Novel way to calculate levelized cost of hydrogen generated by offgrid PV
French energy giant Engie has developed a transfer function method based on a model used to assess PV plant variability. Its researchers claim that the new approach does not overestimate the levelized cost of hydrogen of an alkaline electrolyzer powered by offgrid solar.
European consortium develops ways to couple heat pumps with solar panels
The Sun Horizon consortium has started to collect performance data on two pilot projects that combine heat pumps with solar systems using hybrid panels on homes in Riga, Latvia. The solution features a heat pump for space heating and domestic hot water and PVT panels to produce power for heating and domestic appliances, with excess power fed to the grid.
Canadian Solar signs deal for 1.5 GW/3 GWh of UK batteries
English clean energy company Windel Energy will develop the projects until they are ready-to-build, with Canadian Solar expected to supply the batteries.
Analyst revises up zero-emission vehicle forecast after bumper year
A report published by BloombergNEF for the COP26 climate change summit has listed global commitments by cities, states, provinces and nations to end the sale of new fossil-fueled vehicles but, with 2035 estimated as the cut-off date for zero-emission roads by mid century, policymakers need to be more ambitious.
Where are we headed with off-grid PV?
An increasing number of people choose to design their PV system so it can be used even when the grid power has gone – as a back-up, so to speak. But there are markets where off-grid PV is not the back-up solution, but it is the primary source of power. There are numerous examples ranging from holiday homes and house boats in the south of Europe, to remote farmhouses, and rural regions in Africa and Asia where people don’t always have grid access. To this end, our webinar partner Solis has introduced its latest off-grid inverter which kicks into life at a mere 500 V input voltage.
Imagine a nationwide energy system relying solely on distributed PV and V2G-equipped electric vehicles
Norwegian researchers have sought to assess the theoretical technical feasibility of a country-level energy system based exclusively on distributed solar, electric vehicles, and vehicle-to-grid technologies. They applied the model to sunny Spain and found that 3.45 billion m2 of PV systems would be necessary to build a 100% self-reliant energy system.
Gallium arsenide nanowire solar cell with 7.7% efficiency
Norwegian scientists have developed a gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowire solar cell that can be used as a top cell in a dual tandem cell with a bottom silicon cell. The device is claimed to be the most efficient single-junction GaAs nanowire solar cell grown on a silicon substrate so far.
New laser-cutting system for half-cut, shingled PV cells
German manufacturer 3-D Micromac said it has developed a new machine that can produce more than 6,000 wafers per hour. It is suitable for solar cells with temperature-sensitive coatings, or depositions such as heterojunction devices.
The world’s largest seawater heat pump based on CO2 as refrigerant
Swiss-headquartered technology corporation ABB is supplying integrated electrical infrastructure for the construction of a 50 MW seawater heat pump in Denmark. The heat pump technology will be provided by German specialist MAN Energy Solutions.
Established thin film processing for 18%-efficient perovskite mini-modules
Scientists in Germany applied vapor-based deposition techniques and laser scribed interconnection – both well established processes in existing thin-film solar manufacturing – to fabricate perovskite mini modules. The group achieved a maximum efficiency of 18% for a device measuring 4cm². Relying on these processes, they say, could simplify processing and reduce losses associated with scaling up to commercial-sized devices.
