Renewables

A broad term referring to applications as diverse as internet connected vehicles to consumer electronics such as smart phones, the Internet of Things (IoT) adds connectivity. In order to provide the identification of objects, sensing, control and automation, the edge of the IoT network consists of simpler sensors and wireless devices. Potentially the highest volume of all devices and at the lowest price points, adding power to the simplest, passi...

With the option of being constructed as an energy-saving power station, the 500W DC/AC true sine wave inverter from MEAN WELL incorporates a MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar charger. Designated the ISI-501 series, the invertervan become an energy-saving power station by only adding external lead-acid batteries and solar panels.

One year since its launch, the CSEM Photovoltaics Center (PV-center) is confident about the future of solar energy. With CHF 19m in financing from the Swiss Confederation for 2013 to 2016, the PV-center aims to accelerate the industrialisation process, develop new generations of PV cells and modules, and support the transition to a national energy system where solar electricity is vital.

After a term of 3 years, the jointly funded project IMAGE has been successfully completed. As a result, the project partners, Carnot MIB from Bordeaux (project leaded by LCPO) and Fraunhofer COMEDD from Dresden, demonstrated novel transparent electrodes, which are arranged on a backing film and enable flexible electronic components. Made up of organic materials, these electrodes were performance tested by using flexible OLEDs and organic sol...

The considerable potential for energy harvesting in the field of medical implants — where the body itself could become the energy source — means the efforts to enable ultra-low power circuits and sensors to exploit energy harvesting are accelerating, enabling autonomous operation and battery-free design to be realised. By Rich Miron, Technical Content Team, Digi-Key.

At the 2014 International CES, NXP has demonstrated a wireless smart lighting network offering easy installation in the home. With an energy harvesting switch (featuring no battery and no wires) from EnOcean, the demonstration network uses the NXP JN5161 wireless microcontroller and implements the ZigBee Green Power feature.

Integrating all the required functions to power electronic circuits and recharge batteries using a solar cell or a thermoelectric generator (TEG), the SPV1050 energy-harvesting IC has been announced by STMicroelectronics. The ICs harvest ambient light or thermal energy in order to power small electronic devices including wireless sensors, smart-building and industrial equipment controls, and wellness and wearable monitors.

Expanding its portfolio of snap-in power aluminium capacitors, Vishay Intertechnology has introduced 159 PUL-SI series devices with voltage ratings of 500V at +105 °C. Featuring a long useful life, high ripple current to 2.80A at +105 °C, and maximum ESR down to 150 mΩ at 100Hz, these capacitor are designed for solar PV inverters, industrial motor controls, and power supplies.

A new series of stainless steel braking/crowbar resistors have been announced by Vishay. Featuring industry-high pulse energy capability up to 3.46 MJ and pulse current capability up to 12 kA, the Vishay Draloric resistors can be optimized for frequency converters for three-phase generators in wind power plants and pumped-storage hydro power stations.

Schaefer have released the new PB Series of three-wire and four-wire active harmonic filter modular systems. Meeting IEEE-519, the Power Balance (PB) family is scalable and offers a practical solution for improving power quality for tower buildings as well as automation, wind turbine and a wide range of industrial applications.