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Harvard Works On
Cheap Solar Storage

The Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) says a team of university scientists and engineers has demonstrated a new flow battery that could help make energy storage of renewables, such as wind and solar power, more economical and reliable.

SEAS says the metal-free flow battery relies on the electrochemistry of inexpensive, small, organic molecules called quinones, which are similar to molecules that store energy in plants and animals, rather than on costly metals or chemicals.

“The intermittent renewables storage problem is the biggest barrier to getting most of our power from the sun and the wind,” says team leader Michael J. Aziz. “A safe and economical flow battery could play a huge role in our transition off fossil fuels to renewable electricity. I’m excited that we have a good shot at it.”

Aziz says the next steps in the project will be to further test and optimize the system that has been demonstrated and bring it toward a commercial scale. By the end of the three-year development period, project collaborator Sustainable Innovations LLC expects to deploy demonstration versions of the organic flow battery contained in a unit the size of a horse trailer.

Under the OPEN 2012 program, the Harvard team received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) to develop the grid-scale battery and plans to work with ARPA-E to catalyze further technological and market breakthroughs over the next several years.

Harvard SEAS: seas.harvard.edu

 

Lightway, Tigo
Unveil Smart Module

Lightway Solar has launched its new LWSS Smart Module, which will use technology from Tigo Energy.

Lightway says the modules feature integrated power optimization that enables the solar module to perform module-level max power point tracking to maximize system yield. The line also features panel-level deactivation capability for enhanced safety, as well as panel-level monitoring for operations and maintenance.

The company says the line also limits the maximum voltage of the solar module, enabling up to 30% longer string designs than traditional modules. This feature uses Tigo Energy technology to limit the maximum voltage output to cut off the unwanted part of the IV curve.

Lightway: lightwaysolar.com

 

Aquion Launches
Energy Storage System

Aquion Energy Inc. has closed a $55 million financing deal to bring its aqueous hybrid ion batteries and energy storage systems to market this year. The units are intended for small- and large-scale stationary energy storage applications.

The company says the new amount represents an increase from the $35 million it had secured in April 2013. The series D financing includes participation from new investors Bill Gates, Yung’s Enterprise, Tao Invest, Bright Capital and Gentry Venture Partners. Previous investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Foundation Capital and Advanced Technology Ventures also participated in the round.

Aquion says it will begin shipping production units to customers in the first half of the year from its manufacturing facility in Westmoreland County, Pa.

Aquion Energy: aquionenergy.com

 

Flux Provides Storage
For HDT Mobile Solar

Flux Power Holdings Inc. is providing portable lithium-ion storage packs to HDT Global for its solar energy systems for mobile military and emergency response applications.

HDT integrates solar power and portable energy storage to provide power for military forward operating bases in the field. The systems function as an alternative to diesel generators. Flux is providing 4.1 kW/h, 24-volt lithium batteries as the storage component.

Flux Power: fluxpwr.com

 

meeco Unveils Energy
Management System

Switzerland-based meeco Group has launched its sun2safe power conversion, storage and energy management unit for integration with power production systems.

The device is composed of three core elements. The battery charger has two PV ports with independent maximum power point tracking channels. The inverter is powered either by battery or AC line. The microprocessor unit hosts integrated communication facilities - WiFi, wired and mobile networks - for the management and optimization of the energy uses. The system also has a 7-inch display.

meeco Group: meeco.net

 

Solectria Introduces
Residential Inverter

Solectria Renewables LLC has introduced its PVI 3800TL 3.8 kW single-phase transformerless residential inverter.

Solectria says the PVI 3800TL features 98% peak efficiency and a compact, lightweight design with a NEMA 4 enclosure rating. The inverter has an integrated fused combiner and disconnect.

The company says the PVI 3800TL is the first in a new line of transformerless residential inverters, with 5.2 kW, 6.6 kW and 7.6 kW inverters scheduled to be released later this year.

Solectria Renewables: solren.com

 

China Sunergy And Univ.
To Develop PV Materials

China Sunergy Co. Ltd. has signed a five-year collaborative research agreement with NewSouth Innovations Pty Ltd. (NSi), a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, to develop new, improved photovoltaic wafer materials.

The research aims to combine UNSW’s hydrogenation technology with China Sunergy’s experience in cell process to enhance the electrical properties of silicon wafers. Additionally, UNSW will provide China Sunergy with research reports, as well as training and education.

China Sunergy: csun-solar.com

 

Trina Receives
TUV Certification

Trina Solar Ltd. has received the JIS Q 8901 Certification from TUV Rheinland.

Trina says the JIS Q 8901 standard was established in February 2012 with the aim of encouraging the wider adoption of PV power generating systems in the Japanese market through promoting product reliability and user protection.

The standard sets out reliability assurance requirements for design, production and performance for terrestrial photovoltaic modules, according to Trina.

Trina Solar: trinasolar.com S