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More than 300 entries from 36 countries were received for the pv magazine Awards 2024 , making this year’s program the most competitive yet. From modules and inverters to projects and storage, innovation has been present across the board.
The winners of the pv magazine Awards 2024 have been revealed, celebrating success in a record year for solar and storage.
This year’s awards programme was more competitive than ever, attracting 308 entries from 36 countries. Following a process in which 20 independent juries from around the world evaluated the submitted solutions, eight pv magazine Awards winners were chosen .
New standards in module efficiency, the rise of batteries and innovation across the supply chain were all evident in this year’s entries. Investment in capacity, quality and R&D shined through, but what was most impressive in 2024 was the industry’s continued ability to find new approaches. From cables and inverters to module manufacturing and mega projects, our expert jury members were inundated with examples of teams and people finding new avenues to explore.
Commenting on the 2024 entrants , Mark Hutchins, managing editor of pv magazine , said: “These solar and energy storage innovators clearly demonstrate that our industry is ready to play a bigger role in feeding the world.”
And the winners are…
Modules
Winner: Aiko Solar Energy, Infinite Module Series.
Aiko is not the first manufacturer to adopt back contact technology, but the third generation of its All Back Contact (ABC) module series is setting new standards for high performance. It boasts a module efficiency of 25%, which translates into an increase in power from 20 to 30 watts. This brings its rooftop module to a power output of 655 W to 680 W and its commercial-scale device to over 700 Wp.
Special mention: Astronergy, Astro N7 series
Investors
Winner: Kostal Solar Electric, Plenticore G3.
Kostal’s Plenticore G3 is designed for the residential solar market. One of its most innovative features is its future-proof design. For example, homeowners can initially purchase the Plenticore G3 as a basic solar inverter and later unlock additional features, such as hybrid inverter capability for battery integration, through a software update.
Special mention: Ingeteam, INGECON H2 E Series
Winning Projects
: Proa Analytics, Capacity Forecasting.
Proa Analytics used advanced energy forecasting and management systems to bring the plants back into operation in accordance with demanding technical regulations. The Australian company’s capacity forecasting system has enabled two grid-connected photovoltaic plants to deliver firm power to the grid: the 10 MW Robertson Barracks solar farm and the 3.2 MW Royal Australian Air Force Darwin solar farm. Thanks to more accurate forecasting, both plants can meet the Northern Territory government’s technical specifications for connecting to the grid.
Special Mention: Arevon Energy, Inc., Vikings solar-plus-storage project
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Winner: Fike Corporation, Fike Blue.
Battery thermal runaway incidents are a relatively new phenomenon, and while battery fires remain rare, effective extinguishing methods are vital. US company Fike Corporation has brought its own solution to market with Fike Blue, a product billed as “the first proven, patented solution that not only suppresses the fire, but also stops cascading thermal runaway.”
Special Mention: Twaice, Twaice Performance Manager
Special Mention: Elisa, Elisa Distributed Energy Storage (DES)
Balance of System
Winner: Shoals Technologies Group, 2 kV Solutions Portfolio.
Shoals Technologies Group is leading the transition to 2 kV system architecture. Proponents of 2 kV direct current (DC) architecture for solar equipment argue that it will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance scalability.
In previous transitions, standard voltage levels have moved from 600V to 1kV, followed by the move to 1.5kV which is now the norm in 2024. Deployment of 2kV systems has been slow as higher power introduces greater potential for safety risks, which is why quality cabling is key.
Special mention: SenseHawk, TaskMapper
Manufacturing
Winner: Wavelabs, Flashboard.
German company Wavelabs has long been one of the leading suppliers of test equipment used on production lines. With its Flashboard solution, Wavelabs enables manufacturers to make better use of “big data.” The company notes that while many manufacturers are integrating additional sensors and collecting data at various stages of cell processing, obtaining actionable insights from these numerous data points remains a time-consuming challenge.
The Flashboard solution is based on algorithms that Wavelabs says are “tried and tested” and “ensure both accurate results and easy handling of production data.”
Special mention: Fusion Bionic, laser functionalization for solar glass
Sustainability
Winner: Voltfang, Energy storage system using green batteries
German battery manufacturer Voltfang is a company built on the circular economy. Voltfang repurposes lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) to build its energy storage systems, extending the life of the batteries and offering a 10-year warranty in the process.
Voltfang launched its first outdoor battery energy storage system (BESS) in 2023 and has been developing an expanded range comprising indoor and outdoor BESS for domestic and commercial applications, with a containerized solution now in development.
Special Mention: CND LLC, MEP-CIEMCR, PowerSystems Rwanda Ltd., DatumZero Design
Editors
Choice Winner: Waaree Energies Ltd.
Waaree Energies has been awarded the Publishers Pick at the pv magazine Awards 2024 , in recognition of its pioneering efforts in the Indian PV market and beyond.
Each year, pv magazine Awards recognize companies from around the world for their contribution to the solar and storage sectors. Waaree Energies was selected by pv magazine editor Eckhart K. Gouras, who praised the company for its role in the Indian PV market and its success in expanding solar manufacturing capacity outside of China.
“Given Waaree’s pioneering efforts in the Indian PV market, and its continued leadership position in India, we have selected Waaree as this year’s Editor’s Choice Award winner,” Gouras said. “This is the first time we have honored an Indian company with this award and recognizes the great strides the Indian PV market – and Waaree – have made since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ambitious program to boost the Indian solar industry.”
For full coverage of the pv magazine Awards 2024 , see the Winter issue of pv magazine Global , available now. |
