Renewable energy heat batteries for industrial applications gain funding
Startup Rondo Energy closed a $22 million Series A funding round to decarbonize industrial processes with equipment that converts solar and wind energy into thermal energy.
Recycled silicon used in 19.7% efficient PERC solar cells
Led by German research institute Fraunhofer ISE, the consortium has built the solar cells with 100% crystalline silicon recycled from end-of-life photovoltaic panels. The silicon is recycled through a technique conceived by German specialist Reiling GmbH & Co. KG and the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP.
Sunrise brief: Ford, Sunrun to backup solar homes with the electric F-150 truck when the grid goes down
Also on the rise: Phoenix solar market could be brought back to life. Owners of distributed solar and distributed storage may soon earn money from participating in wholesale markets through an aggregator. Hyperlight licenses design of plastic CSP receiver from NREL. Fire at Vistra’s Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility not caused by battery. Mississippi Power issues RFP seeking 200MW of solar. Cybersecurity specialist offers considerations for renewable power plants. Massachusetts community solar to provide electricity bill credits to low-income subscribers
Hyperlight Energy signs exclusive license with NREL for CSP receiver design
The design improves the performance of linear Fresnel reflector receivers used in Hyperlight’s concentrated solar power platform.
Fuel cell manufacturer moves HQ to green hydrogen hub in Ohio
Hyperion will invest more than $297 million in the new facility in Columbus, Ohio, where it will manufacture its next-generation hydrogen fuel cell, which will power its new line of stationary and mobile energy storage products, including its XP-1 hypercar.
Canadian hydropower dam to be coupled with 180MW of lithium-ion battery storage
TransAlta has planned to start construction on the storage facility in March 2023 and to complete it within nine months. The 180MW battery facility is designed to be charged by the existing Ghost Hydroelectric facility when demand is lower.
Louisville startup secures $2 million funding for copper paste that may lower cost of solar
Bert Thin Films, a University of Louisville research-backed startup, is developing a copper-based paste that may replace silver components in solar panels.
Pulling fertilizer out of thin air with solar power
Nitricity has put together an experimental plasma reactor that uses solar electricity to produce competitively priced, environmentally clean, nitrogen fertilizer. Their onsite fertilizer production eliminates emissions from transporting fertilizers, and provides a viable alternative to fossil consuming nitrogen fixation methods like the Haber-Bosch process.
Sunrise brief: Palmetto captures PV potential of roughly 75% of U.S. rooftops
Also on the rise: Aerial inspection and site data service provider, Heliolytics, acquired by NovaSource. Solar panel recycling firm teams up with Solaris. Investment gets Texas PV developer IndustrialSun ready for launch. Community solar moves forward in Illinois. International team of researchers develop solar-powered hydrogen energy platform.
Solar-powered hydrogen for domestic applications via building-integrated transparent platform
An international research group has created a closed-loop, transparent energy platform based on PV power generation and hydrogen production from photo-electrochemical cells. The system is claimed to supply power without interruption and to be transparent enough to be integrated into buildings.
