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- June 22 | Solar Storage at Night | South Pole Solar Power | US Solar Business Shutdown
June 22 | Solar Storage at Night | South Pole Solar Power | US Solar Business Shutdown
Solar Brew: Your Energy Joe!
Kenzo Repole
June 22, 2024
CSP Headlines
(7 Minute Read)
SolStor Energy, a new US company, is developing concentrating solar power (CSP) with thermal energy storage (TES) to provide clean energy at night, complementing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. CSP was previously deployed in the US but lost favor due to falling PV costs. However, with an increasing focus on 100% renewable energy grids and limitations of battery storage duration, CSP+TES offers a long-duration solution. SolStor sees opportunities due to new policies, rising demand for night-time energy, and the need to replace natural gas peaker plants.
Click here to read the full article.
(3 Minute Read)
Power China Northwest is building a record-sized 200 MW tower CSP plant in China's Qinghai Province. This is double the usual capacity for such projects. To compensate for the increased mirror distance and weaker heat flux, the storage capacity will be lower than usual (6 hours) and supplemented by electric heating from a nearby solar PV project. This large-scale CSP plant is part of a 2000 MW hybrid solar project that combines CSP with photovoltaic power generation. The project aims to provide peak shaving power and contribute to clean energy goals in China.
Click here to read the full article.
PV Headlines
(8 Minute Read)
Researchers at the US Department of Energy explored using renewable energy (wind, solar) with battery storage to power the South Pole research station. Currently, the station relies on expensive and environmentally unfriendly diesel fuel shipped in from afar.
The freezing temperatures pose no technical challenges, with existing wind and solar technology proven to work in such conditions. The economic feasibility is also promising. A hybrid system combining wind, solar, and battery storage could provide power at a fraction of the cost of diesel fuel (33 cents/kWh vs $4.09/kWh) while significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The initial investment would be recouped in just a few years.
Challenges include designing the system to withstand the harsh environment (e.g., solar panels angled to avoid snowdrifts, wind turbine foundations anchored in ice) and mitigating potential electromagnetic interference from wind turbines with sensitive scientific equipment.
This project could serve as a model for transitioning other remote locations away from diesel fuel and showcase the potential of renewable energy anywhere on Earth.
Click here to read the full article.
(4 Minute Read)
A new Spanish company, Soletrax, has launched a solar tracker called Trxone. Trxone is a single-row tracker designed to optimize energy generation on solar farms. Here are the key features of Trxone:
Each row is tracked independently, maximizing sunlight exposure.
Trxone adapts well to uneven terrain.
It offers economies of scale by requiring fewer control systems for multiple rows.
Soletrax customizes Trxone for each project to improve efficiency and reduce shading.
Trxone uses weather data and machine learning to optimize energy production throughout the plant's lifetime.
Soletrax also offers Fixone, a fixed-tilt mounting system for solar panels.
Click here to read the full article.
(4 Minute Read)
A solar power research firm, Bernreuter Research, predicts a surge in solar panel installations this year (2024) due to falling prices. Their research indicates:
Global solar installations are expected to reach 600-660 gigawatts (GW), exceeding previous forecasts.
An upswing driven by ambitious shipment targets from leading solar manufacturers who are aiming for a 40% increase in production compared to 2023.
Lower solar panel prices will incentivize more people to invest in solar energy, especially in the second half of the year.
China, the world leader in solar installations, is expected to remain a major driver of this growth.
Bernreuter's research suggests that the solar industry is past the worst of the price decline and poised for a strong rebound.
Click here to read the full article.
Energy Storage
(5 Minutes Read)
Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is a technology that converts heat into electricity using light. It has the potential to be more efficient than solar panels but hasn't been commercially viable due to low efficiency. Researchers at the University of Michigan developed TPV cells that achieved 44% efficiency, a significant improvement. This paves the way for thermal battery systems that could store solar energy more effectively. These thermal batteries could potentially be a key part of a future grid powered mostly by renewable sources like wind and solar.
Click here to read the full article.
(4 Minutes Read)
Swiss companies Pilatus and Synhelion are partnering to develop solar fuels for airplanes. Pilatus, an aircraft manufacturer, aims to use Synhelion's solar fuels for its fleet and eventually offer them to customers. This collaboration reflects a push for sustainable aviation.
Synhelion is a cleantech company that uses solar energy to produce fuels. They are building the world's first industrial solar fuel plant and plan a commercial plant in Spain. Pilatus becoming a shareholder in Synhelion strengthens their commitment to this technology.
Both companies believe solar fuels are the best way to rapidly reduce the environmental impact of air travel. Their goal is to offer these fuels to Pilatus' entire customer base within a decade.
Click here to read the full article.
(4 Minutes Read)
A German-Norwegian company, Eco Stor, has launched a free online tool to help countries plan for their transition to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
The tool called a "storage dashboard", helps determine how much battery storage and backup power plants are needed to address periods with low wind and sunshine ("Dunkelflaute" or dark doldrums). Users can enter data on future energy consumption and planned renewable energy generation to see the resulting gaps that would need to be filled by storage or backup power plants.
This tool can help countries cost-effectively transition to renewable energy and minimize reliance on fossil fuels.
Click here to read the full article.
Market Trends
(4 Minutes Read)
Titan Solar Power, a major US residential solar installer, has shut down. The company reportedly struggled to find a buyer after negotiations fell through. This follows a period of financial difficulty and customer complaints.
Titan's closure is part of a larger trend in the US residential solar market, which is experiencing a downturn in 2024. This decline is particularly pronounced in California due to changes in net energy metering policies. These policy changes are expected to result in significant job losses in the California solar industry.
Click here to read the full article.
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