Three steps to fast-charging potassium batteries
Scientists led by Moscow’s Skolkovo Institute of Technology have drawn upon several of their recent battery material innovations to create a potassium-ion device. The institute says its development will pave the way for ultrafast and durable, high capacity metal-ion batteries, to supply rising demand for energy storage innovations.
Flexible energy supply companies hampered by lack of policy
Britain’s renewable energy trade body has published a report examining the state of flexibility market readiness in nine European markets. The result makes for sobering reading for Germany, France and the U.K.
Tesla to build first European gigafactory in Germany
Elon Musk has promised a fab near Berlin that will help create up to 10,000 new jobs. Tesla wants to build the facility near the city’s controversial new BER airport.
Sonnen adds electric cars and rooftop PV to its monthly payment plan
Sonnen presented two new products in the usual hip ambiance of Berlin E-Werk. In addition to home storage and electricity, the company now offers electric cars and PV systems with battery storage on a subscription model in Germany.
Flixbus plans hydrogen buses on long-distance routes
Parent company FlixMobility plans to test hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Europe.
SunPower splits in two
The U.S. company’s transformation from solar manufacturer to the second-largest residential PV company in the nation is complete after it spun off its high-efficiency cell and module production unit into a new entity, in partnership with Chinese wafer maker TZS.
Centrica’s local energy market in Cornwall pioneers third-party grid flexibility procurement
With hundreds of homes and businesses having received solar-plus-storage systems and monitoring equipment, an algorithm is managing a market for flexibility and capacity in Cornwall. Homeowners with storage can place bids to sell energy from their systems to the distribution system owner on an intraday basis.
Moixa reaches 100 MWh of virtual power plant capacity in Japan
The company says its network is the largest fleet of batteries under virtual power plant management worldwide.
Solar-plus-storage vs grid enhancement part V
A project on Isabela Island in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago has given its 3,500 inhabitants energy generated by local resources, including plant oil produced on the continent. Preferable to a logistically challenging and hyper expensive extension of the mainland grid, if the $13 million island system were installed today, it would be cheaper than when it was contracted four years ago.
Singapore developer announces $20m plans for four more Philippines microgrids
WEnergy was celebrating the commissioning of its solar-diesel-storage off-grid network on the island of Palawan. Four more networks could come online within two years, said the developer, as part of a planned 15 microgrids in the nation.
