Inlyte Energy moves toward U.S. manufacturing of iron-sodium batteries
The startup’s collaboration with the Swiss company, Horien Salt Battery Solutions, is set to accelerate the commercialization of its low-cost, long-duration energy storage technology.
California solar on canals initiative moves forward
The California Solar Canal Initiative project aims to use information gained in a University of California, Merced study and begin to identify communities willing to generate electricity with solar arrays over their canals.
Designing a Dyson sphere using photovoltaic modules
A photovoltaic Dyson sphere is a theoretical megastructure that could provide vast amounts of energy for interstellar space travel and large-scale technological endeavors.
Federal regulator recommends using automation to speed interconnection
A FERC commissioner said that automation software took just ten days to reproduce an interconnection cluster study for renewables projects that had taken two years of human labor to complete. He said he hopes to meet soon with grid operators to discuss interconnection automation.
Cadmium telluride vs. crystalline silicon in agrivoltaics
Researchers in Canada compared strawberry growth under uniform illumination from semi-transparent thin-film cadmium telluride panels and non-uniform illumination from semi-transparent crystalline silicon modules.
A federal grid planning authority could counter utility incentives to stall transmission
Utilities that own fossil generation can benefit from congested transmission that blocks renewables, an economics professor found. In related work, a law professor proposed a federal grid planning authority to cure transmission delays, as well as near-term measures in that direction.
Field survey protocol for monitoring PV backsheet degradation
A research group including scientists from U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Underwriter’s Laboratories Inc., and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has outlined a new protocol for assessing PV module backsheet degradation in the field. Through the proposed framework, the researchers analyzed PV backsheet degradation across 41 sites, with exposure times ranging from 1 to 38 years.
AI-based solution designed to help utilities shore up the grid
Itron and NVIDIA partner on a platform intended to bring utilities grid resilience, disaster management and prevention, consumer engagement, and operational efficiency.
Global solar installations could reach 1 terawatt next year
BloombergNEF reports that the world installed nearly 600 gigawatts of solar power in 2024, closely aligning with projections that annual global solar installations will surpass 1 terawatt within the next few years. Although projections for 2025 currently fall short of that pace, early forecasts often underestimate actual deployment.
Indoor transition metal dichalcogenide solar cells may reach 36.5% efficiency
New research from Stanford University has investigated the performance limits of transition metal dichalcogenide solar cells for indoor energy harvesting intended for powering internet of things (IoT) devices and sensors. The analysis showed these cells may reach a power conversion efficiency of up to 36.5%.
