UQ research targets connection challenges for hybrid plants
Researchers at the University of Queensland are leading a project aiming to improve how hybrid renewable power plants – typically including solar and/or wind, along with battery energy storage – connect into Australia’s electricity grid.
New cooling gel could raise PV module efficiency by 12%
An international research team has developed a hydrogel composite that absorbs moisture in solar modules overnight and facilitates evaporative cooling throughout daylight hours. The system has undergone lab tests and outdoor experiments on two continents.
Voltavate to power up battery tech with Artesian backing
Australian battery tech startup Voltavate has secured $850,000 in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by $1.22 billion global alternative investment management firm Artesian.
Scientists build 29.5%-efficiency all-perovskite tandem solar cells
An international team of researchers used a novel interfacial treatment to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells across a range of narrow and wide bandgap single junction, tandem, and mini-module samples. An all-perovskite tandem solar cell demonstrated its use with a certified efficiency of 29.5%.
Kardinia Energy rolls out printed solar for Coldplay concert
Australian printed solar tech company Kardinia Energy and globally acclaimed rock band Coldplay have together delivered one of the largest live-event deployments of mobile solar while providing a high-profile test for organic, ink-based photovoltaics.
Deakin puts peer-to-peer trading of excess solar to test
Researchers at Deakin University have launched a first-of-its-kind project exploring how Australian households and small businesses with solar and or battery systems can sell their excess clean energy to others without the technology.
Project mapping platform adds high-res imagery to mix
Australian renewable energy market intelligence and mapping tool provder RenewMap has partnered with aerial imagery platform Nearmap in a move that provides users with access to the tech company’s high-resolution digitised content.
Scientists discover new failure mode in LECO-treated TOPCon solar cells
An international research team has observed a significant increase in series resistance in LECO-treated TOPCon solar cells after temperature and bias treatment. The scientists said they now need to conduct further investigations into its impact on cell efficiency, reliability, and bankability.
RedEarth teams with global partners to build microgrid-in-a-box system
Queensland battery solutions provider RedEarth Energy Storage has announced an international partnership that will see it jointly develop a ‘world first’ integrated hardware and energy management system that combines solar, storage, and bidirectional electric vehicle charging capabilities in a single unit.
New model to predict moisture ingress in photovoltaic modules
Researchers in Netherlands and Belgium have created a numerical model to simulate the moisture ingress in PV modules. Their research work showed that climate in which a PV module is installed has a much higher impact on the moisture ingress than the choice of materials for the encapsulant of the backsheet.
