TOPCon vs PERC
TOPCon solar cells are on their way to fully compete with PERC solar products, according to recent research from Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE. Efficiency gains for the TOPCon concept, however, are necessary to help it capture more market share, as production costs remain higher than those for PERC tech. A series of cost-driven strategies to make TOPCon modules advance were outlined in the study.
Fluence, ReNew to set up energy storage joint venture
The Fluence and ReNew Power joint venture will serve a diversified customer base in India by localizing and integrating Fluence’s energy storage products and packages for the local market. ReNew will become its first customer by procuring a 150 MWh battery-based energy storage system for its 300 MW peak power project in Karnataka.
Jakson appoints Vikram Solar’s Muvvala as EPC chief
Venkataramana Muvvala, who worked with Vikram Solar as business head-EPC, has joined Jakson Group as chief operating officer for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) business.
REIL seeks 200,000 silicon solar cells
Bids are invited from Indian manufacturers to supply five-busbar mono-/multi-crystalline silicon solar cells rated for minimum of 4.62 watts. Bidding closes on January 27.
Floating PV could reach 4.8 GW globally by 2026
Global Industry Analysts has predicted the rapid rise of floatovoltaics, a market that is expected to serve areas with land-use concerns.
Discover Battery unveils lithium ferro-phosphate battery for off-grid solar, tiny homes
At Intersolar North America in California, Canada-based Discover Battery has launched the Helios energy storage system, an LFP battery designed to operate in remote conditions.
Ohmium partners IIT Madras on PEM electrolyzer R&D
The USA-headquartered green hydrogen generator developer has entered into an R&D partnership with IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP) to improve the performance and lower the cost of its polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers.
NTPC invites bids to build 900MW of solar parks in Cuba
The state-owned power company, a partner of the International Solar Alliance, will help the Cuban government with developer selection and the signing of project agreements and will oversee solar plant implementation up to commissioning.
Spraying water system for solar module cooling
A British-Indian research group has developed an active cooling technique that is claimed to improve a PV system’s yield by around 0.5%. The system could be used in residential solar arrays and the water heated by the PV modules may be fed into a solar water heating system.
NTPC arm tenders 3.5 MW (AC) solar at four airports
The solar plants are to be set upon the land available at four airport sites in the States of Delhi (2 MW), Madhya Pradesh (0.5 MW+0.5 MW), and Rajasthan (0.5 MW) under net metering.
