Technology and R&D

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.

Allegro Energy, an Australian startup seeking to commercialise research into microemulsions to make non-toxic electrolytes that are cheaper “by factor of 100,” has commissioned a pilot-scale manufacturing line for supercapacitors in Newcastle, NSW.

Worldwide Universities Network researchers used cheap and abundant starting materials to synthesise a small molecule organic electrode material and achieved a considerable performance boost with various battery chemistries. The new cathode material exhibited unparalleled cycling stability, ultra-high capacity, and rate capability in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Olivier Corradi, the CEO of Electricity Maps, speaks to pv magazine about why 24/7 granular accounting of electricity is key to decarbonisation and how the company tracks the carbon intensity of otherwise elusive electrons.

Competition is intensifying in the electrolyser space. With the International Energy Agency (IEA) expecting 380 GW of hydrogen production capacity in 2030, four different technologies will likely become prominent as demand spikes. We take a look at the market.

Australian clean tech company Graphene Manufacturing Group plans to scale up the development of its battery energy storage technology that it claims charges 70 times faster than a lithium-ion battery and has three times more battery life.

Trina Solar says its new TOPCon solar panel combines a double-glass design with n-type technology. Its efficiency ranges from 20.8% to 22.3% and the power output is between 415 W and 445 W.

Australian nanotechnology company Nanoveu has developed a multifunctional anti-soiling coating for solar glass that is designed to inhibit surface debris and algae growth from forming on PV panels.

Western Australia-based AVESS is set to deploy demonstration batteries at a WA mine site in the second half of the year. The deployment is about proving the company’s technology, as it plans to move towards manufacturing the flow batteries in Australia from 2024.