UK study finds space-based solar could supply 80% of Europe’s renewable energy needs
A paper by King’s College London scientists suggests that space-based solar panels (SBSP) could cut Europe’s land-based renewable energy needs by up to 80%, including reducing battery energy storage usage by more than 70%. The authors are now in contact with leading companies such as Space Solar.
A closer look at China’s Great Solar Wall
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has published aerial images of the Great Solar Wall, China’s largest renewable energy project. The installation is expected to reach 100 GW of capacity by 2030.
Solar array installed for mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa
The Europa Clipper mission will send a craft the size of a basketball court to Europa, a moon considered a potential habitat for life.
Airbus taps Australian researchers to develop high-efficiency solar cells for space
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have been chosen to work with Airbus Defence and Space on a strategic research program to fast-track the development of high-efficiency solar cells for space applications.
Uninterrupted PV generation without storage
An Israeli scientist has proposed a way to achieve uninterrupted PV power on the moon without using energy storage. The proposal involves the installation of PV panels around a 360-degree latitudinal ring close to one of the moon’s poles. There would be no inter-array shading, and static vertical PV arrays and arrays mounted on single-axis vertical trackers could be viable mounting structures.
The mobility rEVolution: NASA’s cooling tech could shorten EV charging times
US researchers have unveiled a new way to speed up EV charging, while researchers in China have created a three-dimensional composite lithium anode to improve battery safety and efficiency.
NASA telescope deploys solar array
NASA sent the world’s most powerful telescope into space on Dec. 25. It deployed and powered a related PV array 30 minutes after launch.
NASA developing 10 kW movable PV array for moon mission
NASA plans to place a solar array on a tall mast to avoid lunar shading and capture uninterrupted light. It will hang a pair of PV cell blankets from a horizontal cross arm supported by the mast, anchored to a deployable tripod base.
Polymer current collectors could prevent battery fires
A team of NREL researchers has proposed a new approach to fix lithium-ion batteries’ fire problem. The answer may lie in temperature-sensitive current collectors.
Solid-state batteries in space
Japanese scientists are about to launch solid-state batteries into space.
