Flow battery capacity and longevity boosted by an unexpected ingredient
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory demonstrated the use of sugar water to improve the performance of flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.
Solar generated 7% of U.S. electricity in April
Solar electricity was up 16% from 2022, a relatively modest increase due to lower deployed solar capacity in 2022 than in 2021. For the year, solar has covered 5% of all electricity so far, with emission-free sources greater than 43%.
U.S. national labs evaluate potential for floating solar in Southeast Asia
The labs assessed the technical potential for floating PV and underlined its co-benefits in environmental protection and food security.
Using existing fences as near-zero-cost racking solution for PV deployment
Researchers are proposing to use steel zip ties to attach solar modules to fences in animal farms as a low-cost racking solution for agrivoltaic applications. They found the proposed approach is technically and economically viable, provided careful wind load tests are conducted on the fences.
Sunrise brief: Biden hails clean energy investments at new Enphase manufacturing site
Also on the rise: Michigan energy storage bills can serve as a model for the nation. DOE announces $45 million for pilot manufacturing of solar components. And more.
New guidelines for inter-row spacing of PV power plants
A Canadian research group has applied new guidelines for ground coverage ratios to 31 locations in Mexico, the United States and Canada. It found the new formulae show that the factors affecting inter-row energy yield loss are highly dependent on latitude.
New study finds growing inequality in metal footprints of renewable power value chains
A U.S.-Chinese research team has investigated the flow of iron, copper, aluminum, and other precious metals from source to end-use destination in the renewable energy infrastructure value chain. It found significant imbalances that can be attributed to the continuous outsourcing of metal demand for the renewable power sector to developing economies.
NREL study builds framework to accommodate EV-charging infrastructure
A multi-state electric vehicle charging network meant to cater to the more than 42 million EVs projected to hit the road by 2030.
Beef cattle agrivoltaics on an Oregon family ranch
Bear Valley Solar will deploy 240 kW of the 1.5 MW cattle-sited solar field pasture this year, with the first phase of construction ramping up this summer, developer David McFeeters-Krone tells pv magazine USA.
Roof-integrated solar takes 44% less time to install on new construction
A time-motion study by NREL discovered that retrofitting installations of roof-integrated photovoltaics takes 7% less labor time than standard solar installations. For new construction, the installation time drops by 44%.
