Canadian startup unveils residential air source heat pump for cold climates
Terravis Energy said its heat pump prototype uses difluoromethane (R32) as the refrigerant and has a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of approximately 3.0 under Ontario’s environmental conditions.
What happens when the sun doesn’t shine?
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has looked at the frequency and duration of “energy droughts” across the United States, as solar and wind are intermittent energy sources.
Cambridge scientists recommend careful cost assessment before switching to heat pumps
The researchers said that an increment in heating demand due to the use of heat pumps can be accurately predicted based on heating hours, local climate, heat loss and thermal mass. They also recommended including heat loss and thermal mass parameters in buildings’ energy performance certificates, so households can make more informed decisions before changing their system.
Lightweight PV system solution for commercial buildings with limited load-bearing capacity
Dutch solar PV manufacturer Solarge is deploying a novel lightweight rooftop solution across several commercial buildings in the Netherlands. Instead of glass, the special modules developed by the company use strong and light polymers, which the company said result in a module weight per square meter of 5.5 kg.
Novel mathematical model to assess wind stability of solar trackers
Researchers from Spain have developed a method to estimate the critical speed a tracker can withstand. They found “good agreement” when comparing the model to experimental results.
Turkey could generate 120 GW through better solar rooftop rollout
Introducing rooftop solar “obligations” for new structures and public buildings, as well as tendering suitable apartment building roofs by municipalities, could help Turkey drive up its rooftop solar capacity to 120 GW, according to a new report by think tank Ember.
Geothermal heat pumps to decarbonize buildings
The mass adoption of geothermal heat pumps could decarbonize buildings and reduce grid transmission needs, according to a report by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Uganda kicks off solar tender for 40 PV-powered water supply schemes
Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment is inviting eligible bidders to apply to develop 40 solar-powered “packages” for water schemes in a range of locations in the East African country.
French startup offers AI algorithm package for rooftop PV monitoring
France-based Heliocity has developed HelioFlash, a series of artificial intelligence algorithms that assess PV systems on buildings, while offering recommendations to improve operations.
December drop in gas, CO2, Euro electricity market prices
In the first week of December, prices in almost all electricity markets decreased compared to the previous week due to lower gas and CO2 prices, lower electricity demand and higher wind energy production, according to AleaSoft Energy Forecasting.
