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How to clean PV systems covered by volcano ashes

Spanish company Multisistemas E2 has explained how PV systems affected by the volcano eruption in the Canary Islands are currently being cleaned. At pv magazine, we recently analyzed the effects that the ash from the Dorsal de Cumbre Vieja volcano, in La Palma, on the Canary Islands, could have on a 1 MW solar facility that began…
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New Jersey makes its community solar program permanent

The state’s popular community solar program is here to stay, and one SEIA representative stated that the goal is to add a minimum of 150 MW annually. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has approved 164 MW of new community solar projects, with all of that capacity aimed at serving low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households. Regulators…
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Retractable PV awning for recreational vehicles

The 1.2 kW solar awning can be retracted automatically in the event of adverse weather conditions. The patented technology, developed by Xponent Power, may enable a wide range of additional applications such as for use by the military, for emergency relief, and residential power. U.S. start-up Xponent Power has launched, today, the Xpanse Solar Awning, a…
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Solar installation completed at Climate Pledge Arena

The 1.2 MW installation will join a host of other renewable resources in powering the stadium’s 11 GW electricity load. A 1.2 MW solar installation set to power Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken, and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, is officially complete. Unico Solar Investments is the owner/operator of…
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Pfizer signs 15-year deal for 310 MW of Texas solar

The solar energy will be generated from Vesper’s 500 MW Hornet Solar project in west Texas. Vesper Energy said that biopharmaceutical company Pfizer signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for at least 310 MW of solar energy, effectively powering all of the projected power needs of its North American operations. The solar energy…
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Drones, software key for intelligent PV plant monitoring

Mobile test equipment is a must for fault detection and performance monitoring of large-scale PV installations. The Australian PV Institute has contributed to an international review of available aerial and portable ground-based technologies, and how to deploy them for reliable, relatable results. “The thing that really impressed me is how far technology has advanced around…
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Kentucky’s solar pipeline looks impressive

A 125 MW project planned by utility LG&E KU joins multiple other 100+ MW projects approved by state regulators this year. It has been a big year for utility-scale solar in Kentucky, where multiple 100+ MW projects have been approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The pipeline is in a state that the Solar…
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Ameresco outfits Coast Guard facility with solar and storage

The 5 MW solar, 11.6 MWh storage array forms a microgrid to power a Coast Guard training center during grid outages. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) signed an energy savings performance contract with Ameresco in effort to boost resilience against climate threats and reduce annual energy consumption. The USCG Petaluma training center is set to have…
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Iron flow battery tech shows promise for mid-duration energy storage

The ESS battery systems have a prescribed design life of 25 years, but the battery modules, electrolyte, plumbing, and other components may well last for decades longer with proper maintenance. Iron flow battery manufacturer ESS Inc. has been in the news lately, most recently for releasing an updated version of its product guarantee. Munich RE,…
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Computer model uses AI to detect faults in residential solar

SunDown detects and classifies per-panel faults without the need for additional sensors and was developed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts. Solar arrays can often experience faults that go undetected for long periods of time, causing generation and revenue losses.  In particular, residential-scale solar projects lack sensing and instrumentation for performance monitoring and fault detection.…
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