The inner workings of a lithium battery
An international group of scientists has developed a method to track the microscopic processes at work in lithium batteries. Employing a ‘virtual unrolling’ model developed for ancient manuscripts too sensitive to be opened, the group peeked inside the layers of a commercial battery to gain a better understanding of the processes at work and the degradation mechanisms affecting them.
Explosive growth: BNEF expects California residential battery installations to quadruple this year
As a California installer has said, “I kind of compliment PG&E because they’re our best marketing department when it comes to battery storage. Now the challenge is there’s a very limited number of battery storage systems that are going to meet the reliability threshold.”
Energy storage innovations and exhibitors at Intersolar San Diego
EMP/solar flare-hardened gear, storage-behind-the-PV-module and Generac made appearances at the Intersolar show in Southern California last week.
Morning Brief: 200 MW proposed in Utah and ‘God likes solar’
Also in the brief: 150 MW coming to Pennsylvania, Sunnova to bundle roof replacements with solar+storage under one loan, a solar-powered big rig in Arkansas and more!
New SunPower: Focusing on building the world’s highest efficiency PV modules at Maxeon Solar
In part 2 of our interview, the SunPower brain trust talks about scaling-up its high-efficiency PV technology in a way that it has not been able to do in the past — now that it has cash and a definitive focus.
Morning Brief: Rhode Island utilities collaborate on solar contract, Utah battery incentive program proposed
Today in the brief: True Green Capital Management closes financing for 70 MW New York community solar portfolio, Connecticut regulators decide to be honest, Brightcore Energy names chief strategy officer and more.
How to solve Hawaii’s solar and storage problems
“Smart imports” could be the solution Hawaii needs. Two new bills that would allow smart imports are pending this month in Hawaii’s 2020 legislative session.
Morning Brief: Glidepath to construct a massive battery portfolio in New York, NEXTracker Releases NX Navigator control system
Today in the brief: Soltage buys a 40 MW Oregon solar portfolio, Warburg Pincus to make a $300M investment in startup Scale Microgrid, a study questionin the emissions related to solar as a resource and more.
Ethical energy storage needs ethical strategies for cobalt supply
Amnesty International has denounced cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo for human rights violations and the use of child labor since 2016. This has led LG Chem and other companies to insist on standards for battery cell suppliers.
The new SunPower: CEO Tom Werner on disintegrating a PV firm and software eating solar-plus-storage
“It’s what we’ve talked about for many years — it makes sense to produce energy where you use it. And it makes sense that it would be intelligent and easily optimized. The new SunPower will focus exclusively on accomplishing that.”
