Solar PV technology continues to innovate and evolve at a rapid pace. Testing the modules is essential for predicting durability and future performance. But that inevitably means past experience is not a good predictor of the behaviour of the new materials and configurations. Sara Fall and Harrison Dreves at NREL explain how the Durable Module Materials (DuraMAT) Consortium has set up sophisticated testing and data gathering to use the … [Read more...]
When can Bioenergy be truly green? 5 key questions for every project
Is bioenergy green? It depends, says Jessica Allen at the University of Newcastle. She lays out five key questions that should be asked about every bioenergy project. What is its source? Native forest residues, dedicated fast-growing biomass species, agricultural residues and “waste” biomass: all have pros and cons that must first be carefully measured. How many emissions are embodied in the collection and transport of the biomass to the plant? … [Read more...]
“Flow Batteries” for grid-scale storage: modelling cheaper alternatives to Vanadium
Flow batteries are a promising new technology for grid storage. Rather than the standard batteries that store charge in a solid material, they use a solution to store that charge, making large-scale long-duration electricity storage much easier. Vanadium electrolytes have been the preferred choice so far, but affordable supplies are limited and a cheaper alternative will be needed for global scale-up, explains Nancy Stauffer at MIT who describes … [Read more...]
Using atomic-scale imaging and AI to reduce Battery degradation
Finding ways to extend a battery’s life starts with understanding why they degrade. Andrew Myers writing for Stanford University describes research there that is using new methods of high-resolution X-ray, electron and neutron microscopy to allow direct visualisation of battery materials at the nanoscale. Degradation is mostly caused by the expansion and contraction of the materials. The high resolution images are processed using AI to uncover … [Read more...]
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