Making Perovskite Solar Cells From Old Car Batteries
MIT researchers have created perovskite solar cells using the lead recovered from old car batteries. Car batteries have a high degree of recyclability; for example the lead in a battery can be used to make more batteries. But with lead-free car batteries on the horizon; a major market for this lead could disappear. An emerging […]
Court Rules Against ‘Solar Tax’ In South Australia
A decision in the Federal Court to prevent a “solar tax” being applied in South Australia has implications nationally. Yesterday, Justice John Mansfield ruled in favour of an earlier decision that would prevent SA Power Networks “gouging solar rooftop owners” says Solar Citizens. SA Power Networks had appealed against the Australian Energy Regulator’s decision to […]
Wind Power Helping Tasmania Through Basslink Fault
A fault in the Basslink interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria coupled with low rainfall in spring has put the Apple Isle in a challenging situation; but wind power is helping to maintain electricity supply. Basslink enables trade of electricity between Tasmania and the National Electricity Market (NEM). It was implemented to protect Tasmania against the […]
American Wind Power Capacity Tops 70GW
Enough wind turbine capacity is now installed in the USA and Puerto Rico to supply more than 19 million typical American homes with clean, cheap electricity. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the 70GW installed capacity mark was achieved in November. “This American wind power success story just gets better. There’s now enough […]
Another Solar Powered Car-Cycle – Mö
With normal use of 10-25 kilometres per day, “mö” can get all the power it needs from the sun. Spanish company Evovelo is in the midst of a beta-testing program of its fully-enclosed solar and pedal powered car-cycle that it says will be approved for use as a tandem tricycle (in Spain anyway). Mö is […]
Battery System Subsidies For Canberra
More than more 5,000 homes and businesses in Canberra will benefit from subsidised solar power system battery storage over the next 4 years. Announced last week, Minister for the Environment Simon Corbell said the ACT Government will support 36 megawatts of battery storage through a renewables auction program commencing in 2016. The pilot round will […]
Extension Of U.S. Wind And Solar Tax Credit Applauded
The recently passed extension of an investment tax credit (ITC) will bring further massive growth to the USA’s wind energy and solar power capacity; plus generate more than a hundred thousand new jobs. The ITC is a 30 percent credit for wind, solar power and energy storage systems installed at eligible residential and commercial properties. […]
Bokpoort Solar + Storage Facility Operational
The ACWA Solafrica Bokpoort CSP Power Plant is now fully functional and supplying clean electricity to thousands of homes in South Africa. Bokpoort CSP has an installed capacity of 50 MW, plus two thermal energy storage (TES) tanks measuring 36/40 meters diameter and a height of 18 meters. The tanks hold molten salt capable of […]
Solar Balloons Could Soon Soar
We’ve reported on space-based solar farms before, where orbiting satellite arrays beam uninterrupted energy back to Earth via microwave or incredibly huge electrical cables. A French researcher has suggested a simpler method of unimpeded solar electricity production: ‘solar balloons’. The idea, according to electro-chemist Professor Jean-François Guillemoles, is to rise above the pesky clouds that […]
LG Chem Announces 1 GWh Lithium-ion Battery Deal
LG Chem has announced a multi-year supply agreement for a minimum one gigawatt-hour of lithium-ion battery capacity for use in AES Advancion grid-scale energy storage units. LG Chem says 1 GWh of batteries is capable of powering 250 – 1,000 MW of energy storage installations, depending on configuration. The supply agreement covers battery modules with […]
