Tag: NREL
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Increased solar panel row spacing can improve site economics
We’ve written a lot about “energy density” over the years, and strategies for packing more panels into constrained areas and rooftops. But new research indicates that, over the longer term, in certain cases, wider spacing may be the better play for increasing solar module efficiency and solar plant economics. The reason is greater airflow, which… View Article
— Solar Builder magazine
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NREL research examines strategies for recycling solar panels
PV modules have a 30-year lifespan. There is currently no plan for how to manage this at end of their lifespan. The volume of modules no longer needed could total 80 million metric tons by 2050. In addition to quantity, the nature of the waste also poses challenges. PV modulesRead More
— Solar Builder magazine
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NREL researchers hit new multijunction solar cell efficiency record of 47 percent
Concentrated solar PV doesn’t make many headlines these days, but research continues to show its possible impact in the future. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published another solar cell research breakthrough: The fabrication of a six-junction solar cell that achieved a record-breaking solar conversion efficiency of 47.1%. TheRead More
— Solar Builder magazine
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An automated, searchable database of all U.S. electricty rates is being built by WattBuy, NREL
WattBuy, an energy intelligence service that enables consumers to make smarter choices about their electricity provider, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a new project to automatically collect and make public a searchable database of all electricity rates in the U.S. NREL will publicly shareRead More
— Solar Builder magazine
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What’s the real value of high-efficiency solar panels? An analysis of HE modules in residential applications across the U.S.
The following is a summary of research conducted by Nielson Scientific, NREL, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and ARPA-E. For further insight into why this data matters and how it should affect your solar installation business, check out our accompanying webinar this week: The Solar Study: How to Value High EfficiencyRead More
— Solar Builder magazine