Scientists study impact of bushfire smoke on solar power generation
Scientists have quantified the impact of wildfires on the availability of direct normal irradiance and global horizontal irradiance at the state, regional, and national levels in the United States. They have found that direct irradiance is more sensitive to smoke than the PV-relevant global horizontal irradiance.
South Australian solar discovery could transform hydrogen production
An international study led by Flinders University in Adelaide has advanced nano-scale chemistry to further develop sustainable and efficient generation of hydrogen from water using solar power.
New Zealand grid-scale solar project gets thumbs down by community
Community submissions for a proposed utility-scale agrivoltaic solar farm on Aotearoa New Zealand’s south island, which would have the capacity to power 70,000 homes annually, has returned 75% against the development.
JinkoSolar claims 33.84% efficiency for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell
Independent testing of JinkoSolar’s N-type TOPCon-based perovskite tandem solar cell has achieved a conversion efficiency of 33.84%, surpassing the company’s previous record of 33.24%,
Australia Papua New Guinea off-grid solar collaboration lights up lives
Residents in the Huon Gulf District of Papua New Guinea have begun receiving 8,700 solar installations in homes and schools across 18 remote villages as part of a collaboration between the island country and Australia.
Research questions why microgrids are not ‘the norm’ in remote Australia
Researchers from four Australian universities have released a new paper questioning why solar microgrids are not ‘the norm’ in remote Central Australia, while energy insecurity prevails in very remote Aboriginal households.
Remote hybrid solar and battery system targets replacement of diesel power
A Western Australia-based hybrid solar and battery system developer has demonstrated its hybrid units deployed in remote locations for businesses and communities can potentially replace around 150 litres of diesel per day.
Australia needs better ways of storing renewable electricity for later and ‘flow batteries’ can help
As flow battery technology comes of age, Australia’s capacity to mine the critical minerals required, and manufacture flow batteries has a promising future on the back of embracing automation and supported by government funding.
Smooth sailing for solar installation at Cowra water treatment plant
Residential and commercial solar installatoin company, Mondiaux Solar has completed its first 100 kW ground mounted solar system with a 27 kW rooftop system to power a water treatment plant for the regional New South Wales town of Cowra.
Year in review: Solar and storage trends in 2024
In five key trends, pv magazine looks back over a year that saw PV module prices fall lower than many thought possible, while demand was restrained by grid congestion, among other challenges. Energy storage has had a strong year and geopolitics is seeing solar and battery manufacturing enter new regions as competition drives technical innovation.
