Carbon Chemist

Tag: Renewable energy

  • Thermophotovoltaic cells breakthrough achieves 44% heat storage efficiency

    Thermophotovoltaic cells breakthrough achieves 44% heat storage efficiency

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    Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking advancement in thermophotovoltaic cells that may revolutionise heat storage.

    University of Michigan researchers are nearing the theoretical maximum efficiency for converting heat into electricity, moving closer to practical grid applications and promising significant advancements in heat storage technology.

    Heat batteries: Transforming renewable energy storage

    Solar and wind energy generation does not always align with consumption patterns, necessitating effective energy storage solutions.

    Andrej Lenert, associate professor of chemical engineering at the University of Michigan, said: “As we incorporate higher fractions of renewables to achieve decarbonisation goals, we need lower costs and longer durations of energy storage.”

    Heat batteries could store intermittent renewable energy during peak production hours and convert it into electricity later using a thermal version of solar cells known as thermophotovoltaic cells.

    Thermophotovoltaic cells: Efficient energy conversion

    Thermophotovoltaic cells, similar to solar cells, convert electromagnetic radiation into electricity but use lower-energy infrared photons.

    The new device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 44% at 1435°C, surpassing the previous 37% efficiency.

    Stephen Forrest, the Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan, explained: “It’s a passive form of battery.

    “Unlike electrochemical cells, it doesn’t require lithium mining, avoiding competition with the electric vehicle market.

    “Unlike hydroelectric storage, it can be deployed anywhere without needing a water source.”

    Cost-effective and simplified heat storage

    In a heat battery, thermophotovoltaic cells surround a block of heated material at over 1000°C.

    This temperature can be achieved by passing electricity from renewable sources through a resistor or by absorbing excess heat from industrial processes.

    “Using electricity to heat something up is simple and inexpensive compared to lithium-ion batteries. This approach provides access to many different materials for thermal storage,” Lenert explained.

    Optimising photon capture

    At 1435°C, about 20-30% of thermal photons emitted by the storage material have enough energy to generate electricity in thermophotovoltaic cells.

    The key was optimising the semiconductor material to capture a broader range of photon energies.

    To prevent energy loss from photons outside the semiconductor’s range, researchers developed an ‘air bridge’ structure with a thin air layer and a gold reflector.

    This design traps photons with suitable energies for the semiconductor and reflects others back into the storage material for re-emission.

    A recent improvement involving two air bridges enhanced the design’s efficiency and extended the useful temperature range for heat batteries.

    Forrest expressed optimism about the heat storage technology: “We’re not yet at the efficiency limit.

    “I am confident we will achieve higher than 44% and approach 50% efficiency soon.”

    The University of Michigan team has applied for patent protection and is seeking partners to bring this technology to market, aiming to transform heat storage and support the growing reliance on renewable energy sources.

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  • US invests $71m to boost domestic solar manufacturing

    US invests $71m to boost domestic solar manufacturing

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    The United States Department of Energy (DOE) will fund $71m to advance the nation’s solar manufacturing capabilities.

    The funding will be used to support research, development, and demonstration projects of solar technology manufacturers across the US to reinforce the country’s solar energy supply chain.

    Selected projects will solve gaps across the US solar manufacturing supply chain, such as equipment, silicon ingots and wafers, and silicon and thin-film solar cell manufacturing.

    The funding will also enable markets for solar technologies such as dual-use photovoltaic (PV) applications, including building-integrated PV and agrivoltaics.

    Jennifer Granholm, the US Secretary of Energy, commented: “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building an American-made solar supply chain that boosts innovation, drives down costs for families, and delivers jobs across the nation.

    “Thanks to historic funding and actions from the President’s clean energy agenda, we’re able to deploy more solar power – the cheapest form of energy – to millions more Americans with panels stamped made in the USA.”

    Advancing domestic solar manufacturing

    The DOE has chosen three projects for the Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-Use Photovoltaics Incubator programme to advance onshore silicon wafer and cell manufacturing technologies.

    This funding aims to help new solar companies validate their innovations and qualify for capital to scale up production, speeding up their journey to market.

    © shutterstock/serhii.suravikin

    Additionally, seven projects will focus on dual-use PV technologies to electrify buildings, decarbonise transportation, and minimise land-use conflicts.

    Selected projects include:

    • Re:Build Manufacturing
    • Silfab Solar Cells
    • Ubiquity Solar
    • Appalachian Renewable Power
    • GAF Energy
    • Noria Energy Holdings
    • RCAM Technologies
    • The R&D Lab
    • Silfab Solar WA
    • Wabash

    Boosting thin-film PV manufacturing

    Thin-film PV technologies, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe) and perovskites, offer potential advantages over dominant silicon technology, including lower energy and manufacturing costs, simpler supply chains, and higher lifetime energy yields.

    Of the eight projects selected by the DOE for the Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics funding programme, four will focus on enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening the supply chain for CdTe systems.

    Identified by DOE’s Solar Photovoltaics Supply Chain Review as a key opportunity, CdTe can help expand domestic solar panel production.

    Efficient use and recycling of materials in panel manufacturing can further boost CdTe PV competitiveness.

    The remaining four projects will develop innovative tandem PV devices, combining traditional PV technologies like silicon and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) with perovskites, a promising thin-film PV nearing market readiness.

    Additionally, one project aims to leverage the US-Canada trade partnership to increase the supply of tellurium in the United States.

    Projects selected are:

    • First Solar
    • Cubic PV
    • Tandem PV
    • Swift Solar
    • 5N Plus
    • First Solar
    • Brightspot Automation
    • Tau Science

    This strategic investment by the DOE underscores the commitment to fostering innovation in solar technology and strengthening the domestic solar supply chain.

    This initiative not only promotes technological advancements but also paves the way for a cleaner, more resilient energy future, benefiting millions of Americans with cost-effective, homegrown solar power.

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  • Roundtables: Why Thermal Batteries are So Hot Right Now

    Roundtables: Why Thermal Batteries are So Hot Right Now

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    Recorded on May 16, 2024

    Why Thermal Batteries are So Hot Right Now

    Speakers: Casey Crownhart, climate reporter and Amy Nordrum, executive editor

    Thermal batteries could be a key part of cleaning up heavy industry, and our readers chose them as the 11th breakthrough on MIT Technology Review’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024. Learn what thermal batteries are, how they could help cut emissions, and what we can expect next from this emerging technology.

    Related Coverage

    • How thermal batteries are heating up energy storage
    • The hottest new climate technology is bricks
    • Heat-storing batteries are scaling up to solve one of climate’s dirtiest problems

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  • Virtual power plants could ease growing strain on US electric grid

    Virtual power plants could ease growing strain on US electric grid

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    Top view of suburban homes; Shutterstock ID 2421124935; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

    Subtle shifts in residential power usage could help lower demand at peak times

    JazK2/Shutterstock

    Energy-saving networks called “virtual power plants” are linking batteries, solar panels and smart devices in a growing number of homes across the US – but they face obstacles to reliably reducing electricity demand.

    “You can create this massive resource that is really valuable to the grid,” says Ben Brown at Renew Home, a new company that plans to switch on what it says will be the largest such residential network in North America later this year. The firm…

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  • Green Energy Park and Eletrobras sign renewable hydrogen agreement

    Green Energy Park and Eletrobras sign renewable hydrogen agreement

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    Green Energy Park (GEP) and Eletrobras have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of achieving cost and technology leadership in the production of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives in Brazil.

    The deal is groundbreaking, with Brazil offering some of the best natural conditions for producing renewable hydrogen in the world.

    The collaboration between GEP and Eletrobras combines more than 10 gigawatts of hydropower electricity resources with a unique hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production platform designed and implemented by Green Energy Park.

    State-of-the-art electrolysers will power production

    To achieve cost leadership in renewable hydrogen, base-load hydroelectric power will enable the deployment of state-of-the-art electrolyser technologies implemented on a standardised production infrastructure, including purpose-built export terminal facilities.

    The integrated hydrogen production platform features some of the most advanced process engineering designs from the liquified natural gas and ammonia business.

    GEP will distribute green fuels to off-takers in industry and transport, with a mission to help decarbonise the economy’s hard-to-abate sectors.

    A significant milestone in the renewable hydrogen industry

    Bart Biebuyck, CEO of Green Energy Park, explained: “Renewable electricity is the cornerstone of our green hydrogen production process, and we are delighted to have it secured from Eletrobras, a company that stands out as the dominant player in Brazil’s energy infrastructure.

    “The availability of hydropower at the gigawatts scale from Eletrobras is a critical component in our mission to achieve cost leadership in renewable hydrogen.”

    Ivan de Souza Monteiro, CEO of Eletrobras, added: “As leaders in the generation and transmission of electrical energy in Brazil, we must contribute not only to improving our country matrix but the world so that the sources are increasingly cleaner and renewable.

    “With this important partnership, we are aligned with the strategy of contributing to the decarbonisation of the economy and energy security.”

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  • £86m unveiled for groundbreaking wind turbine test facility

    £86m unveiled for groundbreaking wind turbine test facility

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    The world’s most advanced wind turbine test facility will be built in Blyth, Northumberland, as part of an £86m investment in wind power R&D facilities that will slash CO2 emissions and grow the economy.

    The new test facility, based at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre, will test, validate, and certify turbines and is expected to prevent 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions—twice the amount of CO2 emitted by the Newcastle population in a year.

    The funding will go towards building a 150-metre blade test facility that will replicate the harsh conditions at sea, with potential for future expansion to 180 metres.

    This will mean the facility is capable of testing the largest blades currently on the market and in near-future development.

    Dr Adam Staines, UKRI Infrastructure Portfolio Director, explained: “The project in Blyth demonstrates that investment in the right infrastructure can reduce CO2, support greater energy independence and drive economic benefits.”

    Building a UK offshore wind supply chain

    The new R&D infrastructure will support the growth of UK supply chains and the industry’s goal of 60% of offshore wind farm content coming from the UK.

    Currently, it’s the second-largest offshore wind market in the world and represents more than 40% of European offshore wind capacity.

    It will also encourage investment in our country’s fast-growing offshore wind sector, benefiting our businesses and, in turn, our economy while supporting the UK’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2050.

    The wind turbine test facility—the only site in the world testing both turbine blades and drive trains—will create at least 30 new jobs in Blyth and support five PhDs a year. It will also open doors for highly skilled and highly paid local jobs to help level up the UK.

    Science, Research and Innovation Minister Andrew Griffith said: “This innovation will strengthen the UK’s energy security in an uncertain world and help us pivot towards the cleaner energy that can preserve our planet for generations to come.”

    Introducing larger, more efficient wind turbines

    Testing the larger blades and more powerful drive trains before the turbines are put to work offshore helps manufacturers accelerate the introduction of the new wave of larger, more efficient machines, which generate more power and reduce the chance of failure in practice.

    Designs are well advanced with a view to commencing construction this summer and to the major upgrade to its 15MW drive train test facility, with both expected to be fully commissioned by 2028.

    “The test facility will deliver the most advanced research and development infrastructure and expertise to the offshore wind industry, capturing the jobs and economic growth from the transition to a net zero economy,” concluded Andrew Jamieson, ORE Catapult Chief Executive.

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  • The meeting place for the ocean energy sector

    The meeting place for the ocean energy sector

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    Ocean Energy Europe aims to foster growth in the ocean energy sector through its annual conference and exhibition, which has been running for over ten years.

    Ocean energy europe’s (OEE) mission is to create a supportive environment for the ocean energy industry to grow and thrive. Over 120 organisations, including Europe’s leading utilities, industrialists and research institutes, trust us to represent the interests of Europe’s ocean energy sector, making it the largest network of ocean energy professionals in the world.

    We are working closely with our members and partners to support technological innovation, improve access to funding, and build a strong and resilient community. One of our main tools to achieve this goal is our annual Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition, which has been running for over ten years and is one of the most important events for the ocean energy sector.

    Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition 2023: A successful ten-year celebration

    The 2023 edition of the OEE annual event took place in the Hague on 25 and 26 October. It marked the ten year anniversary of the Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition and became one of the most successful OEE events to date.

    The packed conference programme brought together high-level speakers from across the world and covered topics ranging from the latest developments of ocean energy’s flagship projects and innovative technologies to economic opportunities and funding. Anyone involved in the ocean energy sector could learn something new and gain insight into the direction the sector was taking.

    On the exhibition side, we introduced new and improved fully branded stands made from reusable and recyclable materials. This gave the entire event a fresh and modern look, guaranteeing that our exhibitors look their best while staying true to our sustainability values. Our exhibition is the place to meet, connect, raise your profile and do business, and the 2023 edition was no exception.

    Over a third of our attendees are C-suite executives, being visible on the OEE exhibition floor means being visible to the people who are building the ocean energy sector. In 2023, ocean energy attracted an unprecedented level of attention from big industrial and energy players, and it was reflected at our event with a lot of new faces and new deals being signed.

    To facilitate this process, the OEE2023 Conference & Exhibition also included a new online networking platform. Attendees were prompted to set up an online profile, find potential partners, clients and investors, and book meetings with them in advance. Over 100 B2B meetings between leaders of the ocean energy industry took place thanks to this new feature.

    Finally, and for the first time ever, the 2023 OEE Conference & Exhibition included free activities for the general public. Our members brought their ocean energy devices, real machines which have been tested in real sea conditions, to a public square in the Hague next to the conference venue. In addition, we organised an ocean energy photo exhibition in a public part of the venue to show ocean energy devices in the water and explain how the different technologies work.

    Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition 2024: Back to the home of ocean energy

    This year’s edition, dubbed OEE2024, will take place on 5 and 6 November in Aviemore, Scotland. The choice of venue is never arbitrary: This year, the conference returns to Scotland, going to the Scottish Highlands. Scotland and its Highlands & Islands have long been at the forefront of ocean energy. Home to some of the world’s most important ocean energy resources and some of the most successful ocean energy technologies, it is the perfect location for the sector to come together for OEE2024.

    We are delighted to be able to host such a large international event in the heart of Scotland. The OEE annual conference boasts attendees from all over the world, with 30 countries from 6 continents represented at the 2023 edition. The 2024 conference programme will capitalise on Scotland’s ocean energy leadership and the sector’s quick growth towards large-scale array deployments to focus on industrialisation and how we can build strong supply chains.

    Speakers have previously included national Ministers and European Commissioners, as well as CEOs, CFOs, decision-makers, and stakeholders from all corners of the ocean energy sector: developers, supply chain, investors and national and regional governments, to name a few.

    This year’s exhibition already promises to be memorable. Stand sales opened in late April, and several of the lead ocean energy technology developers have already booked their spots. In addition to our high-level exhibitors, OEE members will once again bring their devices to the exhibition as part of our ocean energy Tech Trail. To date, four full-scale pieces of ocean energy technology have been confirmed, with more to come in the next few months.

    The official programme of the conference will be published in May, along with the registration opening. Registrants will be able to access the online event platform, start networking and book meetings with other attendees. We will also announce several side activities that will take place before, during and after the event itself. We’re keeping the surprise for now, but these will let attendees go more in depth into specific topics, meet their peers in a more relaxed setting or discover the Highlands and make the most of their time in Scotland.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the 18th edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Renewables supply 30 per cent of global electricity for the first time

    Renewables supply 30 per cent of global electricity for the first time

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    The rapid growth of solar power in China has changed the world’s electricity mix

    Costfoto/NurPhoto/Shutte​rstock

    Renewables generated a record share of global electricity in 2023 thanks to the rapid growth of wind and solar power. The year marked a turning point in the transition to low-carbon energy, according to think tank Ember, with coal and gas power on the cusp of a long-term decline.

    Green electricity jumped from 29.4 per cent of total generation in 2022 to 30.3 per cent last year, a new high. This was driven by the rapid rollout of wind and solar power, particularly in China. Hydropower and other renewables, such as bioenergy, made up the remainder of renewable generation.

    Solar is by far the fastest-growing electricity source, increasing its share of generation from 4.6 per cent in 2022 to 5.5 per cent in 2023. That is the continuation of a long-running trend; since 2000, wind and solar power have gone from generating just 0.2 per cent of global electricity to a record 13.4 per cent today.

    The share generated by fossil fuels fell from 61.4 per cent in 2022 to 60.6 per cent in 2023, but the amount of electricity produced by these fuels rose slightly because of a 2.2 per cent hike in overall energy demand, mostly in China. Nuclear provided 9.1 per cent of electricity, the same as in 2022.

    A further surge in wind and solar deployment means that, in absolute terms, fossil fuel generation should fall in 2024 – for the first time outside economic crises or pandemics – even as demand for electricity grows, says Ember’s Hannah Broadbent.

    “We really think that 2023 was a major turning point in the history of energy,” she says. “Not only did renewables reach this historic milestone, we also believe that it will be the peak of fossil generation as well. We expect from this year that fossil generation will start to decline at a global level.”

    Fossil fuel generation would have declined in absolute terms in 2023, says Broadbent, but severe droughts in China, India, Vietnam and Mexico curtailed hydropower. Coal plants stepped in to fill the gap, leading to a 1 per cent increase in power sector emissions.

    Assuming a partial return to normality for hydropower in 2024, Ember says it expects emissions from electricity generation to fall by 4 per cent in 2024, the start of a long-term decline for fossil fuels in the mix.

    However, green electricity deployment must increase even more rapidly over the coming years to meet the world’s climate goals. Models suggest wind and solar must deliver 40 per cent of global electricity generation by the end of the decade, around triple its current contribution, in order to meet the target of stopping global warming exceeding 1.5°C.

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  • Old electric-vehicle batteries can find new purpose — on the grid

    Old electric-vehicle batteries can find new purpose — on the grid

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    Even after powering a vehicle for more than 100,000 kilometres, an electric vehicle (EV) battery can have a second life — to sustain the electric power grid1.

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  • Researchers create green jet fuel from methane emissions

    Researchers create green jet fuel from methane emissions

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    Scientists from the University of Sydney have innovated a process for turning methane emissions into green jet fuel.

    The researchers have created a chemical process that utilises plasma to generate sustainable fuel from methane gas emitted by landfill sites.

    This novel approach not only creates green fuel to help decarbonise the aviation industry but also helps curb harmful emissions from landfills, creating a circular approach.

    The innovation highlights Australia’s determination to combat greenhouse gas emissions, with the nation recently joining the US, EU, Japan, and the Republic of Korea in signing the international methane mitigation agreement.

    Professor PJ Cullen, lead author from the University of Sydney, highlighted the significance of the breakthrough: “Globally, landfills are a major emitter of greenhouse gases, mainly a mixture of CO2 and methane. We have developed a process that would take these gases and convert them into fuels, targeting sectors that are difficult to electrify, like aviation.”

    “Modern landfill facilities already capture, upgrade and combust their gas emissions for electricity generation. However, our process creates a much more environmentally impactful and commercially valuable product.”

    Global methane emissions

    Data from the International Energy Agency suggests that methane is a significantly more potent greenhouse gas than CO2.

    The concentration of methane gas in the atmosphere is around 2.5 times higher than pre-industrial levels and is increasing.

    Waste emissions and burning fossil fuels generate a considerable amount of methane gas.

    Impacts of landfills and aviation on greenhouse gas emissions

    Currently, the aviation sector produces 3% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions, with landfills contributing 10–20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.

    The University of Syndey’s closed-loop solution to create green jet fuel represents a paradigm shift to decarbonise both industries.

    Creating green aviation fuel

    To create green jet fuel, the plasma process initially extracts methane gas from a landfill site, also known as a methane well, using a shaft-like mechanism.

    Professor Cullen highlighted the simplicity of the process, stating that it precisely captures the required composition.

    They explained that non-thermal plasma, an electricity-driven technology, can excite gas at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure.

    This approach enables the conversion of gas into value-added products – jet fuel – by inducing plasma discharge within forming gas bubbles.

    Notably, the process operates without heat or pressure, minimising energy consumption and aligning well with renewable energy sources.

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