Off-grid solar EV charging system designed for quick installation
The PairTree off-grid solar charging system for electric vehicles (EVs) combines bifacial solar panels ranging from 4.6 kW to 5 kW, a 42.4 kWh capacity storage system, and one or two AC “Level 2” EV chargers.
Coupling ground-source heat pumps with heat storage, borehole heat exchangers
Scientists from China have developed a novel optimization method for medium-depth ground source heat pumps, using an improved chaos particle swarm optimization. They coupled it with either a heat storage tank or a shallow borehole heat exchanger and found that both system typologies increase the heat pump’s coefficient of performance.
The solar rebound effect in residential PV
The rebound effect consists of a reduction in expected gains from a more resource-efficient technology as a result of behavioral or systemic change. An international research team has investigated this phenomenon in the residential PV segment in Vietnam and has found that it could happen in any country where the policy supporting solar power is not fully and scientifically explained.
Dutch startup offering cell string optimizers for solar panels
Netherlands-based Taylor, a spinoff of Eindhoven University of Technology, has raised €8 million ($8.6 million) to expand sales of its cells string optimizers that the company claims improves PV rooftop system performance and safety.
IBC solar cell based on new patterning technique achieves 20.41% efficiency
A Dutch-German research team has built an interdigitated back contact PV device with a new patterning approach based on the enhanced oxidation rates under the local laser-doped n++ BSF regions. The cell achieved an open-circuit voltage of 656.6 mV, a short-circuit current density of 40.38 A/mAcm2, and a fill factor of 77.39%.
The Hydrogen Stream: Zaha Hadid designs marina refueling stations
Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled the world’s first green hydrogen refueling network for recreational boats at marinas in Italy, while a German-Czech consortium has announced the development of a drivable hydrogen motorcycle.
Hybridizing PVT energy with heat pumps, borehole storage
A European research group has tested an energy system combining PVT collectors, a water-to-water heat pump and borehole thermal energy storage in an Italian swine farm and has found the proposed system can completely replace fossil fuel-based power generation.
The impact of climate-based PV panel degradation rates on inverters
New research from Belgium shows the importance of assessing inverter reliability by including climate-based PV panel degradation rates. The scientists found that, especially in hot and arid climates, PV inverters should be designed with parameters above the standard value.
French developer testing 150 kW electrolyzer at 12 MW solar plant
Corsica Solar says its 150 kW electrolyzer will be powered exclusively by PV electricity during peak hours.
Subsea pumped hydro for utility scale storage at deepwater
Researchers in Norway have investigated the technical potential of implementing subsea pumped hydro storage at water depth not exceeding 2,000 m. They also identified potential locations for these storage systems based on energy density.
