First Solar

First Solar and Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, a division of Nel ASA, a supplier of hydrogen technology, said they will develop integrated photovoltaic/hydrogen power plants.

First Solar and Nel will initially collaborate to develop an integrated power plant control and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The development of this network architecture is critical to enable optimisation of PV-electrolyser hybrid projects, resulting in low total cost of hydrogen and electricity. After that, the two will explore  ways of optimising and integrating technology throughout the solar and hydrogen production plant.

In statements, both companies stressed their desire to deliver the lowest total cost of solar to hydrogen possible. Both also noted that First Solar’s low-carbon production of its cadmium-telluride modules was significant for keeping emissions low.

Because the partnership is so recent in nature, no project timelines have been released as of yet.

This article originally appeared on pv-magazine-usa.com, and has been republished with permission by pv magazine (www.pv-magazine.com and www.pv-magazine-usa.com).