Technology and R&D

South Korea is opening what it claims is the world’s first hydrogen power generation bidding market, while the Queensland government has approved funding to assess water use in Gladstone’s hydrogen industry.

Samsung and SMA are using a new cloud-to-cloud system that allows PV systems with SMA inverters to be integrated with Samsung heat pumps.

SolarEdge has released new optimisers for residential PV applications with a DC power rating of 500 W, a maximum efficiency of 99.5%, and a weighted efficiency of 98.6%. The optimiser for commercial and industrial applications offers 1.4 kW of rated DC power.

As the hunt for more efficient batteries continues, Queensland energy tech company AnteoTech has sharpened its focus on the development of its silicon anode binder technology and pure silicon anode design that it claims can deliver up to a 35% improvement in energy capacity compared to current high energy battery cells.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are expanding at a fast pace in several of the world’s largest markets. This is being driven by governments and automakers who are promoting electricity powered vehicles as a key technology to curb fossil fuel use, fight climate change and air pollution, but rapid EV uptake is also creating challenges for the grid.

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.

UK scientists have developed Solar2Water, a system that generates twice the amount of water as conventional atmospheric water generators. The system operates efficiently with the same energy input, regardless of air humidity, relying solely on photovoltaics.

Brisbane-based battery materials and technology company Novonix has sealed a $45 million (USD 30 million) deal with South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution that is complemented by an agreement between the two parties to jointly work toward developing high-performance, synthetic graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

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.

US-based Salgenx says it has successfully integrated ultracapacitors with its saltwater redox flow batteries, resulting in significantly better power response and system performance.