Cleantech Open Northeast / ACT’s Post

For many people the science of solar panels is not well known. In this guest blog by Michelle Co she explores the science and benefits of this emerging technology. Solar panels will play a role in transitioning Australia to a low carbon economy and that's a good thing. It is not the only way forward, however, it's good to understand how solar panels works and what benefits it can bring. #knowledgeispower

🌞 Exploring the Future of Solar Power: Perovskite Solar Cells 🌟 Perovskite solar cells are transforming the renewable energy landscape with their potential for high efficiency and low production costs. Here’s a snapshot of their current status and the hurdles we need to overcome: 🔹 High Efficiency: Perovskite cells are achieving remarkable power conversion efficiencies, sometimes surpassing traditional silicon-based cells. Their ability to absorb light efficiently and generate electricity makes them a promising technology. 🔹 Commercialization Progress: The commercialization journey is advancing with several startups and established companies developing scalable production methods. Pilot projects and small-scale commercial deployments are on the rise, pushing the technology closer to widespread adoption. 🔹 Cost-Effectiveness: Perovskite cells can be manufactured using low-cost materials and processes, potentially reducing the overall cost of solar energy. This could make solar power more accessible and affordable worldwide. 🔹 Challenges Ahead: Stability: Ensuring long-term stability and durability of perovskite cells under real-world conditions remains a significant challenge. Researchers are working on improving their resistance to moisture, UV light, and temperature fluctuations. Scalability: Scaling up from lab prototypes to large-scale production while maintaining high efficiency and performance is a complex task. Environmental and Health Concerns: Some perovskite materials contain lead, raising concerns about potential environmental and health impacts. Developing lead-free alternatives and safe recycling methods is crucial. 🔹 Looking Forward: Despite these challenges, the potential of perovskite solar cells to revolutionize the energy sector is immense. Ongoing research and innovation are paving the way for their future success in the global solar market. Let’s stay tuned and support the advancements in this exciting field as we move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future! 🌍🔋🌱 #PerovskiteSolarCells #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #CleanEnergy #Innovation #Sustainability #GreenTech #EnergyFuture

Few Major Challenges in Solar Cell Manufacturing—and How We Can Overcome Them The future is solar, but building the tech that powers it isn’t without hurdles. Here's how we can tackle the industry's biggest challenges and drive innovation forward: 🌞 1. Material Quality Matters Poor materials lead to inefficiency. Partnering with reliable suppliers and enforcing strict quality checks ensures top-notch solar cells. 💸 2. High Costs of Production Solar tech can be pricey to manufacture, but automation, optimized processes, and tapping into renewable energy subsidies can bring costs down. ⚡ 3. Energy-Intensive Processes Ironically, making solar cells consumes massive energy. Powering factories with renewables and adopting efficient tech are game changers. ♻️ 4. Environmental Concerns Toxic waste from production hurts sustainability. Green materials and effective recycling strategies can close the loop. 🚀 5. Keeping Up with Tech Rapid innovations risk leaving you behind. Scalable, upgradable tech and R&D investment are the keys to staying competitive. The solar revolution is here—and with the right strategies, we can lead it sustainably and profitably. Let's innovate together! #SolarInnovation #CleanEnergy #SustainableManufacturing #FutureForward #growthmindset

Wishing everyone a "Happy World Environment Day"... 🌍🔋 Revolutionizing Energy Storage with Gravity Batteries! 🔋🌍 In the quest for sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions, gravity batteries are emerging as a game-changer especially in towering metro cities. 🌟 What are Gravity Batteries? Gravity batteries harness the power of gravity to store and release energy. The concept is simple yet ingenious: excess energy is used to lift a heavy weight to a higher elevation, storing potential energy. When energy is needed, the weight is allowed to descend, converting potential energy back into electrical energy through a generator. 🏋️♂️➡️⚡ Why are They Important? Renewable Energy Integration: They complement intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind by providing a reliable energy storage solution, ensuring a steady power supply even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. 🌞🌬️ Longevity and Sustainability: Gravity batteries have a long lifespan with minimal degradation over time, making them a sustainable alternative to chemical batteries. ♻️ Scalability and Flexibility: These systems can be scaled to various sizes, from small units for individual buildings to large-scale operations for grid support. 🏢🌐 Innovations and Implementations Several innovative projects are showcasing the potential of gravity batteries: Energy Vault: Utilizing massive concrete blocks, this company has developed a scalable gravity energy storage system that can be deployed worldwide. Gravitricity: This UK-based startup uses old mine shafts to create gravity storage solutions, repurposing existing infrastructure and adding new value to abandoned sites. The Future of Energy Storage As the world continues to shift towards renewable energy, gravity batteries offer a promising and sustainable storage solution. By tapping into the fundamental force of gravity, we can create a cleaner, more resilient energy future. 🌿⚡ Let’s support and invest in these groundbreaking technologies that pave the way for a sustainable and efficient energy landscape. 🚀🔋 Energy Vault Gravitricity Ltd #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Innovation #EnergyStorage #GravityBatteries #CleanTech #FutureOfEnergy

🌍 The future of #energy is here, and it's all about grid innovation. With rising demand, #renewables, and a need for resilience, our power grids are primed for a tech transformation. It’s just a matter of time.  In a recent article from Latitude Media, our portfolio companies TS Conductor , LineVision, and VEIR all share why grid innovation matters and why now is the time to invest in smarter, more adaptable grids for a sustainable future ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3YVryeu

♻️ Energy Storage Reimagined: 🚀 Carbon Fiber Batteries? Innovative Technology: Swedish startup Sinonus 🇸🇪, leveraging research from Chalmers University of Technology, has developed a method to transform carbon fiber into energy storage units ⚡. Versatile Application: This breakthrough can convert turbine blades 🌬️ and other carbon fiber structures into batteries, potentially enhancing the return on investment for wind power plants 📈. Advantages Over Lithium-Ion: While not as energy-dense as lithium-ion batteries, carbon fiber storage is lighter 🪶, safer ✅, and integrates energy storage with structural support 💪. Future Potential: The technology promises to reduce the weight of electric vehicle batteries 🚗, potentially increasing their range by 70% 🚀, and could even be used to power electric airplanes ✈️. Are Carbon fiber cars the future? ⚙️🚙🚘🏎️ Sinonus is redefining energy storage with a cleaner ♻️, more integrated solution that could make bulky battery packs 📦 a thing of the past. #BatteryInnovation #BatteryTechnology #CarbonFiber #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #EnergyStorage #EnergyTransition #Engineering #EV #FutureofEnergy #GreenTechnology #Innovation #MaterialScience #NetZero #RenewableEnergy #Science #Startup #Sustainability #Sweden #Tech #Technology #WindEnergy

Would it be possible to have battery less devices? Is future going to be battery free? If this happens, that would be perhaps the best thing to happen as then the solar energy would really become a green and sustainable source of energy. The present lithium battery based solar system as well as all the devices is highly polluting and risky and completely against the basic principles of circular economy not aligned to UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). #SDG #GreenEnergy #SustainableEnergy #SustainableGrowth #SustainabeDevelopment #SolarEnergy #Lithuium #CircularEconomy

Industry Reads: Weekend Edition I caught up on some industry reading at the weekend - heres a snapshot... Solar Power Surge: Europe's #solarpower capacity has tripled since 2019, surpassing coal as the primary electricity source. (https://lnkd.in/dVwnzYPf) This marks a significant milestone in the energy transition. VC Focus in Europe: Where is the venture capital flowing in Europe? This Euronews article explores the latest investment trends, offering valuable insights for those navigating the #cleantech landscape. ( https://lnkd.in/dFA4AC7x) "highlighted the growth of verticals such as life sciences, oncology, mobility tech, and foodtech." Artificial Photosynthesis Breakthrough: Researchers have decoded a key step in artificial photosynthesis, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable fuel production #greenhydrogen. (https://lnkd.in/dK5ZtkGY) This is a game-changer and very cool science! What are your key takeaways from these developments? Share your thoughts below! #CleanTech #RenewableEnergy #VC #Sustainability #Innovation #GlobalTalent #LeadershipSearch

Solar cells are incredible! These new semi-transparent solar cells are a new type of photovoltaic cell that could be suitable for a much wider variety of situations. Learn more in our blog! https://lnkd.in/ehmqur_T #TowerFasteners #TowerFastenersEU #TowerBlog #Innovation #Technology #SolarCells #PhotovoltaicCells

Article recommendation📰🗞️|Enlit Europe ✨ ➡️Energy system resilience through ‘energy modi’ "(...)The ‘energy modi’ is proposed as a coordination mechanism for energy communities to collaborate with the power system, writes Aditya Pappu and Gerwin Hoogsteen from the University of Twente, partners of the SUSTENANCE H2020 project. New challenges emerge as the #energytransition unfolds, one of which is grid congestion. Grid congestion is a problem that occurs when the existing grid infrastructure is not able to deliver the desired amount of power at an adequate power quality. This problem has become especially pronounced in the north of Europe, where it has rapidly evolved into a significant problem limiting economic growth and hampering the energy transition (...)" ➡️ Read the whole article here: https://lnkd.in/gPMSCbUJ 🔵At the European edition, the #Enlit community will come together in Milan from 22 - 24 October 2024, to meet and inspire each other and to develop discussions and actions to take steps forward in the #energytransition. 🔵SUSTENANCE H2020 project ia s part of the EU Project Zone at Enlit Europe!✨ #energytransition #decarbonisation #localenergycommunity  #energysystem #greentransformation #RES #energyislands #sustainableenergy #energystorage #PV #heatpumps #v2g #climatechange #womenempowerment #energymanagementsystems #electromobility #erickshaw #ecar #CINEA_EU #EUBridge #IndiaDST CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency #EUBridge #H2020 #EUProjectZone #H2020SUSTENANCE   ✅ SUSTENANCE H2020 project: AAU Energy, Skanderborg Kommune, AURA Energi, Neogrid Technologies ApS, Bjerregaards Consulting, University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) & KEZO Research Centre PAS, ENERGA-OPERATOR S.A. #FundacjaKEZO #WłasnościowaSpółdzielniaMieszkaniowaimMickiewicza inSopot(Poland), Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and Grid Integration Lab, IIT Bombay, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, National Institute of Technology Silchar, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Gram Oorja Solutions Private Limited