News

Nobody wants their PV systems to catch fire, but little is known about how to actually prevent such incidents.

Conventional incentives such as renewable portfolio standards, feed-in tariffs or feed-in premium payments may lead to a price cannibalisation scenario for wind and solar, according to a new study from a German-Swedish research group. CO2 pricing is, however, considered an efficient tool to maintain their market value high enough to ensure new investments. A total system cost approach, rather than an LCOE perspective, is needed to understand the strong dependence of market value on policy choice though.

Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar is confident it can compete with the world’s biggest manufacturers having received a financial fillip as part of the federal government’s $55 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund.

The economic benefits of rooftop solar PV have been reinforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with a new report revealing solar customers in the National Electricity Market are paying about 30% less for their electricity than their non-solar counterparts.

Australian energy retailer AGL will roll out almost 100 rooftop solar PV systems at St Vincent de Paul Society sites throughout Victoria in a move expected to slash more than $1 million off the not-for-profit group’s annual electricity bill.

The Biden Administration’s decision to ban solar imports from four Xinjiang-based polysilicon manufacturers, Hoshine Silicon, Daqo, East Hope, and GCL New Energy Material, has already raised concerns. One analyst warns of a “significant negative impact” across the U.S. solar industry.

Researchers in China have built a PV-powered air conditioner that can store power through ice thermal storage. The performance of the system was evaluated considering operating efficiency and stability and the scientists found that a device relying on a variable-speed compressor and an MPPT controller showed very good ice-making capability.

This year, PV cell manufacturers will face the challenge of transformation. Apart from adjusting the ratio of production for different-sized cells, some manufacturers are turning to next-generation opportunities, shifting investment from p-PERC to n-type technology. PV InfoLink Analyst Amy Fang discusses the issues facing n-type cell development this year.

Despite the impact of the pandemic and associated economic crisis, 2020 saw unprecedented growth in the solar market. With the International Energy Agency stating that high rates of capacity additions are the new normal, has the energy and investment environment fundamentally changed? Felicia Jackson in London explores these issues.

The Clean Energy Regulator has reaffirmed the urgent need for changes to how the national electricity grid and market operate with a new report predicting the nation could add another 20 GW to an already surging rooftop solar sector by 2025.