Australia leads international zero-carbon silicon recovery research
Australian researchers are collaborating with organisations in India, Indonesia and the United States to develop a zero-carbon, automated end-of-life solar panel recycling process using robots to recover ultra-pure silicon.
Rooftop solar waste tsunami could come 10 years early if users chase savings
In a novel study to further solar waste forecasting in Australia, the economic decisions of rooftop solar owners have been shown to fast forward waste and recovery needs 10 years earlier than a system’s warranty.
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.
TW Solar introduces full-black module for Australian rooftop market
China-headquartered PV cell and module manufacturer TW Solar has introduced into the Australian market a “full black” n-type solar panel featuring an output of 470 W and a power conversion efficiency of 23.5%.
Solis unveils 75–125 kW hybrid inverter for C&I solar
The Chinese manufacturer said its new inverters can deliver 160% overload for 200 ms in off-grid mode, ensuring stable startup of heavy loads. The IP66-rated products feature a maximum efficiency of 97.6% and a European efficiency of 97.2%.
Researchers present inverter-based dust monitoring method for rooftop solar
Researchers in China have developed a dust monitoring technique that relies solely on the existing hardware resources of inverters, without requiring extra sensors or meteorological data. Tests on existing rooftop PV arrays demonstrated an accuracy exceeding 96%.
IEA says cost of capital for solar remains high in Southeast Asia
The International Energy Agency says the cost of capital for solar remains higher in Southeast Asian countries than it does in other emerging and developing economies.
Vanuatu runs tender for supply, installation of solar systems
A tender is open in Vanuatu to deliver eight solar water pump systems and 24 standalone solar PV systems. The deadline to submit expressions of interest is October 27.
Australian-made solar thermal system deployed at iconic Sydney pool
Sydney technology startup Coolsheet has begun a commercial-scale pilot of its PV-thermal system, a patented aluminium heat exchange panel that converts a standard solar module into a PVT hybrid for new installations as well as retrofits.
Choose to reuse: second-hand solar panel resale certification proposed
Block chain-based tracking of a solar panel’s lifecycle or a national certification program for second-hand modules, are two strategies University of South Australia researchers studied in developing a game plan for keeping panels out of landfill.
