Category: Solar Systems

New research from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) has shown that combining rooftop PV systems with battery storage and heat pumps can improve heat pump efficiency while reducing reliance on grid electricity. February 1, 2024 Emiliano Bellini From pv magazine global Fraunhofer ISE researchers have studied how residential rooftop PV systems could be combined with heat pumps and battery storage. They assessed the performance of a PV-heat pump-battery system based on a smart-grid (SG) ready control in a single-family house built in 1960 in Freiburg, Germany. “It…

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Effective Feb. 1, the UK government has exempted retrofitted battery energy storage systems (BESS) from the 20% value added tax (VAT). February 1, 2024 Matthew Lynas Residential BESS are now exempt from VAT in the United Kingdom when installed either new or retroactively in conjunction with rooftop solar systems. Previously, VAT relief was only available for domestic BESS if installed together with a new solar energy system. As of Feb. 1, a VAT zero rate will also apply to retrofitted residential BESS. The VAT relief also applies to BESS when…

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A solar battery allows you to store electricity for use when the sun goes down. Here’s our guide to the costs, and benefits, of solar batter Solar batteries store the electricity your solar panels produce, allowing you to use it to power your home after dark. By doing so, they make solar panels a much better investment. However, with solar battery costs averaging thousands of pounds, you’ll want to make sure that the benefits of installing a solar battery far outweigh the cost of doing so. In our opinion, solar…

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Share this article The industry average for solar panel efficiency is around 20%. Credit: StudioFI via Shutterstock. Oxford PV, a research branch of Oxford University in the UK, has set a new world record for the most efficient solar panel, the company announced on Wednesday. The company’s solar panel, produced in collaboration with Germany research institute the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, has achieved a record 25% conversion efficiency, compared with an industry average of around 20%. The company hopes that increasing the efficiency of solar panels will aid…

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Tata Power Renewable Energy has commissioned a 1.04 MW solar system for the Chengmari Tea Estate in India. The installation features 1,900 bifacial PV modules. February 1, 2024 Uma Gupta Image: Tata Power Renewable Energy From pv magazine India Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (TPREL), a unit of Tata Power, has commissioned a 1.04 MW bifacial solar system project for the Chengmari Tea Estate in India, near the border with Bhutan. The company said it’s the first-ever installation of on-ground bifacial modules in eastern India. Popular content The project features…

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US renewables company Altus Power has expanded its Northeast customer base with the acquisition of 84MW of commercial-scale solar energy systems from Vitol for around $118m (€109m). Altus Power, which owns a portfolio across 25 states, said the deal adds thousands of new long-term community solar, school district and other enterprise customers served by a mix of rooftop, ground and carport arrays across the Northeast, notably in New York, New Jersey and Maine. Altus Power develops, owns and operates locally-sited solar generation, energy storage and charging infrastructure across the US.    Gregg Felton,…

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Helioplant has developed a 7.2 kW vertical PV installation for high-altitude locations. The system purportedly remains free of snow, even after intense winter precipitation. February 1, 2024 Ralph Diermann From pv magazine Germany The Sölden ski lift company has deployed several vertical PV systems on the Tiefenbach glacier in the Ötztal Valley, Austria, at an altitude of 2,850 meters. The systems are based on cross structures. The modules are installed on them vertically, with total system output hitting 7.2 kW. The developer, Austria-based startup Helioplant, said this design allows the…

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The proposed algorithm is intended for harvesting the maximal power in PV systems operating in varying weather scenarios. According to its creators, the new approach can be applied on a low-cost microcontroller. February 1, 2024 Emiliano Bellini A Polish-Pakistani research team has developed a Coronavirus optimization (CVO) algorithm for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in PV systems operating under partial and complex shading conditions. The CVO algorithm mimics the behavior of persons who try to stay healthy and slow down the spread of COVID-19 by observing the containment protocols. It…

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POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY 01 Feb 2024 CW Team Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana (PSY) that aims to install rooftop solar power systems at 10 million households across the country. The PM posted on social media platforms that on the auspicious occasion of consecration in Ayodhya his resolution was further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar rooftop system on the roof of their houses. He said that the first decision he had taken after returning from Ayodhya is that…

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Capwatt has recently inked a contract with Sonae Arauco to provide renewable electricity through the installation of a photovoltaic plant at its industrial facility in Valladolid. The project entails the installation of over 13,000 photovoltaic panels, aimed at averting the emission of 2000 tons of CO2 annually. Additionally, it is set to secure 25% of the plant’s total electricity consumption. This collaboration underscores Capwatt’s dedication to assisting its industrial partners in implementing efficient and technically sound energy solutions. Such initiatives not only aid in emissions reduction but also enhance operational…

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