The Hydrogen Stream: Gas prices are higher than levelized cost of hydrogen for several technologies in Europe
In other news, Toyota unveiled plans to roll out light-duty hydrogen fuel-cell trucks for the Japanese market next year and the UK has launched a contract for difference scheme for large scale hydrogen projects. Furthermore, Japanese scientists have designed a ruthenium complex with a nitrogen-containing organic compound to improve high-temperature proton conduction in fuel cells.
Project to build 1.4 GW high-voltage cable linking Germany with the UK moves forward
The European Investment Bank has agreed to provide €400 million ($406.5 million) in funds for the €2.8 billion project. Construction on the infrastructure should begin by the end of this year.
Four-terminal flexible perovskite-CIGS tandem mini-module with 18.4% efficiency
Swiss scientists have built a 4T tandem perovskite/CIGS mini-panel with a geometric fill factor of over 93%. It combines a 10.8%-efficient mini perovskite module and a 15.1%-efficient CIGS device.
Spain launches 140 MW auction for distributed solar power
The auction will be held on October 25 and will be open to solar projects not exceeding 5 MW in size.
PEM fuel cell with novel biomimetic design
Spanish scientists developed a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with a bipolar plate based on a nature-inspired structure. This architecture, according to its creators, shows remarkable performance when operating at high relative humidity values of 90%.
Heat wave sparks fire at solar park in the Netherlands
The fire affected an area of around 5,000 square meters but did not damage the solar panels. The local fire brigade was able to control the fire in around two hours.
Considerations for solar projects during heat waves
High temperatures can affect different components of PV systems. Inverters can fail, the efficiency of solar modules can decline, and existing cell damage can become worse. However, investors, planners, and operators can adjust to heat waves in a number of different ways.
UK High Court orders nation to revise net zero strategy
The UK High Court has sided with environmental groups in a judgment that will require the government to re-evaluate its climate strategy for the 2030s and make up for an apparent shortfall that would see it miss the target of lowering carbon emissions by 78% from 1990 levels by 2035.
Inverted perovskite solar cell based on polymer-coated steel substrate achieves 16.5% efficiency
Scientists in the Netherlands have built a perovskite solar cell with a polyamide-imide (PAI) planarization layer to serve as an insulating layer. The device has an open-circuit voltage of 1.11 V, a short-circuit current of 19.9 mA cm–2, and a fill factor of 0.75.
German-Dutch consortium to build 500 kW offshore solar pilot in North Sea
Germany’s RWE is partnering with offshore PV specialist SolarDuck to build a 0.5 MW floating solar plant near an offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
