Kyocera uses blockchain to test virtual power plant based on solar and storage
The module maker and electronics giant is testing the feasibility of a complex virtual power plant with a blockchain platform provided by US-based LO3 Energy.
Southeast Asia’s solar energy “Cubed”
Rystad Energy, an independent research and business-intelligence company serving energy investors, has launched the Southeast Asian hub of its RenewableCube data-analysis product. At an exclusive gathering in a Barangaroo tower suite last Friday, Minh Khoi Le, Research Analyst for APAC Renewables outlined the solar prospects for the region with Vietnam at its irradiant centre.
China stirs the PV world – by preparing to shift to auction mechanism
Projects not encompassed by the new, central-subsidy-free, ‘grid-parity’ regime will be eligible to bid for a government subsidy. But, at a reported $446 million, the pot is not big.
Vietnam mulls multi-layered FIT scheme as it kicks energy transition into gear
With its feed-in tariff set to expire at the end of June, Vietnam is considering different levels of payment, classified across three irradiation regions and involving four solar technologies. Future payments would range from $0.0659-0.0985/kWh, with the cloudy north in line for the highest tariffs and with the government likely to revise tariffs for new projects every two years.
Redflow batteries power remote Thai village
The Brisbane-based battery supplier has deployed 10 of its zinc-bromine flow batteries coupled with three li-ion batteries to store solar generated power in a far-flung village in northern Thailand.
India eyes South America’s lithium reserves for battery manufacturing
As India plans to set up large lithium-ion battery plants, the Lithium Triangle countries in South America (comprising Chile, Argentina and Bolivia) have offered to meet India’s growing demand for lithium.
Japanese scientists seek to lower costs of PV-powered hydrogen
A research team has conducted a demonstration of economic feasibility for battery-assisted, low-cost hydrogen production from solar energy. The scientists claim their system will mean hydrogen can be produced for $0.15-0.25 per cubic meter.
Tesla dives deeper into energy storage, as solar slumps
Elon Musk’s company is seeing tremendous success with its EVs and global manufacturing, and dramatically scaling its energy storage deployment, but the Solar Roof is still not being widely deployed.
Jinko achieves 24.2% efficiency for its n-type monocrystalline cell
The Chinese module maker said the result was certified by the Photovoltaic and Wind Power Systems Quality Test Center at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The record, Jinko said, is thanks to its high quality n-type wafers, selective doping technology and advanced fine-line printing.
China installed 44.1 GW of solar in 2018, according to official NEA data
The world’s biggest solar market reached a cumulative installed PV capacity of 174.63 GW at the end of last year.
