Saltwater flow battery added to solar-on-canal project
The University of California, Merced, has shown that up to 13 GW of solar capacity could be installed over California’s canals, which would require approximately 3 GW of energy storage.
Curtailment is not the enemy
A new report by IEA-PVPS Task 16 looks at the use of “implicit storage” to transform intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind into firm power generation. It shows that the total cost of the electricity system transformation could be lowered with the optimal use of capacity overbuilding and dynamic curtailment.
How safe are second-life EV batteries as home energy storage devices?
There is currently no widely accepted test methodology to assess the safety of second-life lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). However, a UK government study reveals two opposing views on their safety, raising concerns over whether such devices should be deployed in homes under any circumstances.
The Hydrogen Stream: Europe introduces new green hydrogen rules
The European Commission has presented the final version of its new rules for green hydrogen, with looser requirements to qualify hydrogen as “green.”
Replacing MPPT with direct PV-battery coupling
Researchers in Germany have assessed direct coupling and integration between PV and batteries at the scale of a single PV module. They say their solution could be cheaper and provide superior performance than maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in optimizing PV system performance.
Panasonic unveils ultrasonic meter to measure hydrogen flow, concentration
Japan’s Panasonic says its new GB-L1CMH1A meter can operate without changing the state of the fuel cell. It says it can also measure a wide range of hydrogen flow rates and concentrations.
Brazil hits 25 GW solar milestone
ABSolar, the Brazilian solar association, says that the PV sector has attracted BRL 125 billion ($24.2 billion) in new investments since 2012 and has generated more than 750,200 jobs.
California’s new net-metering policy brings batteries to forefront
While NEM 3.0 is expected is to slash the rates paid for solar sold back to the grid, batteries can help to maintain the value of PV. However, the next wave of clean-tech adoption must focus on non-lithium batteries and take advantage of safe, affordable chemistries.
Vireo Ventures to invest €60 million in up to 30 startups
Felix Krause, co-founder the Vireo Ventures, tells pv magazine that the Berlin-based company plans to make pre-seed and seed-phase investments in startups that are developing innovations for the energy transition.
Online estimation tool for heat pump sizing
The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has released a free, online estimation tool to aid Australian businesses in sizing heat pumps to replace gas boilers. The tool estimates the capex, opex, net savings, and payback time based on inputs about heating, cooling, location, and temperature requirements.
