Underground heat exchanger to cool down solar panels
Spanish scientists have built a cooling system featuring heat exchangers on solar panels and U-shape heat exchangers installed in a borehole at a depth of 15 meters. The researchers claim that this reduces panel temperatures by up to 17%, while improving performance by about 11%.
Weekend read: In the testing loop
In northern Australia, a new hardware-in-the-loop platform is being developed to test renewable projects aggregated generation control systems before commissioning. The platform brings control hardware together with software simulations of passive components to test in real time how different configurations respond. Should the platform successfully complete its upcoming demonstration, it could help solve Australia’s current connection crisis.
Making Australian solar circular
Former Tindo Solar CEO, Shayne Jaenisch, outlines how Australia’s renewables industry can avoid forced labour, cut waste, secure its supply chains and create a domestic manufacturing industry.
Volt unveils ‘world beating’ Australian-engineered solar tile
Melbourne-based renewable energy company Leeson Group has unveiled an Australian-engineered roof solar PV tile that it describes as the highest energy generating solar tile in the world, with a solar efficiency of up to 19.3%.
Longwarry battery project up and running
Gransolar Group subsidiary E22’s Longwarry battery energy storage project has successfully joined the grid in time to improve network reliability ahead of the peak demand summer season.
New tool to simulate climate at utility-scale PV project sites
Scientists in China have designed a new methodology to simulate the near-surface climate of utility-scale PV plants. Their findings suggest that the new tool could be used to design more climate-friendly solar parks.
Global installed PV capacity could hit 260 GW in 2022
The International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) estimates that 173.5 GW of new solar capacity was installed in 2021, and that figure might rise to 260 GW in 2022. pv magazine spoke with the co-chair of the European Solar Manufacturing Council to look into the figures.
Amazon takes wraps off 1.4 MW rooftop solar system in Melbourne
Online retail giant Amazon has taken the wraps off a 1.4 MW rooftop solar system that will help power operations at its new 15,600 square metre sort centre being developed in Melbourne’s north.
Australia’s first utility-scale solar farm marks 10th anniversary
Australia’s first utility-scale solar PV project is marking its 10th anniversary, a milestone that also serves to highlight the pace and scale of the country’s transition to a renewables-led future.
CSP specialist Vast Solar plans Australian ‘gigafactory’
Concentrating solar thermal power specialist Vast Solar has unveiled plans to establish a CSP “gigafactory” to manufacture its heliostats and solar receivers in Australia after a successful trial at a pilot facility in Queensland.
