Battery storage challenges: Materials, longevity and project management
An academic event held last week in the U.K. presenting the results of two major research projects on energy storage provided an update on the current and future directions of battery storage technology and development.
Researchers double life of lithium-ion batteries by adding graphene girders
By reinforcing the anode’s structure with graphene girders, researchers at the U.K.’s University of Warwick have found an effective approach to replacing graphite in the anodes using silicon, thus boosting the capacity of lithium-ion batteries, and more than doubling lifespans.
UK’s Faraday Institution announces further £42m for storage research
Backed by the U.K. government, the Faraday Institution’s latest program sees four consortia receive funding to conduct application-inspired research into addressing challenges in electric vehicle batteries.
Nissan launches home energy solution in the UK
The Japanese car manufacturing giant has announced the imminent launch of an all-in-one home energy solution, including solar panels, a battery and an energy management system.
UK: Shell signs 5 year private PPA with BSR for 69.8 MW solar project – comment
Shell Energy Europe Ltd has signed a five year power purchase agreement (PPA) with British Solar renewables (BSR), for the off-take of energy from England’s largest solar PV power plant.
Researchers at Cambridge University develop new type of two-cell bio-photovoltaics
Researchers have developed and designed a new algae-powered fuel cell that is five times more efficient than existing plant and algal models, as well as having the potential of being more cost-effective to produce and more practical to use.
Scientists study impact of RE, energy trade on power grid frequency fluctuations
Research by scientists at the Queen Mary University of London, the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Gottingen, alongside German and Japanese researchers, has sought to analyze the impact of renewables and trading on power grid frequency fluctuations.
NES’s 50 MW UK energy storage project operational
NEC Energy Solutions (NEC ES) has announced its 50 MW energy storage project in the U.K. with VLC Energy, is fully operational.
Scientists seek to improve efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells with halogenes
Halogens have proved to be very successful in accelerating the electron transfer between the electrolyte and the semiconductor.
Canadian Solar closes UK refinancing deal, signs 105 MW O&M contract in Canada
In the U.K., Canadian Solar Inc. has closed a refinancing deal worth GBP41.9 million (US$56 million) with BayernLB. Meanwhile, in Canada, it has signed an Operation & Maintenance (O&M) agreement with Axium Infinity Solar LP for eight PV plants totaling 105.5 MW.
