Latest news with #PV
Forbes
24-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
DC Cable: The Overlooked Risk Of The $2 Trillion Solar Sector
Joern Hackbarth, CTO, Ampyr Solar Europe, leads design, procurement, construction, & asset management of utility-scale PV & BESS. Global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity surpassed 2.2 TWp in 2024. That's over 2.2 trillion watts of generation capacity, equivalent to roughly $2 trillion in installed value. By comparison, this places the global solar base near the GDP of Russia or Canada, and above that of Spain. Despite the massive investment, solar modules are now priced as low as €0.08/Wp. This cost efficiency masks deeper challenges: as prices fall, safety and system integrity risks grow, especially on the DC side of the system. Solar DC cables, though just 1.2% of CAPEX, carry 100% of the energy and the exposure. Their reliability is the foundation of the system. And yet, this is often where engineering decisions are de-scoped or delegated without a full understanding of the risk. Why DC Is Inherently Riskier Than AC Solar cells generate direct current (DC), which is harder to isolate than alternating current (AC). AC crosses zero volts 50 or 60 times per second, naturally extinguishing faults. DC has no such zero crossing. When a fault occurs, current continues to flow if sunlight is present. DC faults don't clear themselves. They can ignite, arc or persist unnoticed, making disconnection and protection much more critical than in AC systems. The traditional protection logic designed for AC systems, such as fuses and circuit breakers, often cannot detect or react to low-current DC arc faults. The result is that dangerous conditions can exist silently until thermal damage, fire or insulation failure occurs. How Cable Topology Amplifies Risk Large-scale PV systems use a rule of thumb of 15 km of DC cable per MWp installed. With 2.2 TWp globally, that's an estimated 30 million kilometres of energised DC cable. Most of this is 6 mm² (about 10 AWG) and operates at higher than usual DC voltage with significant environmental exposure—exceeding the voltage used in railway DC traction systems and many data centre DC bus architectures. Each meter of that cable—on rooftops, in trenches, across mounting rails—is a potential ignition point if not properly protected, installed and maintained. And each failure can result in loss of yield, insurance claims or, even worse, a major fire. Overvoltage, Cold Weather And Fuse Limitations Tier 1 module N-type can be strung in series up to 28 units. At 25°C, 28 modules generate around 1480 VDC. In cold weather, voltage increases further due to the negative temperature coefficient, easily pushing systems over 1500 VDC. This overvoltage can cause thermal runaway, and most fuses are ineffective at low current faults. This places heavy reliance on insulation integrity and correct voltage margin planning. The inability of conventional protection to detect early-stage faults means that damage can accumulate slowly, particularly in sites with extreme temperature swings, fluctuating irradiance or poor connector management. Material Quality And Fire Prevention Electron-beam cross-linked (EBXL) insulation provides superior fire and tracking resistance. Unlike chemically cross-linked compounds, EBXL avoids degradation, prevents rodent attraction and withstands higher temperatures. Rodent attacks, insulation creep, UV degradation and thermal fatigue are real-world causes of DC arc faults. These are not rare events; they are daily risks across global solar farms. Fire classification matters (e.g., CPR Cca-rated cable or higher, self-extinguishing, low smoke, halogen-free) should be the minimum standard to protect assets such as inverters. Connector Mismatch And Mechanical Stress MC4 connectors must be precisely matched to cable geometry and crimped correctly. If thermal cycling or vibration loosens a connection, or if insulation swells from heat and moisture, the result can be a resistive arc fault. Incorrectly torqued glands, fluctuating insulation jackets or incompatible connector inserts lead to failure points. Yet these are often overlooked in procurement and installation. The visual inspection of a connector cannot reveal internal crimp deformation, oxidation or micro-movement. These issues only surface when it's too late, often during peak irradiance and load. Backfeed And Inverter Blind Spots Modern inverters allow up to 24 strings in parallel. That's 48 cables (positive and negative) per unit. If one string faults, current can backfeed from healthy strings, sustaining a fault even if the inverter shuts down. MPPT tracking does not eliminate the risk. In fact, it may mask it. Without module-level isolation or arc suppression, faults remain live if there's sun. This makes string cable layout and parallel current modelling critical. Uneven aging, partial shading or connector failure in just one string can affect the entire array, even during normal operation. Systemic Scale: NREL's 75 TWp Net Zero Forecast According to NREL, "The increasing acceptance of PV technology has prompted the experts to suggest that about 75 terawatts or more of globally deployed PV will be needed by 2050 to meet decarbonization goals." That implies over 1 billion kilometres of DC string cable. At this scale, even rare events become statistically frequent. Without system-level and module-level protection, the risks grow faster than the grid. As more projects come online, the density of installed DC cable increases exponentially. Executive Takeaway: DC Safety Is a Strategic Asset Risk DC cable is not a commodity. It is the circulatory system of the entire $2 trillion solar asset base and has a growing annual installation rate projected to exceed 500 GWp, with total deployment needing to reach 3 TWp per year to meet NREL's Net Zero scenarios. To mitigate risk: The future isn't just fossil-free—it's DC-heavy. In order to prevent risks, we need to ensure we build it with precision. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Western Europe's car market down 1% in first half of year
According to GlobalData, the latest data on Western Europe's PV (passenger vehicles - cars) market showed that sales in the month of June had fallen 6% YoY to 1.1 million vehicles. The selling rate improved though, standing at 11.6 million units/year, from the 10.9 million units/year recorded the previous month. Overall, though, it has been a tough first half to 2025, with YTD sales down over 1%, on what is a weak base. Across the major five markets in the region, June was a mixed picture. Sales in both Spain and the UK grew well, YoY, though France, Germany and Italy were all lower (the latter two by double-digit percentages). The latest result reaffirms our view that the regional market will contract for the 2025 full year, reflecting ongoing lacklustre consumer confidence and subdued broader macroeconomic activity. For June, the PV selling rate for Western Europe stood at 11.6 million units/year, an improvement over the previous month and one of the better results seen over the first six months of the year. However, in YoY terms, the market fell back 6%, with over a third of the markets assessed here being down by double-digit percentages, and notably two of the big five markets. The results reflect a broader issue that the region is facing — anaemic economic growth. Some challenges are not restricted to the region, like increasing US trade protectionism, or heightened geopolitical concerns, but economically, Western Europe continues to struggle to find any real momentum, and that will be a key part of why we do not expect a major turn around in fortunes for the vehicle market this year. Not all markets struggled last month though. Spain's PV market continued its strong run of growth as the market improved for a tenth consecutive month. PV sales were up 15% YoY, totalling 119k units. YTD sales were 14% higher as the market continues to piggyback off a strongly performing economy while being supported by incentives. UK sales were also up well, climbing 7% and ensuring that market was in solid growth territory for the first six months of the year. However, the German PV market fell in June as sales totalled 256k units, a 14% decline YoY. Consumers are feeling financially strained and pessimistic about the economy, leading to reduced willingness to make major purchases like cars. Meanwhile, in France, the PV market has fallen in every month so far in 2025 on a YoY basis. YTD French sales stood at 842k units, representing an 8% decline from the same period in 2024 — political instability and a weakening labour market are contributing to decreased business confidence and investment, further challenging the automotive sector. Finally, Italy sales were down 17%, partially due to a strong base comparison and partly due to an unsupportive economic backdrop. This article was first published on GlobalData's dedicated research platform, the . "Western Europe's car market down 1% in first half of year – GlobalData" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
AsiaOne
08-07-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Reform Party to leave opposition group People's Alliance for Reform; 2 parties remain, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The Reform Party (RP) will withdraw from the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), leaving the opposition group with two of its four founding members. The People's Power Party (PPP) did the same in February ahead of the general election on May 3, while the Peoples Voice (PV) and Democratic Progressive Party remain. RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam announced his party's resignation, which takes effect at the end of July, in a post on the party's Facebook page on Monday (July 7). "We thank Lim Tean for his leadership and wish him and the other remaining parties in PAR all the best in the future," he said, referring to Mr Lim, secretary-general of PV and the PAR. Mr Jeyaretnam was the chairman of the alliance. Mr Lim told The Straits Times that the alliance, which will retain its current name, will continue into the next election "much bigger and stronger". Many new members and volunteers have joined since the polls, and the party's principles and message resonate with many, he added. The party intends to "greatly increase" its numbers in the coming years. "We wish the Reform Party well in their future endeavours and thank them for having been part of the alliance," said Mr Lim. The alliance's formation was announced in June 2023 with hopes of "opposition unity" and reducing three-cornered fights. But in February 2025, the PPP led by Mr Goh Meng Seng withdrew from the alliance, citing "irreconcilable strategic differences". Mr Lim said then that the remaining alliance members did not agree with the PPP's insistence on contesting Tampines GRC in a four-cornered fight, and also disagreed with the party's position on the Covid-19 vaccine. The PAR eventually fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies: Jalan Besar and Tanjong Pagar GRCs and Potong Pasir, Queenstown, Radin Mas and Yio Chu Kang SMCs. Both Potong Pasir and Radin Mas saw three-cornered fights in which PAR candidates lost their deposits. The alliance received 19.1 per cent of the votes across the six constituencies. The bulk of the candidates fielded were from PV, a party founded by Mr Lim in 2018. RP had one candidate in Queenstown — Mr Mahaboob Batcha. PV contested 10 seats at the 2020 General Election. The PAR held a meeting for volunteers and supporters on July 6, according to Mr Lim's Facebook page. He said the party was "quietly rebuilding" and had learnt from the recent election. After the session, which involved a number of PAR candidates from the 2025 election, Mr Lim said in a post that the alliance had come up with a plan which would be put into effect immediately. "A plan is of no use to a political party unless it is able to win elections. We are confident our plan will work and you will see its implementation in the coming years," he said. The Straits Times has contacted RP for comment. [[nid:719881]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'We are so proud of the way it looks right now': Ben Crenshaw delighted with retooling of International's Pines Course
Two-time Masters champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw is from Austin, Texas, but Massachusetts has played an important role in his golfing accomplishments. Crenshaw, 73, played in the U.S. Junior Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline when he was 16 years old, and the course's topography ignited his interest in golf course architecture. He couldn't get over how different the course's hills were than the flat courses he grew up playing in Texas. Crenshaw also met noted golf writer Herbert Warren Wind that week, and they became lifelong friends. In 1973, Crenshaw played in his first PGA Tour event at Pleasant Valley CC in Sutton after PV owner Cuzzy Mingolla gave him a sponsor exemption to reward him for earning medalist honors at three consecutive NCAA championships. He tied for 35th in the USI Classic at PV and earned $903. In 1999, he captained the U.S. at The Country Club to the greatest Ryder Cup comeback to that point. In 2004, Crenshaw and Bill Coore designed Old Sandwich Golf Club in Plymouth, ranked the sixth-best private golf course in the state this year by Golfweek's Best. Coore & Crenshaw have designed many golf courses in the U.S., Canada, China, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, and on June 6, their complete retooling of the Pines Course at the International in Bolton opened. Crenshaw and Coore returned to the International on opening weekend to ride around the Pines with officials from Escalante Golf of Fort Worth, Texas, which bought the club in 2021. As avid golf fans remember, when Crenshaw captained the 1999 U.S. Ryder Cup team at The Country Club in Brookline, he refused to give up on his squad after it fell behind, 10-6, entering the final day. No Ryder Cup team had ever overcome such a deficit, but Crenshaw told the media, 'I have a good feeling about this.' The media thought Crenshaw was crazy, but the U.S. rallied to beat Europe, 14½-13½. Crenshaw also had a good feeling about designing and building an entirely new Pines Course at the International in Bolton with Coore. This was the first time that Coore and Crenshaw built a new course on the site of an existing one. 'The character of the ground, vegetation and the sand, it all goes together,' Crenshaw said, 'and it makes you think you can do something special, you hope, and God we are so proud of the way it looks right now. It's matured quite a bit. It looks fun to play.' Escalante Golf purchased the region's only private 36-hole club for $10 million and has invested more than $40 million in upgrades. Construction of a new clubhouse and member cottages is planned. Architect Tripp Davis renovated the Oaks Course prior to it hosting a LIV Golf event in 2022. He primarily improved tees and bunkers on the 2001 Tom Fazio design. Then an overhaul of the Pines began. Geoffrey Cornish designed the Pines as a 8,040-yard course with steeply pitched greens and challenging bunkers. It opened in 1955 on the site of Runaway Brook CC, which opened in 1901 as a nine-hole public course. More: Coore, Crenshaw finish renovation of famously long golf course in Massachusetts In 1972, architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. softened several greens and bunkers on the Pines, but he also lengthened the course to 8,325 yards. The par-5 fifth hole was 715 yards long and had a green that measured nearly 90 yards long. For more than half a century, the Pines Course was known as the world's longest golf course. Coore & Crenshaw shortened the course to 7,103 yards with a par of 71. Coore, 78, said he couldn't think of another course that was designed more than 1,000 yards shorter than the original. When Crenshaw first visited the Pines in 2022, he asked to have the flags removed because he didn't want to know where the greens were when he envisioned the new layout. No corridor or green site remains from the previous version of the course. 'You touch on people's skills,' Crenshaw said. 'You don't want to beat them up. You want to encourage good play, you want to reward them. It's a very trite observation, but anybody can build a really difficult golf course, and that's not what you want. You want to welcome them and have each class of golfers have some thrills.' The Pines is also one of the region's few courses to feature fescue grass on tees, fairways and in the rough. Crenshaw said he's still grateful that Mingolla gave him his first sponsor exemption, and he was surprised that he did. 'It kind of came out of the blue,' he said, 'but I had played some good golf, so I guess I was worthy of a nod.' Crenshaw returned to play in several PGA Tour events at PV, and he finished second in 1976 to Buddy Allin and in 1978 to Lou Graham, both times by one stroke. When in the area to play PV, Crenshaw made the short drive to play Whitinsville Golf Club with Steve Melynk and a couple of other players. They heard it was a Donald Ross course and wanted to go play the nine-hole course that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. 'We were very thankful to Whitinsville for letting us do that,' Crenshaw said. 'It was a wonderful nine-hole golf course. People don't know that about New England. There are wonderful nine-hole golf courses all through New England, and it has nothing to do with the number of holes, it has to do with the character of the holes. But it was wonderful to see.' Crenshaw especially loved the challenging, par-4 ninth hole. 'Oh gosh, a gorgeous hole,' he said. 'You remember holes like that.' Crenshaw knows his golf history. So he knows all about Bobby Jones calling a penalty stroke on himself that cost him the 1925 U.S. Open championship at Worcester CC. He even recited what Jones said after the media praised him for his honesty in calling the penalty stroke: 'You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank.' He's also well aware that Worcester CC hosted the first Ryder Cup in 1927. 'I never did make it to Worcester Country Club,' Crenshaw said. 'I should have.' Worcester CC head pro Andy Lane said he'd loved to have Crenshaw play the course. 'First off, we welcome Mr. Crenshaw to come and play Worcester Country Club any time,' Lane said, 'and I think it's exciting. With all these centennials and Ryder Cup celebrations coming up, I think Worcester is kind of the center of attention in golf here in New England. Each day gets a little more exciting as we approach that 100-year anniversary of that first Ryder Cup, and obviously with guys like Ben Crenshaw, who are pioneers in the game of the golf affiliated with Ryder Cups, we can't wait to get him out here to play.' 'I'd love to see it because I know it's a Ross course,' Crenshaw said. Nevertheless, Crenshaw is familiar with golf in Massachusetts. 'It's traditional,' he said. 'It's been a leader forever, historically. People that know golf know that it's quality. It's been that way forever, and I'm extremely proud to be part of it.' Of course, Crenshaw is most proud of captaining the 1999 U.S. Ryder Cup team to victory at TCC. When he saw Justin Leonard sink a 45-foot birdie putt on 17 on the final day to help win the cup, he thought of Francis Ouimet sinking sizable putts on 17 in the final round of regulation and the playoff to help him win the 1913 U.S. Open at TCC. 'That's pretty eerie,' Crenshaw said. 'I've called him (Leonard) Francis ever since.' On April 15, Michael Galvin became the general manager at the International after serving as director of agronomy for five years. He was the superintendent the previous four years at Red Tail GC in Devens after working on the grounds crew at Wedgewood Pines in Stow for two and on Long Island for 15. Galvin replaced Tom Barnard, who retired after one season for health reasons. 'I've always thought about it in my career whether I'd be 55 years old and still being a superintendent,' the 44-year-old Galvin said. 'Being a superintendent is a grind. It's early hours. You're at the mercy of Mother Nature. The opportunity came up, and with where we are right now with Coore and Crenshaw and where we're going and the support of all of Escalante, I felt it was the right decision to make to keep this going in the right direction.' Galvin said the International has 302 members and that he and the club's two membership directors would like to boost that total.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
P.V. Narasimha Rao's portrait unveiled at Raj Bhavan
Governor of Telangana Jishnu Dev Varma unveiled the portrait of former Prime Minister of India P.V. Narasimha Rao, at Raj Bhavan, on the eve of the distinguished leader's birth anniversary. Commemorating the occasion with floral tributes, the Governor paid rich homage to the legacy of P.V. Narasimha Rao, hailing him as a transformative figure in India's modern history. He lauded PV's pioneering contributions in ushering economic liberalisation, strengthening foreign policy and advancing the education sector. Recalling him as a 'statesman-scholar', the Governor emphasised his intellectual prowess, administrative acumen and unwavering commitment to national progress. The Governor also announced that the portrait of another towering national leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be unveiled at Raj Bhavan on Kargil Vijay Diwas (July 26) this year. A special ceremony to honour Kargil War veterans will also be organised to mark the proud occasion. With the addition of PV's portrait, the Raj Bhavan is already embellished with portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and the last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan, representing India's diverse and distinguished leadership. Principal Secretary to the Governor M. Dana Kishore and senior officials were present.
