Hello Solar Stars!
Something bright is happening in the solar industry, and it’s not just the glare off your neighbor’s new solar panels for their home. With the growing demand for renewable energy, solar companies around the globe are making stunning advances and breaking new records.
Take, for instance, the significant update from the independent test lab Kiwa PVEL. In the scorecard’s ten-year history, this year had a record number of solar manufacturers and models named as Top Performers. Can you believe it? A whopping 53 manufacturers and 388 models were acknowledged for the reliability of their solar modules. It’s a solid testament to how solar companies are consistently pushing the boundaries in performance and reliability.
As the solar industry grows, it’s no surprise that large-scale solar energy projects are also coming under the spotlight. And with that spotlight comes the need to build trust. In an encouraging move, the Department of Energy is dispersing $9.5 million among four projects. The aim? To learn about the best practices for community engagement when it comes to solar siting and permitting. The more we understand the public’s concerns, the better we’ll be at addressing them, making solar a more accepted and adopted solution.
How fast is solar energy evolving? Just look at how much solar module prices have fallen. According to the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), solar module prices experienced a 50% drop in 2023. That’s astounding! Since 1976, the Learning Curve, comparing average module prices to cumulative shipments, is at 24.9%. With PV capacity reaching a jaw-dropping 1.6 TW at the end of last year, it’s safe to say solar is on a bright and ballooning trajectory.
Unfortunately, every industry has its challenges. For the solar industry, the rise in freight costs is a stumbling block. As freight fees between the Far East and the US West Coast, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean region increase, solar module costs are also affected. And as these freight costs make up around 4% of a solar module’s total costs, it’s something solar companies are watching closely.
But it’s not all about the tech. Solar energy is a people-driven industry. Change and progression flow from the energy and innovation of solar professionals, and there have been quite a few note-worthy job moves in solar recently.
Finally, in an ironic twist of fate, a former U.S. nuclear weapon test site will soon host solar energy projects. The Department of Energy has decided to develop a 400 MW solar array for home use at the Idaho National Laboratory site. It’s a humbling transformation from a symbol of destruction to a beacon of sustainable energy that will power approximately 70,000 homes.
That’s all for now, Solar Stars. Remember, the future is bright, and it’s powered by solar energy!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/06/06/sunrise-brief-scorecard-rates-most-reliable-solar-modules/
