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Another morning, another megawatt, and another country shrugging off the gas market

Report: Spain has decoupled power prices from gas

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As a new gas-price shock hits Europe, electricity prices in Spain have stayed remarkably stable, according to an analysis by the Ember think tank, thanks to the sustained build-out of wind and solar.

Pressing issue: inconsistent rules are holding back PV’s “Made in Europe”

Study: fragmented EU rules hindering European solar manufacturing

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The EU wants to strengthen domestic solar manufacturing through legislation allowing member states to link project funding to non-price criteria such as carbon footprint. A new DIW Berlin study warns that the resulting patchwork of national rules is driving up costs and weakening European competitiveness.

Inside the larger FWS version: surge protection above, emergency-switch circuitry below

New Citel boxes combine fire safety and surge defence

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The FWS 3 and FWS 6 generator junction boxes with fire switches are designed for solar installations up to 1,000 volts DC and also shield inverters against surges.

New mounting technology is opening up even more areas for solar power

Solar Investors Guide – Innovations for mounting

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Energy crises and rising fossil and nuclear prices are making solar and battery storage more attractive than ever, driving demand across industrial rooftops, open land and car parks – find out more in the latest guide.

CEO Esref Deniz (left) explains the ENTEGRO strategy

ENTEGRO PV SYSTEMS: one idea ahead

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CEO Talk: ENTEGRO develops, plans and implements PV projects for companies and investors. Driven by the ambition to always be one idea better, the company consistently pushes innovation, efficiency and project quality. What this means in practice, and how it translates into real economic advantages, is revealed in a behind-the-scenes look.

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What is photovoltaics?

Photovoltaics (PV) refers to the generation of electrical energy from sunlight. At the heart of this process are the solar-active semiconductors known as solar cells, which capture sunlight and convert it directly into electricity.

From a technical standpoint, a PV system or solar installation functions as a generator. Here, individual solar cells are combined into a solar module, which is protected from the elements. These modules are then assembled into a larger solar generator, which can be mounted on rooftopsfaçadesopen ground or specially designed structures. The electricity generated is direct current (DC), which is converted into alternating current (AC) by an inverter. This AC power can be used directly on site or fed into the public grid via the building’s connection. The electricity is typically supplied to the local utility or grid operator.

Larger PV systems installed on open land are often called solar parks. These feed power into the grid via dedicated transformers and switchgear. In many countries special Acts and regulations govern remuneration for solar power, whether via feed-in tariffs or market premiums for direct sales to third parties.

Self-consumption can be increased by using solar power for heating waterroom heating, air conditioning or refrigeration. Battery storage systems help by storing surplus solar electricity for later use. These so-called solar batteries improve system reliability, especially when solar output dips.

Not all incoming sunlight is converted into electricity. The conversion rate depends on the intensity and wavelength of the incoming light spectrum. This ratio between usable electrical output and the maximum available solar radiation is known as efficiency.

The performance of a solar generator or storage system is defined by its output. When multiplied by the number of sunshine hours, this gives the solar yield – the amount of electricity generated per day, month or year. In addition to charging and discharging power, solar batteries are also rated by their capacity, or the amount of energy they can store. Power is measured in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW), while energy and yield are expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or megawatt-hours (MWh). (HS)