Bosch unveils cold climate heat pump for residential applications
According to the manufacturer, the new Inverter Ducted Split (IDS) Ultra heat pump can provide 100% heating capacity at an outdoor temperature of -15 C and can operate down to – 25 C.
Das Solar claims record open-circuit voltage of 742 mV for n-type solar cell
Das Solar has achieved a world-record open-circuit voltage of 742 mV for an M10 n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell, with a power conversion efficiency of 26.33%, according to China’s National PV Industry Measurement and Testing Center (NPVM).
German companies unite to bring virtual power plants to mid-sized businesses
Germany’s Electrofleet has invested in its virtual power plant technology partner Dieenergiekoppler. The two collaborate to enable mid-sized businesses to use self-produced renewable energy based on fixed price contracts. Dieenergiekoppler’s latest financing round solidified the collaboration.
New solid state battery charges in minutes, lasts for thousands of cycles
Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a new lithium metal battery that can be charged and discharged at least 6,000 times — more than any other pouch battery cell — and can be recharged in a matter of minutes.
EV owners more likely to install rooftop solar
Scientists at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have analyzed a survey of 869 households in the San Francisco Bay area and have found that electric vehicle (EV) owners are more likely to install rooftop solar on their homes than other consumers.
Mali-Mauritania interconnection project to support solar
The African Development Fund has approved $302.9 million of financing for a 225 kV electricity interconnection project linking Mauritania and Mali. The project is part of the Desert to Power initiative, which facilitates the development of solar plants in the region.
Drones vs. aircrafts for PV plant inspection
Scientists in Italy have investigated the performance of drones and a human-crewed airplanes for carrying out aerial infrared thermography inspections on PV power plants. According to their findings, airplanes may be more cost-effective.
The Hydrogen Stream: IEA says just 7% of planned capacity to go online by 2030
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says in a new report that only 7% of planned renewable-based hydrogen capacity is expected to go online by 2030. The report notes the need for consistent policies to support demand and prevent stranded assets.
‘Shallow defects’ key to high efficiency of perovskite solar cells, say researchers
Researchers at the Jülich Research Center in Germany have used novel photoluminescence measurements to analyze the recombination of charge carriers in perovskite solar cells. They have found that the loss of charge carriers in perovskite devices works differently from other types of PV cells.
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules must ensure degradation rate of 0.4%/year to compete with crystalline silicon
Researchers from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) investigated the commercial prospects of perovskite-silicon tandem PV technologies and found that, in order to bring them closer to market maturity, their cost should not exceed by 30% that of crystalline silicon counterparts. Their roadmap stresses the importance of reducing perovskite degradation and improving product stability.
