Solar tracker repowering emerges as key to sustaining older arrays
Aging utility-scale solar projects are driving interest in tracker repowering, while asset owners weigh costs against gains in performance and longevity.
Thirty-five countries now operate GW-scale annual PV markets
The latest report from the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Program highlights that 2024 was another record year for solar installations globally but large overcapacities of solar cell, module and wafer manufacturing continued.
Perovksite solar cell based on MXene achieves 25.13% efficiency
A Chinese research group claims to have achieved remarkable efficiency and stability in a solar cell based on a perovskite absorber incorporating MXene, a novel type of 2D material known for its excellent conductivity, chemical stability, and thermal resilience. The device reportedly retained 80% of its initial efficiency after 500 hours.
Ark Energy wins planning approval for 435 MW Richmond Valley solar farm
The New South Wales government has granted planning approval to the 500 MWdc / 435 MW solar farm componant of Ark Energy’s Richmond Valley hybrid project, which will be co-located with a 475 MW / 2,200 MWh battery energy storage system.
Shadow-aware route planning for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics
Japanese researchers have proposed a method for future vehicle-integrated photovoltaic route planning. It integrates environmental shading effects based on satellite and geographic information system data.
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%.
Fox ESS stackable battery system now available in Australia
Chinese energy technology manufacturer Fox ESS has launched a modular battery system for both residential and commercial applications in Australia that can be scaled from 4.66 kWh capacity up to 41.93 kWh.
Silver prices surge, yet ‘thrifting’ poses little threat to solar cell, module quality
With silver prices nearing $75 per ounce, researchers from the University of New South Wales and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems tell pv magazine that efforts to reduce silver use in solar cells will not compromise module quality if properly engineered.
Researchers test solar panel cooling using stagnant water layer
Researchers have developed a stagnant water layer cooling concept and tested it using seawater, tap water, and desalinated water. The panel temperature decreased by up to 8.2 °C, while power output increased by approximately 28%.
