China switches on first large-scale sodium-ion battery
China Southern Power Grid has deployed a 10 MWh sodium-ion battery in China’s Guangxi Zhuang region. It is the first phase of a 100 MWh project.
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.
Coal share falls below 50% in India’s installed power capacity
The share of coal in India’s total installed power capacity fell below 50% in the first quarter of 2024. This is well ahead of the government’s target to establish 50% cumulative power generation capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
SEG Solar signs land deal to make solar cells, wafers, modules in Indonesia
SEG Solar has secured a land-use agreement for a solar-focused manufacturing site in an industrial zone on the Indonesian island of Java. The $500 million plan will involve the production of 5 GW of silicon wafers, 5 GW of solar cells, and 5 GW of PV modules.
Enhancing photovoltaic-thermal module performance with Tesla valves
Scientists in China have demonstrated a photovoltaic-thermal system that utilizes Tesla valves to increase cooling and efficiency. The system was found to have better performance compared to PVT systems made with several different cross-sectional structures.
US government doubles tariff rates on PV cell imports from China to 50%
The administration of US President Joe Biden has raised tariff rates on PV cell imports from China from 25% to 50%. It has also increased the tariff rates for semiconductors, electric vehicles, and EV batteries from China, among other goods.
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.
Improving LCOE of PV-driven hydrogen via reciprocating engines
UNSW scientists have suggested to use dual-fuel reciprocating engines for adding gas-to-power operations in large scale production of hydrogen based on PV power. The preliminary findings of their research show that the proposed system is still achieving a too high LCOE for commercial maturity. Decreasing electrolyzer costs, policy interventions and changing energy market dynamics, however, may more than halve the LCOE values in the future.
US government proposes 10 ‘national interest’ transmission corridors
Eight of the 10 transmission corridors proposed by the US Department of Energy (DoE) could facilitate transmission between grid regions. One would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s PJM grid region, and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.
DAH Solar launches 380 W BIPV module
The Chinese manufacturer said the new product has an efficiency of up to 19.46% and a temperature coefficient of -0.30% per C. It is available in bright red, light gray, brown, green, blue-green, orange, and ocean blue.
