Floating PV and flow batteries to power highways’ junction in the Netherlands
A floating PV array coupled to flow batteries is planned to power the operations of a new road under construction to connect two highways in the Netherlands. The project is aimed, in particular, at powering ventilation, lighting, and other installations of a tunnel.
Fraunhofer ISE unveils 68.9%-efficient III-V solar cell for laser energy transmission systems
The German research institute said the gallium arsenide cell has achieved the highest efficiency to date for the conversion of light into electricity.
India’s NTPC launches tender for 1 GWh of grid scale storage
State-run power producer NTPC has more than 65 GW of installed capacity, including gas, coal, hydro, and renewables-based power stations.
Australian PV module maker sets sights on world stage
Australian PV module manufacturer Tindo Solar says it is confident that it can compete with the world’s biggest manufacturers, as it recently secured fresh state funding.
NREL says US renewables up to 90% by 2050 would cost less than current generation mix
Even 100% renewables could be reached with existing technology, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory says in a newly published study.
Using the oceans’ depths to store renewables, compress hydrogen
Underwater gravity energy storage has been proposed as an ideal solution for weekly energy storage, by an international group of scientists. The novel technology is considered an alternative to pumped-hydro storage for coasts and islands without mountains that are located close to deep waters, and may also be interesting for PV if used to store green hydrogen.
1366 Technologies merges with Hunt Perovskite Technologies
U.S. thin-film manufacturer First Solar and Bill Gates-owned Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) are among the investors in the new company, which is called CubicPV and is expected to develop multi-junction perovskite solar cells with efficiencies of around 30%.
Poland allocates 2.2 GW of solar in renewables auctions
The Polish energy regulator has allocated 1.2 GW of PV capacity in a procurement exercise for projects exceeding 1 MW in size and around 1 GW in an auction for projects with capacities of up to 1 MW.
World Bank supports Burkina Faso’s rural solar electrification with $168m
The funds will be used to implement the country’s Large Scale Solar and Rural Electrification Project. They will also support the government in outlining an upcoming tender for 325 MW of solar coupled with 335 MWh of storage capacity.
Solar Philippines moves forward with 500 MW solar park
Solar Philippines is currently seeking off-takers for a project that could also sell power on the spot market. The project is part of a 1 GW pipeline that the company announced in December.
