Weekend read: Solar’s known unknowns
Historic meteorological data is typically used to assess solar farm yield and secure project finance, but with climate change beginning to affect every aspect of society, past weather data may no longer be a reliable guide. Everoze Partner Nastasia Pacaut looks at how PV projects can be future-proofed in a changing climate.
South Australian solar and storage project reaches commissioning milestone
Commissioning of one of Australia’s first solar-powered utility scale vanadium flow batteries has commenced with developer Yadlamalka Energy confirming that construction of its $22 million Spencer Energy Project in South Australia is now complete.
State puts vanadium tech to test as ‘Australian first’ manufacturing plant opened
Critical energy minerals company Vecco Group has celebrated the official opening of Australia’s first commercial-scale vanadium battery electrolyte manufacturing facility in Townsville by announcing it has secured a contract to provide Energy Queensland with the state’s first grid-scale vanadium flow battery.
Powerlink awards early works contract for CopperString project
A $20 million (USD 13.58 million) early works package for the CopperString transmission project that is forecast to unlock 6 GW of renewable energy resources and connect Queensland’s northwest to the national electricity grid has been awarded to CIMIC Group companies UGL and CPB Contractors.
All solar cell efficiencies at a glance – Martin Green team update
The research group led by Professor Martin Green has published Version 62 of the solar cell efficiency tables. There are 21 new results reported in the new version, a record number for the Tables.
Transgrid reveals roadmap to deliver energy network master plan
New South Wales transmission network operator Transgrid plans to spend $16.5 billion (USD 11.22 billion) to grow the state’s power system over the next decade to ensure the “secure operation” of the grid at up to 100% instantaneous renewables.
CEFC to target grid infrastructure with investment capital increase
The Australian government has backed the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to lead the transformation of the nation’s energy grid infrastructure by signing off on a $20.5 billion (USD 13.94 billion) increase in investment capital for the federal government-owned ‘green bank.’
Global benchmark for solar irradiance data released by IEA-PVPS
The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) has published a report to help the solar industry to choose appropriate surface radiation models and data providers based on location and application requirements.
Reusing silicon from end-of-life solar panels in EV batteries
Scientists in Belgium are exploring the potential of recycled silicon in solar modules at the end of their life cycle for reuse in low-cost, higher-energy-density storage technologies. They claim EV batteries using this silicon may allow faster recharging and travel longer distances on a single charge.
Inside the impacts of soiling
Scientists in India carried out a comprehensive study into the impacts of soiling on PV modules – measuring the amount of performance loss caused by different types of dust and bird droppings, and for modules installed at various tilt angles, in the hot-dry climate of Vellore in southern India. Their findings could allow developers to better take into account and mitigate the effects of soiling during site selection and system design.
