Smart sticker for smart solar modules
The sticker is based on a blockchain technology developed by German start-up Authentic Network. Meyer Burger uses the application for the photovoltaic modules it produces in its new factory that opened in Freiberg at the end of May.
A repair tape for cracked backsheets
Backsheet failures have plagued the industry, causing hefty financial burdens to many asset owners. DuPont has launched a product it says allows for easy repair of modules.
Longi achieves 25.21% efficiency for TOPCon solar cell
The Chinese module manufacturer said the result was confirmed by the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin, Germany.
The long read: PV project owners – Drones or measurements?
Solar PV project owners need to make choices in terms of plant monitoring equipment. That can be electrical metrology equipment, but could also include new approaches such as using drones and machine-learning algorithms, or both.
Nano-micro-scale cooler for solar modules
The proposed technique is based on radiative cooling and consists of a glass coating made with a two-dimensional subwavelength nanostructured grating, which is imprinted in soda-lime glass and has enhanced mid-infrared emissivity, and a micro-structured grating. The temperature decrease provided by the nano-micro-grating coating was found to be approximately up to 5.8 degrees Celsius.
IHSM clean energy insights: High module prices and shipping costs jeopardize 2021 installation outlook
In the first installment of a new monthly blog by IHS Markit, Edurne Zoco, executive director for clean energy technology, writes that high prices and increased freight costs are putting solar PV procurement teams under extreme pressure, particularly those teams with connection deadlines this year that were anticipating a more favorable pricing and logistic environment in the second half of 2021.
Adhesive mounting system for any kind of solar modules
The system, developed by Spanish specialist Alusín Solar, is being tested by Endesa in a 9.8 MW project for self-consumption. The mounting structure is made with aluminum bars that, instead of being fixed to the roof with screws, are attached through a double-sided adhesive.
Photovoltaic roof for highways
Researchers from Germany and Austria are testing how photovoltaic roofs may be deployed along highways. The first pilot project is planned to be implemented starting from the autumn.
The long read: Too big to handle
There has been a flurry of activity within the PV cell manufacturer landscape over the past 12 to 18 months, and it’s largely been in one direction: bigger. But as large-format modules arrive on the market, questions are being raised as to how long the trend can continue and when bigger becomes, quite simply, too big.
Solar 101: How to evaluate solar contractors for rooftop projects
A well-designed rooftop solar system should last 20 or 30 years, or longer. This guide for choosing the right contractor should help ease your concerns.
