Renewables

Harvesting wasted thermal energy can power sensor and monitoring systems in an energy-efficient way. In this article from ES Design magazine, Sally Ward-Foxton speaks to thermoelectric generator company Nextreme about the technology’s potential.

At SPI 2013, AEG Power Solutions introduces two new members of its broad inverter line for the Americas. The Protect PV.500 OD UL and Protect PV.630 OD UL are compact, high efficiency central solar inverters. They are both UL-certified, and are designed for American utility-scale applications on ground area installations in harsh outdoor environments.

Energy harvesting technology is reaching maturity and when coupled with low-power wireless solutions it allows OEMs to explore the possibilities of an entirely new flexible and robust control domain. Frank Schmidt, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of EnOcean, explores more in this article from ES Design magazine.

Bentek Solar will exhibit in Booth #4025 at Solar Power International, scheduled to take place October 21-24, 2013 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Company representatives will showcase Bentek’s latest offerings for utility-scale and large commercial solar power plants, including the Utility Scale Combiner and Breaker Universal Safety System.

Bentek Solar introduces the new Utility Scale Series of integrated disconnect string combiner products. UTS is designed to meet the rigorous demands of premier commercial and utility-scale power plant designers and installers, while reducing levelized cost of energy.

At this week’s European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition imec and Meco present large area (156x156mm2) i-PERC-type silicon solar cells with industry-applicable Nickel/Copper (Ni/Cu) plating for the front contacts. Together, the companies achieved an excellent average efficiency of 20.5% on more than 100 cells, and a maximum efficiency of 20.7% (confirmed by ISE callab).

Solar panels are an increasingly common sight on agricultural buildings. However, as well as having to resist extremes of weather for decade after decade, some installations and their connectors have an extra challenge to face.

Heliatek has signed a joint development agreement with AGC Glass Europe, already active in traditional BIPV. The agreement is focused on researching and developing the integration of glass and Solar Films, and targeting the delivery of integrated solutions for the glass envelope of buildings.

At next week’s European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Paris, imec, RENA and SoLayTec present thin (160µm), large area (156x156mm2) industrial PERC-type silicon solar cells achieving a best cell efficiency of 20.1% using atomic layer deposition Al2O3 passivation and standard screen printed contacts.

GaN Systems Inc, a leading developer of gallium nitride power switching semiconductors, is presenting a paper on new wide-bandgap semiconductors and their role in transforming automotive power electronics at the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Conference & Expo in Michigan  17 - 19  September.   Manufacturers are currently designing vehicles to be launched onto the market in 2018, coinciding with the timeframe leading foreca...