Balance of Systems

Mauritian researchers have developed a solar tracker prototype that increases current by around 37%. The device uses a simplified and mechanical tracking system.

Since the passage of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) last August, the utility-scale clean power sector has announced USD 150 billion ($223b) in funding, 46 new manufacturing facilities, and nearly 20,000 new jobs, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Trina Solar’s tracker subsidiary has launched a new version of its Vanguard single-axis two-in-portrait (2P) tracker. It uses multiple motors on one tracker row, reportedly allowing it to withstand higher wind loads and reduce tilt angle misalignment. The new solution is compatible with large modules up to 685 W.

Australian mining and processing company IGO and billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals will progress plans to build the nation’s first integrated battery material facility in Western Australia after the state government approved the allocation of land for the up to $1 billion project.

Sarcos has designed a robotic PV construction solution that delivers, detects, lifts, and places PV modules in large-scale solar plants. It has recently field tested and validated the prototype solution in a pilot project funded by the US Department of Energy.

India could become the world’s second-largest solar manufacturer by 2026. It will also have a notable presence in all upstream components of PV production, such as cells, ingots/wafers, and polysilicon, according to a new report.

Australian resources developer Vecco Group has secured state government backing to build a $26 million (USD 17 million) vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility in the north Queensland city of Townsville with production set to be used in grid-scale vanadium flow battery projects.

Australian clean tech company Graphene Manufacturing Group plans to scale up the development of its battery energy storage technology that it claims charges 70 times faster than a lithium-ion battery and has three times more battery life.

Spanish company PV Hardware has enjoyed its most successful year in the Australian market with the company commencing construction on more than 1 GW of utility scale projects in 2022 and the cleantech manufacturer believes the best is yet to come.

United States-based solar tracker provider Array Technologies is planning to set up manufacturing operations in Australia after being awarded a contract to supply trackers for a 102 MW solar farm being developed in Victoria’s northeast.