Fuel prices are rising exponentially across the world and demand for cleaner, cheaper electric vehicles is growing. We thought it was a good time to catch up with Soltaro CEO Tynan Coles, to get his take on the market, the opportunities it presents for the solar industry and what uptake has been like so far…. Read more »
Solar power is a crucial element of the energy transition. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) solar is on track to set a record for new global deployments from 2022. It is on its way to becoming the leading renewable energy due to its rapid development in recent years and the continuing reduction in… Read more »
Smart and scalable local energy production solutions are highly sought during the current renovation sweeping the EU, with solar power serving as a powerful method. Leading provider of building-integrated PV (BIPV) solutions in the Nordic region, Solarstone, offers cutting-edge and affordable in-roof systems where solar panels simultaneously cover the roof and generate electricity. When Solarstone… Read more »
The agriculture industry is at the cusp of a major shift. Climate change impacts, rising energy costs, shifting government subsidies, increasing demand for food, and international conflicts are reshaping global market dynamics more than ever before. As farmers, governments, and other stakeholders plan for these disruptions, new agribusiness models can, and should, include agrisolar as… Read more »
The PV market offers numerous monitoring system solutions. From the all-rounder with data logger and software from a single source, to the pure software solution, everything is available to the plant operator. The greatest differences can be found in the flexibility of the functions. But with many hidden details, it is worth taking a close… Read more »
PES caught up with Renu Robotics’ CEO Tim Matus to gauge the up-to-the-minute thinking on autonomy in the solar industry. Is it taking off and what direction could the latest technology be headed next? PES: Thanks for taking time to speak to us again Tim. When we spoke earlier in the year, you explained much… Read more »
As mitigating climate change has never been more important, PES was keen to catch up with Cary Hayes, President REC Americas at REC Group, to hear what makes a solar panel a real green choice. PES: Welcome to PES, Cary. It’s great to touch base with you. Perhaps it would be timely to begin with… Read more »
The PHOTORAMA project was set up and funded to help support the adoption of sufficient recycling channels for Photovoltaic (PV) products. PES was fortunate enough to speak to some of the key stakeholders in the initiative, to learn more about the possibilities and what the future hopefully holds for PV recycling. PES: Welcome to PES… Read more »
Today, more than ever, environmentally friendly technology solutions are needed to prevent further global warming. Our world has surpassed the threshold of 400 ppm carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the average temperature in nearly hundred years has increased by almost 1°C. The ongoing transition from fossil energies to renewables requires short-term storage media with… Read more »
April 2022 saw an important landmark event: 1 TW of globally installed solar capacity. Solar power entered the terawatt age. It is staggering to consider that solar power is set to double to over 2 TW within the next three years. Alongside this rapidly growing market is an increasing narrative regarding environmental costs and social… Read more »
Weather patterns can be notoriously difficult to predict, yet doing so is an essential part of getting the most out of solar systems. Carsten M. Steenberg, Vice President of Product Management at RainWise, briefs us on the benefits of having a dedicated weather station for a forecast that can be relied on. PES: Thanks for… Read more »
Later this year, Morningstar Corporation is launching two product milestones: GenStar, a high-end DC charging system, along with a complete line of SureSine DC/AC inverters. Since the company’s inception in 1993, Morningstar has been regarded throughout the off-grid solar industry as a leader in solar charging technology. For the brand to introduce an all-new charging… Read more »
Solar panels are becoming increasingly part of our everyday world, so ensuring they blend seamlessly into their surroundings is key. A good time then for us to discuss this issue and some possible solutions for color solar modules, with Sebastian Barth, Business Development Manager Electronic Materials, at Merck. PES: Hello Sebastian and welcome back to… Read more »
There is lots of talk about power shortages and how we can produce even more power through solar or wind. It is true, nothing works without power. However, the current crisis in eastern Europe shows that we cannot only focus on power shortages. There is another source of energy, that might actually be a way… Read more »
Energy storage, where electricity is stored in batteries and replaces the generation of electricity, will substitute other modes of power, according to international battery company, Leoch. It is a booming technology in the UK and is set to get even bigger over the coming years. Fred Hapiak, President of Leoch International Holding, spends much of… Read more »
Founded in 2006, KOSTAL Solar Electric has grown to become one of the leading suppliers of innovative string inverters for the private and small business sector. Keen to learn some secrets of its success so far, PES spent time in the company of Thomas Garber, Senior Product Manager at KOSTAL. PES: It’s lovely to speak… Read more »
New technology is coming through all the time in the field of solar tracking, so we were fascinated to hear from Mario Eckl, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of ideematec, a company that has over 50 approved patents, about their latest ideas and innovations to help the sector flourish. PES: A warm welcome to PES… Read more »
Solar microgrids are a hot topic in the world of solar energy, and for good reason. As the world’s appetite for renewable energy grows in response to more advanced technology, difficulties accessing fossil fuels, and mounting concerns about climate change, solar is booming. Most solar systems, both residential and commercial, are linked to the main… Read more »
The continuous expansion of PV production lines in Asia is generating an ever-increasing volume of data, which in turn requires processing. This presents manufacturers with significant challenges in evaluating and optimizing the efficiency of their lines. Here, halm elektronik gmbh looks at how real-time control and monitoring software can result in enhanced decision-making. The massive… Read more »
Rising energy prices show just how important it is to become self-sufficient. To achieve this, the separate energy sectors of electricity, heating, cooling and mobility need to be considered from a holistic point of view. Our goal is to achieve 24 hours of sun. Specifically, this means generating, storing, distributing and consuming energy from solar… Read more »
With more and more customers requiring quotes for the installation of PV systems, how can advancements in digital software help increase efficiency throughout the process, from lead qualification, through consulting and planning to sales? PES explores some of the latest options available from Eturnity. As fossil fuel prices rise and geopolitical tensions remain, the… Read more »
Any type of weather can have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of PV systems, not least dew and frost. So how can the resistance of monitoring systems to these conditions be improved while ensuring accuracy, speed and data reliability? Dmytro Podolskyy reveals the latest solution from EKO Instruments. Why worry about dew and frost?… Read more »
With solar measurement forming an important part of the data landscape, and particularly so as power plants increase in size and output, PES was keen to learn from Roman Affolter, Technical Head of Meteorological Services, CSP Services about the latest bankable solar resource assessments for high-quality regional irradiance mapping. PES: It’s lovely to welcome you… Read more »
Solar Power International (SPI) and Energy Storage International (ESI) are back in action as part of RE+ 2022: Renewing What’s Possible. From 19 to 22 September, the largest clean energy event in North America is heading to Anaheim, California, USA for a reunion three years in the making. We take a look at what’s in… Read more »
Four years ago, Portuguese company ChemiTek innovated with the creation of removal agents for specific contaminants and coatings for soiling mitigating and efficiency enhancement for the solar industry. The Cement Removal Agent (CRA) effectively removes cured cement dust from solar glass without damaging the solar panel or the environment. Here is what happened when the… Read more »
As it continues its global reach in what is a rapidly growing PV market, PES took the opportunity to get an update from Maxime Boiron, Global Marketing Director at APsystems, to hear what he thinks the future holds for inverter technology, in Europe and beyond. PES: A warm welcome back to PES, Maxime. Perhaps we… Read more »
With climate change a concern for many around the world, huge efforts have been made over the years to find and establish sources of energy other than burning coal and oil. Solar cells are one such alternative. While silicon-based solar cells have been around for a long time, new concepts focus on making flexible, light-weight… Read more »
Blade problems are one of the most common factors affecting continuous operation of turbines in wind farms, both onshore and offshore. Blade failures could result in not only blade loss, but damage to the turbine tower or surrounding turbines, in addition to being a safety concern for nearby populations. Sensoria looks at how reliability can… Read more »
To connect a cable from one landing point to another is no mean feat, and one that is made more difficult due to the plethora of obstacles and challenges presented, not only by the marine environment, but by human hands too. Careful consideration of all the external factors which could have a detrimental impact on… Read more »
Hiring the right people for the job is always important, but when the role entails navigating often unpredictable waters, providing the right personnel to support on work vessels is crucial. PES was keen to hear how Offshore Wind Farm Support, a relative newcomer to the industry, is drawing on its own experience at sea, in… Read more »
Taking the heavy lifting out of offshore work is important, not just during the installation phase of larger structures, but with the ongoing maintenance too, looking after the entire lifecycle of the wind farm. With space so often at a premium, having cranes that are suitable for use in compact situations is advantageous and having… Read more »
Turbines have traditionally been inspected visually, often by a servicing company. But in recent times, due to the exponential progress in drone technology, these inspections are made by flying drones equipped with high-resolution cameras. Aero Enterprise takes a look at how this latest technology is being used for faster turnaround times. In light of recent… Read more »
With the first quarter of 2022 over, DHSS can look back at a good start to its 25th anniversary year. New offshore wind projects have begun in the UK, France and in its home country, the Netherlands, with other operations continuing and expanding. Here, we take a closer look at a few of the company’s… Read more »
One of the key challenges facing any offshore wind operator, and one which has high significance for their success, is around the accessibility of assets. However, a new study by Trios Renewables, the University of Strathclyde and wave sensor specialists Miros has, for the first time, provided evidence of the potential benefits of direct wave… Read more »
Having access to accurately mapped submarine cable routes has become essential following the increase in seabed usage from industries such as telecoms, renewable energy, oil & gas and resource mining. With vast quantities of data being collected every day, the question has to be asked, whose responsibility is it to keep it updated? Throughout each… Read more »
The certification of the grid characteristics of wind turbines has been mandatory for a long time, in order to maintain grid stability and voltage quality, as well as to obtain the grid connection permit. Ever faster product development cycles lead to time-intensive qualification and validation tests in the field. Voltage dip tests are particularly critical… Read more »