Renewables
Photovoltaic detectors have a spectral range of up to 3.5µ
Manufacturer of photovoltaic Indium Arsenide detectors, LASER COMPONENTS, globally supplies these industrial grade quantum sensors. The semiconductor material absorbs incident IR photons generating electron hole pairs which are collected at external electrodes. Photovoltaic detectors are a suitable choice for many applications due to their high sensitivity, fast response, low noise and wide dynamic range.
EV pioneer uses torque sensor as heart of test rig
A wireless torque sensor is at the heart of a test rig supplied to a world renowned UK University automotive research facility. The rig has been developed by a company that has been at the forefront of electric vehicle design and development for over 20 years. Based in Fareham, Hants, Tirius has been built on pioneering work on an all-electric single seat racing car and a series of record breaking vehicles.
Panda power! Is this the world’s cutest solar plant?
Eco-development solutions provider, Panda Green Energy, announced that the world’s first Panda Power Plant in Datong Shanxi has been officially connected to the grid and is currently in testing phase. Panda Green Energy launched the innovative project to construct Panda Power Plant in May 2016. The plant has an aggregate install capacity of 100MW and the first phase, which included one 50MW plant, was successfully connected to the grid...
PV module achieves 29.3% power conversion efficiency
Research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics, energy and digital technology, and partner in Solliance and EnergyVille, imec, has announced an improvement of its 4cm2 perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaic module achieving a power conversion efficiency of 23.9%. Reaching this level, imec is the first to achieve a module-on-cell stack that outperforms the standalone silicon solar cell.
Saliva-powered battery could work in extreme conditions
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have developed the next step in microbial fuel cells (MFCs): a battery activated by spit that can be used in extreme conditions where normal batteries don't function.
Driverless buses launch in Estonia with no major incidents
In celebration of Estonia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, two driverless buses have been introduced on a limited route in Tallinn. While the city authorities claim the twin buses have not been involved in any ‘major incidents’, there have been many reports of near misses. One close call took place on 31st July when an eyewitnesses claimed that one of the buses failed to give way to a police car with ...
Fuel cell technology to power clean energy hub
Elcogen will supply its technology for a new project demonstrating how reversible solid oxide cells can be used in innovative clean energy storage systems. Elcogen’s market-leading solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology will be used in the upcoming REFLEX project, which will operate an energy hub coupled to solar and mini-hydro renewable sources to provide both electricity and heat to the nearby technology park.
'AquaCharge' offers strategies for aquifer replenishment
The federal government reports that 40 states expect water shortages by 2024 and water worries already plague some cities across the United States. Underground aquifers that were over-tapped for years now cry out to be replenished. The problem is that the two main strategies for increasing water supplies – collecting stormwater runoff and recycling treated wastewater – are usually separate processes that can create costly and underuse...
Formula E technology partnership moves into top gear
Last weekend’s race in Montreal marked the end of an exciting season of the world’s first electric racing series. The hard battle has been won; Lucas di Grassi (pictured) is the new Formula E world champion. The ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport Formula E racing team celebrated second place in the team classification, with Daniel Abt finishing the season in eighth place in the world rankings.
Solar glasses can generate solar power
Organic solar cells are flexible, transparent, and light-weight - and can be manufactured in arbitrary shapes or colours. Thus, they are suitable for a variety of applications that cannot be realised with conventional silicon solar cells. In the Energy Technology journal, researchers from KIT now present sunglasses with coloured, semitransparent solar cells applied onto lenses that supply a microprocessor and two displays with...