Canadian Solar is introducing a 72-cell, 1500V ‘Diamond’ CS6X-P-FG PV module with heat-strengthened double glass configuration for commercial and utility-scale applications and is designed for high voltage systems of up to 1500 VDC, saving BOS costs.
Valentin Software will launch the next generation of its design software PV*SOL premium at the end of 2015. New features are designed to make the process of designing a PV system easier and faster. The shading analysis of roof and ground-mounted systems in 3D mode remains the central feature as it calculates how often the modules are covered by shade, and how this affects the system yield, presenting the results graphically. All shading objects can be freely selected and placed anywhere on the ground or building.
The former VP of Solar Grid Storage has predicted average Balance of Systems (BoS) costs for energy storage will drop from around US$670 to less than US$400 per kilowatt in the next five years.
Spain-based firm Soltec Energías Renovables has begun manufacturing its SF utility tracker controllers in its plant located in Bahia, Brazil, and the firm has made some design changes for the Brazilian version of the controllers.
PV energy provider United Photovoltaics Group, part of China Merchants Group (CMG), has secured a deal to build a 100MW CPV power plant in Shanxi Province, China.
Solar tracker manufacturer NEXTracker has said it is expanding its manufacturing presence in Brazil to capitalise on the expected PV project boom in the Latin American country.
US installer Sunrun is to trial a new automated solar permitting system as part of a range of cost-cutting projects funded by the Department of Energy.
Ampt said that its patented String Optimizers are being deployed in 600 volt photovoltaic (PV) solar systems at installed costs in cents per watt that rival that of 1000 volt systems. Ampt String Optimizers are designed to allow the use of 1000 volt inverters that are claimed to lower inverter cost by 40% and also reduce DC BOS costs by 50%.
