European islands make decarbonization pledges
Often dependent on fuel imports from the mainland and frequently powered by fossil fuels, islands have taken center stage at an online forum which builds on a political process kicked-off by Croatia’s presidency of the European Council.
Thermodynamics-inspired model for microgrid feasibility
Researchers in the U.S. have deployed a phase model, inspired by thermodynamics, to total system costs and technology choices of power grids. Doing so allowed the group to make assumptions for when all renewables powered microgrids become the most economically viable option.
The issues with lithium-ion battery recycling – and how to fix them
Design-for-recycling is not perceived to be high up the list of priorities for battery manufacturers but solutions do exist. Lithium-ion device recycling is technically feasible but requires an improvement in its business case to take off.
Fraunhofer to develop battery inverter for whole-area UPS and renewables integration
Industrial and academic partners are developing a battery inverter which can be grid connected under normal operation but can also use nearby renewables generators to form an island grid, for whole-area uninterrupted power supply.
Satellite data guides module technology choice for different climates and regions
A team of researchers analyzed irradiance spectra using satellite data. The research aimed at determining how different module technologies like silicon, hetero-junction, perovskite and CdTe cope in different geographies and weather conditions.
Corporate funding for battery storage up 75%
Analysts at Mercom Capital Group have tallied up corporate funding, venture capital and debt and public market investment for battery storage, smart grids and energy efficiency companies. From a financial perspective, the industry appears resilient to the Covid-19 crisis and ready to grow further.
Q3 solar investment figures hint at recovery
After a weak second quarter, financial activity is back at full steam in the PV sector, says Mercom, noting strong performance across a range of metrics.
Schneider Electric launches off-grid-capable solar charge controller
The power electronics company is offering a product which can work on and off the grid and enables the charging of dead batteries using a rooftop solar array.
New Siemens units lay marks in hydrogen generation, mobility and energy-as-a-service
With a flurry of recent announcements, the newly-launched power division of the electronics giant plans to drive hydrogen mobility in Germany and enter the commercial and industrial power market in the US.
Another bumper year sees green bonds push through $1tn mark
Sustainability-linked debt financing is experiencing ever increasing popularity and the success of green bonds has driven other products linked to social performance and other sustainability criteria. The total volume of such investments to date passed the $2 trillion point this year.
