Vattenfall goes up in flames, Agoria claims their first BWSC title
After the leading car in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge caught fire and was forced to withdraw from the race on the final stretch, Belgian team Agoria surged ahead to the front.
QUT at the forefront of Australia’s hydrogen push
As the momentum is building behind hydrogen in Australia and abroad, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is leading the way in research and development with a range of initiatives on the ground.
Deakin researchers find ‘Holy Grail’ of PV module recycling
Researchers from Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials claim to have solved the biggest problem that’s preventing photovoltaic cells from being recycled.
A carbon scaffold to boost lithium-sulfur performance
Scientists at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research have developed a new method to produce lithium-sulfur based cathodes which exhibit stable performance and high storage capacity over 200 cycles. According to the agency, this represents “a promising step towards the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries.”
New chapter for solar+agriculture: BIPV for off-grid greenhouses
A new partnership is seeking to build a world-first off-grid greenhouse which will use solar glass to maintain optimal temperature and regulate irrigation by condensation inside the facility.
Old and new challenges at Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
Following significant changes to the regulations, all participants in the upcoming Bridgestone World Solar Challenge will need to go an extra mile to reach one of only two recharging stops on their way from the Top End to Adelaide. Following final scrutineering to ensure the vehicles are built to the regulations, the UNSW Sunswift solar car team is feeling extra confident for the race in its upgraded four-seater VIolet.
New solar-powered EV charging stations to alleviate grid stress during peak periods
The new solar-powered EV charging stations with integrated energy storage are designed to support electric vehicles even in the height of summer. The technology is developed by Australia’s national science agency in collaboration with Nissan Australia and Delta Electronics and backed by funding from the Victorian Government.
CSP innovator Vast Solar wins International Energy Award
Aussie company Vast Solar wins Technology Innovation Award at the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) SolarPACES 2019.
Questioning the quantum behavior of perovskites
Scientists at the University of Texas have made a discovery they say has “altered the understanding of the fundamental properties of perovskite crystals”. Their findings could improve understanding of defect formation in perovskites, leading to devices with enhanced performance and stability.
New antenna for a better photon harvest
An Italian research team has developed a device that it says can easily be integrated into a PV cell, and can boost its efficiency by converting more light particles into a high energy state before they are absorbed by the cell. The scientists claim that their innovation could offer a green‐to‐blue photon upconversion yield as high as 15%.
