New PV water heater from Germany
German startup Nexol has developed a photovoltaic water heating system that relies on a smart controller, with either DC and AC power. It decides autonomously if grid electricity or PV is used, with the latter always preferred.
Energy Vault, NTPC sign deal for gravity-based energy storage
Switzerland’s Energy Vault will support Indian state-run power producer NTPC by deploying its gravity-based energy storage technology and software solutions.
Techno-economic analysis of renewables-driven power-to-X processes
Researchers at the University of Genoa have conducted a techno-economic analysis to assess green hydrogen produced via water electrolysis and its conversion into three alternative fuels – methane, methanol, and ammonia. They looked into efficiency, storage capacity, annual costs, and production costs of the different fuels, which they found to be significantly higher than market reference values.
Iran launches tender for 4 GW of solar
The Iranian authorities have kicked off a tender to select development proposals for solar projects up to 10 MW in size, from both domestic and foreign investors.
France defines standards for agrivoltaics
France’s environmental agency Ademe has released a set of new guidelines that clearly define “agrivoltaics.”
UK group develops liquid air energy storage tech
A UK consortium has developed the Prisma system, which stores thermal energy in liquid air form to provide onsite compressed air, via a latent energy cold storage tank filled with a phase-change material. It is expected to have a levelized cost of storage of GBP 114 ($143.10)/MWh.
India’s race to 175 GW of renewables slowed by performance of key states
A new report shows that the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh accounted for two-thirds of India’s 65 GW shortfall on its 175 GW renewable energy target, as of March.
Photovoltaics vs. nuclear power on Mars
Solar might be more efficient than nuclear energy to supply power for a six-person extended mission to Mars that will involve a 480-day stay on the planet’s surface before returning to Earth, according to new US research.
More than half of Australian PV installers moving into storage
The number of solar installers in Australia offering storage solutions grew considerably in 2021 and promises to surge again this year, according to a survey by EUPD Research.
SEIA cuts PV forecast 46% due to anti-circumvention investigation
The latest update to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) survey for solar workers and companies shows drastic outcomes for the industry if tariffs are imposed on countries under investigation.
