New research from the University of New South Wales highlights the significant impact of UV radiation on PV module degradation, with tropical and desert regions facing the highest stress. The study emphasizes the need for climate-specific testing and system design to accurately assess reliability. The researchers developed a global UV irradiance model that shows varying degradation rates based on deployment location and system design. Single-axis tracking systems in high-irradiance regions can experience up to 1.5 times more UV radiation and higher degradation rates compared to fixed-tilt installations. The study underscores the importance of considering UV exposure, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric conditions in assessing PV module performance. The article discusses the impact of UV-induced degradation on photovoltaic systems in arid and tropical climates, with rates reaching about 0.25-0.35% per year. A high-precision model to estimate UV radiation in PV systems was presented in the paper "Closing the UV-Induced Photodegradation Gap Through Global Scale Modeling of Fixed Tilt and Tracking Photovoltaic Systems." The study aims to connect fundamental degradation mechanisms with system-level impacts, combining accelerated testing with modeling to quantify energy yield losses in diverse climates and system designs. This research is part of a broader effort to understand how degradation affects real-world energy production in photovoltaic systems.
Category: Electricity & Industry
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Shift Production
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Major oil producers among 46 nations joining fossil fuel phase-out summit
Forty-six countries, including major oil, coal, and gas producers such as Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Norway, will attend a conference in Santa Marta to accelerate the global shift from fossil fuels. The summit aims to create an international coalition committed to ending reliance on oil, coal, and natural gas, with a focus on prioritizing science and phasing out fossil fuel production and consumption. Notably absent are the United States and Saudi Arabia, while vulnerable nations like Palau and Sierra Leone are in attendance. The outcomes of the conference will inform discussions at COP31 and provide a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, with campaigners seeing it as an opportunity to showcase credible transitions and build momentum for global action. Colombia views the current global energy shock as a chance to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
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Grid batteries reach stunning new peak of 44 pct of evening demand in world’s fourth biggest economy
California and Australia are experiencing significant growth in grid-scale battery storage, with California reaching a new peak of 44% of evening demand and Australia's South Australia reaching 30%. The rapid rollout of battery storage in California over the last five years has allowed for a reduction in reliance on gas and the ability to supply a significant share of demand throughout the evening. With a total capacity of over 17 GW in California, grid-scale batteries are proving to be a key solution in transitioning towards a more sustainable energy system.
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The US Is Sitting On 161 Gigawatts Of Wind Farm Capacity
Repowering older wind farms in the US with new, more efficient turbines could add an additional 161 gigawatts in capacity without requiring additional land. This process involves replacing outdated equipment with new rotors, blades, and taller turbine towers to increase capacity, reduce operating expenses, neighbor complaints, and wildlife impacts, while freeing up land for other purposes. Wind repowering is highlighted as a key strategy to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy in the United States, with the potential to more than double the capacity of existing wind farms by 2024. The importance of repowering projects in addressing societal factors, regulation, and development principles is noted, emphasizing the need for a negotiated process between communities and developers to unlock the full potential of wind energy. Trump's policies are mentioned but wind energy continues to grow and play a key role in the nation's energy mix, with utility-scale solar and storage leading the way in capacity additions for 2026.
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Peak load tipped to double as industries flock to Australia’s world-first 100 pct renewables grid
South Australia is experiencing a surge in electricity demand due to the growth of industries attracted by its high level of renewables. With around 75% of its electricity already sourced from wind and solar, the state aims to achieve 100% "net" renewables by next year. To support this expansion and accommodate increased load from industries like mining and data centers, ElectraNet predicts the need for new transmission lines. Projects such as the south-east transmission line and the proposed Northern Transmission project are crucial in connecting new generation and storage to existing customer demand, supporting electrification, and facilitating industrial expansion. Giles Parkinson emphasizes the importance of these initiatives in enabling clean energy growth in South Australia.
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Matrix and EDF optimise 500MW BESS in Scotland
Matrix Renewables has signed an agreement with EDF for a 500MW/1GWh battery energy storage system in Eccles, Scotland to enhance the UK electricity system by providing flexibility and supporting grid operations. The project will capture surplus renewable energy and release it during peak demand, helping integrate more renewables into the national grid. EDF will manage the battery's performance across UK power markets. The project aligns with Matrix Renewables' goals to support the UK's transition to a cleaner power system and contribute to Clean Power 2035 and Net Zero 2050 targets. The Eccles facility will play a crucial role in bolstering grid resilience and facilitating efficient electricity distribution.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/matrix-edf-optimise-500mw-bess-scotland/
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Solar For The Win! Energy From The Sun Is Setting Records Worldwide
Solar energy has the potential to meet the world's entire energy demand by covering less than 1% of the Earth's surface with solar panels, providing free fuel once installed. The growth of solar energy worldwide could meet over 20% of the world's energy demand by 2030, with countries like China, the European Union, the US, and others making significant strides in solar energy capacity. Solar energy costs are decreasing, making it the cheapest form of electricity in many regions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. A successful solar project in San Diego showcased the financial savings and sustainability benefits of solar power, highlighting its potential to promote growth and support climate solutions.
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Tongwei moves into hybrid heterojunction back contact solar cell technology
Tongwei has partnered with GS-Solar and Golden Solar to establish a large-scale manufacturing facility for hybrid heterojunction back-contact (HBC) solar cells, focusing on technology development, manufacturing, and process optimization. The hybrid HBC technology aims to achieve high efficiency at lower production costs, streamlining processing. This collaboration could expedite the shift from laboratory-scale research to industrial production, broadening Tongwei's solar technology offerings. GS-Solar, positioning itself as a technology and equipment provider for hybrid HBC commercialization, has engaged in similar partnerships previously.
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An Update On Electric Vehicle Batteries And Innovations In The Sector
The Republican-controlled US Congress rescinded a $7,500 federal EV tax credit, causing an initial drop in EV sales, but the US/Israel war against Iran has reignited demand for electric vehicles. Innovations in the EV battery sector, such as BYD's cell-to-body architecture, are driving rising consumer interest in EVs. Forecasts predict plummeting battery prices will make battery EVs cheaper than traditional vehicles in Europe within two to four years. Automakers are shifting to LFP batteries to avoid supply chain complexities and improve performance, while research is ongoing for massless and solid-state EV batteries. There is a growing market for used EV batteries to be repurposed for energy storage, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for new mining of key minerals. Recycling EV batteries is crucial for a sustainable transportation system, with a focus on high mineral recovery rates and low environmental impact. Misinformation about EVs can hinder the transition to electric mobility, but advancements in battery technology and management systems are improving the longevity and performance of EV batteries. Real-world driving habits can significantly impact the lifespan of EV batteries, with proper use potentially extending their longevity by about a third. Researchers have found that actual driving situations can help extend the life of electric vehicle batteries, such as frequent acceleration, braking, and letting the batteries rest for hours at a time. Charging the vehicle with a low to medium charge level for long parking periods also decreases battery aging rates. The US Department of Energy is focusing on a Made-in-the-USA solution called DLE (Direct Lithium Extraction) using geothermal brine. In July 2023, the agency awarded funds to 10 innovators in the DLE field, including EnergyX, with a $5 million award.
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Industry 4.0 technologies raise cyber risks for smart renewables grids
An international research team has developed a novel AI-enhanced intrusion detection system (MSIDS) to detect and mitigate cyber threats in smart renewable energy grids. The system outperforms traditional intrusion detection models by achieving high accuracy, precision, and recall rates, while maintaining a low false positive rate. It utilizes supervised and unsupervised learning for threat detection, addressing known and unknown attacks, and features a multi-layer architecture with automated feature extraction and decision fusion. MSIDS's ability to provide low-latency detection allows for swift response to potential threats, ensuring uninterrupted energy distribution and enhancing decentralized security within the grid when deployed on edge computing nodes and smart meters.