Solar ... In the news

Martyn1981

Yet another battery product, but a new one on me, lead crystal!

The spiel all sounds good (as it always does), no idea on prices.

Dutch Hybrid alternative for the Tesla PowerWall

The official launch of Hybrid

Hybrid Energy

Mart.

Martyn1981

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Normal poly panels reaching 19.5% efficiency. That's 300Wp from a standard size panel.

Hanwha Q Cells sets 19.5% efficiency record for standard 301W multicrystalline module


Mart.

The only way is up, so what can mono's do?

Trina Solar hits 21.1% efficiency for mono PERC cells produced in industrial conditions

The Chinese solar module producer says it has achieved 21.1% average efficiency for P-type monocrystalline PERC cells produced in industrial standard conditions.

Trina Solar, the Chinese Tier-1 solar company, has announced this week that it has achieved a new record efficiency for PERC solar cells.

The company says that it has reached 21.1% average efficiency for its P-type monocrystalline cells with passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology, produced in standard industrial conditions on a cell measuring 156 x 156 mm2 and reaching an output power of 300 watts (W).

However, at this stage the efficiency has only been tested by Trina itself, and thus far have not been independently verified by a third-party testing lab.

Mart.

Martyn1981

European solar industry puts forward case to end trade measures on Chinese PV

SolarPower Europe appears to be the driving force behind a letter, signed by 34 European solar and renewable energy organizations, calling on the EU to immediately remove the trade measures that exist against imports of Chinese PV modules and cells.

The 34 organizations come from all across the continent, representing a staggering 1.3 million European jobs and more than 120,000 companies. It is a bold letter that calls for the minimum import price (MIP), and the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Chinese PV imports to be dropped.

The EU adopted the trade measures in December 2013, with the goal of protecting the solar sector in Europe. However, these organizations now believe that they are counterproductive, and actually have a negative impact on the solar industry in Europe, along the whole value chain.

Mart.

zeupater

Martyn1981 wrote: »

The only way is up, so what can mono's do?

Trina Solar hits 21.1% efficiency for mono PERC cells produced in industrial conditions



Mart.

Hi

Although the news is excellent, don't lose sight of the fact that it's panel efficiency that most people are interested in and that measure, for obvious reasons, rarely equates to the results for individual cells ...

HTH
Z

zeupater

Martyn1981 wrote: »

European solar industry puts forward case to end trade measures on Chinese PV

Mart.

Hi

So, someone's finally realised that measures introduced as a result of sponsored lobbying to protect European panel manufacturers has actually had a disproportionately negative impact on downstream business .... who'd have thought it ?? ...

HTH
Z

Martyn1981

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

Although the news is excellent, don't lose sight of the fact that it's panel efficiency that most people are interested in and that measure, for obvious reasons, rarely equates to the results for individual cells ...

HTH
Z

Hi Z. Totally agree with what you say, but my reading of this article (rather than lab based cell stories) is that it's as good as panel efficiency due to a few lines:-

The company says that it has reached 21.1% average efficiency for its P-type monocrystalline cells with passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology, produced in standard industrial conditions on a cell measuring 156 x 156 mm2 and reaching an output power of 300 watts (W).

The 300W figure would suggest a panel, though I admit that if 1.6m by 1m then I'd have thought it should be 340W(ish), based on a 285Wp panel being ~17.5%. But I'm overthinking it now and it may just be down to the way the article has been written. And:-

According to Trina, the P-type mono PERC cell was produced on a large-size industrial boron-doped Cz-Si substrate at the company’s golden pilot production line in China using "standard industrial production materials and processes". It is this transition from laboratory to mass production technology that has been the Holy Grail for cell developers.

I have to admit that I was wrong (going back a few years) in my belief that standard panel efficiencies would increase at a slower rate than this. But sometimes it's nice to be wrong. Very, very nice!

Mart.

Martyn1981

Solar becoming irreversible mainstream energy sources, says Frost & Sullivan

The analysts point to technological efficiency improvements, cost reduction and leading nations' readiness to adopt solar as reasons behind irreversible surge to the mainstream.

The world will be increasingly powered by solar PV as the technology becomes more affordable, efficient and mainstream, say analysts from Frost & Sullivan.

The Frost & Sullivan report released prior to an analyst briefing to be held next week suggests that the Asia Pacific countries of China, India and Japan will account for more than 80% of all solar installations over the coming years, growing to account for 64.1% of all installed solar PV capacity by 2020.

The analysts pointed to regulatory support in these countries as the chief driving factor behind solar’s projected adoption rates, citing "pro-solar incentives and the pledges made at the COP 21 summit" as the surety for exponential growth over the coming five years.

"China and Japan will continue to lead the region with compelling FIT rates and capacity-based rebate programs," said the report. Demand for solar in Latin America and Africa will be driven by investments in grid infrastructure, Frost & Sullivan say, as governments spend big on securing their energy supply.

Mart.

Martyn1981

A few items for anyone interested in storage developments and directions in the US - given that this may lead to future deployment in the UK.


Support for storage via investment tax credits:

Solar-style ITC for energy storage under new US Bill


Ever more parts of the US reaching viability:

US: Commercial storage to be economically attractive in 19 states by 2021, finds GTM report


Just some batt numbers, costs and info, for anyone wondering:

Sonnen readies commercial 30kWh storage solution

Mart.

michaels

I still think stand alone storage costs are crazy high compared to what the same technology costs in electric cars.

Cardew

michaels wrote: »

I still think stand alone storage costs are crazy high compared to what the same technology costs in electric cars.

A Nissan Leaf has a 24kWh battery that can be leased from £70 a month.

Is that cheap?