Blog

Henk Rogers and the blueprint for a 100% renewable Hawaii

Henk Rogers, of Tetris Fame, talks shop about saving the planet, the future of energy storage in Hawaii and how a life-changing experience dictates how he tackles each day. Tam Hunt interviews the entrepreneur. Shortly after meeting Henk Rogers, he invited me to his ranch on the slopes of Hualalai to check out his energy…
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PV-powered drone for emergency services

Netherlands-based technology companies Avy and Wattlab have conducted the first test flight of a drone prototype that is planned to be used in medical projects in Africa. Wattlab, a Dutch clean-tech start-up founded by Sweden-based power utility Vattenfall and Delft University of Technology, and Netherlands-based drone manufacturer Avy have announced that a drone equipped with special solar foils…
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Total and Google Cloud develop tool to predict rooftop PV potential

The Solar Mapper uses artificial intelligence algorithms that compile data extracted from satellite images. It can estimate site solar potential and indicate the most suitable technology. French energy company Total and Google Cloud have developed the Solar Mapper analytical prediction tool to accelerate PV deployment by providing rapid estimates of household solar energy potential. The system will be deployed in Europe…
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New York Power Authority, environmental groups explore ways to replace gas peakers with cleaner technology

In a report this May, the PEAK Coalition said that New York City’s gas peaker plants are “perhaps the most egregious energy-related example of what environmental injustice means today.” The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the PEAK Coalition announced that they are jointly exploring how NYPA can transition its New York City fleet of…
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‘Solar is the new king of energy markets’

The advance of PV has been lauded by the International Energy Agency as it launched the latest edition of a flagship World Energy Outlook 2020 report overshadowed by the Covid-19 crisis and uncertainty over how long the economic recovery could take. International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol this week launched the organization’s flagship World Energy Outlook 2020 report by declaring:…
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Scania develops solar cell-clad trailer

The 18-meter long solar cell-clad trailer is said to enable fuel savings of 5-10% in Sweden. Swedish thin-film manufacturer Midsummer is a partner on the project. Swedish truck maker Scania is developing an 18-meter long solar cell-clad trailer that will be able to generate energy from devices along 140m2 of surface area on the sides and roof. The…
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Investors bet $27.5 million that Nanotech Energy’s graphene battery breakthrough is the real thing

The startup claims to be “the world’s top supplier of graphene” and plans to release a non-flammable, environmentally friendly lithium battery that can charge “18 times faster than anything that is currently available on the market” — within the next year. Battery and graphene technology startup Nanotech Energy closed a $27.5 million funding round at a post-money…
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China’s Largest Solar-Plus-Storage Project Goes Online

China’s largest solar-plus-storage project has been connected to the grid. How big is it — 500 megawatts (MW)? 700 MW? 1,100 MW? Nope, we’re in 2020 — it’s 2,200 MW (2.2 GW). Sungrow, the #1 suppliers of inverters for renewable energy projects, shared the news of the new record. Along with Huanghe Hydropower Development, Sungrow had a big…
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General Motors to hit 60% renewables target with US solar deal

The automaker has signed a power purchase agreement for a 180 MW solar project to be built in Arkansas. First Solar will supply the PV modules. General Motors has made a significant step toward achieving its goal of sourcing 100% of its energy from renewables by 2040, with the announcement that the company has signed a power…
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Organic solar PV cells on paper substrate for indoor use

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur have developed 12×12 cm2 sub-modules from organic solar PV cells on a paper substrate that could be used to power flexible electronic devices under an indoor lighting environment. The modules are said to deliver a power density of up to 12 µW/cm2 under illumination from a 1000-lux…
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