Renewables

Imec has announced a record result for its 4-terminal Perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaic cell. With a power conversion efficiency of 27.1%, the imec tandem cell beats the most efficient standalone silicon solar cell. Further careful engineering of the Perovskite material will bring efficiencies over 30% in reach. Perovskite microcrystals are a promising material system to make high-performance thin-film solar cells.

  It has been announced by Delta that it is launching its new 1,500VDC string solar PV inverter M125HV series alongside a broad portfolio of energy saving lithium-ion battery energy storage solutions at Intersolar Europe. 

From liquid laundry detergent packaged in cardboard to compostable plastic cups, consumer products these days are increasingly touting their sustainable and renewable origins. Now researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a material derived from crab shells and tree fibres that has the potential to replace the flexible plastic packaging used to keep food fresh.

In the recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Material Technologies Shaping the Future of Electric Vehicles (EV), the material technologies used in EVs is discussed by analysing recent global and regional trends. It found that electric vehicle manufacturers are looking at materials as a lever of growth for EV adoption. 

It has been announced that the University of Miyazaki, the University of Tokyo, Fujitsu Laboratories, and Sumitomo Electric, have used a trial system to create hydrogen energy from solar power in Miyazaki.

It has been announced that Analog Devices (ADI) has introduced an embedded system for generating engine sound for electric (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), with the ADSP-BF706 digital signal processor and Electric Vehicle Warning Sound System (EVWSS) firmware. 

  Plans to turn every home, office and business into virtual power stations were announced today by Ecolution Group a fast growing, British supplier of renewable, energy solutions.

It has been announced that Alstom has selected the French battery manufacturer Forsee Power to equip the Aptis electric buses, scheduled for series delivery from 2019 onwards. The vehicles will be equipped with NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) Li-ion battery technology as a standard feature.

Cement manufacturers are being faced with challenges: complying with ever stricter environmental regulations, in an industry with some of the highest carbon dioxide emissions. They are also faced with permanently increasing cost pressures due to excess capacities, especially from China. 

It has been announced that esVolta, a developer and owner of utility scale energy storage projects across North America, has been selected by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to build an energy storage system in Santa Clara County, California.