West Australian vanadium explorer signs agreement with Japan to scope state’s potential for flow battery electrolyte production
A West Australian vanadium explorer, Technology Metals, has signed an agreement with a prominent Japanese company to explore the possibility of manufacturing vanadium electrolyte in Australia – a key component of the increasingly popular vanadium redox flow batteries.
An aluminium battery that can charge in a fraction of a second
Scientists in China and the United States investigated the inner workings of aluminium-ion batteries. With new insights into mechanisms at work within the battery during cycling, the group was able to demonstrate a battery capable of ultrafast charging, with the highest capacity so far reported for an aluminium battery.
Sunday read: Levelling the playing field
Tensions are heating up throughout the world over the issue of forced labor. Calls are increasing for supply chain transparency, and recently published EU draft legislation on corporate due diligence and accountability should improve upon the currently available voluntary measures, which have been described as largely ineffective. With this in mind, pv magazine’s UP Initiative will spend the second quarter of 2021 looking at what solar and energy storage companies can do to lead by positive example when it comes to the workers who are involved in the production of their products and services.
Saturday read: Clever by half
Enhanced module appearance and power output can be achieved by a smart cell interconnection technique Longi is employing in its Hi-MO5 module series. But as with all new technologies, there are potential pitfalls.
Trina launches 670 W solar panel
The latest product in the Vertex series from the Chinese manufacturer has a power conversion efficiency of 21.6%.
Sharp develops 445 W half-cut panels for large scale PV
The new panel is manufactured with M6 wafers. It features a power conversion efficiency of 20.1% and a temperature coefficient of -0.347% per degree Celsius.
Gladstone to host $500m solar to hydrogen plant
London-based Eco Energy World, which is already developing at 300 MW solar project north of Gladstone, Queensland, has announced that it is going to combine the solar plant with a 200 MW hydrogen plant and 100 MW of energy storage for green hydrogen exports to the global market.
Solid-state batteries in space
Japanese scientists are about to launch solid-state batteries into space.
Sunday read: Unlocking lightweight, flex applications
Not all rooftops can bear the weight of glass PV modules. Some others have curves and shapes ill-suited to uniform, bulky panels. Flexible modules have long been advanced as the solution here, however the keys to unlocking this potential have proven elusive.
Vietnam sees 350 MW solar park come online
Chinese inverter maker Sungrow revealed a 350 MW solar facility was energised in Loc Ninh County, Binh Phuoc Province. The project secured a FiT of $0.0709 per kWh.
