The annual US-based Solar Power International (SPI) exhibition and conference historically generates a significant number of new product launches and can set new trends and directions for the downstream solar PV sector, globally. High-efficiency modules and high-voltage were the themes of new products announced at SPI on the second day.
Community solar is emerging as a promising new source of demand in the US, opening up access to solar among previously excluded groups. John Parnell reports on the prospects for a new market segment whose time seems to have come.
2017 could be the breakthrough year for 1500V PV project architecture as developers look to fulfil aggressively priced power power purchase (PPA) agreements.
Ampt LLC, a power conversion technology provider, announced that it has deployed its DC optimisers for a 33MW PV project with Canadian Solar. The project utilises Ampt’s DC String Optimisers in one of the largest deployments of DC power optimisers in the world.
GE Power Conversion is introducing Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology into its next-generation 1500V PV inverter product line, bringing increased power conversion efficiency to the PV industry. The LV5+ Solar Inverter is the first multi-MW, utility scale inverter based completely on SiC technology and has an efficiency rating of 99% weighted EU and is being showcased at Solar Power International 2016.
Florida-headquartered solar EPC firm TerraSmart has launched a fully autonomous robot that can perform survey stake-out functions for the US solar industry using NASA space rover technology.
Enel Green Power Brasil Participações (EGPB), a subsidiary of Italian power firm Enel, has started construction of a 103MW solar plant in the State of Bahia, Brazil.
The average severity of insurance claims from the solar PV industry has increased by 87% over the past five years often as a result of extreme weather, according to new research from renewables insurance specialist GCube Underwriting.
Independent power producer Etrion Corporation said it was evaluating the possible sale of its 60MW PV power plant portfolio in Italy to raise funds to expand project development in Japan.
Hybrid amorphous Si thin-film module producer Sunpreme said had completed deployment of 12.8MW utility-scale project in the Eastern region of the US, using its bifacial double glass GxB370W panels, with 21.5% cell efficiency.
