Manufacturing

Researchers at the American Institute of Physics have used the clear-sky irradiance model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to measure the degradation rates of solar panels at a testing field in Germany over five years. The scientists say the model, when combined with real-world data, offers an efficient tool to evaluate the aging of PV technology.

The joint venture between Japanese majors Toshiba, Denso and Suzuki will make the investment in the Gujarat plant over the 2021-25 period, having pumped Rs12.5 billion into the first phase of development.

pv magazine recently attended the opening ceremony of TBEA’s GW-class new energy equipment manufacturing base in Bangalore–the city that also hosted the recent Intersolar India exhibition and conference in the same week as TBEA’s inauguration ceremony.

Only Indian manufacturers are eligible to bid for supply of 4.5W, 4.6W and 4.67W multicrystalline silicon solar cells. Quantities to be supplied are 500,000, 500,000 and 300,000, respectively. Bidding closes on January 6.

The government’s KUSUM scheme helps farmers install standalone solar pumps with a capacity of up to 7.5 hp. There is also support to make grid connected pumps of the same size solar powered. A PV capacity of up to twice the pump capacity in kW is allowed under the scheme.

The university researchers will provide expertise in the operation and management of lithium-ion batteries, environmental test facilities for battery modules and advanced battery analysis techniques.

California-based SimpliPhi Power, which designs and manufactures lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) energy storage systems, has brought off-grid power to everything from the giant moon on Conan O’Brien’s talk show set to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, to rooftops for Whole Foods and Airbnb. As the company prepares to enter into India, CEO and President Catherine Von Burg tells pv magazine why their LFP technology is best suited for India and their plans for the country.

The NYSE-listed developer will set up a 500 MW cell and module production line as its manufacturing commitment under the SECI tender. The tender aimed to secure 2 GW of new annual manufacturing capacity by offering 7 GW of power project permits. Azure has an agreement with an Indian solar panel manufacturer to jointly establish the new production facilities with the developer holding a majority stake in the enterprise.

Electric vehicle (EV) battery market will grow annually at 30%, growing almost six times to 28 GWh from 4.75 GWh in 2018. The EV infrastructure will grow at double the pace (60% annually), reaching 50,000 units from less than a thousand in 2018.

Bids are invited for supply of 5-busbar cells with an efficiency of minimum 19.4%. A total of one million quantities are to be supplied. Bidding closes on December 26.