Caltech researchers working on the MAPLE experiment. Credit: Ali Hajimiri A satellite launched by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has successfully received and transmitted solar power back to Earth, the first time solar power has been transmitted to Earth in this manner. Researchers launched the satellite, known as the Space Solar Power Demonstrator, on 3 January this year, which has tested a number of processes and components. Chief among these is the microwave array for power-transfer low-orbit experiment (MAPLE), an array of flexible lightweight power transmitters placed one foot away from two separate receiver arrays on the demonstrator, which receive light from the sun. The MAPLE array received sunlight, converted it to direct current and fed the current through the transmitters to light up a pair of lights on the satellite. Critically, these transmitters also transferred energy back to Earth, where Caltech researchers detected the transmitted energy via a receiver on the roof of the university’s Gordon and Betty Moore Laboratory of Engineering, demonstrating that solar power can be gathered in space, and transmitted to Earth. “Through the experiments we have run so far, we received confirmation that MAPLE can transmit power successfully to receivers in space,” said Ali Hajimiri, Bren professor of electrical engineering and medical engineering and co-director of the Space Solar Power Project, of which the MAPLE array is a part. “We have also been able to program the array to direct its energy toward Earth, which we detected here at Caltech. We had, of course, tested it on Earth, but now we know that it can survive the trip to space and operate there.” The researchers also announced that the signal received on Earth appeared “at the expected time and frequency”, and that it matched the frequency shift that the team had expected. The MAPLE array was also not sealed, exposing it and its transmissions to the environmental conditions of space, such as large temperature swings and the presence of solar radiation, so the success of the experiment is encouraging on a number of fronts. Space-based solar power is an exciting concept for the solar industry, with solar panels built in space not limited by many of the conditions present on Earth. Space-based solar panels would not have their effective hours limited by the day-night cycle experienced on Earth, and there is vastly more room to build and operate facilities. The sector has received considerable attention in recent years, with a Japanese project led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry aiming to demonstrate the transfer of power from space to the Earth by 2025. Historically, satellites have been used for data collection and analysis in the solar sector, but with Caltech’s MAPLE work demonstrating the efficacy of space-based power transfer, and earlier than other groups expected, transmitting solar power directly from space could see greater interest in the future. T...

Polytechnology Thailand President, Narratchai Leeraphant, says solar’s strong uptake in the country means the market is ready for next-generation technology, namely, batteries, electric vehicle chargers, solar optimizers, and “full stack” product bundles. Recent changes to Thai safety standards and regulations for PV mounting systems rapid shutdown will make optimizers a growing trend in the country, Leeraphant says, adding, “So we can up our sell, from only inverters to inverters plus optimizers, for which our solution is the most advanced in the market.” rooftop solar mounting systems is so established in Thailand that it is already tricky to install more solar support structures in some areas, Leeraphant says, so technology to store and use the resultant abundance of green energy is increasingly required. Polytechnology has been partnering with Huawei since 2014, starting as the brand’s inverter distributer in Thailand and today offering the latter’s range of battery energy storage systems and data-center products. Discussing battery systems, Leeraphant says, “Polytechnology and Huawei have dealt with price, customer expectation, and what current battery technology can offer.” He says the next step is to ramp up educating the market about safety standards and the value of advanced battery technology, to bring the energy storage market to maturity.

Image: Encore Renewable Energy Wood Mackenzie's latest study reveals that as global consumers and developers of solar energy continue to increase their demand, China's exports of photovoltaic products keep rising. To a certain extent, this is due to China's advantages of low energy costs, significant scale advantages, and government support, which make Chinese manufactured solar modules highly competitive in comparison to other markets. PV mounting systems and other related products, as key solar energy systems components, also benefit from this growth trend. The research shows that Chinese module exports increased from 108GW in 2021 to 154GW last year, with a growth rate of 42%. The cost of PV modules manufactured in China was 57% lower than that of PV modules produced in the United States and Europe. This has had a positive impact on the market demand for PV mounting systems and other related products from China. China’s local module manufacturing cost last year was only US$0.24 per watt, significantly lower than the US (US$0.56), Europe (US$0.52), and India (US$0.33). Southeast Asia’s manufacturing cost was close to China as it stood at US$0.26 per watt. Without subsidies, solar module manufacturing in the United States and Europe cannot compete with China. As the Chinese photovoltaic industry grows, market demand for PV mounting systems and other related products is expected to remain strong. Image: Xcel Wood Mackenzie predicts that by 2026, China's export capacity for upstream wafers and cells will grow to over 230GW, higher than the global market demand (excluding China) of 170GW. In addition, China's available module export capacity is also expected to gradually grow to 149GW by 2026. This suggests that the global market share of Chinese-branded PV mounting systems and related products is likely to expand further. Despite attempts by the United States, European Union, and Indian policies to challenge China's dominance in the photovoltaic manufacturing sector, the Chinese photovoltaic industry appears to maintain a sustainable growth trajectory, driven by factors such as market scale and supply chain advantages. The continuous increase in demand for PV mounting systems and other vital products provides Chinese companies with ongoing growth opportunities.

According to pv Magazine USA MAY18, 2023 Energy data software startup Bidgely has launched the 8760 Energy Model, a comprehensive data set and report that offers utilities and industry stakeholders detailed behind-the-meter energy data, meticulously tracked on an hourly basis of soalr mounting systems for the entire year. California-based energy data software start-up Bidgely has unveiled the 8760 Energy Model, a comprehensive data set and report that enables utilities and industry stakeholders to access behind-the-meter energy data tracked on an hourly basis throughout the year. The tool facilitates grid planning, EV charging analytics, non-wire alternatives, and load forecasting by aggregating data over a 24-hour period across an entire year. In response to the intermittency of rooftop solar mounting systems, utilities and regional transmission operators are increasingly relying on grid controls and maintenance software, alongside distributed energy tools like energy storage and virtual power plants, to effectively manage the dispatch of clean power during periods when solar and wind resources are not available. Bidgely's innovative solution empowers utilities to gain insights into the daily load curve of each customer, identify emerging trends, predict future grid patterns, encourage grid-stabilizing behaviors, and assess the load impact on various grid assets such as distribution transformers, feeders, and substations.

According to pv Magazine Australia, MARCH 28, 2023 Residential rooftop solar supplied a record 14% of Australia’s electricity this summer -contributing more than brown coal and more than large-scale wind farms and solar projects. The total output of rooftop solar in Australia over the summer was 8,046 GWh, up 19.5% on the preceding year, according to the Clean Energy Council. The Clean Energy Council says that an increase of 15% to 20% in Australian electricity bills in 2022 underpinned strong demand for rooftop solar mounting systems. Rising power prices also made rooftop solar’s payback times even more attractive. We’re seeing a fundamental shift; consumers are becoming energy generators,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton, noting that these figures only measure what enters the grid. At the state level, rooftop solar generation in New South Wales jumped 35% from the preceding summer. Tasmania also saw a massive uptick, clocking a 31.7% jump from the previous year. Home battery installations are also growing in Australia, with 7% of new solar systems now including batteries. In total, 2.8 GW of rooftop solar was installed in 2022. We are professional manufacturer of solar mounting systems in Xiamen China.  We have more than 10 years of experience in this industry, and can provide various type of rooftop solar mounting systems as per different roofs.

As traditional energy sources continue to deplete, renewable energy sources such as solar power have become increasingly popular. Solar energy has numerous benefits not just for the environment, but also for agriculture. With the advancements in solar technology and mounting systems, farmers now have a new way to power their operations. Solar panels can be installed on any farm, providing electricity to power irrigation systems, coolers, and other equipment. Using solar energy has multiple benefits for farmers. It can help reduce their dependence on traditional energy sources, leading to significant savings on utility bills. Additionally, it can provide a reliable source of energy when normal energy sources are interrupted, such as during power outages. To make use of solar panels, the panels must be installed on a ground solar mounting system, which is typically made of aluminum or stainless steel. With the new advancements in mounting systems and technology, solar panels can be installed at any angle, optimally utilizing the sun's energy. The new mounting systems are lightweight, easy to maintain, and can stand up to various weather conditions. Moreover, solar technology also has the potential to revolutionize sustainable agriculture. Through widely adopted polyculture techniques, where several crops are grown on the same piece of land, farmers can make use of solar panels to maximize the use of the land. By installing panels vertically and between the rows of various crops, the land's productivity can be increased while providing electricity. Solar agriculture has become increasingly popular in recent years. By using solar farm ground racking for agriculture could protect the plan and could cover the strong sunshine, farmers can contribute to the environment's preservation while improving their profit margins. As the cost of solar panels to decline and the technology continues to advance, it is expected that more and more farmers will start adopting solar energy to power their operations. In ...

In modern life, electricity is an indispensable resource. However, the current methods of power generation are becoming increasingly non-environmentally friendly, causing severe environmental pollution. To address this situation, solar energy, as a clean and renewable energy source, is being widely applied. Hanwha Energy sold a 204-megawatt solar plant project in Spain to Ireland-based Amarenco Solar, the energy company said Wednesday.The 204-megawatt plant will be able to provide electricity to about 109,000 households. It can eliminate 83,000 tons of greenhouse gases emitted by 58,000 vehicles. Hanwha Energy, a unit of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, has been expanding its presence in the European renewable energy market since setting up a Spanish subsidiary in 2018. It has been developing about 3 gigawatts of solar and energy storage projects in Spain, Italy and Ireland. "The sale of the solar plant project showed Hanwha’s business capabilities and financial stability," said Kim Hee-cheol, chief executive of Hanwha Energy, adding Hanwha plans to diversify its renewable energy portfolio in Europe. Solar energy, as a safe, convenient, and environmentally friendly energy, can be utilized in various applications. Solar mounting ground screw & bracket have become an indispensable crucial component in the process, providing a supporting system for outdoor solar panels. It can offer stable support for solar panels, ensuring good performance and lifespan during usage. A solar panel can convert solar energy into electricity. Still, without a reliable bracket, it is susceptible to damage and affects the conversion efficiency. A solar bracket plays a critical role in this regard, providing stable support and fixing for solar panels under various environmental conditions, improving their conversion efficiency to create more clean energy. Additionally, a solar bracket can prevent damages caused by natural disasters such as wind and rain, reducing maintenance costs and time. Therefore, solar brackets are one of the solar roof mounting hook in solar energy generation.

The Dutch province of North Brabant has unveiled a solar-powered cycling path, which uses solar panels integrated into a specially designed ground support solar structure that generates clean energy while providing a safe transportation option for cyclists. The 500-meter-long solar bike line will be tested for its performance over a 5-year period. The PV system will consist of 600 solar panels of an unspecified type and will be connected to a specially designed solar support structure. The solar path is expected to generate clean energy while providing a safe and enjoyable transportation option for cyclists. This is not the first solar road project in the Netherlands, as a bike path near Amsterdam was equipped with solar panels in 2016, and another one was built in 2020 in the province of Utrecht. The application of solar support structures for cycling paths can also inspire the development of other solar road projects, such as highways, parking lots, and sidewalks. Additionally, Japanese chemical company and solar module manufacturer Kaneka has announced that its 26.63%- efficient crystalline silicon solar cells with heterojunction and back-contact technology have been selected by Japan-based car and battery manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation for deployment in one of its electric vehicles. The solar cells will be utilized in the roof glass of Toyota's Prius PHEV car, taking advantage of the solar support structures on its roof. Kaneka's back-contact design with no wiring on the surface provides an appearance similar to vehicle roof glass, making it an ideal choice for integration in electric vehicles. Kaneka's solar cell technology is recognized as one of the most efficient in the industry. In recent years, solar support structures have also been integrated into electric vehicles, providing clean, sustainable, and cost-effective energy options for commuters. -----Article adapted from PV Magazine

A Canadian solar company has announced the development of a new technology that can generate solar power from low-intensity light sources such as indoor incandescent lighting or moonlight. According to a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association, the solar industry in the United States has created 300,000 jobs, with approximately one-third of those jobs being located in the state of California. A solar energy company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has announced that it has started the construction of the world's largest solar power station, set to be completed in 2022 and expected to provide clean energy to about 180,000 households. The government of Tunisia, a North African country, has announced plans to increase its solar power capacity to 4.5 gigawatts in the coming years to boost the country's renewable energy portfolio and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. China's State Power Investment Corporation has announced that it will invest approximately 50 million yuan in building a large-scale solar plant to promote local renewable energy development and reduce carbon emissions. A major solar engineering company has launched a new solar panel mounting system that uses a patented clamping and grounding technology to reduce labor and installation time. A rooftop solar panel manufacturer has developed a new modular solar panel pv rooftop mounting system that increases the ease of installation while improving the structural stability of the panels. A startup has created a solar panel mounting system that utilizes artificial intelligence to optimize solar panel positioning and angle to maximize energy capture. A new report from a leading renewable energy research firm has analyzed the growing trend of ground-mounted solar panel mounting systems, noting that they are increasingly being used in utility-scale solar projects. A solar panel mounting system manufacturer has worked with a leading engineering firm to develop a new solar tracking system that increases energy generation by enabling solar panels to track the sun's movement, maximizing the amount of sunlight they receive.