Technology and R&D

New modeling by Monash University researchers has shown that the cost of green hydrogen with solar PV could satisfy the Australian government’s economic stretch goal of AUD 2 ($1.50) per kilogram by as early as 2030.

Rooftop solar is just the start, as energy storage, smart electrical panels, and EV chargers enter the mainstream for solar owners. Here’s a guide to matching your solar array with some of the most popular accessories.

Mark Jacobson, director of the atmosphere/energy program at Stanford University, has developed roadmaps for 143 countries to meet 100% of their energy demand from power generated by wind, water, and sunlight. In every case, these roadmaps promise major reductions in energy costs, while mitigating the effects of climate change and air pollution. pv magazine checked in with Jacobson for a look at the energy transition’s bigger picture.

The United States Department of Energy is providing $14 million for a research center for perovskite solar technology. Led by Sandia National Laboratories, the center’s work will focus on establishing standard testing protocols as well as ensuring the long-term reliability of perovskite cells and the bankability of companies setting up to produce them.

The German energy storage business has invested an unspecified amount in compatriot Stercom Power Solutions, which offers the ability to transfer electricity, untethered, from a magnetic coil to a receiver coil on the underside of new-energy vehicles.

Plus, the Norwegian government is set to devote €2.5 million into a joint venture trying to develop liquid organic hydrogen carrier solutions for shipping by the middle of the decade.

At this year’s SNEC event in Shanghai, China, pv magazine took the opportunity to talk with GoodWe founder and chairman, Daniel Huang. He outlined the key PV inverter trends he expects to see over the coming years and discusses growth from a domestic company to a multinational player with offices across the world. Overall, he abides by three key ingredients for business success.

The Cheer-Up project aims to enhance the performance of ‘upgraded metallurgical-grade (UMG) silicon for multi-crystalline solar cells and demonstrate it is a competitive alternative to polysilicon by achieving similar efficiencies at lower cost and with less environmental impact. Researchers also want to demonstrate UMG can be used to manufacture the most advanced cell structures.

Around 500 open-pit lakes left behind as a legacy of Germany’s open-cast lignite mining industry could potentially host more than 50 GW of solar generation capacity. With that in mind, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is financing a three-year study into the technology’s revenue potential.

The result was confirmed by Germany’s TÜV Rheinland and TÜV Nord.