New record for solar cell efficiency – 39.5% – built upon quantum wells
Using highly specialized materials that capture electrons in quantum wells, NREL set a new solar cell efficiency record.
UL releases modeling software for utility scale energy storage
The software, called HOMER Front, is designed for standalone or hybrid solar or wind-plus-storage applications, aimed at maximizing revenue streams.
Perovskites studied as potential material for producing hydrogen in a renewable way
NREL researchers look at perovskite materials for solar-fuel platform that supports DOE’s HydroGEN project.
Power Electronic Grid Interface streamlines the transition to a more modern grid
The PEGI platform, under development at NREL, shows promise for controlling and deploying upcoming power electronic devices on the grid of the future by submitting new concepts and technologies to the rigor of real-world operations.
MIT, NREL researchers develop 40%-efficient thermophotovoltaic cell for grid-scale thermal batteries
The device is described as a heat engine with no moving parts that is able to produce power from a heat source of between 1,900 to 2,400 C. This concept is known as thermal energy grid storage (TEGS) and consists of a low-cost, grid-scale storage technology that uses thermophotovoltaic cells to convert heat to electricity above 2,000 C.
Sunrise brief: Reduce, re-use, recycle–PV ICE modeling tool helps predict flow of solar materials
Also on the rise: Minnesota’s renewable generation has risen 60% over the past decade, providing 28% of Minnesota’s generation in 2021. Mosaic solar finance company reaches $7 billion in loans funded. Leeward Renewable Energy, First Solar come to terms on module supply agreement. Growatt unveils solar rechargeable portable power station.
PV in the Circular Economy: Modeling tool helps predict flow of solar materials
PV ICE uses the latest data from the solar industry to model the flow of PV materials over the next several decades, helping to predict the effects of different market trends, technological developments, and government policies.
NREL’s eight storage projections through 2050
NREL’s final report on the future of storage, drawing from a series of six in-depth studies, presents “key learnings” from across those studies.
Storing renewables in depleted oil and gas wells
US researchers have proposed the use of hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells to store renewable energy via compressed natural gas, with the levelized cost of storage potentially coming in at $70/MWh and $270/MWh. They said wells could also be used to store other renewable gases such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen in the future.
Solar forecasting teams win $300,000 in prizes from government competition
The Solar Energy Technology group awarded $50,000 to five groups for most accurately predicting solar generation data over a four week period, at ten geographically diverse sites across the US.
