energy & power

A Swiss research group has proven that we don’t need to rush to reinvent batteries. They have improved the performance of conventional lithium ion batteries without even changing the chemical composition.

Researchers discovered that the ions inside a battery should flow back and forth from one electrode to another, but it turns out that they often get stuck, causing “traffic jams” that reduce capacity. Now that the problem has been identified, several possible solutions could improve batteries in the near future.

Scientists have developed a new simple design that could lower costs and improve the performance of solar cells. They used alternative, transparent materials that can be deposited at room temperature, which is a huge advantage over traditional chemical doping techniques. Today’s commercially available silicon solar cells are built using doping, a process that increases the cell’s electrical conductivity.

Engineering students recently competed in a unique competition where they saw their designs in action. Solar Splash is a solar electric boating competition that is sponsored by the IEEE’s Power Electronics Society. This year’s event was held June 15-19 in Dayton, Ohio, hosted by reigning champion Cedarville University.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued final rules to establish energy conservation standards for battery chargers. The new standards go into effect on June 13, 2018.

Researchers at The Institute of Photonic Sciences searched for photovoltaic technology that is thin, low-cost, flexible, and environmentally friendly, so that sustainable energy could be installed in more locations. They have developed a new kind of solar cell that is non-toxic, easy to produce, and made with abundant materials.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has released the first edition of IEC 62788-1-2:2016. This document describes "Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules - Part 1-2: Encapsulants - Measurement of volume resistivity of photovoltaic encapsulants and other polymeric materials."

Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter in the UK are developing inexpensive, high efficiency solar cells made of gold and diamond-like (amorphous) carbon. They created a cell that can potentially reach much higher temperatures than traditional surfaces because it can minimize the emission of thermal radiation.

A new design increases the amount of sunlight that a solar absorber can convert into heat. The novel solar absorber could be used to make solar technology more efficient and affordable. The discovery is the result of a partnership between the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in the United Arab Emirates and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dubai, the flashy city in the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and a place that is known for going over the top (see: gigantic manmade decorative islands). Now the city’s water and electric authority has announced it will build the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) project.