Residential solar panels are often sold with long-term loans or leases, with homeowners entering contracts of 20 years or more. But how long do panels last, and how resilient are they? Panel life depends on several factors, including climate, module type, and the racking system used, among others. While there isn’t a specific “end date” for a panel …
Chinese solar module manufacturer Longi plans to implement its back-contact solar cell technology in most of its panel production, as announced by the company’s chairman, Zhong Baoshen, during an investor meeting last week. “Longi has a very clear view that in the next five to six years, back-contact cells will be the mainstream of crystalline …
China Mono Grade, OPIS’ assessment for polysilicon in the country, extended gains for an eighth week, edging up 2.38% on-week to 75.50 CNY ($10.36)/kg. This market continues to contend with some short-term bullish factors. The increase in polysilicon production in August was still lower than expected, “mainly due to the shortage of electricity in summer,” …
China polysilicon prices rise for the eighth consecutive week Read More »
Scientists at the Polish Academy of Sciences have studied PV installations older than 15 years and observed a decrease in energy productivity ranging from 1.9% to 2.9% over a 16-year period. They conducted their tests on two rooftop PV systems in Sinsheim, a town in southwestern Germany. The first system, a 37.8 kW grid-connected array, consists of …
Researchers assess degradation in PV systems older than 15 years Read More »
A new report by GOGLA shows annual sales of solar energy kits (lanterns, multi-light systems, and solar home systems) globally reached 9.5 million units in 2022, with 5.2 million sold between July and December 2022. “This clearly shows that we have learned to value them as we go. We have also learned to value the …
Global sales of off-grid solar energy kits hit 9.5 million units in 2022 Read More »
A group of researchers from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) have published new research questioning recent efforts to increase investments in nuclear power, especially in the European Union and the United States – a political choice justified by the desire to decarbonize economies as …
New research shows renewables are more profitable than nuclear power Read More »
China Mono Grade, OPIS’ assessment for polysilicon price in the country, increased for a fifth week running, edging up 0.95% to CNY69.29 ($9.58)/kg. China’s polysilicon notches up toward the psychologically significant figure of CNY70/kg in a week that saw higher price quotes and lower-than-expected polysilicon output. The main reason for lower output is the expected …
The top 10 global solar inverter vendors accounted for 86% of the market in 2022, up 4% year on year from 2021, according to a new study by Wood Mackenzie. The market grew 48% year over year, due to easing supply chain challenges and strong government support, as seen in the United States with the …
Top 5 solar inverter suppliers accounted for 71% of shipments in 2022 Read More »
The South African National Treasury has launched the Energy Bounce Back (EBB) Loan Guarantee Scheme. The initiative aims to support the deployment of commercial and industrial PV systems. Businesses will be granted solar-related loans, backed by a 20% first-loss guarantee from the South African Reserve Bank. “The EBB aims to generate 1,000 MW in additional …
South Africa launches loan guarantee scheme to back C&I solar Read More »
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has presented a new plan to the National Council for Ecological Transition (CNTE), outlining revised renewable energy and solar deployment targets for 2030. The plan includes an increase in the energy transition budget from €30 billion ($32.8 billion) to €37 billion. The updated targets specified in the plan aim for …
France aims for 48.1 GW of solar by 2030, 140 GW by 2050 Read More »
