Roll-up solar panels are being used to help power an island off the coast of Cardiff. The Rapid Roll system allows flexible solar panels to be unrolled like a carpet from a trailer in two minutes. The pioneering technology aims to meet demands from increased tourism and environmental and logistical challenges on Flat Holm. This …
The China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) has signed an agreement with the Shenhua Group, China’s biggest coal producer, to promote the development of advanced “traveling wave” reactor technology, the state nuclear giant said. At a ceremony on Tuesday, the two sides signed an investment agreement to promote fourth-generation traveling wave reactors (TWR), CNNC said in …
The amount of used nuclear fuel will continue to increase, reaching around 1 million tonnes by 2050. The uranium and plutonium that could be extracted from that used fuel would be sufficient to provide fuel for at least 140 light water reactors of 1 GWe capacity for 60 years, she said. “It makes sense to …
Researchers led by Yuan Yang, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Columbia Engineering, along with colleagues at the Department of Chemistry at Columbia University, and Stanford University have developed a new, scalable, and low-cost “dip and dry” method for fabricating a highly efficient selective solar absorber (SSA) that can harness and convert sunlight …
Japan’s nuclear regulator today approved the ‘construction plans’ for strengthening Ohi units 3 and 4 and Genkai unit 3. The plans are the second of three applications required during the restart process. The units must undergo further inspections before being permitted to restart. Under Japan’s reactor restart process, plant operators are required to apply to …
Researchers from The University of Manchester are using polystyrene particles rather than expensive polymers to make the next generation of solar cells, which are used to make solar panels, more stable and even cheaper. The move could significantly reduce the cost of production and manufacturing of the solar cells, making electricity cheaper in the future …
There will be roughly 390 gigawatts of solar PV plants spread across the globe, according to estimates from GTM Research. there are 391.5 gigawatts of nuclear plants operating around the world. Nuclear generates 2,476,671 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year, accounting for roughly 11 percent of global generation. Solar only accounts for 375,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity …
Singapore researchers have a new generalized method of producing anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The anodes are made from metal oxide nanosheets, which are ultrathin, two-dimensional materials with excellent electrochemical and mechanical properties. This will enable more durable and longer lasting lithium-ion batteries. These nanosheets (image on right) are 50,000 times thinner than a sheet …
Mazda Motor Corp said it would become the world’s first automaker to commercialize a much more efficient petrol engine using technology that deep-pocketed rivals have been trying to engineer for decades, a twist in an industry increasingly going electric. The new compression ignition engine is 20 percent to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the …
A report published by Bloomberg Intelligence in June said factories planned by Chinese companies could have the battery capacity to produce more than 120 GWh by 2021 – enough to supply 1.5 million Tesla Model S vehicles. This will be over three times initial the battery cell capacity of the Tesla Gigafactory at 35 GWh. …
Supercapacitors have long been far faster charging than batteries but usually have 40 times less energy density (5 watt hours instead of 200 watt hours) compared to batteries. There are new supercapacitors being commercialized with 60 watt hours of energy density and 100 watt hour energy density is being reported in lab results. Yunasko is …