Welcome to the latest edition of PV Tech Power. As we head into a new decade, it would be easier to look back over the spectacular journey solar has walked throughout the 2010s. From nascent technology to a stalwart of power system the world over, the last 10 years will be remembered as the decade of solar’s maturation. But rather than reflect on the journey so far, this edition of the magazine continues to push the envelope and instead glances forward. Indeed, what immediately jumps out is the level of sophistication that can be identified as you flick through the pages of issue 21 of PV Tech Power. This edition’s cover story comes from the deserts of the Middle East, where researchers are getting to grips with the issue of soiling and what can be done to prevent it. And if it’s sophistication you’re seeking, look no further than the issue of bifaciality, which litters the pages of this volume of the magazine. Trade body SolarPower Europe offers a glimpse at how entire swathes of the solar ecosystem is going digital, taking in new developments such as AI and machine learning. Previous editions of this magazine have charted the rise and rise of floating solar, and this has prompted renewed calls for standardisation in the field, as Jose Rojo Martin learns. But this sophistication is not just seen in solar. While recent analysis has shown marked decreases in the price of lithium-ion batteries, longer-duration batteries continue to be of real interest, and our resident energy storage experts Andy Colthorpe and Alice Grundy provide a comprehensive review of new developments in this area.
Batteries are increasingly widely used in grid balancing, but there are many more applications where a battery can play an important role. With electric grids requiring periodic maintenance, batteries can stand in for the grid during downtime in order to reduce the impact on industry and households, writes Dieter Castelein.
Power markets are evolving and beginning to value flexibility ahead of generation. As the UK’s networks companies move to embrace flexible generation assets, Liam Stoker spoke to some of the country’s leading providers to identify the hurdles and solutions to a more flexible power grid.
At 4:52pm on Friday 9 August 2019, the UK suffered its first wide-scale blackout in over a decade. More than 1.1 million consumers were plunged into the dark as rail lines screeched to a halt, traffic lights failed and even airports reported problems. Liam Stoker looks at the root causes, and how battery storage came to the rescue
Welcome to the latest edition of PV Tech Power. This is a special issue for a number of reasons. The journal has now been running for five years with a growing roster of industry experts sharing in-depth knowhow on everything from contract law to the pitfalls of east-west module layout. It’s also a special issue for us as it is the tightest marriage yet of PV Tech’s decade-plus of solar industry coverage and the expert analysis and reporting of our sister site Energy-Storage.News.
Our 19-page special report in this issue explores both the accomplishments of the energy storage sector and the ongoing challenges. Fittingly, Andy Colthorpe, editor of Energy-Storage.News, sets the scene, and much more.
The UK’s energy retail market is witnessing an exodus of customers leaving the so-called Big Six for independent suppliers, who are attracting them with home solar systems and a battery to match. Liam Stoker uncovers what’s behind the trend for new energy suppliers taking to domestic PV.
The growth potential of energy storage has drawn interest from some of the biggest names in the power business and beyond. With the trend set to continue, Andy Colthorpe explores how three of the recent targets are faring under new ownership.
As the building blocks of energy storage systems, batteries have a key role in influencing system design and economics. Davion Hill of DNV GL explores the importance of testing the performance of individual battery cells in minimising the exposure of battery buyers to technical risks.
Intersolar Europe returns after a notably buoyant edition last year. Since then the continent has seen solar winning out in German tenders, France continue its own deployment schedule and both Spain and Portugal building up an impressive pipeline. Our correspondent in Shanghai, Carrie Xiao, provides an update on China’s latest policy reorganisation. Our Storage & Smart Power section, produced with our colleagues from Energy-Storage.News, includes a superb read on the impact of a recent spate of M&A activity. Andy Colthorpe speaks to Sonnen, Younicos and Greensmith about life under the ownership of Shell, Aggreko and Wartsilla respectively. Testing and certification has received a lot of attention in the solar sector but investors must be as rigorous when investing in energy storage. DNV GL provides some pointers on the criteria that should be assessed before choosing a partner.
A key missing piece in the clean energy puzzle is the question of how to provide baseload power in an electricity system dominated by intermittent renewables. Javier Cavada of Highview Power examines cryogenic long-duration storage as a possible solution.
