100 hours and longer: ARPA-E seeks 5¢/kWh energy storage
The U.S. government’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy is offering up to $30 million in funding to build innovative technologies to enable long-duration energy storage, with the aim to provide reliable electricity from 10 to roughly 100 hours, and longer.
Solar power tax incentives fall almost 50% as installations increase 300%
An analysis by the Department of Energy shows electricity generation from solar growing 32% annually since 2000. Meanwhile, the tax benefits claimed for solar fell from just over $2 billion in 2013 to just over $1 billion in 2016.
Berkeley Lab scientists discover coating to capture near-infrared light
A team of researchers the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has discovered a method of coating particles with organic dye, which can capture near infrared light, a breakthrough which could greatly boost solar cell efficiency by capturing a larger section of the light spectrum.
California blows through solar power, renewable energy output records
California has set a new record for peak output of utility-scale solar at more than 10.5 GW, as well as for renewable energy overall. However, the state’s grid operator is still curtailing solar and wind while hydro and the last nuclear plant run full-steam.
DOE lashes out at 1366 Technologies
1366 Technologies, “recipient” of an undisbursed $150 million manufacturing loan guarantee, has received an aggressively-worded letter from the U.S. Department of Energy as it seeks a Section 201 exemption.
Getting solar power in Illinois beyond FEJA
Illinois’s solar market under the Future Energy Jobs Act is just getting started, but a business group is calling for the next governor and state legislature to provide less restriction and more action in community and distributed solar programs.
Microlink Devices hits 37.75% efficiency for triple junction cell
Microlink Devices has achieved a record efficiency of 37.75% on its triple junction thin film cells, as confirmed by NREL. The lightweight cell achieves a power density of more than 3000 W/kg, and is designed for use in satellites and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
Wunder Capital raises $112 million to scale C&I finance solutions
The solar finance technology company’s Series B financing round is 30x larger than its Series A round a year ago.
Solar power electronics get $20 million from DOE
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced up to $20 million in funding for nine projects to advance early-stage solar power electronics technologies.
Dynapower signs master supply agreement with Viridity
Viridity Energy Solutions has signed Dynapower to be its master supplier of inverters and fully integrated energy storage systems. Viridity also chose Dynapower to manage two 20MW/20MWh systems.
