Manufacturing

Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd will supply 152 MWp of bifacial mono-PERC modules built with in-house developed cells for NTPC’s Nokh PV Park in Rajasthan.

Power Panel has developed a portable PV device to support humanitarian needs and off-grid living.

Currently, the cost of battery-based energy storage in India is INR 10.18/kWh, as discovered in a SECI auction for 500 MW/1000 MWh BESS. The government has launched viability gap funding and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to make battery storage affordable.

Fourth Power, backed by Bill Gates’ venture firm, has developed high-density thermal energy storage based on thermophotovoltaic cells. The tech, which is reportedly 10 times cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, is based on the U.S. company’s patented liquid metal heat transfer system.

Large-scale solar projects in India are facing delays of at least two-three months. The primary reason is Indian companies’ dependency on Chinese products and equipment, which may result in shipping delays and cost fluctuations. But, many companies in India have their solar module stocks already ready and can provide their products at the same price as Chinese brands, Tanmoy Duari, CEO, AXITEC Energy India, tells pv magazine.

Scientists in Australia have combined Monte Carlo Ray Trace (MCRT) techniques and electrical modeling to assess the potential energy gains of bifacial rooftop PV systems compared to monofacial arrays. They found that rooftop reflectivity is a key factor in increasing a bifacial PV system performance, and that system and module design should also be carefully considered.

PI Berlin has developed a new tool to detect problems in inverters such as defective printed circuit boards, faulty switching algorithms, and deficiencies in components and sensors.

Hindalco will invest INR 800 crore to build a new battery foil manufacturing plant near Sambalpur in Odisha. The facility will initially produce 25,000 tonnes of the foils for Lithium-ion and Sodium-ion battery cells.

To understand better the long-term effects of humidity on durability of glass-glass modules, Austrian researchers carried out lengthy damp-heat tests on double glass modules made with EVA and POE encapsulants. They identified several POE advantages, such as improved interfacial strength and less water uptake, among others.

Solhyd, a KU Leuven spinoff, is refining its technology to reach megawatt-scale production of hydrogen-producing solar panels with a €6 million ($6.5 million) investment from a consortium of Flemish investors.