Residential PV

India added about 6.5 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity in the Jan.-Dec. period of 2023. Capacity addition from rooftop installations was 3 GW. Around 500 MW was installed in the off-grid/distributed solar segment.

The temple town of Ayodhya’s 40 MW solar plant will become fully operational by March 2024. In rooftop PV, a total capacity of 1,073 kW has been established on residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in the city. Solar-powered boats, water kiosks, and streetlights showcase Ayodhya’s dedication to harnessing solar energy across diverse sectors.

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Fraunhoer IWU) has developed a new online tool to calculate the size of rooftop solar arrays, heat pumps and batteries.

Fly Solartech Solutions Srl’s new 60-cell modules have a power conversion efficiency of 17.87% and a temperature coefficient of -0.27% per degree Celsius. The company offers the panels with 300 W, CEI-021-certified microinverters featuring 96.5% peak efficiency.

Researchers from Australia have created a model to optimize the interaction between vehicle-to-home (V2H) systems and residential PV connected to battery storage. They claim V2H can help reduce the cost of energy by 16.7% for workplace charging and 25% for public charging.

The Indian solar PV sector is experiencing transformative trends, driven by a combination of technological advancements, government support, and a growing awareness of the need for sustainable energy sources. The rapid expansion of solar capacity, coupled with innovations such as floating solar farms and green hydrogen production, paints a promising picture for the future of renewable energy in India.

The Indian government has demonstrated a robust commitment to advancing solar energy by implementing various strategic initiatives.

A global research group has designed a novel PV module cooling system based on multiple cooling sources. The proposed system was able to reduce a PV system temperature by up to 16.7 C and increase power output by over 9%.

RK Singh, union minister for power and new & renewable energy, stated recently that the dependence on coal-based generation is likely to continue till cost-effective energy storage solutions are available.

Enphase has released 208 V three-phase inverters for the small commercial market. The advancing hardware comes with a specialized support team and tailored design tools.