Author: solarenergy

The new lithium-sulfur battery is fully charged in 12 minutes for more than 1000 cycles The research team led by Professor Jong-sung Yu from the DGIST Department of Energy Science and Engineering has introduced a significant advancement in lithium-sulfur battery technology. Using a new nitrogen-doped porous carbon material, the team has dramatically improved charging speeds, addressing a key barrier to the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries. Although lithium-ion batteries dominate environmentally friendly technologies such as electric vehicles, their limitations include lower energy storage and high costs. Lithium-sulfur batteries, on the other hand, have attracted attention due to their high energy density…

The CalLab of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) independently verified the record result. January 7, 2025 Vincent Shaw Chinese PV module manufacturer Trina Solar has announced that it has achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 25.44% in an n-type fully passivated heterojunction (HJT) solar panel. The CalLab of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) independently verified the result, which is a world record for a crystalline silicon solar panel with a large surface area and contact structures on the front and back. Trina said this achievement represents her 30th world record for solar efficiency…

The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) says that in most European countries there are no VAT benefits for heat pump installations in terms of initial costs. It calls on EU Member States to use available fiscal instruments to make installations more financially viable. January 6, 2025 Patrick Jowett The EHPA said in a new report that almost all European countries could take more fiscal measures to encourage heat pump installations. The report, “Heat pumps versus boilers – taxes and operating costs,” examines VAT rates in 30 European countries, including the 27 countries of the European Union, as well as Norway,…

An international team has combined organic synthesis with predictive modeling to discover new functional materials that improve the performance of hole transport layers used in perovskite solar cells. The team claims that optimization for other solar cell properties is possible with the platform, but also that it can be used to develop materials for other types of devices. January 6, 2025 Valerie Thompson An international team led by the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), a branch of the German research institute Forschungszentrum Jülich, has combined organic synthesis with predictive models to discover new functional materials in a…

JCE Energy, a Scotland-based specialist in off-grid energy solutions, has supplied a bespoke modular solar system to an unmanned installation in the Norwegian part of the North Sea. January 6, 2025 Patrick Jowett Aberdeen-based JCE Energy has supplied a bespoke modular solar system to an unmanned installation owned by Norwegian petroleum company Aker BP. The solar package will meet the year-round energy needs of the installation, which is currently under construction in the North Sea, instead of a diesel generator. JCE Energy said its modular solar package has been designed and manufactured to address specific challenges of offshore operations in…

EDF Renewables North America and Enbridge announced that the Amazon Solar Farm Ohio – Fox Squirrel Solar project reached full operational status in December 2024, with all three phases now actively supplying electricity to the PJM grid. Fox Squirrel Solar, a ground-mounted solar installation with a total capacity of 577 MWAC/749MWdirect currentis one of the largest utility-scale solar projects east of the Mississippi River. Fox Squirrel Solar, developed by EDF Renewables and owned in partnership with Enbridge, will help meet central Ohio’s growing energy needs. Located in Madison County, Fox Squirrel Solar’s 1.4 million panels and 159 inverters represent the…

The Chinese Haitian group has agreed to acquire Heraeus’ photovoltaic silver paste business for $686 million, including 100% shares in Heraeus Photovoltaics (Shanghai), Heraeus Photovoltaic Technology (Shanghai) and Heraeus Photovoltaics Singapore. January 6, 2025 Vincent Shaw Chinese conglomerate Haitian Group has agreed to acquire Heraeus’ photovoltaic silver paste business for CNY5.02 billion ($686 million), marking a shift to renewable energy. The deal, closed through Haitian Solar, includes full equity stakes in Heraeus Photovoltaics (Shanghai), Heraeus Photovoltaic Technology (Shanghai) and Heraeus Photovoltaics Singapore. It also covers the outstanding debts of these units to their parent companies. The counterparties include Heraeus China…

A Western Australia-based developer of hybrid solar and battery systems has shown that its hybrid units deployed in remote locations for businesses and communities can potentially replace around 150 liters of diesel per day. January 6, 2025 Ev Foley By pv magazine Australia Western Australia-based Australian Flow Batteries (AFB) has used the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) to demonstrate its diesel replacement system, a mobile, rapidly deployable hybrid energy solution that combines a 123-metre retractable solar panel with a container vanadium redox flow battery (VRFBs). AFB Director Shane Meotti said access to a dedicated test environment that simulates real-world…

The size and aesthetic of solar carports and canopies are changing thanks to demand for these products in the residential market. An influx of new manufacturers producing solar canopies have scaled these structures to fit within the confines of residential properties and designed them to look closer to a pergola than the towering carports covering parking lots and garages. Infinity Rack manufactures solar canopies for residential and commercial applications. Infinity Rack While they certainly cost more than installing a solar array of a similar size on a rooftop, these solar canopies boast functionality beyond energy generation. They are relatively simple…

Japanese plastics manufacturer Sekisui Chemical, which recently invested in a 100 MW perovskite solar production plant, has announced its latest demonstration project at two sites owned by Japan’s MUFG Bank. The project aims to increase awareness of practical applications of perovskite solar PV technology and further verify its durability, weather resistance and performance. January 6, 2025 Valerie Thompson Japanese plastics manufacturer Sekisui Chemical has announced that it will collaborate with Japan’s Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG Bank), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, to conduct two perovskite panel demonstrations at two bank-owned locations. Sekisui, which recently announced the commissioning…