Iron-chromium redox flow battery with high energy density
Researchers led by Korea’s UNIST developed a new redox flow battery concept that utilizes iron and chromium ore for redox chemistry. The proposed battery configuration may reportedly achieve a stable lifetime of 500 cycles, and a high-energy density of 38.6 Wh L−1.
Ballasted racking from PowerField Energy scales up to utility-scale installation
PowerRack is PowerField’s portable, ballasted racking system that is used in residential, commercial, industrial, and now utility-scale solar.
Intersolar 2023: ‘Europe needs China to rebuild its solar industry’
Alessandro Barin, CEO of FuturaSun, spoke with pv magazine at the recent Intersolar 2023 trade show about the PV module manufacturer’s plans to expand in China and its home market of Italy. He said European and Chinese manufacturers take different approaches to new factories, but the two sides will need to come together to build a sustainable global supply chain.
Agrivoltaics for hop growth in Germany
Germany’s Agri Energia has switched on a pilot agrivoltaic facility near Munich to protect hop plants from sunlight and hail, while also reducing evaporation. It is installed on steel masts that serve as support for the hop plants.
Huadian Energy completes 1 GW solar farm on salt fields in China
Huadian Energy’s new 1 GW solar plant in Tianjin, northeastern China, supports water-surface halogen production and underwater aquaculture.
SEG Solar releases all-black 440 W TOPCon solar modules with 22.35% efficiency
California-based SEG Solar says its new panels have a temperature coefficient of -0.30% per degree Celsius. They come with a 30-year power output guarantee for 87.4% of the initial yield.
Strategies to convert PV into a dispatchable source using minimum storage
Scientists in Australia have provided a comprehensive review of all strategies and technologies that can be used to increase the dispatchability of solar power with reduced use of storage. They focused their efforts, in particular, on forecasting and controlling PV power.
Australian grid operator tests 17 standalone systems with PV, batteries
AusNet Services’ independent subsidiary, Mondo Power, has commissioned 17 standalone power systems featuring PV and battery energy storage, as part of its inaugural trial of the offgrid technology.
CSEM, EPFL reveal technical details of 31.25%-efficient tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell
A year after achieving what at the time was a world record efficiency for a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell, scientists from EPFL and CSEM published a paper showing the technical features of the device and how that result was made possible. The key was regulating the perovskite crystallization process using an additive in the processing sequence.
Sumitomo reveals testing results of redox flow battery project in California
Sumitomo says that its 2MW/8MWh vanadium redox flow battery achieved a 99% operating rate at San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) facility in California. The battery is expected to retain a capacity rate of 90% or more for 20 years in the electricity market.
