, Swiss researchers break 35% cell efficiency
A collaborative project between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories and researchers from two Swiss centers has tested a range of multi junction cells in tandem configuration, and achieved efficiencies of up to 35.9%.
Appeals court upholds SolarWorld’s $800 million debt to Hemlock
The ruling comes as the German solar manufacturer is restarting following an insolvency process, and Hemlock may have a hard time collecting.
SMA’s results affected by price declines
The German inverter manufacturer reports that shipments remained stable in the first half of this year, while revenues were down year-over-year. The company has raised its outlook for 2017.
