Highlights

Scientists from Australia’s national science agency and the electricity research and development arm of Google have developed a new ‘smart’ inverter they claim is almost twice as fast and about 50% more efficient than existing commercial inverters.

The Saudi research institute said its new four-terminal tandem device has achieved the highest efficiency ever reported for perovskite-based 4-T and triple-junction tandem solar cells to date. The key feature of the cell is the hole transport layer of the top perovskite cell, which was engineered with self-assembled monolayers.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

At SNEC 2024 in Shanghai, pv magazine spoke with Puzant Baliozian, lead consultant of sector group photovoltaic equipment for Germany’s Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (VDMA). He says tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology will dominate the solar market in the next 10 years and expects module manufacturers will compete to develop more creative product designs. He also believes that copper metallization will gain market share in heterojunction (HJT) module production in the next years. “In the upcoming decade, we will have less than mg/W of silver being used for both TOPCon and HJT technologies,” he stated.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released guidelines for the second round of incentives for green hydrogen production under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme.

The solar industry stands at a critical juncture. Oversupply, regulatory hurdles, and technological advancements are all reshaping the landscape. Manufacturers must adapt swiftly, balancing production with demand while navigating the complexities of global trade.

Also, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd has invited bids to set up a green hydrogen production plant on build-own-operate basis and supply 10 ktpa of green hydrogen (GH2) to its refinery on a continuous basis.

The Portugal-based company has developed a metal oxides removal agent product for PV installations located near foundries, steelworks and metal ore mines.

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has imposed a 10% import tariff on solar panels to protect local manufacturers, attract investment, and deepen the value chain. The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association has questioned the lack of formal industry engagement, calling the timing “not ideal.”

The ratings upgrade takes into account Tata Power’s healthy operating and financial performance driven by the diversified business profile, superior operating efficiencies, and long-term offtake agreements for the generating portfolio.