The downstream solar PV market continues to evolve and as such so does the inverter. At Solar Power International 2017 in Las Vegas the continued roll-out of new products continues as the markets expand for energy storage and larger capacity commercial and residential rooftop systems.
Updated: With the solar industry transitioning to high-performance products backed with innovation, Solar Power International 2017 in Las Vegas is showcasing an ever increasing portfolio of solar modules exceeding 300 watts in the standard 60-cell format. However, 72-cell modules exceeding 360 watts are also entering the mainstream and 400 watts is just around the corner.
Driving the high-performance wave is PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell), bifacial and the migration to 5 busbars and beyond, whether with multicrystalline or monocrystalline wafers. The growing use of half-cut and multi-cut cells that reduce cell to module losses, boosting overall performance are also becoming mainstream as well as heterojunction (HJ) modules.
JinkoSolar subsidiary JinkoSolar Canada will supply approximately 17MW of its mono PERC solar modules to a PV project in Brooks, Alberta, Canada, owned by Vancouver-based renewable energy developer, investor, and operator, Elemental Energy.
The European Commission has approved replacing the current Minimum Import Price (MIP) for module imports from China with a new reduced price on a sliding scale mechanism, despite receiving almost negligible support from member states.
With several MENA region countries expected to become gigawatt solar markets in 2018 and beyond, global certification organization UL has teamed with Saudi Arabian-based government body, GCC Laboratories to provide a suite of services to the downstream PV project sector.
Canada-based Investment firm Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure (CC&L Infrastructure) and developer CarbonFree Technology have agreed to acquire 15 ground-mount solar PV projects currently under construction in Chile with a combined capacity of 65MW from an unnamed developer.
Arctech has made its US debut with the installation of 6MW worth of tracking projects in Georgia, Engie partners CEC in Massachusetts, ET Energy and Vivint Corporation form a joint venture.
Nebraska-based renewable energy company Tenaska announced Tuesday that it has closed a refinancing deal on its 150MW Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center West PV project through an issuance of US$400 million of senior secured, long-term notes.
