U.S. scientists develop air-bridge thermophotovoltaic cells with 44% efficiency
U.S. scientists have developed a thermophotovoltaic cell that could be paired with inexpensive thermal storage to provide power on demand. The indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) thermophotovoltaic cell absorbs most of the in-band radiation to generate electricity, while serving as a nearly perfect mirror.
Australian grid operator backs community battery to boost network stability
Ausgrid, a distributed network provider in the Australian state of New South Wales, has powered up its third battery energy storage system under the federal government’s AUD 200 million ($132 million) Community Batteries for Household Solar program.
California is now a batteries-based rooftop solar market
About 60% of energy customers in California have included battery energy storage with their rooftop solar installations. However, a “sustained downturn” is expected for the market.
Nigeria to deploy 250 MW of distributed solar
Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency is partnering with Husk Power Systems for interconnected minigrids and isolated minigrids, rooftop commercial and industrial (C&I) solar, productive use of energy (PUE) initiatives, appliance sales, and financing.
Improving PV module performance with thermoelectric heat storage based on PCM
Scientists in China have fabricated a prototype of a PV system integrating phase change materials, a thermoelectric generator and thermal collectors. The three technologies are intended to cool the solar panel and increase its power generation efficiency.
Daewoo releases hybrid battery-inverters for residential PV
Daewoo’s new hybrid inverters feature LiFePO4 batteries. They are available in six variants, with power ratings ranging from 0.5 kVA to 10 kVA.
Hybrid hydrogen-battery system for off-grid PV-powered homes
Conceived by a Dutch research group, the proposed system is intended to store surplus renewable electricity via hydrogen generation and battery storage, with the latter being used only when hydrogen generation is not immediately available. Despite its high initial costs, the system can reportedly offer stable operation.
Faulty installations often to blame for battery fires
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and German battery analysis specialist Twaice have jointly evaluated 26 battery fires between 2018 and 2023. They say that the diversity of components plays a critical role in igniting fires.
Australian startup, EDF team up to test electrolzyer tech
A startup spun out of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has secured a grant to build a 5 kW electrolyzer that will be deployed at a UK power plant operated by French energy utility EDF.
Spain’s storage deployments hit 495 MWh in 2023
According to new data from trade body UNEF, Spain reached 1.823 MWh of cumulative storage capacity at the end of December 2023.
