World’s largest compressed air energy storage project goes online in China
The Chinese Academy of Sciences has switched on a 100 MW compressed air energy storage system in China’s Hebei province. The facility can store more than 132 million kWh of electricity per year.
NeoSol unveils 550 W mono PERC solar modules
Indian solar manufacturer NeoSol has unveiled its Black Pearls series of mono PERC modules. The power outputs range from 535 W to 550 W, with power conversion efficiency ratings between 20.7% and 21.33%.
IEEFA calls for inquiry after network providers pocket ‘supernormal’ profits
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis is calling for an independent inquiry into Australia’s electricity networks and their regulators claiming Australians have been overcharged $10 billion (USD 6.5 billion) in the past eight years by distribution and transmission network service businesses making “supernormal” profits from consumers forced to use their poles and wires.
REC plans Australian launch of latest module at All-Energy expo
Solar PV module manufacturer REC Group’s “most innovative panel to date” will make its Australian debut at the All-Energy Australia exhibition and conference in Melbourne later this month.
FFI & Deutsche Bahn to modify diesel engines for hydrogen locomotives, biotech startup targets hydrogen production from $1.5/kg
Cemvita claims it can produce hydrogen at the “lowest possible cost,” Deutsche Bahn and Fortescue Future Industries have announced plans to jointly modify diesel engines for locomotives, and the Canadian province of Alberta has started promoting its hydrogen potential in Japan.
Agrivoltaics for vineyards
Developers recently commissioned two different wine-related agrivoltaic projects in Europe.
European vanadium flow battery company to specialise product for Australian microgrid market
Australian outfit BESS Research is teaming up with CellCube, owned by Austria’s Enerox, to target Australian commercial and industrial projects for the potential use of vanadium redox flow batteries.
Pepsi to trial hydrogen trucks at Brisbane facility
From 2023, PepsiCo Australia will trial a hydrogen fuelled heavy duty truck at one of its Brisbane manufacturing sites. The trial is in partnership with Pure Hydrogen, a company positioning itself as a supplier of both hydrogen powered vehicles via leasing arrangements, as well as hydrogen itself.
Ultra-fast synthesis of nanocomposites for sodium ion batteries, supercapacitors
Researchers in Egypt have developed a synthesis method that uses the high microwave absorbance of silicon carbide content in rice straw ash and takes just 60 seconds to produce sodium iron phosphates-carbon nanocomposites (NaFePO4-C), which can be used as sodium ion battery cathodes and as symmetric supercapacitors.
How long do rooftop residential solar panels last?
Multiple factors affect the productive lifespan of a residential solar panel. In the first part of this series, we look at the solar panels themselves.
