Manufacturing

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and United Renewable Energy (URE) have developed a solar panel that can be easily dismantled to simplify the recycling process. They claim 96% of the materials in the panel can be recovered, including all of the solar cells and front glass.

The Gladstone Regional Council has ratified an ambitious roadmap that will be used to help the central Queensland city navigate the transition from traditional coal and gas hub to a green hydrogen and renewable energy superpower.

German researchers have created an algorithm to predict and identify string yield losses or underperforming strings without additional weather data. It could be used to inspect modules, strings, arrays, inverters, and transformers.

Chinese manufacturer JinkoSolar’s newest PV module has an efficiency rating of 23.86%. It is based on its TOPCon mono cell technology, which achieved a record efficiency of 26.1% in October, as confirmed by TÜV Rheinland.

China manufacturer DAH Solar offers four versions of its new panels, with power outputs ranging from 540 W to 555 W and efficiency ratings from 20.89% to 21.48%. The modules are reportedly ideal for steel rooftops with small installation angles.

The Queensland government is forecasting a renewables-led manufacturing and jobs boom in the state with hundreds of Australian and international companies registering their interest in supplying the thousands of solar panels, batteries, wind turbines, and kilometres of transmission lines the state says it will need to deliver its $62 billion (USD 40 billion) energy transformation plan.

Construction has begun on a 50 MW/50 MWh battery near the outback city of Broken Hill which will be equipped with advanced inverter technology designed to improve system strength in regional New South Wales and support increased levels of renewable energy generation in the area.

Chinese researchers have assessed the impact of residential rooftop PV arrays on energy use and surrounding air temperatures during extreme heatwaves. They found that panels with higher conversion efficiencies achieved the best results.

Researchers led by Germany’s TÜV Rheinland have created a database of technical risks and mitigation measures for PV installations. Their broad overview of quantification methods has shown that further standardization is required.

Developer Energy Estate has signed a deal with Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, which has designed vertical manmade caverns for hydrogen storage. Energy Estate co-founder Simon Currie says the partnership is about shoring up projects like its proposed 1.6 GW Hunter Hydrogen Network.