Allume SolShare and Apartment Solar

SolShare Apartment Solar: Empowering Communities Through Collective Solar Energy

As the world shifts its focus towards sustainability and combating climate change, renewable energy sources like solar power have emerged as a key solution. In urban environments, where space is often limited, harnessing solar energy can be challenging. However, a transformative solution called SolShare Apartment Solar is changing the game. This article explores the innovative concept of SolShare Apartment Solar, its mechanics, benefits, and potential to reshape urban energy consumption.

The Concept of SolShare Apartment Solar

SolShare Apartment Solar introduces a novel approach to solar energy distribution in multi-unit residential buildings. Instead of relying on individual rooftop installations, SolShare harnesses the power of community by implementing a shared solar energy system that benefits all residents within a building.

At the heart of the system is a solar panel array installed on the building’s rooftop or other suitable spaces. These panels capture sunlight, converting it into direct current (DC) electricity. Advanced inverters then transform the DC electricity into alternating current (AC), which is the standard form of power used in buildings. The converted AC electricity is distributed to power common areas such as hallways, elevators, and lighting systems. Additionally, a portion of the generated solar energy is allocated to individual apartments, offsetting grid-based energy consumption and potentially reducing residents’ electricity bills.

According to John Reynolds, Chief Technology Officer at SolShare, “Our aim was to empower urban communities with a tangible and impactful way to contribute to clean energy generation. SolShare Apartment Solar does just that by seamlessly integrating renewable energy into daily living.”

Reynolds further emphasizes, “We believe in fostering a sense of shared responsibility for sustainability. Each resident becomes a stakeholder in a collective endeavor, contributing to a greener future for all.”

Each year, a typical SolShare will
  • produce 35 MWh of electricity
  • typical grid-electricity reduction of 35 – 40 %
  • reduce CO2 emissions by 28 tonnes

Advantages Beyond Energy Generation

SolShare Apartment Solar offers an array of advantages that extend beyond conventional energy distribution methods:

1. **Cost Savings:** Residents can experience significant reductions in their electricity bills, leading to increased savings over time.

2. **Environmental Impact:** By decreasing carbon emissions, SolShare contributes to a greener and more sustainable living environment.

3. **Community Engagement:** The shared solar model fosters a sense of unity among residents, as they collectively contribute to clean energy generation.

4. **Grid Resilience:** The integration of energy storage solutions, such as batteries, enhances the building’s ability to withstand power outages, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply.

5. **Property Value Enhancement:** Properties equipped with SolShare Apartment Solar may experience heightened value and attractiveness in the real estate market.

Challenges and Considerations

While SolShare Apartment Solar offers a promising solution, several challenges merit attention:

1. **Initial Investment:** The installation of solar panels and related infrastructure requires an upfront investment, potentially posing a barrier for property owners or management.

2. **Regulatory Complexities:** Navigating regulatory frameworks and addressing legal considerations can present challenges during the implementation of shared solar systems.

3. **Maintenance and Monitoring:** Regular maintenance and monitoring are crucial to ensuring consistent system performance and maximizing energy generation.

4. **Equitable Distribution:** Ensuring a fair allocation of solar energy among residents requires thoughtful strategies to promote transparency and equity.

5. **Technical Limitations:** Factors like rooftop space availability, local weather conditions, and shading can impact the amount of solar energy that can be generated.

Closing Thoughts

SolShare Apartment Solar stands as a trailblazing solution that transforms the way solar energy is harnessed within urban communities. By integrating shared solar arrays, individual apartment allocations, and optional energy storage, SolShare provides an avenue for sustainable living while reducing energy costs. As technology advances and awareness deepens, SolShare has the potential to become a common feature on rooftops, ushering in a cleaner, more energy-resilient future for urban living. Through innovative approaches like SolShare, communities can collectively pave the way toward a brighter, greener tomorrow.

Interested? Have a look at some case studies or learn more at the Allume energy website.

Allume SolShare Apartment Solar
Allume SolShare Apartment Solar Case Study Example

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Seraphim announce 580 W TOPCon solar panels.

Seraphim, one of the leading solar module manufacturers in the world, has announced the launch of their new 580 W TOPCon solar panels. The panels are touted to have an impressive efficiency rate of 22.45%, which is a remarkable achievement in the solar industry. This development is a significant breakthrough in the technology of photovoltaic cells, which generate electricity from sunlight.

In order to create the ultimate cost-effective product, Seraphim launched a new generation of ultra-high efficiency modules, the S5 bifacial series. The new series integrates 210mm silicon wafers, with PERC, bifacial, multi-busbar cell technology and high-density encapsulation. The maximum power output on the front side of the two formats, 60 and 66, have both exceeded 600W. Meanwhile, based on different installation environments, the rear side power generation gain is between 10-30%.
Seraphim S5 Bifacial Solar Panel
 
In order to create the ultimate cost-effective product, Seraphim launched a new generation of ultra-high efficiency modules, the S5 bifacial series. The new series integrates 210mm silicon wafers, with PERC, bifacial, multi-busbar cell technology and high-density encapsulation. The maximum power output on the front side of the two formats, 60 and 66, have both exceeded 600W. Meanwhile, based on different installation environments, the rear side power generation gain is between 10-30%. (source)

In a statement released by Seraphim, the company said that their new solar panel design is equipped with the latest technology, making it more efficient and cost-effective. The TOPCon technology used in the panels allows for higher energy yields, enabling the panels to produce more power with less space. The company further added that their panels have undergone rigorous testing and are rated to withstand extreme weather conditions, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.

“We are excited to announce the launch of our new 580 W TOPCon solar panels, which are the result of years of research and development. With our latest technology, we are confident that our panels will help our customers achieve their renewable energy goals and contribute to a sustainable future,” said Polaris Li, CEO of Seraphim.

The new solar panels by Seraphim have set a new benchmark for efficiency in the industry. The average efficiency rate of solar panels available in the market is around 16-18%, while the previous generation of TOPCon panels had an efficiency rate of around 21%. Seraphim’s new panels have exceeded this benchmark by achieving an efficiency rate of 22.45%, making them one of the most efficient solar panels available in the market today.

This breakthrough in solar panel technology is not only significant for the industry but also for the environment. The increased efficiency rate means that less space is required to produce the same amount of energy, resulting in reduced land use and environmental impact. It also means that more energy can be produced using the same amount of resources, which could lead to a reduction in the cost of solar energy.

In conclusion, Seraphim’s new 580 W TOPCon solar panels with 22.45% efficiency are a significant development in the solar industry. The increased efficiency rate and advanced technology used in these panels are expected to contribute to the growth of renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As Polaris Li, CEO of Seraphim, stated, “With this latest development, we hope to lead the way in the solar industry and continue to innovate towards a sustainable future.”

References:

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REC Group Announce Upgraded Solar Panel Warranty

The European based REC Group have announced that they have upgraded their product warranty from 10 to 20 years – and they’ve also reduced the power degradation of the REC TwinPeak and REC N-Peak high performance panels.

REC Group Announce Upgraded Solar Panel Warranty

The REC Group was founded in Norway in 1996 – their panels are made in Singapore and the Group is owned by a Chinese corporation, so it truly is a global company.

“REC’s new warranty, which now ranks as one of the best in the industry, is a testament to our consistent excellent product and performance quality,” says Cemil Seber, Vice President Global Marketing & Product Management at REC Group. “The extended warranty terms for REC Solar Professionals further demonstrate our strong commitment to building and maintaining long-term alliances with our partners who install and maintain installations with our panels around the world.”

According to the news release about the new warranty, REC Group has by far the lowest claims rate in the industry, with “well below 100ppm”. 

In addition to these new terms, the company are also offering an extra 5 year product warranty for installations done by REC-certified ‘Solar Professionals’ – which results in an industry-leading 25 year warranty. REC Solar Professionals are trained by the company to “ensure best practice”. 

If this interests you and you want to find an REC certified Solar Professional in Australia please click here to use REC’s ‘find installer’ tool. 

REC Group Announce Upgraded Solar Panel Warranty
REC Group Announce Upgraded Solar Panel Warranty (source: recgroup.com)

REC Group employ 2,000 people across the globe and are able to produce 1.5GW of solar panels every year – so it’s great to see such a massive company take ownership of their solar panel technology and products and stand by them! 

For further information please contact:
Agnieszka Schulze
Head of Global PR, REC
Tel.: +49 89 54 04 67 225
E-mail: [email protected]

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Recycling Solar Panels | What to do with old solar panels.

Recycling solar panels is a topic which will be a lot more prevalent as the initial ‘wave’ panels begin to reach their end of life. Let’s take a look at what the plans are for trying to minimise the environmental impact and maximise the value  of a used solar panel.

Recycling Solar Panels | Will there be a waste crisis for old panels?

Australia has one of the highest PV solar uptakes in the world. There are plenty of us who have had solar installed for a long time. So long, in fact, that people are talking about end of life strategies to dispose of/ repurpose solar panels, so that they don’t cause a problem for the environment. 

Total Environment Centre director Jeff Angel has been crusading for the implementation of such strategies for solar panels, calling it a ‘systemic problem’:

“We’ve had a solar panel industry for years which is an important environmental initiative, and it should have been incumbent on government to act in concert with the growth of the industry so we have an environmentally responsible end-of-life strategy,” he said in a quote to the Sydney Morning Herald.

We’ve written previously about solar panel recycling and, although it’s good to see things like the ELSi project in Germany, there’s still a ways to go before we figure out the best way forward to recycle solar waste.

Reclaim PV: Recycling Solar Panels
Reclaim PV: Recycling Solar Panels (source: reclaimpv.com)

According to the director of Reclaim PV (the only dedicated photovoltaic recycler in Australia), Clive Fleming, they company recycles 90 per cent of materials in a panel. The company has been lobbying for state bans on landfill disposal of solar panels. 

Australian Council of Recycling chief executive Peter Schmigel also had a quote in the SMH about how a proper plan for recycling PV cells could have a positive effect on the economy:

“Recovery rates have been out of sight since the beginning of the scheme, nobody has said anything at all about there being an inbuilt recycling cost. It generates jobs, it generates environmental outcomes and yet for some reason we have policymakers who are hesitant about [establishing similar schemes] for solar PVs and batteries,” he said.

We expect over the coming year or two we’ll hear a lot more about this, with Sustainability Victoria working on a ‘national approach to photovoltaic product stewardship’, with their recommendations presented to the environment ministers around the middle of this year. 

Victoria have already announced they’ll ban electronic waste in landfill from July 2019, so it’ll be interesting to see if/how the other states follow suit.
 

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Solar Panel Degradation | New Software

Solar panel degradation is a big issue, and one of the problems with it is that it can be a bit nebulous to measure, especially if you’re off-site. An Indian university may have some answers with regards to measuring this in a cost and time effective method.

Solar Panel Degradation | Alternatives to on-site inspection.

Parveen Bhola is a research scholar at India’s Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology. Alongside Saurabh Bhardwaj, an associate professor at Thapar, the pair have developed and optimised statistical and machine learning-based alternatives to enable real-time on or off-site inspection of solar panels to measure the solar panel degradation. This is achieved throughout the usage of clustering-based computation – utilising historical meteorological data to compete performance ratios and solar panel degradation. Factors such as temperature, pressure, wind speed, solar power created, sunshine hours, humidity and historical performance are all utilised to come up with a measurement of the panels’ effectiveness. 

“The majority of the techniques available calculate the degradation of PV (photovoltaic) systems by physical inspection on site. This process is time-consuming, costly, and cannot be used for the real-time analysis of degradation,” Bhola said in a quote posted on TechXplore. “The proposed model estimates the degradation in terms of performance ratio in real time.”

As solar panel technology increases, it’s important that our tools for troubleshooting and optimising their output be improved commensurately; this is a great step for all solar system holders, but especially those in rural areas where having someone come on site is cost and time prohibitive. With this new technique it’s likely that troubleshooting will be more efficient and perhaps even point out problems before they occur. 

Solar Panel Degradation - Thapar Insitute of Engineering and Technology
Solar Panel Degradation – Thapar Insitute of Engineering and Technology (source: Thapar.edu)

The article, “Clustering-based computation of degradation rate for photovoltaic systems,” can be found in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018 (DOI: 10.1063/1.5042688). You can also find it online: https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.5042688.

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