Technology and R&D

The integration of solar cells and vehicles looks like a sure bet for the future of cars, buses, and trucks. But for startups that have bet on making solar a feature of their electric vehicles (EVs), times are tough, reports pv magazine’s Tristan Rayner.

United Kingdom-based Above’s founder and CEO Will Hitchcock sits down with pv magazine to discuss the solar industry’s growing demand for drone-based aerial inspection and data analysis, the game changing utility of digital twins, and what the future holds for autonomous drone programs.

Hydrogen truck maker Hyzon has launched what is being hailed as Australia’s first locally designed and built hydrogen-powered truck at its regional headquarters in Melbourne. The 27-tonne truck is hitting Australian roads in a series of commercial trials this year, including as part of a longterm partnership with RACV, which has ordered three tow trucks.

Cornell University researchers have discovered that soybeans planted beneath 3.9-meter-high solar modules can positively affect panel temperatures and the microclimates of farms.

McKinsey & Company says in a new report that payback periods for heat pumps could fall by up to 38% by 2030.

Last year was another landmark 12 months for energy storage, with all indicators pointing to a massive surge in demand. Supply chain instability and inflation saw battery prices rise, but the industry demonstrated an ability to swiftly react to geopolitical developments. Marija Maisch examines five trends driving the market.

Western Australian solar window company ClearVue Technologies has won a tender to complete a study of its electricity generating glazing technology, which will be installed at a Hong Kong government department’s headquarters as part of a fully-funded field trial.

Australian energy management software company SwitchDin has announced it will build the Southern Hemisphere’s largest lab dedicated to researching and testing distributed energy resources at its headquarters in the New South Wales Hunter region.

An Australian startup spawned by Monash University research has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s most powerful air-cooled electric motor for aircraft, potentially paving the way for the electrification of the aviation sector.

German scientists have investigated the role of surface texturing in perovskite-silicon tandem cells and have found that several new processes offer the ability to etch smaller, more uniform textures onto the surface of a silicon cell than today’s industry standard. This could help to ease the subsequent growth of a perovskite cell on top of the silicon, enabling researchers and manufacturers to target higher performance.