HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Revenues for Top Solar PV Suppliers Hit Three-Year High
IHS says that revenues among the 20 leading global suppliers of solar photovoltaics reached $5.9 billion in Q4 of 2014, the highest quarterly revenues since Q3 of 2011.
Graphene Boost in High-energy Conversion Solar PV
Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have observed and measured graphene converting a single photon into multiple electrons in a photovoltaic device.
Delay for Plant Vogtle Nuclear Expansion
The timeline for completing the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant expansion will be delayed 18 months, Georgia Power Co. and Southern Co. announced in late January.
IEEE Introduces Uniform Test Plan for Power Grid Synchrophasors
IEEE announces the global availability of a uniform test plan for evaluating the conformance of synchrophasors to IEEE C37.118.1 , IEEE Standard for Synchrophasor Measurements for Power Systems.
NEMA Publishes Electrical Equipment Enclosure Standard
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA 250-2014 Enclosures for Electrical Equipment (1000 Volts Maximum).
India Plans $45 Billion Electric Power Infrastructure Upgrade
India's government says it plans to invest more than $45 billion to upgrade the country’s electric power transmission and distribution grid in a bid to offset scarcity, the Times of Oman newspaper reported.
U.S. EPA Sets Coal Ash Disposal Rules for Electric Power Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule to deal with the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) from electric utilities, which stemmed from a 2008 coal ash spill at a coal-fired power plant operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
NREL Claims 45.7% Efficiency for Concentrator Solar Cell
The U.S. Energy Department's National Renewable Energy lLaboratory has improved the design of its solar cell by adding an additional absorber layer. NREL says this increased the conversion efficiency to 45.7% for a four-junction solar cell at 234 suns concentration.
ASTM Metallic Wear Standard Will Help Machines Run Smoothly
To keep machines running smoothly, a new ASTM International standard, D7917, Inductive Wear Debris Sensors in Gearbox and Drivetrain Applications, provides practices for the selection, application and use of inductive type metal debris sensors that are used to indicate the presence of ferrous and
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Used for Energy Storage Products
Researchers have discovered a new way to take some of the atmospheric carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to make an advanced, high-value material for use in energy storage products.
China Plans for Nuclear Power Growth
China's nuclear generating capacity is set to triple over the next six years, according to an energy development plan published by the State Council.
Unlocking the Electrical Potential of 1D Interfaces
A recent study by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has, for the first time, made direct observations of a one-dimensional boundary separating two different, atom-thin materials.
Post-Fukushima Japan Looks to Water to Solve Energy Issues
The March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident damaged Japan’s energy infrastructure and caused the country to shut down the majority of its nuclear reactors and accelerate investment in renewable energy to close the resultant power gap.
Residential Solar Energy Storage Market to Grow by Factor of 10 from 2014 to 2018
The global market for grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) solar installations coupled with energy storage is predicted to grow tenfold to reach more than 900 megawatts (MW) in 2018, up from just 90 MW in 2014, according to new analysis from IHS Technology.
U.S. and China Agree to Carbon Reduction Goals
U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. would aim to cut net greenhouse gas emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.
Revised Standard for Installing and Maintaining Medium-voltage Cable
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the National Cable Splicing Certification Board (NCSCB) released NECA/NCSCB 600-2014, Standard for Installing and Maintaining Medium-Voltage Cable the latest in a series of revisions for National Electrical Installation Standard (NEIS).
Gas-fired Power Plant with Zero Air Emissions Secures Funding
NET Power LLC secured funding and project agreements to build a 50 megawatt thermal (MWt), $140 million gas-fired power plant that would produce no air emissions and includes what the North Carolina-based company says will be full carbon dioxide (CO2) capture.
Smart Lithium-ion Battery Warns of Fire Hazard
Stanford University scientists have developed a "smart" lithium-ion battery that gives warning before it overheats and ignite. The technology is designed for conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Power Supply Options for Multiple Output Voltage Applications
A variety of power supply configurations and designs are available from industrial suppliers. The tried-and-true design of the linear power supply typically has better transient response to load changes, less electrical noise and less ripple than other power supply designs.
5MW Battery Storage Unit Enters Service in Germany
One of Europe’s largest commercial battery power plants entered service on September 16. The 5 megawatt (MW) lithium-ion unit was designed by Berlin-based grid and storage company Younicos for WEMAG, an electricity supplier.