Are oil and gas companies on the run?
Private sector fossil fuel spending on exploration is drying up just as modest rises in clean energy investments are being observed. With stock market investors increasingly embracing renewables, the IEA has observed positive signals in its latest energy investment report, but warned we are still doing far too little to keep global heating at bay.
Canada Infrastructure Bank to invest in 250 MW/1,000 MWh storage project
The massive Oneida Energy Storage project in Ontario will store surplus energy during off-peak periods and provide grid-balancing services to reduce renewables curtailment.
US startup offers rapid shutdown module with power optimization
Enteligent’s rapid shutdown device is bolstered by what it describes as ”robust power optimization.”
Bifacial n-type TOPCon cell with 22.6% efficiency
The device also showed an open-circuit voltage of 702 mV, a short-circuit current of 40 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 79.7%. It has a large area of 239 cm².
A touch of gold for a 19.8% efficient perovskite cell
Scientists in the U.S. fabricated a semitransparent perovskite solar cell that reached 19.8%, and 28.3% in a tandem cell stacked on top of a silicon-heterojunction device. The device relies on a film of gold just a few atoms thick, grown using an innovative seeding method, which has the valuable properties of being both highly conductive and transparent.
Module testing reveals increase in mechanical failures
Last week, testing specialists PV Evolution Labs launched its latest Module Reliability Scorecard, which names more than 100 products from 26 manufacturers as top performers, after being put through their paces in extensive lab testing. This year’s scorecard reveals an increase in modules seeing at least one failure during the testing procedure, with newly added mechanical stress procedures causing the greatest number of failures.
Solar and wind to clean the US power grid
Figures show that the United States has more than 750 GWac of electricity generation capacity in interconnection queues, with 90% of that clean energy-related. But how much actually will be built?
Canadian BIPV module supplier unveils two solar tiles
Both products are based on 22%-efficient CIGS solar cells and are manufactured in Asia. One of the two devices has a flat design and power output of 80 W and a second product features a nominal power of 30 W and an undulating design.
LG Energy Solution to replace problem li-ion energy storage batteries
The replacement program could cost around $350 million. New batteries will incorporate manufacturing process improvements.
Using excess heat from PV modules for lithium-extraction process
Canada-based Enertopia filed provisional patents for technology that it said could boost PV system output by 10% or more and reduce panel heat stress.
