Solar Energy

Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

Published

1 week ago

September 6, 2024

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Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 05, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Argonne National Laboratory to lead the newly established Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), a national hub focused on advancing energy storage technologies. The ESRA, co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is one of two new Energy Innovation Hubs announced by the DOE.

Bringing together nearly 50 leading researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities, ESRA aims to address the most critical challenges in battery technology, such as safety, high-energy density, and the development of long-duration storage solutions using cost-effective and abundant materials. The initiative is designed to push the boundaries of energy storage science, fostering innovation and strengthening the competitive edge of the U.S. in this crucial field.

“The demand for high-performance, low-cost and sustainable energy storage devices is on the rise, especially those with potential to deeply decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and the electric grid,” stated Shirley Meng, ESRA director and chief scientist at the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. “To achieve this, energy storage technology must reach levels of unprecedented performance, surpassing the capabilities of current lithium-ion technology. The key to making these transformative leaps lies in a robust research and development initiative firmly grounded in basic science.”

Leveraging decades of investment in fundamental science, ESRA will focus on transformative discoveries in materials chemistry, a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes at the atomic level, and establishing the scientific foundations necessary for major advancements in energy storage technology.

“ESRA creates an energy storage research ecosystem with the mission to rapidly innovate, shorten the time between basic discovery and technology development, and train the next-generation workforce,” commented Bryan McCloskey, ESRA deputy director for scientific thrusts and a faculty engineer at Berkeley Lab.

The success of ESRA’s efforts will lead to the development of high-energy batteries that are fire-resistant, capable of providing long-duration storage for multiple days, have a lifespan of several decades, and are constructed from low-cost, widely available materials.

“ESRA will pave the way for innovative energy storage solutions that drive both U.S. prosperity and security,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. “As the lead laboratory for ESRA under the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Argonne takes pride in spearheading this collaborative effort that unites world-leading experts and taps the impressive scientific resources available in national labs and academia.”

The DOE has committed up to $62.5 million in funding for ESRA over the next five years.

In addition to its research goals, the Argonne-led hub will prioritize training a diverse, next-generation battery workforce to meet future manufacturing demands. This will be achieved through innovative training programs that involve industry, academia, and government partnerships.

“Cultivating a diverse workforce dedicated to safeguarding America’s energy resilience is key to ESRA’s mission,” noted Wei Wang, ESRA deputy director for crosscuts and director of the Energy Storage Materials Initiative at PNNL. “Through our strategic equity and inclusion initiatives, we plan to create a robust training ground for energy storage science from the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.”

With Berkeley Lab and PNNL as co-leads, the ESRA collaboration brings together comprehensive expertise across the energy storage spectrum. Their state-of-the-art capabilities in technology discovery, modeling and simulation, and materials synthesis and characterization complement those of Argonne, setting the stage for significant advancements in energy storage.

Argonne is joined by 14 partners in this initiative, all of whom are deeply involved in ESRA’s scientific endeavors, governance, strategic development, and the training of the next generation of battery scientists and engineers. This collaboration among national laboratories and universities is vital for discovering new materials, accelerating the development of technology, and commercializing new energy storage innovations.

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Solar Energy

Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries to be tested on ISS

Published

7 hours ago

September 16, 2024

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Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries to be tested on ISS

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 16, 2024

Lyten, a leader in supermaterial applications and lithium-sulfur battery technology, has announced that its rechargeable lithium-sulfur battery cells have been selected for testing aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is funding this project as part of its ongoing collaboration with Lyten, focused on lithium-sulfur battery development and production.

As part of this agreement, DIU is funding the integration and testing of Lyten’s rechargeable lithium-sulfur cells by Spacebilt/Skycorp. The batteries will undergo rigorous tests under launch, orbital, and recovery conditions, aimed at assessing their viability for use in satellites, space suits, and extravehicular activities, among other applications. Lyten aims to achieve flight certification for its cells, confirming their compatibility with space environments and opening the door for use in a variety of space missions.

“The process for inclusion of batteries for testing on the International Space Station is a highly competitive one and a necessary step to enable broad adoption of lithium-sulfur for space applications. We are honored by the selection of Lyten’s lithium-sulfur cells,” said Dan Cook, Lyten Co-Founder and CEO. “We believe the high gravimetric energy density and light weight of our lithium-sulfur cells make them a perfect fit for current and future space applications.”

The testing will be carried out on the ISS under the sponsorship of the ISS National Lab and will be part of a NASA-funded commercial resupply mission. Lyten plans to qualify three different battery cell formats, including pouch cells and two sizes of cylindrical cells, during the ISS testing.

“The rapid growth in low earth orbit satellite deployments in support of communications and the expansion of the broader space economy create a very compelling use for high-energy density, lithium-sulfur battery cells. These are applications where weight and reliability are of critical importance,” said Celina Mikolajczak, Lyten Chief Battery Technology Officer.

Ratnakumar Bugga, Senior Fellow at Lyten with over 34 years of experience in space battery research and development, added, “Lithium-sulfur battery technology development was originally funded by NASA to extend Astronaut’s extravehicular activity to 8 hours versus the 4 – 5 hours possible with existing lithium-ion batteries. Lyten now has the opportunity to validate this technology on the ISS.”

Lyten recently partnered with AEVEX to demonstrate unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) powered by its lithium-sulfur batteries, marking the first aerospace application for this technology. These high-energy-density cells can reduce weight by up to 40% compared to lithium-ion batteries and 60% compared to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, making them highly suitable for industries such as automotive, space, aerospace, UAVs, micromobility, defense, and consumer electronics.

Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries are manufactured in San Jose, CA, in both pouch and cylindrical formats. The cells are made using locally sourced materials and are fully manufactured in the United States, ensuring compliance with the Inflation Reduction Act and the 2024 National Defense Appropriations Act, while avoiding tariffs on materials imported from China.

Earlier this year, Lyten was recognized by Fast Company as the #8 most innovative energy company in the world, and for the second consecutive year, was listed on the Silicon Valley Defense Group’s NATSEC100 as the only battery company recognized for its national security technologies.

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Solar Energy

JinkoSolar sets sights on expanding operations across Africa

Published

8 hours ago

September 16, 2024

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JinkoSolar sets sights on expanding operations across Africa

by Simon Mansfield

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Sep 16, 2024

JinkoSolar, the leading global producer of solar panels by shipment volume, is moving forward with plans to expand its presence in Africa, focusing on both solar energy and energy storage markets.

Over the past three years, JinkoSolar has supplied 5.2 gigawatts of solar panels and 100 megawatt-hours of energy storage systems to 45 African countries, accounting for 15 percent of the continent’s market share, according to Qian Jing, vice-president of JinkoSolar.

“The company has been increasing its local presence by establishing subsidiaries across key markets such as Egypt, Kenya, Namibia, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa, which have ambitious and decisive energy transition goals and relatively stable political and financial environments, making them prime targets for growth,” Qian said.

“With vast land resources, a large population still lacking access to electricity, and abundant solar potential, the continent has a stronger demand for renewable energy than many other regions, and its potential as a solar energy market is unmatched.”

Analysts have noted that Africa presents unique opportunities for solar developers, despite challenges like weak grid infrastructure, limited transportation networks, small project sizes, and a lack of skilled labor. However, the availability of low-cost solar panels makes this market ripe for development.

“Solar panels in sun-drenched North Africa yield up to three times more energy than those in Europe, and the region has ample space for more solar installations to come,” said Nickolas Lua, a solar supply chain analyst at global consultancy Rystad Energy.

“As it is, North Africa accounts for one-fifth of the continent’s solar power capacity and is home to some of the world’s largest solar installations, such as Egypt’s Benban solar complex.”

Lua also highlighted South Africa as a promising market, with its rooftop solar segment alone having a potential market size of 86 GW. Businesses and households in South Africa are increasingly turning to solar to mitigate the impact of frequent power outages caused by grid failures.

According to Luo Zuoxian, an analyst at the Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute, the growing presence of Chinese solar companies in Africa offers a significant opportunity to expand China’s renewable energy footprint while demonstrating its technological capabilities on the global stage.

“Successful implementation of the projects will not only bolster China’s renewable energy industry, but also strengthen its economic ties with African countries, fostering a long-term strategic partnership,” Luo said.

JinkoSolar has taken steps to address the continent’s infrastructure challenges by exporting its products and technological expertise. In addition to providing high-efficiency TOPCon solar panels tailored for tropical climates, the company offers both on-site and off-site training programs for local engineers to improve their skills in installing and maintaining solar and energy storage systems.

One of JinkoSolar’s key projects in Africa is the supply of 25 MW N-type TOPCon panels for the first solar-powered hydrogen project at Namibia’s Oshivela Green Iron plant. This facility, set to be the first commercial green iron production site in Africa, marks a milestone in the continent’s industrial green revolution. JinkoSolar has also signed a memorandum of understanding to secure orders for subsequent project phases, which could add up to 1.8 GW of capacity.

By integrating solar power with hydrogen, JinkoSolar is helping Africa pioneer innovative clean energy solutions, boosting the region’s global competitiveness.

Looking ahead, Qian said the company plans to further expand its footprint across Africa over the next five to 10 years, deepening its involvement in local markets and exploring new applications like solar-powered desalination.

“Our long-term vision is to lead Africa’s energy transition by driving investment, innovation, and technology transfer,” she said. “We are committed to being a key player in Africa’s journey toward renewable energy and sustainability, by leveraging our established network.”

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Solar Energy

World’s strongest battery could enable lightweight, energy-efficient vehicles

Published

1 day ago

September 15, 2024

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World’s strongest battery could enable lightweight, energy-efficient vehicles

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 15, 2024

Building vehicles or electronics with materials that serve as both batteries and structural components could significantly reduce weight and energy consumption. A research group at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has introduced a significant development in massless energy storage. Their newly developed structural battery has the potential to cut the weight of devices like laptops by half, make mobile phones as thin as credit cards, and extend the driving range of electric cars by up to 70% on a single charge.

“We have succeeded in creating a battery made of carbon fibre composite that is as stiff as aluminium and energy-dense enough to be used commercially. Just like a human skeleton, the battery has several functions at the same time,” explained Richa Chaudhary, a researcher at Chalmers and the lead author of a scientific article published in ‘Advanced Materials’.

Research into structural batteries has been ongoing for several years at Chalmers, sometimes in collaboration with researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The breakthrough came in 2018 when Professor Leif Asp and his colleagues demonstrated how stiff, strong carbon fibres could store electrical energy chemically, attracting global attention. The discovery that carbon fibre can serve as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries was one of the top 10 scientific achievements of the year, according to ‘Physics World’.

Less weight, more efficiency

Since 2018, the research team has made strides in enhancing both stiffness and energy density. In 2021, they reached a key milestone with a battery offering 24 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), equivalent to about 20% of the capacity of a typical lithium-ion battery. Today, they have improved this figure to 30 Wh/kg. While still below current commercial batteries, the benefits of weight reduction create a new dynamic. With the battery forming part of the vehicle’s structure, less energy is needed overall.

“Investing in light and energy-efficient vehicles is a matter of course if we are to economise on energy and think about future generations. We have made calculations on electric cars that show that they could drive for up to 70 percent longer than today if they had competitive structural batteries,” said Leif Asp, a professor in the Department of Industrial and Materials Science at Chalmers.

For vehicles, strength is paramount to meet safety standards. The structural battery developed by the team has significantly increased stiffness, raising the elastic modulus from 25 to 70 gigapascal (GPa). This means the material can bear loads as effectively as aluminium while being much lighter.

“In terms of multifunctional properties, the new battery is twice as good as its predecessor – and actually the best ever made in the world,” commented Asp, who has been involved in structural battery research since 2007.

Progress towards commercialisation

The ultimate goal from the outset has been to achieve performance levels suitable for commercialisation. With ongoing research, there are now stronger ties to the market through the establishment of Sinonus AB, a Chalmers Venture company located in Boras, Sweden.

Despite the progress, more engineering work is necessary to scale up production from small lab batches to the large-scale manufacturing needed for consumer electronics or vehicles.

“One can imagine that credit card-thin mobile phones or laptops that weigh half as much as today, are the closest in time. It could also be that components such as electronics in cars or planes are powered by structural batteries. It will require large investments to meet the transport industry’s challenging energy needs, but this is also where the technology could make the most difference,” says Leif Asp.

Research Report:Unveiling the Multifunctional Carbon Fibre Structural Battery