Copper is the new silver lining
As the PV industry scales to annual terawatt-level production to rapidly curtail the world’s emissions, it will become more challenging to continue the cost reduction trajectory. Increasing module production from current levels of 200 GW to 300 GW to several terawatts each year will consume significantly more material resources than the industry currently uses. This will require consideration of the additional materials to be sourced, writes Alison Lennon, chief scientist at Sundrive Solar and professor at the UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering.
Hartek Solar to build 2 MW floating solar plant
Chandigarh-based Hartek Solar has secured an order to construct a 2 MW floating solar plant at a water reservoir in Chandigarh that supplies water to the entire Chandigarh city.
Contendre Solar unveils 550 W half-cut mono PERC module
Maharashtra-based Contendre Solar has unveiled CG X 144 series mono PERC modules in power outputs ranging from 535 W to 550 W, with power conversion efficiency between 20.7% and 21.3%.
India installed 2,520 MW of rooftop solar in the twelve months ending June
The nation added 2,520 MW of rooftop solar in the twelve months ending June 30, 2022, taking the cumulative rooftop installations to 10,221 MW.
Fraunhofer ISE develops direct metallization tech for heterojunction solar cells
Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE is applying its FlexTrail-printing technology to the direct metallization of silicon heterojunction solar cells. It said the technique reduces the use of silver, while maintaining high efficiency levels.
Zinc-cerium redox flow battery for renewable energy storage
Scientists in Hong Kong have designed a redox flow battery with electrolytes made of zinc and cerium. They claim to have solved the incompatibility issue posed by these two elements. The device achieved a record average Coulombic efficiency of 94% during cycling.
The long read: State-of-the-art assessment of batteries
Batteries are set to drive the energy and mobility transitions. Worryingly, when they degrade early or excessively – particularly because of misuse – it can be costly. Claudius Jehle, the CEO of volytica, explains how a better understanding of batteries can prevent expensive mistakes.
Erisha E Mobility launches EVs and EV charging stations, eyes battery manufacturing
The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has launched electric cargo and passenger vehicles in the L5 category, along with EV charging stations. It also plans gigawatt-scale production of EV batteries soon.
Metastable Materials commissions chemical-free recycling unit for dead lithium batteries
The Indian startup has opened a lithium battery recycling unit in Bengaluru that deploys a chemical-free process for metal extraction. The facility has the capacity to process 1,500 tonnes of dead batteries per year.
Refex allots 1.1 million shares to SunEdison for $1.75 million
The company’s Board of Directors has approved the allotment of preferential shares to SunEdison for INR 14.4 crore ($1.75 million).
