Research

The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) has published a report to help the solar industry to choose appropriate surface radiation models and data providers based on location and application requirements.

Scientists in India carried out a comprehensive study into the impacts of soiling on PV modules – measuring the amount of performance loss caused by different types of dust and bird droppings, and for modules installed at various tilt angles, in the hot-dry climate of Vellore in southern India. Their findings could allow developers to better take into account and mitigate the effects of soiling during site selection and system design.

The CSIRO has run an internal ‘Shark Tank’-style competition which will see it test semi-transparent, printed solar films at its greenhouses to assess whether the technology can be used to enhance crops’ growth and cut emissions.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers have shown that microgrids equipped with solar-plus-storage systems can maintain an average levelised cost of energy (LCOE) below USD 0.30/kWh and limit annual public safety power shutoffs to 2% to 3% of annual energy demand.

A research group in Ghana has conducted a series of tests to assess the performance of polycrystalline solar modules in PV systems operating in their home country for at least 5 years. They found that the vast majority of the panels may ‘fail’ before 20 years in operation under outdoor conditions.

ASX-listed nanotechnology company Nanoveu will look to expand into the United States market with the establishment of a demonstration site for its anti-soiling coating for solar glass following trial deployments in the Philippines and Malaysia.

Japanese oil and gas giant Inpex has been jointly awarded a $1 million (USD 670,000) grant by the Australian government to conduct a feasibility study into the growth potential of a ‘clean’ hydrogen market in the Northern Territory.

Caltech’s space solar program began in 2011 when philanthropist Donald Bren donated more than USD 100 million ($150 million) in support of the project. In the first demonstration of solar energy beamed to earth, his vision is now becoming reality.

Griffith University researchers have developed a tool to identify sites for pumped hydro storage projects. Using North Queensland to demonstrate the tool, the researchers identified 14 potentially feasible sites in the region where the LCOE ranged between $0.04/kWh – $0.27/kWh.

Developed by Chinese researchers, the novel hybrid storage technology may achieve an efficiency of over 80% and be applied in distribution and transmission grids. The proposed combination is reportedly able to offer the advantages of gravity energy storage and power-based storage systems in a single solution.