Battery storage challenges: Materials, longevity and project management
An academic event held last week in the U.K. presenting the results of two major research projects on energy storage provided an update on the current and future directions of battery storage technology and development.
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.
Crystalline silicon outpaces thin-film in the U.S. large-scale solar market
U.S. Department of Energy data from 2016 shows crystalline silicon deployment surging last year, while thin-film grows at a more modest pace. Are manufacturing constraints to blame?
Silfab, Morgan Solar JV plans large-scale production in Canada
In a unique partnership, the two Canadian companies are set to integrate low concentration optic technology into standard solar PV modules, in a move which they say will see cost savings of up to 30% and a silicon reduction of up to 80%. A “significant” factory ramp up is underway, with large-scale plans in the pipeline.
Broadening clean energy deployment: Jigar Shah on Generate Capital
In this interview Jigar Shah talks about his firm Generate Capital and its mission to bring funding to previously overlooked but promising clean energy technologies.
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.
Berkeley scientists boost battery capacities
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have made progress with cathodes made from ‘disordered’ materials, a technology which could greatly increase the storage capacity of lithium batteries.
Microlink partners with NREL on heterojunction technology
Semiconductor maker Microlink Devices has signed an exclusive deal with the national lab to commercialize a type of lightweight heterojunction solar cell architecture, which could be utilized in powering satellites and aircraft.
