Hello there, solar enthusiasts! I hope you’re having a sun-filled day. In today’s post, we are going to discuss some interesting developments in the solar industry. As you already know, solar is an ever-evolving field and with every passing day, solar companies are pushing their boundaries and achieving new milestones.
Firstly, let’s talk about Tesla. The company has landed a massive supply contract for their Megapack — a whopping 15.3 GWh. To give you some perspective, this order is around 165% of the total battery energy storage the company deployed in Q2 2024, which was their highest quarterly deployment to date. This is indicative of the enormous scale and potential of solar companies in this current era.
Next, consider the utility-scale agrivoltaic project in Madison County, Ohio, that’s now operational. Developed by Savion, this is not just a solar power plant pumping out a considerable 180 MW of juice, but here’s the twist- it’s integrated with crop production, namely soybeans, alfalfa, and forage crops, inside the array. This is a commendable example of how you can add a solar array for your home and promote environmental sustainability simultaneously.
But it’s not all positive trends in the industry, with U.S. residential solar experiences a 20% dip in 2024. An insightful webinar hosted by Roth Capital Partners showed an overview of the residential solar market health and provided forecasts for the upcoming year. Despite the dip, remember that investing in solar panels for your home remains a great choice for long-term energy cost savings and sustainability.
Remember hearing about elastocalorics? They have the potential to become the next big thing! If integrated with photovoltaic technologies, they can replace current air conditioning and heating systems, leading to promising energy savings. Further investigation and development in this area are to be watched.
Lastly, First Solar, a prominent player in the thin-film solar module manufacturing, has initiated a probe into potential infringements of its TOPCon tech patents. The details about suspected companies and the timeline of the investigation remain undisclosed. This underscores the need for vigilant patent protection within the solar market.
In conclusion, the solar industry is in a dynamic state with new technologies reshaping the market, and solar companies facing various challenges and opportunities in their growth trajectories. Whether you’re considering solar panels for your home, a solar array for home use, or simply staying informed about industry trends, it’s clear that solar power continues to be a hot topic. Stay tuned for more updates in my upcoming posts. Here comes the sun!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/07/19/in-case-you-missed-it-five-big-solar-stories-in-the-news-this-week-6/