You may be able to wirelessly charge your EV this year
WiTricity unveiled plans for an aftermarket wireless charging station for select electric vehicle models.
IBM, ABB, and Worley team up to help energy companies build and operate green hydrogen facilities
The collaboration aims to offer a digitally enabled solution for facility owners to build green hydrogen assets more quickly, cheaply, and safely.
Lithium beneath the Salton Sea
The geothermal field beneath California’s Salton Sea contains brine that may hold from one to six million metric tons of lithium, an essential element for producing batteries. A Berkeley Lab study aims to evaluate the resource.
Sunrise brief: Utilities appeal FERC denial to leave TVA–decision goes to courts
Also on the rise: LONGi modules detained under Hoshine WRO released. IBC solar cells shows efficiency potential of over 29%. SPI to begin manufacturing in former Sunergy plant. Is accelerated interconnection possible? Build Back Better now or later.
Standardization turns EV potential to reality
Mass adoption of electric vehicles presents boundless opportunities for these vehicles to support our grid and power our homes. Developing and adopting standards for this emergent technology is needed to accelerate the path to these opportunities.
Novel IBC solar cell architecture based on crystal photonics shows efficiency potential of 29.1%
Scientists in Germany designed a poly-Si on oxide (POLO) interdigitated back-contact (IBC) solar cell integrating photon crystals and found this architecture has the potential to reach a power conversion efficiency of over 28%, which would be 1% higher than the current practical limit set by the scientific community. They also found that by improving passivation, the efficiency may be raised up to 29.1%.
Sunrise brief: Schneider Electric purchases controlling stake in EnergySage
Also on the rise: Perch Energy to bring community solar to Massachusetts. US start-up mPower Technology is scaling up its flexible crystalline silicon solar module technology for spatial and terrestrial applications. Popular mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience store chain, Sheetz, has come to a long-term renewable energy supply agreement with Constellation. Ohio regulators approve 325MW solar project. The Massachusetts Solar Technical Assistance Retrofits program has committed to 3MW of development. Despite Q4 loss, REC Silicon has big plans for US polysilicon manufacturing.
Flexible PV panels based on hyperconnected back-contact solar cells
US start-up mPower Technology is scaling up its flexible crystalline silicon solar module technology for spatial and terrestrial applications. The back-contact solar panels consist of micro-singulated silicon dies that are “hyper-interconnected” in series or in parallel. The devices have efficiency ranging from 22 to 23% depending on the size or applications.
NREL launches 100% renewables study for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has 40GW of solar potential, said national lab staff in a webinar. The 100% study will begin by modeling the renewables milestones set by Puerto Rico law.
Solar cells used for high-speed underwater wireless data transmission
Breaking research reveals solar cells can be used as lens-free, high-speed optical detectors in underwater environments. The research team said the devices may offer a lower-cost alternative to lensed devices.
