First Solar has entered into a framework agreement with a subsidiary of Silicon Ranch, one of the US’ leading solar project developers, to supply 230MW worth of modules for future projects.
Gantner Instruments has launched a new solution for monitoring PV power plants at the string level. The ‘string.bloxx All-in-one’ system recognises design and production errors with high resolution down to the PV module level.
A new technical study that is more detailed and extensive than previously achieved, the US Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has significantly increased the potential for US building rooftops to generate electricity from solar PV (photovoltaics) systems.
Renusol is introducing its new ballasted flat-roof mounting system FS10-S and FS18-S for mounting south-facing photovoltaic panels. It requires few components and uses especially short rails, making the system price-efficient and quick to install. As it has little surface area exposed to the wind and is equipped with wind deflectors, minimal ballasting is required, making the new mounting system especially suited for commercial and agricultural buildings with lightweight roofs.
SunPower has launched its ‘Equinox’ solar PV system to the US residential market that is claimed to be the first solution in the country in which every major component has been designed and engineered by one company to work seamlessly together, delivering the highest power, long-term performance and aesthetic appeal. With a typical SunPower Equinox installation, only the solar panels and a Smart Energy management device are visible, reflecting SunPower's minimalist architectural approach at the system level.
PV manufacturing capacity expansions planned this year are expected to push production levels beyond anticipated demand in 2016, creating further cost pressures for suppliers.
In common with every other PV market in the world as it matures, attaining grid parity for the technology is the ultimate goal for Japan. As an electricity market in general, meeting electrical supply with demand will of course become ever-more important.
Last month Israeli inverter manufacturer SolarEdge revealed it had sold its 10 millionth power optimiser. With half of those shipped in 2015, there appears to have been a discernible change in attitudes recently toward module-level power technologies. SolarEdge’s Lior Handelsman explains why.
Australia’s second largest PV plant, the 56MW Moree Solar Farm in Northern New South Wales, developed by Spanish firm Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), has started feeding power to the grid.
Lichtblick, a retailer of ‘green electricity and green gas’ headquartered in Germany, is looking to take its concept for integrating multiple distributed generation sources into a single network into international markets.
