GCL Tech, Mubadala to open polysilicon factory in UAE
Chinese polysilicon maker GCL Tech says it is partnering with Emirati state-owned Mubadala Investment Co. to build the Middle East’s first polysilicon factory in the United Arab Emirates.
Fraunhofer ISE presents propane heat pump with heating, cooling performance of 5.6
The German research institute said the new heat pump was developed in partnership with ZAE Bayern and Mafac E. Schwarz. The system uses propane (R290) as the refrigerant and is suitable for industrial processes with a temperature range of 50 C to 70 C.
Researchers build 24.4%-efficient perovskite solar cells with room temperature process
Researchers from the U.S. and South Korea have developed a method to make high-quality perovskite films at room temperature. The film was tested in a conventional perovskite solar cell architecture and the result was a power conversion efficiency of exceeding 24%.
IRENA calls for investment in small island nations
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) discussed the financing landscape for small island developing states (SIDS) and mechanisms to accelerate the energy transition at the United Nations 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States.
New study outlines renewables plan for India
A new study by Indian government think tank NITI Aayog outlines the renewable energy potential for all states to meet their renewable purchase obligations. The report, backed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), also details the storage that will be required for grid balancing.
East-west rooftop solar ideal for energy communities under net metering
Researchers in Italy have investigated the potential of deploying energy communities based on east-west PV systems and have concluded that these projects, despite their lower energy yields compared to south-oriented installations, show higher shared energy values. They also warned, however, that the presence of a net metering scheme is crucial to make the east-west layout the preferred option.
German energy market records 78 hours of negative prices in May
Rabot Charge’s monthly analysis shows significantly more hours with negative prices on the Germany electricity market than in April. However, the average price in daily transactions was €6.72 ($7.32)/kWh – higher than in the previous month.
Perovskite tandem PV integrator secures $4.7 million of US funds
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has provided Tandem PV with $4.7 million in funds to advance the commercialization of the company’s thin-film solar technology.
India’s NHPC launches tender for 2.4 GW of solar
NHPC has started accepting bids from developers to set up 2.4 GW of solar power projects on a build-own-operate basis anywhere in India. Bidding closes on June 29.
US startup uses agricultural waste to produce low-cost, safe batteries
US-based start-up SorbiForce uses no toxic products or metals in production of its batteries. It claims its systems are cheaper and safer than lithium-ion batteries and have near zero end-of-life waste.
