The Hydrogen Stream: Biotech startup targets hydrogen production from depleted wells at $1/kg
Cemvita claims it can produce hydrogen at the “lowest possible cost,” Deutsche Bahn and Fortescue Future Industries have announced plans to jointly modify diesel engines for locomotives, and the Canadian province of Alberta has started promoting its hydrogen potential in Japan.
Panasonic brings air-to-water heat pumps to Europe
Panasonic’s new heat pump can supply domestic hot water, heating and cooling from a single, integrated unit. It can also synchronize with the Japanese company’s PV panels and its CZ-NS4P technology printed circuit board technology, while also ensuring smart-grid compatibility.
Toshiba raises efficiency of transparent cuprous oxide solar cell from 8.4% to 9.5%
Toshiba has revealed that it has improved the power conversion efficiency of a transparent cuprous oxide solar cell to 9.5%, from the 8.4% mark it reached in December 2021. It enlarged the cell and suppressed carrier recombination at the edge of the cuprous oxide (Cu2O) generation layer, which usually causes generation efficiency degradation.
Panasonic presents 22.2% efficient all-black heterojunction solar module compatible with its Evervolt battery
The new module series has a power output ranging from 420 to 430 W, a temperature coefficient of -0.26% per degree Celsius, and an efficiency of up to 22.2%.
Japan’s 13th solar auction concludes with lowest bid of $0.066/kWh
Japan’s latest procurement exercise was open to PV projects above 250 kW in size. The lowest price came in at JPY 9.7 ($0.066)/kWh and the allocated capacity was just 26.2 MW, out of 225 MW tendered.
PV-driven rechargeable control module for ‘cyborg cockroaches’
Japanese researchers have built ultra-soft PV devices and ultra-thin electronics that can be placed on the curved abdomens of cockroaches without affecting their mobility. The system can be used to monitor hazardous areas, or for urban search-and-rescue operations.
The Hydrogen Stream: Condensed hydrogen on smooth surfaces can sharply exceed liquid hydrogen density
A German-US research team has shown that hydrogen condenses on smooth surfaces at a very low temperature, forming a super-dense monolayer that reduces the volume to just 5 liters per kilogram of H2. Dutch researchers, meanwhile, have published a new study on hydrogen storage in porous rocks, and Itochu said it is moving forward with hydrogen plans in Japan and South Africa.
Panasonic to scale up heat pump output in Czechia
Panasonic has revealed plans to increase the annual production of heat pumps at its facility in Czechia to 500,000 units by March 2026.
Sharp unveils black-framed 410 W half-cut solar panels
Sharp’s newest PV modules feature white backsheets and are made for the needs of design-oriented customers.
Micro hydropower system for building applications, usable with solar
Japanese startup Yumes Frontier has developed a 2.7 kW micro-hydropower system that can be used in some buildings. It can also be combined with solar to provide power for lights and surveillance cameras.
