NREL scientists observe perovskite degradation at nano-scale
A team from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed a novel microscopic technique, which enables them to observe degradation in perovskite materials at the nano-scale and pinpoint key areas to improve the stability and durability of the material.
UMass scientists boost polymer-chain storage efficiency
A team from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass) have developed a polymer based energy storage system, which releases energy on demand as heat. The scientists say that their system utilizes a polymer chain ‘organized like a string of Christmas lights’ and can achieve more than double the storage density of previous polymer based systems.
From the editor: Renewable energy and information pollution
A recent article in Bloomberg View illustrates clearly the mythology and misinformation that abounds regarding renewable energy, which in many cases is spread by the media.
IEA explores paths to PV and wind integration
The International Energy Agency has released a manual for policy makers on the issues involved in the large scale integration of solar and wind power into power grids.
DOE funds $12 million in solar-generation modeling research
Despite some fears that the Department of Energy might stop funding solar research under the leadership of Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, the department continues to provide money for solar research.
GAO: Trump Admin’s attempts to undermine ARPA-E were illegal
After Congress allocated $91 million to the research program, the Department of Energy withheld it. The Government Accountability Office says that violated federal law.
U.S. scientists use hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites to increase solar cell efficiency
Research funded by the US Department of Energy and conducted by the University of Virginia has demonstrated how the rotation of organic molecules in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites may expand the lifetime of photo-excited charge carriers.
APS to study smart home features including solar and batteries
The utility plans to outfit 75 homes with rooftop PV systems and energy management tools – including batteries on 10 homes – as a means to look at how behind-the-meter resources interact with each other.
Have your solar electricity and eat tomatoes, too?
A California university demonstrates using translucent dye-treated glazing for PV powered greenhouses that can also provide photosynthetic light for plant growing.
NREL hits new efficiency record for quantum dot cell
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have created a solar cell using colloidal quantum dots, which achieved 13.4% conversion efficiency – a new world record for this emerging technology.
