All posts tagged: solar energy

Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025: Guaranteeing future growth

Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025: Guaranteeing future growth

Published by skeptic

Solar Power Europe shares insights from its Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025, which focused on improving solar project quality, battery storage, artificial intelligence, and skills development. From 18-19 February, members of the Operation and Maintenance (O&M), Asset Management, and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) communities attended SolarPower Europe’s annual Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025 event, co-organised with Intersolar. The event aims to advance the long-term quality of Europe’s solar projects. Key insights from day one SolarPower Europe’s CEO Walburga Hemetsberger opened the conference with Markus Elsaesser, CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, highlighting how; “Solar is not only just a solution to climate change but a solution that Europe needs for competitiveness and security at large… Delivering on our climate targets means committing to quality assurance.” © Joan GosaWalburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe opening Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025 Following this, SolarPower Europe’s Project Officer Nikoletta Fodor moderated a panel session to unveil the costs of quality for solar PV. During the discussion, Kate Blades, Head of Quality at Lightsource bp, outlined how; “Prevention is …

Register now for Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025

Register now for Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025

Published by skeptic

Innovation News Network is delighted to be a media partner for the Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025, held in Barcelona from February 18-19. The solar sector has experienced remarkable growth in the past year, and this trend is expected to persist. However, to sustain this extraordinary growth, it is imperative to actively involve key stakeholders in ensuring quality assurance. It is crucial that all relevant parties understand the vital role quality assurance plays in the effective and efficient operation of PV installations. The Solar Quality Summit 2025 is here to unite stakeholders essential for maintaining quality in the solar sector, including EPCs, O&M service providers, investors, asset managers, technology companies, and Transmission System Operators (TSO) and Distribution System Operators (DSO). The success of the solar revolution depends on forging close partnerships with all concerned parties, and only through such collaboration can we ensure continued success in this transformative industry. What can you expect: Expert Market analysis and insights: Find out about the hottest solar markets in Europe and trends in the cost of O&M services Deep-dives …

Which regions lead the charge?

Which regions lead the charge?

Published by skeptic

The UK has made remarkable strides in renewable energy, reaching its cleanest point ever in 2024. A record 45% of electricity was generated from renewable sources, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s journey toward sustainability. Over the past decade, carbon emissions have plummeted, with emissions per unit falling by two-thirds, from 150 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2014 to under 40 million tonnes in 2024. But which regions are leading the UK renewable energy revolution? A new analysis by Confused.com Energy has unveiled which parts of the UK are spearheading the transition to clean energy. Scotland: The renewable energy powerhouse Scotland leads the UK renewable energy potential, scoring an impressive 7.6/10. With a robust onshore wind capacity factor of 37.3%, second only to Northern Ireland, Scotland generates over 11GW of wind power, representing 39% of the UK’s total capacity. While solar power plays a smaller role, with systems running at just 16% efficiency, Scotland’s overall renewable achievements are staggering. In 2022, the nation hit a major milestone by generating 113% of its electricity needs …

Lessons learned from the SUSTENANCE Project

Lessons learned from the SUSTENANCE Project

Published by skeptic

Over three and a half years, this EU-funded initiative has delivered groundbreaking insights and practical solutions, driving the energy transition forward. In its latest newsletter, we explore the project’s highlights and the key lessons learned. A global collaboration for a greener future The SUSTENANCE Project united a diverse consortium of partners from Europe and India to tackle the challenges of building carbon-neutral energy communities. By integrating cutting-edge technology and community-driven strategies, the project demonstrated scalable models for energy independence and resilience. Demonstrator sites across Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, and India showcased innovative applications of sustainable energy solutions. These locations highlighted how local context significantly influences the adoption of green technologies, from advanced heat pumps in Europe to solar-powered e-rickshaws in India. The key lessons learned from the SUSTENANCE Project include: 1. Integrating EVs, heat pumps, and PVs The project demonstrated that integrating electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, and photovoltaic (PV) systems can yield significant benefits but presents technical and infrastructural challenges. At sites like Aardehuizen in the Netherlands, a high density of installations caused transformer overloads. …

UK makes crucial investment into overseas solar and wind farms

UK makes crucial investment into overseas solar and wind farms

Published by skeptic

In the journey to clean energy and net-zero emissions, the UK has announced it is investing in large solar and wind farms in the Philippines. As part of the UK-Philippines renewable energy collaboration, the largest solar wind farm to date will be constructed, along with four new wind farms across the country, which will reach a total of 380 MW. The collaborations were celebrated through two separate events held by the British Embassy in Manila. The development of these solar and wind farms underscores the UK’s commitment to driving sustainable energy solutions across the world and supporting the transition to cleaner, greener power sources. Expanding renewable energy capacity in the Philippines This partnership, backed by an equity investment of $150m, marks a significant step forward in expanding the Philippines’ renewable energy capacity. The solar and wind farms, which secured offtake agreements through the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP), exemplify the potential of partnerships to advance clean energy initiatives. At one of the events, Actis also celebrated the groundbreaking of the Terra Solar …

IEA highlights uneven global progress in clean energy deployment

IEA highlights uneven global progress in clean energy deployment

Published by skeptic

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recent report on clean energy deployment reveals a complex landscape of growth and challenges in the first half of 2024. While the deployment of clean energy technologies is on the rise worldwide, the report exposes significant variations across regions and technologies. This uneven progress underscores the need for supportive policies to help countries accelerate their clean energy transitions. Solar power and electric vehicles drive clean energy growth According to the IEA’s Clean Energy Market Monitor, solar photovoltaics (PV) and electric vehicles (EVs) are leading the global clean energy surge. Solar PV installation has seen substantial growth, with new capacity additions up by 36% compared to the same period last year. In the United States, solar deployment surged by an impressive 80%. This growth is attributed to lower equipment costs and expanded manufacturing, which have made solar energy more accessible for both residential and commercial users. Similarly, EV sales have seen a robust increase, growing by 25% globally. This trend is especially prominent in China, where EVs accounted for nearly 45% …

Can the bulk photovoltaic effect advance better solar cells?

Can the bulk photovoltaic effect advance better solar cells?

Published by skeptic

Researchers have explored the bulk photovoltaic effect in a promising material for next-generation solar harvesting technologies. The bulk photovoltaic (BPV) effect is an uncommon phenomenon that may enable certain materials to outperform the conventional p–n junctions used in solar cells. In a new study, researchers from Japan have experimentally demonstrated the BPV effect in alpha-phase indium selenide (α-In2Se3) for the first time along the out-of-plane direction, validating previous theoretical predictions. The remarkable conversion efficiency recorded in their α-In2Se3 device signals a promising advancement for future solar cell technologies and photosensors. Understanding the bulk photovoltaic effect in solar cells A firm understanding of the photovoltaic effect, by which light can be converted into useful electrical energy, lies at the core of solar design and development. Today, most solar cells employ p–n junctions, leveraging the photovoltaic effect at different materials’ interfaces. However, these designs are constrained by the Shockley–Queisser limit, which hard-caps their theoretical maximum solar conversion efficiency and imposes a trade-off between the voltage and current that can be produced via the photovoltaic effect. Despite this, …

Citizen activists take on ‘destructive’ solar power plants in France’s Provence region

Citizen activists take on ‘destructive’ solar power plants in France’s Provence region

Published by Sam

Citizen activists in southeastern France’s Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence region have been campaigning for two years against the growing number of solar power parks in a protected natural area around the Lure mountain. The local authorities, and the parks’ investors, claim the plants are “essential” projects in the fight against climate change, and in line with the ambitions of the European Green Deal. But the activists claim these projects are “destructive” for biodiversity and the landscape.  A few hundred metres above the commune of Cruis, in the Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence region, Sylvie Bitterlin, a 62-year-old actress, stands in front of the security fence of a brand-new solar farm. “Look, they’ve destroyed everything,” she says. On the 17-hectare site, the garrigue or scrubland of Provence has been replaced by several thousand solar panels. In Cruis, the photovoltaic power plant, operated by Boralex, was scheduled to begin operating this summer. © Cyrielle Cabot, FRANCE 24 The project has been under construction for several months and is nearly finished. According to the operator, Boralex, a Canadian renewable energy company, the site will generate …

Researchers maximise solar energy production with ground reflectors

Researchers maximise solar energy production with ground reflectors

Published by skeptic

University of Ottawa researchers have devised a smart approach using ground reflectors to optimise the effectiveness of solar energy. The method incorporates artificial ground reflectors, a simple yet powerful enhancement. Integrating these reflectors into solar setups has the potential to improve solar energy production and efficiency, making projects more economically viable. The team found that placing reflective surfaces under solar panels can increase their energy output by up to 4.5%. “We found that highly reflective white surfaces can boost solar power output,” explained Mandy Lewis, the paper’s lead author. “Critically, these reflectors should be placed directly under the solar panels, not between rows, to maximise this benefit.” The paper, published in Progress in Photovoltaics, is vital in assessing the cost and benefits of using artificial reflectors in solar energy projects. Maximising solar energy production in Canada The findings offer particular significance to Canada, where snow cover persists for three to four months of the year in major cities such as Ottawa and Toronto. Canada’s vast landmass also experiences 65% snow cover for over half the …

US energy roadmap at stake in upcoming presidential election

US energy roadmap at stake in upcoming presidential election

Published by skeptic

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has indicated he will attempt to roll back Biden’s landmark climate law if he returns to office. He is expected to increase investment in fossil fuels and expand oil and gas drilling under his “drill, baby, drill” pledge. A SUNNY ENERGY FUTURE Still, New Mexico is continuing to invest in its green energy future. Singapore-based solar company Maxeon is building a nearly 2 million sq ft plant in the state’s largest city Albuquerque, where it aims to produce up to 8 million solar cells per year. Analysts said the solar industry’s future is looking bright, as clean energy projects continue to stream into the state. “We’re unlikely to see profound changes in the solar buildout no matter who wins (the election),” said vice president of non-profit advocacy group Evergreen Action Craig Segall. He added that renewable energy is cheaper, more readily available and more reliable compared to fossil fuels. “So, once we have gotten over this initial hump, we have begun building out the infrastructure we need, it will …