renewable energies

A US-German research group has used above-bandgap light to improve ion mobility in ceramic materials used in lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells. It found that the grain boundary conductance of gadolinium-doped cerium oxide, which is a ceramic used as a solid-state electrolyte in fuel cells, can be improved by a factor of approximately 3.5 at 250 degrees Celsius, by applying the proposed light technique.

Korean beauty products supplier Amorepacific has agreed to buy electricity from 5MW of renewables operated by LNG provider SK E&S. The 20-year deal is South Korea’s first step into unsubsidized renewable energy development.

Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness revealed that an international consortium is planning to build a pumped-hydro storage project that has already secured preliminary approval. The project, which will also include deep-sea desalination, is currently undergoing technical and due-diligence reviews.

Work on the long-awaited 280MW Cultana Solar Farm in South Australia appears set to begin with Simec Energy Australia announcing this week it is preparing to start construction on the $350 million project.

Sen. Ed Markey’s Charge Act requires forward-looking transmission planning by utilities to lower prices and improve reliability. Among other sweeping changes, the bill requires hourly operational and greenhouse gas emissions reporting in a timely manner.

The NX Horizon-XTR tracker can be used with all types of modules and is claimed to be an ideal solution for sloping, uneven, and demanding terrain.

The new funds are part of a package of measures aimed at reducing the effects of the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine.

Scientists in Germany have identified the main challenges that are preventing aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) from becoming a mainstream storage technology for power grid applications. According to their analysis, the two main hurdles that must be overcome in future research are the increase of the specific energy of the full Zn-ion cell and the prevention of the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction occurring during the Zn electrodeposition step.

“Advanced conductors” can deliver more electricity than conventional transmission lines, using existing transmission towers. Renewables trade group ACORE calls for greater use of advanced conductors, “to accelerate low-cost decarbonization.”

Through two different procurement exercises, the archipelago’s Central Electricity Board seeks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.